Words November 2023 Week 1

They played games where the children used their hands. (They sang songs where the children used their hands.)

I wanted to see how much English I know. (I wanted to check how much English I know.)

They retired from work and enjoy a quiet life. (Maybe I will never retire.)

It was my last time as an umpire. (His eyesight is getting bad.)

I umpired many games. (He called balls and strikes for many years.)

The cost of sending a package has gone up.  (The cost of postage skyrocketed.)

There was a light turnout for the local election. (A low percentage of people voted.)

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. (She usually used her middle name as her first name.)

My brother and sister don’t get along with each other. (They don’t communicate with each other much.)

I want to rotate my summer clothes with my winter clothes. (She will take out her cold weather clothes and store her warm weather clothes.)

The tuition is cheaper for Tokyo residents. (American public universities are the same. If you are a resident of the state, the tuition is cheaper.)

We went glamping. (Glamorous camping has luxury rooms instead of tents.)

I sat behind him in class. (He sat in front of me in class.)

Jackets have a front opening whereas jumpers are put on over the head. (In the US, jumpers are usually called sweaters.)

In the US, a sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or shirt is called a jumper. (This is what I think of when I hear the word “jumper.”)

I made a jacket from an old kimono. (Many people repurpose old kimonos.)

She ships potted plants all over Japan. (To “ship” means to send by car, truck, train, or plane.)

We’ll have a junior high school reunion in November. (This must be reunion season. Many of my students have recently had or will soon have a reunion.)

Live today like there is no tomorrow. (Enjoy life and don’t worry about the future.)

I wasn’t crazy about squash when I was young. (I didn’t like squash so much.)

I will make a kaleidoscope for my granddaughter. (This was popular when I was young.)

The idiom “a bone to pick” comes from two dogs fighting over a bone. (Now it means one person is angry with another person and wants to talk about it.)

A car stop is also called a bumper curb, bumper block, and wheel stop. (She tripped on one and the city decided to remove it.)

Geriatricians, or geriatric doctors, treat older adults, especially those 65 and up. (There is a need for more geriatric doctors.)

She asked if her brother and sister were ok. (Don’t say, “She asked if my brother and sister were ok.”)

I vomited (threw up) two times. (“Threw up” sounds nicer.)

I felt nauseous. (I felt like throwing up.)