ESL Podcast 603 - Praising a Performance
bravo - a word shouted by audience members to congratulate performers for a very good performance immediately after they have finished; a word used to show one's approval of what another person has done.
Wow, you got 100% on the test! Bravo!
standing ovation - when members of an audience stand up and clap and/or shout loudly to show their approval and appreciation for a performance or speech
The best part about being an actor is receiving a standing ovation at the end of a show.
to gush - to be excessive in expressing one's praise, appreciation, or enjoyment; to talk too much about how much one likes something
I know you like the car, but try to not to gush about it in front of the salesperson, or we won't be able to negotiate a good price.
passable - acceptable; meeting the minimum standards or requirements
All these applicants have passable qualifications, but we haven't yet found anyone who seems like a perfect fit for the job.
nothing to write home about - not special; not good enough to spend much time thinking or talking about it; not very interesting or unusual
The meal was okay, but it was nothing to write home about.
jaded - bored and uninterested because one has experienced too much of something to be excited about it anymore
Marleah used to love traveling internationally, but now that she has been doing it in her job for a few years, she has become jaded and would rather just stay at home.
genius - very intelligent, clever, and talented; very good; exceptional
The suggestion you made at today's meeting was pure genius! How did you come up with such a great idea?
to take (one's) breath away - to be very beautiful, wonderful, exciting, and surprising
The view from the top of the mountain is so beautiful, it will take your breath away.
number - one part of a longer performance, such as one song, one dance, or one act
For her first number, Tracy is going to sing an aria from La Boheme.
to embarrass (oneself) - to make a fool of oneself; to do something that one is ashamed of later; to do something that one would rather not have other people see one do
Be careful when you post private information and photographs online. You don't want to embarrass yourself.
faint - slight; not very strong
My grandmother's house always has the faint scent of homemade chocolate chip cookies.
praise - words that express one's appreciation or enjoyment of something
Do you think it's possible for parents to give too much praise to their children?
over the top - excessive; too much of something
I can understand teenagers who want to wear unusual clothes and hairstyles to be different, but Kimberly goes over the top, wanting to wear a bathrobe, slippers, and bright purple hair to school!
effusive - expressing one's emotions or thoughts with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm
Lynn is often effusive, spending several minutes thanking people for even the most ordinary things.
lead - the main role in a show or performance, usually given to the best artist or musician
Ariana auditioned for the lead role of Guinevere in the musical Camelot, but she didn't get it.