english lesson - bloodshot

7/18/2019 English Lesson - Bloodshot

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The Bob and Rob Show Study GuideLesson 60

date: Nov. 2, 2006file name: bobrob11-17-06file length: 28:00

Show notesDeath and idioms connected to it, a joke from Bubba, a spoof commercial, some listener email and the usual banter from Bob and Rob are some of the treats on this show.

Bob and Rob went to the annual JALT (the Japanese Association of Language Teachers)conference in Kyushu, the southern island of Japan. Check out their site at

http://www.jalt.org/

Listener EmailWe gave some advice for taking the FCE (First Cambridge in English) which is a certificatein English for foreigners that is approved by UK Universities. We suggested using thepresent tense when comparing 2 pictures in the speaking part of the test. Importantly, it isnecessary to relax and to try to express your opinion as clearly as possible.

Check out the site of Cambridge’s FCE exam and others at the following

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/fce.htm

In another email, we mentioned that ‘had better’ is stronger than ‘ought to’ or ‘should’. It isused to give strong advice, and the past tense is used to emphasize the urgency of something.

We also discussed ‘let’s get started’ versus ‘let’s start’

Phrasal Verbs"to pass on"

1) to transmit e.g: we’ll pass on the messages to our listeners.2) to die e.g: the mother of my friend Jon passed on yesterday (passed away is also used ).3) to not accept an invitation to do something e.g: Bob passed on Rob’s invitation to go for

dinner.

IdiomsBored to death= to be so bored that you die (not literally but only figuratively) this idiommeans that you were extremely bored e.g: I was bored to death watching that movie. I thought it was rubbish.

Scared to death= to be so scared that you die. Again, this is used figuratively e.g: thechildren were scared to death watching that horror movie on Halloween.



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Bonus Idiom: “death trap”.This idiom is used to describe a structure (building), place or situation where there isimminent risk of death e.g:1) they escaped from the deathtrap just before it exploded.2) that old car of yours is a deathtrap.

Ancient Japanese English Study Secret

Ways to make a long excuse:

First of all….I overslept The other reason is….my train was delayed

Why did you divorce your wife?

The main reason is….we have different interestsBeside that….I don’t like her mother And on top of that….she never cleans the house

And finally….she cheated on me

JokeBubba’s joke makes fun of politicians. While we may respect our own local representative,generally people seem to have a disdain for politicians (this is true for lawyers, too),especially when they are caught lying and cheating. This joke makes fun of the stereotypethat you can’t believe anything a politician says, even when it’s something obviously true.

Commercial”Where she lies” : golf course / cemetery spoof commercialCemeteries in the U.S. are often very spacious with large lawns and greenery. Hence, thisfake company is offering a combination of a golf course membership and a future burialplot. Very absurd. The “she” in “where she lies” is a common feminine alternative to “he”and “it”.



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Both Sides of the Pond1. (US) dumb (UK) stupid2. (US) folks (UK) people3. (US) smart (UK) clever

note:1. Both “dumb” and “stupid” are quite common is the U.S.2. “smart” and “clever” have slightly different meanings. Whereas “smart” often emphasizes raw intelligence,“clever” is a more sharp, quick and witty intelligence and inventiveness.

SongBloodshot, by The Minxhttp://www.minxmusic.com

The Minx are based in Tokyo. Bob met one of the band members at a book expo inYokohama. The Minx play regularly at a pub called What the Dickens! in Ebisu,Tokyo.

Show transcript

BOBWe're ready to go. Hi, Rob.

ROBHi, Bob, how are you doing?

BOBI'm doing alright, and yourself?

ROBPretty good thank you.

BOBWe had a really busy weekend didn't we?

ROBWe did have a busy weekend, but we got a few days off this week which is nice.

BOBIt's been great actually.

ROB Was it a busy weekend, Bob?

BOB

We went down to an educational conference in southern Japan - in a city calledKitakyushu1 We went to the JALT conference. What does that stand for? Japan



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Association of Language Teachers. We had a very, very busy time down there, but it wasgood.

