Blog
Idiom of the Week: A Field Day
"If this photo gets out, the journalists will have a field day! You'd better destroy every copy." "A field day" brings to mind a day of fun and activities outdoors (i.e. in a field), or a festival. But we use it as an idiom to mean a frenzy of activity and excitement,...
Word of the Week: Twilight
"I love to walk along the beach at twilight." Twilight is the time after sunset before it's completely dark. Its adjective form is "twilight" (lit by twilight): "The twilit garden was a romantic setting." 「黄昏の海辺を歩くのが大好き。」 黄昏とは日没直後のまだ完全に暗くなっていない時間です。 Twilight...
Picture of the Week: Pink Hydrangeas
Why are some hydrangeas blue and some pink? Aluminum in the soil turns the flowers blue, but when the pH is not acidic enough the plant can't use the aluminum. Which color do you prefer?...
Phrase of the Week: My Least Favorite
"Yuck. Licorice is my least favorite jelly bean flavor." Your favorite is the one you like most. Your least favorite is the opposite, the one you like least. Despite the use of the word "favorite", it's the one you dislike most. 「ゲ―ッ、アニスは一番嫌いなジェリービーンの味だ。」...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
"I'm sorry, but your insurance doesn't ____ fire damage." Fill in the blank. A. cover B. support C. apply D. pay 「申し訳ありませんがお客様の保険では火災損害は対象外です。」 Bのsupportでは保険が逆に火災のほうを支えているようにきこえるのでアウトです。Cは、前置詞のtoさえあれば使えますが、ここにはないので使えません。Dも同じく、pay...
Trivia of the Week: Stay!
Most American dogs don't know how to "wait!" before they get their food, but a well-trained dog knows how to "stay!" even when her owner walks away. Other dog commands such as "sit", "lie down" and "shake" are the same as in Japan. アメリカの犬のほとんどは、ご飯の時の wait!...
Idiom of the Week: I Can’t Wrap My Head Around It
"I've read the explanation for this homework problem eight times but I just can't wrap my head around it. Can you explain it more clearly?" In order to understand something difficult or complicated, you must "wrap your head around it" like a big snake coiling around...
Word of the Week: Shy
"Come say hello to our guest. No? Sorry, he's shy." Someone who is shy is afraid or nervous to meet or interact with people they don't know well. An introverted person is not necessarily shy, although the two words are sometimes used interchangeably. An introvert is...
Picture of the Week: Lilies
These lilies would make a beautiful decoration in your home, wouldn't they? But you must be careful, because lilies are poisonous and can be dangerous for pets and children....
Phrase of the Week: I’ve Had Enough
"I've had enough of your constant arguing! If you two can't get along, go fight somewhere else." When you've had enough of something, you can't take it anymore. You're sick and tired of it. Of course, you can also say, "I've had enough," to indicate that you don't...
