Daily English 1249 Making Temporary Repairs

Dialogue/Story

Slow Speed begins at: 1:36
Explanation begins at: 3:48
Normal Speed begins at: 18:45

Complete Transcript

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,249 – Making Temporary Repairs.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 1,249. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

This episode is a dialogue about fixing things that are broken, at least for a short time, until you can fix them permanently. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Desiree: Hey, what happened to the lights?

Chris: I think you have a short or maybe a loose wire.

Desiree: My guests are going to arrive any minute. What am I going to do?

Chris: Don’t worry. In an emergency, I’m your man. Whatever the problem is, I can probably find a stopgap solution.

Desiree: Are you sure? I don’t want you to get electrocuted.

Chris: When I was growing up, we lived in the middle of nowhere and my parents had to make do. They improvised all the time, using what was on hand to make repairs.

Desiree: They both sound very handy.

Chris: They did what they had to do. Whatever the problem was, they were able to cobble together something, even if it was a little makeshift. I like to think I learned a thing or two from them.

Desiree: So do you think you can fix this?

Chris: Well, it’s not going to be done properly, but I’ll jury-rig something so the lights will work temporarily until you can get it repaired professionally.

Desiree: That’s great, but just in case, I think I’ll run to the store for some candles.

[end of dialogue]

This episode is called “Making Temporary (temporary) Repairs.” Something that is “temporary” is for a short time. The opposite of “temporary” is “permanent” (permanent). Desiree says to Chris, in our dialogue, “What happened to the lights?” Chris says, “I think you have a short or maybe a loose wire.”

Electricity is, of course, transmitted through wires to your light bulbs and your computers and other machines in your house. If these wires somehow touch each other in a way they shouldn’t, you can get something called a “short” (short). The word “short” is short for “short circuit,” which is when the two wires touch each other in such a way that the electricity no longer transmits properly to your lights or your other machines.

Desiree says, “My guests are going to arrive any minute.” Desiree, we guess here, is having a party and she has invited people to her house – her guests – and the guests are supposed to arrive or show up “any minute,” meaning very soon. Desiree has some problem with her lights and she’s asking Chris for help. Chris says, “Don’t worry. In an emergency, I’m your man.”

An “emergency” (emergency) is some unexpected, sudden situation that is dangerous or is going to cause, or has caused, some harm. Chris is saying that if you find yourself in a dangerous situation or a situation that you need help with, he is your man. He says, “I’m your man.” That expression is used to mean that you have the skills or the knowledge or the experience to do what another person needs you to do.

For example, if you know a lot about programming – computer programming – and someone says, “I need someone to help me build a new app for the Google Play or Apple App Store,” you might say, “I’m your man.” That means “I know what you need in order to get this done.” I have the skills. I have the qualifications, we might say. That’s what Chris is saying to Desiree. Maybe he likes Desiree, and like a lot of guys – like a lot of men – he wants to impress her. He wants her to think that he is intelligent or he has a lot of skills.

Chris says, “I’m your man. Whatever the problem is, I can probably find a stopgap solution.” A solution that is “stopgap” (stopgap) is temporary. It won’t last a long time, but it will be good enough for now. Desiree says, “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get electrocuted.” “To get electrocuted” (electrocuted) is to get an electrical shock – that is, to receive a high amount of electricity accidentally, usually so much so that it can kill you, that you might be harmed or even killed by it.

Now, sometimes people get electrocuted on purpose. When a government decides to kill someone because that person is a criminal, one way of doing it is to electrocute the person – to put electricity into his body until he’s dead. But here we’re talking about accidental electrocution. Desiree is concerned that perhaps Chris doesn’t know what he’s doing. Chris says, however, “When I was growing up, we lived in the middle of nowhere and my parents had to make do.”

“To live in the middle of nowhere” means to live far away from any city or far away from other people. Chris says he grew up “in the middle of nowhere” – that is, in a small town or perhaps on a farm somewhere – and his parents “had to make do.” The verb “to make do” is an unusual one. We usually think of the verb “to make” or the verb “to do,” but there’s actually a verb in English which is “to make do,” and that means to be satisfied with what you have or with what is possible even though it isn’t a perfect solution to the problem.

So if someone says to you, “You just have to make do,” that person means you have to be satisfied or happy with whatever you have, even if it isn’t enough or even if it isn’t a perfect solution to your problem. If you don’t have enough money, you have “to make do.” You have to just find a solution even if it isn’t a perfect one. Chris says his parents “had to make do.” “They improvised all the time, using what was on hand to make repairs.”

“To improvise” (improvise) means to do something without a plan, to do something without having thought about it carefully before doing it. Sometimes that’s necessary in an emergency. You have to “think creatively,” we might say. You have to think of a solution right away. That’s “improvising.”

