My Digs: 101

Hi guys!

I hope you're doing well, especially given the current heatwave. I know. Starting your blog post by making a weather reference isn't exactly what you call a promise of an interesting entry, is it? :)

given – biorąc pod uwagę (taking into consideration)

a heatwave – fala upałów (a period of time when the weather is much hotter than usual)

a weather reference – wzmianka o pogodzie

isn't exactly what you call – nie można tego nazwać (you can't say it's)

As for more exciting news, I have recently launched my website and would be very happy if you could have a look if only to see me, for once, looking all serious and grown-up in a blazer, not blowing soap bubbles or holding a heart-shaped lollipop ;)

Here's the link:

karolinapabich.pl

to launch a website – to start a website (you can also launch a new product)

if only to – chociażby po to, aby (even if it's just to)

for once – chociaż raz (at least this one time)

Also, I would like to take a moment to address another issue. There's been a common misunderstanding among my friends and family regarding the name of this blog. Namely, most people are under the impression that the 'dig' in I DIG ENGLISH means what 'dig' in 'Let's dig a hole' does. Well, it doesn't :) I'm going to copy and paste what I wrote on Facebook a few days ago :)

random word of the day: to DIG – (old-fashioned slang) to like/ understand something)

1. I'm digging your new hair in your profile pic. (2) I dig it when you have a smile on your face. (3) 5 Ways to Tell She Digs You /a title/ (4) I dig English.

to take a moment – poświęcić chwilę (spend a little time to)

to address another issue – poruszyć inną kwestię (to discuss another topic)

namely – mianowicie (used when you want to give more detail or be more exact about something you have just said)

I hope the above entry makes it a little more clear what 'dig' is supposed to mean here – The literal meaning is what the previously-orange-and-now-pink heart represents – ' like', 'love', even 'obsess over' :) The second meaning could be 'understand', although I wouldn't expect anyone to go that far with the interpretation :)

literal – dosłowne (basic /meaning/)

The My Digs segment could be understood quite literally as 'words and phrases that I have dug up (found)' or 'words and phrases that I like/ find interesting'.

I hope you don't find this explanation snooty or pretentious. When you want to start a blog with Blogger, you usually have this great idea for a blog title and then, a few seconds later, you find out that someone before you had this idea too and the name is taken. You check if you can make the name hyphenated, but, guess what? That name's taken as well. So you end up with the least uninspiring title or one that is very out there (my case) ;)

snooty – przemądrzałe, zadzierające nosa (unfriendly because you believe you are better than other people

pretentious – pretensjonalne (trying to appear or sound more important or clever than you are)

taken – zajęte

hyphenated – pisane z łącznikiem (I-DIG-ENGLISH)

uninspiring – mało oryginalne, nudne (not making you feel excited or interested)

out there – dziwne (unconventional, strange, crazy)

Also, if you feel like getting more random words of the day in your Facebook feed, you could visit/like my Facebook page:

Facebook.com/karolinapabichpl

With all this information overload out of the way, we can move on to today's dig ;)

(news) feed– aktualności

information overload – nadmiar informacji (too much information)

out of the way – za nami (behind us)

to move on to – przejść do

101 (one oh one)

• a name given to introductory courses in American schools e.g.,  
  Algebra 101, Philosophy 101, Biology 101
• used to describe basic knowledge needed to be successful in a given field e.g. Dating 101, Parenting 101
• often used to give someone advice or point out a blatant mistake.

101 – podstawy (the basics of)

an introductory course – wstęp do … (a basic course in)

to point out – wytknąć

blatant – rażący, oczywisty (obvious)

And some examples I've found with a little help from Google ;)

It's Parenting 101. You don't ask a child, "What would you like for lunch?" Rather, you offer two choices: "Ham or honey?"

If you want to game, don't buy a laptop. It's Gaming 101. Build yourself a kickass desktop for that price that will max it out and any other game on the market.

kickass – zajebisty (cool, awesome)

to max something out – zwiększyć możliwości /polepszyć maksymalnie (to maximise the capacity of something)

a desktop (computer) – komputer stacjonarny

I'm pretty sure it's Cooking 101 that citrus and yoghurt = not a good combination!

a citrus (sing.) citrus/ citruses (pl) – owoc(e) cytrusowy/e

It's Psychology 101 that people look to prove what they already believe to be true, rather than accept new facts.

to look to – to be interested in, want to

It's Politics 101 that you fill whatever venue you take, or you don't choose that venue.

a venue – miejsce koncertu, konferencji etc. (a place, location)

to fill a venue – to make sure that enough people show up so that the place doesn't seem empty

It's Economics 101: small supply, big demand. It's going to shoot prices up.

supply – podaż

demand – popyt

to shoot prices up – windować ceny (to make prices go up)

Isn't that the first thing you learn in Marketing 101? That your friends and acquaintances will be your first customers?

an acquaintance – znajomy (someone you know but who isn't your best friend)

We all learned in Sales 101 that it's far easier and cheaper to sell to an existing customer than to create and cultivate a relationship with a new one.

to cultivate a relationship with a customer – zabiegać o klienta (If you cultivate a relationship, you make a special effort to establish and develop it, because you think it might be useful to you)

It's eBay 101 that you don't buy until your questions are answered.

