• I'm still working on it.
  • This sentence expresses that an action is ongoing and not yet completed. It also suggests that more time is needed to finish it.
    • Did you finish reading? — I’m still working on it.
    • Did you fix my car? — I’m still working on it.
• Coke and Fries
  • This refers to a popular combination of fast food: Coca-cola and French Fries.
• Complimentary
  • This word is used to describe something that is free of charge or offered as a gift. For example:
    • The hotel offers complimentary breakfast. (The breakfast is free of charge.)
• I'll go with
  • This phrase means to choose or select something from available options. For example:
    • I’ll go with pizza. (Pizza is the chosen option over others.)
• Grab
  • This word means to qucikly take hold of something or pick something up in a hurry. For example:
    • On your way home, can you grab some milk?
    • Wait for me, please. I need to grab my coat.
    • Let’s grab a cup of coffee.

• I'm feeling quite ill today.
  • This phrase indicates that the person is experiencing discomfort or sickness.
• I'm coming down with the flu.
  • This sentence means the person is starting to get sick with the flu.
  • “Coming down with” is an informal way to say that someone is begining to show symptoms of disease.
• Calling in sick
  • This phrase is commonly used to notify the employer by phone or email that the person will be absent due to illness.
• I was hoping to take the day off.
  • This sentence means that the person wants to have a break from work for the day, usually because of personal reasons or illness.

• Description of Someone's Appearance: He’s good looking, he’s quite tall, around 6'1. He’s in his early 30s, and he get the most beautiful dark brown eyes.
• Heard is the past tense of the verb hear, which means to listen or become aware of something through the sense of hearing.
  • I heard you’re dating a new guy.
  • Julie told me she heard that you’re pregnant.
  • What! You got fired? I heard that you quit.
• Fill me in
  • This phrase means to provide someone with the details or information about something, especially if they missed out on it. For example:
    • Can you fill me in on what happened during the meeting?
• Career path refers to the direction of someone’s career over time. It’s the journey someone follows in their professional life. For example:
  • She’s thinking about changing her career path and moving into marketing.
• Goodlooking is used to describe someone who is attractive. It’s more natural than handsome.
• Hot is an informal term used to describe someone who is very attractive, typically in a physical or sexual way. However, it’s important to note that it is not always appropriate to use it directly when describing someone, as it can be considered somewhat impolite. It is more commonly used among friends or in casual settings as a comment or compliment.

• Munchies refers to snacks or small amounts of food, often eaten casually or between meals.
• Fill up the tank means to fill the gas tank of a car with fuel. It’s often used when someone is getting ready to drive somewhere.
• A Pit Stop originally refers to a quick stop made by race cars during a race or refuel or change tires. In everyday language, it can refer to any quick stop made during a journey, such as for food, a bathroom break, etc. For example:
  • Let’s make a pit stop for some coffee before we continue driving.
• We've got all our bases covered.
  • This phrase means that all possible situations or needs have been thought about and planned for. For example:
    • Don’t worry about the trip, we’ve got all our bases covered.
    • We’ve got all our bases covered in case the Hurricane hits.
    • Okay, I have my keys, wallet and passport, looks like I have all my bases covered.
• Let's get ...
  • This is a common expression used to start something or make it happen. It can be used in many contexts, such as starting a project, meal, or activity. For example:
    • I have a chicken, so let’s get cooking.
    • This house is really scary, let’s get out of here.
    • I have another meeting in 20 minutes, so let’s get down to business.
• Are we ready to go?
  • This is a question asking if everything is prepared and if it’s time to start or leave. It’s often used when you’re about to start a trip, a task, or an activity. For example:
    • Are we ready to go? The car is packed!
• It's all set.
  • This means that everything is prepared or ready to go. It suggests that no further work is needed and everything is in order. For example:
    • Don’t worry about the meeting, it’s all set.

• Froze refers to something especially a computer or software that suddenly stopped responding and is no longer working, For example:
  • My computer froze when I was trying to open the file.
• Infected file refers to a file on a computer that has been corrupted or infected by a virus or malware.
• Up to date means that something is current, recent, and has the latest information or updates. For example:
  • I need to buy a new computer, because mine isn’t up to date.
  • I can’t find the street, are you sure this map is up to date.
  • Sarah has just finished the reports and all the information is up to date.
• I'll be right...
  • It is an informal way to describe someone will return or be ready very soon. For example:
    • Can you help me with my computer. — I’ll be right there.
    • Come downstairs, dinner is ready. — I’ll be right down.
    • Hurry up! I need to use the bathroom. — I’ll be right out.
• It turns out that
  • This phrase is used to reveal a surprising or unexpected result or discovery. It often introduces new information. For example:
    • Frank didn’t come to work today, and it turns out that he was sick.
    • I’ve been feeling really sick recently, it turns out that I’m pregnant.
• It's acting up again.
  • When something “acts up,” it means it’s behaving in an unusual or malfunctioning way. It is commonly used to describe a technical problem. For example:
    • Oh great! That stupid computer froze again, that’s the third time today.

