ready-to-wear

ready-to-wear  

ready-to-wear clothes are made in standard sizes, not made specially to fit one person

jeez

jeez 

used to express feelings such as surprise, anger, annoyance etc 

Give me a break, man, jeez

Acne

The Agony of Acne

Do you realize that 85 percent of Americans will experience acne at some point in their lifetime? But that number doesn’t help you if you look at your face in the mirror and see a case of teenage acne. Most teens are upset with finding just one or two acne pimples. Imagine how devastating it feels to have a case of severe teenage acne

Acne is not caused by eating chocolate or greasy foods. While there is link between the amount of oil in the skin and acne, the amount of oil is not created by food but is affected by changing hormone levels. Changing hormone levels is a normal part of growing up and being a teenager. But it takes the presence of the common skin bacteria

There are lots of treatments for teenage acne that are available over-the-counter or as a prescription from a dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin problems. The typical acne treatment requires 6 to 8 weeks before visible results are seen and clear skin returns. In these days of instant or quick cures, six to eight weeks of walking around the school hallways with embarrassing zits is an eternity but continue treatment

The other main point is to read and follow label or package instructions for any acne remedy that you use. Dermatologists often prescribe several medications to be applied at different times of the day or in a particular order. These acne treatments are designed to work together for curing acne. The steps given to you by the dermatologist are all necessary so be sure to follow them

Propionibacterium acnes to result in acne

© WorksheetLibrary.com  

Nowruz

[ Haji Firouz

Haji firouz

Haji Firuz in Tehran

The traditional herald of the Nowruz season is a man called Hājī Fīrūz (or Khwāja Pīrūz). He symbolizes the rebirth of the Sumerian god of sacrifice, Domuzi, who was killed at the end of each year and reborn at the beginning of the New Year.

He usually uses face paint to make his skin black and wears a red costume. Then he sings and dances through the streets with tambourines and trumpets spreading good cheer and heralds the coming of the New Year. Mehrdad Bahar, Iranologist, suggests in his book that this borrowing of the Domuzi/Tammuz tradition from the ancient non-Iranian civilizations in Mesopotamia happened with the arrival of the Iranian tribes to the western parts of the Iranian Plateau at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. This borrowing, according to Bahar, may be true for the whole Nowruz tradition itself as Indo-Iranian tribes before that did not have this tradition while the civilizations of Mesopotamia did. This later spread to all areas where Iranian culture was present, but was lost by the non-Iranian cultures of Mesopotamia.

 New Year dishes

• Sabzi Polo Mahi: The New Year's day traditional meal is called Sabzi Polo Mahi, which is rice with green herbs served with fish. The traditional seasoning for Sabzi Polo are parsley, coriander, chives, dill and fenugreek.
• Reshteh Polo: rice cooked with noodles which is said to symbolically help one succeed in life.
• Dolme Barg : A traditional dish of Azeri people, cooked just before the new year. It includes some vegetables, meat and cotyledon which have been cooked and embedded in vine leaf and cooked again. It is considered useful in reaching to wishes.
• Kookoo sabzi : Herbs and vegetable souffle, traditionally served for dinner at New Year. A light and fluffy omelet style made from parsley, dill, coriander, spinach, spring onion ends, and chives, mixed with eggs and walnut

 Sizdah Bedar

Sizdah Bedar

The thirteenth day of the new year festival is Sizdah Bedar (literally meaning "thirteen to out", figuratively meaning "hit the outdoors on the thirteenth"). This is a day of festivity in the open, often accompanied by music and dancing, usually at family picnics.

Sizdah bedar celebrations stem from the ancient Persians' belief that the twelve constellations in the Zodiac controlled the months of the year, and each ruled the earth for a thousand years at the end of which the sky and earth collapsed in chaos. Hence Nowruz lasts twelve days and the thirteenth day represents the time of chaos when families put order aside and avoid the bad luck associated with the number thirteen by going outdoors and having picnics and parties.

