Tuesday, March 26, 2019 “What does [...] mean?” / “What is the

meaning/definition of [...]?” (question): Use this to ask for the meaning or definition of a word or sentence.

“It depends / It depends on […]” (expression): Use this to say that the answer changes if the situation is one way or another.

To catch up (phrasal verb): When you are behind someone or something, and you want to be on the same level as that other person or thing.

To fire [someone from a job] (verb): To make someone stop working a job or for a company because they are a bad worker or did something wrong.

To lay [someone] off [a job] (phrasal verb): To make someone stop working a job or for a company because there isn’t enough money or work to employ them; it’s not because the employee is a bad worker.

To quit/leave [a job] (verb): To choose to stop working for a company or do a job.

Retired (adjective): When someone stops working due to age or having saved enough money.

Overwhelming (adjective): Severe, covering all, impossible to defend against, greatly superior.

Profitable (adjective): Giving lots of money, lucrative.

Nickname (noun): A shortened or altered version of a name, usually as a term of familiarity or endearment (e.g. Robert -> Bob, William -> Bill, Susan -> Susie, etc.).

Punctual (adjective): On time, present at a predetermined or prearranged time.

To drop by (phrasal verb): To visit. Helping [of food] (noun): A portion or serving of food

to eat during a meal. Serving [of drink] (noun): A portion or serving of liquid

drinks, like coffee or tea. Shameful (adjective): Causing shame or

embarrassment, taking away one’s dignity. To bargain (verb): To negotiate prices with a seller,

trying to get a better deal for yourself.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 To be on the same page (idiom): Everyone is at the

same level or understands the same idea; thinking in a similar way.

To be down on one’s luck (idiom): To be experiencing a bad situation or to have very little money.

Outlet (noun): A place or opening through which something is let out.

Seedy (adjective): Not respectable or decent.

Disreputable (adjective): Not respected or trusted by most people.

Antique (noun): Art, furniture, jewelry and other items that were made at an earlier time and are often valuable.

Ancient (adjective): Very, very old. Memorabilia (noun): Objects or materials that are

collected because they are related to a particular event or person.

To suffer (verb): To experience pain or a negative event, like an accident or a poor result.

To browse (verb): To look around at items for sale in a casual way.

To window shop (idiom): To look inside a store through the window and see what they offer, but not buy anything.

Monday, April 1, 2019 Colleague (noun): Someone who works or studies in

the same field or place as you, like a co-worker, fellow student, etc. A peer.

College (noun): A school or university for higher learning.

To squint (verb): To look at someone or something, or to protect your eyes from brightness, by nearly closing your eyes or lowering your eyelids.

To squeeze (verb): To hold something in your hands and grip tightly, usually to crush.

To beg (verb): To ask for, or request, something in a humbling, earnest way, like money for charity.

Beggar (noun): A person who begs for money. To cheat (verb): To act dishonestly in a harmful way,

like stealing or abusing someone’s trust. To fool (verb): To make someone think something false

by acting dishonestly. Humor (noun): Comedy, making people laugh. Joke (noun): A story with a punchline, or a sentence

that finishes the story in a funny way. Pun (noun): A play on words, or using words with a

double meaning (e.g. “What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef!”)

Black humor (noun): A type of humor that makes jokes of taboo or risqué subjects.

Slapstick humor (noun): A type of humor that is physical or uses the body, such as Charlie Chaplin.

To speculate (verb): To hypothesize or predict. To be the butt of a joke (idiom): To be the target or

victim of a prank or joke.

Hoax (noun): A fake story. Gullible (adjective): Naïve or credulous, easy to fool. Disguise (noun): Something worn or used to hide the

identity of a person or thing. Equinox (noun): One of two days in the year where the

night and day length is exactly the same. Solstice (noun): One of two days in the year where the

night or day length is at its longest or shortest. Phony (adjective): Fake. Errand (noun): A task or job given to another person,

or that has to be done. Derriere (noun): A butt. Elaborate (adjective): Complex, sophisticated. Outrageous (adjective): Ridiculous, crazy, fantastical. To harvest (verb): To collect food or crops when it’s

ready and mature after planting. Rookie (noun): New to the job, not a veteran. To dupe (verb): To fool. Score(s) [of people/things] (noun): A large number of. Suitcase (noun): A large container used to carry

clothing and belongings while traveling. To fascinate (verb): To cause someone to be very

interested in something or someone. Curious (adjective): Having the desire to learn or know

more about something.

