Sure Thing (1988)
By David Ives
Vocabulary and expressions
Most expressions in the play are common and colloquial and used frequently in the US.
1)
Sure thing: OK.
A sure thing: When something is ‘a sure thing’ it is a certainty.
Shortly: soon, in the near future.
Pretty late: ‘pretty’ in this context means ‘very’.
To turn someone down: to refuse someone.
Go ahead: don’t hesitate.
2)
I’ve sure read about it: ‘sure’ in this context accentuates the verb particle ‘read’ and functions as an adverb.
I hear it’s great: I’ve heard it’s great.
I’m a Mets fan: ‘Mets’ is an abbreviation of The New York Mets, a baseball team.
College: In the US ‘college’ is university.
Oral Roberts University: Oral Roberts was a television evangelist who, among other achievements, founded a university.
Faulkner: William Faulkner (1897-1962) – notable American novelist.
Gorgeous: beautiful.
Grasp: in this context ‘a grasp’ of something is an understanding of something.
3)
Timing: the layout of events over time to fit an objective, the right action at the most appropriate time.
Onwards and upwards: ‘forward and ahead’- means in this context to continue or resume from where the interruption occurred. It is a way for Betty to make it known to Bill that the conversation is over and she is not interested.
4)
Do you come here a lot? This is a standard chat-up (UK) / pick-up (US) line that has become hackneyed or cliché so much so that no-one would take it seriously.
Every once in a while: occasionally.
Actually: in fact.
Nervous breakdown: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization (Webster’s Online Dictionary)
5)
To pick me up: In this context ‘to pick someone up’ means to strike up a conversation with someone in order to start a casual relationship.
I’m just getting acquainted: to get acquainted with someone or something is to become familiar with someone/thing.
For the sake of making small talk: when you do something for the sake of someone/thing, you do it for the purpose of, or the advantage or benefit of something/one.
Then pad into the kitchen: to walk as if with padded feet into the kitchen. The expression is onomatopoeic and refers to the sound bare feet make on a hard floor.
To be involved with someone: to have a relationship with someone.
Off and on: occasionally.
6)
Every other day: approximately every second day.
What do you do? What’s your job/occupation?
I beg pardon: I beg your pardon – excuse me – I’m sorry.
7)
Sort of: rather, to a moderate degree (Websters’ definition), in a manner of speaking.
To break-up: to end a relationship.
Lines: chat-up / pick-up lines are phrases used by men to meet women.
8)
I guess it is: I suppose it is.
Long-standing: long term or duration – a relationship that lasted a long time.
Catch his breath: to rest.
I was headed out: I was going out.
9)
Hop the late plane: to hop on the late airplane – to get on the late airplane.
Darn it: Damn it. To darn an item of clothing is to repair them with a needle and thread. The use of ‘darn’ instead of ‘damn’ is an attempt to avoid a swear word.
10)
I feel a little at sea: to feel overwhelmed, lost in a situation.
Nope: no.
Straight-down-the-ticket Republican: normal, ordinary Republican.
Two points: grade point average of two is the equivalent of a ‘C’ or 12/20.
Three points: grade point average of three is the equivalent of a ‘B’ or 15/20.
Four points: grade point average of four is the equivalent of an ‘A’ or 18/20.
So what if I had…?: ‘So what?’ is used to indicate that you think something is unimportant. ‘So what if + subject + past simple?’ is used to ask whether an action carried out has some importance. The implication of the use of ‘So what if…?’ is that the speaker thinks that the action is not important.
11)
Sure: certainly.
To be run off the planet: to be expelled by force from the planet.
By David Ives
Vocabulary and expressions
Most expressions in the play are common and colloquial and used frequently in the US.
1)
Sure thing: OK.
A sure thing: When something is ‘a sure thing’ it is a certainty.
Shortly: soon, in the near future.
Pretty late: ‘pretty’ in this context means ‘very’.
To turn someone down: to refuse someone.
Go ahead: don’t hesitate.
2)
I’ve sure read about it: ‘sure’ in this context accentuates the verb particle ‘read’ and functions as an adverb.
I hear it’s great: I’ve heard it’s great.
I’m a Mets fan: ‘Mets’ is an abbreviation of The New York Mets, a baseball team.
College: In the US ‘college’ is university.
Oral Roberts University: Oral Roberts was a television evangelist who, among other achievements, founded a university.
Faulkner: William Faulkner (1897-1962) – notable American novelist.
Gorgeous: beautiful.
Grasp: in this context ‘a grasp’ of something is an understanding of something.
3)
Timing: the layout of events over time to fit an objective, the right action at the most appropriate time.
Onwards and upwards: ‘forward and ahead’- means in this context to continue or resume from where the interruption occurred. It is a way for Betty to make it known to Bill that the conversation is over and she is not interested.
4)
Do you come here a lot? This is a standard chat-up (UK) / pick-up (US) line that has become hackneyed or cliché so much so that no-one would take it seriously.
Every once in a while: occasionally.
Actually: in fact.
Nervous breakdown: an attack of mental or emotional disorder especially when of sufficient severity to require hospitalization (Webster’s Online Dictionary)
5)
To pick me up: In this context ‘to pick someone up’ means to strike up a conversation with someone in order to start a casual relationship.
I’m just getting acquainted: to get acquainted with someone or something is to become familiar with someone/thing.
For the sake of making small talk: when you do something for the sake of someone/thing, you do it for the purpose of, or the advantage or benefit of something/one.
Then pad into the kitchen: to walk as if with padded feet into the kitchen. The expression is onomatopoeic and refers to the sound bare feet make on a hard floor.
To be involved with someone: to have a relationship with someone.
Off and on: occasionally.
6)
Every other day: approximately every second day.
What do you do? What’s your job/occupation?
I beg pardon: I beg your pardon – excuse me – I’m sorry.
7)
Sort of: rather, to a moderate degree (Websters’ definition), in a manner of speaking.
To break-up: to end a relationship.
Lines: chat-up / pick-up lines are phrases used by men to meet women.
8)
I guess it is: I suppose it is.
Long-standing: long term or duration – a relationship that lasted a long time.
Catch his breath: to rest.
I was headed out: I was going out.
9)
Hop the late plane: to hop on the late airplane – to get on the late airplane.
Darn it: Damn it. To darn an item of clothing is to repair them with a needle and thread. The use of ‘darn’ instead of ‘damn’ is an attempt to avoid a swear word.
10)
I feel a little at sea: to feel overwhelmed, lost in a situation.
Nope: no.
Straight-down-the-ticket Republican: normal, ordinary Republican.
Two points: grade point average of two is the equivalent of a ‘C’ or 12/20.
Three points: grade point average of three is the equivalent of a ‘B’ or 15/20.
Four points: grade point average of four is the equivalent of an ‘A’ or 18/20.
So what if I had…?: ‘So what?’ is used to indicate that you think something is unimportant. ‘So what if + subject + past simple?’ is used to ask whether an action carried out has some importance. The implication of the use of ‘So what if…?’ is that the speaker thinks that the action is not important.
11)
Sure: certainly.
To be run off the planet: to be expelled by force from the planet.
posted by Ray Genet at 4:12 AM
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