At the end of the celebrations on this day, the sabzeh grown for the Haft Seen (which has symbolically collected all sickness and bad luck) is thrown into running water to exorcise the demons (divs) from the household. It is also customary for young single women to tie the leaves of the sabzeh before discarding it, so expressing a wish to be married before the next year's Sizdah Bedar. Another tradition associated with this day is Dorugh-e Sizdah, literally meaning "the lie of the thirteenth", which is the process of lying to someone and making them believe it (similar to April Fools Day)

Nowruz celebration in Iran

Nowruz celebration in Iran

In Iran, preparations for Nowruz begin in Esfand (or Espand), the last month of winter in the Persian solar calendar. Below is information about Nowruz as celebrated in Iran.

 Khoune Takouni

Further information: Spring cleaning

Khoune Takouni (literally means 'shaking the house') or 'complete cleaning of the house'. Persians (Iranians and Tajiks) and other groups (Kurds, Armenians, Azarbaijanis, Balochs and various Turkic nations) start preparing for the Nowruz with a major spring-cleaning of their houses, the purchase of new clothes to wear for the new year and the purchase of flowers (in particular the hyacinth and the tulip are popular and conspicuous).

In association with the "rebirth of nature", extensive spring-cleaning is a national tradition observed by almost every household in Persia. This is also extended to personal attire, and it is customary to buy at least one set of new clothes. On the New Year's day, families dress in their new clothes and start the twelve-day celebrations

A Haft sin table in Tehran.

 by visiting the elders of their family, then the rest of their family and finally their friends. On the thirteenth day families leave their homes and picnic outdoors.

During the Nowruz holidays, people are expected to visit one another (mostly limited to families, friends and neighbours) in the form of short house visits, which are usually reciprocated. Typically, on the first day of Nowruz, family members gather around the table, with the Haft Seen on the table or set next to it, and await the exact moment of the arrival of the spring. At that time gifts are exchanged. Later in the day, the first house visits are paid to the most senior family members. Typically, the youth will visit the elders first, and the elders return their visit later. The visits naturally have to be relatively short, otherwise one will not be able to visit everybody on their list. A typical visit is around 30 minutes, where you often run into other visiting relatives and friends who happen to be paying a visit to the same house at that time. Because of the house visits, you make sure you have a sufficient supply of pastry, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and special nuts on hand, as you typically serve your visitors with these items with tea or sherbet. Many Iranians will throw large Nowruz parties in a central location as a way of dealing with the long distances between groups of friends and family.

Some Nowruz celebrants believe that whatever a person does on Nowruz will affect the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbours on Nowruz, then the new year will be a good one. On the other hand, if there are fights and disagreements, the year will be a bad one.

One tradition that may not be very widespread (that is, it may belong to only a few families) is to place something sweet, such as honey or candy, in a safe place outside overnight. On the first morning of the new year, the first person up brings the sweet stuff into the house as another means of attaining a good new year.

 Chaharshanbe Suri

 

n Charshanbesoori, people jump over the fire while singing a traditional song.

Chehel Sotoun's Wall painting, that dates back to the Safavid era, depicts a Chaharshanbe Suri celebration.

The night before the last Wednesday of the year is celebrated by the Iranian people as Chahârshanbe Sûrî (Persian: چهارشنبه سوری, (Azerbaijani: Od çərşənbəsi, Türkçe: Al çarşambası meaning Wednesday of fire, Kurdish: Çarşeme surê, چوارشه‌مه‌ سوورێ meaning red Wednesday), the Iranian festival of fire. This festival is the celebration of the light (the good) winning over the darkness (the bad); the symbolism behind the rituals are all rooted back to Zoroastrianism.

The tradition includes people going into the streets and alleys to make bonfires, and jump over them while singing the traditional song Zardî-ye man az (ane) to, sorkhî-ye to az (ane) man ("az-ane to" means belongs to you); This literally translates to "My yellowness is yours, your redness is mine," with the figurative message "My paleness (pain, sickness) for you (the fire), your strength (health) for me."

