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The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
I'm Not the Best of People
(Lesson 6)
Video & Transcript
Nouns (65)
Verbs (40)
Adjectives (30)
Adverbs (12)
Instructions & PDF
Total words
147
Video duration
6:58
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alley
a narrow street with walls on both sides
There's an alley through the kitchen door.
back
the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
Yeah, sure. A knife sticking in your back.
brother
used as a term of address for those male persons engaged in the same movement
Well, brother, you can have her. In spades.
buddy
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
You got the time, bud?
charge
(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense
The charge is theft. You do one to five.
cinch
any undertaking that is easy to do
You're a cinch. I'll buy you a dozen. Hey, taxi!
coat
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
Where'd you get the fur coat, Toni? the judge asked me.
cop
uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
Still looking out for the cops?
couple
a small indefinite number
A couple of times last night I tried to tell you ... why I did time.
district attorney
an official prosecutor for a judicial district
Yeah. Sure. The district attorney. He's an old friend of mine.
door
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
There's an alley through the kitchen door.
drink
a single serving of a beverage
I'd like a drink.
face
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
Say, I ain't seen your face around here before.
favor
an act of gracious kindness
I asked him to do me a favor and here you are. You're late, but free.
friend
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
I'm expecting my friend out in a few minutes.
fur
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
Where'd you get the fur coat, Toni? the judge asked me.
gag
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
Get your coat. - All right, Joe. What's the gag?
glass
a container for holding liquids while drinking
Double rooms, connecting doors and tall glasses.
hello
an expression of greeting
Toni. Hello, Sam.
hotel
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
Do you want me to take you back to the hotel? No, no, please.
hour
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
Yeah, she was due out a couple of hours ago.
jail
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
I'd have died if I had to stay on in jail.
job
a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee
Okay, sister. You did a swell job.
jolt
a sudden jarring impact
- That's a long jolt. - It's forever.
judge
a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice
You don't fly, Toni, the judge says.
kitchen
a room equipped for preparing meals
There's an alley through the kitchen door.
knife
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
Yeah, sure. A knife sticking in your back.
knot
a tight cluster of people or things
I guess I'm not hungry. My stomach's in a knot.
law
the collection of rules imposed by authority
The law is very specific on violation of probation.
layout
a plan or design of something that is laid out
Nice layout you got there.
lesson
a unit of instruction
There's got to be. Certain wise guys have to be taught a lesson.
lot
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
You're in a lot of trouble, Miss Marachek.
man
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
Where's the man? he asks.
matter
a problem
What's the matter, kid? Toni.
minute
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
I'm expecting my friend out in a few minutes.
mix-up
a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another
There was a mix-up. They lost some papers.
money
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
I tried to pawn it because I needed the money.
month
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
I did three months before I came to trial.
moon
the natural satellite of the Earth
He took a powder. He blew. He flew to the moon.
nothing
a quantity of no importance
- Did you cook up that story between you? - He had nothing to do with it.
offense
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
First offense.
papers
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
There was a mix-up. They lost some papers.
party
a group of people gathered together for pleasure
I'm going to toss you a real coming-out party. Hey, taxi!
police
the force of policemen and officers
You told the police, you were employed by Sam Masterson.
probation
(law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court
How come they gave you probation?
room
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
Double rooms, connecting doors and tall glasses.
sentence
the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
You're serving a five-year sentence.
sir
term of address for a man
Yes, sir.
sister
(slang) sometimes used as a term of address for attractive young women
Okay, sister. You did a swell job.
spaghetti
spaghetti served with a tomato sauce
Spaghetti.
stomach
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
I guess I'm not hungry. My stomach's in a knot.
story
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
- Did you cook up that story between you? - He had nothing to do with it.
stranger
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
No. I'm a stranger here.
taxi
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
You're a cinch. I'll buy you a dozen. Hey, taxi!
theft
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
The charge is theft. You do one to five.
time
a reading of a point in time as given by a clock
You got the time, bud?
time
an instance or single occasion for some event
And this time you'll have to serve every day of it.
time
an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities)
A couple of times last night I tried to tell you ... why I did time.
time
the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
A couple of times last night I tried to tell you ... why I did time.
truth
a fact that has been verified
You think they would've believed me, if I'd told the truth?
violation
an act that disregards an agreement or a right
The law is very specific on violation of probation.
wife
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
She's my wife.
word
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
I said, But it's true, every word of it.
year
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
- What are you getting at? - Remember, five years.
yes
an affirmative
Yes, sir.
ask
inquire about
I asked him to do me a favor and here you are. You're late, but free.
believe
accept as true; take to be true
You think they would've believed me, if I'd told the truth?
blow
leave; informal or rude
Now blow.
buy
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
You're a cinch. I'll buy you a dozen. Hey, taxi!
come out
make oneself visible; take action
I'm going to toss you a real coming-out party. Hey, taxi!
connect
connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
Double rooms, connecting doors and tall glasses.
cook up
make up something artificial or untrue
- Did you cook up that story between you? - He had nothing to do with it.
die
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
I'd have died if I had to stay on in jail.
