American slangs -EXPLANATION AND VIDEOS

American slangs  -EXPLANATION AND VIDEOS

with the collaboration of my friend Carlos Castrillo

1.    Step Up to the plate. 

This is a term meaning to take responsibility or to take charge; to get to the home plate and bat for the home team (as in baseball or symbolically to represent a group and to do something for the group as one).   Of course, if you're playing baseball and someone tells you to step up to the plate, most likely they' ll mean just that!   An example of usage would be:  Tomorrow I will step up to the plate with my workshop. 

2.     800-Pound Gorilla.  

This expression is used when referring to  a dominant force.  Gorillas are strong and may weigh as much as 800 lbs.  i.e.  Gases del Caribe is an 800-pound Gorilla in Colombia.  Or if you wish you could describe someone overpowering as such.  He looked like an 800 pound gorilla.   I was mugged by an 800 pound gorilla.  (Of course, if the 800-pound gorilla knew how to mug, then it wasn't a gorilla, in which case, you'd simply say "Give me back my bag, you big gorilla.")    Confused?  View the video.

3. Shenanigans - is anything that is wild or over the top or even something that is considered crazy; it also used when someone  has some shady business or when something shady is going on.  For instance, the guy at the corner sells candy at 200 pesos each, but he drives a Mercedes Benz.  I think there's some shenanigans going on there.  Another example, Tom is always telling us about his shenanigans (wild parties).

 
4.An innuendo is an unfounded thought or idea.   It can also be a remark or question, typically an  insinuation   i.e.  The shoes made in Barranquilla are so poorly made.  Yes, I've made a statement, but if you look closely, I've also said that the people in Barranquilla don't know how to make shoes.   Here's another example.  Jane Smith thinks she's hot to trot, but I could also be saying quite the opposite, like, she thinks everyone likes her, but they don't.    The most common usage of this word in the states (US) is when it comes to sexual terms.  A woman may be walking  to work eating a banana and someone goes by her and makes the comment, "Wow, that's a big one."   There was a sexual innuendo in his statement.   He innocently made a comment, but if you think about it, he could have been talking in a sexual sense.

 
5. Surmise - to guess, to sum up.  i.e.   Having not gotten paid this past week, I can surmise that everyone is NOT going to have a great weekend.

 
6. PLAY IT BY EAR - when something is done impromptu or without planning.  i.e.  I've had so many things to do this past week - so many workshops, that I haven't prepared for Keiby's class activity this Monday.  I think I'm gonna play it by ear.  You can also use the term 'Wing it."   In this case meaning that I'll flap my wings like a bird  (as a figure of speech, of course), and make things up (invent - mao)  as I go along.    If you don't know too much about the subject, perhaps you can wing it with what you already know.

7. LAMPOON - to mock (make fun of).  The guy at the bookstore sold the blind child a book with missing pages, thus lampooning the child's ability to see.  Another example,  We shouldn't lampoon the students in class, it has a high negativity impact on their self-esteem.   Besides all this, there is a very funny movie called National Lampoon (they ridicule everything).

 
8. FROM SCRATCH - the term means FROM THE BEGINNING OR ZERO  i.e.  I lost my memory stick the other day and I had to recreate  all my assessment sheets from scratch.  Another example.  This cake is delicious, did you buy it or did you do it from scratch? (Meaning, if it was made from home bought ingredients).

9.FAMISHED -adj.  To be very hungry.  i.e.   The state of scarcity of food itself is called a FAMINE (fa-min)   There is a  FAMINE in the  Zimbabwe  South African region which has left millions of people  FAMISHED.  You do not need to use VERY as it will become redundant.  FAMISHED by itself means VERY HUNGRY.  i.e.    i.e.  After a long weekend, with only $3,000 pesos to his name, the presenter on the 2-hour long Social Networks workshop will be famished.  Yes, you could say you\re famished, only to mean VERY HUNGRY (only figuratively)

10 .ACHILLES' HEEL - A weakness despite strength.  Let's say that you know what you know, but perhaps somewhere, deep in the recesses of your being, there is a weakness.  For instance, I'm good with people, consider myself a handy person, responsible, amiable, etc., BUT I'm sensitive.  Being sensitive is my weakness. This means that despite all the good things, I'm open  to letting my sensitivity become my drawback (weakness).   You can use it with practically anything.  For instance, I like fruit, but when it comes to Apples....  Or, I like brunettes but when it comes to blondes...  Those would be the weaknesses.    I can add, subtract and divid , when it comes to multiplication...

