درسنامه واژه ها

Black Sheep – Vocabulary Lesson

Hi, this is Kristin Dodds, one of the teachers and directors of Learn Real English. Welcome to this month’s vocabulary lesson for the conversation Black Sheep. So I have the text of the conversation here, just made some notes for some words or groups of words that maybe you had a difficult time understanding.

And, as always, I will give you the meanings for these words as they relate to this conversation. So they could have a different meaning in another conversation. I’d also like to say that you’ll see the word “yeah” used a lot which is just a slang word for yes. And you will also see the word “y’know” and that is just two words put together, you and know, so that when we speak, y’know sometimes we speak kind of quickly and instead of saying you know it comes out really fast, y’know. Alright, let’s begin.

So first the title, Black Sheep, let me explain what black sheep means. A black sheep is a problem child. It’s a…the one in the family that has a lot of problems. Or it could be a family member that lives a different lifestyle than the other family members.

Alright, in the very beginning of the conversation, I say, “Just getting back from having visited my family in Georgia.” So Georgia is a state in the southeastern part of the United States and it’s the state where I grew up.

And then I say, “It was very trying dealing with my brothers.” So trying here means stressful or difficult. And dealing with means spending time with or being around them, my brothers. Spending time with my brothers or being around my brothers.

And then I say, “He was always considered the black sheep.” So considered means thought to be. He was always thought to be the black sheep. He was always considered to be the black sheep.

And then I say, “Somehow that’s now gotten transferred over to my older brother.” So transferred over, this just means changed. It’s now gotten changed to my older brother.

And then I say, “You’ve even said at times like what the hell happened to him.” So like is a filler word. It’s not needed in this sentence. And what the hell, this is just showing emotion, what the hell happened to him. It’s just bringing emotion in, bringing feelings in.

And then AJ says, “You’ve got like two black sheep in your family.” So like here is a filler word. It’s not needed.

And then I say, “Right.” Right here means correct.

And then I say, “Like back when I was in college.” So like here means for example. For example, back when I was back in college. And college is another name for university.

And then AJ says, “My evil influence.” So evil means bad, my bad influence.

And then I say, “I guess a black sheep is…has kind of a negative connotation.” So when I say kind of, I mean a little bit of. It has a little bit of a negative connotation. And connotation, this is a suggestion. So the word black sheep, it suggests a negative meaning. It’s not definitely a negative meaning, it just suggests a negative meaning.

And then I say, “It can be viewed as someone who’s just very different.” So viewed means seen. It can be seen as someone who’s just very different.

And then Joe says, “If you were to look up what black sheep means like in a dictionary or online.” Look up: look up means find. If you were to look up, if you were to find what black sheep means like in a dictionary. So like here is a filler word. It’s not needed.

And then Joe says, “Like someone who’s actually a disgrace to like the family.” So like someone who’s actually a disgrace. Like here is a filler word. It’s not needed at all. Disgrace is an embarrassment. Disgrace means embarrassment. A disgrace to like the family. Like the family, like is not needed. It’s a filler word here.

And then Joe says, “I don’t think of it only in those terms.” Terms here means descriptions.

And then Joe says, “Someone who’s just doing something that’s radically different.” So radically means extremely or very much, extremely different or very much different.

And then AJ says, “Kind of like Kristin’s example.” So kind of like means similar to, similar to Kristin’s example.

And then AJ says, “Like if you have a family that’s very stable and traditional.” So like here is a filler word. It’s not needed. And stable means constant or secure. Stable means constant or secure.

And then AJ says, “Then one member of the family goes off.” So what he’s speaking about here, goes off, he’s saying they leave the small town. They go off from the small town or they go away from the small town. They leave the small town.

And then AJ says, “They’re living this crazy adventurous life.” So crazy here means unimaginable, unbelievable.

Then AJ says, “Like if you had a really religious family.” So like here means for example. For example, if you had a really religious family.

And then AJ says, “Then one person becomes super religious.” So super here means very, very religious, super religious.

And then I say, “I never even looked at it that way.” So looked at it that way, what I’m saying is I never thought about it in that way.

And then AJ says, “They’re kind of the outcast of the family.” So outcast, that’s the one that’s different and probably not accepted by the others, outcast.

