ESL Podcast 667 - Trying to Remember
to hurry up - to rush; to do something more quickly than usual
Hurry up! We need to run to the bus stop or we'll miss the bus!
combination - the series of numbers, usually three sets of two digits, needed to open a door, lid, or lock
The combination for Ryan's bicycle lock is 62-31-64.
lock - a device used to close a door, lid, or other thing so that it can be opened only with a key or combination, to keep something safe and not allow it to be stolen
Someone broke the lock on the door and stole most of our merchandise.
to know (something) by heart - to have something memorized; to know something and be able to say it without reading it
Do you know any poems by heart?
on the tip of (one's) tongue - something that one would normally be able to say, but has temporarily forgotten and is not able to say right now, although it seems like one will be able to remember and say it soon
The actor's name is on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think of it right now.
digit - a numerical character; a one-character number: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or
U.S. social security numbers are nine-digit numbers.
to have (something) down cold - to have something memorized very well so that it would be impossible for one to forget it or be uncertain about it
Dmitry thought he had his lines down cold, but on opening night he got nervous and couldn't remember what he was supposed to say on stage.
to slip (one's) mind - for one to not be able to remember something temporarily, even though one normally knows it
I'm so sorry I forgot your birthday! It slipped my mind.
mnemonic - a mental trick used to remember something, often a poem or a funny sentence
Most students use a mnemonic to learn the names of the planets: "Mother visits every Monday just so uncle never pouts" helps them remember "Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto."
to jog (one's) memory - to do something that helps someone remember something; to cause someone to remember something
Hearing a certain song sometimes help to jog my memory, especially if it's the same song that was playing when I first heard or learned the fact I'm trying to remember.
to have to do with - to be related to something; to be connected to something; to be relevant
This book has to do with the Mexican-American War.
to let (someone) in on - to let someone know about something, especially when it is a secret known by only a few people
If I let you in on a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone?
to lie through (one's) teeth - to tell a very bold, daring, or outrageous lie
I can't believe you've been lying through your teeth all this time!
to concentrate - to focus; to think very clearly about something, not being distracted by other things, people or ideas
How can you concentrate on your homework if you're listening to music and watching TV while reading the textbook?
to run for (one's) life - to run as quickly as one can, as if there is the possibility of death if one does not move quickly enough
Run for your life! There's a bomb in that building!
if you know what's good for you - a phrase used to show that one's advice is based on the other person's best interests and that he or she will benefit by following that advice
If you know what's good for you, you'll stop falling asleep at the office.