ESL Podcast 615 - Watching Daytime Talk Shows
day off - a day when one has permission to not work, although it would normally be one's workday
Could you help me fix my car on your day off?
daytime talk show - a television show that has a host who speaks with many different guests on a particular topic usually related to family, romantic relationships, lifestyle choices, alcoholism, eating disorders, or related topics
Oprah is one of the most popular daytime talk shows ever.
you've got to be kidding - a phrase used when what one hears from another person seems ridiculous, very surprising, and unbelievable
You're going to major in music performance? You've got to be kidding! You're a horrible singer.
to book (someone) - to schedule a date and time when someone will perform or participate in a show at a particular place
Which band are you going to book for your wedding?
loser - a person who has had little or no success in life and has no hope for a successful future; someone who is not respected for his or her accomplishments
Brock isn't a loser! He has failed a few times in what he's tried to do, but that is because of bad luck.
exhibitionist - a person who does very strange or unusual things because he or she likes to be noticed by other people
Melissa is an exhibitionist who wears wild clothing and has a wild hairdo. She likes it a lot when other people stare at her.
attention - when someone concentrates on another person or thing by listening, watching, considering, and thinking about him, her, or it
Students, please pay attention. This is important.
human drama - relationships between two or more people with a lot of excitement and extreme emotions, often more than seems necessary or good
Whenever our family gets together for the holidays, there's always too much human drama and people end up crying before the day is over.
tragedy - something that is very sad, often because of a death
Romeo and Juliet is her favorite Shakespearian tragedy.
to relate to (something) - to connect with something on an intellectual and/or emotional level; to understand something because it is similar to something in one's own life
Even though he's 20 years older than she is, they're able to relate to each other really well because they have had so many similar experiences.
fame - being well-known by many people
The singer has a lot of local fame, but she's unknown elsewhere in the country.
at any cost - no matter how difficult something is or what negative consequences it may bring; no matter what else happens as a result
Ahmed wants to be a powerful attorney at any cost, even if it means working 14 hours a day for many years.
to exploit - to use someone; to treat someone unfairly, making them do something for oneself; to use another person's weaknesses or ignorance for one's own benefit
Makiko feels exploited by her boss whenever he asks her to make coffee, wash his car, or pick up his dry-cleaning.
ratings - the popularity of one television show compared to other shows
Shows with higher ratings can charge advertisers more for their commercial breaks.
salacious - with too much interest in sex; with an inappropriate level of interest in sexual relationships
Have you heard the salacious rumors about Joanne and her new boyfriend?
to get off (one's) high horse - to stop acting as if one were superior to other people; to stop pretending to be better than others
I know you think you're too good to vacuum and wash bathtubs, but please get off your high horse and help us for a just a few hours!
to get rid of - to no longer have or be around someone or something; to do something so that one doesn't need to interact with someone or something
Why does your little brother always follow us around? Isn't there any way we can get rid of him?
to get away with (something) - to not be punished for something bad that someone has done; to avoid the negative consequences of one's actions
The criminal thought he could get away with the crime, but he was wrong and the police arrested him.