• In a bit of a hurry
  • This phrase means that someone need to do something quickly. For example:
    • Can you drive fast, I’m in a bit of a hurry.
    • I can’t talk right now, I’m in a bit of a hurry.
    • I’m in a bit of a hurry, so I’ll check these files later.
• Slipped my mind
  • This means that someone forgot something unintentionally. For example:
    • I’m sorry I forgot to respond to your email, it just slipped my mind.
    • I meant to call you but it completely slipped my mind.
    • Don’t you know what day is it today? — Oh, it’s your birthday. It completely slipped my mind.
• around here
  • This refers to the local area or the place where someone is currently. For example:
    • Are there any good restaurants around here?
    • Is there a bank around here?
    • Extention: Los Angeles is a great city, I used to live around there.
• terrible with
  • This means someone is not good at something. For example,
    • You’re terrible with numbers, you can’t even remember your own telephone number.
    • I’m teribble with directions, I’m always getting lost.
    • I’m teribble with faces, I can never remember what people look like.
• how's it going?
  • This sentence is a casual, native way to greet someone. For example,
    • How’s it going? Everything is going well.

• inconsiderate
  • This word describes someone who is thoughtless or doesn’t consider how their actions affect others. For example:
    • It was inconsiderate of him to interrupt during the meeting.
• keep it down
  • This phrase is used to ask someone to lower the volume or make less noise. For example:
    • I’m trying to study, do you mind keeping it down?
• not such a big deal
  • This phrase is used to suggest that something is not as important or serious as it may seem. For example:
    • Don’t worry about the mistake; it’s not such a big deal.
    • I can’t get these files to you by tomorrow. — It’s OK, it’s not such a big deal.
• switch it off
  • This means to turn something off, usually referring to electronics or devices. For example:
    • Please switch it off when you’re done using the computer.
• can't hear a thing
  • This phrase means that it is so noisy that it is impossible to hear anything clearly. For example:
    • What? This music is too loud, I can’t hear a thing.
• Do you mind...
  • This is a polite way to ask if someone is okay with something or if something would be a problem. For example:
    • Do you mind holding my coat for me?
    • I forgot my wallet. Do you mind paying for dinner?
    • Do you mind turning off your phone?

• recession refers to a period of economic decline when businesses slow down and unemployment rises. For example:
  • The country is going through a recession, and many people are losing their jobs.
• mortgagerefers to a loan taken out to buy property, where the property itself serves as collateral until the loan is paid off. For example:
  • He has a mortgage on his house, and he’s paying it off monthly.
• hit me pretty hard
  • This phrase means something had a strong, negative impact on someone emotionally or financially. For example:
    • My divorce hit me pretty hard, I’m so depressed.
    • This cold hit me pretty hard, I’ve been in bed for a week.
    • The news of Fluffy’s death hit me pretty hard, I’ve been crying for days.
• what can I do for you: This is a polite way to ask how to help someone or what they need.
• I'm sorry to trouble you
  • This is a polite way of apologizing for causing inconvenience or bothering someone. For example:
    • Can I trouble you for a moment, I just need you to sign this form for me.
    • I’m sorry to trouble you, but may I go home early today.
    • Can I trouble you for a pen, mine is not working anymore.
• On top of all that
  • This phrase is commonly used to add something additional to make things worse, but it can also be used in positive things. For example:
    • Today I lost my job, my car got stolen, and on top of all that, my girl friend broke up with me.
    • Today was a really great day, it was my birthday and all my friends came to visit me, and on top of all that, I received a surprising gift!

• step on it
  • This phrase means to go faster or speed up, especially when driving or in a hurry. For example:
    • We’re running late, step on it.
• have a fit
  • This means to become very angry, upset, or emotional about something. For example:
    • Jeez, you don’t need to have a fit, nothing is going to happen if we’re five minutes late.
    • My boss is going to have a fit if I don’t finish this on time.
    • I almost had a fit when my boss told me I had to work this weekend.
• cut through means to go through a path that helps save time or provides a shortcut, often through an area that isn’t typically a main route. For example:
  • I’ll cut through the park to get to the other side of the neighborhood faster.
• make a left/right/U-turn: These are driving directions. For example:
  • Make a left at the light, then a right at the next stop sign.
  • I missed my exit. I need to make a U-turn.
• are you nuts
  • This is a casual, humorous, shocked way to ask if someone is crazy or acting irrationally. For example:
    • You want to get married now? Are you nuts? You only met her 3 weeks ago.
    • Are you nuts? I’m not going to cheat on the exam, what if I get caught?
• Let's take a side street/Wilson Avenue/the freeway
  • These phases are used to suggest an alternative route or road. For example:
    • The main road is too congested. Let’s take a side street to avoid the traffic.
    • We can get there faster if we take Wilson Avenue.
    • Let’s take the freeway to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

