Fabulous reference book: Oxford Dictionary
Many times magazines and newspapers come up with the expression Generation X. It refers to a group of people born between 1965 and 1976 who seem to lack a sense of direction in life. In the U.S.A. they are about 45 million. Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and number 78 million. Matures are those born before 1946 and are about 68 million in the United States today. Those brought into the world after 1976 are part of Generation Y.
Do you have difficulty reading Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post? Are there so many words and expressions you never seem to have come across before? And you can't even find them in the dictionary? This page will emphasize these words -- modern, contemporary vocabulary to help you stay attuned to today's world.
To illustrate the importance of reading -- reading to keep yourself up-to-date, reading to improve your vocabulary, and reading to improve your reading speed -- take a look at the following. This is "normal" English but I think you'll find it difficult to understand because the words aren't those you usually find in your regular studies. How can one paragraph be so tough? Well, that's "normal" English. After you read through it, take a closer look at all the unknown words.
There is, however, a Catch-22 to all of this: isn't an authentic politician an oxymoron? How does someone get elected president without polishing
an act, playing interest-group politics, sucking up to financial backers, and inhaling every intimate detail of every political poll commissioned by every candidate? It may be impossible. Campaigns, by definition, are contrived. Pandering is not an authentic act. And how can we ever know what's for real and what's phony? After all, says a Bradley aide, "Some people are perfectly capable of even convincing themselves they are authentic."
Catch-22 - - This expression originated in a book entitled Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. It refers to a problem in which the solution precludes another solution, one condition contradicts another. For example, you can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience without a job.
Oxymoron - This type of expression produces an effect by seeming a self-contradiction. For example, cruel kindness or slow haste.
Polishing an act - - Polishing is to improve in behavior, become smooth and shiny. An act is a division of a play. A "good " politician is always polishing his act.
Interest-group politics - This refers to lobbies or groups of people who try to influence members of government according to the interests of the group they represent. This is a "regular", paid job and not one to be ashamed of. Interest-group politics involves the promotion or protection of special interests. These interests might be big corporations or trade unions or even a group of housewives or old people.
Sucking up - Kissing one's ass has the same meaning. Giving excessive flattery to try to get something in return is common human behavior. Tim is always sucking up to the teacher.
Backers - A person who gives support or help, a person who gives financial support to an undertaking is a backer. It might be for a political campaign or it can also be for a business idea. If you want to run for office, you must have backers to pay all your expenses.
Political poll - - It's a survey of public opinion by asking questions to a representative selection of people. At election time everyone watches the political polls.
Pandering to - - This means to give help or encouragement to somebody, to his basic passions or desires. Some newspapers pander to public interest in crime.
For real - It means simply to be real, authentic. Do you think movie stars are for real?
Phony - It's the opposite of for real because it means fake, unreal, not genuine. Jerry Seinfeld always refers to someone as just a phony-baloney!
- S. News & World Report 8/14 - An article on US airlines reports:
"Despite complaints about price gouging of business travelers and some recent fare hikes, airlines say the cost of flying in real terms has actually declined." Americans are building air travel into their lifestyles. They fly frequently for work or pleasure. They dash off to weddings and social events. " It's a far cry from the days when folks would don their Sunday best for a rare flight."
gouge v. - charge more than is fair
fare n. - money charged for a trip by bus, plane, taxi, or train
hikes n. - increases in prices
dash off v. - to rush, run off/away to
far cry n. - being very different from, a long way
don v. - to put on ( clothing)
Let's look at some abbreviations.
SUV: refers to sports utility vehicle.They are those huge, gas guzzlers commonly seen in city street nowadays. Which is your personal favorite, Cherokee? Pathfinder? Explorer?
Sometimes called "utes", the SUVS are the latest for the hippest.
DWB: Unbelievably, an American police officer might stop a black man driving an expensive car simply because he thinks a black man can't possibly afford such an expensive car so something is wrong! Since the black man isn't doing anything wrong the only charge can be DWB... driving while black.
DUI: Now this is a serious offense so don't ever be arrested for DUI, driving while under the influence of alcohol. Everyone hates drunk drivers and the accidents they cause. So if you're arrested for that, they just might toss you in the slammer and throw away the key!
Yes, abbreviations and shortened forms are the wave of the future...no the present. In fact,... if U CN RD THS, U CN GT A GD JB. OK?
