ESL Podcast 705 - An Exclusive Guest List

draft - an early version of a written document that is incomplete and/or has many errors and needs to be edited and changed at least one time before the final version if ready to be shared with other people

How many drafts did you write before trying to get your novel published?

guest list - the names of all the people one expects to come to a party or event

The guest list includes the bride and groom's relatives and closest friends.

invitation - a written card or letter asking someone to come to a party or event and providing all the important information like the date, time, and place, as well as what the person should wear and bring

We received an invitation for a summer barbeque, and it says we should bring our own beer.

to go back and forth - to be unable to make a decision; to believe something is right or correct and then change one's mind and believe another thing is right or correct, repeating the process many times without being able to decide or choose

Yolanda keeps going back and forth about that dress, because she likes it a lot, but she doesn't really have enough money to buy something that expensive.

has-been - someone who was well-known, popular, and powerful in the past, but is not important or influential anymore

He had some success early in his career, but he hasn't done anything worthwhile in the past 10 years. He's a has-been.

A-list - the most popular and wealthiest performers, especially actors and singers

Movies can make a lot more money if they have A-list actors.

on the fence - unable to make a decision about something because one can see reasons for and against making a particular choice

Isaiah is on the fence about whether he should accept the job offer, because it seems like a great opportunity, but he would have to move across the country.

D-lister - an actor who is not well-known or popular

I've never met any celebrities - not even a D-lister!

exclusive - something that is desirable and available to only a small group of people, because not everyone is popular, beautiful, powerful, or rich enough to have or do it

Only members of the club can take advantage of this exclusive offer.

to rub elbows with (someone) - to spend time with famous, rich, and powerful people, especially at parties or important events

This conference will be a great opportunity to rub elbows with industry leaders.

VIP - a very important person; someone who has a lot of power and influence and is treated with respect for that reason

The best parking spaces are reserved for the company's VIPs.

to exclude - to not include someone; to not allow someone to have, do, or participate in something

People who make more than $40,000 per year are excluded from our financial assistance programs.

celebrity - a person who is very famous, especially an actor or singer

When they were in Los Angeles, they went on a tour to see celebrity homes in Hollywood.

gatecrasher - a person who goes to a party even though he or she was not invited

That's going to be the best party of the year! Even if I don't get an invitation, I'll go as a gatecrasher.

to buff up - to improve or polish something; to make something slightly better

You'd be much more likely to get a job offer if you buffed up your appearance for interviews.

if push comes to shove - a phrase used to indicate that one will do something if the situation becomes very bad or difficult and that action becomes necessary

I think most parents would steal to feed their children, if push comes to shove.

to bomb - to fail very badly; to a very poor job

Their first album bombed, but their second album is a huge success.