Glamorous (adjective): Very exciting and attractive. To weep (verb): To cry very deeply. Architect (noun): A person who designs buildings. Collateral (adjective): Related but not in a direct or

close way. Miniature (adjective): Very small. Longing (noun): A deep desire or want. Word gets out (idiom): People hear about the news or

something that happened. To carve (verb): To make something, like a sculpture or

design, by cutting off pieces of the material it is made of, like wood.

Wool (noun): The soft, thick hair of sheep and some other animals.

Remnant (noun): The part of something that is left when the other parts are gone [usually plural with +of].

To infiltrate (verb): To secretly enter or join a group or organization in order to get information or do harm.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Custody (noun): In a divorce, having the authority of

the government to be the primary parent of a child. Alimony (noun): Money paid as child support to an ex-

husband or ex-wife to help raise the child.

Couple (noun): Two, a pair; two people who are in a relationship.

To be seeing someone (idiom): To be in a romantic relationship with someone.

Cross your fingers (idiom): Wish luck, trust chance. To have a sweet tooth (idiom): Liking sweet foods such

as chocolate or candy. Poisonous (adjective): Capable of inflicting or

transmitting poison or toxins. Stitches (noun): After injury, the sewing and suture to

close the wound. To put some of you in something (expression): To add

a little bit of your identity or “special touch” to something you did.

To pour your heart and soul into something (expression): To put a lot of effort into doing or making something.

Thursday, April 4, 2019 Pastry (noun): A bread snack made with sweet

ingredients, like croissants. Secular (adjective): Not connected to a religion. To be in good hands (idiom): To have someone

dependable, skilled, or trusted in control.

Taboo (noun): Forbidden, not acceptable to discuss or do in society.

Monday, April 15, 2019 Spire (noun): The protruding tower coming out of the

top of a church or castle. Parliament (noun): A government building or body that

makes laws. To catch fire (verb): To begin to burn. To set fire (verb): To make something burn. Independence (noun): A condition of a person, nation,

country, or state in which its residents and population, exercise self-government and sovereignty over the territory; not being governed or ruled by a mother country.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 To sleep in (phrasal verb): To stay in bed and sleep

longer than usual. To have the house to yourself (idiom): To be alone in

the house without anyone else there. Sunbathing (noun): An activity where people let the

sunlight hit their skin when they are in the park or on the beach.

Catch some rays (expression): To sunbathe. Among (preposition): To be part of a group or

category, or in a close, general area of a group. In relation to (prepositional phrase): Use this to ask the

position or relationship between two people or places (e.g. “Where is Algeria in relation to Tunisia?” “Algeria is to the west of Tunisia.” / “Who is Marcelo in relation to you?” “He is my teacher.”)

Convenience store (noun): A store that sells basic foods and house products, like milk, bread, candy, hygiene products, etc. Called a “depaneur” in Quebec.

Compass (noun): The tool used to orient yourself with north, east, south, and west.

Campus (noun): The area of a university.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Home is where the heart is (idiom): Your home is

where you feel familiar and safe. Heat wave (noun): A very hot day where it feels that

heat is washing you like a wave in the ocean. Dog day (idiom): The hot days of summer where you

don’t feel like doing anything. Usually accompanied by a heat wave.

Shade (noun): The cool, dark area caused by shadows.

To honor (verb): To show or give respect to someone or something, or give them status in society.

To harvest (verb): To gather or collect food crops after they have grown and matured from seeds and planting.

To be made up of (phrasal verb): To be composed of, or have parts of, a group or collective.

NiceEnergeticExpressiveManualCreativeCharismaticGreen thumbPositive (optimistic)Negative (pessimistic)Persuasive / ConvincingIntroverted / ShyExtroverted / SocialSpeedy / Quick / HastyIntelligent / Smart / GeniusWiseStrong / PowerfulPerseverant

MotivatedHappyKindGenerous / PhilanthropicResilient / ToughHumble / ModestProud / ArrogantEgocentric / SelfishHonestAggressiveSpendthriftFrugal / MiserlyMeanScientific / LogicalFunny / HumorousFunDishonest / CheatGentleCarefulProtectiveInventiveIndependentNeat / OrganizedSloppy / Messy / DisorganizedPassionate

ApatheticLazy / LanguidRomanticCrazyResourcefulTalkativeExciting / InterestingNervous / AnxiousDynamicFlexible / AdaptableFieryFriendlyForgetful / AbsentmindedImpatientJealous / EnviousSensitiveCunningGossipy / RumorChatterbox (noun)CuriousPensive

Thursday, April 18, 2019 Sincere (adjective): Emotionally honest, not ironic. Bride (noun): The woman who is going to marry.