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11.FIGMENT - A noun  -  An invented or imaginary notion. i.e.    The voices you hear at night, are a figment of your imagination.   Anything that is imaginary is a figment.   (Two men roaming the desert looking for water)  Look!  There is water over there!!  No, there isn´t!  That is a figment of your imagination. 

 

12 .DEVIL´S ADVOCATE -  a term given to a person who argues the lesser view point.  Let me give you this example: As a teacher in a small school,  if I wanted to pass all the students all the time, the rector and administration would say ¨NO WAY.¨   However, the rector´s brother who´s in charge of part of the school could play Devil´s Advocate by saying ¨WHY NOT¨? 

 

13 GHASTLY - Adj. Horrible - Frightful - i.e. There was a ghastly accident on the highway.  The dog made a ghastly sound before it died.    The odor coming from the funeral home was ghastly.  This is a ghastly situation.



 
14 CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH - To be alike in many ways.  i.e.  People say that I took after my father, but then again, so did my brother.  I  guess my brother and I are cut from the same cloth.  You can use this expression literally as well, for instance:  those two garments are cut from the same cloth.   But normally, it is used to express similar characteristics in people.

15 DeFACTO - This word means in REALITY - NOT OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED.    i.e.  I'm the defacto English translator for the University (although we know that's not true).  The defacto parking rules in Barranquilla do not allow for middle of the street parking.  Not officially recognized.  Something that is true but not written in stone to be officially acknowledged.  The defacto dress code for the Centro de Idiomas does not allow for Bermuda shorts and torn sneakers. 

16 GROTESQUE - ADJ. Incredibly ugly or unappealing.  i.e. Nearly all of the people in southern areas of Barranquilla do not take advantage of the financial support the government can give them due to the GROTESQUE ignorance.   (In this case meaning A LOT OF - OR TOO MUCH).   However, this adj. can be used to describe an extreme ugliness or unappealing feature i.e.  I went on a blind date and she was grotesque.

17. ONEROUS - Something requiring a lot of effort or something that  would be considered a burden or a problem for someone.  i.e.  With a wife and two children, taking care of my 93 year old grandmother became an onerous task for me.  i.e.  No one offered to take on the onerous task of putting Keiby's presentation together since their schedules did not allow it. Onerous - Adj.

18 ROCK THE BOAT - To make something unstable by moving or doing something in a place or situation where you're the only one doing it.   Let's say that you're teaching at the university and YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE who's not happy with our paychecks.  You go to the various offices and make noise, send memos, e-mails, etc., only to be dismissed two days later.  You "rocked the boat" and you fell off.  So don't rock the boat if everything is going steady.  If everything is going smoothly, don't rock the boat!   Another example:  You're consoling someone at a funeral because they lost a loved one.  Everything is somber and teary.  Your best friend comes over to join your conversation and he says "so, did the truck go over his head, or was it his torso?"   The poor widow begins to cry uncontrollably.  That third person, rocked the boat.  Everything was going smoothly until he butt in and "rocked the boat."

  BOB MARLEY -SATISFY MY SOUL


 
19 MEANDER - To wonder about - or run without a course - Nomadic tribes meander in the deserts of Africa.    i.e. A river meanders through the jungle.     Meandering in the University's hallways is not permitted.   Why are you meandering about, don't you have anything better to do?  Meander.  Adj.

20 EDIBLE - To possess the ability to be eaten, adj.   i.e. Are the flowers on the cake edible?   i.e. Is that food edible?   i.e. While I was in the jungle, I found a lot of edible roots.  i.e. Although her cooking skills are terrible, I still find her food edible.

21WACKY - Silly, Foolish, Out of the norm; Adj.   That woman seems wacky, but she makes sense.  e.g.  This is a wacky state of affairs.  e.g. We live in a wacky world.   e.g. Your request is a wacky one.   She's wacky, but he's wackier.   As slang:  She's, you're, they're  wacked (crazy).