And then I say, “Disgrace is kind of a harsh explanation.” So harsh means rigid or inflexible. And explanation means description or definition.

And then Joe says, “It was really the first time I’d ever heard that term.” So term here means word.

And then Joe says, “Not because he was some grand failure or he was morally corrupt.” So grand failure, grand means big, big failure. And morally corrupt means not having good or honest behavior.

And then Joe says, “At that time my entire family lived in New York.” So when he says entire family he means his whole family, mother, father, his brothers, his grandparents, his aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole extended family. Extended means grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. And New York, New York is a state in the northeastern part of the United States as well as it’s a city, too, but he’s talking about New York as in the state.

And then Joe says, “It was as if nobody left, right?” So left here means, what he’s saying is it’s as if nobody moved away from New York. And when he’s says right, he’s saying you understand?

And then Joe says, “Colorado is where he actually ended up.” So Colorado is a state in the western part of the United States. And ended up, this means settled.

And then Joe says, “Something as small as that might even warrant such a description.” So warrant means here, it means deserve.

And then AJ says, “When someone is a non-conformist within the family.” So non-conformist, a non-conformist is someone who doesn’t believe or behave as others do.

And then AJ says, “But like, Kristin, like you said.” So when he says but like, Kristin, he’s saying but, for example, Kristin, like you said, or just as you said.

Then AJ says, “When a member of the family breaks with what’s sort of normal.” Breaks with means separates from.

And then I say, “Like, y’know, when I quit eating meat.” So like here means for example. For example, y’know, when I quit eating meat.

And then I say, “They’ve gotten so used to it at this point.” So when I say at this point I mean now.

And then I say, “And they used to tease me.” So tease means laugh at me. They used to laugh at me. They used to tease me.

And then I say, “Now the focus is on my brothers because they’re struggling.” So struggling means having difficulties.

And then I say, “They look to me like I’m this responsible one.” So when I say they look to me I’m saying they see me as if I was a responsible, I’m the responsible one. They see me as I’m the responsible one.

And then I say, “I have made something with my life.” So what I mean by that is I have my own business and so they see me as being successful.

And then AJ says, “Like initially it seemed they were the ones.” So like here at the beginning of this sentence is a filler word. It’s not needed.

And then AJ says, “Now they realize, oh, no, that’s not the case.” So case means situation.

And then I say, “My older brother’s done like 180 degree turn.” So when I say he’s done a 180 degree turn I’m saying his life has completely changed for the worse.

And then Joe says, “When you mentioned being vegetarian.” So mentioned means talked about. And vegetarian, a vegetarian person or a person who has a vegetarian diet does not eat any meat.

And then Joe says, “I can certainly identify with that.” So identify, he’s saying I can certainly relate to that.

And then Joe says, “Food was such a huge part of coming together.” So a huge part, he’s saying it was such an important part of coming together.

And then Joe says, “Me being different in that sense.” Sense here means way.

And then Joe says, “Even though it seems kind of minor.” So kind of minor means unimportant.

And then Joe says, “I’m sure you guys probably remember this.” So you guys, a guy usually refers to a man. It’s a male as opposed to a female. But it can be used in a slang way to refer to a group of people. So Joe is actually talking to AJ and I, saying you guys, even though obviously I’m not a man.

And then Joe says, “I think of that movie with Chris Farley.” So Chris Farley is the name of an American actor.

And Joe says, “His father passes away.” So passes away means dies. His father dies.

And then Joe says, “He’s suddenly in charge of the family business.” So in charge of means he’s responsible for, he’s suddenly responsible for the family business.

And then Joe says, “He basically, I think, drives the family business into the ground.” Drives the family business into the ground, this means he ruins the business.

And then AJ says, “Like we need a new phrase in English.” Like is a filler word here. It’s not needed.

And then AJ says, “Like I consider myself that person in my family.” And again, like is a filler word. It’s not needed.

And then AJ says, “Most of my family lives in a small town in Indiana.” So Indiana is a state in the middle part of the United States.

At the very end of the conversation, I say, “Right.” And I say right because I’m saying I agree. So right here means I agree. Yes, I agree.

Okay, this concludes the conversation for…or sorry, the vocabulary lesson for the conversation Black Sheep and I will be right back with the commentary.