• 2020 vision refers to the normal vision in United States. It’s often used to indicate perfect or ideal eyesight.
• Far-sighted/Near-sighted
  • Far-sighted refers to hyperopia, a condition where distant objects are clear, but nearby objects appear blurry. People with this condition have difficulty seeing things close up.
  • Near-sighted refers to myopia, a condition where nearby objects are clear, but distant objects appear blurry. People with this condition have trouble seeing things far away.
• make out means to be able to see or understand something, especially when it is difficult to do so. For example:
  • I can barely make out the words on the sign.
  • If you look carefully , you almost make out a few of the stars in the sky.
  • Can you see what’s written on the sign there — No, I can’t quite make it out.
• Blind as a bat is a fugurative expression used to describe someone who has very poor vision or is unable to see well.
• What seems to be the problem/matter/trouble
  • These are used to ask what the issue or difficulty is.
  • What seems to be the problem? (asking about a difficulty or issue)
  • What seems to be the matter? (asking about what is troubling someone)
  • What seems to be the trouble? (asking about a specific difficulty or issue)
• head on/in/out/up are informal expressions that typically refer to moving or going in a certain direction.
  • head on in: It’s getting late; let’s head on in.
  • head on out: We’ll head on out after lunch.
  • head on up: We’re going to head on up to the second floor.

• double check means to verify or check something again to make sure it is correct or accurate. For example:
  • I’ll double check my schedule to make sure I’m free tomorrow.
• scheduled means that something has been planned or arranged to happen at a specific time. For example:
  • I have a meeting scheduled for 2 PM.
• booked solid means that all available time slots are taken, and there are no open appointments or spaces left. For example:
  • I can’t get a hotel room, they’re booked solid until after the New Year.
  • I’m pretty sorry there are no seats available on this flight, we booked solid over the Christmas holidays.
  • Sorry, I can’t meet you today, I’m booked solid.
• Sentence Collecting:
  • Appointment:
    • I’m calling to arrange an appointment with Ms Mcneely.
    • Please book an appointment for next week.
    • Please schedule an appointment for next week.
  • Dialogue:
    • A: How’s Thursday? Does she have any time available then?
    • B: Unfortunately, she’s booked solid on Thursday. How does next Monday work for you?
    • A: Actually, I’ve got something scheduled on Monday. Can she do Tuesday?
    • B: Let me see, sure, Tuesday’s perfect.

• food poisoning refers to an illness caused by consuming food or drink that is contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxins. For example:
  • I think I have food poisoning from the salad I ate yesterday.
• allergic refers to having an allergy, which is an immunue system reaction to certain substances, such as food, pollen, or pet dander. For example:
  • She is allegic to peanuts, so she has to be careful about what she eats.
• check out
  • This phrase usually means to look at or examine something, or visit a place. For example:
    • Have you been to new cafe next door. — Yeah, I checked it out yesterday, the food was great.
    • I’m going to check out that new shopping mall this weekend.
• bistro refers to a small, casual restaurant or cafe, often offering simple, home-style meals. For example:
  • We went to a charming bistro for dinner last night.
• not all that crazy about is an informal expression that means not very interested in or not particularly fond of something.
  • Do you want to go shopping with me tomorrow? — I’m not all that crazy about shopping, I don’t like spending money.
  • I’m not all that crazy about Jazz music. Can I change this song?
• in the mood for
  • This expression means desiring or wanting something at a particular moment, usually referring to food or activities. For example:
    • We always eat hamburgers for dinner, I’m in the mood for something different.
    • Let’s watch movie. How about Texas Chainsaw Massacre. — I’m not in the mood for a horrible movie.
• Sentence Collecting
  • Ask Suggestions
    • Do you have any suggestions?
    • Do you have any ideas?
    • Do you have any thoughts?
  • Giving Suggestions
    • I’d recommend giving it a try.
    • You’ve gotta give them a try.
    • You could give them a try.

• reschedule means to change the time or date of an event or appointment to a later time. For example:
  • We need to reschedule the meeting for next week.
• postpone means to delay or push something to a later time, often with a specific future date in mind. For example:
  • The concert was postponed due to the rain.
• can't make it is a casual way of saying that attending or participating in an event or meeting is not possible. For example:
  • I’m sorry, I can’t make it to the party tonight.
• this thing came up
  • This phrase is used to explain that something unexpected or urgent has happened, preventing attendence or participation in a planned activity.
    • I’m sorry that I’m late this thing came up at work, and I had to stay to take care of it.
    • I can’t talk right now, something came up.
    • The meeting at 3 PM had to be rescheduled because this thing came up at work.
• Sentence Collecting
  • What’s up? — Not much./Nothing.

