Saffle Says Podcast #001

Long time no radio show! Man, has it been a long time since I was on the air. I have no excuse, I have simply been too busy. I am happy to start 2008 with a new podcast. I am picking out some of my most recent idioms, vocabulary words and expressions that I have taught my Manabi students.

I'm looking for people to send me email to my new address: michael.saffle@gmail.com and ask me your tough English questions.

hang over: after a night of drinking the next day you can have headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise.

make or break: when you are are some point where what you do will either end in success or failure. "The right draft pick can make or break a good baseball team."

ducks in a row: where you have to be organized and do a series of things before you can achieve your goal. "Before I can buy my first house, I will need to get all my ducks in a row and talk to an agent."

up and comer: someone who is doing well and rising to the top of their field. It could be music, business or any other type of occupation.
Example, "I remember cheering for Asashyoryu back in 2001 when he was an up and commer in the Juro division."

welcome wagon: is a committee of neighbors who bring over a gift to families who move into the area. This is something that is very rare these days and I don't think it has ever happened to my family!

RV - recreational vehicle - A vehicle, such as a camper or motor home, used for traveling and recreational activities.
"The annual Burning Man Concert is a week long affair that most people drive to in their RVs."

prognosticate: to forecast or predict(something in the future) from present indications or signs. Example sentence: "Mark was renowned in the business community for his prognosticating skills when it comes to the market trends."

renaissance man: is a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields. I fancy myself as a renaissance man but I need to do more studying!

Nice Weather We're Having.

What is one of the first things you learn how to say in English? I bet it's "How is the weather today?" Well, let's expand on that and give you some more helpful idioms and expressions that Americans use when talking about the weather.
This is also a good form of small talk which you can use with friends or people you meet for the first time. Try them out the next time you go to an English class or talk to a English speaking person you know.






Indian summer: A warm and pleasant autumn.
"I was really not expecting an Indian summer in the middle of November. I might get my shorts out of the closet!"


Raining cats and dogs: I think most Japanese know this idiom, but it means when it is raining very hard.
"Hey Frank, you better go roll up you car windows, it's raining cats and dogs!"

Brass Monkey Weather: In the UK you might here this expression. It means very cold weather.
"It's brass monkey weather isn't it?"

Now here are a couple of idioms that sound like they might have something to do with the weather but in actuality they mean something entirely different.

Feeling under the weather: When you are feeling sick, or not very good.
"Hey Chuck, are you going to the party tonight? No man, I'm feeling under the weather."
"I think I'm going to call it a night and go straight home after work."

Fair-weather friend: In this case fair-weather means a friend who is only there for you when things are going well. That's the fair-weather, good times. When things are going bad and you need a real friend, a fair-weather friend is no where to be found.
"I am sick of fair-weather friends who are never around when I need help."

A snowball's chance in Hell: I think this is my favorite one. If you say someone doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell then you are saying there is no chance. 0% Not going to happen! The expression is a combination of snow which is cold and Hell which is thought to be very hot. How long can a snowball last in Hell? Not very long!
"The peace talk in Annapolis have a snowball's chance in Hell of brining lasting peace to the Middle East."

Death is on my mind....

Hello and welcome back. I have had morbid thoughts all day. I think it's because Halloween is right around the corner. That in mind I would like to go over some idioms that have more of a macabre theme.

In today's podcast I go over a few dark idioms. Try them out the next time you have an English conversation. You can always leave me a comment on this blog or email me if you want to try some practice sentences.

deader than a door nail - to be deceased with no chance of coming back to life. Can refer to a person or also something inanimate. For example:
"Do you think the proposal can be pitched again?"
"No way, that proposal is as dead as a door nail."

dead set against something - to be completely, adamantly against. For example:
"I wanted to visit Saudi Arabia but my mother was dead set against it. She thought it was too dangerous."

dead on one's feet - to be extremely tired while still standing, walking around. For example:
"These double shifts are killing me. I'm dead on my feet and I still have three hours left before I can go home!"


over my dead body - to not give permission to do something. For example:
"You can buy that sports car over my dead body! We can't afford that!"

Dining Alfresco

It's the time of year when people like to do things outside. Washington D.C. is famous for being very hot and humid in the "dog days of summer." But in May and June the weather is not unbearable and people like to get out and enjoy nature. One way people get outdoors more is to eat outside. Many restaurants have outdoor seating for people who want to eat "alfresco." On a sunny afternoon after work you can see hundreds of business and government workers enjoying "happy hour" with co-workers and friends.

What do you like to do in Japan when you leave work? Do you go straight home or do you have a "watering hole" you stop off at?

In today's podcast I introduced a few new vocabulary words and an idiom.

Dog Days of Summer: The hottest days of the summer that are both hot and humid. "Man, I hate the dog days of summer in Washington D.C. It's unbearable!"

Alfresco: Eating outside at a restaurant. "I love to eat alfresco during the spring and summer."

Happy Hour: the special time when restaurants and bars have drink and food specials. "Let's go to the Irish pub after work, they have great happy hour specials. $3 pints of Guinness!"

Watering Hole: another term for bar. "Let's go to my favorite watering hole near the office. They don't have a happy hour but they atmosphere is worth the extra cost."

Take me out to the ballgame!

Today's podcast we talk about baseball jargon, or the baseball terms that we use in everyday English.

curve ball: an unexpected change
Example sentence: "I was doing well in the interview until they threw me a curve ball question about what my top three weaknesses."

(hit a) home run: to do well at something
"He really hit a home run in his interview and I am sure he will get the job."

strike out: to fail at something
"I heard you struck out at the job interview. Better luck next time."

southpaw: left handed person
"As a southpaw, I had trouble writing with a fountain pen. I smear the ink with my hand!"

Let's Give Her a Hand!

I'm working on getting my new microphone up and running but it is proving to be more difficult that I would like. Until then I will use my old microphone and hope you can still hear me alright.

Today's lesson I talk about the idiom, "give someone a hand" which has two different meanings. One way to use the idiom is when asking or offering help. For example, "Could you give me a hand carrying this TV?" Or you could say, "Can I give you a hand carrying that TV?"
You can also use the idiom as a way to encourage applause. For example, a host of a television show might tell the audience, "Please put your hands together and give a big hand to tonight's performer."

GEC-2006-12-27 (The Be All and End All)

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and enjoyed a big piece of cake! We don't eat a traditional Christmas cake in America. We do sometimes eat something called a fruit cake but its not something that most people like. Today's podcast I talk about ice hockey and New Year's Eve. Also I go over the idiom "The Be All and End All." Please send me an email if you have any questions that you would like me to answer or if you just want to say hi. Enjoy the show and I'll see you guy in 2006.

Michael