What Does That Mean: My Use of Idioms, Colloquial Expressions, and Slang

I've noticed that if you're reading my blog, you might not be from the United States. I've had readers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, India, Moldova, and South Korea to name a few. As someone who has lived in a country where the native language is not English, I understand how difficult it can be sometimes when less formal forms of speech are used. So, I thought I might do a post explaining what some of my informal English means.

I know that I'm using these in my writing, so I'll attempt to define the ones that I use. If there's any that you would like defined or explained, please make a comment and I will add it to the list.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 20 Recap

Episode starts with Bok Nyeo slapping Aunt. Aunt getting mad. Sang Chul arriving. He asks what’s going on. Aunt screams at Bok Nyeo, asking why she’s doing this!!! I'm wondering that, too. Bok Nyeo tells Aunt to get angry just like now. Don't force herself to smile. Don't mind what others think and don't hide her upset feelings. Don't just play the good aunt, if she wants to really protect her nieces and nephews. Aunt lets go of Bok Nyeo’s jacket and asks if Bok Nyeo is trying to get her mad on purpose. Bok Nyeo asks if Aunt was going to forget her promise to worry about her nieces' and nephews' future. Doesn't her marriage hinder that promise? Aunt is stunned.

Bok Nyeo leaves the bridal store. Aunt is thinking. Sang Chul asks if she’s okay. Aunt replies that she thinks she knows why Bok Nyeo did that. Her love for the kids was foremost, but her methods were wrong. When the kids forgot Oma's birthday, she didn't reprimand them properly and just sent them off. After doing that, playing the role of an aunt, she just said bad things to. Bok Nyeo. Aunt declares that she going to start being a proper adult to the kids. She’ll scold them when they need scolding and praise them when they should be praised. She will really be her sister's replacement. Sang Chul’s happy that Aunt isn’t mad.

Gyul House. The kids are looking at Oma’s picture, telling her sorry for forgetting her birthday. Which is a perfectly normal thing for kids to do. At least in America. Unless an adult reminds them. They present Mom with birthday presents. They feel bad for how Aunt must have felt to. Bok Nyeo arrives and asks what they’re doing. Han Gyul explains about forgetting about Oma’s birthday. Bok Nyeo asks why they’re caring about their dead Mom's birthday? Do they even know *her* (Bok Nyeo’s) birthday? Bok Nyeo asks Se Gyul if he’s written that letter yet. Se Gyul says he couldn’t… but he couldn’t write it to Oma either. "Mom... Why did you abandon us and commit suicide?" He couldn't write it like that.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 19 Recap

The episode starts with Sang Chul’s nice speech: He tells her that he wondered whether it may not be love. But no matter how much he thinks about it, he doesn't think that it is. Neither of them is in a situation right now to love someone. He wonders why. But, I f it's not love or family, why would he worry about her? Why would his children look for her so desperately? He says that he’s realized that the reason why she became a housekeeper was so that she would live as someone else wanted, doing what they want instead of what she wants. He tells her she doesn’t need to return as their housekeeper if she’s like that. But, she MUST return to them. Out of her own volition. He asks her to please return to them. As the children's mother. As his wife.

Bok Nyeo looks at Sang Chul. Probably thinking that he’s crazy and doesn’t know what he’s asking for. But he does. He looks down and pulls out the marriage registration paperwork. He’s signed it and stamped it. She starts to answer, but he interrupts her, telling her to please forget what Old Bat said about not creating a new family. Blaming herself for her family's death is a cross she can choose to bear, but no one can force her to bear that burden. He starts to add something about Old Bat, but stops. He tells her that he won't listen to her refusal now. He tells her to please think this over carefully and if she can't come immediately, to take some time. Whether it's one year or several years, they'll wait. Aw. That makes me a little verklempt. Sang Chul says that they’ll keep her place open.

Bok Nyeo walks from their meeting. She thinks of awful Old Bat’s ‘request.’

Sang Chul’s told the kids about the marriage proposal. Se Gyul asks if Sang Chul likes Bok Nyeo now. Sang Chul pauses and replies that love can mean many things. He may not be in love, but he gets concerned and worries about Bok Nyeo now. He feels sad, hurt and pity for her, too.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 18 Recap

The episode starts with Ji Hoon discovering the camera, a horrified look on his face. Bok Nyeo arrives downstairs. Sang Chul sees the video she took and he knows she’s inside. Sang Chul immediately sends the video to Song Hwa. He tells her to hand the video over to the police immediately. Song Hwa asks if Bok Nyeo is okay, but he’s not sure. He’s going to go find out. Go Sang Chul! Save your woman.

