Author's Note
Structure and features of this book

CHAPTER 1 Words that cannot be replaced arbitrarily

1 We had a fire drill today.
I had a fire evacuation drill today.

2 My ethnicity is Italian.
I'm Italian.

3 The US is a very diverse country.
The United States is a country with great diversity (racially, culturally, etc.).

4 Cheese is well fermented.
The cheese is well-cooked.

5 This is so scenic.
The view here is nice.

6 I'm away on business.
/ I'm out on business.
I'm on business trip.

7 I'm feeling remorse for what I said.
I'm reflecting on what I said.

8 She found a well-paying job, and she bought a house the following year.
That guy got a high-paying job and bought a house the year after.

9 Alright.
I'll let you go.
(Ending the phone call) Okay.
Let's stop now.

10 Their lunch rush is between 12 and 1.
The restaurant is busy with lunch customers between 12 and 1 o'clock.

11 She bad-mouths her friends.
He goes around badmouthing his friends.
12 Dissolve sugar into water first.
First, dissolve the sugar in water.

13 The play restarted after a ten-minute intermission.
After a ten-minute break, the play resumed.

14 His voice carries.
His voice can be heard clearly even from far away.

15 We're fully booked for the calendar year.
This year we are fully booked.

16 What salad dressing would you like?
17 I installed a dashcam in my car.
I installed a black box in my car.
18 I want a corndog.
I want to eat a hot dog.

19 How are you feeling today?
20 My mom made ox tail broth.
My mom made oxtail soup.

21 Our house is dated.
My house is old.

22 Having sensitive teeth is pretty common.
This numbness is a fairly common/regular symptom.

23 Who's the most famous TV commercial actor these days?
24 I'll just take a quick shower.
I'll take a quick shower and come out.

25 I'm ashamed I flunked the math test.
I'm embarrassed because I completely messed up/failed the math test.

26 I ran into him at a coffee shop yesterday.
I met that person at the coffee shop yesterday.

27 I need gas.
I need to put gas in my car.

28 Their marriage is a facade.
Those people are a show window couple.
29 Lower your standards.
Lower your gaze.

30 I love my neighborhood.
I like my neighborhood.

31 I think he has an ulterior motive.
I think he has other motives.
32 I don't know about him.
I don't really know what kind of person he is.
Teacher Jun's Mistake Prevention Vaccine
Culture Column 1 American School Culture

CHAPTER 2 Is there a more sophisticated expression?

1 She owns property in California.
That guy has land in California.

2 It's hot today.
Stay hydrated.
The weather is hot today.
Drink plenty of water.

3 Are you local? Do you live here?/Do you live nearby?
4 It's complimentary.
This is free.
5 He quit smoking a year ago, but he relapsed.
He quit smoking a year ago, but he started again.

6 The tickets are sold out.
Wait.
I lied.
Tickets are sold out.
Just a moment.
(Looking again) No.

7 Not gonna lie, he's not CEO material.
Honestly, that person is not fit to be the CEO of a company.
8 Our bathroom is filthy dirty.
Our bathroom is so dirty/messy.

9 Bamboo trees are hollow.
The inside of the bamboo is hollow.

10 We had a falling-out.
We don't see each other anymore.

11 I paid a hefty fine for running red rights.
I paid a lot of fines for running a red light.

12 You shouldn't have let this happen from the get-go.
This should have never happened in the first place.

13 He and I ran out of things to talk about, and it became awkward.
It was really uncomfortable because that person and I had nothing to talk about.
14 The deceased did not leave a will.
The deceased did not leave a will.
15 In retrospect, I shouldn't have left Florida.
Looking back, I should have never left Florida.

16 Your outfit is too revealing.
Your clothes are too revealing/sexy.

17 Lack of persistence is your short coming.
Your lack of patience is your weakness.

Culture Column 2: The Charms of Two-Year Colleges in the US

CHAPTER 3 Expressions you know separately but don't know together

1 Don’t play the “old” card with me.
Don't try to win by age.

2 He's a fast talker.
That guy's speaking skills are no joke.

3 I lost my touch.
I'm feeling down.

4 Everything is lining up for me.
Things are going well for me/I think things will work out now.

5 Keep plugging away.
Keep going steadily.

6 It's long gone.
I've already used it all/eaten it all.
7 It's quite a commitment.
It's not an ordinary job/it involves a lot of responsibility.
8 I hitched my wagon to his star.
I'm in that person's line/I'm in line for that person.

9 I took the fall.
I turned it all upside down.

10 It's very self-conscious.
I am very conscious of others.
11 He lied to me to save my face.
That guy lied to me to save face.

12 This is a dead giveaway.
This is totally a copycat.
13 I don't ship them.
I wish they didn't date/I don't support their relationship.

