拜见岳父大人 Meet the Parents

Meet the Parents

(Comedy) (2000)

Major Characters

Greg (Gaylord) Focker.........Ben Stiller
     A very sweet male nurse who lives in Chicago, and who wants
     to marry Pam, or at least did want to until he met her parents.

Pam Byrnes....................Teri Polo
     Greg’s charming and pretty girlfriend, who is a school teacher.

Jack Byrnes...................Robert DeNiro
     Pam’s father, a conservative and controlling man who tells people he was
     a seller of rare flowers, but who in fact was an agent for the CIA
     (The Central Intelligence Agency, which spies for the US government).

Dina Byrnes....................Blythe Danner
     Pam’s very nice mother, who likes Greg more than her husband does.

Kevin Rawley...................Owen Wilson
     Pam’s former boyfriend and fiancée, who’s now a wealthy stock trader.

Debbie  Byrnes.................Nicole DeHuff
     Pam’s younger sister, who is planning to soon get married.

Dr. Bob Banks..................Thomas McCarthy
     Debbie’s husband-to-be, who is a young doctor.

Larry Banks....................James Rebhorn
     Bob’s father, who is also a doctor.

Linda Banks....................Phyllis George
     Bob’s mother.

Denny Byrnes...................Jon Abrahams
     Pam’s typical teenage brother.

Plot Summary

Greg is a good person, a male nurse, and madly in love with Pam. One day, the two of them
travel from their home in Chicago to stay at her parents house in Long Island, New York,
in order to attend the wedding of Pam’s sister, Debbie. Greg had been going out with Pam
for less than a year, and was planning to ask Pam to marry him, but before he can do so,
he meets her parents at their home. Unfortunately, Pam’s dad Jack is a very conservative,
suspicious and protective father, and he doesn’t seem to like Greg. For poor Greg, it will
be a very painful visit.

After arriving at Pam’s house, Greg does everything he can to get Jack to like him, but it
seems that the world is against him. The airlines lose Greg’s luggage, Greg almost loses Jack’s
much loved cat, and soon everyone in Pam’s family is convinced that Greg is a loser who does not
deserve to be with her. Fortunately for Greg, Pam still loves him, and thus it is Jack who will
have to learn to accept that...


Some Words and Expressions that You May not Know


              Greg tries to ask Pam to marry him,
              but the time just isn’t right...


I got one question for you; Can you deal with that?!
     "To deal with" something is to be able to accept or handle it.

Do you think that sounds good? :: I think that kind of sums up...
     "To sum up" a situation is to clearly explain or summarize it.

Sometimes these catheters can pinch a little bit.
     A "catheter" is a small or narrow tube that is inserted into the body for some medical
     purpose. "To pinch" something is to hold it tightly, often between a thumb and a finger.

I want you to pick out your problem; A
problem that’s been bothering you all week.
     "To pick" out something is to choose or select it.

I want you to scare your problems away. I want you to say "Boo!"
     A word that is used to scare people. Popular among young kids.

I got off work a little early, thought maybe you wanted to get a bite to eat.
     "To get off work" is to leave the workplace. In this case, a "bite"
     is a little food that is usually casual and quickly served.

Oh, shoot, I forgot to change my shoes.
     A gentle word to express frustration or anger.

I got sneakers in my backpack.
     "Sneakers" are a cheap type of sport or running shoe.

Come on, sweetie. I got a half hour before I have to go back.
      The most versatile phrasal verb in the English language, meaning everything
      from "hurry up" (as here), to "be serious" or "stop it!"

These last 10 months have been the happiest in my life. :: Yeah, they’ve been amazing.
     A powerful adjective meaning incredible, exceptional or perhaps fantastic.

Are you OK; You’re acting so weird.
     A great little adjective meaning very strange or bizarre.

I’m fine; I just got a crick in my neck. I was doing
CPR on a 300 pound crack addict this morning.
     A "crick" is a painful muscle ache. "CPR" is "cardiopulmonary  resuscitation," which is
     the act of trying to force air into a person’s mouth after they have stopped breathing.
      A "crack addict" is a person who is addicted to crack cocaine, which is a very dangerous drug.

You’re engaged?!
     If a person is "engaged," they have officially announced
     to others that they are going to get married.

Yeah, I overheard that. So, what, he, like, had to ask his permission?
      "To overhear" a conversation is to hear it without having intentionally tried to hear it.
      Note the use of the filler word "like," which adds nothing of meaning, but is very common.

Anyway, Deb said that dad’s crazy about him.
     To be "crazy about somebody" is to  like them very much.

Bob bought him the perfect gift that just won him over.
     In this case, "to win a person over" is to get
     them to like you after they did not at first.

