ESL Podcast 775 - Making Repairs on the Outside of a House
watch out - be careful; a phrase used to warn someone of danger
Watch out! That driver is talking on his cell phone and he isn't paying attention.
to trip over - for one's foot to hit something while walking and cause one to fall down
The ground is uneven, so look down to make sure you don't trip over these rocks.
crack - a narrow, long opening in a wall, a piece of concrete, a piece of wood, or any other type of smooth, solid surface
Do you think Mom will notice the crack in the teapot?
driveway - the area driven on by cars and covered with rocks, cement, or asphalt, connecting a road and one's house, often leading into a garage
How long did it take you to shovel the snow off the driveway?
fixed - repaired; corrected; for something that is broken to be made functional or operational again
We wanted to get the TV fixed, but it's cheaper to just buy a new one.
hazard - something that could cause damage, injury, or death; something dangerous
Living in this apartment, where there are so many plumbing and heating problems, can be a health hazard.
first things first - a phrase used to mean that someone needs to decide what is important and less important, and do the most important things first before worrying about less-important things
This kitchen is so dirty! First things first, let's take out the garbage and start to wash the dishes. We can worry about sweeping and mopping later.
front steps - the stairs between the outdoors and the front door of a home
Each Halloween, they decorate pumpkins and put them on their front steps for the neighbors to see.
fence - a wooden or metal wall around a yard or other area with grass, usually used to keep people or animals on one side, but sometimes just for decoration
Anita put up a tall fence to try to keep the deer from getting into her garden.
to lean - to rest against something at an angle, not standing straight up and down
Why are you leaning against the wall? Are you feeling tired or dizzy?
gate - a small door in a fence that opens and closes to let people in and out
They're really good friends with their neighbors, so they added a gate to the fence between their property so that their kids can play together more easily.
porch light - an outdoor light that provides light in the area immediately outside one's front door, especially where one has a chair or bench
They leave the porch light on all night, because they think it makes the neighborhood safer.
out - used to describe a light fixture that no longer produces light; used to describe something that has stopped working or has been used up
The oven light is out, so I can't check on the pie without opening the oven door.
bulb - the round piece of glass with a metal piece on the bottom that screws into a light fixture and produces light
I'm not sure if the lamp is broken or it just needs a new light bulb.
electrical - related to electricity; related to the power used to operate many household appliances, such as computers, coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers, and stereos
The house burned down because there was a problem with the electrical wiring.
disrepair - a state of disorder with things that have not been maintained or taken care of and are falling apart or broken
When they bought the house, it was in disrepair, but after working on it for a year, it is now in very good condition.
to put off - to delay doing something until later, especially when one should have done it sooner
If you keep putting off that studying, you're going to fail the test.