I DIG ENGLISH by Karolina Pabich: random word of the day: AN ALSATIAN/ GERMAN SHEPHERD

random word of the day: ALSATIAN (UK)/ GERMAN SHEPHERD – owczarek niemiecki, wilczur (a large brown and black dog, often used for guarding buildings and in police work)

(1) The [Good] Samaritans met today during [school] break. The old people were shared out. I got an old man called Bert Baxter. He is eighty-nine so I don’t suppose I will have him for long. (…) But worst of all Bert Baxter is not a nice old age pensioner. He drinks and smokes and has an Alsatian dog called Sabre. Sabre was locked in the kitchen while I was cutting the massive hedge, but he didn’t stop growling once.

(2) Bert Baxter sent a card to the school because he doesn’t know where I live. (…) His card had a picture of an Alsatian on the front. Inside Bert had written, ‘Best wishes from Bert and Sabre. P.S. Drain blocked up’.

(3) Sabre is staying with us. Our dog is staying at grandma’s because it is scared of Alsatians.

(4) (…) and Pandora’s father has made an Alsatian flap in the back door so that Bert doesn’t keep having to get up to answer the door to Sabre.

(5) Sabre hasn’t bitten anybody for ages, but he always looks as if he’s about to. Even other Alsatians flatten themselves against walls when they see Sabre approaching.

(6) Is an Alsatian a German shepherd? (…) [Y]es, also called German shepherd, terrifying whatever they’re called.

to guard – stać na straży (to protect someone or something from being attacked or stolen)

The Good Samaritans – Dobrzy Samarytanie (a voluntary organization which offers counselling to people in despair, especially by telephone; Adrian and members of his group visit the elderly at their homes to help them with everyday tasks.)

I don’t suppose – nie sądzę (I don’t think that)

a pensioner – emeryta, rencista (a person who has stopped working because of his/her age or health)

a sabre/ a saber – szabla (a heavy sword with a wide, usually curved blade, used in the past by soldiers on horses)

to be locked in a room – być zamkniętym w pokoju (to be unable to leave a room because you don’t have or can’t use the key)

a hedge – żywopłot (a line of bushes or small trees planted very close together, especially along the edge of a garden, field or road)

to growl – warczeć (to make a low rough sound to show anger)

a drain – odpływ, rura odprowadzająca (pipe or channel which is used to carry water from a building)

a dog flap – drzwiczki dla psa (a small portal in a wall, window or human door to allow pets to enter and exit a house on their own without needing a person to open the door)

to answer the door – otwierać drzwi (to open the door when somebody knocks or rings the bell)

to bite ( bit/ bitten) – gryźć (to use your teeth to cut into something or someone)

as if he’s about to – jakby zaraz miał (It looks like he’s going to …)

to flatten yourself against a wall – przywrzeć do ściany (to stand very close to a wall so as not to be seen)

to approach – zbliżać się (to come nearer and nearer)

And a few bonus quotes about Sabre ;)

(7) Bert Baxter is worried about Sabre because he is off his food and not trying to bite anybody. (…) Bert said Sabre is better, he tried to bite the milkman.

(8) Sabre was happy for once; he was chewing something in his kennel. (…) Found Bert’s teeth in Sabre’s kennel. Bert rinsed them under the tap and put them back in his mouth!

be off someone’s food – nie mieć apetytu (to lack appetite)

to chew – gryźć (to use your teeth to cut into something or someone)

a kennel – buda dla psa (a small, usually wooden shelter for a dog to sleep in outside)

to rinse – opłukać (to clean with water)

a tap – kran (a faucet, where water comes out from)