It’s OK to X-ray this. It’s not going to mutate or anything.
     "To X-ray" something is to photograph it with a camera that sees inside (human bodies
     and luggage can both be X-rayed). If a living thing "mutates," it is biologically and
     fundamentally changed, such as when frogs develop three eyes because of poison in a river.

Sir, that’s not going to fit.  ::  Hang on a second.
     If one thing doesn’t "fit" inside another one, it is too big or not the right size.
     "Hang on a second" is a way of telling a person to  be patient.

The bag is too big. You gotta check it.
     Note that in rapid speech, "have got to"---->"gotta."  "To check" a piece of luggage
     on a plane is to register it so that it can be transported under the plane.

Hey pal, if it ain’t fitting through the frame, you ain’t carrying it on the plane.
     "Pal" is a slang word for friend, but as here, it is often used as a way of
     addressing anybody. "Ain’t" is a very slangy and incorrect way of saying "isn’t"
     or another conjugation of ‘to be.’  It’s best to avoid it.

531. New York. La Guardia.
      The name of a major airport that serves New York City.

You lost my bag, and there’s a two-carat diamond ring inside it.
      A "carat" is a word that expresses the amount of gold
      in a ring, or weight of a diamond or other type of jewelry.

Fill out this form, and we’ll ship it when it surfaces.
     "To fill out" a form is to write information in the blank spaces. Here, "to ship"
     something is to deliver it, and "to surface" is to appear or be found.

I think your dad’s gonna be really psyched about this gift.
     Note that "going to"----> "gonna" in rapid speech. If a person is "psyched"
     about something, they are very happy about it. Slangy and common.

Take it easy on the sarcasm; Humor is entirely wasted on my parents.
     In this case, "take it easy on" something is to use little of it. "Sarcasm" is a type
     of humor in which you say the opposite of what you really mean ("It was a good idea
     to put the cat in the room with the dogs").

What, are they Amish?
     The Amish are a group of very religious people who do not use electricity or
     other modern conveniences. There are many in the state of Pennsylvania.


             Greg meets Pam’s parents, and soon learns Jack is
             a pretty mysterious guy who really loves his cat.


Oh, gosh.
     A gentle way of expressing frustration or surprise.

Sweet pea! Pamcake. Flap jack.
     The names of foods, and ridiculous nicknames that Pam and her father
     call each other (Actually, there are pancakes, but not "pamcakes").

Short stack, short stack, coming up.
     A "short stack" of pancakes is two, as opposed to three or more.
     Another silly nickname. If something is "coming up" in a restaurant,
     it is about to be served.

We were going to get a midsize, but I figure, hey, we pull down
decent bucks.Might as well go all out and pop for the full-size.
     A "midsize" is a medium sized car, whereas a "full-size" is big car. "To pull down
     decent bucks" is a very slangy way of saying to make a lot of money (bucks are dollars).
     In this context, "to go all out and pop for something" is a colloquial way of saying
     to spend a lot of money for it.

Oh, yuck, what smells of old sour milk?
      "Yuck" is a great word to express disgust
      when something smells, looks or tastes horrible.

It will turn up, I’m sure.
     If something that is missing "turns up," it is found.

"Mi casa es su casa." :: Oh, thanks Jack, you too.
     This is a Spanish language expression which means "My house is
     your house." Rarely used in English, except by those who like Spanish.

Greg, you have a very unique last name.
     Note that "unique," which means the only one of its type, should not have
     "very" before it.Still, even educated speakers make this mistake.

We were curious; How do you pronounce it?
     Note that "curious" means odd or strange when describing how a person looks to others,
     and eager to learn or know about others, when describing a person’s state of mind.

F-o-c-k-e-r. Fucker.
     Note the spelling of Greg’s name could be pronounced "Fawker"
     (like soccer), but whenever people are upset at him, they end up
     saying "fucker." This is a clever and running joke throughout the film.

That a boy!
     A common thing to say to animals or boys if they accomplish
     something difficult (Note it is generally pronounced "attaboy").

Even taught him to use the potty.
     A child’s word for toilet.

What’s so weird about it? Now we don’t have to smell kitty litter all the time.
     A type of sand that cats who live indoors use to shit in.

Every chance he gets he tries to dig, squat and bury.
     "To squat" is to sit low on the ground with one’s legs under
     the body (Cats squat when they go to the bathroom).

He lacks the strength and the opposable thumbs.
     "To lack" something is to not have it. "Opposable thumbs" is a biological term,
     referring to the fact that only humans have thumbs that move so freely, allowing
     them to grab and carry more things than other animals.

Jinxy is strictly a house cat. You can’t let him outside
because he also lacks outside survival skills.
     A "house cat" is one that usually stays inside.

Hey, why don’t we let the kids freshen up.
     To "freshen up" is to clean oneself and perhaps relax.

