Archive for November, 2009
Expression: Corny
Nov 29th
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Sometimes movies are corny, or music is corny. It is a fun adjective that can describe just about anything. A synonym for corny is cheesy, and it has nothing to do with cheese! Check out this episode to hear our corny examples.
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Jessie: I like it.
Harp: I like it as well.
Jessie: So, does that mean having to do with corn?
Harp: Um, no, not at all.
Jessie: What does it mean?
Harp: Something that is corny is something that is cliché, unoriginal; it’s oldfashioned.
Jessie: OK, so corny is an adjective describing something that’s not very sophisticated, maybe kind of sentimental.
Harp: Yeah, exactly.
Jessie: Not original.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: flydime
Expression: Down-to-earth
Nov 14th
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Are you a down-to-earth person or do you often have you head in the clouds? Are you realistic and sensible or are you a dreamer? In this episode we look at expressions used to describe people. Armando sent us a question about the expression down-to-earth and we decided to dedicate an episode to it and its synonyms, grounded and feet on the ground. Thanks Armando!
Jessie: Right, well, my friend Becky for instance is really down-to-earth. She never shows off or acts like she is better than other people. She is just honest and she always just acts genuine and real.
Harp: OK, that makes sense. She is a down-to-earth person.
Jessie: Right, but my cousin on the other hand…He tells everyone that he is a down-to-earth guy but he spends all his time dreaming about being a movie star. He is always dreaming about being something else.
Harp: So, he is not down-to-earth at all.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Quasic
Indian Summer
Nov 12th
Once again I’m going to blog about the weather. I know, I know, I’m a bit obsessed with the weather. I talk about it all the time, but it’s just so wonderful right now that I have to talk about it!
Montreal is in the middle of an Indian summer. “Indian summer” is an informal expression used in Canada and the Northern U.S. to describe the weather when there are unusually sunny, warm days in autumn, usually after the first frost.
This week the weather in Montreal has been amazing; it was 18°C a couple of days ago! To give you an idea of just how warm that is compared to typical weather at this time of year, the average temperature for Montreal on November 10 is 6°C. It’s a bit chillier now (today it’s 7°C) but it’s still a beautiful fall day with lots of sun.
The expression Indian summer is actually quite an old expression. If you’re interested in learning more about its history, check out this website.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/indian-summer.html
I hope you’re all having a wonderful fall day (or spring day for those of you listening in the Southern Hemisphere).
Harp
Expression: To be caught red-handed
Nov 8th
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When people commit crimes sometimes they get caught! That person may be caught in the act of doing it, and if you are caught in the act then we can say that you were caught red-handed. Another similar expression that is almost never used in a serious way is to be caught with your hand in the cookie jar. We give you lots of examples of being caught doing something and how to use the expressions here.
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Maura: Right, yeah.
Jessie: If you murder somebody you might get blood on your hands. Your hands would be red and if somebody saw you, they would know that you were the murderer.
Maura: Right, if you have the blood on your hands of the person who was killed, then probably you killed that person.
Jessie: Right, but today we can use this in a more light-hearted way too.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Chief Trent
Expression: All talk (and no action)
Nov 1st
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Do you talk about doing something but never do it? Then other people might be saying that you are all talk. People can be all talk at work, or they can be all talk about some plans they have for their future. Do you think that being all talk is a good thing?
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Maura: So this is a more literal expression, you can see the meaning in it.
Harp: Exactly.
Maura: But usually or sometimes we don’t say the full expression we just say that someone is all talk.
Harp: Yeah exactly. Sometimes people say something but they never have the intention of doing it.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Duncan Rawlinson
Of all the podcasts with 'real world' English examples, I like yours the best. Maybe its the fun you put into the lessons. The students can here that in your voices. And they also feel your dedication to what you are doing - it's just not a job you do, but a gift you give to everyone who listens. And while the students like the Lipservice PDFs for all the information it contains, as a teacher I am impressed by the professional effort put into making them. I give the Culips podcast and the Culips crew my highest recommendation, both as a teacher, and a listener. 
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