After watching the video, Song Hwa approaches the detective that she had been talking to at the station. She says that she doesn't have to wait for Detective Lee Tae Sik. She asks that he be arrested immediately instead. Then she shows the guy the video. Cop looks like he’s shocked at what it shows.

Tae Shik is looking at the ladder to the second story. He gets a phone call. Busted! His life is over. And I think he’s looking for payback. Inside, Ji Hoon is clarifying Bok Nyeo’s feelings: It's not that she liked him, it’s so she could get the goods on him? She tells him that he’s correct. She played for it… the way to prove that he’s Seo Ji Hoon… the way to finish him off. Tae Shik hurries inside and tells Ji Hoon that there’s a big problem. Song Hwa has handed over the evidence and the police coming!

Tae Shik declares that this time, there is no way out other than for Ji Hoon to turn himself in. Given the look on jihoon’s face, I think the crazy is about to come out and say, ‘Oh, yeah? Watch me!’ He tells Tae Shik to take Bok Nyeo outside so he can think. As Tae Shik turns his back on him, Ji Hoon grabs an empty wine bottle and then smashes it over Tae Shik’s head. Tae Shik crumples to the floor. Is he dead or justs unconscious? Bok Nyeo turns around, startled. Ji Hoon’s look is murderous. Plus, he’s holding the neck of a broken wine bottle.

You're All Surrounded Episode 18 Recap

As I start to watch Episode 18, I am suddenly grateful that I put it off until today, because I will only have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens to resolve the cliff hanger. I will really miss this show and these characters! A Lot. A Ton. Couldn’t they get a 20 episode extension so that we can see romance and roommate hijinks?! And Pan Suk and Sa Kyung get remarried? Tae Il and *Gook* get a girl? And, of course, Dae Goo/Ji Yong and Soo Sun being happy together? Maybe just a Season 2? This is the second Lee Seung Gi series that I want a second season of (the other being ‘Gu Family Book’). And it’s totally do-able. So hear-me, drama gods! We need more ‘You’re All Surrounded’!!! Okay, on with the recap…

The episode starts with Dae Goo in the interrogation room with Ae Yun and Slimy. Dae Goo changes the question to ask Ae Yun who he resembles more: Shin Ji Il or Kim Hwa Young? He pulls out the photo of Ji Il and Hwa Young together and slides it across the table to where Ae Yun can see it. Ae Yun leans forward, staring at it with horror. Her breath starts to quicken and she glares at Dae Goo with hatred. The gang is watching her intently behind the glass.

Dae Goo leans back and crosses his arms. He says that on the day of the murder, she was at his house. There is a witness who saw her leave. Ae Yun keeps her mouth pinched shut. But her husband and his mother were pretty close twenty seven years ago. There’s a wince from Ae Yun. Dae Goo says that a year later, he was born. Is this a coincidence? Ae Yun’s chin juts out with anger. Dae Goo mentions how Ki Jae is quite familiar with him. Why does Ki Jae keep calling him "hyung" when no one told him to do that? Dae Goo chuckles and Ae Yun’s getting madder. Perhaps because they share a bloodline? She smacks the table, lunging at him, and screams, “Ya!” Dae Goo doesn’t flinch.

Slimy says that these questions don't seem to have a direct relationship with the case. Dae Goo asks Slimy if he’s sure and suggests they do a DNA paternity test to confirm whether Ji Il is Dae Goo’s father. Ae Yun sneers at that thought. Dae Goo leans forward and asks her if she’s scared and dislikes that idea, too. Dae Goo declares that the money that she and her father gathered by bloodying their hands – he holds up one of his for emphasis – is she afraid that it might be handed down to him? Ae Yun glares and shifts in her chair.

You're All Surrounded Episode 17 Recap

Yay! Tae Il made it through surgery! The episode starts with a sleeping Tae Il, cut on his nose, split lip, and huge bandage on his left cheek from where he got stitches. The team is waiting for him to wake up, with Gook sitting by his side. Like a good pah-te-nuh should. Dae Goo is with them. So he didn’t go after Ae Yun. Good. Gook adjusts Tae Il’s hair as he anxiously waits. Gook wants them dead for what they did to Tae Il and to Tae Il’s face! Eung Do reminds Gook that Heaven helped Tae Il; if the knife had gone in half a centimeter more, he would have been in big trouble. That is really fortunate! I was worried there, because his mouth was all bloody and that usually happens when you’re bleeding in your lungs. Pan Suk is standing beside Eung Do and he does not look happy that someone hurt one of his kids.

