Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1. - He�s a precious wild animal smuggler.
- He�s a material /fabric smuggler.
- Are these natural?

2. I haven�t spoken to my Dad in 3 years, I blocked it off and now I�m nearly 15.
- What does �block it off� mean here?

3. My brother is always on at me. Telling me to smarten myself up.
- �always on at me� means� always complain about me�, right?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[Mallaien]

[CP]

1. Yes. He smuggles precious wild animals. He smuggles fabric (a better, more accurate word than "material," which some people say to mean "fabric").

2. To "block off" in this context is to keep something at a distance, psychologically, so as to protect oneself. The person pretends it didn't happen, or purposely keeps it from thought, or suppresses it. We can't tell from this what, exactly, the speaker blocked off, but it must not have been good.

3. Not a natural construction. I would buy it if it were, "My brother is always at me," or "My brother is always on me." The expression would not mean "complain about me," but more like, "nag me" or "criticize me" or at least "spur me on."

If your mother is always on your back, or on you, about something, she is always bringing the topic up, always after you about the subject. If she is at you all the time, she is doing the same thing, nagging or urging you about it.

(Just an example. I'm sure your mother isn't always on your back!)
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