ESL Podcast 962 - Recovering After a Setback
burning a hole in (one's) pocket - a phrase used to describe the tendency for people to spend money very quickly and easily, especially when they're holding cash (paper and coin money)
I wish our employer would deposit our earnings directly into our bank accounts. Then, I wouldn't have all this cash burning a hole in my pocket.
track - an oval-shaped path used by runners, horses, or cars for racing
This is a quarter-mile track, so you have to run four laps to complete one mile.
tip - secret or privileged information that provides some advantage, especially for solving a mystery or making money
As the bank CEO, Hal could go to prison for sharing investment tips related to the company's stock.
sure thing - something that will definitely happen; something that is guaranteed to happen and does not involve any risk
Anyone who says that a new business is a sure thing is lying. It's impossible to know which businesses will succeed and which ones will fail.
race - an organized event where people, cars, horses, or other things compete to see which one can go the fastest and be the first to travel a certain distance, especially when observers are making bets to win
Pete lost more that $300 at the dog races last weekend.
setback - a temporary pause or reversal of one's progress or good luck; a challenging situation that delays or slows one's progress, but that is not expected to last forever
The government shutdown presented a setback to restaurants and hotels near national parks, because they depending on tourists' business.
monkey on (one's) back - a serious problem that lasts a long time and is difficult to resolve
This student loan is a monkey on my back. I can't wait to pay it off!
reversal of fortune - a change in luck, especially to good luck after a period of bad luck
After receiving more than 50 rejection letters, the author finally received an acceptance letter and celebrated his reversal of fortune.
winning streak - a period of time when a team or a better has many wins and no losses; an uninterrupted series of wins
The team had a terrific winning streak until late November, when the best player broke his ankle. Then the team started losing.
sign of things to come - an omen; a signal; the idea that what has just happened provides insight into what will happen in the future
In the past few years, extreme weather has become more common. Is this a sign of things to come as a result of global warming, or is it just a coincidence?
to jinx (someone) - to bring bad luck to someone; to do or say something that creates problems for another person
Never jinx an actor by saying "good luck" before a show! Don't you know you're supposed to say, "Break a leg"?
negativity - pessimism; a tendency to think that things are bad and that more bad things will happen
I hope the new employee is more optimistic than the last person who worked in that position. It's awful to work in an office with so much negativity!
with all you've got - with full effort; trying as much as possible
Yes, the exam is going to be hard, but if you study with all you've got, I'm sure you'll pass.
to plunk down - to spend a lot of money on something
It seems crazy to plunk down $400,000 on a small, one-bedroom apartment, but housing prices are very high in the city.
to get back in (one's) stride - to return to doing something well after a period of not doing something well; to resume one's progress or success
Sarah is a professional athlete who got in a serious car accident. It has taken a few months, but she's finally getting back in her stride after recovering from her injuries.