Every journalism student learns in News Writing 101 that you never want to bury your lead; you want the most pertinent bit of information in your first paragraph.

to bury – zakopać, ukryć (to hide)

a lead – sedno, klucz (the most important piece of information)

pertinent – związany z tematem (relevant)

It is Negotiation 101 that you never concede anything without something in return.

to concede – oddawać w czyjeś ręce (to allow someone to have something, even though you do not want to)

in return – w zamian (in exchange for)

First dates are a blinking minefield. You put yourself out there and hope for the best. If it's bad, you move on. Try again. It's Dating 101.

blinking – cholerne (bloody, frigging, etc.)

to put yourself out there – zaryzykować, zaangażować się w relacje międzyludzkie (to take risks, to get involved, to be more extrovert)

to hope for the best – nie tracić nadziei, być dobrej myśli

to move on – (zapomnieć o czymś) i żyć dalej (to start to continue with your life after a bad experience)

Very interesting. Isn't it a rule taught at Witness Interview 101 that you never ask a question unless you know what the answer is going to be?

I hope you have found it interestingl. Have a great week everyone!!!!

See you in my next post!

Karola

My Digs: Average is the New Black

Hi guys!

The inspiration for today's post is none other than my old t-shirt. Well, it's not ancient but it's definitely past its prime. Have a look yourselves. (I'm sorry for the awful picture quality. I can't really help it.)

I've been wearing it to aerobics classes and before you ask me why I don't go and buy myself a cool new spandex top, let me tell you one thing: spandex is for people who know a thing or two about sport and fitness. In my book, you can wear spandex to the gym ONLY if you:

• exude a sense of purpose when in the gym;
• are not intimidated by the gym environment;
• can memorise the kind and number of repeats of exercises to do at the gym;
• are or seem to be a sporty type of person.

none other than – nic innego tylko (used to say when a person or a thing is surprising in a particular situation)

past its prime – widziała lepsze czasy (after the period of the most activity and success)

spandex (US) – lycra (UK) (a stretchy material used especially for making clothes fit tightly)

to know a thing or two – wiedzieć co nieco/ orientować się (to have a lot of practical skills and knowledge learnt through experience)

in my book – moim zdaniem (in my opinion)

to exude a sense of purpose – sprawiać wrażenie, że mamy określony cel (to exude – to show something so other people can feel it/ a sense of purpose – knowing what you want to do)

to be intimidated – coś nas przeraża (frightened or nervous because you are not confident in a situation)

It goes without saying that none of these applies to me. Evidence: I bruised my chin while lying on an exercise ball during the first class. A cotton & polyester blend sounds about right for a rookie like me.

it goes without saying – nie trzeba dodawać (used to mean that something is obvious)

it doesn’t apply to me – to mnie nie dotyczy (it's not true about me)

to bruise – posiniaczyć, stłuc (to develop an injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something)

a blend – mieszanka (a mixture)

a rookie – nowicjuszka (a beginner)

And if you want to say: "Hey, that shirt is really corny." To that I say: that's true, but who doesn't make mistakes? Beyonce even wrote a song about it:

click here

What she says before she sings:

“Have you ever been in a situation where you look back and realise something you thought was so incredible is so whack? And you think: 'What was I thinking? Thank god I dodged that bullet.' That's what this next one is about and I need y'all to help me sing this. Y'all know what to do, right?”

to look back – patrzeć się za siebie

whack – zły (bad)

to dodge – zrobić unik (to avoid being hit)

a bullet – nabój

y'all – you all

Oh, ok, in this clip Beyonce sings about relationships. But that behaviour, that what-was-I-thinking-pattern definitely applies to other things too and especially to our taste in clothes. One day you think it's cool to customise your t-shirt and blog about it and the next day you think it's a complete embarrassment...

to customise – dostosowywać do potrzeb klienta (to make or change something according to the buyer's or user's needs)

Getting back to the subject. There are a couple of things that come to mind when you think of the black colour. It's universally flattering, suitable for almost any occasion and any age, timeless, cool and classy.

universally flattering – twarzowy dla każdego (making everyone look good)

timeless – ponadczasowy (never getting out of style)

X IS THE NEW BLACK

• is used to say that something has become very popular and widespread;
• in the fashion world, it is used to show that one colour (e.g. grey or navy blue) has become a staple and can be incorporated into any outfit during the given season.
• is used ironically to poke fun at trends or social phenomena.

widespread – rozpowszechniony (common, popular)

a staple – podstawowy artykuł (a basic product)

to poke fun at – wyśmiewać coś (to make fun of)

a phenomenon – zjawisko (plural – phenomena)

Have a look at some examples:

a rehab – ośrodek odwykowy

a ginger – rudzielec (a redhead)

a geek – a person who likes video games/ fantasy books/ science/ etc. to the point of having no social life ;)

The X is the new black phrase gave rise to a broader pattern: X is the new Y.