Serving different kinds of pastry and nuts known as Ajīl-e Moshkel-Goshā (lit. problem-solving nuts) is the Chahārshanbe Sūrī way of giving thanks for the previous year's health and happiness, while exchanging any remaining paleness and evil for the warmth and vibrancy of the fire.

According to tradition, the living are visited by the spirit of their ancestors on the last days of the year, and many children wrap themselves in shrouds, symbolically re-enacting the visits. They also run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons and knocking on doors to ask for treats. The ritual is called qashogh-zany (spoon beating) and symbolizes the beating out of the last unlucky Wednesday of the year.

There are several other traditions on this night, including: the rituals of Kūze Shekastan, the breaking of earthen jars which symbolically hold one's bad fortune; the ritual of Fal-Gûsh, or inferring one's future from the conversations of those passing by; and the ritual of Gereh-goshā’ī, making a knot in the corner of a handkerchief or garment and asking the first passerby to unravel it in order to remove ones misfortune.

Haft Sīn

 Haft-Sin

Haft Sīn (هفت سین) or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Nowruz. The haft sin table includes seven specific items starting with the letter 'S' or Sīn (س) in Persian alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. The Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sīn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Nowruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

Haft-Sin

The Haft Sīn items aresabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth

• samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
• senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
• sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
• sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
• somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
• serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

Other items on the table may include:

• Sonbol - Hyacinth (plant)
• Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
• traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi
• Aajeel - dried nuts, berries and raisins
• lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
• a mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty)
• decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)
• a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)
• rosewater, believed to have magical cleansing powers
• the national colours, for a patriotic touch
• a holy book (e.g., the Avesta, Qur'an, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez

Rules for Sentence Stress in English

The basic rules of sentence stress are 

content words are stressed

1. structure words are unstressed
2. the time between stressed words is always the same

The following tables can help you decide which words are content words and which words are structure words

Content words - stressed

Words carrying the meaning	Example
main verbs	SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY
nouns	CAR, MUSIC, MARY
adjectives	RED, BIG, INTERESTING
adverbs	QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER
negative auxiliaries	DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T

Structure words - unstressed

Words for correct grammar	Example
pronouns	he, we, they
prepositions	on, at, into
articles	a, an, the
conjunctions	and, but, because
auxiliary verbs	do, be, have, can, must

Exceptions

The above rules are for for what is called "neutral" or normal stress. But sometimes we can stress a word that would normally be only a structure word, for example to correct information. Look at the following dialogue

They've been to Mongolia, haven't they
"No, THEY haven't, but WE have 

Note also that when "be" is used as a main verb, it is usually unstressed (even though in this case it is a content word)

trophy wife

trophy wife  

 A young beautiful woman who is married to a rich successful man who is much older than her - used to show disapproval

fat

fat, overweight, obese, chubby, plump, big, well-built 

In general, people do not like to be called fat. But some ways to say 'fat' are less rude than others. 

fat is a very direct word. You might use it about yourself but it will usually cause offence if you use it about someone else • I'm so fat at the moment 

overweight is a more polite way to say that someone is fatter than they usually are or than they should be • She is a little overweight 

obese is a word used especially by doctors to describe people who are very fat, in a way that is bad for their health 

chubby is a more informal word and is used especially of children or of rounded body parts such as cheeks or knees 

plump means fat and rounded in a pleasant way • a plump, motherly womanbig and well-built are fairly polite ways to describe someone with a large, strong, or fat body • For big men like him, air travel can be uncomfortable

success

There is only one success - to be able to spend your life  

in your own way  

smear

smear 

a dirty mark made by a small amount of something spread across a surface 

shush

shush= shh 

used to tell someone, especially a child, to be quiet  

Colour Idioms - White

black and white 

if we have situation in which it’s easy for someone to understand what’s

wrong and what’s right, we say ‘it’s black and white 

As white as a sheet  

if someone is very pale because they are ill or shocked or scared, we say they’re as