ROBIt was interesting. Met a lot of nice and interesting people, and had a good time. Probablyhad a few too many beers.

BOBYea, I think so. I was a bit tired; especially coming back that night.

ROB And, we gave a presentation didn't we, Bob?

BOBWe did do a presentation: we had sixteen people.

ROBIt wasn't as big as other conferences - I guess - in terms of the audience, but it was good.

BOBIf you influence one person you've done your job.

ROB"From little acorns2 grow mighty oak trees."

BOBYes, good expression. Okay, let's do phrasal verbs and some idioms. What's our phrasalverb for today?

ROBI thought we could look at "pass on."

BOB"Pass on," okay.

ROB"Pass on" actually has a number of different meanings. It can mean "to transmitsomething," to "pass on something."

BOB

Why don't you give an example of that.

ROBLet's "pass on" this message to our audience or to our listeners.

BOBOkay, "pass it on." "Pass on," also means "to die." That's a polite way to say someone hasdied. "Last night John's father passed on." That's my way to say "die." You can also say,"pass away."

ROB

Sure, that's another phrasal verb to mean "die." Yet another meaning to "pass on," means"to not accept something." If you "pass on" something, it means "no thanks."



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BOB"I'm going to pass on that."

ROBIt can be an invitation to do something.

BOBSomeone offers you a drink - another round of beer - you might say, "I'm going to pass onthat; I'm driving tonight."

ROBYea, "I've had too much."

BOBBut we rarely pass on...

ROB

If we're offered another drink, we rarely pass on that we always accept it.

0THERLAUGHS

BOBDonations too.

ROBDonations. We never pass on donations if they're forthcoming.

BOBWe talked a little bit about "pass on" as an idiom "to die." Some other idioms using death.We can say, "bored to death," or "scared to death." That just basically means "really, really,really bored or scared." You’re so bored you can't stand it anymore "your actually going todie." For example, I was listening to you talk during our presentation. I was "bored to death"

ROBThank you very much.

0THERLAUGHS

BOBThis means really, really, really extremely bored or scared to the point that you think youwill die.

ROBYes, but it's used in a joking kind of sense, "to be bored to death."

BOBOur bonus idiom is "death trap." For example, "that car of yours is a real death trap." So, if you want to know the answer to that check it out in the show notes.

0THER



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FLUTE / GONG / MAN CHANTS

BOB Ancient Japanese English Study Secret.

ROB Ancient Japanese English Study Secret.

BOBSo, Rob, have you ever had to make a really long excuse? I'm sure you've had to explain toyour wife, many times, why you're so late coming home.

0THERLAUGHS

ROB A few weeks ago, I got on the wrong train, and, fell asleep after a few beers, and I had tostay in a hotel.

0THERLAUGHS

ROBWhich is a bit embarrassing. At first my wife wouldn't even answer my call...

BOBYou dialed her on the cell phone?

ROB

On the cell phone - the mobile phone3

...

BOBShe must have been really mad4.

ROBShe just assumed what had happened and just ignored me, so, she was fine when I gothome. But, I had to explain to her...it wasn't really an excuse it was real reasons. I had justfallen asleep because I had drunk too much.

BOB

Some things you probably used with your wife maybe were, "first of all," or, you could havealso said,..

ROB"The other reason is"

BOBSo for example, let's say I was late for work. I might say for example, "first of all, Ioverslept."

ROB

"And the other reason is that my train was delayed."



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BOB And of course, if you have a really long excuse - like someone asks you, "why did youdivorce your wife?" For a reason or an excuse, you can say "the main reason is...

ROB"beside that,"

BOB"and on top of that."

ROB"and finally."

BOBSo, for example, "the main reason is we have different interests."

ROB"And besides that I don't like her mother."

BOB"And on top of that she never cleans the house."

ROBWhoa. And finally, "she cheated on me!"

BOBShe cheated5 on you, what does that mean "to cheat"?

ROB

That means "to be unfaithful." To get an extra boyfriend or...