X IS THE NEW Y

• is used to say that one thing or idea has replaced (or surpassed) its older counterpart;
• is used in absurd contexts for ironic or humorous purposes;
• is often criticized for its simplicity and overuse.

to give rise to – dać początek czemuś, wywołać coś (to cause) –

to surpass – przewyższyć (to be better than)

a counterpart – odpowiednik

overuse – zbyt częste użycie (something is used too often)

Again, have a look at some examples: 

Rap Is The New Shakespeare or at least very similar, serving a similar purpose.

They both use meter, are based on rhyme, and blend music and language to create unique narratives.

to serve a purpose – pełnić funkcję (to have a use)

meter – metrum (the regular arrangement of syllables in poetry according to the number and type of beats in a line )

a narrative – narracja/ opis (a description)

DIY is the new Prada for today's time-poor, cash-rich couples, according to a new report from Crown Paints.

DIY – do it yourself

  

Food Trending Forecast: Marshmallows are the New Cupcakes. Gourmet marshmallows are all the hype.

a marshmallow – pianka

a cupcake – babeczka (a muffin)

gourmet – dla smakoszy ( of very high quality)

all the hype – popularny (popular)

Pininterest is the new Facebook. Who would have thought looking at photos of Funfetti cupcakes and pink patent-leather high heels could be so addictive?

patent leather – lakierowana skóra (shiny leather)

FUNFETTI CUPCAKES

Tom's are the new Crocs.

TOM'S

CROCS

Single is the new Married. Just look to George Clooney as an example of a happy single. Indeed, he is so content in his bachelorhood that four years ago he bet Michelle Pfeiffer £50,000 that he’d never again tie the knot.

 

content – zadowolony (happy)

bachelorhood – kawalerstwo (being a single guy)

to tie the knot – brać ślub (to get married)

Pale is the New Tan. Information from In-cosmetics shows more face care products in the U.S. are being launched with SPF and sun care elements.

to launch – wprowadzać na rynek

SPF – faktor filtru słonecznego (sun protection factor)

sun care elements – składniki, które chronią przed słońcem

Vegan is the new vegetarian. Vegan diets exclude all animal products. That means no red meat, poultry, fish, dairy or egg products. Some strict vegans also omit honey from their diets

20 is the new 30. Before, people lied about their age when they hit 40, then 30, and now it's not uncommon for 23 year olds claiming to be 18.

it's not uncommon – zdarzać się nawet często (it's not so rare)

The following dialogue is a scene from The Devil Wears Prada, in which Nigel, the art editor, explains to Andy, a newbie assistant, the dietary proclivities of the Runway (a fashion magazine) family.

an editor – radaktor

a newbie – początkująca (beginner)

dietary – żywieniowy (connected with your diet)

proclivities – (dziwne) skłonności (habits, usually strange)

Nigel: Corn chowder. That's an interesting choice. You do know that cellulite is one of the main ingredients in corn chowder?

Andy: So none of the girls here eat anything?
Nigel: Not since two became the new four and zero became the new two.
Andy: I'm a six...
Nigel: Which is the new fourteen.

a corn chowder – zupa z kukurydzy, ziemniaków i mleka (a thick soup made from corn, potatoes and milk)

cellulite – cellulit (fat in the human body, especially in the upper legs, which makes the surface of the skin appear lumpy (= not smooth)

a raise – podwyżka (making more money)

crappy – zły (bad)

Getting back to my old t-shirt. Some time ago I was obsessed with MyLifeisAverage.com. The idea behind the site is that having an average (i.e. regular/ boring/ mundane) life could be exciting in its own way and way cooler than just having a cool life. I wanted my t-shirt to convey that message. I couldn't choose between Average is the New Cool and Average is the New Black, but, as can be seen in the picture, I finally decided on the latter :)

to convey – wyrażac (to express a thought, feeling or idea so that it is understood by other people)

mundane – przyziemny, prozaiczny (ordinary)

Enjoy the summer!

See you in my next post!

Karola

My Digs: Pull a Kanye

Hi guys!

RAMBLING

Let's face it. All we have been talking about is Euro 2012 and the performance of the Polish team. And I know what you're all going to say: "You're guilty yourself, Karolina.” And hell to the yes, I AM GUILTY.