22 OUTRAGEOUS / Adj.   This word mean intolerable or shocking (surprising).  It's sometimes used to show surprise or .  e.g. Wow,  that show was outrageous, man!  It can also be used to tell someone that someone's behavious was out of the norm and outstanding (both in a positive or negative way).  e.g.  A father is scolding his son for his bad behavior... "You're behavior was outrageous!"  or perhaps he was glorifying him with praise after he did something wonderful... "You were outrageous, son!"  e.g.  "I received my check yesterday and $700,000 pesos were deducted for medical expenses.  THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!!" 

23 CHASTISE - Verb - To discipline or punish.  e.g.  She was chastised for having eaten her brother's dinner.    Stop chastising her for what she did!     I didn't submit the paperwork on time and now I'm being chastised by not getting my check until next month.   A person can be chastised for doing something wrong, but praised for doing something right.  Do you want me to chastise you?   Chastise - negative behavior rewarded with negative behavior.

24 REMINISCE - To go over thoughts in ones mind.  TO REMEMBER AND RELIVE AN EXPERIENCE MENTALLY - Verb - e.g.  I was sitting on my porch drinking some coffee and reminiscing about my experiences with my parents.  e.g.  REMEMBER DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WORD WITH THIINK.  TO THINK IS TO HAVE A THOUGHT.  WHILE REMINISCE IS TO GO OVER A THOUGHT - RELIVING IT.  DO NOT USE IT LIKE THIS:  DONT WORRY, I''LL  REMINISCE ABOUT IT AND I WILL TELL YOU TOMORROW.  NO!!  WRONG!!   To reminisce is to relive an experience - normally a good and positive one.  Normally you do not reminisce about the time when the neighbor killed your dog, but you will reminisce about the time when you were with a loved one or when you had a good experience.  .e.g.  I was reminiscing about the my childhood.

 25 Penury - Extreme poverty (without a dime).  e.g.  The outskirts of Barranquilla, are overwhelmed with penury.   Teacher Carlos always has a penurious attitude when it comes to buying Jessica's desserts.  Penury - Adj. A person can be penurious.  Stingy.  e.g.  You're so penurious!   Stop being penurious!   To always claim or not to have $$.   "Sorry, I'm in a penurious situation right now, maybe on Monday when we get paid."

26 TACIT - Adj.  To convey without words (unwritten - obvious).  e.g. Our job responsibilities as teachers at the University are tacit.  Do we have a tacit understanding?  The rules of nature for Lions and Zebras are Tacit.  TACIT - Clear - unwritten - obvious – 

27 SATIATE - Verb - To Satisfy (completely).  e.g Their hunger for money was satiated with a well-deserved bank deposit.   Her thirst for new shoes was finally satiated when she found a Payless outlet in the mall.   A McDonald's Big Whopper satiated his desire for a hamburger.

28 IRON OUT - To solve - preferrably a problem -  Phrasal Verb.  To make smooth or straight again.   e.g.  Don't worry, we'll iron out this problem today.  Iron out could also mean to take out the wrinkles or kinks.  Can you iron-out the kinks (problems) in this dilemma?   He has to iron out his life.  This issue with my mother-in-law will be ironed out by next week. 

29 BOMBARD - Verb - Noun.  To attack or batter (hit) e.g.  This past semester I was bombarded with  many projects.  Can you please stop bombarding me with questions?  The island of Shikoku in Japan was bombarded by the allies during the 1940s.   Britney Spears was bombarded with film offers this past year.

 
30 DISCERNING - Showing good intellectual judgement. Adj  -e.g.  His discerning good taste in clothes always made him look fashionable. It can also be used as a verb TO DESCERN - inf. verb.  To make out visually or with other senses.  e.g.  I was lost in Caribbean for 8 days and on the 9th day, after being alone for such a long time, I was able to DISCERN a cruise ship in the distance.  I had been rescued.  Can you DISCERN what this is?   Is he OKAY?  Can he discern what I'm saying?  No, he has dimentia.  DISCERN: To make out - visually or with other senses.

