random word of the day: TO HAVE A GO AT SOMEONE featuring Karl Pilkington

random word of the day: 

TO HAVE A GO AT SOMEBODY/SOMETHING – krytykować, atakować słownie, zbesztać, czepiać się (to criticize, attack verbally, to tell somebody off, to pick on someone)

(1) My Mum always has a go at me for not participating in the conversation at the dinner table. It’s like, I really don’t care if she’s low on cash or how someone complimented her nails at work today.

to participate – brać udział (to take part in an activity)

be low on something – wyczerpywać zapasy czegoś (to have nearly finished a supply of something)

(2) My girlfriend always has a go at me for pinching her stuff from the bathroom. Is there any real difference between men’s products and women’s products?

to pinch – zwinąć, zwędzić (to steal something, to take something without asking)

(3) Why are you having a go at me? I wasn't implying that what you said was a lie. Just that what you said had happened was strange.

to imply – sugerować, dawać do zrozumienia (to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly, to hint)

(4) Are you having a go at my woodworking skills? :D Yeah you are right, wood and me don’t get along well. I’m more of a metal and plastic man.

woodworking/ woodwork – stolarstwo (the activity of making objects such as furniture from wood)

Wood and I don’t get along well. – Drewno i ja to nie najlepsze połączenie. (I’m not got with wood// Wood and I don’t mesh well together.)

watch the vid and skip to 03:18

YouTube link

(5) Steve: Many of our listeners, Karl, are aware that you’re sort of fascinated by smaller people.

Ricky: Well, he’s fascinated by difference, I think.

Steve: Yes …

Ricky: I don’t think he’s having a go at people. You know. When you sort of stare at someone cause they don’t look like you, and let’s face it, most people don’t look like you. You’re not having a go, are you?

Karl: Well, it’s like I said, the first time I saw Steve I was never having a go. I was just: “oh, that’s different.”

Ricky: /laughs/

Karl: You know, like, you know, Steve. I was never having a go. It’s just that thing of: “Oh, right, interesting.”

Ricky: What do you mean?

Karl: No, just, you know, with – I’ve said it before. I’ve got used to it. And

Ricky: He’s got used to it? What?

Steve: You know my feeling with this. I don’t really know where he’s coming from.

Karl: But Steve knows I’m not having a go either.

sort of – jakby (kind of)

to stare at someone – przyglądać , wpatrywać, gapić się (to look for a long time with the eyes wide open, especially when surprised, frightened or thinking )

cause – because

Let’s face it. – Spójrzmy prawdzie w oczy . (Let’s admit it.)

to get used to something – przyzwyczaić się (to have done something so many times that you accept it and don’t mind it/ don’t think it’s strange)

I don’t really know where he’s coming from. – I don’t really understand him.

I know where you are coming from. – I understand you./ I know what you mean

Hi guys!

I think I owe you an explanation for example (5) :) It’s a fragment of The Ricky Gervais Show, a cartoon TV show about three friends: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington having pointless discussions about life. The show was originally a podcast, but it proved so popular that animation was added and it became a TV show that ran on HBO and E4 for three seasons.  

to owe somebody an explanation – być komuś winnym wyjaśnienie (to feel the need to explain to someone why you have done something)

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

Despite the name, the show centres around Karl and his unique way of perceiving the world, which Ricky and Steve like to mock mercilessly. If you watch it for the first time, you might think they are bullies and that poor Karl doesn’t deserve all the mean comments, but Karl is a really good sport about that and he doesn’t mind all the verbal abuse. If anything, it seems like the three of them are good chums off the show.

to perceive – postrzegać (to have a certain opinion about something)

to mock – kpić, wyśmiewać (to make fun of, to laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind way)

mercilessly – bezlitośnie (without pity/having no scruples)

a bully – oprawca, osoba znęcająca się nad słabszymi (someone who hurts or frightens someone who is smaller or less powerful than them, often forcing them to do something they do not want to do)

to be a good sport about something – nie mazgaić się i chętnie  brać udział w zabawie, nawet jeśli jest się wyśmiewanym/ nie za dobrze traktowanym  (to not complain about something unpleasant during an activity with others)

abuse – obelgi, wyzwiska (rude and offensive words said to another person, name-calling)

if anything – wręcz przeciwnie (on the contrary even)

a chum – kumpel (a friend, a pal)

