Reyna Grande Show: Slang and Cultural Expressions
Alan Headbloom
| Approx.
time |
Expression |
Explanation |
| 0:55 |
memoirist |
person who writes a memoir |
| 1:32 |
make things up |
(informal) invent stories,
tell things that aren’t factual |
| 2:18 |
lived through |
experienced |
| 2:47 |
autobiographical |
writing about oneself |
| 3:29 |
El Otro Lado (Spanish) |
the other side (of the
border) = the U.S. |
| 3:45 |
indignities |
events that attack our
human worth, soul, self-respect |
| 4:51 |
memoir |
a book about someone’s
life (memories) |
| 6:58 |
yearn for |
long for; have a strong
desire or need for |
| 7:29 |
has colored |
has influenced |
| 8:08 |
roles were reversed |
jobs were opposite |
| 8:41 |
at the mercy of |
controlled by, under the
influence of, subject to |
| 8:50 |
take a stand |
take responsibility for,
announce one’s position |
| 9:42 |
glimpses |
short views |
| 9:56 |
spunk |
courage, strength,
determination, spirit |
| 10:14 |
true poverty |
being really and totally
poor |
| 11:15 |
cycle of poverty |
repetition of being poor
from one generation to the next |
| 11:50 |
hand to mouth |
earning only enough money
to buy the day’s meal, not saving, not getting ahead |
| 12:09 |
get ahead |
making progress, going
forward, finding success |
| 12:40 |
running water |
accessible water via
plumbing |
| 13:19 |
dire |
serious, difficult,
urgent, terrible |
| 14:27 |
siblings |
brothers and sisters |
| 14:50 |
cheated out of |
had something taken away
unfairly |
| 16:03 |
above and beyond |
farther than what is
expected or normal |
| 16:14 |
opening the doors to |
welcoming, sheltering |
| 16:40 |
community college |
post-high school education
resulting in a 2-year degree |
| 17:33 |
strive for |
work hard for |
| 18:40 |
undocumented |
not having official
paperwork or visas |
| 20:20 |
drives me |
motivates me, pushes me |
| 21:12 |
common ground |
areas or opinions which
are shared |
| 21:22 |
out of my element |
in an uncomfortable
situation, in an unfamiliar place |