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“Ahead of the curve” – English Idiom
Example sentences from the web:
- We’re looking for ideas that are edgy, ahead of the curve.
- It is not exactly ahead of the curve to take four and a half years to make only an informal request.
- The challenge in business is to stay ahead of the curve.
English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Doom
The 8th episode of English4Gamers is finally out! I suggest that you take a look at the vocabulary list before watching it ;-). This time, Richard and I decided to play Doom, a 1993 science fiction horror-themed first-person shooter (FPS) video game. If you want to test your listening comprehension, you can try to fill in the gaps with the correct words in the sentences below the video. You can download a PDF version of the video & the answers.
TO GUIDE = to accompany (a sightseer) to show points of interest and to explain their meaning or significance.
Ex. He guided her to the front row and sat beside her.
TO RELEASE = to make available to the public.
Ex. The band’s latest album will be released next week.
TO BLEED = to lose blood.
Ex. She was bleeding from the face and hands.
BY THE WAY = used in speech to introduce a statement or question that may or may not relate to the current topic of conversation.
Ex. By the way, have you received that letter yet?
AMMO = objects that can be shot from a weapon, such as bullets or shells.
ACCURATE = precise; able to produce results that are correct.
Ex. The machines were not yet accurate enough to give useful results.
Free downloadable PDF version: English4Gamers – episode 8 – Doom – Vocabulary
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the correct words from the box:
- RICHARD: With the blue button you _____________.
- RICHARD: With the green button you ___________ weapon.
- ANNA: There was like an __________________ and it went wrong. So there are these ___________________ people walking around.
- ANNA: It’s like … I’m ________________ to playing it on my __________________ and it’s so different.
- RICHARD: Go in __________________ of the stairs and press only the forward button.
- ANNA: Here there is a secret _____________________ I’m sure.
- RICHARD: Go _________________, on the left side. There should be a secret room.
- RICHARD: This is the first secret. There are two ______________________.
- RICHARD: Your nose is ___________________ by the way.
- ANNA: I’m __________________. Look at my face, full of blood and wounds.
- ANNA: I want the ______________________.
- ANNA: We need another weapon. This is not __________________________.
- ANNA: Go straight on and up the stairs. Go through the room with the ________________ to the lift.
- ANNA: I think so … To the _______________ and travel __________________. So you have to take a lift.
- ANNA: That’s an imp. You see that he has _____________________ on his shoulders and on his elbows.
- RICHARD: Yes, they are really ___________________ by the way.
Free downloadable PDF version (without answers):English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Fill in the gaps exercise (without answers)
Free downloadable PDF version (answers) : English4Gamers – Episode 8 – Answers
“Landmark” – What does it mean?
More example sentences from the web:
- The building shall be declared a historic landmark.
- Everyone wants to visit The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal and the Brooklyn Bridge as famous, and historic, New York City landmarks.
Over the years, however, newer NYC landmarks have become must-see tourist destinations, such as the National September 11 Memorial, Apollo Theater,and the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. (Source)
Image source
Example sentences from the web:
- We are proud of this landmark in the history of our democracy.
- The cold war is a landmark that signals the dawning of the information age.
- The moon landing is a landmark in space exploration.
“A good husband makes a good wife” – English proverb
Image source
Example sentence:
- Don’t blame your wife for being quick-tempered with you; you haven’t been kind to her lately. A good husband makes a good wife!
QUICK-TEMPERED => becoming angry quickly and easily.
English4Gamers -Episode 7 – Prince of Persia part 2
The 7th episode of English4Gamers is out. In this episode, Richard and I are struggling a bit. It’s the second level of Prince of Persia, a famous but difficult retro game. It’s not the first episode based on this game, but there are some new words you can learn. I suggest that you read the vocabulary list below before watching the video. There is a fill in the gaps activity that you can try to do afterwards. You can find the answers in the PDF file.
VOCABULARY
TO LEAD = to take someone somewhere, by going with them.
Ex. She led us to the door.
TO ADVANCE = the act or process of moving forward.
Ex. Our plans are to advance toward the city.
TO PARRY = to defend yourself by turning or pushing aside.
Ex. The big man turned, parried, easily deflecting the swords with his broadsword.
TO SLASH = Cut with a wide, sweeping movement, typically using a knife or a sword.
Ex. The first time I told Madi that I was dating, she slashed my tires.
TO BACK OFF = to move backwards in order to get further away from something.
Ex. Okay, you’re going to have to back off a half step.
SPIKES = 
TO DEFEAT = to do better than another in a competition or battle; to win; to beat.
Ex. Together we might be able to defeat the witch.
SWORDSMAN = 
ASHAMED = feeling shame or guilt; feeling embarrassed.
Ex. I’m not ashamed to be a servant.
TO PICK UP = to lift (someone or something) from the ground or a low surface.
Ex. You must have picked up his jacket by mistake.
Downloadable PDF version: ENGLISH FOR GAMERS – Episode 7 – Prince Of Persia – Vocabulary
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the correct words from the box:
- Richard: We killed the _______________________.
- Anna: We have to _______________ the prince out of these _________________________ into the tower where the princess in locked. Because Jaffar _________________________ her.