I’m sorry. It just kind of slipped out.
     In this case, if words "slip out" of a person’s mouth, they are not
     the words that the person had really wanted or intended to say.

Actually, the real gift is what’s planted in the soil.
     Another word for ground or dirt.

The bulb of a Jerusalem tulip.
     The bulb is the root of a plant or flower, and a tulip is a type of flower.

Right, from the Jerusales tulepisias genus.   
     "Genus" is a biological word referring to a division or family of
     plant or animal (‘Jerusales tulepisias’ are perhaps Latin words).

With regular watering, it should bloom in about six months.
     If a plant "blooms," it grows and flowers outward.

I recently got transferred to triage.
     The part of a hospital where emergency patients
     are kept alive while waiting to be seen by a doctor.

No, mom, triage is a unit of the ER
     An abbreviation for the emergency room of a hospital.

It’s where all the top nurses work.
     "Top" is a widely used adjective referring to the best of a group.

So what is it? :: What’s the new venture?
     A "business venture" is a risky but often exciting course of
     action designed to create a growing and successful business.

Let’s say…you want to get out of the house and spend a night on the town.
     A common expression which refers to the act of passing the night
     relaxing or having fun, often at a restaurant, nightclub or play.

References, work experiences---it all checks out fine.
     In this context, "references" are the names of people that a person looking
     for a new job will give to a potential employer. If something "checks out,"
     it is verified that what had been claimed is in fact true.

How can you know for certain that your
loved ones are safe with this stranger?
     One way of referring to family members, such as your spouse or kids.

This looks like a teddy bear. :: Smile, you’re on "nanny camera."
     A "teddy bear" is a stuffed toy bear for children. A "nanny" is a young women or
     teenage girl who takes care of kids and cleans the house, usually of wealthy families.

Where’s the other camera? Right here in this decorative artifact.
     An "artifact" is any object made by man, especially something useful.

We hide them in mirrors, lamps, televisions, you name it.
     Another way of saying "anything" after you’ve just named a list of specific things.

Couldn’t this be construed as illegal, you know, invasion of privacy?
     If something is "construed" in a certain way, it is seen or viewed that way.
     "Invasion of privacy" is a legal term that refers to the viewing or observing
     of things that people have a right to expect will not be viewed by others.

Trust me, when you start to have little Fockers running around,
you’ll start to understand the need for this level of protection.
     This is Jack’s way of telling Greg that if he had kids,
     he would also want one of Jack’s secret cameras.

Hey, I’ll get it.
     Note the only correct verb tense when planning an immediate response to
     a phone call or knock at the door (so stop saying "I will get it").

Any problem with the documents?
     Any piece of paper with information or evidence on it.

If anybody else answers, just use a Southern
accent and ask for the vegetarian special.
     The way a restaurant would refer to one its best meatless meals.

I’m going to make a run to the store.
     A slangy way of saying to take a short trip.

I’ll be back in a jif.
     To do something "in a jif" is to do it very quickly.

You’ll need something in case your suitcase doesn’t show up.
     A common colloquial phrasal verb meaning to appear or arrive.

OK, let’s head out.
     A colloquial way of saying to leave.

I don’t not like cats. I just prefer dogs.
     Note the use of the double negative, though in this construction,
     where the "not" is placed before the verb, it is grammatically correct!

Wagging their little tails...:: You need that assurance,
do you? You prefer an emotionally shallow animal?
     When a dog "wags" its tail, it moves it back and forth. "Assurance"
     is a strong promise or statement of support. If a person (or animal)
     is "emotionally shallow," they are superficial or simple.

You see, Greg, when you yell at a dog, his tail will go between
his legs and cover his genitals...his ears will go down.
     "Genitals" are the sexual organs.

A dog is very easy to break. But cat’s make you work for
their affection. They don’t sell out the ways dogs do.
     In this case, "to break" a dog is to make them cry, beg or surrender.
     If a person "sells out," they agree to do something they don’t want to,
     in order to get something they do want (such as money, approval or sex).
     This is Jack’s silly way of explaining why cats are better than dogs.

Who would have thought it wasn’t really about a dragon, huh?
     A "dragon" is an imaginary fire-breathing animal in kid’s stories.

"To puff the magic dragon" is, uh, really to smoke a marijuana cigarette.
     "To puff the magic dragon" is a well known folk song from the 1960s
     ("To puff" is to blow out smoke from one’s mouth). "Marijuana" is
     a popular illegal drug that is smoked.

Are you a pothead, Focker?
     A "pothead" is a slang term for a person who smokes
     a lot of marijuana, which is also commonly called pot.

No, I pass on grass all the time.
     "To pass on" something is to decide to not to use it.
     "Grass’ is another slang word for marijuana.