Groom (noun): The man who is going to marry. Best man (noun): The “best friend” of the groom. Bridesmaid (noun): The women who accompany the

bride. Guest (noun): A person who is invited to a party or

event. Host (noun): A person or people who make and

organize a party or event. Kernel (noun): The seed or fruit inside some plants, like

corn, palm, or wheat. Moisturizer (noun): A skin cream to humidify and make

the skin soft. Conditioner (noun): A type of hair cream to make it

smooth, used in the shower.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Brand (noun): The maker or producer of a product (e.g.

Adidas is a brand of shoe, L’Oreal is a brand of cosmetics).

To cheat [someone] (verb): To lie to someone in order to steal money or take something without permission.

Con artist (noun): A person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true.

Union (noun): An organized group of workers who demand better working conditions from management.

Thursday, April 25, 2019 Cautious (adjective): Careful, waiting before deciding

to avoid danger or problems. Suspicious (adjective): Not trusting other people’s

intentions, skeptical of people. Paranoid (adjective): Believing everyone is against you

or working to hurt you.

Monday, April 29, 2019 Compulsive (adjective): Feeling an irrational need to

perform an action to satisfy it, like touching something with both hands, or having a habit.

Superstitious (adjective): Someone who believes in a superstition, or something that can change one’s luck or has some cultural belief, like black cats, walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, etc.

Puppet (noun): A marionette, a toy controlled through strings or your hand.

Dodgeball (noun): A sport where people play in teams and try to “knock out” other players by throwing bouncing rubber balls at them.

National anthem (noun): The official song and words of a country for patriotic singing.

Pledge of allegiance (noun): For some countries, a statement of belonging a person (like a student) says to a flag to show they belong to that country.

Loan (noun): Money borrowed to pay for something bought on credit.

Addition (noun): The process of adding or summing numbers. + Plus

Subtraction (noun): The process of subtracting or removing numbers. - Minus

Multiplication (noun): The process of multiplying numbers. X or * Times/Multiplied by

Division (noun): The process of dividing numbers.÷ Divided by

Solution (noun): The conclusion or result of a mathematical process. = Equals/Is

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Spoiled (adjective): 1. Rotten, not fresh; 2. Someone

who was treated with a lot of indulgence and little discipline as a child, and now acts entitled.

To spoil (idiom): To “ruin” the story for someone by telling them what happens.

Spoiler (idiom): A piece of information from a show, movie, etc. that reveals a secret or development of the story.

Drawer (noun): A container that you can pull out of a table or push it back in to close it.

Capable (adjective): Having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing.

Suitable (adjective): Meets expectations or is good enough for a person.

To borrow (verb): To take temporarily. To lend (verb): To give temporarily. Learner’s permit (noun): A temporary, student license

for driving.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 “A fool and his money are soon parted” (saying):

People who aren’t very smart usually lose money quickly.

Frugal (adjective): Careful or economical with spending money.

Cheap (adjective): Not wanting to spend money, so one buys the lowest quality possible.

Spendthrift (noun): A person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.

Miser (noun): Someone who hates to spend money.

Live within your means (expression): Don’t spend more money than you make.

To cut back (phrasal verb): To reduce the amount of something or do something less.

Automatic teller machine (noun): Also called an ATM, a machine that lets you deposit or withdraw money using your bank card.

Word of mouth (noun): Hearing something from someone directly, rather than getting it from a central source of information.

Obituary section (noun): In the newspaper, a section to memorialize people who died.

Hail (noun): Small pieces of ice falling during rain. Tabloid (noun): A type of newspaper that tells fake or

sensationalist stories for entertainment, or focuses on celebrity gossip.

Vandalism (noun): The act of destroying, damaging, or defacing property.

Thursday, May 2, 2019 To crave (verb): To want greatly or yearn for. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (saying): Beauty is

subjective. Self-reliant (adjective): Autonomous, not needing

anything else.

Willpower (noun): Mental resistance or strength, self-control.

Thursday, May 9, 2019 Claustrophobia (noun): A fear (phobia) of small

enclosed spaces. Luggage (noun): A suitcase or other container used

when you travel to carry clothes and other things. Baggage (noun): Personal belongings packed in

suitcases for traveling; luggage. Scenery (noun): The landscape of nature. To buy [something] in advance (expression): To buy

something some time before the expected use, like an airplane ticket.

