ESL Podcast 624 - Advantages and Disadvantages in Life
to make (someone) sick - to make someone very angry or jealous; to cause strong negative emotions
It makes me sick to know that he has been lying to us for so long.
to bust (one's) butt - to work very hard; to do a lot of work
Heather busts her butt at the office all day long and expects the house to be clean and dinner to be ready when she gets home.
to be born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth - to be born into a rich family; to grow up in a family with a lot of money and privileges
Shannon was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and didn't have to get a job until she was in her late 20s.
to pull (oneself) up by (one's) bootstraps - to work very hard to improve one's situation in life, without receiving help from other people
When Hans came to this country, he had only $20, but he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and became a successful businessman and homeowner.
pleasantly surprised - having received information that one was not expecting, but that is good and positive
We were pleasantly surprised when the store's owner apologized for the mistake by giving us a $100 gift card.
blue blood - a person who belongs to the richest, most powerful, and most highly respected part of society; a person who is part of the elite upper class
They spent the weekend with other blue bloods, going to horse races and sailing on yachts, spending thousands of dollars without even thinking about it.
privilege - advantage; something that one has or does when most other people do not
These days, a good education is often a privilege, but many people believe that everyone should have access to a good education, no matter where they live or how much money they have.
old money - wealth that has been in a family for a long time; money that has been passed from one generation to another
The Rockefeller family has old money from the oil business.
to do no wrong - to be unable to make a mistake or error; for one's mistakes and errors to be forgiven, ignored, or overlooked by other people
Most parents think their children can do no wrong and get angry if anyone criticizes them.
to hold (someone) accountable - to make someone be responsible for his or her actions and accept the consequences; to punish or reward someone for what he or she has done
If we break the law, we'll be held accountable and forced to pay a fine and/or spend time in jail.
to get a break - to have an unusual opportunity to do something, often because the situation changed; to have good luck and be able to do something
Pierre is working so hard to sell his artwork. If he could just get a break, I'm sure he'd become famous.
wrong side of the tracks - in an undesirable part of town, where people are poorer and the houses aren't as nice, often where there is a lot of crime
As a teenager, Maggie wasn't allowed to date anyone from the wrong side of the tracks.
white trash - an informal, rude phrase used to refer to Caucasian (light-skinned) people who are poor, have little education, and have bad jobs or are unemployed
Hugo's family is white trash and none of his relatives have finished high school.
So what? - a phrase used to show that something isn't important or relevant
She has a degree from a good university, but so what? If she doesn't have any professional experience, she isn't qualified for the job.
to pay (one's) dues - to spend a long period of time working in unimportant, low-paying jobs before one can get a better job in a business or organization
John paid his dues for six years in the mailroom before he was finally promoted within the company.
to get used to (something) - to become accustomed to something; for something to begin to seem normal, common, or ordinary
When Edna moved to Malaysia, it took her a long time to get used to the food.
not on your life - an informal phrase used to mean that something is impossible and will not happen under any circumstances
Are you going to Yuki's party tonight?
Not on your life! I don't like spending time with her friends.