31 STUNNING - adj. Surprisingly Beautiful.  e.g.  Wow!  That dress you're wearing is stunning!  You simply look stunning!  The view of the shore line is stunning!    This restaurant is stunning!     IT IS ALWAYS USED TO GIVE A POSITIVE COMPLIMENT BUT NEVER USED NEGATIVELY.  e.g.  I'm sorry, you don't look stunning at all.  OR  They looked stunning, but you didn't look stunning.  That restaurant was not stunning.    You may even use it as an adverb and combine it with BEAUTIFUL to add even more BEAUTY.  Hey, she looked stunningly beautiful!    STUNNING - SURPRISINGLY BEAUTIFUL.  USE IT WELL.

32 STEADFAST - Adj.  This word seems to be a combination of STEADY and FAST (STEADY= SOLID - FAST=ON TRACK).  In this case STEADFAST means firm in purpose.  Or Concrete Objectivity - No deviations.  e.g.  Her steadfast dedication to helping children around the world, allowed her to become a well known philanthropist.  e.g.  The University's steadfast commitment to unify the country's educational collaborative effort has grown in the past decade.   e.g.  She has a steadfast attitude, I like her.  She really knows what she wants. 

33 WREAK - to inflict or cause  devastation in  a fragile environment (setting, situation). Adj.  There are many uses for this word and it is widely used - It is found in poetry e.g.  "I will not wreak a passion in someone's heart other than yours." (a very inspiring word).   As a normal example we have: The hurricane wreaked HAVOC across the United States.  The crazy children wreak damages across Barranquilla on "Water Day" during carnival.  When I said devastation in such a fragile environment the hurricane example is a good one.  But you can also assume that sitting calmly on a bus on your way to work is a fragile environment too,  until,  a homeless person gets on and you pinch your nose because the stench (strong smell)  being emitted by this homeless person was overwhelming.  In which case your fragile environment has been devastated by the smell.  Therefore, it is safe to say, "the homeless person wreaked of a foul smell and everyone had to get off the bus."   Another example:  You wreak of alcohol, I can smell it. 


34 IMPETUS - Noun - Stimulus or Moving Force - e.g. The impetus behind the creation of a new building at the university was the ability to offer more services.    The desire to change government in Colombia, became the impetus in the presidential race.   The DRIVING FORCE (The force behind - pushing forward).

 

35 ABRIDGED - Adj. Condensed - Shortenned.   e.g.  Yesterday I received my copy of Merriam-Webster's Abridged Dictionary.   While I was relaxing at home I watched an abridged version of the Grapes of Rath on T.V.    As an opposite, you may use UNABRIDGED to mean totally the opposite.   Now the word means LONG, EXTENSIVE.   I was there for hours-on-end, listening to Dario's unabridged version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.    My God, that was long! 

36 GREGARIOUS - Adj.  Sociable - Living in a group.    e.g. (1) The teacher's lounge has such a gregarious atmosphere.  (2) Keiby is a gregarious individual.  (3)  You're so gregarious!  (4)  That girl must be so gregarious - she's always the center of attention!   (5) Stop being so gregarious and get back to work!   If gregarious means to be sociable, could your GREGARIOUSNESS get you into trouble?   The answer is "Yes."  You should know which situations require you to  be gregarious i.e. parties, social events, group gatherings.  When SHOULD YOU NOT BE gregarious? - muggings - shootouts - fights.
Enjoy being GREGARIOUS.  Have a nice day. 

37 HEMORRHAGE - verb - noun - TO LOSE A LOT OF BLOOD -  Better yet, to lose a lot of SOMETHING.  e.g.  The young woman was hemorrhaging a lot blood before the doctor saw her.   e.g.  Our fiscal budget is out of control.  We are hemorrhaging a lot of money in lawsuits.    If a person can't shut up because she's spreading gossip in an office environment, then you may want to use it like this:  STOP hemorrhaging nonsense and get back to work!

38 AUTHENTICATE - Verb.   To establish as genuine - original - confirmed - verified.  e.g.  In Colombia nearly all documents must be authenticated.  e.g.  Her signature will have to be authenticated by the bank.   e.g. He has an authentic leather jacket.

39 ENCUMBER - verb - To hamper or burden.  e.g.  We were on our way to work when we were encumbered by the heavy traffic.  e.g.  I don't mean to encumber, but can you help me carry these bags   She was encumbered by a family matter last night and she couldn't go to the party.   The encumbering rain continued throughout the day.   That was an encumbering situation.  I'm glad it's over.    NEVER USE IT LIKE THIS:     Encumber me, can I ask you a question?   DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WORD WITH CUCUMBER, UNLESS YOU'RE MAKING A SALAD.