• press kit refers to a collection of materials, such as photos, press releases, or information about a company, product, or event, that is given to journalists or media for publicity purpose.
• deadline/extension
  • deadline is the final date by which something must be completed or submitted. For example:
    • The deadline for the report is Friday at 5 PM.
  • extension is an extra period of time given to complete something after the original deadline. For example:
    • She requested an extension on the project deadline.
• ran into means to unexpectedly meet someone or experience something, usually a problem. For example:
  • We ran into a storm on our way home.
  • If you’re not careful now, you’re going to run into a lot of problems later.
  • I ran into some trouble with my computer.
• I've been meaning to...
  • This is used to express an intention to do something that has not yet been done. For example:
    • I’m sorry I haven’t called you yet, I’ve been meaning to but I’ve been busy.
    • I’ve been meaning to tell you but John quit yesterday.
    • I’ve been meaning to see that film for a while.
• beyond my control refers to something that cannot be influenced or changed by the person, usually an event or situation. For example:
  • The delay was beyond my control because of the weather.
• put this off means to delay or postpone something to a later time. For example:
  • I’ve been putting off this project for a week, and it’s due tomorrow.
  • Can we put off our meeting till next week, I’m too busy right now.
  • I’ve been putting off my email all day, and now I have 50 messages to respond to.

• under the name refers to something that is registered or listed in someone’s name. For example:
  • Do you have a reservation under the name Smith?
• mix up means to confuse or mistake one thing for another. For example:
  • There was a mix up at the airport, and my bags were sent to Antarctica.
  • I’m sorry sir, there’s been a terrible mix up with giving you the wrong baby.
• overlooked means more reservations or tickets have been sold than there is capacity to accommodate. For example:
  • The hotel was overbooked, and they didn’t have a room for us when we arrived.
• complimentary upgrade refers to a free improvement. For example:
  • We received a complimentary upgrade to a presidential suite at the hotel.

• there's no way...
  • This phrase is used to express that something is impossible to happen. For example:
    • There’s no way I can have those reports finished today.
    • The stadium is so crowded that there’s no way we’ll find a seat.
    • Do you think Michael’s gonna buy that house? — There’s no way he has enough money to buy it.
• cut in line means to move ahead of others in a line or queue, usually in an unfair or rude manner. For example:
  • Excuse me, I’m really late, can I cut in line, please?
  • I hate it when people cut in line at the bank, it’s so rude.
  • I think it’s okay when a pregnant woman cuts in line.
• sue me is a casual or somewhat sarcastic expression used to suggest that someone is free to take legal action, often when the speaker does not care about the consequences. It can also be used humorously when someone is being accused of something. For example:
  • I forgot your birthday. Sue me! (Used in a joking way)

• it's about time. is commonly used to express that something finally happens after a long wait. For example:
  • Dinner’s ready. — It’s about time, I’m starving.
  • Guess what. I finally got a job. — It’s about time, you’ve been unemployeed for two years.
  • We’re almost there, just a couple more minutes. — It’s about time, we’ve been driving for 12 hours.
• bridesmaids are women who are chosen to assist the bride on her wedding day.
• flower girl is a young girl who walks down the aisle before the bride, scattering flower petals.
• ring bearer is a young boy who carries the wedding rings down the aisle.
• gorgeous is a uni-sex adjective, it can be used to describe both people and things. For example:
  • She looks gorgeous in that dress.
  • The sunset was absolutely gorgeous.
• Common Mistake
  • Wrong: Let’s marry.
  • Right: Let’s get married.

• notice refers to the information that gived someone in advance about something, often referring to leaving a job or ending an agreement. For example:
  • If you want to quit your job, make sure you give enough notice, you’ll need to tell us four weeks in advance.
  • You didn’t give me enough notice about this project, I didn’t have enough time to finish it.
• Sentence Collecting:
  • Do you have a sec/second/minute? — Sure, what can I do for you?
  • Would you be okay with that? — I’m fine with that.
  • Are you alright with that? / Will you Ok with this?
  • I was just wondering/thinking/hoping... is more polite than I want to...

• understaffed means that there are not enough employees or workers to handle the work or tasks. For example:
  • Our team is understaffed right now, so we need to delay the project deadline.
• the timing is just not right means that it’s not the right moment or situation to do something. For example:
  • I was gonna sell my house, but the timing is just not right.
  • Honey, I think we should have a baby. — The timing is just not right.
• weight off my shoulders phrase means feeling relieved from stress or worry.
  • After I finished my final exam, it felt like a weight was off my shoulders.
• give me a hand is an informal way of asking for help. For example:
  • Can you give me a hand with these boxes.
  • Neil, I’ll need you to give me a hand with the sales reports.
  • Let me give you a hand with your suitcase.
• keep our costs down means to reduce or control expenses.
  • We need to keep our costs down if we want to make a profit this quarter.