When I was first introduced to Ricky’s podcasts by a friend (who’s probably gloating now :P), I wasn’t very impressed. British humour had never done it for me. A few years later, though, when, after watching Ricky’s Golden Globes performance, I saw the show in my YouTube suggestions, I gave it a try and now I think that both Ricky and his show are hilarious. You simply must check it out if you haven’t!!!

be (first) introduced to something – być zapoznanym z czymś (to be shown or recommended something by someone else)

to gloat – napawać się, tryumfować (to feel or express great pleasure or satisfaction because of your own success or good luck, or someone else's failure or bad luck)

It doesn’t do it for me – I don’t like it. It doesn’t excite/impress me.

Hope you enjoyed the post :)

Have a great weekend!

Karola

TV Shows: Suits

 
Hi guys!

For Legal English lessons please go to idiglegalenglish.blogspot.com

If you are on the lookout for a cool TV show to watch, then you should definitely check out Suits, an American legal TV series that runs on USA Network. (In Poland it is available to Cyfra + subscribers under the title: W garniturach. Its first episode aired in June 2011 and since then the show has attracted quite a following, me included :)

to be on the lookout for – poszukiwać czegoś (to be looking for something, to be in search of)

to run – lecieć, być emitowanym (to continue to be broadcast)

to air – być emitowanym (to be broadcast)

a following – grupa fanów (a group of fans, fanbase)

The storyline revolves around a New York law firm and particularly its senior partner, a high-flyer in the cutthroat world of law, Harvey Specter, (Gabriel Macht) and his young associate, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Despite the over 40 minute episodes, the series feels dynamic and fresh. It’s witty and intelligent and it pulls you in right away. To me it combines the best of House M.D. (the jargon, here: legalese), Gossip Girl (the intrigue) and How I Met Your Mother (the funny banter and … suits, duh). Definitely worth watching!

the storyline/ story line – fabuła (the plot, the series of events)

to revolve around – obracać się wokół (to centre around)

a law firm – kancelaria prawna

a high-flyer/ high-flier – osoba zdolna i ambitna (someone who has a lot of ability and a strong wish to be successful and is therefore expected to achieve a lot)

cutthroat – bezwzględny (not involving considering or worrying about any harm caused to others;  fierce)

an associate – współpracownik (an employee of a law firm with the prospect of becoming a partner)

to pull somebody in – wciągać (to make you want to know what happens next)

legalese – żargon prawniczy (language used by lawyers and in legal documents)

banter – przekomarzanie się (conversation which is funny and not serious)

duh – ba (Isn’t that obvious?)

He is a guy who’s always thinking ten steps ahead. He’s very confident. He’s got a lot of swagger and a lot of ease. 

 (Gabriel Macht about his character)

Harvey Specter is someone you want on your side when in a courtroom. He is successful, determined, self-confident, respected and, on top of that, handsome. He is a guy whom you never see sweat under pressure. He takes Mike under his wing and mentors him, giving him a lot of tough love along the way. He has a thing for collector’s items, withholds his advice to Mike till the last minute and is known for settling his cases out of court.

swagger – tu: pewność siebie (confidence, coolness, style)

ease – swoboda, luz (when you experience no difficulty, effort, pain or worry)

a courtroom – sala sądowa (the place where a judge, lawyers and parties to a dispute meet)

on top of that – w dodatku (additionally)

to sweat under pressure – pocić się nerwowo, pod presją (to be so nervous that you become wet under your arms or on your forehead)

tough love – wychowanie oparte na byciu stanowczym i wymagającym zamiast pobłażliwym (when people intentionally do not show too much kindness to a person who has a problem so that the person will start to solve their own problem)

a collector’s item – rzadki okaz  (something rare and interesting to people who collect similar things)

to withhold – wstrzymywać (to refuse to give something or to keep back something)

to settle a case out of court – doprowadzić do ugody pozasądowej (to resolve a dispute before the judge in a court of law does it)

Mike Ross is an unmotivated sort of stoner essentially, who just happens to be brilliant. 

