Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1. He broke up with Susan last night and he was all over the bed the whole night.
- What does �all over the bed the whole night� mean here?

2.� I do an hour of aerobics everyday. It�s really addicting. I feel like a new man.
- Well, you look like a million bucks.

- What does �you look like a million bucks� mean here?

3. Does �buck up!� mean �hurry up!�? and is it common?

Thanks a bunch to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[Nef]

Hi, Steven

I've noticed that you have interesting questions! I'm curious about where you are finding the material you're asking about.


1. He broke up with Susan last night and he was all over the bed the whole night.
- What does �all over the bed the whole night� mean here?

I' not sure.

2.� I do an hour of aerobics everyday. It�s really addicting. I feel like a new man.
- Well, you look like a million bucks.

- What does �you look like a million bucks� mean here?

You look wonderful.

3. Does �buck up!� mean �hurry up!�? and is it common?

It means something closer to "cheer up and keep going" or "keep trying, don't give up". I've heard it, but not often and not lately. Other people might want to offer an opinion on this.

[stevenukd]

Dear Nef!

Thanks for your compliments. You know what, I'm very interested in English jokes, and I read them everyday, whenever I have sentences which really confuse me, I post on the ELS forum. I guess you're a male student, right?

P/s: Anyway thanks a bunch for your help for the last few days, I really appreciate it.

Best wishes,

Stevenukd

[CP]

1. He broke up with Susan last night and he was all over the bed the whole night.
- What does �all over the bed the whole night� mean here?
A: Tossing and turning all night because he couldn't sleep.

2.� I do an hour of aerobics everyday. It�s really addicting. I feel like a new man.
- Well, you look like a million bucks.

- What does �you look like a million bucks� mean here?
A: You look great. It would be great to have a million bucks (dollars), and a million bucks would look great right now. That's how good you look. Sometimes shortened to, "You look like a million!"

3. Does �buck up!� mean �hurry up!�? and is it common?
A: Means "cheer up!" Hold your chin up; don't be down in the dumps. Not so common now as a few decades ago, but everyone understands it.

Yours truly, CP

[LucentShade]

Another possibility for "All over the bed" -- if he normally sleeps in a bed with Susan, that means he sleeps in one certain area of the bed. Now that he's broken up with her, he moves all over the bed. It's one way that his life has changed from how it was when he was in a relationship.

Also, I want to point out one thing:

"I do an hour of aerobics everyday. It�s really addicting. I feel like a new man." This should be "every day" not "everyday." When you're indicating how often something happens (adverb), use separated words, "every day." (After all, you wouldn't write "everymonth," "everyyear," "everyhour"...) To say that something is normal or ordinary (as an adjective), then use one word: "I'm tired of this everyday life." Unfortunately, many native speakers, signs, and advertisements make this mistake, probably because "everyday" doesn't show up as wrong on a computer spelling check.