- Richard: With SHIFT you __________________.
- Richard: I have one life ___________________.
- Anna: There are the spikes and there is the jar with the ________________.
- Richard: Maybe there are these ______________ on the ________________ that you can break, I’m not sure.
- Richard: Such a small jump and you ______________ your legs.
- Richard: It was ___________________.
- Anna: ___________________ the opponent, the swordsman!
- Anna: Slash! Slash! And then back ____________.
- Richard: You have to ________________ when he attacks you, not like … You can’t keep pressing the button. When he attacks, you press it and you ________________________ yourself.
- Richard: You are really ________________ at this game, but you have like half ____________ so …
- Anna: We have _____________ minutes to save the princess. I don’t think we will do that.
- Anna: You can’t change the ______________________.
- Anna: Just keep _________________ what you are doing.
Downloadable PDF version (without answers): English4Gamers – Episode 7 – Prince of Persia part 2 – Fill in the gaps exercise
Downloadable PDF version (answers): English4Gamers – Episode 7 – Prince of Persia part 2 – Answers
“To hit the hay” – English idiom
Image source: 1; 2.
Another way to say it is TO HIT THE SACK ;-).
This is a nice comic on this idiom made by Ploopikoosy:
More example sentences from the web:
- I have a busy day tomorrow, so I think I’ll hit the hay.
- Time to go home and hit the hay!
- I’m tired, I’m gonna hit the hay.
- Well, I’m going to hit the hay, I’m feeling pretty tired. Good night!
Here, you can read about the origin of this idiom: The meaning and origin of the expression: Hit the hay
“Truce” – What does it mean?
Example sentences from the web:
- The warring countries refused to create any official cease-fire, but on Christmas, the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce.
Source: Christmas Truce of 1914 - The man at the center of the truce was the former security minister, David Munguía Payés, a general who is now the defense minister […].
Source: El Salvador Throws Out Gang Truce and Officials Who Put It in Place - We break the truce, drive a wedge between them.
TO BREAK A TRUCE => To start fighting again breaking a previous agreement of peace.
“The Story Behind Your Bowl Of Ramen Noodles” – AJ+ – Listening comprehension
This is a listening activity based on the AJ+ video “The Story Behind Your Bowl Of Ramen Noodles”. I suggest that you read the following vocabulary list before watching the video. Then, watch the video and try to complete the sentences with the correct word from the box.
VOCABULARY
Bowl: 
Migrant: a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work.
Ex. Economic migrants move abroad to escape poverty and improve their financial condition.
Labor: workers considered as a group.
Ex. We had this huge harvest, so we had to hire all this cheap labor.
Shortage: a state in which there is not enough of something that is needed.
Ex. In many European countries, agricultural businesses complain about the shortage of skilled workers.
Wheat: 
Consumption: the act of eating or drinking something.
Ex. Alcohol consumption constitutes a major danger to road safety.
Uprising: an act of resistance or rebellion; a revolt.
Ex. He weighed 38 kilos when he escaped from prison during the 1956 Hungarian uprising and fled to the Netherlands.
To lead: to lie or go in a specified direction.
Ex. This way will lead us to the main entrance for sure.
Affordable: inexpensive; reasonably priced.
Ex. Railways have many benefits, as travelling by rail is affordable and environmentally friendly.
Lifestyle: the way a person lives or a group of people live.
Ex. Technology, the internet, they have changed our lifestyle.
Quintessential: the most important part of something.
Ex. Sheep’s milk cheese is the quintessential Corsican cheese.
Dorm: informal, short for dormitory.
Image source
Wildfire/ like wildfire: (informal) very quickly.
Ex. The news had spread like wildfire.
To devour: eat hungrily or quickly.
Image source
Downloadable PDF version: The Story Behind Your Bowl Of Ramen – Vocabulary
Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with the correct word from the box
- This signature Japanese ___________ is now an international favorite.
- Ramen as we know it comes from Japan but its popularity in the country is actually ___________ new.
- Then Japan entered World War II which led to major food ___________ across the country and ramen’s popularity pretty much disappeared.
- When the war ended the US occupied Japan and imported a whole lot of wheat to the country, leading to more noodle _____________________.
- And one reason why there was so much ______________ imported was because there was a fear that food shortages could lead to _________________uprising.
- After those really hard times, from the 1950s to 1970s Japan went through an _____________________ boom.
- And busy lifestyles led to the creation ________________ ramen in the 1950s.
- Then in the 1970s the super convenient just add water ________________ dorm food cup of noodles was made and it took off like ________________ in Japan and internationally.
- But it wasn’t until the 1980s that ramen actually became an_______________ part of Japanese culture.
- Today the love for ramen is real in Japan and what was once a working men’s food is now a ___________________ love and __________________ dish around the world.
Downloadable PDF version (without answers): The Story Behind Your Bowl Of Ramen Noodles – AJ+ – Fill in the gaps exercise
Downloadable PDF version (answers): The Story Behind Your Bowl Of Ramen Noodles – AJ+ – Exercise’s answers
“Night owl” – English idiom
Image source 1; 2.
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