ESL Podcast 999 - Being Vague and Unfocused
pumped - very excited and eager to do something; prepared and ready to do something with a lot of enthusiasm
Jenna is pumped about going to the concert this weekend.
vague - unclear, without enough detail or clarity; not specific
The job description sounds interesting, but it's really vague about the salary and benefits.
to show up - to appear; to be present at a location or event; to come, especially without a formal commitment to do so
What time did Anastasia finally show up for the dinner party?
to make it - to be able to do something, especially to be able to go somewhere for some purpose
Do you think you'll make it in time for the opening remarks of her speech?
auspicious - favorable; an omen or indication that something good will happen
The sunny weather was an auspicious beginning to his first day in the new job.
fuzzy - vague; unclear, without enough detail or clarity; not specific
Childhood memories seem to become fuzzier as I get older.
sign-up sheet - a piece of paper where everyone who comes to an event or participates in an activity writes down his or her name and possibly contact information
Please use the sign-up sheet, take one packet, and find an empty seat. (one's) heart is in the right place - a phrased used to mean that one has good intentions and wants to do the right thing
Clarke wants to help, but everything he does seems to make the situation worse. At least his heart is in the right place. (one's) head is in the clouds - a phrase used to describe a dreamer, someone who is lost in thought, but not practical and not concerned with the details
Sheila is an artist whose head is in the clouds, always thinking about her next great piece of art.
absentminded - inattentive and forgetful, unable to concentrate or focus
Oliver is so absentminded that he accidentally put his car keys in the washing machine.
to daydream - to think about pleasant things, almost as if dreaming, but while one is awake, especially while one should be focusing on something else
These class notes don't make sense. I must have been daydreaming while the professor was talking.
to pin (someone) down - to make someone respond clearly, providing a definite answer or a piece of information, especially when that person would prefer to be vague
How did you finally pin him down and get him to make a decision?
to attend to - to pay attention to something; to address, handle, or manage something; to be aware of something and in control of it
Don't forget to attend to those bills before they become overdue.
nitty-gritty - specific details; the practical, meaningful facts related to something
We've verbally agreed to work together, but now we need to review the nitty- gritty during contract negotiations.
frequency - a measurement of the number of radio waves per second; a channel for radio
Which frequency should we tune into for radio news updates during an emergency?
Earth to (someone) - an informal, slightly rude phrase used to get someone's attention when that person is clearly thinking about something else, as if that person were on another planet
I had been talking for five minutes when I realized that Sara wasn't listening to me at all. I said, "Earth to Sara, can you hear me?"