20 Oct

cop a feel

Who taught: Kelly and Phil

cop a feel (source: http://www.2pep.com/)

October 14, 2011 was a pretty normal day for me until I got this text message from Phil. Phil asked me this question, “Do you know the phrase, cop a feel?”

I know what “cop” is and also know what “feel” is. Cop is Police who catch criminals. Then, I should be able to feel this expression, right? I thought it is pretty easy for me to figure out. So, I texted back to Phil, saying it should mean “keeping a feel.” You know when you have a good feeling about something, you want to keep it as long as possible.

Huh.. Am I joking? I was far away from the truth.

Phil told me that it means to grab a woman’s breasts or butt without her consent. I was like who would do that? But, then I remembered that one time when I was a swimming pool with a few other girls. One of the girls was not good at swimming and she touched my thing (you know what I am talking about here, right?) while she was trying to get out of the water. But, I was not sure she was intentional or not. I asked Phil whether this is a good example of copping a feel. He said the most important thing is that it should be deliberate. She might try to cop a feel but not sure. Oops! Don’t tell Jessy about this story. Nothing happened after that. 🙂

Based on my research, the best place to cop a feel is like New York City or an amusement park like Disney World where it is so crowded. But, I am sure this is a crime. So, please do not do this! Ironically, in this expression that basically describes an act of crime, there is “cop.”

Anyway, Phil said, “Kelly’s mind is in the gutter now. :)”

22 Sep

shit or get off the pot

Who taught: Phil

Shit or get off the pot (source: http://www.someecards.com/)

Winter indoor soccer season has come. Every Monday night from now to the end of March is soccer time for me and Phil.

Last Monday, Phil and I were on the way to the sports complex and we talked about relationship between men and women. In this context, Phil used this expression, “shit or get off the pot.”

Now, let me be very clear upfront here. In general, pot means a container, typically rounded or cylindrical and of ceramic ware or metal, used for storage or cooking. But, pot in this expression means something else. Do you know what else has rounded or cylindrical ceramic ware? It is a toilet.

Now, if you are in a toilet in a public bathroom too long, there are so many people waiting for you to come out. While they are waiting for you outside of the toilet, what would they keep saying? They would say like this, “Come on, dude, shit or get off the pot. People are dying here outside.”

With this feeling, you can use the same expression to a couple who have been engaged for a long time but not really sure about marriage. I mean if they are happy with it, you would not use this expression to them. But, in a case that a guy is your friend and ask your help about what to do with the engagement and not sure whether he needs to marry her or not, then you can try to help him as much as you can, then finally you could say, “OK, I think it is the time to shit or get off the spot,” meaning that it is the time to make a decision.

I believe you can use this expression when you see someone is indecisive to do something. Am I right, my American friends?

16 Aug

play by ear

Who taught: Phil

Play by ear (source : http://www.iphoneappsdude.com/)

Phil and I are close friends and hang out often. We play soccer and squash together and sometimes work at Commonplace coffee and also eat. Last week, we were talking about having dinner together and play a board game afterward in my place. Since he was also expecting his friends’ visit, he was not able to confirm whether he could make it or not.

As we were talking about, what I said to him was, “Let’s play by ear. You can come by with your friends if they are fine. Call or text me on Saturday.”

As I used the expression, “play by ear,” Phil told me that it was a perfect usage of it. So happy to hear that! However, that made me think. I have been using this expression for a while but never really thought about its origin.

The following definition that I found from The Phrase Finder explains a lot.

Initially, this referred to the playing of music without reference to printed notation. More recently it is also used figuratively to mean ‘handle a situation in an impromptu manner’, i.e. without reference to pre-determined rules or guidelines.

Not surprisingly, if you google ‘play by ear,’ you will see many images that says like how to play piano by ear, etc.

FYI, the first record of its usage is in an 1839 edition of The Edinburgh Review.

And, people in the U.S. started to use this expression in the 20th century in the context of sports to describe players who did something in an unplanned way.

So, what do you think? My usage was pretty good there, wasn’t it? But, in reality, I am not a big fan of playing things by ear. I want things really really well organized. The more you play things by ear, the higher things would go not as you want. So, a piece of advice: Plan things ahead and play by the plan!

