Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[luciaC]

1. what is fix-a-flat? What is it for?
2. What is a damper? Ex. If you have a fireplace, close the damper during emergency.
3. What is exhaust fan?
4. I am of two minds about it. Does it mean I am ambivalent?
5. What�s the difference between chicken stock and chicken broth?
6. He is always on call on the weekend. What does it mean?
7. Do you say toast walnuts or roast walnuts?
8. what does carve a turkey mean?
9. What does the sentence �It has to be a mutual situation mean.� mean?
10. What does put myself in his shoes mean? If I put myself in his shoes, I would not do it. Is it correct?

Thank you!
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Mimi

[bud]

1. I've never seen fix-a-flat before, but to fix a flat is to repair a flat (short for flat tire) on a vehicle. A flat is a tire that has lost its air. It could be that fix-a-flat is a product that makes the job easier.

2. A damper is a metal plate that blocks the chimney. You close it when there is no fire so that cold air will not come into the house through the chimney. You have to open it when you start a fire so that the smoke can go up the chimney.

3. It's a fan whose purpose is to expel something from inside, rather than to blow air for cooling. For example, you have exhaust fans in bathrooms to expel the moist air and exhaust fans over stoves to expel the smoke from cooking.

4. Yes.

5. I think they're the same thing. I'm not sure, though.

6. It means that even though he is not at work, he has to prepared to go to work if he gets called. He might have to go to his workplace, or he might be able to handle the situation over the phone. Doctors, computer technicians, and maintenance people, for example, are often on call on some weekends and evenings.

7. Roasting... although I've only heard of roasting chestnuts and peanuts.

8. It means to slice it.

9. Probably it means that the situation has to be mutually good - that it has to be good both for you and for me.

10. Yes, it is correct... It means that if I imagined myself as him. It's the same as, "If I were him, I would not do it." You can also say, "If I were in his shoes,.."

[Bob S.]

I think fix-a-flat is an aerosol can of a rubbery adhesive liquid. If you have a small puncture in your tire, you spray this stuff into the tire through the air valve. The compressed gas re-inflates the tire while the adhesive coats the inside to seal any holes.

[Blossom]

Hi LuciaC

I can tell you about chicken stock because we use it a lot in China. Stock is a liquid made by boiling meat, bones, or vegetables and it is used for making soups and sauces.

Other names for the same thing are broth, pot liquor, consomm�, and bouillon.

Kind regards and may your day be filled with pleasant wishes and songs.