Three useful words for the ESL student (3)

to crack down on something – this is when the government decides to take very severe or serious action against something they had been ignoring or avoiding in the past. i.e. New York City police have been cracking down on dangerous bicycle riders in Central Park now that two people have been seriously injured because of bicycle accidents. Or: There has been too much bullying in American schools. Teachers and administrators need to crack down on this type of harmful behavior. (bullying is when bigger and stronger kids harass or bother or beat up smaller kids)

outskirts – the outskirts of a city are the parts of the city farthest from the center of the city. i.e. When I lived and taught in Longgang, I almost felt like a prisoner because I was living on the very outskirts of Shenzhen and rarely traveled into the downtown area…it just took too long. Or: The poorest people of a city often live on the outskirts, far from the real life of the city.

to be looming – if something is looming, it is fast approaching. This term is usually used in regard to time and deadlines. i.e. I have to file my tax returns by April 15^th. It is already April 1^st, the deadline is looming. Or: Joe needed to finish his report by a tight deadline and he suddenly realized the day he needed to turn that report in was looming fast.

Three useful words for the ESL student (2)

to ramp something up – to increase something, like ‘ramping up an effort’ to finish something. A ramp is a road that goes upward, it is not level. i.e. This trade war is ridiculous. Negotiators need to ramp up their efforts to reach an agreement to end all of this. i.e. I have not been writing many articles these days. I need to ramp up my efforts to keep writing articles, I can’t get lazy.

tops –  this is the very highest offer a person will make…no higher offer will be made i.e. I will give you 500 rmb for that painting, tops! Or: I will pay you 60 rmb for those shoes, tops! Or: We will pay you 14,000 rmb per month, tops!

paydirt – if you “hit” paydirt, you become incredibly successful. i.e. I invested 1,000 rmb in a new company and I hit paydirt! My investment is now worth 100,000 rmb! Or: I went to an art gallery opening and met an amazing woman who is now my girlfriend. I hit paydirt!

Three useful words for the ESL student

to enforce something – when the government or police make sure that people are following a law. i.e. The Chinese government has started to enforce its work-visa laws more strongly. They are now arresting and deporting people who work without the proper visas. Enforcing the work-visa law will make sure the quality of English teaching is better in China.

to hunker down – to really focus and work hard on something because a deadline is coming up. i.e. I have a tight deadline for this project and I am running out of time. I need to hunker down and start working harder and more efficiently or I am not going to be able to finish on time.

an encore – this is when a performer comes back on stage after a performance and does more performing (even though he/she doesn’t have to). For example, a pianist who finishes a scheduled hour-long piano recital might come back and play some extra piano pieces. Or a rock and roll band might come back on stage and do extra songs when their show is officially over.  i.e. I went to the Shenzhen Concert Hall to see a pianist play four Beethoven sonatas. I expected him to do an encore of a couple more piano pieces, but he was too tired and he didn’t do an encore.