California Language Lab

Phrasal Verbs at UsingEnglish.com

For a great collection of phrasal verbs, see Using English.

a brief sampling of women in music

for some reason 'Femme Fatale' performed live by Nico, and Lou Reed (the composer) won't load here, so please go to the playlist on youtube to see it. On another note, I'm pleased to find some of my favorites made GQ's list of the 25 Sexiest Women in Rock (for what it's worth... but it's one way to learn about some musicians from the 90's and 00's.)

some musicians that came to mind

VH-1 Top 100 (women)

see list

smashing

Slang IT-EN
(?maybe?) "schianto" comes from "smashing" (Brit. E slang)

http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml
Smashing - If something is smashing, it means it is terrific

< http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/smash

smash (plural smashes)

The sound of a violent impact, to strike violently.
(colloquial, entertainment) Something very successful.

This new show of mine is sure to be a smash.

http://www.wordreference.com/enit/smashing
smashing /ˈsmæʃɪŋ/aggettivo
be colloq. favoloso, fantastico.

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/smashing smashing/ˈsmaʃɪŋ/

▶adjectiveBrit. informal excellent; wonderful.

– derivatives
smashingly adverb.
– origin C18 (as n.): prob. imitative, representing a blend of words such as smack, smite with bash, mash, etc.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/smashing