ESL Podcast 558 - Being a Strict Parent
to spoil (someone) rotten - to do many nice things for the enjoyment of another person, and especially a child, avoiding rules or anything negative
Her aunt spoils her rotten, always buying her candy, ice cream, toys, and new clothes.
strict - always following the rules and insisting that other people follow the rules, without making any exceptions for special circumstances
The company has a strict policy against stealing and any employee who is caught stealing will be fired immediately, without warning.
structured - with a lot of organization, form, and shape, without flexibility and without changing
His mornings are very structured: he wakes up at 6:45, showers and dresses from 6:50 to 7:05, eats breakfast at 7:10, and leaves the house by 7:30.
regimented - with defined order and discipline; not changing
Would you want to send your children to a highly regimented boarding school?
frivolous - having fun and being silly, without being serious or important
Normally, Piotr reads historical fiction and biographies, but every once in a while he enjoys reading more frivolous novels, too.
to take off the shackles - to remove certain restrictions or limitations; literally to remove the heavy pieces of metal put on a prisoner's ankles and wrists so that he or she cannot escape
When Victoria moved out of her parents' home, she felt like she was finally taking off the shackles and could enjoy her independence.
to miss out on - to not be able to enjoy or participate in something; to miss an opportunity
Some people believe that college students who live at home miss out on a lot of the fun things that happen on campus.
overprotective - caring for someone too much, not letting him or her experience things because one wants to protect him or her
Flo's parents are really overprotective and never let her go anywhere unless one of them is with her.
curfew - the time when someone must be at home and after which one is not allowed to be outside
Their teenage sons have a 9:00 curfew on weeknights and an 11:30 curfew on the weekends.
punishment - something that is used to make another person suffer or be uncomfortable for having done something wrong
As a punishment for what you've done, you won't be allowed to watch TV or go out with your friends for one week.
to misbehave - to do something that one knows is wrong; to break the rules
Some children misbehave to try to get more attention from their parents.
to toe the line - to follow the rules and do what is expected
The military believes that soldiers must be trained to always toe the line and do whatever they are told.
privilege - a special right; and advantage; something that one gets to do because of who one is or what one has done
They told their teenage son that driving a car was a privilege that could be taken away if he began driving irresponsibly.
free spirit - a person who does what he or she wants to do, without worrying about the rules, or without worrying about what other people might think
Tilde has always been a free spirit, wearing whatever she wants to wear, even if other people think her clothes are strange.
uptight - worried and anxious; not relaxed
Mordechai is so uptight about everything! I guess he has been under a lot of stress at work lately.
beats me - an informal phrase used to show that one does not know the answer to something
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
Beats me! I haven't looked at the weather report yet.
a thing or two - a lot; many things, especially when talking about how much a person knows about something
Eldon can tell you a thing or two about what it's like to grow up overseas. He spent most of his childhood in Africa and Asia.