2011年ESL之日常生活 16 Being Physically Strong

16 Being Physically 1 Strong

GLOSSARY 2

piano – a large musical instrument that one sits in front of, pressing many whiteand black keys with one’s fingers

* “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven is one of my favorite pieces for the piano.

as strong as an ox – very strong; with the ability to move very heavy things

* Arnold is as strong as an ox! Did you see him pick up that tree?

built – with well-defined muscles; with a strong, beautiful body that is verypowerful and can lift heavy things

* If you spent that much time in the gym, you could be built, too!

to have (something) coming out of (one’s) ear – to have a lot of something; tohave more of something than one needs

* Poor Margaret has work coming out of her ears! She really needs to hire anassistant.

muscle – a part of one’s body under the skin that connects pieces of bone andallows one to move in certain ways; the internal parts of one’s body that providestrength and movement

* Sheila painted the outside of her house over the weekend and her musclesreally hurt today.

to work out – to exercise; to do a lot of physical activity to improve one’sphysical health and/or lose weight

* Even if you dislike running, there are lots of other ways to work out, likeswimming, dancing, and playing sports.

up to the job – prepared and ready to do something; feeling competent and ableto do something

* None of these applicants 3 seem up to the job. Let’s keep looking for someonewith more experience.

to cut (someone) some slack 4 – to make a situation easier for another person,so that he or she does not have to work as hard; to make something easier forsomeone

* Do I really have to fix the plumbing 5 right now? Cut me some slack! I’ve been atwork all day and I really just want to rest for a few minutes when I get home.

there’s no way around it – it’s unavoidable; a phrase used to show someonethat there is no way to change something, because it is real or actual

* If Viktor doesn’t find a job soon, they’ll have to sell their home and move into anapartment. There’s no way around it.

be a man – a phrase used to tell a man that he needs to be braver or strongerand stop complaining or crying

* What are you crying for? Be a man!

suck it up – a phrase used to tell someone that he or she needs to stopcomplaining and do what is needed, even if it is difficult

* Just one more mile and then we’ll be at the top of the mountain. Suck it up!

You can do it!

to put (one’s) back into it – to work very hard while performing some physicalaction that demands a lot of strength

* These boxes are pretty heavy, but if we put our backs into it, I think we canmove them together.

deluded 6 – fooled, tricked, and confused; believing something that is not true

* Some people are deluded into thinking that taking vitamins is a substitute for agood diet.

I, for one – a phrase used to emphasize one’s position or opinion aboutsomething

* I, for one, think she would be a very good president.

to not put (one’s) back out – to not injure one’s back by doing too muchdifficult, physical labor 7

* When Hugh turned 70, he finally agreed to hire a gardener so he wouldn’t puthis back out.

to do the work of (a number) – for one person to do the same amount of workthat is normally performed by a larger number of people

* Randall is very efficient and can easily do the work of two or three people.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What does Paula mean when she tells Takeshi he has muscles coming out ofhis ears?

a) He isn’t a good listener.

b) He has big ears.

c) He is very strong.

2. What does Paula mean when she says, “I’m willing to put my back into it”?

a) She’s willing to pay him to move the piano.

b) She’s going to help him move the piano.

c) She’s ready to bet that he can move the piano.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

built

The word “built,” in this podcast, means with well-defined muscles, or with astrong, beautiful body that is very powerful and can lift heavy things: “Elviradreams of dating a male model who is tall, dark, and built.” A “built-in” issomething that is part of something else and cannot be moved: “They bought a1929 house with beautiful built-in bookcases.” The phrase “built-up” refers to anarea that has a lot of buildings and not very many natural areas: “We lived in abuilt-up area for years before we finally realized that we wanted to live in a morerural area.” Finally, the phrase “jerry-built” or “jerry-rigged” refers to somethingthat is built very poorly and will not last for very long: “The tornado 8 victims areliving in jerry-built shelters until they can find permanent housing.”

suck it up

In this podcast, the phrase “suck it up” is used to tell someone that he or sheneeds to stop complaining and do what is needed, even if it is difficult: “Stopcomplaining! Just suck it up and get the work done!” Normally the verb “to suck”

means to use pressure to pull a liquid into one’s mouth: “The thicker a milkshakeis, the harder it is to suck it up the straw.” The verb “to suck” is also usedinformally to talk about something that seems unfair and unpleasant: “You lostyour keys right before your job interview? That sucks!” Finally, the phrase “tobe/get sucked in” means to become involved in something, especially if onedidn’t really want to become involved in it: “How did you get sucked into watchingthat TV series?”

