ESL Podcast 697 - Eating a School Lunch

lunch line - the line of people waiting to receive food and pay for it in a cafeteria, especially in a school or hospital

If you like the food and want more of something, you'll need to stand in the lunch line again.

lunchbox - a container used to bring food for lunch from home to one's school or workplace

Sofia's daughter wanted a lunchbox with a picture of Mickey Mouse.

to brown-bag it - to bring food for lunch from home to one's school or workplace instead of paying for a lunch in a restaurant or cafeteria

They realized they could save hundreds of dollars each year by brown-bagging it instead of going to restaurants

nutritious - healthy; referring to food that has many vitamins, minerals, and fiber, without too much sugar, fat, or salt

Most people prefer cookies and candy over more nutritious sweet foods, like apples and bananas.

to suck - to be bad, unpleasant, disappointing, or unwanted

This sucks! I waited in line for almost two hours, and now when I finally reach the ticket counter they're telling me the show is sold out!

gross - yucky; icky; disgusting; very unpleasant or unattractive

That bathroom is so gross! The shower is covered with mildew and it doesn't look like the toilet has ever been cleaned in months.

sucker - a rude word used to describe a person who has been tricked, used, or manipulated by another person

Did you really buy that old car for $7,500? Sucker! I bet it breaks down the first time you take it on the highway.

to throw a fit - to have a temper tantrum; to express one's anger or disappointment loudly by screaming or yelling and generally behaving badly

The little boy threw a fit in the toy store when his mother said he couldn't buy a toy gun.

to take (something) lying down - to accept something without protesting or opposing it even though one is unhappy about it or disappointed by it

Did you hear the company plans to cut everyone's salary by 10%? We won't take it lying down!

to ditch - to get rid of something; to throw away something; to not use or have something

Sheila finally ditched her old computer and bought a newer, faster one.

lunch money - money used to buy lunch in a cafeteria or restaurant, especially when referring to money given to a young child by his or her parents

Becca accidentally left her lunch at home this morning, but her teacher lent her some lunch money.

to trade - to exchange; to give someone something so that he or she will give one something else

Blue is my favorite color, but I was given a red balloon. Would you trade with me?

you're dreaming - an informal phrase used to show that whatever another person has just proposed or suggested is completely unacceptable and silly or naive; no way

If you think I'm going to clean your room for you, you're dreaming!

slice - a piece of food that is cut from a larger piece of food, especially when talking about bread, pies, cakes, cheese or meat

How many slices of turkey would you like on your sandwich?

to drive a hard bargain - to be a good negotiator; to be good at getting other people to agree to what one wants

The sellers drove a hard bargain and we ended up paying the full asking price for the house.

to split - to share something, with each person getting one part of something

When you go out on a date, do you always let the man pay, or do you split the bill?