LESSON 39

to goof off: to waste time, to be idle

o         Some of the workers in our office always goof off when the boss is out.

o         On Saturday afternoons, I like to go to a movie or just goof off at home.

to talk back to: to answer in a rude manner, to speak to disrespectfully

o       Billy, if you talk back to me like that once more, you're going to spend the rest of the day in your room.

o       The school principal had to reprimand the child for talking back to her teacher.

to be in: to be popular or fashionable; to be available at one's work or home

o       Most young people tend to want anything that is in at the time, but a few don't care about current trends.

o       Could you please tell me when Mrs. Zachary will be in? I'd like to talk to her soon.

to be out: to be unpopular or no longer in fashion; to be away from one's work or home

o       These days, designer jeans are in and long skirts are out.

o       I'm sorry, Mr. Jensen is out at the moment. Could I take a message?

to draw the line at: to determine to be unacceptable, to refuse to consider

o       I don't mind helping him with his homework, but I draw the line at writing a term paper for him.

o       The conference organizers tried to accommodate the needs of the various interest groups, but they drew the line at extending the conference by two day.

to get out of line: to disobey or ignore normal procedures or rules (also: to step out of line)

o       When a child gets out of line in that teacher's class, she uses the old-fashioned method of making the child sit in the corner of the room.

o       Any employee who steps out of line by coming to work in an unacceptable condition will be fired.

dry run: rehearsal, practice session

o       The college president requested a dry run of the graduation ceremony in order to ensure that all aspects went smoothly.

o       Before the manager present the reorganizational plans to the board of directors, he did several dry runs of his presentation.

to play by ear: to play music that one has heard but never read (S); to proceed without plan, to do spontaneously (S)

The pronoun it is often used with the second definition.

o       That pianist can play most popular music by ear. She never needs to read sheet music.

o       My husband wanted to plan our trip carefully, but I argued that it was more fun if we played it by ear.

to be in (someone's) shoes: to be in another person's position, to face the same situation as another person

o       If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't take too many classes this semester.

o       When his boss finds out about that accounting error, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

to keep after: to remind constantly, to nag

o       Lynn always has to keep after her children about cleaning up their rooms and doing chores around the house.

o       Lon is so forgetful that it's necessary to keep after him about every little thing.

to fix up: to repair or put back in good condition (S); to arrange a date or an engagement for another person (S)

o       Instead of buying an expensive new home, we decided to buy an older home and fix it up ourselves.

o       Since my visiting friend didn't have a date for dinner, I fixed her up with a male friend of mine. They got along very well together.

to be had: to be victimized or cheated

o       When the jeweler confirmed that the diamonds that the woman had purchased abroad were really fake, she exclaimed, "I've been had!"

o       The angry customer complained about being overcharged at the store, asserting that this was the third time that he had been had.

LESSON 38

to land on one's feet: to recover safely form an unpleasant or dangerous situation

o       After a series of personal and professional difficulties, it's amazing that George has landed on his feet so quickly.

o       Some young adults get into so much trouble at school that they are never able to land on their feet again. They drop out before graduating.

to dish out: to distribute in large quantity (S); to speak of others in a critical manner (S)

o       Mary's mom dished out two or three scoops of ice cream for each child at the birthday party.

o       Larry can't seem to take any criticism of his actions but he certainly likes to dish it out.

to get through to: to communicate with, to make someone understand (also: to break through to)

This idiom has the meaning of to make someone "catch on" (Lesson 29, eighth idiom, the first definition)

o       Some of the students in my reading class understand English so poorly that it is difficult to get through to them.

o       The doctors have never succeeded in breaking though to Mr. Ames, who is a silent and secretive patient.

to keep one's word: to fulfill a promise, to be responsible

An idiom with the opposite meaning is to break one's word.

o       Suzanne kept her word to me not to let on to others that I intend to step down next month.

o       Thomas always intends to keep his word, but invariably the end result is that he breaks his word. He just isn't capable of being a responsible person.

to be over one's head: to be very busy, to have too much to do (also: to be up to one's ears); to be beyond one's ability to understand

o       I'd love to take a week off for a hiking trip, but at the moment I am over my head in work. Maybe next week when I'm only up to my ears!

o       It was impossible for the tutor to get through to Bill about the physics problem because the subject matter was over Bill's head.

to ask for: to deserve, to receive a just punishment (also: to bring upon)

o       If you drink alcohol and then drive a car, you're only asking for trouble.

o       Don't complain about your cut in salary. You asked for it by refusing to heed our repeated warnings not to be late and inefficient.

to be a far cry from: to be very different from

o       I enjoyed visiting Seattle, but it was a far cry from the ideal vacation spot I expected.

o       Ned is enjoying his new job, but his responsibilities are a far cry from what he was told they would be.

