My mini lecture to Sarah this morning: I'm in the shower only five minutes a day. If you have a need that absolutely can't wait till those five minutes are over, you can speak through the shower curtain. It is not a sound-proof barrier. There is no need to whip the shower curtain open to ask me ridiculous questions like "Can I have ice cream for breakfast?". Also, please refrain from relaying the entire conversation that your friend had with her mom until I get out of the shower.
Her response: What does "refrain" mean?
Me: I will explain all this when I get out of the shower!
So now I'm standing in the bathroom wearing a towel, having this conversation:
Me: To refrain from something means not doing it.
S: Chloe's mom said "We'll have to play it by ear" about what time we can get together today. What does that mean?
M: It means we'll wait and see how things are going.
S: So basically it means "maybe"?
M: Basically.
S: But that's not really an answer!
[Interrupted by knocking at the door. Sarah runs to see who's there. It's her friend Katie.]
S: Mom, can I play with Katie?
M: Yes, briefly.
S (to Katie): I can play briefly.
K: What does that mean?
S: It means for a short time.
K: How short?
S: I don't know. Till Mom calls me. I'm planning on playing with Chloe, but we have to wait to play it by her mom's eye.
M: Ear. We're playing it by ear.
S: Whatever.
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