Heartland English School – Word of the Day

Theme: hockey players

Word: sniper (noun), snipe (verb)

Meaning: an offensive player who scores goals with good aim

Example: The top sniper in the NHL last season was Alex Ovechkin; he scored 51 goals.

Example: I hope Patrik Laine snipes a lot of goals for the Jets this year!

Theme: Expressions about guns

Expression: stick to (one’s) guns

Meaning: to keep one’s opinion or beliefs, even when other people disagree

Example: Many people said the mayor’s new tax policy was poor, but the mayor is sticking to her guns about it.

Example: Even though the director was criticized for his decision to extend the film, he stuck to his guns and did it.

Theme: Expressions about guns

Expression: smoking gun

Meaning: something that proves that someone did something wrong or illegal

Example: The thieves’ fingerprints on the door handle were the smoking gun that got them arrested.

Example: The video is the smoking gun that proves the politician is lying.

Theme: Expressions about guns

Expression: dodge a bullet

Meaning: to almost get hurt or put into danger but then avoid it, often by luck

Example: Susan and Harry broke up. I think Susan dodged a bullet, because Harry was a really weird guy!

Example: Our baseball game ended just before the thunderstorm started. I guess we dodged a bullet!

Theme: Expressions about guns

Expression: jump the gun

Meaning: to act too soon, before the right time

Example: Mary’s job interview went really well, so she decided to quit her old job. However, it seems like she jumped the gun, because she didn’t get hired.

Example: You and that girl have only been dating for a couple of months. Talking about marriage already is jumping the gun, don’t you think?

Theme: Expressions about guns

Expression: bite the bullet

Meaning: decide to do something that is unpleasant or difficult, especially something someone has been worried about doing

Example: My tooth had been aching for two weeks. Finally I bit the bullet and called my dentist.

Example: Mary was uphappy at her work, so she decided to bite the bullet and start searching for a new job.

Theme: beer

Word: growler (noun)

Meaning: a refillable beer container (1.89L) often sold by breweries or brewpubs so customers can enjoy freshly-bottled craft beer at home.

Example: Growlers are very environmentally friendly. You can refill and reuse the bottles.

Example: In North America, growlers are becoming increasingly popular.

Theme: beer

Word: tall boy (noun)

Meaning: a 24 oz can of beer

Example: I can’t drink a whole tall boy in one sitting. A regular can suits me just fine.

Example: Buying one tall boy is cheaper than buying two regular sized cans, if you won’t finish the second beer.

Theme: beer

Word: hoppy (adjective)

Meaning: Having the taste or aroma of hops. (Hops are the flowers of the hop plant. They are used primarily as a bittering, flavouring, and stability agent in beer, to which, in addition to bitterness, they impart floral, fruity, or citrus flavours.)

Example: Do you like hoppy beer?

Example: My beer was nice. There was some hoppy bitterness, but not too much.

Theme: beer

Word: brewski (informal noun)

Meaning: an informal way to say a can, bottle or glass of beer

Example: “Do you need anything from the kitchen?” “Could you bring me a brewski?”

Example: I think I’ll crack open a brewski with dinner.