1to let up
If bad weather or an unpleasant situation lets up, it stops or improves:
When the rain lets up we'll go for a walk
to stop doing something that you have been doing continuously or in a determined way:
Neil spent the entire evening moaning about his job - he just wouldn't let up.
The police insist that they are not letting up on their campaign against drugs.
2Brewing
The expression, 'something's brewing' means that something is about to happen or something is being prepared. The verb 'to brew' literally means to prepare beer and is also used when referring to making other drinks that require a long time to make and involve cooking, such as a witch's potion. When we say 'something's brewing' it means it's gradually coming into existence, like beer being brewed. It doesn't by itself convey the sense that something's wrong or that what's brewing is bad.
The phrase, 'there's a storm brewing' can have the sense that something bad or disturbing is going to happen.
4Gut
cause (someone) to feel extremely upset or disappointed: " it guts me to think about what my mother and brother missed out on"
5outskirts
It's similar to suburbs but while "outskirts" can often be used to refer to the edge of a city where suburbs might be located, it's not exactly a synonym for "suburbs" as "outskirts" can refer to the edge of any populated area, including areas that might not be considered suburbs, like industrial zones, while "suburbs" specifically refers to residential areas on the outskirts of a city
6create difficulties (for someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction: "various family stalemates were hindering communication"
hinder
7(of a police officer or security official) pass the hands over someone's clothing in a search for concealed items such as weapons or illegal drugs.
to pat-down
8very shocking and surprising:
It costs a staggering $50,000 per week to keep the museum open to the public.
staggering
9perks vs benefits?
perk is something nice to have but not necessary (discount tickets).
benefits are more substancial. They are negotiated along with salaries. For example pension, health insurance, subsided education
10what's the problem with the phrase "work on my family" (from the essay "Ideal Job")?
Work on my family, work on my relationship, work on our friendship have a negative implication. Something is wrong in the relationship.
11on this point vs at this point
On this point, and specifically this point I agree with you
At this point I become persuaded he is correct
12bugingangas/cacarecos
Knickknacks
13cão e gato de rua
stray dog and stray/feral cat
14A daily allowance that an employer provides to an employee to cover business-related expenses. The term comes from the Latin phrase per diem, which means "for each day".
per-diem
15I got the hand off
On a really busy day like today I got the hand off a little bit latter than usual (from the TWR) so you will notice that by the time I contacted departure they were already calling to see if I was on the frequency
16To understand how something is done. "It's my first week at the new job, so I'm still learning the ropes"
Learn the ropes
17to find and talk to (someone) : to contact (someone) I need to talk to my lawyer, but I haven't been able to get hold of him. I've been trying to get a hold of my lawyer for days.
to get hold of someone
18Impasses. "The war had again reached stalemate." "Tomorrow's meeting between the two leaders is expected to break a diplomatic stalemate that has lasted for ten years."
stalemates
19to move slowly around or stand in a public place without an obvious reason. "he spotted the youths loitering as he walked through a car park"
loitering
21How to request politely someone to be quiet? And the opposite?
Can you please speak more quietly.
Can you please be a little more quiet (or quieter)
Can you lower your voice?
Not polite: be quiet or quiet down
Can you speak louder?
Can you speak up?
Raise your voice=yelling
22What's the difference between a bookshelf and a cabinet?
Cabinet has doors. I have an old white wooden cabinet for books
23Play and move cheerfully, excitedly or energetically. "Edward frolicked on the sand"
Frolic
24high-rise buildings of unusual height
skyscraper
25to overflow
the excess or surplus not able to be accommodated by an available space.
"The milk overflowed when I poured it into the jug."
"to accommodate the overflow, five more offices have been built"
26Were it not for
used in forming a clause expressing that a specified person or thing prevented a particular outcome.
Similar to if it weren't/wasn't
"were it not for the strikes, we would have seen much better results"
27the upper hand
If you have the ______, you have more power than anyone else and so have control
"with this fast boats, authorities have the upper hand"
28lay the groundwork for something
to prepare for or start an activity or task
"This study lays the groundwork for understanding the nature of different mutations of the desease"