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Toffee takes a trip
Toffee takes a trip

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Toffee takes a trip
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.
But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.
Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.
It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.
He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Toffee takes a trip

Chapter I

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.
Line 2
But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.
Line 3
Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.
Line 4
It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.
Line 5
He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.”

Onto preposition US /ˈɑːntuː/

moving to a position on a surface

From this reading “He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.”

All words in this reading · 84

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

approximately

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

become

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

bloody

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

blustering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

business

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

carefully

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

color

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

constantly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

decided

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

discomfort

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

dissolved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

embarrassedly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

face

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

fell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

flat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

followed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.

foolish

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

fringe

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

froth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

getting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

giggling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

Glumly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

interesting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

Marc

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

needed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/

moving to a position on a surface

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

Pillsworth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

promise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

reached

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

rolled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

sameness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

sandy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

shade

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

situated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

sold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

soup

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

stomach

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

sunny

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

Toffee

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.

tomato

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

torture

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

transferred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

trip

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

tripped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

trouble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.

vacation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

vermillion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was the sameness of the thing that was getting him down, the business of being constantly sold short on a promise of something interesting.

watched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

watery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

wave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Glumly, situated in sandy discomfort, Marc Pillsworth watched as another blustering wave tripped, fell flat on its watery face, and embarrassedly dissolved into a foolish fringe of giggling froth.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marc Pillsworth decided he needed a vacation--so he went on a trip.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He rolled carefully over, onto his stomach, which had, by now, become a bloody shade of vermillion, and transferred the sunny torture to his back, which had only reached a color, approximately that of tomato soup.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But where Marc went, Toffee followed--with trouble.