Speak like a native lesson No #32/💯

Once upon a time, in the heart of a vibrant city, there was a young man named Julian. His existence seemed like a never-ending journey down a dead-end street, where every step he took felt futile. Julian found himself lost in a maze of routine, suffocated by the monotony of his daily life. One day, while aimlessly wandering through the city's bustling streets, Julian stumbled upon an old, dusty bookstore tucked away in a forgotten corner. Curiosity ignited within him, and he couldn't resist the temptation to go through its doors, hoping to find something to knock him out of his Stagnant [stag-nant] existence. As Julian entered the dimly lit bookstore, the aroma of aged books filled the air, creating a mystical atmosphere. He wandered through the labyrinth of shelves until a peculiar [pe-cu-liar] book caught his eye. Its cover, worn and faded, seemed to whisper secrets to him, promising a way to knock out the chains that bound him. With trembling hands, Julian opened the book and dived into its pages. He was instantly knocked out by the words that danced before his eyes, weaving intricate tales of love, loss, and the human condition. The stories ignited a fire within him, awakening his dormant soul and filling his heart with a newfound passion. Days turned into weeks, and Julian became a regular visitor to the bookstore. He devoured books with an insatiable [in-sa-ti-a-ble] hunger, immersing himself in the worlds created by the words of countless authors. His once dull existence was now illuminated by the power of literature, each book knocking him out of his previous state of indifference. Julian's transformation didn't go unnoticed. His newfound passion knocked others out, too. His friends were impressed by his profound insights and the way he effortlessly conveyed the essence of the stories he read. They saw a spark in him that had long been extinguished, and they couldn't help but be drawn to his magnetic presence. However, not everyone was thrilled by Julian's metamorphosis. Some called him a junkie, addicted to the written word, unaware of the profound impact literature had on his soul. But Julian paid no mind to the naysayers; he was too busy embarking on a journey of self-discovery and intellectual growth. With each passing day, Julian's mundane existence continued to crumble. The chains that once held him captive were knocked out, destroyed by the power of storytelling and the beauty of words. He no longer feared the dead-end street he once walked; instead, he relished the unknown paths that lay before him. As Julian delved deeper into the labyrinth of literature, he found solace in the morbid, the unconventional, and the mysterious. He embraced the darkness, recognizing that within it lay profound truths about the human experience. It was in the shadows that he found his own light. Julian had knocked himself out of the confines of his previous life. Through literature, he had discovered a world full of infinite possibilities, where the human spirit could soar beyond the constraints of reality. And so, he continued on his journey, forever captivated by the magic of words and the stories they held within.

Knock out (1): to make someone leave a competition by defeating them. Meaning: To eliminate or defeat someone in a competition or contest, causing them to be forced to leave the competition. Explanation: This phrase is often used in sports or competitive events where participants compete against each other. When someone is "knocked out" of a competition, it means they have been defeated and are no longer eligible to continue competing. Examples: a) In the boxing match, the champion knocked out his opponent with a powerful right hook. b) The underdog team played exceptionally well and knocked out the favored team from the tournament.

Knock someone out (2): to impress someone. Meaning: To make a strong positive impression on someone, usually causing them to be astonished or captivated. Explanation: When something or someone "knocks someone out," it means they have made a significant impact, usually by being exceptionally impressive, beautiful, or surprising. Examples: a) The stunning performance by the young pianist knocked the audience out, leaving them in awe and cheering for an encore. b) The breathtaking view from the mountaintop knocked me out; it was the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen.

Knock out (3): to destroy something, or to stop it working. Meaning: To completely destroy or render something inoperable, often through force or impact. Explanation: This phrase is used to describe the action of damaging or disabling an object or system, making it unable to function properly. Examples: a) The storm knocked out power lines across the city, leaving thousands of homes without electricity. b) A severe collision can knock out the engine of a car and cause irreparable damage.

Knock out (4): make someone unconscious. Meaning: To cause someone to lose consciousness, typically through a blow or impact to the head. Explanation: When someone is "knocked out," it means they have been rendered unconscious, usually due to a physical force or injury. Examples: a) The boxer delivered a powerful punch to his opponent's jaw, knocking him out cold. b) The car accident was so severe that it knocked the driver out, and he had to be taken to the hospital.

Knock oneself out: make a lot of efforts to do something. Meaning: To put in a considerable amount of effort or work very hard to achieve or accomplish something. Explanation: This phrase implies that someone is exerting themselves to the fullest extent to accomplish a task or goal, often indicating a great level of determination or dedication. Examples: a) I'm determined to finish this project on time, so I'll knock myself out and work through the night if I have to. b) She knocked herself out studying for the exam, spending long hours at the library and sacrificing her free time.

Junkie: a person with a compulsive habit or obsessive dependency on something. Meaning: A term used to describe an individual who has an intense and compulsive habit or dependency on a particular substance, activity, or behavior. Explanation: "Junkie" is typically associated with drug addiction, but it can also refer to someone who is excessively obsessed with something, such as gambling, video games, or even collecting certain items. Examples: a) He was a heroin junkie for years before seeking help and entering a rehabilitation program. b) Jane is a self-proclaimed shopaholic; she's a real fashion junkie and can't resist buying new clothes.

Go through: to experience; to undergo. Meaning: To undergo or experience a process, situation, or set of events. Explanation: This phrase is used to describe the act of going through or experiencing something, often implying that it involves challenges, difficulties, or a sequence of actions. Examples: a) She went through a lot of hardships before achieving success in her career. b) The patient had to go through several rounds of chemotherapy to treat her illness.

Morbid (adj): showing a strong interest in subjects such as death that most people think are unpleasant. Meaning: Having an abnormal or excessive fascination with topics or ideas related to death, disease, or other unpleasant aspects of life. Explanation: When someone is described as morbid, it suggests that they have a peculiar or unhealthy interest in dark or gloomy subjects that most people find disturbing or unsettling. Examples: a) Ever since he was young, Tim has had a morbid fascination with horror movies and books about serial killers. b) Mary's morbid curiosity led her to visit the haunted house despite her fear of ghosts.

Dead-end (adj): permitting no opportunity for progress or advancement. Meaning: Refers to a situation or position that offers no potential for growth, progress, or advancement. Explanation: When something is described as a "dead-end," it implies that it is a point where further progress or development is not possible, often leading to a sense of frustration or hopelessness. Examples: a) After years of working at the company, John realized that his current position was a dead-end job with no chances for promotion. b) The project hit a dead-end when they discovered that the technology they were relying on was obsolete and couldn't be upgraded.