 (Patrick J. Adams about his character)

Mike Ross is a college dropout with a photographic memory. He can not only recite legal handbooks, but his mind also allows him to get out of some tight spots – a perfect combination of book smarts and street smarts, really. He charms with a good-hearted nature and occasional awkwardness caused by being a true rookie in the world of successful grown-ups. He’s also a bit of a looker and you don’t really care that he cycles to work ;) Just kidding. Everyone cares about that :D

a stoner – amator marichuany (someone who smokes pot a lot)

essentially – zasadniczo (basically)

a dropout – osoba, która nie ukończyła szkoły/studiów (a person who leaves school, college or university before finishing a course)

to be in a tight spot – być w opałach, tarapatach (to be in trouble, in a difficult situation)

book smarts – wiedza (the ability to succeed scholastically, and not necessarily in the real world)

street smarts – spryt (the ability to manage or succeed in difficult or dangerous situations, especially in big towns or cities)

awkwardness – niezdarność, niezgrabność (not knowing how to act to what to say in different situations)

a rookie – nowicjusz (a beginner, someone new to something)

 a grown-up – dorosły (an adult)

the show's theme song

Have a great weekend!

Karola

TV Shows: The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Hi guys!

UNFUNNY JOKE

I don't know how to start so I will treat you to a little joke. It's a conversation really:

Me: We're going to the cinema tonight.

Mum: What movie are you going to watch?

Me: The Dictator

Mum: Well, I don't know about that. Isn't it a little bit brutal for you?

Me: Mum, you know Borat, the guy in the mankini. He's in it.

Mum: Oh, ok.

to treat somebody to – zafundować (to give/ to buy)

I don't know about that – sama nie wiem (I'm not sure about that.)

a mankini – a male bikini

TALK SHOWS

So with the introduction out of the way, we can move on to today's topic – American TV shows. I know what you're going to say: they're too happy and contrived and they sugar-coat the reality. I know that and to that I say – who cares? I'll still watch them ;)

out of the way – za nami (done/ finished)

contrived – sztuczne, wymuszone (fake, insincere)

to sugar-coat – upiększać (to make something seem more positive and pleasant that it really is)

But seriously, if you ever think about improving your listening or speaking skills (I mean everyday conversation), TV shows are the best option for you. Although they're scripted, they're usually fast-paced and there's a lot banter and humour to keep you entertained. If you have problems getting all the jokes and cultural references, don't worry. You don't have to get them all at first. But I can promise you that the ones you get will get stuck in your head for a long time and that's a good thing of course.

scripted – odgrywane wg scenariusza (planned and written in advance)

fast-paced – dynamiczny, szybki (dynamic, fast)

banter – przekomarzanie się (conversation which is funny and not serious)

to keep somebody entertained – zabawiać kogoś (to make somebody have a good time)

to get (a joke) – zrozumieć (understand)

a cultural reference – nawiązanie do kultury danego kraju (a mention of a fact related to the culture of a given country)

to get stuck in your head – pozostawać w pamięci/ głowie (to stay in your memory)

ELLEN

 

My favourite TV show of the moment is the Ellen DeGeneres Show. If you doubt that a female host can be funny, you should check Ellen out. Ironically, it's the moments when she decides to just stay silent (not saying anything) and make a face instead that are the funniest to me. Also, Ellen has this “I don't take myself too seriously” vibe, which is very attractive and puts her guests at ease. Her clothes are a good manifestation of that too. (She's a tomboy.) And I can't go without mentioning that she's very generous both to her guests and the audience, showering everybody who visits the studio with gifts.

