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Thursday, February 11, 2016

Puppy love (used as a noun)

First Example:
            Tom: Chris said your son is dating?
            Carol: That's what he's telling everyone.
            Tom: I thought he was only 13!
            Carol: He is. It's only puppy love. But he and his girlfriend are so cute together.
            Tom: I remember my first girlfriend. We were both 12, and her name was... actually, I don't remember her name.
            Carol: Don't tell my son that. He told me he's going to marry this girl one day.

Meaning: The expression "puppy love" refers to the strong feelings at the beginning of a relationship, often used for young people and implying that the relationship won't last. Here, Carol says that her 13-year-old son's relationship is only "puppy love," which Tom seems to agree with when he can't remember the name of his girlfriend when he was 12.



Second Example:
            Sheila met her husband in high school; they were both only 17. Their parents and friends said it was just puppy love, and that they'd never last. But they got married 3 years later, and they have been happily married for 20 years now.

Meaning: The expression "puppy love" is also often used in this context, referring to relationships that started at a young age but developed into something long term.


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

To have the hots for someone (used as a verb)

First Example:
            Sandra: Have you seen the new Calculus professor, Mr. Crow? He's really handsome.
            Patty: Oh my gosh! You have the hots for teacher!
            Sandra: I do not! I was just surprised that he's so young, and kinda cute.
            Patty: (sarcastically) Sure, I believe you. Did you check if he has a wedding ring?
            Sandra: No! I would never date my teacher.
            Patty: Whatever you say...




Meaning: The expression "to have the hots for" someone means to be strongly attracted to someone. The idiom is most often used by another person, often in a teasing manner as in the example here. Here, Patty jokes that Sandra "has the hots for" the new professor after Sandra comments on the teacher being handsome. (usage note: when using this idiom to discuss a teacher, no article is used, presumably due to the 1980s Van Halen song "Hot For Teacher")

Second Example:
            Kevin: Are you going to Tina's party this weekend?
            Jeff: Maybe. Why do you ask?
            Kevin: Well, we all know you've had the hots for her since High school.
            Jeff: What makes you say that?
            Kevin: I just always thought you had a crush on her but didn't do anything because she was dating Michael. Now that they've broken up...


            Jeff: No, I do not have the hots for Tina. She's just a friend.