ESL Podcast 861 - Planning a Children's Party
cake - a sweet, bread-like dessert that is cut into pieces and shared with many people on special occasions, especially on birthdays
Janus is turning 30, so we're trying to fit 30 candles on top of his birthday cake.
party hat - a colorful paper hat in the shape of a cone, given to all the people who come to a party
Everyone wore bright yellow party hats that said, "Happy New Year!"
to pull out all the stops - to do everything or all parts of something, without any limitations or hesitations; to do something wholeheartedly
This conference has to be perfect, so we're going to pull out all the stops, no matter how much it costs.
streamer - a long, curling piece of brightly colored paper, hung on walls, doors, and/or windows to decorate for a party
On Halloween night, they decorated their front porch with orange and black streamers.
balloon - a small piece of rubber that is filled with air, usually in a round or oval shape, used for decoration and/or as a toy for children
The clown made animal shapes out of balloons and gave them to the children.
noisemaker - a small, usually inexpensive device that makes a lot of noise, either by hitting two parts together or by blowing into it like a horn
There were so many noisemakers at the street fair that we couldn't hear any of the bands.
party favor - a small gift given to the people who attend a party
The party had a princess theme, so all the girls received crowns, wands, and other party favors.
confetti - very small, colored pieces of paper or plastic that are used to decorate tabletops and/or thrown into the air to celebrate something
Did people throw rice or confetti at their wedding?
ice cream - a sweet, frozen dessert made from milk, sugar, eggs, and fruit or other flavorings
This apple pie would be even better with a scoop of ice cream.
icing - a thick, sweet, colored substance put on the top and sides of a cake as decoration, often creating flowers or words
He bought a small chocolate cake with red icing in the shape of a heart for his girlfriend.
nightmare - a bad, scary, or frightening dream; a very bad experience
Cleaning up after the storm was a nightmare!
goodie bag - a small bag of inexpensive gifts given to the people who come to a party, especially a child's birthday party
When I was a kid, the other children just brought presents for the birthday boy, but now, the birthday boy is expected to give everyone a goodie bag!
clown - a person who dresses in very large, brightly colored clothing, often with huge shoes and a red nose, and does and says funny things to try to make people laugh
The clown tried to make the little girl smile, but she was too scared of him.
inflatable castle - a large, plastic or cloth structure in the shape of a castle (the home of kings and queens) that is filled with air so that children can play on and in it, and that folds into a small object when the air is let out
The kids aren't allowed to play in the inflatable castle unless they take off their shoes.
to turn - to have a birthday and become one year older
Leyla is really looking forward to turning 16 and getting her driver's license.
to suspect - to think and believe that something is true, but not have any proof or evidence
I suspect that everyone is thinking the same thing, but nobody wants to say it out loud.
to grow up - to become mature; to become an adult, no longer be a child
What do you want to be when you grow up?