white as a sheet 

A white-knuckle ride 

if something is very exciting or scary, we call it a white-knuckle ride 

blah, blah, blah

blah, blah, blah  

used when you do not need to complete what you are  saying because it is boring or because the person you are talking to already knows it 

yada yada yada= blah, blah, blah 

said when you do not want to give a lot of detailed information, because it is boring or because the person you are talking to already knows it

abseil

abseil  

to go down a cliff or a rock by sliding down a rope and pushing against the rock with your feet = rappel 

know

be in the know

Definition: have inside knowledge about a situation

Talk to Tim. He's in the know
Are you in the know about the current crisis

know better

Definition: have knowledge about how one should behave

You know better than to do that
I wish he had acted differently. He certainly knew better

know-how

Definition: understanding of how a task should be done

I'd call technical support and ask someone with the know-how.
Do you have the know-how to upgrade our servers

know the tricks of the trade

Definition: possess the skills and knowledge to be successful in a particular task

Let's ask Tom. He knows all the tricks of the trade.
I think we need to bring in a specialist who knows the tricks of the trade

know one's ABCs

Definition: to understand and be capable of doing the basics

I don't think he should do this. He doesn't even know his ABCs 

know someone or something like a book

Definition: completely understand someone or something

She knows Jerry like a book 

know someone by sight

Definition: be able to recognize someone

I know Peter by sight. I'll got to the airport 

know something from memory

Definition: have something memorized

She knows the piece from memory
Can you sing "New York, New York" from memory

know something inside out

Definition: have completely knowledge of something

Susan is the expert. She's knows this stuff inside out

know the ropes

Definition: know how to do something

We need to bring somebody in who knows the ropes. 

know the score

Definition: understand the facts about a situation

I know the score. Don't try to fool me

Common Reduced Forms in American English

 Going to is pronounced GONNA when it is used to show the future. But it is never reduced when it means going from one place to another 

We're going to grab a bite to eat. = We're gonna grab a bite to eat 

I'm going to the office tonight. = I'm going to the office tonight 

 Want to and want a are both pronounced WANNA and wants to is pronounced  

WANSTA. Do you want to can also be reduced to WANNA 

I want to go for a spin. = I wanna go for a spin
 

Do you want a piece of cake? = Wanna piece of cake 

He wants to avoid rush hour. = He wansta avoid rush hour 

 Have to is pronounced HAFTA and has to is pronounced HASTA 

Sorry, I have to leave now. = Sorry, I hafta leave now 

She has to go to work soon. = She hasta go to work soon 

 Have reduces to AV or A in positive and negative phrases

must have = must'av or must'a 

 must not have = mustn'av or mustn'a
 

would have = would'av or would'a  

would not have =  wouldn'av or wouldn'a
 

could have = could'av or could'a  

could not have = couldn'av or couldn'a
 

should have = should'av or should'a  

should not have = shouldn'av or shouldn'a

 You is almost always pronounced YA  

you're and your are pronounced YER 

and yours is pronounced YERS 

Do you feel under the weather? = Do ya feel under the weather
 

You're completely right. = Yer completely right 

Your brother will be fine. = Yer brother will be fine 

Is this book yours? = Is this book yers
  

To is pronounced TA after voiceless sounds and  

DA after voiced sounds

Education

Education is the transmission of civilization

sack race

sack race 

a race in which the competitors, usually children, have to jump forwards with both legs inside  

banquet

banquet  

a special formal meal with a lot of very good food and a large number of people 

 especially important people, which usually takes place on a special public occasion 

collision

collision 

when something, especially a vehicle, hits something else while it is moving

head-on collision(=when two vehicles hit each other directly)

Those who drive the road regularly say their biggest fear is a head-on collision