Oyster Bay Drugstore and Sundries.
     "Sundries" is an interesting word that means various small items.

Do you have any of the nicotine patches? :; No, we have the gum.
     A type of patch or sticky cloth that is worn on the skin to help
     people quit smoking (Nicotine is a drug found in cigarettes).

I was just reading up about….pumps. Breast pumps.
     Devices that let women get breast milk from their
     own breasts so that they can feed their babies.


            Greg’s dinner with the family becomes the first disaster of his visit.


Get your hot buns, hot patoosies.
    A "bun" is a small bread roll. A "patoosie" is a type of roll, but this is never used.

Everything looks fabulous. It’s such a treat
for me to have a home-cooked meal like this.
    "Fabulous" means great or wonderful. In this case, a
     "treat" is a special occasion or an unexpected pleasure.

Dinner at my house usually consisted of everybody in
the kitchen fighting over containers of Chinese food.
     "To consist of" means to be made up of, or include. "Containers" are anything that
     hold physical objects, in this case small boxes or cartons for Chinese food.

Greg, would you like to say grace?
     The act of giving thanks to God before a meal.

Pam, come on, it’s not like I’m a rabbi or something.
     A "rabbi" is a Jewish religious leader, like a priest for Catholics.

I said grace at many a dinner table.
     A poetic or stylistic alternative to "many dinner tables."

A kind and gentle and...accommodating God.
     If a person is "accommodating," they’re helpful and
     hospitable, or perhaps accepting of new conditions.

We thank you...for the smorgasbord...you
have so aptly lain at our table this day.
     A "smorgasbord" is a great feast with lots of wonderful food. "Aptly" is appropriately or suitably,
     and "lain" is the past participle of "to lay," but this is a ridiculous way for Greg to say grace.

Oh, Dear Lord, three things we pray, to love thee more dearly,
to see thee more clearly, to follow thee more nearly.
     "Lord" is another word for God. "Thee" is old (Shakespearian)
     English for "you." More nonsensical words from Greg.

Amen. :: Oh Greg, that was lovely.
     "Amen" is the word that is used to end most prayers.
     "Lovely" is a British word for pretty, beautiful or nice.

That’s an urn that holds the remains of Jack’s mother.
     An "urn" is a container for the ashes of a human body after it has been burned.
     The "remains"  of a body is another word for those ashes.

That’s our gran gran. We like to think of her as watching over us as we eat.
     This is Pam’s totally ridiculous way of referring to her grandmother.

When Jack had to retire for health reasons… ::
Oh honey, that’s a bunch of malarkey. I’m fine!
     An interesting word for nonsense, or more colloquially, bullshit.

The doctor thought it would be therapeutic if
he expressed his emotions in an artistic way.
    If something is "therapeutic," it is considered helpful in the treating
    or curing of either a physical or mental health problem or disease.

Alright, it’s a work in progress.
     A "work in progress" usually refers to a project that is not yet finished.

As soon as it’s ready, I’m going to glaze it on a plate, and put it next to the urn.
     "To glaze" words on a plate is to put them on the surface
     of the plate with a shiny or glass-like finish.

Selfishly, I tried to keep you here while the cancer
ate away your organs...like an unstoppable rebel force.
     A "rebel force" is usually a group of people who are trying
     to overthrow a government. This is Jack’s very bad poetry.

I shall see your face nevermore...until we meet in heaven.
     A poetic way of saying not any more.

I didn’t actually grow up in a farm, per se.
     A set expression generally meaning actually, in fact, or in reality.

The house we grew up in was originally
erected in the early Dutch farm colonial style.
     "To erect" a building is to build it, or place it upright. "Dutch farm colonial style"
      was a type of house that was popular in the American colonies in the 1700s.

Honey, he said he pumped milk. :: What have you ever milked?
     "To pump" a liquid is to remove it, usually with some kind of machine and tube.
     "To milk" an animal is to remove milk from it by holding or squeezing its nipples.

The cat birthed a litter of kittens, there must have been 30 of them, and
there was this one little runt, who couldn’t really get access to the teat.
     "To birth" is a rare way of saying to give birth. A "litter" of kittens is a
     small group of them that have just been born. The "runt" of the litter is the
     smallest one, and a "teat" is a funny word for a nipple ("Tits" is a somewhat vulgar
     slang word for female breasts).

Teat? :: What have you.
     A way of saying "whatever," which can be used when you are
     not sure of the accuracy or truth of what you have just said.

I...then took the saucer and fed it to the cappetto.
     A "saucer" is a small plate (Capetto is the name of Greg’s kitten).

Oh yeah, you can milk anything with nipples.
     The end of a breast, from which babies can get milk.

I thought maybe we could celebrate with a little bubbly.
     A slang word for champagne, named for the bubbles within it.