14 We arrived home safe and sound.
We got home safely.

15 It's the same difference.
That's it/That's it.

16 The serial killer is still at large.
That serial killer hasn't been caught yet.

17 None of it registered back then.
At that time, I didn't understand/realize anything.
18 We've been through thick and thin together.
We've cried and laughed together/We've been together through good times and bad.
19 I've seen better days.
It was better/good in the past.
20 Let's not make a rash decision.
Let's not make hasty decisions.
21 You're giving me half-hearted answers because it's not your business.
You're answering insincerely, saying it's not your business.
22 Don't harbor ill feelings against him.
Don't be cold to him.
23 Are we still on for today? Are we going as originally planned?
Culture Column 3: How Americans Deal with Grief

CHAPTER 4 Words You'll Never Use Unless You Learn Them

1 heyday Leeds era, heyday
2 Thank you for the juicy details.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting story in detail.

3 She always tries to manipulate me.
He always tries to roast me.

4 She sued me for defamation.
That guy sued me for defamation.

5 He's an easy touch.
He's a fool.
6 I feel like a third wheel.
I feel like I'm a sidekick/like I'm a jerk.

7 This is so tacky.
This is really tacky.

8 She's so self-righteous.
That person is so self-righteous.

9 She said she would, but who knows.
She's flaky.
He said he would, but who knows.
I can't believe it.

10 Can I order crepes a la carte?
11 Criminals use burner phones.
Criminals use cannon phones.

12 I don't like my parents meddling in my love affairs.
I don't like my parents interfering with my love life.

13 What a windfall! A pumpkin came rolling in with its vines!
14 My younger brother is a loose cannon.
My younger brother is unpredictable/random.

15 I have a mom-and-pop store.
I run a hole-in-the-wall shop/private store.

16 My family has a heart-wrenching story.
My family has a heartbreaking story.
17 She grilled me.
He kept asking me so many questions.
18 Superman's alter ego is Clark Kent.
Superman's alter ego is Clark Kent.

19 The gig economy is getting bigger.
The gig economy (part-time economic activity) is growing.

20 My parents are both overbearing.
Both of my parents are very pushy.
21 Ava is language savvy.
Eva has exceptional language skills/is a language genius.
22 Bring your A-game.
Get your act together and do it right/do your best.

23 Touche.
I admit/I got hit.
24 Restaurant is a loanword.
The restaurant must be foreign.

25 She has deep pockets.
That guy is rich.

26 Gas prices soared in the aftermath of the war.

27 He's an old has-been.
That guy is a washed-up old man.
28 He was not only eloquent, but also very convincing.
That person was not only eloquent but also persuasive.
29 You can't stonewall me forever.
How long do you think you can avoid me?
Culture Column 4: American Dog Washing Culture

CHAPTER 5 Expressions that will become your lifeblood if you know them

1 She makes bank.
That guy made a lot of money.

2 He never owns his mistakes.
That person has no way of admitting his mistakes.
3 I left him on read.
I read and ignored the text he sent.

4 You never let me have it my way.
You never let me do what I want.
You always get your way.
You always do what you want.

5 We should keep it on the down low.
I think it's better to keep it a secret.
6 Brace yourself.
Prepare yourself mentally.

7 The fall did a number on my ankle.
When I fell, I put a lot of strain on my ankle.

8 Things went south.
Things went wrong.

9 I don't want to hear your pity party.
I don't want to hear you lamenting about your situation.

10 Like attracts like.
They hang out together/gather together.

11 Don't sell yourself short.
Don't put yourself down.

12 Let's put on our thinking caps.
Let's all think together about what we can do.

13 I don't want to be held by anyone.
I don't want to be indebted to anyone.

14 My mom lives vicariously through me.
My mom lives vicariously through me.
15 Her hair also took the cake.
That person's hairstyle stood out the most.
16 It was so cathartic.
I feel completely relieved/refreshing.
17 Do you mind putting it in layman's terms? Could you explain it to me so I can understand?
18 I heard it through the grapevine.
I heard it through the grapevine/I heard it through the grapevine.
19 Every Jack has his Jill.
Straw sandals also come in pairs.
20 Stop acting buddy-buddy with me.
Don't act like you're close to me.

21 I enjoyed the minty sensation as she was massaging my scalp.
That person gave me a scalp massage and it felt so refreshing and nice.
22 Due to the high volume of calls, we apologize for the inconvenience.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused due to high call volume.

23 My friend threw me under the bus.
My friend blamed me.
24 Watch your six.
Watch your back.
Culture Column 5: The Allure of American License Plates
Culture Column 6 Guide Dog Culture in the United States

INDEX
Editor's Note