ESL Podcast 888 - Advertising in TV and Movies
to clear (one's) throat - to make a low, deep sound, almost like a cough, to move the food or mucus (thick liquid) that is in one's throat so that one's voice will be clearer and easier to understand, and/or to get attention before one begins to speak
The presenter cleared her throat nervously before she began speaking into the microphone.
congratulations are in order - a phrase used when someone has done something impressive or good and deserve recognition, appreciation, admiration, and praise from other people
Did you hear that Ahmed just secured the company's biggest deal ever? I think congratulations are in order!
to score - to get or obtain something that is very good or impressive, especially when it is difficult to do so
How did you score front-row tickets for the concert?
product placement - the appearance of a company's product in a television show or movie, intended to make people want to buy it, usually in exchange for a payment from that company
Car makers pay a lot of money for product placement in action movies where they want the hero to drive their car.
brand - the name of a type of product or several related products sold by a particular company
David always buys his favorite brand of cereal, but Yuki just buys whatever cereal is on sale.
prominent - famous and important; seen and noticed by many people
What is that prominent building on the mountaintop?
logo - a small image that represents a company or organization
We need to find a graphic designer who can create a new logo for our website, stationary, and business cards.
in the blink of an eye - very quickly, almost unnoticeably
People who have a lot of money invested in the stock market can lose thousands of dollars in the blink of an eye.
subtle - very delicate, almost unnoticeable; not obvious
This dessert is mostly chocolate, but it has a subtle flavor of cherries.
to be embedded - to be placed within something else, almost becoming a part of it
How did those fossils become embedded in the rocks?
associated with - connected to; related to; thought about in connection with
Street gangs are associated with drugs and violence.
to beat around the bush - to be very indirect, wanting to avoid saying something
If you're going to ask your boss for a raise, do it directly. Don't waste her time by beating around the bush.
sole - the bottom of one's shoe; the part of a shoe that touches the ground
How do I get gum off the sole of my favorite shoes?
slow motion - referring to a video recording that is played very slowly so that one can see all the details
The referees had to view the action in slow motion to determine whether a player had committed a foul.
subliminal advertising - messages that appear very quickly that encourage viewers or listeners to buy something without making those people aware of the message
The company is considering flashing very quick images of its product on the screen as a form of subliminal advertising.
horde - many people; large groups of people
If we offer free pizza, hodes of students will come to the meeting.
genius - a very smart or intelligent person, much smarter than others
Albert Einstein was a genius in physics.