ESL Podcast 882 - Playing a Practical Joke
practical joke - a trick; something done to be funny (and maybe mean) by making another person seem silly or foolish
Harry's coworkers filled his office with balloons as a practical joke.
can't wait to see the look on (one's) face - to look forward to seeing someone's reaction to something, especially when one expects that person to be very surprised
I can't wait to see the look on Sheila's face when her boyfriend proposes!
in pieces - taken part; with all the pieces of an object separated so that they are not attached or connected and the device no longer works
It was easy to get the computer in pieces, but now we have to try to put it back together.
prank - a practical joke; a trick; something done to be funny (and maybe mean) by making another person seems silly or foolish
Kidnapping Carla's dog so that she would think it was missing was a terrible prank! Don't do anything like that again!
to let (someone) in on a joke - to let someone know about how someone is tricking another person, when that other person remains unaware of what is happening
Why are you all laughing? Let me in on the joke!
spare part - a replacement part used to fix one small piece of a larger device or machine
Bryan called five different auto repair shops before he found the spare part he needed for his motorcycle.
to freak out - to become very upset or agitated and lose control over one's words and actions, usually because one is very shocked, surprised, or worried
Theo's parents are going to freak out when they hear that he's dating a woman who is 20 years older than he is!
cruel - very mean; intending to hurt another person; not kind
Why did you promise to take your niece to the park on her birthday and then change your mind? That was cruel.
mischievous - creating trouble or causing problems, but in a fun or playful way, especially when talking about children
Jacques was a mischievous boy, always putting frogs in his sister's bed and throwing paper airplanes in class.
to lighten up - to relax and not take things so seriously; to be more playful and humorous
It was just a joke and I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Lighten up!
butt of the joke - the person who is being laughed at; the victim or target of a joke
Kolya always likes making jokes about other people, but he gets really mad if he's the butt of someone else's joke.
hilarious - very funny, making one laugh uncontrollably
That movie was hilarious! We were laughing so much that we started crying!
whoopee cushion - a small rubber bag with a small opening at one end, so that when one sits on it, it makes a loud noise like someone who is passing gas
Did you ever put a whoopee cushion on your teacher's chair when you were a student?
child's play - something that is very easy to do and does not require planning and preparation; something that is so easy to do that even a child could do it
Selling $5,000 per month is child's play! If you really want a challenge, try to bring in sales of $10,000 per month!
worthy of - good enough for; equal in value to; appropriate for
This huge, beautiful house is worthy of a king!
master - an expert; someone who is very good at doing something; with the greatest skill or ability
Liana is a master chef. I can't wait to eat in her home next weekend!
prankster - a person who plays a lot of tricks on other people
Gregory is known as a prankster in the office.