• bargain refers to a good deal or something you buy at a lower price than usual. It can also refer to negotiating for a better price. For example:
  • I found a great bargain on these shoes—they were 50% off!
• price range refers to the range of prices within which something is available, or the amount someone is willing to pay. For example:
  • I’m looking for a new phone, but my price range is between $200 and $400.
• shop around means to look at different stores or options to compare prices before making a purchase. For example:
  • Before you buy that jacket, shop around and see if you can find a better deal at another store.
• Can you give me a better deal?
  • This is a request for a lower price or a better offer, often used during negotiations. For example:
    • I really like this shirt, but it’s too expensive. Can you give me a better deal?
    • Can you give me a better price on this car, I really don’t have that much money.
• That's still more than I wanted to spend.
  • This is commonly used in situations where the price is still too high even after trying to negotiate or considering different options. For example:
    • I know the dress is on sale, but that’s still more than I wanted to spend.
• That's my last offer
  • This is commonly used in situations where the final price someone is willing to accept; no further negotiations will be made. For example:
    • I can’t go lower than $500 for the laptop. That’s my last offer.

• foul refers to a violation of the rules in a sport, usually resulting in a penalty. For example:
  • He committed a foul by pushing the opponent during the game.
• ref is short for referee, refers to an official who oversees a game or match to enforce the rules. For example:
  • The ref called a foul on that play because the defender hit the shooter.
• free throw refers to a shot taken from the free-throw line without any defense, usually awarded after a foul. For example:
  • She made both of her free throws after the foul was committed.
• make the shot means to successfully score by getting the ball into the hoop or goal. For example:
  • If Gretzky make a shot, they’re gonna win the Stanley Cup.
• 3-pointer refers to a basketball shot taken from beyond the three-point line, worth three points if successful. For example:
  • He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game in the final seconds.
• travel refers to a vilation in basketball where a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball. For example:
  • The ref called a travel because the player took five steps without dribbling.
• beer run informally refers to going to get beer, usually in a group or as part of a social activity. For example:
  • We’re running out of drinks—time for a beer run.
• screw up means to make a mistake or do something badly, often in a way that causes problems or difficulties. For example:
  • Jill, you really screwed up this time, you’re fired.
  • This game is important, if you screw it up again, we’re out of the finals.
  • I’m sorry, I know I screwed up, will you forgive me?

• get a hold of means to contact or reach someone. For example:
  • I tried calling her all day, but I couldn’t get a hold of her.
• stood me up means to fail to meet someone as planned, especially when they were expecting you. For example:
  • I waited for an hour, but she stood me up and never showed.
• priority refers to something that is considered more important to be done or dealt with first. For example:
  • Getting the report finished is my top priority today.
• heading is commonly used to express the future direction, outcome, or progress. For example:
  • I don’t know where our relationship is heading.
  • Where is this bus heading?
  • Where is this project heading?
• Do you have any idea...?
  • This is commonly used to ask if someone knows or has any information about something. For example:
    • You forgot my birthday. Do you have any idea how angry I am?
    • Julie kiss my borfriend, does she have any idea how mean that was?
    • I just broke up with my boyfriend, don’t you have any idea how sad I am?
• I've heard it all before.
  • This phrase is used when someone is tired of hearing the same things or excuses. For example:
    • You say you’ll change, but I’ve heard it all before. I’m not buying it.

• transform means to change something completely in appearance, form, or nature, often for the better. For example:
  • She used to be shy, but the experience completely transformed her.
• stuffed means to be very full, especially after eating too much. For example:
  • I ate so much pizza, I’m completely stuffed!
• stick to it means to continue with something especially when it’s difficult. For example:
  • I can’t solve this math problem. — Stick to it. I’m sure you’ll get it.
• I mean it.
  • This phrase emphasizes seriousness in what someone is saying. For example:
    • If you don’t finish your homework by tonight, there will be consequences. I mean it!
• cut out means to remove something entirely. For example:
  • It’s time for me to focus on my work, I’m going to cut out everything else from my life.
  • You have to cut out the salt and carbon from your diet, no more chips, no more French fries, no more popcorn.

• pepperoni is a type of spicy Italian sausage made from cured pork and beef, often used as a topping for pizza.
• olives are small, oval-shaped fruits that are typically green or black. They are often used in salads, pasta dishes, or as pizza toppings.
• martini is a classic cocktail typically made with gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon peel.
• thick crust / thin crust
  • Thick crust is soft and doughy, while thin crust is crispy and light.
• ham is a type of cured or smoked meat, often made from the thigh of a pig. It is commonly used as a topping for pizzas or in sandwiches.
• Regina Margarita is a variation of the famous Margherita pizza, typically with tomato, mozzarella, and basil, but may also include other toppings or slightly different variations depending on the restaurant.
• This is Marty speaking.
  • This is a way to introduce oneself on the phone, letting the other person know who is speaking. For example:
    • Hello, this is Marty speaking. How can I help you?
• 2 for 1 special is a promotional offer where customers get two items for the price of one. This is commonly seen in restaurants, stores, or fast-food promotions.