This is so sweet of you. Isn’t that a nice gesture?
     A useful word for any small action that is done to show one’s feeling
     or appreciation, such as buying a bottle of wine as a thank you gift.

When I gave Bob the OK to propose to Deb, I put him in touch with my
diamond guy, and he picked out the exact same design that Kevin gave you.
    "To propose" to a person is to ask them to get married.

Kevin was Pam’s fiancée.
     The word for a person who you’re engaged to marry in the near future.

How you doing? :: Just fine, considering I desecrated your grandma’s remains,
found out you were engaged and had your father ask me to milk him.
     "To desecrate" something that is holy or sacred is to treat it with disrespect
     or shame. This is a clever response to Pam’s question.

You never told me about your cat-milking days in Motown.
     "Motown" is a nickname for Detroit, Michigan. It got this name because
      it is where the motorcar (or automobile) industry began.

Physical? Like what? You worked out together?
     "To work out" is a common phrasal verb meaning to exercise seriously,
      in order to stay in good shape or lose weight.

I’m going to throw up now.
     The most common alternative to vomit (to throw up food when sick).

I moved to Chicago, I met and fell in love
with you, so can we please drop this?
     "To drop" a topic of conversation is to stop talking about it.

Mr. Winky is still on Chicago time, and there
is only one way to make Mr. Winky go away.
     "Mr. Winky" is Greg’s ridiculous way of referring to his penis. "Chicago time"
     is the actual time in Chicago, as opposed to New York, which is an hour earlier
     (there are three times zones in the U.S.).

What’s with the robe? :: My pajamas are in the suitcase with everything else.
     "What’s with…" is a common and colloquial way of asking a question about
      something that is unexpected, or seems strange or out of place.

You’ll have the pullout in the den
     In this case, a "pullout" is a bed that one pulls out from inside a folded couch.

Just try not to flush the toilet. It’s always a little quirky.
     "To flush" a toilet is to clean it out with a sudden flow of water.
     If something is "quirky," it acts a little odd or strange.

You’ve probably had premarital relations with my daughter, but
under my roof, it’s my way or the Long Island Expressway.
     "Premarital relations" is a ridiculously old-fashioned way of referring to sex before
     marriage. The Long Island Expressway is a well known highway, and thus thisis Jack’s way
     of telling Greg he can’t have sex with Pam as long as they are staying in his house.

Keep your snake in its cage for 72 hours.
     Jack’s completely stupid way of telling Greg to keep his penis in his underwear.

We’re experiencing heavy call volume…
     The words a taped message will say when it’s difficult to talk to a
     real person because they are so many people calling at the same time.

There’s just something about him that’s a little off.
     If a person is a little "off," there is something about
     them that is strange, but it is not clear what it is.

We’ve been through this with every boyfriend
Pam has had since middle school.
     In this case, to "go through" something is to experience it, or discuss
     it over and over. Middle school is grades 6-8, before high school.

What kind of family doesn’t have time to sit down for dinner? :: Fugitives.
     "Fugitives" are people who are being chased by the police because they have broken the law.

Pamela Martha Focker.
     This would be Pam’s full name if she married Greg, which is funny since it
     could sound like "motherfucker," which is one of the dirtiest words in English.

Operation Ko-Samuai.
     The name of what looks like a secret project that Jack is working on.


             Greg learns the truth about Jack’s life at the CIA, enters
             the "circle of trust," and meets the rest of Pam’s family


Jesus, Jack, you scared me.
     A common way of expressing emotion such as fear, anger or surprise.

I saw a light on in here and I kind of stumbled in.
     "To stumble" is to trip or perhaps walk without control.

This is great. It’s a cozy little nook.
     "Cozy" means small and comfortable, like a warm room
     when it’s raining outside. A "nook" is a small private place.

It’s an antique polygraphic machine.
     A "polygraph" is a machine that tries to tell whether or not a person is lying.

Let’s give it a whirl.
     A way of saying "let’s try it" (A "whirl" is the act of spinning around).

No peeking.
     "To peek" is to try and secretly look at something that others do not want you to see.

Did we eat pot roast for dinner tonight?
     A traditional type of beef, usually served with potatoes.

I’m just kidding.
     "To kid" around is to be joking, or not serious.

Have you ever watched pornographic videos?
     Adult movies that are filled with graphic sex.

What did you tell him? :: Nothing, I yanked
the little things off before I had to answer.
     "To yank off" something is a phrasal verb which means
     to forcefully or quickly pull it off from something else.

Is this how you would react if I told you he shoved bamboo shoots up
my fingernails...or does he hook up all your boyfriends to his machine?
     "To shove" something is to forcefully push it. "Bamboo shoots" are hard plant roots
     that are found in Asia. "To hook up" a person to a machine is to connect them to it.

