Lana Lie Show: Slang and Cultural Expressions

Approx. time Expression Explanation
2:04 ancestry/ancestors the people in your family who came before you (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.)
2:10 sultan ruler or sovereign of a region
2:42 seamstress woman who sews clothing for a living
4:48 abroad overseas, in a different country
5:48 Hudsonville, MI small town in western Michigan
6:19 advocate someone who supports or speaks up for other people
7:16 Bahasa Indonesia the language of Indonesia
7:29 keep it up continue, not quit
8:40 straddling with one foot on each side
9:33 The Creative Needle Lana Lie’s sewing business
10:26 boutiques small shops specializing in a few items or services
10:39 bridal shops shops to find dresses and accessories for weddings
11:16 followed in her footsteps did the same thing as she did
11:20 alterations adapting clothing to better fit the customer
11:27 tuck to push material into a covered space
11:52 niche small area or market in which to do business
12:04 beading applying small beads to the clothing
13:13 venturing out going out to try something new, taking a chance
13:42 more passive quiet, not assertive, not proactive
14:24 ballroom dancing a style of partner dancing done for both social and competitive purposes (includes waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, polka, cha-cha, and two-step)
14:54 take the plunge go ahead, be bold, do something courageous

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.