Kristen:

The month is slowly but surely will soon come to an end. Was it? No. It was very fast.

Cameron:

In the blink of an eye.

Kristen:

In the blink of an eye. Really. It just felt like, whoa, it’s gone. I think because we have our everyday show, we’re here doing Power English, it’s just we have a lot on our plates. It’s a very busy schedule.

Cameron:

It is indeed. It is weird. I have lost all sense of time.

Kristen:

Have you?

Cameron:

know what day of the week it is, what hour of the day it is.

Kristen:

Oh my goodness. Yeah. Yeah, that’s my mom.

Cameron:

You know, new mothers, I’ve heard, often with their new child, they only get maybe three or four hours of sleep.

Kristen:

Yeah, right.

Cameron:

– ‘Cause the baby is on like a–

Kristen:

– Every two hour, every two and a half hours.

Cameron:

They eat, they sleep.

Kristen:

That’s right.

Cameron:

And the mother’s like, where are we? I don’t know where

Kristen:

It is so true. It is so true. All right. Okay, so we’ve got our last business dialog today, the family business. And we’ve got good news. It’s running like a well-oiled machine. So if something runs like a well-oiled machine, like 기름, right? Like there’s a lot of 기름 in this machine. What does this mean?

Cameron:

This means things are going smoothly.If you have a machine and it’s rusty, it doesn’t move well, but you take your oil and you spray it or pour it on there, all the joints, all the motors start to run without a problem. So in the same way, a family, a business, a project can run like a well-oiled machine.

Kristen:

There you go. Okay, so basically it’s saying it’s doing really well. Okay. If you bring someone out in droves, D-R-O-V-E-S, what is that?

Cameron:

Yeah, so drove is not a word we use often in English. It often means a large group of people. So if you bring someone out in droves, it means you bring in a lot of people with advertising. There’s some fun event that people want to come to.

Kristen:

Yeah, so just think of like huge crowds all coming at the same time. Okay, how about if you keep an eye on something or someone?

Cameron:

You’re watching someone, you’re monitoring them, looking at their actions and make sure they don’t do something bad.

Kristen:

Okay, very good. Let’s go ahead and listen to our dialog.

 

Kristen:

Okay, you can find our power dialog on page 158. Okay, let’s start the dialog. The family business is running like a well-oiled machine. Milo says, welcome back from your trip. I hope you weren’t worried about the restaurant the whole time. So Kiara basically, you know, went on a trip. and took a vacation and the son says, you know, I hope you had a good time and you weren’t worrying about us. And Kiara says, well, after walking in and seeing this place running like a well-oiled machine, I feel better. Okay. Well-oiled is spelled W-E-L-L hyphen O-I-L-E-D. So a machine, these days I’m not sure, but my mother had an industrial sewing machine. Electric, right? But it wasn’t like just a tabletop kind of machine.

Kristen:

It was like a full standing sewing machine. Oh, wow. Yeah, so it was like an industrial machine. And it was interesting because always she put oil in the sewing machine. Yeah. So it totally reminds me of my mom’s sewing machine.

Cameron:

Yeah. You want those sewing machines to run smoothly. Yes. Otherwise, the stitches in the clothing are uneven or it just stops completely. Right. So you need it to run like a well-oiled machine, so there’s no kind of skipping or stopping.

Kristen:

Right. So if something, anything, a company, a store is running like a well-oiled machine, it means that it’s doing really well.

Cameron:

Yes, it is functioning without problems. So a business, of course, can be doing well financially, making a lot of money. Not necessarily what we’re talking about here. We’re saying if you’re running a restaurant, the waiters are coming in, they’re getting the orders, they’re putting them in the computer, they’re going to the kitchen, they’re making the food, it’s coming in.

Kristen:

The staffs are all stationed where they should be.

Cameron:

All of the processes are running without a problem.

Kristen:

Right, right. So we would apply this expression for restaurants, for a company. I would say maybe a smaller company too. I’m assuming a big company is already a well-oiled machine.

Cameron:

I don’t know. Sometimes I feel it’s the opposite. Really? I think that a lot of big companies are very inefficient.

Kristen:

So this is really talking about efficiency. That’s a good point. Alright, very good. So then Milo says…

Cameron:

The good weather and the new patio brought customers out in droves.

Kristen:

So they can dine al fresco (야외에서 식사하다). So good weather, new patio, and it brought customers out in droves. So if the customers come out in droves, how many customers are coming?

Cameron:

Too many people. Too many customers are coming. So this DROVES, D-R-O-V-E-S, means a lot of people. And it’s a crowd that is coming towards you often. So if you think about certain holidays or festivals, for example, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Yeoido brings people out in droves

Kristen:

Completely.

Cameron:

Yeah, it’s almost like the ground shakes because there’s so many people walking.

Kristen:

I mean, who doesn’t like cherry blossoms? So, of course, it could be a concert. Remember a few months ago we had the Coldplay concert? Boy, people came out in droves.

Cameron:

Mm-hmm. So true. Yeah.

