ESL Podcast 711 - A Difficult Place to Find

to make one more pass - to try to do something one more time, especially when trying to find something while driving

Okay, we'll make one more pass to try and find the ice cream shop, but this is the last time!

to head back - to begin to go back in the direction from which one came; to turn around so that one can go back to where one started

The kids were screaming so much in the backseat of the car that the parents decided to head back home.

desk clerk - receptionist; a person whose job is to answer the phones and greet people who come into an office or business

The desk clerk has to sign a form whenever the mail carrier delivers packages.

hidden away - not easily seen because something is partially or entirely behind something else, not where one would expect to see it

When traveling as a tourist, it's a good idea to keep your money and passport hidden away.

to keep an eye out - to look for something; to be aware of one's surroundings

Keep an eye out for holes on the dirt road, or you might trip and fall.

blink and you'll miss it - a phrase used to tell someone that the thing he or she is looking for is very small and/or very hard to find, so he or she must be actively looking around for it

They used to joke that the town they grew up in was so small, they had to tell people, "Blink and you'll miss it."

stretch - a particular section of a road between two points

This stretch of highway has a lot of dangerous curves.

off the beaten path - sites that are not well-known and are rarely visited by tourists

When Jimmy travels, he likes to eat at restaurants that are off the beaten path, and not described in tourist guidebooks.

prominent - seen easily, often because something is very large or very different from the things around it

When you drive to the city, the first thing you'll see is a prominent sign that says, "Welcome to Bainbridge!"

landmark - an important building, statue, or natural object that helps one identify where one is

The Statue of Liberty is probably the best-known landmark in New York City.

charm - the characteristics that make something likeable, especially in a sweet or old-fashioned way

Part of her charm is the way she blushes whenever anyone compliments her.

hideaway - a place where one can go to be far away from other people and be left alone, without interruption

Many writers do their best work in secret hideaways.

neon sign - a sign with words and images shown in bright lights created by putting gas in glass tubes

The neon sign said, "open," but the doors of the restaurant were locked.

tucked away - far away from other people, buildings, or things, in a quiet place

They own a cabin that's tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains.

to keep (one's) eyes peeled - to actively look for something when one knows it will be difficult to find

In New York City, drivers always have to keep their eyes peeled for a parking space.

to spot - to find something that one has been looking for; to catch a glimpse of something; to see

Vince has great vision and was able to spot the airplane before anyone else could see it.

geez - a word used to show one's surprise, relief, or bewilderment

Geez that was a hard test!

to find a needle in a haystack - to find something that is very difficult to find, usually because it is very small or because it is one of many similar objects

Getting a good job in this economy is like finding a needle in a haystack.