10.30.06
from stem to stern
from stem to stern — from one end of something to the other [thefreedict]
On ‘Amdromeda’, Harper is a genius engineer, working on the warship Amdromeda. When asked how much he knows about the ship, he says: “From stem to stern.”
10.25.06
on the ball
on the ball — Alert, competent, or efficient [dict]
To praise someone who has done a good job, you could say: “you are really on the ball.“
10.24.06
brush up
brush up (on) — to revive, review, or resume (studies, a skill, etc.) [dict]
A guy is doing a project that requires using JavaScript. “I am now brushing up on JavaScript”, he said, “I learned it a long time ago.”
10.23.06
have a voice in
have a voice in — Also, have a say in. Have the right or power to influence or make a decision about something [answers]
Over lunch, a guy talked about a UK general criticizing the government’s Iraq policy. He said: “This general has a voice in this matter.”
10.20.06
psych up
psych up — get excited or stimulated [dict]
I attended a seminar on “how to gain a PhD”. The speaker gave very good advices on doing a PhD study, as well as pursuing a research career. He concluded his talk by urging the audience, many of whom were fresh PhD students: “Psych yourself up in the unique PhD experience.”
10.19.06
chuck out
chuck out — to expel, eject [dict]
A guy put a pile of personal stuff in his office, turning it into a storage room. Someone reminded him to clean up as soon as possible, otherwise his stuff could possibly be chucked out by the building administrator.
10.18.06
crow and rabbit
This is an interesting story for the working-class people. A crow is resting on a tree, doing nothing for the whole day. A bit jealous, a rabbit asks the crow: “Can I live your life?” “Of course,” says the crow. So the rabbit stops working and starts lying under the tree, enjoying the sun and breeze. Suddenly a fox jumps out of bush, and eats the rabbit by surprise.
“Oh, dear,” the crow says to the struggling rabbit, “I forgot to tell you: to live like me, you have to sit in a very high position.”
10.17.06
a wuss
wuss — A person regarded as weak or timid and especially as unmanly [dict]
If a guy acts like a baby or a girl, one may say to him: “Don’t be such a wuss (or be wussy)”. This phrase seems common in daily conversations.
10.16.06
dry spell
dry spell — a period of little or no productivity or activity, low income, etc [dict]
After I moved to a new house in the college, I can no longer watch TV programs conveniently. A friend noticed that my blog hadn’t been updated for a while, and said to me: “You’re having a dry spell now.”