He was never in the rare flower business. That was just his cover.
     In this case, a "cover" is a fake story that is designed to fool
     people so they won’t know the truth about a situation.

How come you didn’t tell me? :: It was strictly on a need to know basis.
     "How come" is a common way of asking why. "Strictly" means completely or exactly.
     If something is on a "need to know basis," only those people who truly need to know
     are ever told about it.

He was like a psychological profiler. They used him to
interrogate suspected double agents in the company.
     A "psychological profiler" is a person who analyses the personal psychology
     and behavior of people in order to see what kind of people they really are.
     "To interrogate" a person is to question them very seriously, often over several hours
     or more. A "double agent" is a spy for one country who is actually spying for another.

I was scared of your dad when I thought he was a florist. It’s wonderful
to know that I’ve actually got a CIA spy hunter on my ass.
     A "florist" is a person who sells flowers. If a person is "on your ass," they are
     trying to capture or perhaps hurt you. Slangy, but useful (The CIA is the Central
     Intelligence Agency, a US spying organization).

This is a lot to take in, honey. I’m sorry.
     In this case, " to take in" a lot means to learn a lot that is quite
     overwhelming or dramatic (Here, that Jack worked for the CIA).

Pam told me that she let you in on a little secret of mine.
     "To let a person in on" a secret is to tell them it.

You are now on the inside of what I like to call "the Byrnes’ family circle of trust."
     This is Jack’s way of referring to those people who are close enough
     to the family that they can be trusted not to tell all of their secrets.

Somebody had a little visit from the hair fairy.
     A "fairly" is a tiny magical figure that is shaped like a human that appears in children’s
     stories. This is a totally ridiculous way of saying that Greg’s hair does not look very good.

I’ll do the intros, Greg.
     A slangy way of saying to introduce people to each other.

The bride-to-be, and her fiancée, Dr. Bob.
     The "bride-to-be" is a woman who will soon get married.

You can call me Bob, M.D.
     The initials for a doctor (Medical Doctor).


And the world-famous plastic surgeon, Dr. Larry. :: Cut that out!
     A "plastic surgeon" is a surgeon who performs operations that improve people’s physical
     appearance. "Cut that out" is a great colloquial expression meaning "stop it!"

What field?
     In this case, a "field" is a specialization, such as skin, in medicine.

Just as well; Boards are killers. :: Actually, Greg aced his MCATs.
     The "Boards" are the Board Exams or MCATs, which stands for the Medical College
     Admissions Tests, which all students must take to get into Medical School. "To ace"
     an exam is to get an A on it, or at least do very well on it (MCATs are graded
     with numbers, not letters).

I wanted to keep my options open, but in the end, nursing was just a better fit for me.
     An "option" is a choice or alternative possibility. If one profession is a "better fit" for
     you than another, then it probably is more appropriate for your personality or life situation.

I can focus 100% on patient care as opposed to being
a doctor, where you have to deal with the bureaucracy.
     "To focus" on something is to concentrate on it, or to think of nothing but that.
     A "bureaucracy" is a negative word for a system of people in a large organization who
     are inefficient and often get little done. In this case, this is probably a reference to
     hospital and insurance company bureaucracies, on which doctors pass much of their time.

Now I have to reconfigure the whole procession.
     "To reconfigure" a plan is to reorganize it so that it will work smoothly.
      A "procession" is a group of people moving slowly in a ceremonial way
     (A wedding procession is led by the bride and groom).

Why doesn’t Greg stand in for Andy, to be the usher?
     "To stand in for" a person at a ceremony is to take their place.
     An "usher" is a person who helps people to their seats at a wedding,
     play or other public event.

We have a pre-activity briefing in 32 minutes.
     A "briefing" is an official word for a short meeting
     to go over plans or the details of a situation.

Tell that to Dr. Taquimata, in there with the grand inquisition.
     A reference to grand inquisitions in history (especially Spain), where people
     were questioned and even tortured for long periods of time in order to get them
     to reveal information or admit to a crime.

What the hell are you doing here?
    Added to Wh questions to show emotion such as surprise or anger. Colloquial and common.

Were you just sniffing my boxers, dude?
     "To sniff" is to smell (like a dog). "Boxers" are a type of underwear for men.
     "Dude" is an overused word for guy, that many young males use to address each other.

Dad keeps you under a pretty close watch.
     Dennis’ way of saying that Jack watches everything that Greg does.

You need some clothes...glad to hook you up.
     "To hook up" a person is to connect them, in this case with clothes.

Like what you did with the crib.
     A small bed for babies that has a railing around it so they can’t get out.
     (Note the use of elliptical sentences, where the pronoun ‘I’ is dropped).

She’s phat.
     A new teenage slang word meaning excellent, or
     more colloquially, cool (It is pronounced like fat).

