lESS iS morE

Learning from conversation.

Vocabulary:

• scaredy-cat: someone, especially a child, is easily frightened
  come on, scaredy-cat, it won't bite you. 
• underfoot: under your feet as you walk
  it feels nicer underfoot.
  the grass was cool and pleasant underfoot. 
• rousing: making people feel excited, and proud or ready to take actions
  she delivered a rousing speech full of anger and passion.
• Silhouette: a dark shape seen agains a light surface (???)
  the silhouette of the bare tree on the hill was clearly against the winter sky.
• en route: on the way to or from somewhere
  I stopped en route and got some wine. 
• rowdy: noise and possibly violent
  a rowdy party 
• hut: a small simple building, usually consisting of one room
  a mountain hut
  a wooden hut
  a row of beach huts 
• stilt: one of a set of long pieces of wood used to support a building so that it is above the ground or water
  the houses are built on stilts to protect them from annual floods. 
• mosquito net 
• coral reef: an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea
• snorkel / snorkelling:
  we went snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef
• fairly: more than average, but less than very
  I saw her fairly recently.
  we get on fairly well.
  I'm fairly sure that this is the right address.
• suppose: 
• to think something is likely to be true: suppose + (that) / suppose + to V
  I couldn't get any reply when I called Dan, so I suppose (that) he's gone out.
  Do you suppose (that) she will marry him?
  he found it a lot difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.
  We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.
  Her new book is supposed to be very good. 
• used in making polite request
  I suppose you couldn't lend me some money till tomorrow, could you? 
• used to show unwillingness to agree
  I don't agree with it, but I suppose (that) it's for the best.
• (conjunction.) used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean "what would happen if":
  Suppose we miss the train - what will we do then?
  We'd love to come and see you on Sunday, suppose/supposing I don't have to work that day.
• presume: to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain.
  I presume (that) they are not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation.
  You are Dr. Smith, I presume?
  "Are we walking to the hotel?" "I presume so/not."
• assume: to accept something to be true without question or proof
  I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school. 
• apart from: except for or not considering
  apart from us, there was anyone there under 30.
  apart from the salary, it's not a bad job.
• except: not including; but not
  the museum is open daily except Monday(s).
  everyone was there except for Sally. 
• seem: to be judged to be 
• He's 16, but he often seems younger.
  the children seemed tired.
  I suspect his claim is not all they seem -- he tends to exaggerate.
  things are seldom as/what/how they seem. 
• I seemed to know more about him than anyone else.
  they seemed to be taking a long time to decide.
  There seems to have been a mistake -- my name isn't on the list. 
• It seems (that) she can't come.
  It seems to me (that) we need to be at the airport two hours before take-off.
  "was a decision made?" "It seems not/so." 

Expression: 

• What time it will get you there? 
• It is a long time since I have been to Paris.
  It's been a while since I was last time in Paris. 
• I bet: said to show that you understand why someone has a particular opinion or feels a particular way
  "I was so relieved I didn't have to clean up after the party." "I bet you were."
  "I'm so annoyed with her." "I'll bet."