Gook takes comfort in what Eung Do said. He wonders what they should do now that the pendant is gone. It doesn't mean they have to stop the investigation, does it? Soo Sun declares that will never happen. They also have a witness. With gravity, Dae Goo declares that they definitely will catch them. They’ll make sure that what's left of their lives will be spent rotting in prison.

Tae Il starts to wake up. Even before he opens his eyes, Tae Il tries to get out of the bed. After Eung Do calls him a punk, Tae Il answers that his mind is fine. Everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief, except for Gook, who starts yelling at Tae Il for being so dumb! Once they took the pendant, he should've just given up after they took the pendant. Why did he have to chase after them, so they could stab him. And then… instead of leaving it alone, he grabbed a hold of the guy’s leg to get hurt even worse? Gook calls Tae Il punk more than once. He must be really mad and Gook never really gets mad. Once he’s done yelling, Gook corrects himself and tells Tae Il that he did well. Eung Do chimes in that that is being a detective. He declares that he is proud of their Tae Il-i.

You're All Surrounded Episode 16 Recap

Having to use DramaFever subs, so I have a feeling I’m going to be missing some stuff…

Our episode starts right with the dramatic ending from the last episode: Pan Suk, with just a touch of a smile on his face, holds out the necklace to Ae Yun and puts it on the table. She visibly looks horrified to be seeing it. Pan Suk tells her she knows the pendant. She sets her face and looks at him defiantly and asks, “What if I do?” As Pan Suk tells her that she should know it because it’s hers, Dae Goo sits next to him trying to contain himself, his fist clenched. Pan Suk says the pendant was found in the house of the school nurse murdered in Masan 11 years ago. He asks Ae Yun to explain that. She laughs haughtily, like she can’t believe they’re bothering her with that, and asks them who’s saying that that pendant is hers.

Pan Suk chuckles with disbelief as Dae Goo rattles off the pendant’s pedigree: Henri Jeong's 2002 Limited Edition. Only-for-You Series. The Moon and the Northern Cross... It's a pendant made just for her. Is it not? Ae Yun laughs that same laugh again – which I’m finding means that she’s freaking out – and tells them that they are hilarious. Hilarious? Why would that be hilarious? Condescendingly, Ae Yun says that it was made for her, but *that* pendant isn’t hers. Pan Suk and Dae Goo look at each other like they can’t believe this woman. Pan Suk sighs and says that they checked with the designer, so she should be honest. Why did she go there that day and what happened?

Ae Yun plops a box on the coffee table and tells them to open it. It’s an exact replica of the pendant. As Pan Suk and Dae Goo are shocked, Ae Yun sits there smiling at them, with a look that calls them idiots and says ‘did you really think you could get me with that?’ Now what they need to do is that both of them back to the designer to ask which one *he* designed or if he designed both. He’d have a record of it. Cockily, she asks, “Enough?” She says that it’s their turn to explain where they picked up this fake. She should know who copied the work that she paid tens of thousands of dollars for. Um, don’t you already *know* who did it, since you are the one who had a copy made? Pan Suk replies that they don't know which one is real and which one is fake. Good man! He says that if she’s that confident, they should get them checked by the designer. Obnoxiously, cockily, she asks, “Why should I?” Pan Suk’s the one who's wondering.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 17 Recap

The episode begins with an upset Hye Gyul crying, telling Bok Nyeo that she hates her! She runs to Auntie for comfort and a crying Bok Nyeo leaves the room. Ji Hoon burns his Polaroid picture of Eun Soo. Sang Chul follows Bok Nyeo outside, where she is crying. He asks her back if she’s really not going to tell him what's going on? Bok Nyeo doesn’t respond but goes back into the house.

Sang Chul is hailed by Mrs. Nosy. She asks if something is going on Bok Nyeo. She’s been behaving suspiciously recently. She mentions how her tiny nose couldn’t get bigger. Heh. I love that she’s acknowledging that she’s nosy. She mentions how Bok Nyeo has washed all of Hye Gyul's summer clothes and ironed them. Like she’s not planning on being around to do it.