Round trip (noun): A journey to a given place and back again, usually over the same route; also, a ticket for such a trip.

Ferry (noun): A boat that transports people over rivers, from one side to the other.

Trunk (noun): The baggage compartment of a car. Rush hour (noun): The times of day when traffic in

highways and streets is very heavy because everyone is going to work or going home from work.

Side of the road / Shoulder (noun): The emergency stop lane on the right side of the road.

Tone deaf (adjective): Unable to tell pitches in music apart.

To have an ear for music (noun): Having a capacity or being good at hearing, repeating, and understanding music.

To regret (verb): To feel shame, that you made a mistake, or that something was an error after doing something.

To comb [hair] (verb): To run a toothed piece of bone, wood, or plastic through hair to straighten it and make it smooth.

Stuffed (adjective): Filled with something, as in a container full of material.

Monday, May 13, 2019 Cockroach / Roach (noun): An insect and pest that lives

in human garbage and is difficult to kill. # past [current hour]: Use this before the half-hour

mark in telling time. # to [next hour]: Use this after the half-hour mark in

telling time.

“What time is it?”“It’s a quarter to ten.” (9:45)“It’s twenty past four.” (4:20)

“It’s twenty-two past six.” (6:22)“It’s half past five.” (5:30)“It’s ten to nine.” (8:50)

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 To gesture (verb): To move or indicate with one’s body,

arms, or hands. Body language (noun): Communicating with the body

instead of oral communication. Facial expression (noun): Gesturing with the face. To make a face (idiom): To gesture with the face,

usually in an exaggerated way.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019 To be too hard on [someone] (idiom): To treat a person

with an exaggerated level of vigilance, protection, or discipline.

Thursday, May 16, 2019 On a whim (idiom): Done without planning, on

impulse. Hitman (noun): Someone who kills people for money.

Allergy (noun): A damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Ballot (noun): The paper or document where a person

records a vote during an election. Swirl (noun): A spiraling, twisting shape in a circular

motion. To stir (verb): To move a spoon in a bowl or pot in a

circular motion. Shellfish (noun): Crustaceans and other sea animal

meat where the animal has a protective shell. Hexadecimal (noun): A type of language in computer

systems used to represent and simplify binary code. Tuition (noun): The amount of money to pay for an

education. Scholarship / Bursary (noun): An amount of money the

government, a university, or a program gives a student to pay for part of their tuition.

Monday, May 27, 2019

Shield (noun): A protective piece of equipment for soldiers in battle, usually held in the arm or hand, and made of wood, metal, or another hard material.

Shell (noun): A carapace of an animal for protection. To tell the difference [between things] (idiom): To be

able to differentiate or identify two or more things that are not the same.

Choir (noun): A singing group, usually based around a church, with different singers who sing different keys.

Star key (noun): On phones, the * button. Pound key (noun): On phones, the # button. To look forward to [doing something] (idiom): To have

good expectations for something and be excited for it. I bet (idiom): I’m sure, I’m certain, or I am confident

about something.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019 Meticulous (adjective): Showing great attention to

detail. “Don’t quote me on that” (expression): This is just my

opinion, don’t repeat what I said. Tenure (noun): A permanent position in a school or

university, being guaranteed a job. Seniority (noun): Experience and veterancy in a job,

compared to newer employees.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Obsessive (adjective): Pathologically worried about

detail or perfection. Perfectionist (noun): Someone who is worried about

making everything perfect; if something isn’t perfect, it’s not good enough.

Heterochromia (noun): A difference in coloration of the iris of the eye, or in hair or skin.

To pet (verb): To stroke hair, fur, or skin in a single motion.

To pat (verb): To touch your hand repeatedly up and down on the same place.

First impression (expression): The first evaluation or opinion you get about a person when you see them for the first time.

Feedback (noun): Advice, criticism, opinions, or reactions to improve something.

Pastry (noun): A baked good, like a cake or pie.

Thursday, May 30, 2019 To scratch (verb): To run one’s nails or a pointed tip

across skin or a surface.

To scratch the surface [of something] (idiom): To have discovered only a little bit of information about something with a lot of detail.

[To start something] from scratch (idiom): To start again from the very beginning, to create from nothing.

Kettle (noun): A container for boiling water, usually for tea.

Inclination (noun): 1. The level of an angle’s slope or degree; 2. A habit or tendency to do something.

Internship (noun): A period of work study where people work as interns for experience.