eat
take in solid food
Go ahead. Eat.
expect
regard something as probable or likely
I'm expecting my friend out in a few minutes.
feel
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
All right, if it'll make you feel any better.
fly
run away quickly
You don't fly, Toni, the judge says.
fly
travel through the air; be airborne
He took a powder. He blew. He flew to the moon.
free
grant freedom to; free from confinement
I asked him to do me a favor and here you are. You're late, but free.
get down
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
All right. Get down to it. What do I have to do?
give
transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
I met a guy, I told him. He said he was in love with me. He gave me the coat.
guess
expect, believe, or suppose
I guess I'm not hungry. My stomach's in a knot.
have
have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
Well, brother, you can have her. In spades.
help
give help or assistance; be of service
Here, this ought to help.
let
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
Let me sit here awhile.
lie
tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive
- So I was told once before. - You lied when you were picked up.
listen
hear with intention
You wouldn't listen. I don't want to now.
look
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
Look at me.
look out
be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
Still looking out for the cops?
make sure
make a point of doing something; act purposefully and intentionally
I just want to make sure.
mean
mean or intend to express or convey
If you'd ever been in, you'd know what I mean.
meet
get to know; get acquainted with
I met a guy, I told him. He said he was in love with me. He gave me the coat.
miss
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
You're in a lot of trouble, Miss Marachek.
need
have or feel a need for
I tried to pawn it because I needed the money.
pawn
leave as a guarantee in return for money
I tried to pawn it because I needed the money.
phone
get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
O'Neil phoned me, told me you'd be out at 600.
pick up
gather or collect
What did this guy tell you he'd give you when he picked you up?
relax
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
Relax, now you're free.
serve
spend time in prison or in a labor camp
You're serving a five-year sentence.
sit
be seated
Let me sit here awhile.
take a powder
disappear without notifying anyone (idiom)
He took a powder. He blew. He flew to the moon.
toss
throw or toss with a light motion
I'm going to toss you a real coming-out party. Hey, taxi!
try
make an effort or attempt
I tried to pawn it because I needed the money.
understand
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
I want to be sure you understand.
wait
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
Then you ain't waiting for anybody, huh?
better
(comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
All right, if it'll make you feel any better.
certain
definite but not specified or identified
There's got to be. Certain wise guys have to be taught a lesson.
double
consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
Double rooms, connecting doors and tall glasses.
dozen
denoting a quantity consisting of 12 items or units
You're a cinch. I'll buy you a dozen. Hey, taxi!
due
scheduled to arrive
Yeah, she was due out a couple of hours ago.
eight
being one more than seven
- Yeah. It's five after eight. - Thanks.
employed
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
You told the police, you were employed by Sam Masterson.
every
(used of count nouns) each and all of the members of a group considered singly and without exception
And this time you'll have to serve every day of it.
few
a small but indefinite number
I'm expecting my friend out in a few minutes.
first
preceding all others in time or space or degree
First offense.
five
being one more than four
- Yeah. It's five after eight. - Thanks.
fond
having or displaying warmth or affection
You're very fond of him, aren't you?
free
able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
Relax, now you're free.
hungry
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
I guess I'm not hungry. My stomach's in a knot.
last
immediately past
A couple of times last night I tried to tell you ... why I did time.
late
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
I asked him to do me a favor and here you are. You're late, but free.
likely
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
A likely story, he said.
lost
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
There was a mix-up. They lost some papers.
old
of long duration; not new
Yeah. Sure. The district attorney. He's an old friend of mine.
outside
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
- Certain wise guys have to be... - Where do you want it, here or outside?
real
being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
I'm going to toss you a real coming-out party. Hey, taxi!
specific
(sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique
The law is very specific on violation of probation.
sticking
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
Yeah, sure. A knife sticking in your back.
swell
very good
Okay, sister. You did a swell job.
tall
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
Double rooms, connecting doors and tall glasses.
true
consistent with fact or reality; not false
I said, But it's true, every word of it.
up
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
I was up to your hotel.
wise
improperly forward or bold
- Certain wise guys have to be... - Where do you want it, here or outside?
wonderful
extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as intensifiers
- That looks wonderful! - I think you'll like it.
worried
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
I got worried about you.
all right
an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence
Get your coat. - All right, Joe. What's the gag?
any
to any degree or extent
All right, if it'll make you feel any better.
around
in the area or vicinity
Say, I ain't seen your face around here before.
awhile
for a short time
Let me sit here awhile.
back
in or to or toward a former location
Do you want me to take you back to the hotel? No, no, please.
best
in a most excellent way or manner
It can happen to the best of people.
ever
at any time
If you'd ever been in, you'd know what I mean.
forever
for a limitless time
- That's a long jolt. - It's forever.
in spades
without question and beyond doubt
Well, brother, you can have her. In spades.
so
in a manner that facilitates
I don't feel so good.
sure
definitely or positively (`sure' is sometimes used informally for `surely')
Yeah. Sure. The district attorney. He's an old friend of mine.
too
in addition
She's a stranger, too.
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