Thursday, May 28, 2009

Does 'pesado' have any English translation?

It does! and it's not 'heavy'! When a person is 'pesado' there are probably a couple of different ways to say that in English. One is just 'annoying' and the other is 'obnoxious'. Obnoxious is pretty common, especially when talking about someone REALLY annoying, pesado! Of course, context is very important, so sometimes obnoxious can also mean someone you don't like at all!

1) She's so obnoxious! She's always talking about her job and how great she is at it!

2) Why are boys so obnoxious around girls?

3) Seriously? Do you really have to be this obnoxious in front of my friends?!

Are we still on for today?

This is an expression that you use when you want to confirm a plan with someone else. So if On Monday you arranged to meet up with a friend on Thursday, you may want to double-check that you're still on to meet up!

1) Hey Susan, I was just calling to see if we're still on for Wednesday?

2) Are we still on to meet up tomorrow?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Weird out, Gross out & Freak out

You all probably know freak out, I'm sure. But the other two may not be as popular for non-native speakers. The meanings are similar to the original adjective form but used as a verb. So if something weirds you out it makes you feel weird. The same goes for 'gross out', so think of eating tripe! doesn't that gross you out!?

1) I'm sorry I got all weirded out last night when I met your parents!

2) I don't like to talk about blood. It just grosses me out.

3) Would it weird you out if I slept naked on the couch?

4) It really grossed me out when I saw you eat that raw lobster.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

What's that?

This is an expression used to ask for repetition. It is probably one of the most common ways to ask someone to repeat what they said ( I'd say the most common, but the Linguist in me prevents me from making such an unattested assertion!). It is said with a rising intonation and so it does not sound the same as when you ask 'what's that? (for which the answer would be "it's a deer")

1) A: I can't make it to the meeting tomorrow.
B: What's that?
A: I said I can't make it to the meeting tomorrow!

2) A: Are you going to John's?
B: What's that?
A: Are you going to John's!?

To be down for something

This expression is VERY popular and it means the same as 'to be up for something'. They both mean that you want to do something, or that you're willing to do something.

1) Are you down to meet up tonight?

2) If you want to go to Peter's I'm down for it.

3) I'm down for pretty much anything tonight.

In any of these examples you can replace 'down' with 'up' and it will mean the same!

Anal

This is a word that does not mean what you think! Or actually, it does but it is used with a different meaning most of the time! If you describe someone as 'anal' then you mean they're annoyingly picky about something. I will use some examples to make this clearer.

1) John can be very anal about the food he eats.

2) Why do you have to be so anal about everything!?

3) I don't like it when people get too anal about simple stuff.