CULTURE NOTE

The Amateur 9 Athletic 10 UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the biggest “nonprofit” (anorganization that does not try to make money; not a business) sportsorganizations in the United States. It “promotes” (encourages) “amateur” (notprofessional; without payment) sports and physical “fitness” (health; being able toperform physical activities).

The mission of the AAU is “to offer amateur sports programs through a volunteerbase for all people to have the physical, mental, and ‘moral’ (ethical; relating towhat is right and wrong) development of amateur athletes and to promote ‘goodsportsmanship’ (honest, polite behavior while playing sports, whether winning orlosing) and good ‘citizenship’ (being a good, responsible member of society).”

The AAU was “established” (created) in 1888 and used to help athletes prepareto complete in the Olympic Games. Today, the organization focuses on creatingsports teams in local communities and arranging opportunities for people tocompete against other amateur athletes “in their age group” (with the same age),although it primarily organizes sports teams and competitions and other eventsfor children.

The AAU organizes teams for many different sports, including “the old standbys”

(traditional, common items) like baseball, basketball, football, and soccer, as wellas less common sports like “baton twirling” (throwing a small stick into the air,making it spin in circles), “jump rope” (holding the ends of a rope in each handand jumping over it repeatedly as one swings it over one’s head and aroundone’s body), and “surfing” (standing on a small board as it travels over oceanwaves).

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – b

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT 11

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 713: BeingPhysically Strong.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 12 713. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Go there to download a Learning Guide for thisepisode, and make your life a little easier by getting the transcript of everythingwe say on this episode.

This episode is called “Being Physically Strong.” It’s a dialogue between Takeshiand Paula. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Takeshi: What do you want me to do with this piano?

Paula: I want you to move it from the living room to the family room. You’re asstrong as an ox and that’s why I called you for help.

Takeshi: Lucky me. I don’t think I can move that piano by myself, though.

Paula: You’re built and have muscles coming out of your ears. Come on! Let’sput those muscles to work!

Takeshi: I haven’t been working out as much recently. I don’t think I’m up to thejob.

Paula: I’ll cut you some slack. I’ll help.

Takeshi: What I’m trying to tell you is that you’ll need at least three big guys tomove this piano. There’s no way around it.

Paula: Come on. Be a man. Suck it up! I’m willing to put my back into it, solet’s move this thing.

Takeshi: You are completely deluded if you think we’re going to move this pianoone inch. I, for one, am not putting my back out trying to do the work of three!

[end of dialogue]

Takeshi begins by saying to Paula, “What do you want me to do with this piano?”

A “piano,” you probably know, is a musical instrument that has white and blackwe call “keys” that you play on. Paula says, “I want you to move it from the livingroom to the family room.” Some big houses have two spaces where manypeople can sit down and talk or watch television. The family room is separatefrom the living room. I’m not sure exactly the difference, since my house is toosmall to have a family room and a living room, but basically it’s another livingroom. It’s a place where you have a sofa and perhaps some chairs. Peopleoften put their televisions, or in this case their piano in the living room or familyroom.

Paula says, “You’re as strong as an ox and that’s why I called you for help.”

Takeshi is as strong as an ox. An “ox” is usually a male cow, what we call a“bull,” that has had some of its male sexual 13 organs removed – the word is“castration” – and the animal is then trained to pull heavy things, to be a strongfarm animal. So we have this expression “strong as an ox” to describe a verystrong person – physically strong person, someone with a lot of muscles. Notlike me!

Takeshi says, “Lucky me.” Now, there he’s being sarcastic 14; he doesn’t reallymean he’s lucky. He’s saying that he’s not that happy that he has to come overand move this piano, that’s the idea. He says, “I don’t think I can move thatpiano by myself, though.” “Though” means however.

Paula says, “You’re built and have muscles coming out of your ears.” To say thatsomeone is “built” (built) in this context 15 means they have very strong muscles,you can see them on their body. “Built” has a number of meanings in English,however; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additional ones. Paulasays that Takeshi has muscles coming out of his ears, which is kind of a strangeexpression. To have something “coming out of your ears” means to have a lot ofsomething, to have more than what you actually need. Paula says, “Come on!

Let’s put those muscles to work!” Let’s start using those muscles.

Takeshi says, “I haven’t been working out much recently. I don’t think I’m up tothe job.” “To work out” is a two-word phrasal verb that here means to exercise,to do physical exercise. Someone says, “I’m going to go work out at the gym.”