40 DROP IN - Phrasal Verb - To come by and visit  unexpectedfly for a while  - e.g.  Mary dropped in on her parents during her school recess.  "I needed a place to stay and I thought I'd drop in on you.  Could I stay here?"    DO NOT CONFUSE this phrasal verb with DROP BY.  Drop by is used when checking on something (briefly, very quick visit)

  

41 NONCHALANT - coldly/cooly  unconcerned / not caring - considering something unimportant  / taking it litely -  Adj. e.g. He was told he was going to get fired and he reacted in a nonchalant way.  I would have been very concerned.    e.g. He has such an nonchalant attitude toward life.  e.g. The President told you to rewrite the letter.  Don't take it nonchalantly, DO IT!    e.g.  He was surprisingly nonchalant after learning his dog ad been run over by a speeding COOCHOFAL bus.

42 LARGESS - Noun - A generous number of things given as a gift - e.g. The private sector's largess to Universidad Simon Bolivar is due in part to reciprocity (given back in return for) for the university's commitment in molding superlative leaders.   e.g. My father's largess to the needy (people in need) was worth a lot of money.  DO NOT confuse this word with LARGEST (Superlative).  With LARGESS there is heavy stress on the last syllable.

43 CAPTIVATE - To get and hold someone's attention - verb - e.g. The hostess captivated everyone's attention at the party - she was very pretty.  e.g.   This task is captivating task - I really love working on this project.  e.g. Her beauty captivated everyone.  e.g. I'm captivated by the thought of visiting the United States one day.

44 RURAL - Adj. Belonging to country life or life outside a modern, city environment -  My father had some rural qualities about him and always enjoyed peace and quiet.  Rural life in Colombia is difficult if you don't have a livelihood.   You have to become contemporary while in a rural environment if you want to keep up with technology.  He has a rural approach to life.  She has a rural attitude toward life - everything natural.

45 CESSION - to give up or surrender -  During the first North American battle at Little Big Horn, the indians cessioned a lot of land.   e.g.  I would be asked to cession my i.d. if I were asked to leave the university.

46 OBTUSE - Dull or Blunt (not sharp) or a litle slow  to learn - adj. e.g. I don't mean to sound obtuse, but I didn't understand your question.   e.g. This party is great, but the hostess seems a little obtuse.  e.g. That triangle must be obtuse because it has an angle measure over 90 degrees.  You seem obtuse now in your later years (getting old - not as sharp).

47 ORDEAL - a painful or difficult experience or hardship - noun - e.g.  Completing the Bitacora for each group this semester is going to be an ordeal.  e.g.  My friend's pregnancy became an ordeal after her 7th month - she couldn't walk.  e.g.  This is such an ordeal!   e.g. What an ordeal!   e.g. I can understand the ordeal you're going through - you have my sympathy.  Is there anything I can do to help? 

48 FASTIDIOUS - Very particular or demanding - picky - choosy - noun.   e.g. She is so fastidious, she´s beginning to annoy me.  Keiby is so fastidious with the end of term reporting - he wants those reports filled-in a certain way.  When a person wants something done a certain way, he/she can be considered fastidious.  (In Spanish it would be FASTIDIOSO.)

49 PAUCITY - scarcity - lack of - deficient - noun. e.g.  A paucity of educational resources in Colombia, provides the perfect setting  for an improper education in many areas.  e.g. There is a paucity of  native English speaking teachers in Barranquilla.

51 SCRUTINIZE - To put under a microscope figuratively - to examine very closely - to review in detail - verb  e.g. My friend makes a lot of money and yesterday he was scrutinized by the government for suspicious activity. e.b.  I was not sure if I had given the students their deserved grades, so I decided to scrutinize their exams for any mistakes I might have made.  e.g. The President of the United States is under scrutiny by the media.

52 HYPOCRITE - Someone who present themselves as something other than they really are - to falsely represent their true personality. noun. e.g.  Harry told me he was an honest person, but I later found out he was lying to everyone.  He's such a hypocrite.  e.g. She claims to be a believer in God yet when I asked her to come to church with me, she refused.  She's such a hypocrite.   e.g. You claim to love teaching so much and yet you won't return your student's calls. You're such a hypocrite. 

