ESL Podcast 969 - Using Electronics on Airplanes
portable electronic devices - small machines that can be carried easily, especially notebook computers, tablets, cell phones, and personal DVD players
The kids aren't allowed to take any portable electronic devices to summer camp, because they're supposed to be enjoying nature.
takeoff - the moment when an airplane leaves the ground and begins to fly
Justin was very nervous during takeoff and he gripped the armrests tightly.
laptop - a notebook computer; a portable computer where the screen folds down over the keyboard
Small, lightweight laptops are good for traveling, but it can be difficult to use such a small keyboard and screen.
fuss - trouble; worry; excitement; involvement
Why is there so much fuss about R-rated movies? It seems like most teenagers have seen them, and they're fine.
regulations - rules and policies that people must follow
The USDA has created many regulations that are supposed to keep America's food supply as safe as possible.
signal - a message or data sent from a machine
If these signals start flashing red, it means there's a problem with the space shuttle.
to emit - to produce or send out, usually a sound or a light
A weird sound is being emitted from the car's engine, so we're going to take it to the mechanic.
to interfere with - to become involved and create problems; to become an intrusion or obstacle
It must be awful to have a mother-in-law who interferes with your marriage that much!
communication system - a group of processes, procedures, and networks in which people and/or machines exchange information
This is a top-secret communication system, so everyone who connects to it has to have their own password.
navigation - the practice of reading maps and instruments to determine where one is and how to go where one wants to go
As phone navigation systems improve, fewer people are using maps to get around big cities.
tablet - a small electronic device that performs many of the same functions as a computer, but it smaller, lightweight, and flat
This little tablet can display the content of thousands of books, magazines, and newspapers.
to twiddle (one's) thumbs - to be bored and have nothing to do; literally to hold one's hands together and move one thumb (shortest and widest finger) around the other very quickly
How can you just sit there twiddling your thumbs when there's so much work to be done?
FAA - Federal Aviation Administration; the U.S. government agency responsible for regulating aviation (flight)
What kind of FAA approvals would we need to expand the local airport?
to ease up - to relax and become less controlling over something
Some of the parents are saying that the teacher should ease up and not give so much homework to the youngest students.
to power down - to shut down a computer or another machine that needs a little bit of time to turn off completely
Normally it just takes a few seconds to power down the computer, but right not, it's installing some new updates, so it might take awhile.
all clear - a signal showing that something is permissible, that one is allowed to do something, or that some danger has passed and everything is safe again
The soldiers have to wait for the all clear signal from the general before they leave their positions.
to take a flying leap - a rude, informal phrase used to tell someone to leave or go away
He is so annoying! I wish we could just tell him to take a flying leap.
heap - pile; mound; a large number of objects that are resting on top of each other in an unordered pile
All the dirty clothes were thrown into a heap in the laundry room.