Kristen:

So it’s that feeling of a large crowd kind of all coming together at the same time. Yes. Okay. Kiara says, would you be interested in hiring me as a hostess a few nights a week? Okay. Would you be interested in is our power pattern today? Would you be interested in a cup of coffee?

Cameron:

Yeah, you can use it that way. This is, in the case of Kiara here, a very light, casual way of saying, hey, can you do something for me? Yeah. Right? Right. Would you be interested in hiring me? Yeah. Yeah. You don’t say, will you hire me? That might be a little too direct. Just kind of want to very gently maybe suggest, hey, can you give me a job, please? Right.

Kristen:

This is interesting because the way, think about this. The mom is asking the son, would you be interested in hiring me? Right? And so it’s like, would you use this kind of formal sort of pattern?

Cameron:

Yeah, it can be seen as formal or polite. Here though, I feel you feel like it’s awkward. Maybe you’re a little embarrassed to ask this. Sure. So you want to say, oh, hey, would you be interested in, you know, hiring me?

Kristen:

So the mom is saying, I would like to work as a hostess. Yes. And hostess is our power vocab.

Cameron:

This can be a little confusing because we have the words like host and hostess right? We are not talking about a night time sort of establishment. Here we’re talking about the person that greets you when you first walk into a restaurant.

Kristen:

Right.

Cameron:

It’s more common in the US to have someone at like a front desk. And they are responsible for any reservations that are in the restaurant as well as the seating.

Kristen:

Yeah, they take you to your seats.

Cameron:

Yeah, they take you to your seats, they know which area of the restaurant you should go to, they maybe will tell you the specials for the day. A little different than a host or a hostess

Kristen:

The way that Korean people think. Yeah. Okay. So Milo says, are you trying to find a way to keep an eye on me? So the sun is like, why do you want to do that? Do you want to keep an eye on me? So what is he really asking?

Cameron:

Are you trying to make sure I don’t do something wrong? Right to keep an eye on someone is to watch them, watch their actions. Make sure they’re doing everything all right. That’s right So if the mom who is no longer directly involved in the restaurant. Yeah, he’s saying hey, can I can I work a few days a week? Yeah, mom you just spying on me?

Kristen:

Yeah, it’s like, 감시하다. Yeah, right? Are you trying to spy on me? And Kiara says,

Cameron:

No, I just want to work at the exciting new restaurant in the neighborhood.

Kristen:

So Kiara, the way she’s speaking is like she’s speaking as if she’s not the mom, but just a third person. Yes. Like, oh, this is really nice. Okay, let’s go ahead and listen to that one more time.

 

Power Note

1. like a well-oiled machine: 원활하게, 순조롭게 돌아가는

Kristen:

It’s time for Power Now. We’re on pages 160 and 161. If something runs like a well-oiled machine, or it is a well-oiled machine, it means that it’s working smoothly and very efficiently.

1)

A: The concert setup ran like a well-oiled machine with no delays.

A: 콘서트 준비가 기계처럼 척척 잘 진행됐어. 지연도 하나도 없었고.

B: That’s probably because you were in charge.

B: 아마 네가 책임지고 있어서 그랬던 거겠지.

Kristen:

I would think like a factory. You know, you have all these moving parts. And if it runs like a well-oiled machine, it’s really like boom, boom, boom. Like so smooth, so efficient.

Cameron:

Yeah, no problems, no delays.

Kristen:

That’s right.

2) Their team operates like a well-oiled machine, finishing projects ahead of schedule.

그 팀은 마치 잘 정비된 기계처럼 착착 움직여서, 일정을 앞당겨 프로젝트를 완료한다.

🔍 표현 풀이:

· operate like a well-oiled machine: 기계처럼 완벽하게, 매끄럽게 움직이다 → “매우 효율적으로 작동하다”

· ahead of schedule: 예정보다 빨리, 일정보다 앞서

So Cameron, a team can operate this way.

Cameron:

Yes. They just are so efficient in their work. Yeah. It’s like they’re the military. The army is often seen as a well-oiled machine. They have a process for everything. Right. And they train to do their job. Yeah.

Kristen:

That’s right. And there are many parts.

Cameron:

Yes.

Kristen:

Right?

Cameron:

Another instance that I can think of that is not a program. is a body you can call a body a well-oiled machine and it’s usually for like athletes like an Olympic athlete.

Kristen:

Professional athletes, yeah.

Cameron:

Yeah, a professional Olympic athlete, they only eat food that their body absolutely needs Yeah, and then at the match, at the race, like Hussein Bolt. Yes. His body, I don’t know about now, but back in his prime, was a well-oiled machine. Everything was working.

Kristen:

The arms, the legs, you know.

Cameron:

For those 100 meters. That’s right. Boom machine.

Kristen:

It’s so true. Okay, so we can use it to describe our bodies. Of course, sadly, I cannot say that about my body. No. I don’t know if we are well.

Cameron:

My body needs some maintenance.

Kristen:

I think, for me, some replacements.

Cameron:

Oh, no. Okay.

2. bring someone out in droves: 한꺼번에 몰려나오게 하다. 대거 몰려나오게 하다.