06 May

hammock and banana hammock

Who taught: Sangeetha, Alex, Phil, Pat, Mark and Kelly

banana hammock (source: http://www.sampa.com/)

Last Saturday, I moved all of my stuff from my old apartment into the new house. Many friends showed up to help the move. I would like to thank all. It was a lot easier with their help. Luckily, the weather was also amazing. To take advantage of it, I bought hot dogs, pizzas and some drinks to have a small spontaneous party at my house.

The move was done pretty quickly and we hang out in the backyard. Hack ya! That was something I have always wanted to do with my friends when I buy a house. Yay! Finally, it happened. And, I am sure there will be a lot more parties. It was so great to have them in my place.

At one point during the party, Phil said, “You guys should sling a hammock in the backyard here. That would be perfect.”

Do you guys know what hammock is? Here is the definition!

A bed made of canvas or of rope mesh and suspended by cords at the ends, used as garden furniture or on board a ship.

I am sure you’ve seen this when you were on a vacation at a resort. The most important thing you should keep in mind is that the shape of hammock, especially if someone lies in it. It becomes very narrow because of the weight of the lying person and its shape is very round. Can you imagine? I am sure you have a great imagination here.

As we talked about hammock, Sangeetha said, “Hey, speaking of hammock… Terry, have you heard the expression, banana hammock?”

I said, “I have but I totally forgot what it means. Does it have something to do with sexual stuff? Oh, does it mean a banana-shaped penis?”

Phil said, “Good guess but not that one.”

Actually, I was pretty close because it has something to do with penis. So, instead of telling you the definition of banana hammock, let me remind you of the shape of hammock when you lie in it. Imagine yourself being a penis, then what is hammock? It is something men wear but very tight. It’s a speedo or male thong.

What a great expression! It is so perfect. I am sure somebody, looking at the shape of a hammock with a person in it, thought of speedo or thong that men wear. Don’t you think they look exactly same?

Now, what if I go to a department store and ask a sales person like, “So, I am looking for a banana hammock? Do you carry them?” Would they understand what I mean? Would they look at me like a crazy person? Probably yes in the U.S., right?

26 Apr

christen a house

who taught: Kelly and Phil

Terry’s house

Today’s expression is one of the expressions I have never heard of in my entire life. Also, I am kind of reluctant to write about but, for the purpose of this blog, which is keeping track of all of the expressions I learned and also share with you, I will do my best to write about it. I will let you know why I am a little reluctant later.

A few weeks ago, Phil and Kelly came to my new house to give me their opinions about any possible improvements that I need to work on. (They have been home owners for a while.) A good news is that they think our house does not need many improvement work. Yay! Oh, here is what I also heard from Phil. So, whenever you invite your friends to your house for the first time, then you ought to give them a short tour to your place, explaining things in your house. Well, my house does not have anything fancy or special. But, since Phil and Kelly were visiting my house for the first time, I gave them a brief tour.

As we all walked up to the second floor where there are three rooms, Kelly said, “Hey! So, have you guys ever christened the house yet?”

Jessy and I did not understand it at all. We said, “What? What does it mean?”

Before we get to what Kelly meant, let me give you a very simple definition of the word, christen.

When a baby is christened, he or she is given a name during the Christian ceremony of baptism.

Also, there is another meaning of the expression which is “To use something for the first time.” I believe Kelly’s usage is more originated from this second definition. Now, let me rephrase Kelly’s question in connection with the second definition.

Hey! So, have you guys ever used the house for the first time yet?

Here comes my favorite question! Can you feel it? or Can you understand what Kelly meant? I guess not! The key thing you need to think here is the deep implication of the word, use.

Now, remember that Kelly asked this question as she was seeing the rooms! What do you usually do in rooms? Let me guess. You sleep, right? Let me go a little deeper. Do you really just sleep in rooms with your wife or girl friend? (If you are a lady… Do you really want to just sleep in rooms with your husband or boy friend?) I guess not. What else do you do? Haha.. that is right. You would make love. No No No, You WILL make love. So, here is the equation I can tell you for this expression.

Making love in a room for the first time = Use a room for the first time = Christen (As a result, christen equals to making love in a room or a house for the first time)

I am sure you now get what Kelly’s question meant.

Have we christened my house yet? No comment! How about you? Did you christen your house as soon as you bought your house? What? You did it on the same day you got the keys to the house. 🙂

So, why I do not really want to share and use this expression? I am a Christian. So, I probably would not use this expression. But.. Look! It is better to know these expressions to be able to understand what your friends are saying, right?