Jing and I are reading a poem in which someone is said to “make a pass at” another someone. I suspect Jing has no idea what that means. My attempts to turn it into a teachable moment about context clues backfires.
Me: So they’re on a date, and he kissed her even though she didn’t want him to. So “making a pass” could mean…
Jing: Passing something, like they’re playing around.
Me: No. Okay, look. “Making a pass” is when someone does something physical with someone else who they are attracted to.
Jing: [enlightened] Oh, yeah. Like the bases.
Me: Yeah, where first base means making out. And second base is touching-
Jing: Whoa, whoa. I thought first base was holding hands and second base was kissing and third base is touching and fourth base is-
Me: There’s no fourth base!
Jing: Okay. So the homerun that’s when two people, uh, do the Mommy-Daddy Dance.
I don’t ask for any elaboration.
