ESL Podcast 713 - Being Physically Strong
piano - a large musical instrument that one sits in front of, pressing many white and black keys with one's fingers
"Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven is one of my favorite pieces for the piano.
as strong as an ox - very strong; with the ability to move very heavy things
Arnold is as strong as an ox! Did you see him pick up that tree?
built - with well-defined muscles; with a strong, beautiful body that is very powerful and can lift heavy things
If you spent that much time in the gym, you could be built, too!
to have (something) coming out of (one's) ear - to have a lot of something; to have more of something than one needs
Poor Margaret has work coming out of her ears! She really needs to hire an assistant.
muscle - a part of one's body under the skin that connects pieces of bone and allows one to move in certain ways; the internal parts of one's body that provide strength and movement
Sheila painted the outside of her house over the weekend and her muscles really hurt today.
to work out - to exercise; to do a lot of physical activity to improve one's physical health and/or lose weight
Even if you dislike running, there are lots of other ways to work out, like swimming, dancing, and playing sports.
up to the job - prepared and ready to do something; feeling competent and able to do something
None of these applicants seem up to the job. Let's keep looking for someone with more experience.
to cut (someone) some slack - to make a situation easier for another person, so that he or she does not have to work as hard; to make something easier for someone
Do I really have to fix the plumbing right now? Cut me some slack! I've been at work all day and I really just want to rest for a few minutes when I get home.
there's no way around it - it's unavoidable; a phrase used to show someone that there is no way to change something, because it is real or actual
If Viktor doesn't find a job soon, they'll have to sell their home and move into an apartment. There's no way around it.
be a man - a phrase used to tell a man that he needs to be braver or stronger and stop complaining or crying
What are you crying for? Be a man!
suck it up - a phrase used to tell someone that he or she needs to stop complaining and do what is needed, even if it is difficult
Just one more mile and then we'll be at the top of the mountain. Suck it up! You can do it!
to put (one's) back into it - to work very hard while performing some physical action that demands a lot of strength
These boxes are pretty heavy, but if we put our backs into it, I think we can move them together.
deluded - fooled, tricked, and confused; believing something that is not true
Some people are deluded into thinking that taking vitamins is a substitute for a good diet.
I, for one - a phrase used to emphasize one's position or opinion about something
I, for one, think she would be a very good president.
to not put (one's) back out - to not injure one's back by doing too much difficult, physical labor
When Hugh turned 70, he finally agreed to hire a gardener so he wouldn't put his back out.
to do the work of (a number) - for one person to do the same amount of work that is normally performed by a larger number of people
Randall is very efficient and can easily do the work of two or three people.