There is actually a form of comedy called “improvisation,” where the actors and actresses or the comedians make up jokes right there on the spot without having a chance to write them down and practice them. They’re doing it live. In fact, we call that kind of comedy – improvisation comedy – “improv.” It means to improvise a joke, to think of the joke right away without having a chance to prepare it. It’s one of my favorite kinds of comedy.

The verb “to improvise,” however, is used more generally to mean to do anything without planning it first. Chris says that his parents “improvised all the time,” meaning frequently, “using what was on hand (hand) to make repairs.” “On hand” means what is available and ready to use right now. Desiree says that Chris’s parents “sound very handy” (handy). “To be handy” means to be very good at using your hands and simple tools in order to fix things.

A person who is “handy” is someone who is able to repair or fix things in a house, for example. We even have the expression a “handyman.” A “handyman” is someone that you can pay money to, to come over to your house and fix small problems. Handymen usually also don’t have the education or licenses to fix things like electric problems or plumbing, although many times they are able to do those sorts of things. The adjective “handy,” then, is used to refer to someone or describe someone who has those skills and abilities.

Chris says that his parents “did what they had to do.” “Whatever the problem was,” he says, the parents “were able to cobble together something, even if it was a little makeshift.” “To cobble (cobble) together something” means to be able to combine or put different things together quickly in order to solve a problem. If a solution to your problem is “makeshift” (makeshift), it is temporary. It is something that was done quickly to solve the problem now, but is not a permanent repair or solution.

“I like to think I learned a thing or two from them,” meaning from his parents. The expression “to learn a thing or two” means to get some basic knowledge about something through your experiences with it. So, by taking time in trying to understand web design, “I learned a thing or two” from that experience of trying to solve some basic problems with my website. That would be one way of using that expression. Desiree then asks Chris, “So do you think you can fix this?”

Chris says, “Well, it’s not going to be done properly,” meaning I’m not going to fix it the correct way, “but I’ll jury-rig something so the lights will work temporarily until you can get it repaired professionally.” “To jury (jury) – rig (rig)” something is to repair something or fix something for a short time until you can do it correctly later. It’s a temporary fix of something. Chris thinks he can fix the lights temporarily until Desiree can get them repaired or fixed professionally by an electrician, by someone who has the skills to do it correctly.

Desiree says, “That’s great, but just in case, I think I’ll run to the store for some candles.” “Just in case” (case) is a common expression meaning “as a precaution.” I’m going to do something to prepare myself if this other thing doesn’t work. For example, when I was in my early twenties, I decided I would get a teaching license. I would go back to school and get a license from the government to be a teacher, “just in case” I needed to have a job, because I didn’t really want to become a teacher but I thought, “Well, the world will always need teachers. I will always be able to get a job.”

So, I got my teaching license “just in case.” Then I discovered I really liked teaching and decided to continue being a teacher, but originally that wasn’t my plan. I got my license “just in case” whatever else I wanted to do didn’t work out, wasn’t successful. Well, Desiree wants to go to the store to get some candles just in case Chris is not able to fix her lights. “Candles” (candles) are blocks of wax with a string that you light with a fire and burn in order to give you light.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Desiree: Hey, what happened to the lights?

Chris: I think you have a short or maybe a loose wire.

Desiree: My guests are going to arrive any minute. What am I going to do?

Chris: Don’t worry. In an emergency, I’m your man. Whatever the problem is, I can probably find a stopgap solution.

Desiree: Are you sure? I don’t want you to get electrocuted.

Chris: When I was growing up, we lived in the middle of nowhere and my parents had to make do. They improvised all the time, using what was on hand to make repairs.

Desiree: They both sound very handy.

Chris: They did what they had to do. Whatever the problem was, they were able to cobble together something, even if it was a little makeshift. I like to think I learned a thing or two from them.

Desiree: So do you think you can fix this?

Chris: Well, it’s not going to be done properly, but I’ll jury-rig something so the lights will work temporarily until you can get it repaired professionally.

Desiree: That’s great, but just in case, I think I’ll run to the store for some candles.

[end of dialogue]

You don’t need to make do with your English. You can find a permanent solution by listening to the dialogues written by our wonderful scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening. Come back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.

Glossary

short – short-circuit; a poor connection between two electric wires that can result in a high current and possibly fire

* We should have a professional electrician fix the short in the basement. It could be dangerous.

emergency – a dangerous, unexpected, and sudden situation with a lot of risk of damage, injury, or death

* Ahmet had an emergency medical situation, so we called for an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

I’m your man – a phrase used to mean that one has the skills, knowledge, or experience needed by another person, and that one is willing to perform some task or service

* If you ever need help tuning your piano, I’m your man.

stopgap – a temporary solution to a problem, lasting for a short time until a more permanent solution can be found

* Putting a bucket under the leak is just a stopgap solution until the plumber can come.

to electrocute – for someone to be shocked or killed with a high amount of electricity, usually be accident