In medicine there is an oath which is called the Hypocritical Oath.  This is an oath taken by doctors in which they swear to abide by what they are (doctors ) no matter what happens.  A doctor should always reveal himself as a doctor under any circumstance and not be hypocritical of race, gender or color or emerging situation.

53 Aesthetic - pleasing to the eye - a sense of beauty - noun, adj. e.g. The new aesthetic changes made  to the university make it more appealing to the eye.  e.g. I did some aesthetic work to the outside of my  house, but the inside, well, that's another story.  The structure is aesthetically correct, but it does not conform with building code regulations. e.g. This table is aesthetically pleasing, but it's just too expensive.  This word is only used when referring to objects NOT people.  Hence, beautiful, handsome, nice looking, etc.

54.PAUSE - To temporarily discontinue something from happening - noun, adj.   e.g. Let's pause right here and we'll continue tomorrow. e.g. Can you pause the movie? I need to get some water.   e.g. She was talking and then she paused to take a deep breath - she had a lot to say.  Pausing to take a deep breath while talking, allows you to continue a conversation.

55.KNEAD - A cooking term which is defined as involving the use of hands to mix, manipulate, mix, stretch or massage a mass (like bread dough).  transitive verb.  e.g.  In order to knead bread you must have strong hands.  What ingredients will you need in order to knead bread?  Don't get those two confused.  NEED  and KNEAD.   This term later evolved to mean "massage" as the one given to a human body.    Hey!  I need someone to knead my back - it's been aching ever since I  started carrying that backpack with ten bricks in it (Talk about needing to be kneaded).

56.CADENCE - Rhythmic Flow of words, sound or movement -  the beat - timing - (a place on a sheet of music - a stopping) - noun - e.g. A professional bicyclist will often use a cadence calculator to know how fast he/she should be pedaling.  e.g. French has a lovely cadence.  e.g. The English Syllabus is delivered with cadence every semester.   e.g. The cadency of the family lineage was derailed when Betty married that good for nothing bum, Harry.

57.JEWELRY - Things or thing adorning the human body - especially women - noun - e.g. Wow!  That's a wonderful piece of jewelry.  Where did you buy it?  e.g.  Can you tell me about the woman?  Yes, she was tall, nice looking and she was wearing a lot of jewelry.  e.g. In general, men wear only two pieces of jewelry - a watch and a neck chain (for women it would be called a necklace).  e.g. Throughout history, jewelry has been worn by humans for thousands of years.  A precious stone, on the other hand, can be called a jewel, while a CD case (the old plastic ones) can be called a jewel case.

58.Vehement - to show strong conviction about something - to be determined -  intense in purpose - Adjective - e.g. Keiby is vehement about using the Bitacora this semester.  e.g. There is very little I can do, she's vehement on traveling to Europe without me.   DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WORD with Behemoth which means monstruous in size.  Ouch!!!  You stepped on my foot, you big behemoth!

59.PRELIMINARY - Being prior to (a draft action or thing before being finalized). Adj. Noun.  e.g. Before we can get any equipment for the Centro de Idiomas, we must have a preliminary bid from the vendors.  e.g. Preliminary reports are not final.  They are drafts which can be changed.  e.g.  President Obama gets preliminary reports from the White House staff before he holds his State of the Union Address (speech to the nation).  e.g. You should go for a preliminary medical examination before you go under the knife (surgery).

60.EERIE - Strange - Weird Adj. e.g.   I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something eerie going on inside the earth's crust.  e.g. I have an eerie feeling about this.  There is something eerie about Maria.  She seems to be talking to herself quite often.

61.COMPASSION - A feeling of empathy for someone who has  suffered a misfortune.  noun. e.g.  During the Easter holiday in the United States, many people show compassion for their fellow man.  e.g. Mother Theresa was a compassionate woman.  e.g. The teacher approached the hungry puppy with compassion and fed him. e.g. Compassion is what makes us human, otherwise we'd be animals (of course, there are some animals out there!).

62 .Guffaw - a burst  of laughter - to laugh loudly - noun - verb -  -  During the presentation I mispronounced the word FOCUS and everyone guffawed - I was so embarrassed that even after I left the meeting I could still hear them guffawing.