a host – gospodarz

to make a face – zrobić minę

to have this “I don't take myself too seriously” vibe – wydaje się, że ktoś nie traktuje siebie zbyt poważnie (to seem to not take oneself too seriously)

to put somebody at ease – sprawiać, że ktoś czuje się z nami swobodnie (to make somebody feel comfortable)

be a manifestation of something – być przejawem, oznaką czegoś (a sign of something, proof of something)

a tomboy – chłopczyca (a boyish girl)

generous – hojny (willing to share with others)

to shower somebody with gifts – obdarowywać (to give a lot of presents to someone)

I've been subscribed to her YouTube channel for quite some time now and I must say I really enjoy the videos that get posted. I don't watch all of them (a couple of videos are posted on most days). I just watch my favourite segments and interviews that are of interest to me. I'm going to share a few of them so that you can get an idea of what Ellen's like and maybe some of you will decide to give her show a try too ;)

of interest to – interesujące dla (interesting to)

to get an idea of what Ellen's like – przekonać się, jaką prowadzącą jest Ellen (to see what kind of person Ellen is)

to give something a try – spróbować czegoś (to try something new)

GAMES

Now that's my favourite segment. Ellen is very keen on playing games with her guests and she's quite a competitive player ;)

In the following vid, Ellen plays Last Word with Vince Vaughn. In the game, you get a category and you take turns saying words related to that category for 30 seconds. The person who gets to say the last word wins. The categories in this vid are: summer activities and things you see on the beach. Watch the vid to hear Ellen say “butt cracks” and Vince say “undesirables in a speedo”.

to be keen on something – lubić coś (to like, to enjoy)

competitive – lubiący rywalizację (wanting to win)

to take turns doing something – robić coś na zmianę (when one person does something and then, when he/ she finishes, another person does the same thing)

a butt crack – rowek;) (I can't believe I'm translating this – the middle of one's butt)

undesirables – osoby niepożądane (people whose behaviour or appearance makes them unacceptable in society or at a particular occasion)

Last Word

In this vid Ellen plays Taboo with Katy Perry. Taboo is about guessing secret words that are known and explained by one player. The only twist is that some words are taboo – they can't be used to describe the secret words. Watch the vid to see how difficult it is to explain the words “tickle” and “skinny-dip”.

a twist – nieoczekiwany zwrot, komplikacja (a complication)

to tickle – łaskotać (to touch someone lightly with your fingers, making them slightly uncomfortable and often making them laugh)

to skinny-dip – pływać nago (to swim naked)

Taboo

In the following video, Ellen and Carrie Underwood play Guess the Animal Noise – a game in which one player imitates animal sounds and the other needs to guess the animal. Watch for the giggles because the video is quite funny.

for the giggles – dla śmiechu (in order to laugh)

Guess the Animal Noise

CUTENESS OVERLOAD

Ellen loves discussing babies and animals with her guests. Watch the following clip of her interviewing Charlize Theron, in which Charlize talks about how her dogs help her out with her baby boy. She mentions how one dog steals the baby's pacifiers and the other joins the baby in crying.

overload – nadmiar (too much of something)

a baby boy – synek

a pacifier – smoczek

Interview with Charlize Theron

In the following clip, Ellen talks to Will Smith, who discusses his kids, Jaden and Willow, and the many animals his family owns : cats, boa constrictors, dogs, fish, tortoises and birds. He also tells a funny anecdote about a visit to the White House and the aliens.

a boa constrictor – boa dusiciel

the aliens – kosmici (UFO)

Interview with Will Smith

AUTOCORRECT FUN

Another funny segment is Clumsy Thumbsy, in which Ellen shows text message conversations go wrong. All because of AutoCorrect, which is supposed to help you save time but doesn't save you the embarrassment.

clumsy – niezdarny (awkward)

a thumb – kciuk

to save the embarrassment – zaoszczędzić wstydu (to prevent someone from feeling ashamed)

Clumsy Thumbsy 1

Clumsy Thumbsy 2

MANKINI

SPEEDO

TOMBOY

PACIFIER

TICKLING

Ok, I guess that's all about Ellen for now. Let me know which vid is your favourite. I could also link similar game posts on my Facebook, so let me know if you would like that.

Have a great rest of the week!

Karola