BOBDid your wife accuse you of that when you never came home?

ROBNo, no, no.

BOBShe trusts you.

ROBYea, she trusts me; I wouldn't do that to my wife.

BOBWhat a man! That's been Ancient Japanese English Study Secret.

0THERFLUTE / GONG / MAN CHANTS

BOBOkay, what do you feel like doing now, Rob?

ROB



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How about visiting Ol' Bubba?

BOBOl' Bubba, we haven't heard from him in awhile.

ROBBecause you know - I think you did a bit of research, Bob, and you managed to find a veryinteresting joke about politicians and...

BOBWe just had mid-term elections in the U.S. yesterday, and it was...maybe you would say, "awatershed election." Watershed...W-A-T-E-R-S-H-E-D meaning "big change," because, thedemocrats won the House. The House is part of the Congress. There's two halves to theHouse, and, they may win the Senate as well. Anyway, this is a political joke.

ROBWe don't really go into

6 politics here, but, this is absolutely fantastic news, isn't it?

0THERLAUGHS

BOBWe don't go into politics, but -YEA!

0THERLAUGHS

BOBI'm in a really good mood today. Bubba has a funny joke about politicians. A bus crashes

on a farm and the politicians die, and the farmer buries them, and he gives a reason why.So, that's kind of the joke. Always fun to joke about politicians. Okay, let's listen.

0THERBUBBA: Howdy friends, this is Bubba Bohaks with your daily wisecracks frombubbabohaks.com. Visit me there in the fun barn. A bus load of politicians are driving downan old country road one afternoon, when all of a sudden the bus runs off the road, andcrashes into a tree right there in farmer Brown's field. Farmer Brown sees what's going onand he rushes out there to see if he could help. He decides he'll just dig a big ol' hole thereand bury all the politicians. So, a few days later the local sheriff comes out there to farmer Brown's house and tries to figure out what's going on. He sees the crashed bus, and he

looks around for the politicians but don't 7see any of them. He asks farmer Brown whathappened to them, and farmer Brown says, "Oh, it was a terrible accident, I just went aheadand buried all of them." Sheriff looks at the farmer and says, "they were all dead?" Wellsheriff, a couple of them said they were still alive but you know them politicians are all liars."

BOB All right.

ROBYea, brilliant.

BOBIf you don't understand the joke, email us on the blog, and we can explain the punch line8.



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0THERMUSIC

BOBWe have a message from our sponsor. Again, this is a spoof making fun of a commercial.This is The Where She Lies Golf Course/Cemetery , so, it's a golf course and a cemetery.Where she lies, "to lie" means "to be buried, to be dead." So, Where She Lies Golf Course/Cemetery. Do you play golf?

ROBI don't, but I enjoy watching it. I used to play a little bit.

BOBYou enjoy watching it?

ROBPreferably, the Pros.

BOBZZZZZZZZZZZZ

0THERLAUGHS

ROB Ah, it's not bad. Just the big events like the Ryder Cup and the Open. You don't like golf,Bob?

BOBWell, I can see how people like it. It's actually a much harder game than it looks.

ROBOh yea!

BOBI've played it a few times and I find it really frustrating.

ROBExtremely frustrating.

BOBIt's a really mental game, so I respect it, but don't necessarily like to play it. It's expensivehere in Japan.

ROBThat's true.

BOBI'm more of an outdoors person, as in; I like hiking, wind surfing, and a little bit morephysical stuff. Anyway, here's a commercial about a golf course/cemetery, where you can

live on the golf course, and, be buried on the golf course.



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ROBInteresting.

BOBWhere She Lies, let's listen.