* Don’t touch the fence around the factory! You might get electrocuted.

middle of nowhere – in a remote location; very far away from cities, developed areas, and other people

* The hikers were in the middle of nowhere when Jenna broke her leg, so they had to call a helicopter for rescue.

to make do – to be satisfied with what one has or with what is possible when it is less than one would like to have; to accept a less than ideal solution

* When Camilo lost his job, he and his wife had to learn to make do with one income.

to improvise – to do something without a plan, making decisions in the moment, especially doing something creatively

* They forgot to pack the charger for their camera and had to improvise by using their cell phones to take photos on their trip.

on hand – available and ready for use

* Do you have any honey on hand? If not, I’ll use some brown sugar instead.

handy – very good at using one’s hands and simple tools to fix things; skillful

* Jena is very handy, so she was able to make a lot of home repairs by herself, without hiring anyone.

to cobble together – to quickly put together many different pieces or resources in a new way to meet some need or find some solution

* I don’t have a plan for dinner, but let’s see what we can cobble together from these leftovers.

makeshift – being used temporarily as a substitute until the normal solution can be obtained

* More people are arriving than we expected. Do you think we can create some makeshift seats so no one has to stand during the performance?

to learn a thing or two – to gain some basic knowledge about something through one’s experience with it

* We have three children, and we learned a thing or two about patience while we were raising them.

to jury-rig – to make a temporary repair with whatever is available at that moment

* Do you think you can jury-rig a way to keep the gate from closing?

temporarily – for a short period of time; not permanently

* Clark is working in a restaurant temporarily until he can work full-time as an actor.

just in case – as a precaution; doing something as a way to be prepared for what might happen

* William decided to earn a degree in accounting just in case his dream of becoming a rock star doesn’t become reality.

candle – a block of wax that has a long string in the middle that burns slowly to produce light

* How many candles should we put on Heidi’s birthday cake?

Comprehension Questions

1. What does Chris mean when he says, “I’m your man”?
a) He has the skills to help Desiree solve her problem.
b) He wants to date and marry Desiree.
c) He will do whatever Desiree tells him to do.
2. What were Chris’s parents doing when they used what was “on hand” to make repairs?
a) They used only their hands, without tools.
b) They used only what was available to them.
c) They hired helpers for assistance.

Answers at bottom.

What Else Does It Mean?

short

The word “short,” in this podcast, means a short-circuit, or a poor connection between two electric wires that can result in a high current and possibly fire: “What happens if there’s a short while the computer is plugged in? Will it damage it?” The phrase “for short” means as a nickname or as an abbreviation: “My brother’s name is Jonathan, but we call him ‘John’ for short.” The phrase “in short” is used to present a summary of something: “Thank you for listening to this presentation. In short, we hope you will use our new services.” Finally, a “short cut” is a shorter-than-usual way to get from one place to another: “Each morning, we see many children take a short cut to school by walking through the neighbor’s yard.”

just in case

In this podcast, the phrase “just in case” means as a precaution, or doing something as a way to be prepared for what might happen: “They’re saving their money just in case they have unexpected medical expenses.” The phrase “just so” means with everything exactly as one wants it, organized and tidy: “He leaves everything in his office just so before going home in the evening.” The phrase “just my luck” is used to show that one is not surprised by something bad that has happened, because one usually has bad luck: “It’s just my luck that it’s raining on the day of my outdoor party.” Finally, the phrase “might just as well” is used to suggest doing something because there is no reason to do something else: “The game was canceled, so we might just as well go home.”

Culture Note

Language Commonly Used on Electrical Warning Signs

Electricity can be “dangerous” (with the potential to cause damage, injuries, or death), but it is “unseen” (cannot be seen), so people need to be “warned” (told that something bad might happen) about the possibility of being electrocuted. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) require businesses to post certain electrical warning signs for this purpose.

Many of the signs says “Danger: Electrical Shock Hazard” or “Danger: High Voltage” meaning that there is a “hazard” (something that may cause harm or death) that people will be “shocked” (will feel an electrical current) if they touch something. Other signs “indicate” (show; state) the “voltage” (a measure of the strength of an electrical current), such as “Danger: 480 volts.” Some signs say “Danger: Live Wires” to let “passersby” (people who are walking past) know that the “wires” (long metal ropes) have an electrical “current” (the movement of electricity through something) and should not be touched.

Many warning signs are yellow and use “graphics” (images or diagrams) more than on words. For example, some signs are just yellow triangles with a “lightning bolt” (a streak of light and electricity that comes down to earth from the sky), possibly with the words “Caution” (warning; be careful) or “Caution: High Voltage.” Some signs are more “explicit” (being very clear; stating something in a way that cannot be misunderstood), such as signs that say “Danger of Death” under a drawing of a “stick figure” (a very simple drawing of a human being, with no details) being hit by a lightning bolt.

Comprehension Answers

1 - a

2 - b