I’m going to go do exercises at the gym; maybe run or lift weights, that sort ofthing. Takeshi says that he’s not up to the job. The expression “to be up to thejob” means to be prepared and ready to do something, to feel that you are able to do it. You might say about someone, “Well, she’s really not up to the job,”

meaning she isn’t prepared to do this, whatever it is.

Paula says, “I’ll cut you some slack. I’ll help.” “To cut (someone) some slack”

(slack) is an expression meaning I will make the situation easier for someoneelse, in this case so they don’t have to work as hard. “To cut (someone) someslack” can also mean not to require them to do as much as you want, to go easyon them, not to blame them, to give them some extra time for example, orwhatever they need to finish a difficult job.

Takeshi says, “What I’m trying to tell you is that you’ll need at least three bigguys (big men) to move the piano. There’s no way around it.” The expression“there’s no way around it” means that you cannot change something; this is theway it really is; it’s unavoidable; you have to do it this way or this has to be done.

In this case, Paula needs to get three strong men, not just one.

Paula says, “Come on. Be a man. Suck it up!” These are all informalexpressions. “Come on” means let’s go; let’s get started. It can sometimes beused to indicate that the other person is resisting what you are suggesting,doesn’t want to do what you are suggesting, and you are encouraging them –you are urging them to do what you want to do. Paula says, “Come on. Be aman.” “Be a man” is a phrase used to tell a man that he needs to be braver orstronger, and stop crying or complaining. “Suck it up!” is a phrase used to tellsomeone that he or she needs to stop complaining and do what is necessary,even if it is difficult. So, you may say, “Oh, it’s too hot. I can’t cut the grass today(the lawn today),” and your wife says, “Oh, just suck it up!” You need to go anddo it; stop complaining. Paula says, “I’m willing to put my back into it, so let’smove this thing.” “To put your back into (something)” means to work very hard,especially at something that requires a lot of physical strength.

Takeshi says, “You are completely deluded if you think we’re going to move thispiano one inch.” “To be deluded” (deluded) means to be confused, to believesomething that is not true, or to be fooled. You’re really saying they have somesort of psychological problem; they think something that isn’t true. The nounwould be “delusions.” Takeshi says to Paula, “You are completely deluded if youthink we’re going to move this piano one inch (meaning even a very smallamount). I, for one, am not putting my back out trying to do the work of three (orof three men)!” “I, for one” is a phrase that we use to emphasize your opinionabout something, your position about something. It’s not as commonly usednowadays, but you will still hear it. “I, for one, am not going to go to the beachtoday, because it’s raining.” You can go, but I am not. It is often said whensomeone else wants to do something, or other people are doing something but you are not going to do it. So you’re expressing somewhat more strongly, withemphasis, that you are not going to do this thing.

“I, for one,” Takeshi says, “am not putting my back out trying to do the work ofthree (men).” “To put your back out” means to injure or to hurt the back. Theback part of your body, usually between your shoulders and your waist or yourbuttocks, that’s your back. “To put your back out” means to hurt it, to injure it,which, of course, can be very painful. Takeshi doesn’t want to put his back outtrying to do the work of three, in this case of three men. “To do the work of (acertain number of people)” means to do the same amount of work that isnormally performed by three men or by whatever number you decide to use here.

So Takeshi says no, he’s not going to help Paula move – or try to move thispiano. Paula will just have to go and pay someone, rather than asking her friendTakeshi to come over and do it probably for free, although we’re not sure here.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Takeshi: What do you want me to do with this piano?

Paula: I want you to move it from the living room to the family room. You’re asstrong as an ox and that’s why I called you for help.

Takeshi: Lucky me. I don’t think I can move that piano by myself, though.

Paula: You’re built and have muscles coming out of your ears. Come on! Let’sput those muscles to work!

Takeshi: I haven’t been working out as much recently. I don’t think I’m up to thejob.

Paula: I’ll cut you some slack. I’ll help.

Takeshi: What I’m trying to tell you is that you’ll need at least three big guys tomove this piano. There’s no way around it.

Paula: Come on. Be a man. Suck it up! I’m willing to put my back into it, solet’s move this thing.

Takeshi: You are completely deluded if you think we’re going to move this pianoone inch. I, for one, am not putting my back out trying to do the work of three!

[end of dialogue]

Our scriptwriter is always up to the job! That’s because it’s the wonderful Dr.

Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.