I've been using the Euro 2012 conversation topic for all it's worth. I've been asking my students about their favourite players, favourite moments, favourite Euro 2012 TV commercials (mine is McDonald's') and their result predictions. (There's only so much you can say about the weather.) I've been blowing up your Facebook walls with seemingly innocent football-related hints and I've been glued to the TV screen, following the Euro 2012 coverage.

to ramble – paplać, pisać bez ładu i składu (to talk or write in a confused way, often for a long time)

performance – wyniki (how well/ badly something is done)

hell to the yes – żebyście wiedzieli, że tak (an emphatic 'yes')

for all it's worth – do granic możliwości (to the utmost of one's powers or ability)

There is only so much you can say about the weather. – Temat pogody w końcu się wyczerpie. (You can't talk about the weather all the time).

to blow up someone's Facebook wall – zostawiać dużo postów na czyjejś tablicy (to post a lot)

seemingly – na pozór

a hint – aluzja

coverage – relacja (the reporting of a particular important event or subject)

I don't know about you, but to me, there is something magical about Euro. It makes us all feel like we're seasoned football experts and everyone around is waiting, a notepad in hand, to hear what our take is on a particular match, goal or a player. In our football fantasy world, we gladly and patiently share our enlightened views with everyone (family, friends and complete strangers) and everywhere (in waiting rooms, local bakeries, parks and churches). Madness.

And that's why we should all be thankful that now at least part of the madness is gone. We are no longer a participant, just a co-host, and half of the burden is finally off our shoulders. We can all sit back, relax and enjoy the championship.

seasoned – doświadczony (experienced)

a notepad – notes

my take on something – pogląd (someone's opinion on/ about)

enlightened – oświecone (showing understanding, acting in a positive way, and not following old-fashioned or false beliefs)

burden – ciężar

to sit back – usiąść wygodnie (to sit comfortably with your back against the back of a chair)

(here's) my two cents – wtrącać swoje trzy grosze

DEFINITION

Now, let's move on to the actual topic of today's post, shall we? :)

I would like to discuss a very informal American English phrase: to PULL A …

• It means: to behave like; to act in a similar way to someone.
• It can refer to a real person or a fictitious character.
• Names and/ or surnames are most often capitalised, but they might be written in lower case too.

fictitious – fikcyjny

capitalised – pisany wielką literą (pull a Kanye)

in lower case – pisany małą literą (pull a kanye)

CELEBRITIES

Do you believe Oprah would pull a Kim Kardashian and get married on TV?

I kinda wanna pull a Britney Spears and shave my head right now.

Miley Cyrus is crying for help (or at least attention). Why else would she pull a Lindsay Lohan and flash her private parts to the paparazzi for the whole world to see.

If you wear a skimpy dress, use fashion tape to avoid pulling a Janet Jackson.

If I don't find a perfect dress by this weekend, I will have to pull a Kate Middleton and wear the same dress I wore to the last wedding.

If Natalie Portman doesn't win Best Actress for Black Swan I'm gonna drive over to the Kodak Theatre and protest. Maybe climb up on stage and pull a Kanye West.

Just please don't pull a Mark Zuckerberg and steal my ideas and leave me high and dry. That is all that I ask.

why else – z jakich innych powodów (for what other reasons)

to flash – obnażyć (to show one's naked body in public)

skimpy – kusa (showing a lot of body)

fashion tape – dwustronna taśma (double-sided tape)

to leave someone high and dry – zostawić kogoś w trudnej sytuacji (to do something which is not at all convenient for someone and put them in a very difficult situation

SPORTSMEN

Dude, don't pull a Lebron James and abandon me like that.

If Bynum is going to pull a Rodman and take off his shirt, he better be ripped.

I'm gonna pull a Tiger Woods and cheat on this test.

to abandon – pozostawiać (to leave)

ripped – napakowany, umięśniony (muscular)

to cheat on someone – zdradzać kogoś

to cheat on a test – ściągać 

FICTITIOUS CHARACTERS

Oh, I could curl up here and pull a Sleeping Beauty and sleep for a 100 years.

Mondays are definitely my “challenging” days every week – I'd much rather pull a Garfield and go back to bed and sleep until Tuesday!

I'm going insane. I want to pull a Simba and run away to live Hakuna Matata style with a warthog and a meerkat. 

Uh, oh! Something is going down! I'm gonna pull a scooby doo and solve this mystery.

to curl up – zwinąć się (w kłębek) (to sit or lie in a position with your arms and legs close to your body)

to go insane – oszaleć (to go crazy)

a warthog – guziec

a meerkat – surykatka

to go down – dziać się (happen)

That's all for now :)

Have a great week everyone!

See you in my next post!

Karola