Sang Chul leaves Mrs. Nosy and goes to his room. He calls Director Hong. Bok Nyeo takes one last look around the kids' rooms. Sang Chul learns that Bok Nyeo plans on quitting, although Director Hong thought she had already given notice. Director Hong says she thinks Ji Hoon asked Bok Nyeo to quit and tomorrow, the pair are going to her father’s gravesite in her hometown. Director Hong assures Sang Chul that Bok Nyeo has already completed the change-over with the new housekeeper. Sang Chul can’t believe it, that she even did a change-over.

Auntie is telling Hye Gyul to let go of her anger towards Bok Nyeo, Han Gyul tells her that Bok Nyeo-nim was doing it for her benefit. Doo Gyul offers to make her something yummy. She’s still upset. Bok Nyeo comes down the stairs. Her face clearly shows that she feels bad that Hye Gyul is hurting. Auntie asks if Bok Nyeo is leaving. She says that she will leave for now. Auntie and Han Gyul try to get Hye Gyul to say goodbye but Hye Gyul repeats that she hates Bok Nyeo. She stomps off to her room and shuts the door.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 16 Recap

The episode begins in the grocery store, with Bok Nyeo declaring that she doesn’t want to lose Ji Hoon. A tear runs down her cheek. His voice, thick with emotion, tells her to hold on to him. If she doesn't want to lose him – he holds out his hand – she should hold that hand. Bok Nyeo takes it. And my skin crawls. Ji Hoon looks almost overwhelmed. Doo Gyul, Se Gyul and Han Gyul are at the store and see them holding hands. They are horrified. Ji Hoon declares that he will not let go of her hand until she lets it go. Suddenly, Hye Gyul smacks their hands apart and declares that Bok Nyeo’s hand is hers! They both look at Hye Gyul as she holds Bok Nyeo’s hand. Ji Hoon asks Bok Nyeo if he’s going to have to compete against the little kid.

Ji Hoon and Bok Nyeo are walking, with Ji Hoon carrying 2 bags of groceries. He asks if he should throw the bags away, because they’re stopping him from being able to hold her hand. That would be sweet if he wasn’t a stalker. He mutters that their beginning was spectacular, but full of spectators. He looks behind him and the trio are following them. They duck out of sight, but not before they’re seen. Ji Hoon remarks how they seem like children guarding their mom, who is having an affair.

Bok Nyeo tells Ji Hoon that he can leave now. Ji Hoon doesn’t want to because they've finally became a real couple. He wants to do everything that others do. Taking her home... picking her up... talking on the phone until the cell phone is on fire. Who does that? Teenagers? That almost makes sense since he's stuck in teenage infatuation = real love. A car drives up with Sang Chul inside. He stops and asks them how they ended up there together. Ji Hoon declares that Bok Nyeo’s become his stalker. Sang Chul doesn’t know how to respond to that. He tells Bok Nyeo to get in the car and he’ll take her home. Ji Hoon interrupts him to say that he and Bok Nyeo have more to talk about. Then he suggests Sang Chul take his kids a ride home instead. Busted.

Suspicious Housekeeper Episode 15 Recap

It’s been a while since I’ve watched this series, but I’m picking up where I left off… The episode begins with Bok Nyeo holding out the marriage application. Sang Chul just awkwardly looks at her. She tells him that since the date has expired, she'll say it never happened. Sang Chul can throw it away or rip it up, whatever he wants. Han Gyul asks if Bok Nyeo’s picking CEO Jang instead of Sang Chul. She answers that she is. Sang Chul asks if she’s really going to date Ji Hoon and she says that she’s going to do it *well,* too. None of the family likes that answer, including Sang Chul.

Bok Nyeo leaves the house and gets in Ji Hoon's car, although her face looks like Ji Hoon makes her skin crawl. Ji Hoon is happy. The kids, who have followed her outside, are not. They’re worried. As they drive away, Ji Hoon asks about what Bok Nyeo’s wearing. Is it a uniform or something, since she wears it every day? He says that he thought that this was a date, but maybe that was just him. I hate how practically everything out of this guy’s mouth is a manipulation. Bok Nyeo answers that it’s a date. Mr. Jang Do Hyung's and her first date. He looks at her and then smiles to himself.

They go to the movies and watch a comedy. Everyone – but Bok Nyeo – is laughing. He gives her a hard time about not eating the popcorn. They’re spotted in the theatre by Mr. and Mrs. Butcher. Who are out on a date. Aw, I like that Mrs. Butcher is now being nice to her husband. I bet he would have taken her out a long time ago if she had been nicer. Mrs. Butcher wonders if Bok Nyeo is two-timing Sang Chul, since they’re supposed to be getting married, but Mr. Butcher mutters that she’s not that type of woman. Aw. Mrs. Butcher remarks that Bok Nyeo on a date is more interesting than watching the movie. Heh.

