ESL Podcast 463 - Washing the Car
to hold up - to use one's arms and hands so that something is in the air, not touching a surface, usually so that other people can see it
Sara held up her child in the air so that her husband could take a good photo.
fundraising - an event where people try to make money for an organization or program
The library has had many fundraising events in the past year: a dance, a cookie sale, and a book sale.
car wash - a place or event where people pay to have their cars and trucks cleaned by other people or machines
We can save money by washing our own car instead of going to a car wash.
wax - a layer of a solid, fatty oil that is rubbed over a car to make it shine and to protect it from the rain
Our car would look a lot better with some wax on it.
enthusiasm - eagerness, excitement, interest, and enjoyment; a feeling of wanting to do something
They gave the job to her because she showed a lot of enthusiasm in the interview.
hose - a long tube made of plastic that water moves through, usually used to water plants in a garden or to fight a fire
On hot summer days, the children like to play outside with water from the hose.
bucket - a large container with a handle and without a lid, used to store or carry something
They picked enough apples to fill three large buckets.
soapy - with a lot of soap or detergent on something
I was still soapy when we ran out of hot water, so I had to rinse off with cold water!
sponge - a soft, rectangular piece of thick, soft material with many holes in it that absorbs water, used to wash things
What kind of sponge do you want me to use on this dirty pan?
dirt - anything that makes something unclean, like small pieces of soil or dust
Your shirt is covered with dirt! Let me wash it for you.
to miss a spot - to accidentally not cover the entire area of something, so that one needs to go back and re-cover that small area
We didn't sweep the floor very well. Look, we missed a spot here.
to rinse - to pour water over something to remove soap or something else from it
Shane washed the dishes while Marleah rinsed and dried them.
towel - a large piece of thick, soft fabric that absorbs water, used to dry things
Which towel should I use to dry the dog after its bath?
to vacuum - to use a large machine that cleans carpets by picking up dirt and air with suction
Could you please vacuum the living room before our guests arrive?
interior - inside; on the inside
What would happen if I used interior paint on our home's exterior?
spotless - perfectly clean, without any dirt at all
Margot's house is always spotless, even though she has three kids. She must spend hours cleaning each day.
to polish - to rub something until it shines and reflects the light
How often do you polish your silverware?
to inspect - to look at something very carefully, usually looking for mistakes or problems
Each new radio is inspected carefully before it leaves the factory.