ESL Podcast 466 - Having a Good or Bad Bedside Manner

cut out - intended for something; designed or created to do something; a good match for something

If you like asking people questions and you enjoy writing, then you're probably cut out to be a newspaper reporter.

patient - a person who receives medical care or attention from a doctor or nurse

This hospital has beds for more than 700 patients.

bedside manner - the way that a doctor or nurse interacts with people when giving them medical advice, instructions, or other information

Dr. Valls has a great bedside manner and always seems to have plenty of time to speak with us whenever we aren't feeling well.

callous - unfeeling; without considering another person's feelings; not courteous or considerate *Jonna told her brother about the problems she was having at work, but his callous response was, "Why should I care?"

to take a turn for the worse - to worsen, especially when talking about one's health or the success of a project or business

The financial situation of their farm took a turn for the worse after the bad storm last month.

to blurt (something) out - to say something without first thinking about how it will sound to the other person, or without thinking about how that person will react

When they offered the job to her, she blurted out "Hooray!" before she realized that it was inappropriate for them to hear her say that.

diagnosis - a doctor's conclusion about a medical problem

Santiago went to see the doctor because he had been having headaches, and he was surprised by the diagnosis.

to soften - to make something nicer, gentler, or easier to accept

Do you think there's a way to soften the news in telling Betty that she didn't get the scholarship?

prognosis - a doctor's opinion about how one's health or medical condition will change in the future

He was in a bad car accident, but the prognosis is good. He should be able to walk again within three months.

to comfort - to do or say something to make one feel better or more comfortable

Sometimes simply giving a hug is the best way to comfort a friend who is sad or depressed.

to reassure - to make someone feel better about something; to make someone feel less worried about something, or more confident about one's abilities to do something in a difficult situation

The investors were reassured when they saw the company's sales increase.

to feel sorry for (someone) - to empathize with someone; to spend time thinking about and understanding another person's difficult experience and feeling sad about it

I feel sorry for people who don't live near their relatives. They must be lonely.

didn't seem to faze (someone) - a phrase used when one is surprised that another person was not affected by something or did not have a strong reaction to something

Everyone was surprised that it didn't seem to faze Robb when his wife left him.

hysterics - uncontrolled emotions; when one cannot stop laughing or crying because one's feelings are too strong to control

Going into hysterics when your dog dies seems like an overreaction.

compassionate - caring, kind, and empathetic; feeling sad when other people feel sad

Fortunately, he had a compassionate boss who let him take some time off work when he was having family problems.

against (one's) nature - something that one cannot do or be because it isn't part of one's personality or character

She is always very quiet, and it goes against her nature to yell at other people.

anything but - a phrase used to emphasize that the next word is definitely not true, or that the next word cannot be part of what one is talking about

That movie was anything but interesting. We almost fell asleep halfway through it!

considerate - thoughtful; being aware of and concerned about other people's feelings

It was very considerate of you to make dinner for your neighbor when you knew he wasn't feeling well.