Come out in droves: 떼로 몰려나오다.

Kristen:

All right, bring someone out in droves means to bring or attract a large crowd of people.

1)

A: The music festival brought fans out in droves.

A: 그 음악 축제에는 팬들이 떼로 몰려들었어.

B: I know, it was so much fun being around so many music lovers.

B: 맞아, 그렇게 많은 음악 팬들과 함께 있으니까 정말 재미있었어.

Kristen:

We have a lot of festivals. We also have a lot of concerts, like music festivals in Korea too. Cameron, every year for the last couple of years, I have been doing the announcement for the annual jazz festival.

Cameron:

Oh, yeah.

Kristen:

In Korea. So you know welcome to Jazz Festival. Yeah that’s me. That’s you. Yeah and yeah every year, for like six years.

Cameron:

Well, I do have to say that jazz festival brings people out in droves.

Kristen:

Totally I’ve never been.

Cameron:

I remember one time. You did. There were five billion people. I had a wonderful time. Yeah. But I don’t know if I would go again. Right. Yeah.

2) The King’s arrival brought people out in droves.

왕이 도착하자 사람들이 떼로 몰려 나왔다.

Now I think that because, you know, especially like in England, I tell you, the King, the Queen, the Prince, I mean the love for the monarchy is really hard to understand, but it is there.

Cameron:

Yeah, like when they have a royal wedding. There’re just so many people.

Kristen:

I mean, they come out in droves just to see, like, a passing car.

Cameron:

Yes.

Kristen:

See a passing face. Meow. Yeah.

Cameron:

It’s true. I would say that coming out in droves is almost always used only with people.

Kristen:

Yes.

Cameron:

Yes. Maybe sometimes with animals. But almost always just people.

Kristen:

Yeah, just people. So everyone think of concerts, think of festivals, think of the King of England.

Cameron:

Yeah, like a New Year’s.

Kristen:

New Year’s. Yeah. Times Square. Comes out in droves. Yeah. Gwanghwamun, too. Okay. There you go.

 

3. keep an eye on -을 계속 지켜보다. 감시하다.

Keep an eye on someone or something means to watch carefully or even monitor, kind of like a spy. Yes. Okay.

1)

A: Can you keep an eye on my bag while I grab coffee?

A: 내가 커피 좀 사 오는 동안 내 가방 좀 봐줄래?

B: No problem.

B: 물론이지. / 괜찮아.

Kristen:

Okay, yes. But sometimes you have to be careful at the airport. How do you trust strangers? Can you keep an eye out while I go to the bathroom?

Cameron:

And then they go through your bag.

2) The babysitter kept an eye on the kids while they played outside.

아이들이 밖에서 노는 동안 베이비시터가 아이들을 지켜봤다.

Cameron:

I have a question. Question. Do you feel the difference between keep an eye on and watch?

Kristen:

Yes, I do.

Cameron:

What’s the difference?

Kristen:

Well, personally for me, keep an eye on is just very specific. And it’s like you have to really watch carefully. Whereas just watch can be, you know, just watching something and without any real intention.

Cameron:

Yeah. How about you? Yeah, I would say it’s very similar. Obviously, you can watch the TV.

Kristen:

Yes.

Cameron:

It’s hard to keep an eye on the TV.

Kristen:

That’s a good example.

Cameron:

Unless you’re expecting the TV to explode. And you’re just like, I’m going to make sure this TV doesn’t explode. That’s right. Got to keep an eye on it. Yeah.

Kristen:

So if you keep an eye out on something, it is very specific. There is a reason why you are watching that.

Cameron:

Yeah.

Kristen:

Oh, that’s a good point. Okay.

4. Would you be interested in..? 할 생각 있어?

Would you be interested in is a nice way of saying, a polite way of saying, would you like?

1) Would you be interested in buying my car?

내 차 살 생각 있어?

Cameron:

No, I already have five.

Kristen:

And five cars.

2) Would you be interested in going to the museum with me?

나랑 박물관 같이 가볼래?

Maybe this is a kind of a very easy way of asking, do you want to go on a date?

Kristen:

Yes. Right. Because, you know, would you be interested is formal. So remember that if you ask this question, it could be like you want to ask formally nicely.

Cameron:

Informally, carefully.

Kristen:

Carefully.

Cameron:

You don’t want to seem to go to the museum with me. Hey, do you want to go to the museum?

5. hostess (host)

A hostess or host is a person who greets guests at a restaurant and take them to their seats. A hostess’s job is to control the pace at which servers get tables in order to ensure good service.

Hostess(여자 안내원) 또는 host(남자 안내원)는 식당에서 손님을 맞이하고 자리에 안내하는 사람입니다.

Hostess의 주요 업무는 서버(웨이터/웨이트리스)들이 테이블을 맡는 속도를 조절하여, 손님들이 좋은 서비스를 받을 수 있도록 관리하는 것입니다.

Kristen:

Do you want to DM with me? Yeah. No. Okay. All right. Power vocab. Please check out the definition of hostess or host on page 162 in this context.