broke

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

If you are 'broke,' you have little or no money. Notice the following:

1. I can't go out tonight because I'm broke.
2. After paying my rent, I was completely broke.

anything in particular

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

Anything in particular that you would like to hear?

The phrase 'anything in particular' means a specific thing rather than something general. Notice the following:

1. Is there anything in particular you want to eat?
2. I'm looking for a gift, but nothing in particular.

a bunch

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I've got quite a bunch.

'A bunch' is an informal way to say a large number or a lot of something. Notice the following:

1. We took a bunch of pictures on our trip.
2. She has a bunch of friends at school.

ended up

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I ended up living in an apartment with three other people.

The phrase 'ended up' describes the final result of a situation, often one that was not planned. Notice the following:

1. We got lost and ended up at the beach.
2. He ended up working for a large company.

share

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

The share of my rent was $500 a month.

Your 'share' is the part of something that belongs to you or that you are responsible for. Notice the following:

1. Everyone paid their share of the dinner bill.
2. My share of the project was writing the report.

handing out flyers

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I worked at the station handing out flyers.

'Handing out flyers' means giving advertising papers or notices to people in public. Notice the following:

1. Students were handing out flyers for the school festival.
2. He spent the afternoon handing out flyers downtown.

brutal / harsh

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

That's brutal. That's pretty harsh.

The words 'brutal' and 'harsh' describe something that is very severe, difficult, or unpleasant. Notice the following:

1. The winter was brutal this year.
2. His comments were a little harsh.

truth is

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I got fired for talking too much. Truth is, the customers were interested in me.

We use the phrase 'truth is' to introduce the real reason or an honest explanation. Notice the following:

1. Truth is, I forgot about the meeting.
2. I didn't want to go. Truth is, I was too tired.

panic attack

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I really had a small panic attack.

A 'panic attack' is a sudden feeling of intense fear or anxiety that can make it difficult to think or stay calm. Notice the following:

1. She had a panic attack before giving her speech.
2. He took a few deep breaths to calm down after the panic attack.

toll free number

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I called the toll free number.

A 'toll free number' is a telephone number that people can call without paying a charge. Notice the following:

1. If you need help, call the toll free number.
2. The company provides a toll free number for customer support.

I was hoping they would

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I was hoping they would send me a case of pies.

We use 'I was hoping they would...' to talk about something we wanted or expected someone to do. Notice the following:

1. I was hoping they would let me leave work early.
2. She was hoping they would offer her the job.

got fired

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I got fired for talking to the customers too much.

If you 'get fired,' you lose your job because your employer decides to dismiss you. Notice the following:

1. He got fired for being late too often.
2. She was worried she might get fired after making the mistake.

hollow

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I took a bite in it and it was hollow.

If something is 'hollow,' it is empty inside. Notice the following:

1. The chocolate bunny was hollow.
2. The old tree was hollow in the middle.

daily nutritional intake

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

You just don't understand how much of my daily nutritional intake that pie represented.

Your 'daily nutritional intake' is all the food and nutrients you consume in one day. Notice the following:

1. Fruit and vegetables are an important part of your daily nutritional intake.
2. She tracks her daily nutritional intake with a phone app.

represented

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

You just don't understand how much that represented.

Here, 'represented' means symbolized or stood for something more important. Notice the following:

1. Winning the award represented years of hard work.
2. The gift represented their friendship.

vending machine

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I went down to the vending machine and I got my Hostess Fruit Pie.

A 'vending machine' is a machine that sells snacks, drinks, or other items when you put in money or use a card. Notice the following:

1. I bought a bottle of water from the vending machine.
2. There is a vending machine in the school cafeteria.

the fact that

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

The customers were interested in the fact that I was from New Orleans.

We use the phrase 'the fact that' to introduce specific information or explain a reason. Notice the following:

1. I like the fact that this phone is easy to use.
2. The fact that he arrived early surprised everyone.

busboy

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I would work as a waiter and busboy.

A 'busboy' is a restaurant worker who clears tables, brings dishes to the kitchen, and helps the waiters. Notice the following:

1. He worked as a busboy during college.
2. The busboy quickly cleaned the table for the next customers.

apologize

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

All he did was apologize.

To 'apologize' means to say you are sorry for something you did or for a mistake. Notice the following:

1. She apologized for being late.
2. You should apologize if you hurt someone's feelings.

lasted

You have many interesting stories about being broke.

I lasted two more months.

Here, 'lasted' means to continue in a situation before stopping or leaving. It often implies that the situation was difficult. Notice the following:

1. She only lasted a week at her new job.
2. I don't think I could last another hour in this heat.