Alright, here you go, chief.
     "Here you go" are the words to use when you are physically giving a person
     something. A "chief" is the leader of an Indian tribe, though it is also used,
     as here, as a slangy form of address.

Don’t worry about the covert op.
     Short for "covert operation," which is a term that describes secret
     missions performed by spy agencies, such as rescuing a kidnap victim.

I’ll keep it on the low down.  Down low.
     Greg’s attempt to sound young and cool and express the idea that he
     won’t tell Dennis’ secret, but in fact these words don’t mean anything.

People, come get your revised itinerarys.
     If a schedule is "revised," it is changed or modified because of a new
     situation. An "itinerary" is the planned schedule for an event such as a wedding.

I’m going to activate the alarm. It will go off in T minus 16 seconds.
     "To activate" an alarm is to set it so that it will ring. "T minus" is a
     military expression which says how much time until something happens.

Dennis, I’m lending Greg your jacket. :: Whatever.
     An overused word, that basically means "whatever you say is  OK."

This isn’t a sculpture. It’s a device for smoking marijuana.
     A "device" is an object, tool or machine.

I like the top hat. It complements you.
     A "top hat" is a type of fancy hat that is very tall. If a piece
     of clothing "compliments" you, it makes you look good.

If I find that you are trying to corrupt my first-born child,
I will bring you down baby. I’ll bring you down to Chinatown!
      In this case, "to corrupt" a person is to introduce them to things such as
      illegal drugs, or perhaps sex out of marriage. "To bring a person down" is
      a slangy way of saying  to defeat or possibly destroy them.


                Greg meets Pam’s ex-fiancée Kevin, and then
         seriously injures Debbie before her upcoming wedding.


This is Kevin’s  new house. :: Wow!
     A common way of expressing emotion such as excitement or amazement.

Maybe he uses marijuana  for medicinal purposes.
     Another word for medical. Some doctors prescribe
     marijuana as a medicine for certain conditions or diseases.

Get in some quality time with the boys?
     "Quality time" is a fashionable expression which refers to the passing
     of enjoyable time with a friend or relative that you don’t often see.

Why would a barbecue at the best man’s be weird?
     "The best man" in a wedding is the person chosen by the husband-to-be to make the official speech
     in honor of the new couple. "Weird" is an excellent adjective meaning strange or bizarre.

I was able to salvage this wood from an old seaman’s chapel in Nantucket.
     "To salvage" something is to save it for use before it is destroyed.
     A "chapel" is a small church (Nantucket is a town in Massachusetts).

The sun is out, the grill is hot and the pool is luke.
     The grill refers to the barbecue grill for cooking meats. "Luke" is short
     for luke warm, which is a bit cooler than warm, but it is never used!

It’s not a big deal. If I can handle a weekend without sex and
cigarettes, I can handle an afternoon with your ex-fiancée.
     If something is "not a big deal," it’s not important. In this case,
     "to handle" a situation is to be able to accept it or survive with it.

For the floor, I chose this Bolivian worm wood.
     Apparently, a type of expensive wood from the country of Bolivia.

I have the Viking range and the twin sub-Zs.
     A "range" is an oven, and "sub-Zs" are an expensive type of refrigerator.

Yeah, they kind of blend in.
     If something "blends in" with the rest of the room, they are not easily
     noticeable, perhaps because they look like other things in the room.

I got in early on some wireless IPOs and the stuff just skyrocketed from there.
     "To get in early on" a stock is to buy it before the price goes up. "Wireless" refers
     to those technologies such as cell phones that do not need to be plugged into a wall.
     An "IPO’ is an Initial Public Offering, which is when the stock of a company is offered
     for sale for the first time, and "to skyrocket" is to go up very quickly and very high.

There is a lot…..to be made with biotech stuff.
     "Biotech" is short for biotechnology, such as modern drugs. Note the general use
     of "stuff," that in this case refers to the products that biotechnology companies make.

How’s your portfolio?
     Short for "investment portfolio," which refers to the stocks, real estate and
     other investments where people put their money. Generally speaking, only rich
     people refer to their investments as portfolios.

You gotta strike while the iron is hot.
     Note that "have got to"-----> "gotta" in rapid speech. This is a way of saying
     that with investments, a person must take action when there is still opportunity
     if they want to make a lot of money.

That’s great to give something back like that. 
I’d like to find some time to do some volunteer work.
     "To give something back to the community" refers to the general idea
     that people that make a lot of money should contribute to the world
     around them since the world has given them so much.

I saw this golden retriever and he had like a gimp...it made me feel terrible.
     A "golden retriever" is a type of pretty dog that  always smiles.
     A "gimp" is way of walking that is lame or very fragile. Rarely used.