• May I take your name?
  • This is a polite way of asking for someone’s name, typically when answering the phone or greeting someone in an office or service setting.
• Miss Stevens will be with you momentarily.
  • This is a polite way to inform someone that Miss Stevens will arrive or be ready to speak with them shortly. For example:
    • Please take a seat. Miss Stevens will be with you momentarily.
• Miss Stenvens is ready for you now.
  • This is used to inform someone that the person they are waiting to see is now available to meet them. For example:
    • Miss Stevens is ready for you now. Please follow me.
• I'll show you to her office.
  • This is used to guide someone to another person’s office or location. For example:
    • Please follow me. I’ll show you to her office.
• right this way is a polite way of directing someone to go in a certain direction.
• watch your step is a cautionary phrase used to warn someone to be careful of their footing, often when walking on uneven ground or stairs.

• anchor the boat means to secure a boat in place by dropping an anchor into the water, preventing it from drifting. For example:
  • We need to anchor the boat before we go swimming.
• doggy padding is a simple swimming stroke where the swimmer uses a paddling motion with their arms and legs, similar to how a dog swims. It is often used by beginners as it’s an easy and natural way to stay afloat.
• breaststroke is a swimming stroke where the swimmer moves their arms in a half-circle motion while pulling their legs in a frog-like kick.
• backstroke is a swimming stroke done on the back, where the swimmer alternates arm strokes in a circular motion while kicking their legs.
• take a dip means to go into the water for a quick swim. For example:
  • It’s such a hot day; let’s take a dip in the pool to cool off.
• for a little while means for a short period of time.
  • I’m going to take a dip for little while before the sunset.

• picky means being very selective or particular, especially when it comes to food, preferences, or choices.
  • He’s really picky about his food—he doesn’t like vegetables.
• yolk/egg white
  • yolk is the yellow part of an egg, which is surrounded by the egg white.
  • egg white is the clear part of an egg that surrounds the yolk
• sunny side up is a way of cooking eggs where the egg is fried on one side only, leaving the yolk exposed and not flipped.
• soft/hard boiled eggs
  • soft boiled egg is an egg that has been boiled for a short time, resulting in a runny yolk and slightly firm white.
  • hard boiled egg is an egg that has been boiled for a longer period, making both the yolk and white firm.
• eggs and soldiers is a British dish where soft-boiled eggs are served with strips of toast (called soldiers) for dipping into the yolk.
• I feel like...
  • This is often used to express a desire, mood, or inclination to do something.
    • I feel like baking.
    • I feel like eating pizza.
• drives me crazy means to cause frustration or annoyance, often in a way that is hard to ignore.
  • This music is driving me crazy, turn it down.
  • Don’t leave garbage in my car, it drives me crazy.
  • Your mom is driving me crazy, she keeps calling me.

• on tap refers to beverages, especially beer, that are available from a keg. When something is “on tap”, it means that it’s being served from a tap at a bar or restaurant.
• happy hour refers a time when drinks and appetizers are sold at discounted, usually in the late afternoon or early evening.
• a special refers to a discounted item, usually in a restaurant or bar.
  • Today’s special is a burger and fries for only $5.
• pint is a unit of measurement for liquids, commonly for beer. a pint = 473 milliliters
• appetizer is a small dish served before the main course to stimulate appetite.
• Nachos /ˈnɑːtʃoʊz/ is a popular snack made from tortilla chips covered with melted cheese and often topped with things like salsa, guacamole, sour cream, etc.
• Heineken /ˈhaɪnɪkən/ is a popular brand of beer originally from the Netherlands.
• Budweiser /ˈbʌdˌwaɪzər/ is a well-known American beer brand.
• Mozzarella /ˌmɑːtsəˈrɛlə/ is an Italian cheese that is soft, white, and commonly used in salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes.
• how/what about are used to suggest or inquire about something.
  • What about these dirty clothes, you said you would wash them days ago.
  • What about going to the mall instead. I’m tired of going to the movies.
  • How about we go to the new restaurant tonight?

• pinky, ring finger, middle finger, index finger, thumb
  • pinky: The smallest finger.
  • ring finger: The fourth finger, typically where a ring is worn.
  • middle finger: The third finger, located in the center of the hand.
  • index finger: The second finger, next to the thumb, often used for pointing.
  • thumb: The first and thickest finger, opposable to the other fingers, making grasping objects easier.
• may this ring be blessed
  • This phrase refers to a wish or prayer for the ring to be blessed or sactified, often said during a wedding ceremony.
• abide in peace
  • This phrase means to live or remain in peace, suggesting calmness and harmony.
• with this ring, I thee wed
  • This is a traditional phrase spoken during a wedding ceremony, where one person declares their intention to marry the other by placing a ring on their finger.
• wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment
  • This phrase explains that the ring represents the love and promise made between two people in marriage.

