ESL Podcast 687 - Shopping for a Television
this is what I'm talking about - a phrase used when one has found what one has been looking for or what one has been interested in for a long time
Look at this video camera! Now this is what I'm talking about! Too bad it costs so much.
to upgrade - to get or buy a newer, bigger, or better version of something
Why don't you upgrade your cable service to the next level, so you can have more channels?
big-screen TV - a television set with a very large screen (flat surface where images are shown)
Our new big-screen TV lets us see more details than we could on our old, small TV.
selection - the variety of objects or options available for one to choose from, especially when deciding what to buy
This store has an excellent selection of fine wines and cheeses.
picture - image; the things that are seen on a television screen
Seeing pictures of the destruction made us realize how powerful the hurricane was.
sharp - clear, with defined lines around objects; easy to see; easy to distinguish between one or more images or things
My photos are always blurry. How do you take such sharp photographs?
comparison - the process of considering how two or more objects are alike or different
A fair comparison of these two food mixers should include speed and quality, not just price.
resolution - how detailed an image is; how easily details in an image can be seen
You'll need to give the printer a high-resolution copy of your logo before they can make your business cards.
brightness - a measure of how much light comes from an electronic screen, making text easier to read and images easier to see
Your laptop's battery will last longer if you reduce the brightness of the screen.
contrast - the strength of the difference between two or more objects, especially between dark and light
Some photographers like to take pictures at sunrise because they think it gives their photos better contrast.
washed out - dull and faded, without bright colors; a little bit hard to see; faint
After years of hanging on a sunny wall, the painting has become washed out and faded.
sound quality - how well recorded music or voices can be heard; a measure of how clear sounds are
I really like this band's music, but the sound quality is terrible. They need to record their music in a better studio.
surround sound - with speakers on all sides of the audience, not just in front
Almost all movie theaters have surround sound, because it makes people feel like the action they're seeing is happening all around them.
century - a 100-year period
Do you prefer classical music from the 18th century or the 19th century?
viewing distance - a measure of how much space there is between the person looking at something and the object he or she is looking at
The museum increased the viewing distance for its most famous pieces of art, because the curator doesn't want anyone to reach out and touch the art.
screen size - how small or large the screen is on a television set or computer monitor
Linnea's eyes aren't very strong, so her doctor advised buying a computer monitor with a larger screen size.
to take up - to occupy; to use a certain amount of space, time, or some other resource
Why did you park your car in the middle of the driveway? You're taking up all the space and there's nowhere for me to park.
to have in mind - to want; to be thinking about
First, tell us what you have in mind for the party, and then we can start talking about whether your budget is realistic.