03.27.09
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
the applet doesn’t fall far from the tree – children are like their parents [idiom][wikiAnswer]
On the “Two and a half men”, Judith is Alan’s ex-wife. On Christmas eve, Judith and her boyfriend dropped by at Charlie’s house. The moment Judith saw newly made eggnog, she instantly falled for the alcohol. Alan said to Judith’s boyfriend: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?” A similar idiom is “Like father, like son.”
03.26.09
whinge
whinge – to complain, especially in an annoying and persistent manner [dict]
A colleague was not happy with an arrangment, and he said: “I’ve whinged to the department, but so far no news.” This word is chiefly used in British English.
03.24.09
someone’s ass is on the line
someone’s ass is on the line – if someone’s ass in on the line, they will be blamed if things go wrong [freedict]
On “The X files”, Mulder was following a lead to investigate a chemical pollution. He pressed an old man, who was an old friend of Mulder’s father, for more information. The man yelled: “I cannot tell you more. My ass is on the line.”
03.23.09
faff about
faff about – To waste time on an unproductive activity [wiktionary][urbandict]
Designing a new product is all about balancing trade-offs – how to get the best out of the limited budget. Someone propoosed to add a feature to the product, but was objected by another: “It looks nice but is not essential. I don’t think it is worth one month time faffing about how to implment it.” This phrase is mainly used in the British English (according to wiki). So if you say it to an American, you may get a puzzled look.
03.19.09
OKie Dokie
Okie Dokie – a playful way to say OK [urban]
My British colleagues often like to say “Okie Dokie” instead of “OK”. Perhaps the word “OK” has been so commonly used that it becomes mundane. On the other hand, “OKie Dokie” sounds cheerful and crispy! Sometimes, you may hear “Okie Do” (where -kie is silenced).
03.17.09
live in sin
live in sin – Cohabit outside marriage [dict]
During a chitchat, someone mentioned that his mother died when he was young and his father was now living in sin with his girlfriend. Of course, it shouldn’t be interpreted as he hates his dad; this phrase is used in a jocular fashion here. Sometimes the same phrase could be used to mean something serious. The context is important. It also depends on how literal the local customs and views are.
03.15.09
love handles
love handles – excess fat around the waistline (often used in the plural) [dict]
I wonder why they are called “love handles“, maybe because they provide a soft place to rest one’s hand while one’s arm is around a person. Just maybe, don’t take it too seriously. It helps memorize.
One synonym is “spare tire”, whose meaning is intuitive though less vivid.
03.11.09
catch some z’s
catch some z’s – Take a nap; go to sleep [dict]
In comic strips, “zzz” is often used to say someone is sleeping or snoring. Here is one example:
A: Excuse me. I’ve to catch some z’s.
B: I thought you just woke up. You sleepy head.
There are alternative expressions: catch some Zs, cop some Zs and cut some Zs. (see thefreedict)
