ESL Podcast 745 - Welcoming a Houseguest
to rearrange - to change the position of objects, especially furniture; to change the layout of where things are placed in a room
Connie wants to rearrange the office so that her desk faces the window instead of the door.
houseguest - a person who stays in someone's home for a period of time, sleeping there at night
Gerardo is a great houseguest, because he always offers the wash the dishes and he usually takes us out for dinner at least once.
to talk to (oneself) - to speak quietly without expecting anyone else to listen or answer one's questions; to think aloud
Phiyao often talks to herself at work, because it helps her concentrate.
don't be like that - a phrase used to ask someone to stop acting a certain way, used when one disapproves of his or her attitude or behavior
I know you're upset about the presentation, but please don't be like that. I hate to see you so depressed.
eccentric - with unusual or strange behavior that isn't normal in society
Reya is quite eccentric, wearing unusual clothing and often singing loudly in public.
heart of gold - nice, sincere, and friendly toward other people; a good person
Walter often looks angry, but once you get to know him, you'll realize he has a heart of gold.
vague - not clear or precise; hazy; undefined or difficult to understand; not exact
Justin tried to give vague answers about where he had been, but his parents kept asking more questions.
to play (something) by ear - to do whatever feels right at the moment, proceeding without a clear plan; to be spontaneous
This is a wedding! You can't play it by ear. We need to pick invitations, music, food, flowers, and so much more.
open-ended - without a clear end or answer; not ending at a specific time or in a specific way
The meetings are open-ended, so they end whenever we run out of things to talk about.
to outstay (one's) welcome - to stay in someone's home or office longer than the host desires
Frederic brought his kids over to play with our kids, but they stayed for eight hours and really outstayed their welcome.
speak for yourself - a phrase used to show that one's opinion is different from the opinion another person is expressing
This is the cutest sweater ever!
Speak for yourself. I think it's ugly and I wouldn't wear it if you paid me a million dollars.
to hog - to use something all the time and not let anyone else use it at all; to fully control the use of something
Cassie, your brother is complaining that you're hogging the bathroom in the morning.
restricted - unable to move freely; with limitations on one's movements or actions
This area is restricted. Only people with special permission can enter the building.
small price to pay - something that is mildly unpleasant or inconvenient, but must be done in order to obtain greater benefits
Having your teeth cleaned every six months is a small price to pay to avoid cavities and other dental work.
company - the presence of another person; having another person nearby
Edward really enjoys Katya's company, but he just isn't interested in her romantically.
unwarranted - without justification; without a good reason or explanation for doing something
I understand why Jacques is upset, but his rude behavior is unwarranted.
assumption - something that one believes is true, but may be wrong because one does not have any information about it or proof for that belief
When forecasting profits for the next year, we made an assumption that sales will increase by seven percent.