You're All Surrounded Episode 15 Recap

The episode starts back with Soo Sun kissing Dae Goo as the gangsters cheer them on. As she pulls away, Dae Goo can’t take his eyes off of her and pulls her into a real kiss. Hand on the face and everything. Back in the van an amazed Eung Do marvels at the pair's dedication to the investigation. Pan Suk mutters about Soo Sun saying something about not eating the rabbit. He laughs. Gook is freaking out as Dae Goo kisses his crush. Tae Il tries to convince him that it's just for business! By the length of the kiss, I wouldn’t believe it either. Finally, Dae Goo stops kissing Soo Sun and then they stand there awkwardly, him looking at only her and her avoiding his eyes.

The team drives back to the station. No one is saying anything. Gook is in the way back, dejectedly staring ahead at nothing. Boy, if you didn’t have a complex about being inadequate with Tae Il, you will have one now with Dae Goo getting your girl… Pan Suk commends them on a job well done. He’s in a really good mood – laughing and everything – because they even managed to help Team One right after the Yoo Ae Yun case closed. Soo Sun tells him she would like treat the whole team to dinner to show her appreciation for helping in her mom's case. Pan Suk and Eung Do like that idea and Eung Do tells them to go ahead to that fried chicken place in front of the station. They’ll meet the kids after their meeting is done. Tae Il says “Yay, chicken!” while waving Gook’s hand, but Gook is practically catatonic. Well, maybe not totally, because he just poutily flopped himself to face the window. Dae Goo and Soo Sun avoid looking at each other.

Beer mug clink! The four are sitting at a table, Tae Il across from Soo Sun and Gook across from Dae Goo. Dae Goo and Soo Sun are still avoiding looking at each other, even though they’re sitting right next to each other. Soo Sun thanks them for all their hard work. Dae Goo says that she shouldn’t thank them because they couldn't put the handcuffs on Ae Yun's wrists. It really bugs him because the investigation was ended by Moon Bae's apology. Soo Sun has decided to be positive about the situation; instead of half a failure, she’s going to view it as half a success. They're rich and powerful people who know how to game the system. Making Mom feel better only possible better because they were on the case. None of them want to accept her thanks.

You're All Surrounded Episode 14 Recap

Episode begins with Ae Yun looking at the dossier her secretary gave her on Dae Goo. She’s freaking out because he’s Ji Yong and not only that but he’s right outside. She swallows hard and calls Moon Bae. She asks him if he knew all along that that woman's son being alive. Moon Bae jumps from his seat, shocked and his chin quivers. Looking at Dae Goo, she asks Moon Bae what happened. How can that woman's son be alive? Wow, she is cold-blooded. She knew about the plan to bump Ji Yong off. A thought runs through her mind, making her eyebrows flutter, and she says that Moon Bae knew all along and didn’t say anything. Aw, you’re upset because it looks like Appa lied to you. I don’t feel bad at all.

Moon Bae takes a breath and then asks Ae Yun where she is and how she found out. He orders her to come to his office. Right now. And he looks like his world is falling apart. I don’t feel sorry for him either. Scuzball. Ae Yun looks like she wants to cry. And I still don’t feel sorry for her. Just thinking of Mom’s face makes me not feel sorry one bit. Ae Yun looks over at Dae Goo and composes herself. She gathers her stuff and goes and changes her clothes.

Dae Goo is now waiting by Ae Yun’s car. When she exits the elevator with her driver, Dae Goo again repeats his request that she come down to the station. She tells him to move – which he doesn’t – and then pushes by him to go to her car. As Dae Goo watches her drive away, he says, “I'll see you again tomorrow.”

Ae Yun arrives at Moon Bae’s office. She asks him what happened. Didn't Appa tell her that it had been taken care of? It’s almost like she’s scolding him. They sit and Moon Bae says that he only found out recently, but she shouldn’t worry because he doesn't know anything yet. Ae Yun scoffs at that notion. Because she’s a haughty witch. She sarcastically asks Moon Bae how he knows that; did he *ask* Dae Goo? Ae Yun tells Moon Bae that he must be getting old; he used to be razor sharp. Moon Bae scrunches his eyes closed and adjusts his glasses. His snotty daughter is probably giving him a migraine.