ESL Podcast 575 - Being an Early or Late Riser
watch out - be careful; a phrase used to warn someone of danger
Watch out! Don't step into that hole in the sidewalk!
up at the crack of dawn - awake and out of bed very early in the morning
Shelby wakes up at the crack of dawn each morning to go running.
stoop - the area outside the front door of some homes in the city, usually at the top of several steps leading to the sidewalk
On a warm summer evening, the kids like to play on the stoop with their friends.
ungodly hour - a time very early in the morning when most people want to be asleep
How could you schedule a meeting at such an ungodly hour? It might be mid- day where our clients are, but it's 3:30 a.m. here!
to turn over a new leaf - to begin a new phase in one's life by changing one's behavior in some way
Beginning tomorrow, I'm going to turn over a new leaf: no smoking, no drinking, no coffee, and no sweets!
in the habit of - accustomed to doing something; used to doing something
Many Americans are in the habit of eating a small breakfast, a medium-sized lunch, and a large dinner.
to stay up - to delay one's bedtime; to remain awake late at night, when most other people are asleep
Did you stay up late studying for the test?
all hours of the night - throughout the night; during the very early morning
Why do so many college students choose to study all hours of the night and then sleep in until noon?
sleep-deprived - very tired because one has not had enough sleep
Ever since their baby was born, they have been very sleep-deprived.
to make the switch - to begin doing something differently; to change to something else
When did you make the switch from regular soda to diet soda?
night owl - a person who enjoys being awake late at night and feels that he or she has more energy at night than during the day
Juliet is a night owl who loves to stay out late, even on weeknights.
early riser - a person who enjoys waking up early in the morning and feels that he or she has more energy early in the morning than at night
Xavier has always been an early riser, waking up at 5:00 to read the newspaper and get ready for the day.
a changed man/woman - a person who has undergone a major transformation and changed in some important way, usually becoming a better person
Once he became a father, he was a changed man. He stopped wasting his time and spent more of it working or playing with the kids.
commendable - praiseworthy; admirable; something that other people think is good and impressive
Your interest in helping me is commendable, but I'd prefer to do this on my own.
the early bird gets the worm - a phrase used to mean that people who wake up early are more successful because they are able to take advantage of opportunities that are not available to people who sleep later
This bakery gives away free pastries to its first 15 customers each morning. The early bird gets the worm!
dose - the amount of a drug or medicine that one should take
The doctor said that Francine should take a dose of antibiotics twice a day for one week.
caffeine - a chemical in coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate that gives one energy and makes one feel more awake
Does green tea have less caffeine than black tea?