Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[luciaC]

1. The ground is rock solid. What does solid mean here?
2. He explored the high country of the Sierra Nevada. What does high country mean?
3. What is California State Quarter?
On Jan. 31,05, the new California State Quarter featuring John Muir was released by the U.S. Mint as California's entry in its 50 State Quarter program.
4. Would you mind helping me? Yes.
Does that mean you don't want to help the person?
_________________
Mimi

[Brian Boyd]

1. rock solid - the ground is as solid as a rock. Sometimes the ground can be solid but soft (so you can push a tent peg or a spade into the earth). However, if it's been very hot and sunny for a week or two, the ground will be rock solid - so hard and dry, it might as well be rock!

2. high country - I think it means mountains and hills, but you'd have to ask someone from America to be sure. Maybe it means something else.

3. A quarter is the nickname for the American 25 cent coin. Four quarters make a dollar.

4. Strictly speaking - yes. The person is saying yes I do mind, which means they don't want to help. However, people often say yes to that question, when really they should say no.

"No, I don't mind. What can I do for you?"
"Yes, certainly. What do you need?"

You'll hear both of these, and the both mean the person is willing to help.

Brian
_________________
'
Comics for students ...

http://www.grammarmancomic.com

.

[bud]

2. Yes, Brian.

3. ... And for several years now, the U.S. Mint has been working on issuing a special quarter honoring each of of our 50 states. So the California State Quarter has a design that reflects something special about that state. (I don't pay much attention, so I don't know what the design is.)

[LucentShade]

1. You might also hear "rock solid" as a phrase to describe a thing or a person--in that case, it means that the thing/person is trustworthy, dependable, sturdy, reliable.

[Bob S.]