Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

1.
You may not have model-*caliber* looks...
=somebody's ability, intelligence, or character

But in this case, it's more like *quality* than ability.

2.
Health advocates want to restrict junk-food sales, regulate advertising, require more explicit labels, other products to prolong * shelf life*=
the length of time that somebody or something is popular or lasts

Why does that have to do with popluarity or how long it lasts?

3.

He suggests sending a short note with an *out-there*, curiosity-provoking subject line
outgoing and positively involved with life and the world
What about *outta there*? Doesn�t that also mean someone being a space cadet?

Thanks

[pugachevV]

1. Yes. You really don't need the word caliber at all.

2. Shelf-life is the term used for the length of time a (food) product can be safely (from a health point of view) offered for sale.
You could also use it to indicate how long you think the popularity of a certain fashion, or toy might last.
e.g. Platfom shoes usually have a shelf life of 18 months before they drop out of fashion.
Women's fashions have a shelf life of only one season.
The problem between China and Taiwan looks as if it will have a long shelf life.
etc..

3. Outta there - Out of there- doesn't mean the same thing as, out there.

Both expressions are current slang that might not have a very long shelf life, although, "You're outta there!" comes from baseball, which has had a very long shelf life.
It is what the umpire often says to the batsman when he has been struck out.
It means, you are out; You have finished; you have failed, and so on.

[LucentShade]

1-caliber = "level" - it comes from bullets, which have a number associated with them to state tehir width.

3- I think "out-there" in this case means provacative, interesting, or innovative.