0THERCOMMERCIAL SPOOF: Are you an avid

9 golfer? If you couldn't golf anymore would you

rather be dead? Now you can do both. Introducing, Where She Lies Memorial Links, theworld’s first golf course and cemetery in one. Where She Lies is a challenging eighteenhole golf course tastefully integrated with 1,043 deluxe burial plots. Purchase your plot now,and you'll get a lifetime membership at Where She Lies, with discounts on green fees, andmany other great benefits. And then when you can no longer swing a club, when you'veputted your last putt, when you've cleaned your balls for the last time - you'll be comfortedby the fact that you're still on the course, and that other duffers are driving, chipping andputting just six feet above you10. Your loved ones will appreciate the dignified memorialservice in our combination chapel/pro shop. And, the graveside service is just a short rideaway in our battery powered hearse. You'll be escorted to your final resting place with

genuine Scottish bagpipes

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from the country where golf began. If you chose the deluxememorial package, your clubs and balls will be shrink wrapped, and buried by your side.Why spend eternity in a dull boring cemetery when you can still be part of the game?Where She Lies is the best of both worlds

12: membership in a exclusive golf community

while you’re still swinging, and a peaceful final resting place for you, and, your balls andputter when you no longer need them. Do you prefer to be cremated13, no problem, our expert staff will place your remains out on the course where lightning has been known tostrike. Then your ashes can be spread on your favorite hazard or sand trap. Where SheLies is the perfect choice for avid golfers who'd rather die than stop golfing. Where She Liesis an equal opportunity golf and burial community.

BOBWell, there you go.

ROBThat's very good.

BOBNo bad, it's kind of funny. This is from the wackywatermelon.com, and thank you very muchfor letting us use that.

ROB

Yea, that's cool. That's a spoof, we should emphasize that.

BOBThat's not a real commercial it's a joke, and, like everything that has to do with the Bob andRob Show - it's a joke, don't take it seriously.

0THERLAUGHS

BOBYou never want to take anything we say seriously...especially Rob.

0THER



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LAUGHS

ROBThanks, Bob.

0THERMUSIC

ROBOkay, how about some, Both Sides of the Pond, Bob?

BOBHey, sounds good.

ROBOkay, I thought we could just do four little items today. I think most of our listeners probablyknow these terms, some are used interchangeably.

BOBYou mean in the U.K. and the U.S.?

ROBYea. For example, in the U.K. we would say "stupid" rather than...

BOB"Dumb."

ROBWe don't really use "dumb" that much. We would say, "that guy is so stupid!" We don't

really use "dumb."

BOBWe use both. So, you wouldn't say, "he's dumb."?

ROBNot often, no, and how about "people?" "People are so good over here really, they’re sonice and kind."

BOB"People" Maybe, "folks."

ROBDo you use that more than "people"?

BOBSometimes, "folks" is a bit old fashioned now. We use "people" too.

ROBSo, they are interchangeable?

BOB

Sometimes, younger people use "guys," G-U-Y-S. "Hey guys, how are you doing? Maybe"folks" would be more polite. If you have older women, they don't like being called "guys,"



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where younger women might not mind. Younger people have to be careful when talking toolder people...not to say, "guys," to a group of them. I use to work on a boat: I was a tour guide. I was warned never to say, "welcome aboard guys," because there we a lot of older women.

ROBThey would take offense14?

BOBThey’re used to being called "folks," or, "ladies and gentlemen."

ROB Another one I think is very interchangeable. In the U.K. we say, "clever."

BOB"Clever." Well, "smart."

ROB

I think these are pretty interchangeable, but again....

BOBYou tend to say "clever" more.

ROBYea, more than "smart."

BOBBut, obviously, they're interchangeable. For example; you would say, "Rob, I'm both smartand clever." In America, maybe for you, "dumb."

ROB"Dumb and stupid."

0THERLAUGHS

BOBI'm just joking. The other way around.

ROB

Right.

0THERMUSIC

BOBWhat do we got today, Rob, some emails?

ROBLet's look at some emails. We did receive something from James, and he wrote about theFCE exam, which is the first Cambridge English certificate.

BOB



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Oh really, he's going to take it?

