His Do-over
Adam talks about what he would change about his life if he could do it again.
Sarah: So Adam, today we’re talking about do-overs. So what is something that you wish you would have done over? For example, maybe something in your university life?
Adam: Yeah. There are a few things. I might change my major. I studied education, and while I enjoy what I’m doing right now, my free time I really like watching movies about science and astronomy. And if I would go back to school and start my studies over, I’d probably study something along those lines, astronomy and metaphysics or something.
I think that those topics are really interesting and on the cutting edge of science and just fascinating to explore.
Sarah: Interesting. Anything else you wish you would have done?
Adam: I might have been more involved in the sports clubs at my school. For example, the American football team. I played in high school but in college, I wanted to play but I didn’t have the motivation to push me over the edge to actually go out and really put my heart into it.
I went to one training day and kind of tried out, but I didn’t really pursue it as much as I would have liked. I think it would have been fun to be a part of that culture and that environment.
Sarah: How about something that you did do that maybe now you wish you hadn’t?
Adam: I pierced my ears in high school because that was the cool thing to do. But now I don’t wear earrings. And yeah, looking back on it, kind of just a silly thing to do that I’m trying to follow the trends, that, you know, trends usually pass.
So yeah, that would be something that I wouldn’t do again.
Sarah: Nice. Anything else you would have changed?
Adam: I might have made different decisions about my girlfriends at the time. I had a really good girlfriend in the beginning of college, and things didn’t work out because of a variety of reasons. But I think if we would have worked on it, we could have. We could have made it, made it happen. So yeah, that’s something I think about sometimes about life in college.
It’s always, you know, college love is kind of a crazy thing. So yeah, we’re too much like kids, I guess, I think at that age.
Sarah: Okay. Thanks, Adam.
[End of Transcript]
along those lines
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I’d probably study something along those lines.
Here, 'along those lines' means 'similar to' something already mentioned. Notice the following:
- He hopes to create a new web business or something along those lines.
- I want to build a house or cabin or something along those lines.
cutting edge
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Those topics are on the cutting edge of science.
The 'cutting edge' is the most advanced state of something. Notice the following:
- The ad campaign is on the cutting edge of marketing.
- Punk rock was once on the cutting edge of music experimentation.
push me over the edge
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I didn’t have the motivation to push me over the edge.
Here, to 'push over the edge' means to reach a point where success becomes likely. Notice the following:
- We never quit. We pushed ourselves over the edge when things looked bad.
- I did not want to continue, but she pushed me over the edge.
put your heart into
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I really put my heart into it.
When you put your heart into something, you are very committed to making something succeed. Notice the following:
- If you do not put your heart into your education, you will not learn very much.
- He never put his heart into his job.
try out
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I tried out for the football team.
When you try out for a team, you audition to be one of the players. Notice the following:
- He tried out for the team, but was cut.
- She plans to try out for the cheerleaders.
pass
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Trends usually pass.
When somethings passes, it ends or stops existing. Notice the following:
- Babies cry a lot, but it is a phase that will pass.
- All music trends pass over time.
Vocabulary Quiz
try out • those lines • push
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Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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