random word of the day: A LITMUS TEST

random word of the day: A LITMUS TEST of/for something – test, sprawdzian, próba (something that is used to make an opinion about whether or not someone or something is good/acceptable

(1) I ordered the cheese-only the first time around – best litmus test for a pizza joint. It was heavenly.

the first time around – za pierwszym razem (the first time)

a (pizza) joint – lokal, knajpa  (a  cheap bar/ restaurant)

heavenly – niebiańska, boska (great, giving great pleasure)

(2) Being on-time for the interview is an excellent 'litmus test' for being reliable on the job!

reliable – solidny, rzetelny (behaving in the expected way and therefore trusted)

on the job –  w pracy (at work)

(3) Table manners are often considered a litmus test of your character or upbringing. When dining out, note that the French fill wineglasses only until they are half full—it's considered bad manners to fill it to the brim. They never serve themselves before serving the rest of the table. During a meal, keep both hands above the table, and keep your elbows off the table.

table manners – maniery/zachowanie przy stole (the way you eat your food, or the socially acceptable way to eat your food, especially when eating a meal with others)

considered – postrzegany jako (thought to be)

upbringing – wychowanie (the way in which someone is treated and educated when they are young)

to dine out – jeść poza domem (to go out to eat)

(Please) note that – proszę zwrócić uwagę (notice/remember that)

to fill a glass to the brim – napełnić po brzegi (to fill the glass until full so that you can’t add any more)

 (4) I suspect that the best litmus test for a major/career path/life mission is to see whether you can actively study or do something for 10 hours straight and still enjoy it the next day. (…)If something passes the 10 hour test, then accept it: you love this subject. You’re probably going to love it for the next few years and maybe forever. If nothing has yet passed the test, keep searching. You’re doing a disservice to yourself by settling.

a major – główny kierunek studiów (the most important subject that a college or university student is studying)

(10 hours) straight – bez przerwy (without stopping, without a pause/break)

keep searching – nie przestawać poszukiwać czegoś (keep looking for it)

to do a disservice to somebody – szkodzić sobie (to do something to help which turns out to be bad and harmful)

to settle (for something) – godzić się na coś, zadowolić się czymś, poprzestawać na czymś (to decide to have something, although it is not exactly what you want or it is not the best)

(5) I had a boyfriend who wasn't an ideal choice and a potential boyfriend who also wasn't an ideal choice,'' the woman explained. Her litmus test had a rather charming absurdity about it. She gave each man John Kennedy Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning risible masterpiece, ''A Confederacy of Dunces'' (L.S.U*., 1980), and that, in fact, is what the two turned out to be. ''I wanted to see if they cared enough about me to at least read a book I liked. (…) Neither read it.'' She dumped them both.

charming – czarujący (pleasant, attractive)

absurdity – absurdalność, niedorzeczność (something that is difficult to understand, because it’s extremely unreasonable or silly)

risible – absurdalny, śmieszny (absurd, ridiculous, ludicrous)

a masterpiece – arcydzieło (a great work of art)

a dunce – osioł, nieuk (a person who is slow to learn or stupid, especially at school)

to turn out to be – okazać się (to prove to be)

to care about somebody – zależeć komuś na kimś (to like/love someone very much)

at least – przynajmniej (not less than)

to dump somebody – rzucić (to break up with somebody, to finish a romantic relationship with somebody)

* Louisiana State University