You’re a Wall Street trader. :: I’m willing to be
painted with that brush. Yes, that’s my day job.
     A "Wall Street trader" buys and sell stocks. If a person is "painted with a
     certain brush," they are portrayed or represented like that (in this case as
     a trader). A person’s "day job" is what they do for a living, though anyone who
     uses that term for themselves is probably saying they do more important things
     for themselves outside of that real job.

It looks like somebody got an ‘A’ in woodshop.
     "Woodshop" is a class in middle school where people learn to work with wood
     (There is also metal, auto and other types of shop classes).

I whittled that out of beach wood.
     "To whittle" a piece of wood is to reduce it in size with a knife by cutting off thin slices.

What got you into carpentering? :: Carpentry?
     "Carpentry" is the making of wooden objects such as beds
     or tables (And ‘carpentering’ is not a real word).

If you’re gonna follow in someone’s footsteps, who better than Christ?
     "To follow in a person’s footsteps" is to lead the type of life that
     they do, or to at least do something similar to what they do.

Greg’s Jewish. :: Wow, so was J.C. You’re in good company.
     "J.C." is a totally ridiculous way of referring to Jesus. If you are "in good company," you are
     part of a group with notable people, or have done something that other people have also done.

I just put a fresh coat of lacquer on this...so bear with me with the fumes.
     A "fresh coat of" paint is a new round or application of the paint.
     "Lacquer" is a stain that is applied to wood. "To bear with" a person
     is to be patient with them, and "fumes" are strong chemical smells.

It’s an altar. Oh, you might call it a "ho-pa."
     An "altar" is a raised piece of furniture that is used for religious events.
     "Hoopa" is a Hebrew word for an alter that is used at Jewish weddings.

When they purchase a home, maybe it will grace
their garden. Well, that’s my sappy, romantic idea.
     "To purchase" is to buy. If a flower "graces" a garden, it brings beauty to it.
     "Sappy" is an interesting word meaning too sentimental or sweet.

I carved it all by hand from one piece of wood.
     "To carve" wood is to shape it with a knife.

You guys grab your suits and I’ll meet you down at the pool.
     "To grab" something is to quickly take it. In this case, "suits" is short for swim suit.

Boy, she is a tomcat. Whoa.
     A "tomcat" is a fast and wild cat. "Whoa" expresses
     general emotion such as surprise or amazement.

I think they call that the munchies.
     A good colloquial expression for the strong desire
     to eat snack food such as potato chips or brownies.

Nice shot! Sweet setup, iceman.
     "Nice shot" are the words to use in  many sports when a person hits a ball. A "setup" in
     sports is the creation of a situation where a team can easily score. "Iceman" is a nickname,
     taken from the movie Top Gun.

You gotta rush the ball on defense.
     "To rush" a ball is to run toward it as quickly as possible.

Huddle up.
     "To huddle" is to get together in a small group, in the shape of a circle.

We’re getting creamed. :: Well, if Florence
Nightingale would play a little defense.
     If one team is getting "creamed," they are losing very badly
     (Florence Nightingale is a well known name from literature).

Greg, nobody is expecting much out of you, so if I set
you the ball, do you think you can jump up and spike it?
     In volleyball and water polo, to "set" a ball is to hit it gently in the air,
     and to "spike" the ball is to hit it strongly to the other side of the net.

Alright, everybody look sharp.
     If you tell a person to "look sharp," you’re telling them to look good and competent.

Go over the song selection with Bob.
     To "go over" something is to review it or discuss it.


What are you two doing in there? :: I’d say rounding second base.
     In baseball, to "round second base" is to run past the second base toward the third base,
     though in colloquial English among teenagers, it can refer to various sexual acts
     (A "home run" is sexual intercourse).


            Greg sets the house on fire and loses Jinxy the cat, and soon
           all of Pam’s family is convinced that he’s not the one for Pam.


Greg will stay in Debbie’s room and she’ll bunk up with you tonight.
      "To bunk up" with a person is to sleep in the same room with them
      (A bunk-bed is a piece of furniture with one bed built on top of another).

I have nothing but the best intentions with Pam.
     A nice way of saying an honest desire to help somebody,
     or in this case, perhaps to marry and stay with them forever.

There’s something in the suitcase that I’m planning on giving
her that I think symbolizes my level of commitment to her.
     "To symbolize" something is to represent it (A ring can symbolize the love
     between two people). "Commitment" is another word for loyalty or dedication,
     and is an important word in romantic relationships.

I saw Jinxy come in last night and he took a little squat and relieved himself.
     A "squat" is the act of kneeling low on the ground. If a person
     needs to "relieve themselves," they need to go to the toilet.

What’s the matter? :: The matter, Greg, R.N.,
is that when this toilet is flushed, it runs.
     An "R.N." is a regis