• teacher's pet refers to a student who is overly favored by the teacher, often because they try to please the teacher. It common have a negative connotation, implying that the student is trying too hard to gain the teacher’s approval.
• scuk up means someone who is overly flattering someone, usually a person in power, like a teacher or boss, in an insincere way to gain favor.
• smarty pants is a playful or teasing way to describe someone who is very clever or shows off their intelligence, often in a way that annoys others.
• know-it-all refers to a person who believes they know everything. It’s usually used in negative or sarcastic way to describe someone who is seen as arrogant about their knowledge.

• blaster is a type of weapon, often seen in science fiction or action movies.
• break through means to make progress or succeed after overcoming obstacles, which can refer to physical barriers like wall, or more abstract challenges like tough problems.
  • After 15 minutes, the workers broke through the wall, and rescued everyone from the fire.
  • He is such a good player, he broke through the entire defense.
  • They are breaking through our impenetrable wall.
• settle this means to solve a disagreement or issue. It can be used when there’s need to come to a final decision or conclusion about something.
  • I’m fed up with arguing about this, let’s just settle the argument once and for all.
• tractor beam is a concept from science fiction, usually referring to a powerful beam used to pull or attract objects toward a spacecraft.
• no longer be means that something is no longer happening, or someone is no longer in a particular role.
  • I’ll no longer be your boyfriend.
• know nothing of
  • This phrase is often used to express that someone is ignorant or uninformed about a topic.
    • You think you can understand what I’m going through, but you know nothing of the struggles I’ve faced.
• once and for all means to finally resolve or finish something, often in a definitive or conclusive way.
  • He claims that his photographs prove once and for all that UFOs do exist.
  • I told him once and for all that I don’t want to be his girlfriend anymore.

• trim means to cut something or small adjustments, usually to hair.
• silky is commonly used to describe hair that very soft and smooth to touch.
• shiny is used to describe something that has a bright, smooth surface, such as shiny hair or a shiny car.
• grow out means to let something, such as hair or nails, become longer naturally without cutting them.
• sideburn is the strip of hair that grows along the sides of the face, in front of the ears.
• take a little off the top is commonly used when someone wants to trim a small amount of hair from the top part of their head.
• nothing too fancy means something is simple, not elaborate, or not showing off.
• don't just stand there is used to tell people to take action instead of staying still or doing nothing.
  • Don’t just stand there, help me take these boxes into the house.
  • The house is on fire, don’t just stand there, call the fire department.
• look like a million buck means to look very attractive, stylish, or impressive. It’s a compliment often used when someone is well-dressed or appears confident and radiant.
• Mullet is a hairstyle where the front of the hair is short, and the back is left long. It bacame popular in the 1980s.
• Hockey Hair is a term for a hairstyle similar to the mullet, often associated with hockey players. It’s characterized by long hair in the back and shorter hair in the front.
• Afro refers to a hairstyle where the hair is naturally grown out and styled into a rounded shape, often associated with African heritage.
• Mohawk is a hairstyle where the hair is shaved or very short on the sides, with a strip of longer hair running from the front to the back of the head.
• Flat Top is a hairstyle where the hair is cut short on the sides and top, creating a flat, even surface.
• crew cut is very short and simple style where the hair on the sides and top is cut short and uniform in length.
• Dreadlocks is a hairstyle where the hair is matted or twisted into long, rope like strands. It is often associated with various cultures, especially in the Caribbean and African communities.

• price check refers to checking the price of an item, usually at a store or supermarket.
  • Can you do a price check on this shirt? I’m not sure if it’s on sale.
• capsule is a medication enclosed in a soft or hard shell, usually made of gelatin.
• tablet is a solid form of medication that is typically swallowed.
• overdose means to take more than the recommended or safe amount of a drug.
• eyedrops means a liquid medication that is applied to the eyes.
• Prozac is a brand name for the medication fluoxetine, which is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other disorders.
• be sure means to be certain about something.
  • Be sure not to forget your unbrella, it’s raining today.
• hang on generally means to wait for a short time or hold something tightly.
  • wait: Hang on, I’ll be right there.
  • hold: Hang on to the railing while going down the stairs.

• national anthem is a patriotic song officially recognized by a country, often sing at the begining of public events like sports games.
• hymn is a religous song, typically sing during religious ceremonies or services.
• pitcher is a player in baseball who throws the ball to the batter from the pitcher’s mound.
• outfielder is a player in baseball who is positioned in the outfield (the area fartest from the home plate) and is responsible for catching fly balls and making throws back to the infield.
• line drive is a type of hit in baseball where the ball is hit sharply and traight, usually at a low angle.
• scrambling refers to a player in baseball quickly and awkwardly to avoid being tagged or to regain control of the ball.
• inning is a division of a baseball game where both teams have a chance to bat and field.
  • The game went into extra innings, and the home team won in the 12th inning.
• up to bat refers to the player who is currently batting or next in line to the bat in a baseball game.
  • It’s your turn, you’re up to bat now.
• strike one refers to a term used in baseball when the batter misses a pitched ball, or doesn’t swing at a ball that’s in the strike zone.
• curve ball is a type of pitch in baseball that curves or breaks as it approaches the batter, making it harder to hit. Also used figuratively to mean something unexpected.
  • The pitcher threw a curve ball, and the batter couldn’t hit it.
  • My boss threw me a curve ball today, so I have to stay and work late.
• hit a home run
  • A home run is a term from baseball that refers to a hit in which the batter hits the ball out of the playing field, typically over the outfield fence, without it being caught. In a figurative sense, it means achieving a significant success or accomplishing something exceptionally well.
    • Great job on that sales presentation, you really hit home run.
    • Our sales team hit a home run this month by doubling our revenue.