Monday, June 3, 2019 To rub (verb): To run one’s hands or fingers over a

surface, but not to damage it. To bite (verb): To close your mouth and use your teeth

on something. To sting (verb): To attack something with a pointed

end, like a tail or barb. To stab (verb): To attack something with a large

pointed end, like a knife or sword. Puppy (noun): A baby dog. Kitten (noun): A baby cat. To buy in bulk (verb): To buy in large amounts, or in

amounts that are not pre-weighted or pre-packaged.

Bracelet (noun): Jewelry or accessories worn on the wrist.

Necklace (noun): Jewelry or accessories worn around the neck.

Ring (noun): Jewelry worn around the finger. Earring (noun): Jewelry worn on the ears. Garter (noun): A band worn around the leg. Anklet (noun): Jewelry worn around the ankle. Piercing (noun): A stud, ring, or other material

adorning the skin and piercing it. Horizon (noun): The farthest your eye can see, the

curvature of the earth. Skyline (noun): A city or nature making a different

shape of the horizon.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Stall (noun): A tent or structure in an indoor or outdoor

market owned or operated by one group or person. Powder (noun): Sediment or ground deposits of spices

or minerals. Vantage point (noun): A lookout or elevated place that

lets you see a far distance. Gritty (adjective): The sensation or texture of sand or

very small stones.

Landmark (noun): A recognizable structure or geographical feature that lets travelers orient themselves.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Insurance (noun): Money collected or pooled in a fund

by members of a group, and which get that money to pay for emergencies.

Policy (noun): A contract, law, or rules that apply to an agreement or bill.

Statement (noun): In a bank, the monthly report of one’s finances.

Loan (noun): Money or property lent to a borrower. Investment (noun): Money or property given to a

person, group, or company to grow their operations and hopefully give a profit in the future.

Assets (noun): The value, money, or property a person has that they can use. All of your assets minus debts are called your net worth.

Debts (noun): Money or liabilities that need to be paid. Interest rate (noun): The percentage of a total debt or

loan that adds to the principal lent. Loan shark (idiom): Someone who loans money at an

extremely high, usurious interest rate.

Pension (noun): A fund that takes money from your paychecks, but when you retire, pays you a portion of your salary in your old age.

Alimony (noun): After a divorce, the money that an ex pays the other who has custody of the children.

To afford (verb): To be able to pay for something. Prince (noun): The royal son of a king and queen. Princess (noun): The royal daughter of a king and

queen. Priest[ess] (noun): A religious [wo]man. Depressed (adjective): Suffering from depression.

Thursday, June 6, 2019 Filler word (noun): Words spoken to “fill space” in a

conversation, like “um,” “uh,” “like,” and so on. Exclamation (noun): An interjection made as a reaction

to something, like “eh?” or “wow!” To stutter (verb): To repeat the beginning of a word,

usually a consonant, due to a speech problem. For example: “My n-n-n-name is M-m-marcelo.”

Report card (noun): A document from a school that shows a student’s grades and marks.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Tongue-tied (adjective): Unable to speak or communicate verbally because you are nervous about speaking.

Assembly line (noun): A form of manufacturing and production where each part of the process is done by a separate worker, doing the same part repeatedly.

To enable (verb): To give the ability to do something. Unemployment rate (noun): The percentage of people

in a city or country who don’t have, or can’t find, work. To take apart (phrasal verb): To dismantle, take a

whole thing and reduce it to its component pieces. To compromise (verb): To agree on something where

everyone is satisfied with the outcome, if there originally was disagreement.

Trade-off (noun): To get something, but then lose something else in return, and vice-versa.

A fortune (noun): A lot of money. To have deep pockets (idiom): To have a lot of money.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019 [A word is] on the tip of my tongue (idiom): To know

what you want to say, but you forgot the word. Cat got your tongue? (expression): The person is

shocked and not able to speak.

Stage fright (noun): Being afraid of speaking in public and experiencing fear when the focus of attention.

To flirt (verb): To behave as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for amusement rather than with serious intentions.

Pick-up line (idiom): A saying or sentence that shows a person you find them very attractive.

To demand (verb): To request forcefully or violently. To prioritize (verb): To rank things based on

importance. Impulse buying (expression): To buy something that

you were not planning on buying, but you saw it and wanted it.

Piggy bank (noun): A small ceramic money container, usually in the shape of a pig, to save small amounts of money.

To barter (verb): To trade without money.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 ? (?): ?.