ROBHe's going to take it and he asks if we can provide some tips for his exams. Particularly thespeaking parts. There are five parts to the test. It's quite a comprehensive15 test. I think for the speaking test, which is fourteen minutes, so, nearly a quarter of an hour. They assessyour ability to interact in different contexts in English. It contains four parts so let's just havea look here: there's an interview section, a long term section of about one minute, acollaborative16 task and construction section, where you're going to be looking atphotographs and drawings. And, the test is normally done in pairs. He particularly asksabout describing and comparing pictures. Now generally, obviously, it depends on whatcontext the photos are based in. Generally, I would recommend using present continuous,so "in this picture this guy is doing this and in this picture she's doing that." That's just onetip.

BOBUse the present continuous. Okay.

ROBThat would perhaps sound a little bit more natural.

BOBI would suggest if you wear glasses to wear glasses that day too. Don't forget your readingglasses.

ROBSure, yea, yea, yea.

0THER

LAUGHS

ROBThat's a good idea.

BOBThat's a blurry, blurry

17 looking picture.

ROBIt's a tough test, so good luck, James, and all the best. If you check out their website, theymight have more ideas as well.

BOB FCE is kind of like the equivalent of the TOEFL

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ROBYea, once you've got that, it is recognized by universities and employers around the world.

BOBWow. Thanks for going over that. Igor wrote and had a question. "What's the differencebetween let's get started, and let's start"?

ROB



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Why don't we say, "let's start." Well, I think it's almost become like an idiom, don't you think,Bob?

BOB"Let's get started," to me, seems to have a feeling of "you should have started a while ago,and you’re kind of falling behind." There's more of an urgency. So, "let's get started," it's justmore colloquial for sure. "Let's start" just means "okay, we're ready." "Let's get started"maybe again has a connotation that "okay, it's a little bit late now, so we should getstarted." What do you think?

ROBI agree, that makes sense.

BOBWell, if it makes sense to you then it's right.

0THERLAUGHS

BOB Also, Peter had a question about the past tense. He said, "he had a problem withunexpected past tense," meaning "you have past tense where you don't think you need it."For example, "it's time for you to have a haircut," versus "it's time you had a haircut."Basically, when you use the past tense "had a haircut" it's like saying, "it's past time youhad a haircut." In other words it's stronger, because you've gone beyond the point of needing a haircut. So, you should have had one already, and that's why you use the past.It's more emphatic19. It's stronger. "It's time you had a haircut," in other words, "you shouldhave had it already." It's past that time, as compared to "it's time for you to have a haircut."What do you think?

ROBThat makes sense. You’re emphasizing the urgency of it.

BOB Also, "it's getting late, it's time to go home." "It's getting late, I had better go home." It's kindof the same, it's also more urgent.

ROBYes, well, "had better" is a set phrase which is - basically, it's a function that means "to giveadvice." And, this expression ,"had better do something," is much more urgent than say,

"should," or...

BOB"It's time to go home," is just a statement. "It's time to go home," or, "had better," is likethere's some reason that you need to go home.

ROBYea, that's true.

BOBIt's like, "you should."

ROB



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And it provides a function of giving advice. Whereas "it's time to go home" is more of ageneral statement. It's suggesting that if you don't do it now things will get worse.

BOBSo, "you'd better get a haircut."

ROBOtherwise it's just going to grow longer and longer.

BOB Actually, you'd better cut that goatee20 off.

ROBYea, it's getting long.

BOBWe'd better wrap this up, because we're running out of time. We have more emails don't

we?

ROBWe do have more emails, and I'm sorry if we couldn't get to them all today.

BOBWe'll try to do some more in future shows. A few more here that we didn't get to from, Jiri. -was ? wanted to recommend a good vocabulary game.

ROB And, Ef asked about some advice - going to universities in foreign countries, namely Britain

or America, and so on. We'll get to your emails in future shows for sure.

0THERMUSIC

BOBOkay, just some announcements as usual. Thank you for your donations, and, consider becoming a member. You can get access to all the study guides.

ROBYea, great. Thanks a lot, we really appreciate it.

BOBToday’s song is actually - I was at a conference...

ROBOh yea, the JALT conference, right?

