Words March 2024 Week 3

The term “Paralympics” probably comes from “paraplegic” and “Olympics.” (It is believed that the first Paralympics was for injured British soldiers from WWII.”

Some ancient superstitions said that getting up on the left side of a bed was bad luck. (Some Japanese superstitions are: 4 and 9 as unlucky numbers, cutting one’s nails at night brings bad luck, hiding the thumbs when seeing a hearse, a picture may take your spirit away, hanging the laundry at night is bad luck, rest after a meal and you may turn into a cow, pig or elephant, and big earlobes bring good fortune.)

She asked me to say, “Lion King.” (She said that my pronunciation was not good.)

The school desks were enlarged because of the larger book sizes. (Now some desks have a ridge along the edge of the desk, so tablets or minicomputer won’t slide off the desk.)

We bought some talismans. (Hopefully the good luck charms will being good fortune, health, and safety to their lives.)

We planted the hyacinth bulbs in water. (He is having a contest with his two grandchildren to see who will grow the healthiest flower, so far, he is losing.)

I’m thinking about making a cinderblock garden. (These are also called concrete blocks and you can plant flowers or herbs in the holes of the blocks.)

He is famous for his historical paintings and drawings. (They included scenes from the Meiji, Taisho and Showa Eras.)

He asked me to refer him for the job. (You must go through an employment agency to get a job there.)

There was a no-show so I could join the lecture. (There was a lottery for two more lectures, but she couldn’t get a seat.)

He is an impersonator. (He sounds like different famous people when he talks.)

I got a phone call during class. (Don’t say, “I got a phone during class.”)

The soy sauce for Hyoken shumai comes in a mini ceramic gourde. (The mini gourdes come in about 48 different designs.)

He was a comic book illustrator. (He draws the characters for the comics and anime.)

It was a daily newspaper comic strip. (One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, is said to be the most popular manga in Japan.)

Women who nurse other mother’s babies are called “wet nurses.” (Emperor Heisei was the last emperor to have a wet nurse.)

High school sock hops were popular ing the 50s and 60s. (Teenagers would dance in the gym wearing socks so they wouldn’t damage the hardwood floor.)

I was vaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella. (Unfortunately, many young couples today do not want to vaccinate their children.)

My gums were swollen. (Her dentist will treat the problem over the next few weeks.)

He had a pain in his left knee. (He also has a problem with his backbone so he may need surgery.)

I might have cataracts and/or glaucoma. (A specialist will decide what treatment is needed.)

We decided to get together after many years of talking about it. (They mentioned in their new year greetings every year about getting together, they finally did it!)

She is a pharmacist. (She works in a pharmacy.)

The class was cancelled because of the flu. (In the States, the whole school will close if between five and ten percent of the students are sick with the flu.)

“Pros and cons” comes from the Latin “pro et contra” meaning “for and against”. (What are the pros and cons of working from home?)

Every year I send fewer New Year greetings. (I cut down on sending greeting cards.)

He didn’t know how much the postage would be. (He didn’t know how much it would cost to mail a package.)

We held the class reunion at a yakitori izakaya, a.k.a. tavern. (I think it is better to say “izakaya” and if the person doesn’t know what it is, you can say that it is similar to a tavern.)

We communicate using Line. (We often text each other.)