• here's the thing is used to introduce something important or to explain a situation.
  • Here’s the thing, we need to leave in 10 minutes if we want to catch the train.
• I can't take it anymore is used when someone feels overwhelmed, frustrated, or exhausted by a situation and can no longer handle it.
  • The man next door has been so loud, I can’t take it anymore.
  • My boss always yells at me, I can’t take it anymore.
  • I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to quit.
• are you serious is similar to really, it’s often used when something is surprising, unbelievable, or hard to believe.
  • Are you serious? You just won the lottery?!
• have the guts means having the courage to do something difficult, dangerous, or challenging.
  • I don’t think I have the guts to go skydiving.
  • I don’t have the guts to give a speech.
  • I’ve never had the guts to say no to my boss.
• just for the two of us means something is meant for only two people, often implying exclusivity or intimacy.
  • I booked a small table at the restaurant, just for the two of us.
• give me a shot means to give someone a chance to try or attempt something.
  • I know I can do this drawing better, just give me a shot.
  • The HR manager wasn’t going to hire me, but he decided to give me a shot.

• A Sock Hop is a type of informal dance event that was popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
• A Sadie Hawkins Dance is a type of dance where girls ask the boys to be their dates, instead of the traditional way where boys ask girls.
• I'm swell is an old-fashioned, informal way of saying “I’m doing great” or “I’m fine.” It was popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
  • How are you feeling today?—I’m swell.
• cool it means to relax or calm down, especially if someone is getting overly excited or angry. It’s a way to tell someone to take it easy.
  • Just cool it. Now is not the right time to get angry.
  • You need to cool it and stop yelling at me.
• knuckle sandwich is a humorous or exaggerated way of referring to a punch in the face. It’s a playful way of saying someone might get hit.
  • If you keep talking like that, you might end up with a knuckle sandwich!
• pipsqueak is a playful term or slightly insulting term for someone who is small or weak, often used for children or someone who’s being annoying in a harmless way.
  • Stop being such a pipsqueak and help me carry these boxes.
• It'll be blast means that something is going to be a lot of fun or exciting.
  • Don’t worry, the party’s going to be a blast.
• have my eyes on means to be interested in or focused on something, whether it’s a person, a goal, or an object.
  • I’ve had my eyes on that new phone for a while.
• ease off means to reduce the intensity, pressure, or effort being applied to something or someone. It’s used when someone is doing something too forcefully, and you suggest they should stop being so intense or give more space.
  • You’re pushing Susie too much, you need to ease off a bit.
  • You need to ease off the junk food.
  • Matt is putting so much pressure on me these days, I wish he would ease off.

• roller rink ia a place where people go to skate.
• A roller skate is a type of skate with four wheels arranged in two rows, like a small car’s wheels. A roller blade is a type of skate with wheels arranged in a single line.
• groovy is a slang term from the 1960s-70s meaning “cool” or “awesome”.
• far out ia slang term in 1970s meaning “amazing” or “incredible”.
• foxy is used to describe someone as very attractive or sexy.
• mellow out means to relax or calm down.
  • You need to mellow out after a stressful day.
• right on is a phrase showing aggrement or excitement, similar to saying “exactly” or “that’s great”.
  • Right on, you got a high score, that’s amazing.
• gravy is a slang for something extra good or easy, like a bonus.
  • This raise was gravy on top of the promotion.
• to book is a casual way to say “leave quickly” or “run away”.
  • We need to book before it gets too late.
• how's it hanging is a casual way of saying “how are you?”
• chat her up is a british slang phrase meaning to start a conversation with someone, usually flirting.
• hit someone up is a casual way to say “contact someone”, often to ask for something, either by calling, texting, or meeting.
  • Can you believe Patrick, he came up to me a month ago, and tried to hit me up for some money.
  • When I was a kid, I used to always hit my dead up for lunch money.
  • This is the last time I lend you money, don’t even try to hit me up for more.
• grab some grub is a casual phrase meaning “get something to eat.” Grub is a slang term for food.
  • Let’s grab some grub before the movie.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents’ savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn’t see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn’t all romantic. I didn’t have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends’ rooms, I returned coke bottles for the $0.05 deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus, every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn’t have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it’s likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents’ garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn’t know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down — that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over .

I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world’s first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I’m pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn’t even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you’d have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.

This was the closest I’ve been to facing death, and I hope it’s the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960s, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.