BOB Actually, not the JALT conference. I was at a book expo in Yokohama21, and I met a fellownamed Brian.

ROBYou've been busy, Bob.



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BOBWe've both been busy. I met a guy named Brian, who also works for a publisher there, andturns out

22 he's a musician. I asked him if we could play one of his songs on the Bob andRob Show. His name is Brian - I think I said that already - and, his group is called Minx. M-I-N-X He generously let us use a song called, "Bloodshot."

ROBWell, hopefully Brian will be listening to the show.

BOBI hope so. I'll email him and tell him should listen to this one. Minx is a three piece band thatplay noisy pop music in Tokyo. Their website - if you want to learn more about them - go towww.minxmusic.com. That's one word, m-i-n-x-m-u-s-i-c.com, and, we'll put a link also inthe show notes. Thank you very much, Brian. Let's end with the song, "Bloodshot" by theMinx. Okay, bye, bye everyone.

ROB

Goodbye, see you next time.

Her eyes, couldn't tell if they burned from the soaking of former crying Soul eyes, useless to talk over it now, like the good times the careless played away It used to be the rageTurning a blind eye to this painOver why to duck the blame23

Then again she could tell herself it's just a game

Bloodshot Million stories in those eyes

One was true, the rest were liesStill the song it can't disguise All the names of the swingers

24 that she led astray All the pain as the memories awaken again

Her eyes should have shimmered and shined For a heart that was strong and ableSoul eyes, chose to take, not to give when the good times seemed to slip away She led him to believe, that she him i ...?That the beauty that they seen had a price when they opened the door t....?

Bloodshot Million stories in those eyesOne was true, the rest were liesStill the song it can't disguise All the names of the swingers that she led astray All the pain as the memories awaken again

Extension and Review Study*note: we encourage you to respond to the questions and readings by posting on the new discussion board(Login using your Bob and Rob Show membership username and password )

http://englishcaster.com/discussionboard/



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1/ Have you or anybody you know ever been in a situation where they nearly died? Wereyou scared to death? Did you nearly pass on? Describe the experience. What happenedand where? How did you feel?

An example of a deathtrap vehicle…….and a deathtrap bridge !! Be careful

2/ Have you ever made a long excuse in your own language? Describe the story in as

much detail as possible in English.

3/ Are you planning to take an English exam? If so, which ones are you going to take andwhy? What do you want to do once you have gained the qualification? What tips can youoffer for taking the exams of your choice?

Glossary

Kitakyushu 1 = the southern island of Japan. See the tourist board homepage at

http://wikitravel.org/en/KitakyushuFrom little acorns 2 = the beginning of the proverb is often said alonethe mobile phone

3 = British English for Cell Phone

mad 4 = American English for angry cheated 5 = the literal meaning is, of course, to try to get a better score on a test by illicitmeansgo into 6 = informal phrasal verb meaning to talk about , or focus ondon't 7 = example of incorrect grammar used by a native English speaker. Bubba shouldhave said doesn’t but ‘don’t’ suits his image better the punch line

8 = the main and funny part of the joke

avid 9 = enthusiastic, eager

six feet above you 10 = this is turn of phrase. We usually say ‘6 feet under’ when referringto the dead in a slang waybagpipes 11 = traditional Scottish musical wind instrumentbest of both worlds

12 = expression meaning that you can fortunately enjoy both sides of a

situationcremated

13 = burned in a coffin and then have your ashes put into a special vase called an

urntake offense

14 consider something rude and impolite

comprehensive 15 = thoroughcollaborative 16 = working together with a partner or groupblurry 17 = out of focusTOEFL 18 = Test Of English as a Foreign Language, used mainly for entrance to Americanuniversities



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emphatic 19 = stressed more, and more importantgoatee 20 = small tuft of beard under the chin Yokohama 21 = major port city just south of Tokyoturns out 22 = colloquial for ‘as it happens’duck the blame 23 = escape the blame; “duck” is a verbswingers 24 = people who date a lot

english lesson - bloodshot

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