日米会話学院 Podcasting

2010.04.01

077_I'm Really Drowsy!

In this episode we hear two businesspeople talking about feeling tired during the day. We will examine new vocabulary related to tiredness and sleeping.

Kevin:

Hello and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting episode 77. A great place to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. In this edition of the podcast we will look at some vocabulary related to tiredness and sleeping. First, let's listen to this conversation between two business people in the office.

Staff A:

Hey Chris, how are you doing?

Staff B:

Oh hi Pat. To be honest I'm feeling really drowsy. I actually drifted off in the afternoon meeting.

Staff A:

Yeah, I saw you nod off during the presentation. Why are you so tired?

Staff B:

I had a sleepless night last night.

Staff A:

Why is that?

Staff B:

It's the big project. I'm so worried about it that I kept thinking about it all night. I went to bed at 11:30 last night. I'm usually sound asleep within 5 minutes. But not last night. I was tossing and turning all night. I just couldn't fall asleep.

Staff A:

That too bad. sorry to hear it. As for myself, I was fast asleep by 11 o'clock last night.

Staff B:

I'm jealous. How did you do it? Aren't you worried about the big project too?

Staff A:

Sure, but to tell the truth I had a little nightcap before bed and I slept like a baby.

Kevin:

In this conversation we heard a lot of great vocabulary for describing tiredness and sleeping. Let's take a look at this conversation line by line.
The first word was drowsy. Take a listen

Staff B:

To be honest I'm feeling really drowsy. To be honest I'm feeling really drowsy.

Kevin:

Drowsy means sleepy or half asleep. Do you sometimes feel drowsy? I usually feel drowsy after lunch or when I drink wine.
Let's repeat that sentence again. I'm feeling drowsy. I'm feeling drowsy. now you repeat.
Now, lets listen again to our next target word.

Staff B:

I actually drifted off in the afternoon meeting.

Kevin:

Do you remember that to drift means to be carried slowly by water as in drift down the river. Here, To drift off means to slowly go to sleep. If you drift off to sleep, you have no control. The sleepy feeling takes you and you drift off.
Next is nod off.

Staff A:

Yeah, I saw you nod off during the presentation.

Kevin:

Do you know that nod means to move you head up and down. So you can imagine that nod off means to go to sleep for a short time.
Listen to these examples.
I nodded off in class. Do you ever nod off during Kevin's English class?
Next are the words sound asleep and fast asleep.

Staff B:

I'm usually sound asleep within 5 minutes.

Staff A:

I was fast asleep by 11 o'clock last night.

In this case sound means deep or deeply. So sound asleep or fast asleep means sleeping deeply.

Staff B:

I'm usually sound asleep within 5 minutes.

Staff A:

I was fast asleep by 11 o'clock last night.

Kevin:

Next is the phrase tossing and turning.

Staff B:

I was tossing and turning all night. I was tossing and turning all night.

Kevin:

To toss and turn means to not sleep and to keep moving in bed trying to get comfortable, trying to go to sleep. Moving and turning over but not sleeping.

Staff B:

I was tossing and turning all night.

Kevin:

Finally, do you know the meaning of nightcap?

Staff B:

I had a little nightcap before bed...

Kevin:

A nightcap is an alcoholic drink or just a warm drink taken at the end of the day to help you sleep. Sometimes we can use this to invite a friend to have a late night drink before going home.
Let's have a nightcap. Let's have a nightcap. Now, listen to the conversation again.

(conversation repeats)

That's all the time we have for this podcast. You can find a transcript for this podcast and listen to past episodes at www.nichibei.ac.jp . And be sure to check out the classes for the next term at Nichibei. Nichibei has a variety of language and cultural classes. Find out why Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is a great place to build you future.
This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.

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