Lesson 9 · Street Talk 1 Vocabulary List

to unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation

"The reporter caught him with his pants down."

"The sudden arrival of the inspectors caught the disorganized staff with their pants down."

to arrest or see someone the moment they are doing something that is illegal or dishonest

"The police caught the thief red-handed."

"The police caught the thief red-handed as he was climbing out of the broken window with the stolen jewellery."

used to express anger and the fact that someone does not care about someone or something

"Forget that noise, I quit."

"Forget that noise; I am not going to tolerate your disrespectful behavior any longer."

having finished one's supply of something very recently

"We are fresh out of milk."

"I am sorry but we are fresh out of milk so you will have to drink your coffee black today."

to be entertained, delighted, or excited by someone or something

"Kids get a kick out of clowns."

"My grandmother still gets a real kick out of watching old black-and-white movies from the 1950s on television."

to put a sudden stop to something one was doing for some time

"Give it a rest."

"After working on the project for twelve hours straight, he decided to give his tired eyes a rest."

used when someone is about to undergo a medical operation

"He went under the knife."

"My father is going under the knife tomorrow for a hip replacement surgery at the local hospital."

various small things that have no importance or value

"I have some odds and ends."

"My drawer is full of odds and ends like old buttons rubber bands and broken pencils that I never use."

used of a person whose mind is busy with the thought of a particular person or thing and cannot think of anyone or anything else

"He has a one-track mind and only talks about football."

"He had a one track mind and could only think about football even during dinner conversation."

to figure out why things are the way they are and be able to identify the reason

"I can't put my finger on it."

"He couldn't quite put his finger on why the project felt incomplete."

to distract someone's attention or thoughts away from something, typically something stressful, worrisome, or unpleasant

"A movie helped get my mind off my problems."

"He listened to loud music to get his mind off his problems at work and at home."

in a complete and absolute way

"I totally agree with your opinion."

"I totally agree with your opinion and I think we should implement your suggestion as soon as possible."

used to express mild concern, surprise, or anticipation of a problem or mishap

"Uh-oh! I think we have a problem."

"Uh-oh! I think we have a problem because the car is making a strange noise again."

to become aware of something, often used when someone is slow to understand a situation or misses obvious signs

"He needs a clue."

"After several hints, she still didn't get a clue that her friends were planning a surprise party."

used to comment on someone's unexpected or unkempt arrival, typically when they appear disheveled, tired, or out of place

"Look what the cat dragged in — you are two hours late!"

"The team had almost given up waiting when, look what the cat dragged in, he finally appeared."

used to draw attention to something or someone, often in a surprised, impressed, or excited tone

"Lookit! Look at that beautiful bird."

"Lookit! Look at that beautiful bird sitting on the branch of that tall green tree over there."

to tease, mock, or harass someone, usually in a lighthearted or persistent manner

"Stop ragging on your little sister."

"The older kids at camp would rag on the younger ones for being homesick."

to eat a large quantity of food quickly and greedily, often with little regard for manners or the amount consumed

"Do not stuff your face."

"Stop stuffing your face with chips and save some room for the delicious dinner your mother is cooking."

used to express surprise, astonishment, or sometimes dismay, often in a humorous or old-fashioned

"Heavens to Betsy! That is very surprising."

"Heavens to Betsy! That is very surprising. I did not expect to see you here today."

a large or overweight woman

"She is Big Berta."

"The neighborhood kids playfully nicknamed the very large woman who lived down the street 'Big Berta'."

used to affirm or agree with something, often with added emphasis

"Yes siree, Bob! You are absolutely right."

"Yes siree, Bob! You are absolutely right, and I cannot argue with your logic at all."

to stop working properly, malfunction, or break down. Often used to describe a machine or system that has failed

"The old TV fritzed out finally."

"My old computer tends to fritz out when I have too many programs open at the same time."

used to express surprise, emphasis, or sometimes excitement

"By George! I think he is right."

"By George! I think he is right about that because the evidence clearly supports his claim."

to leave a location, usually to embark on a journey or trip

"We should hit the road before it gets dark."

"We should hit the road early tomorrow morning to avoid the heavy traffic on the highway."

used to emphasize the state of insignificance, emptiness, or dissatisfaction

"I know jack shit."

"After the stock market crashed, he realized he understood jack shit about investing his money."

extremely quickly or almost instantaneously

"It went before you can say."

"The food disappeared before you can say Jackie Robinson, leaving everyone wanting more."

a term used to refer to an average or ordinary person, often in a dismissive or humorous way

"The car is affordable for Joe Schmoe."

"Joe Schmoe walked into the dealership hoping to buy a car without being ripped off."

someone who is very prompt, reliable, and available when needed, especially in a situation requiring immediate action

"He is Johnny on spot."

"Whenever there's an urgent problem, our IT manager is always Johnny on the spot to fix it."

used to indicate that something is absolutely not going to happen or is completely unacceptable, often in a playful or exaggerated manner

"No way, José! I do not believe you."

"No way, Jos�! I do not believe you because your story sounds completely made up and fake."

a man who is charming, attractive, and often romantically involved with many women

"The ladies' man thinks he is a Don Juan."

"The charming Don Juan had a different date every night of the week."

used to convey surprise, annoyance, or disbelief

"Geez Louise! That is very expensive."

"Geez Louise! That is very expensive. I cannot afford to buy something that costs that much money."

used to express frustration, annoyance, or emphasis. It's often used when someone is irritated or trying to convey impatience about something

"For Pete's sake, please stop doing that!"

"For Pete's sake, please stop doing that! You are driving me crazy with your constant noise."

used to express surprise, frustration, or disbelief

"For the love of God, please stop screaming!"

"For the love of God, please stop screaming! You are giving me a terrible headache right now."

to get rid of waste material, particularly in an unorganized manner

"Don't dump trash here."

"Illegal dumping of industrial waste poses a significant threat to the local ecosystem."

to be deceived or tricked by someone or something

"He will fall for it."

"The gullible tourist was easily persuaded to fall for the scam involving fake lottery winnings."

to understand something by hearing it

"Did you get it?"

"I didn't quite get the complex instructions he was trying to explain."

behaving in a crazy or irrational manner

"That idea is nuts."

"That idea is nuts and nobody in their right mind would agree to it."

to purchase something

"I will pick up milk."

"Could you please pick up some groceries on your way home from work?"

a newspaper of low quality

"It is a rag."

"He writes for a sensationalist rag that publishes gossip and unsubstantiated rumors."

personal belongings or possessions

"This is my stuff."

"Please pack all your personal stuff carefully before we move to the new house."

someone who is feeling disappointed, down, or depressed, often due to a situation not going as expected

"He felt like bum."

"After failing the exam, he felt like a total bum, questioning all his life choices."

to empty something, such as a stock, merchandise, or money

"Clean out the refrigerator today."

"The thief managed to clean out the entire cash register in less than a minute."

a large nose, often used humorously or in a teasing manner

"He has a big honker."

"The comedian's exaggerated honker was a recurring visual gag throughout his stand-up routine."

an obnoxious, rude, or inconsiderate person

"That guy is a dick."

"Nobody liked him because he was such a complete dick to everyone he met."