by all means: certainly, definitely, naturally (also: of course); using any possible way or method

o       If the Johnsons invite us for dinner, then by all means we have to return the invitation. Of cause, we don't have to invite their children, too.

o       In order to ensure its survival, the ailing company has to obtain an infusion of cash by all means.

to get out from under: to restore one's financial security, to resolve a difficult financial obligation

o       After years of struggling to get ahead, the young couple finally got out from under their debts.

o       The ailing company, succeeding in obtaining the necessary cash, was able to get out from under its financial burdens.

to take the bull by the horns: to handle a difficult situation with determination

This idiom is usually used when someone has been postponing an action for some time and finally wants or needs to resolve it.

o       After three years of faithful service, Jake decided to take the bull by the horns and ask his boss for a raise.

o       Vic has been engaged to Laura for a long time now, and I know that he loves her. He should take the bull by the horns and ask her to marry him.

to give (someone) a hand: to assist, to aid, to help (also: to lend someone a hand) (S)

o       Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?

o       When Terry's car broke down at night on the highway, no one would stop to lend her a hand.

to give (someone) a big hand: to clap one's hands in applause, to applaud (S)

o       After the talented new vocalist had sung her number, the audience gave her a big hand.

o       Should we give a big hand to each beauty contestant is as she is introduced, or should we wait until all the introductions are finished?

LESSON 37

to throw (someone) a curve: to introduce an unexpected topic, causing embarrassment (S)

o       The first week of class was going very well until a student threw the teacher a curve by suggesting that the textbook was too difficult.

o       The director asked us in advance to stick to the meeting agenda and not to throw him any curves.

to make waves: to create a disturbance, usually by complaining

This idiom is similar in meaning to the previous idiom, but the emphasis is on the aspect of complaining rather than causing embarrassment.

o       In most companies, an employee who makes waves is not appreciated.

o       The meeting was going smoothly until one of the participants made waves about the newly revised compensation package.

to carry on: to continue as before; to conduct, to engage in; to behave in an immature manner

o       Even in the face of disaster, the inhabitants carried on as though nothing had happened.

o       The business associates decided to carry on their discussion in the hotel bar instead of the conference room.

o       I can't believe that John carried on so much just because his dog died. He looked depressed and cried for weeks after it happened.

not on your life: absolutely not (also: no way)

This idiom is used as a kind of exclamation by itself.

o       You're asking me to invest in that poorly rated company just because you know the son of the president? Not on your life!

o       When a friend tried to get Mark to jump out of a plane with a parachute, he immediately responded, "No way!"

to cover ground: to be extensive, to discuss much material

Forms such as a lot of, too much, too little are used before the noun ground.

o       That national commission's report on urban ghettos covers a lot of ground. Many of the recommendations are too costly to implement.

o       In his first lecture on Greek philosophers, I thought that our professor covered too little ground.

to mind the store: to be responsible for an office while others are gone

o       It seems that all of our employees are taking a lunch break at the same time. I wonder who's minding the store.

o       Lynne agreed to mind the store while the others went outside to watch the parade passing by.

to throw the book at: to punish with full penalty, to be harsh on

o       Because the criminal was a repeat offender, the judge threw the book at him with heavy fines and a long prison term.

o       My boss threw the book at me when he discovered that I had been using company time for personal business. I was severely reprimanded and forced to make up the lost time.

to put one's foot in: to say or do the wrong thing

This idiom is used with the noun phrase one's mouth or the pronoun it.

o       Fred really put his foot in his mouth when he called his supervisor by the wrong name.

o       I really put my foot in it when I forgot my girlfriend's birthday and didn't buy her anything. She almost lost her cool.

to be up for grabs: to become available to others

this idiom is used when something is highly desirable to many other people.

o       When one of the full-time contract instructors stepped down, her nice office overlooking the river was up for grabs.

o       Did you know that Senator Stone is retiring and that her Senate seat is up for grabs?

to show off: to display one's ability in order to attract attention (S); to let others see, to expose to public view (S)

This idiom can form the noun showoff for the first definition.

o       Elizabeth is an excellent swimmer, but I don't like the way she shows off in front of everyone. It's very obvious that she enjoys being a showoff.

o       Jacquie showed her large wedding ring off to all her friends.

to learn the ropes: to become familiar with routine procedures at work or school

o       The job applicant didn't have much previous experience or knowledge, but she seemed intelligent enough to learn the ropes quickly.

o       It took the new schoolteacher a year to learn the ropes regarding administrative and curricular matters.

to keep one's fingers crossed: to hope to have good results, to hope that nothing bad will happen

This idiom reflects the way people cross their fingers to hope for good luck.

o       Let's keep our fingers crossed that we got passing grades on that college entrance exam.

o       Jerry kept his fingers crossed that the good weather would hold up for the picnic he was planning for the coming weekend.

LESSON 36

to check in: to register at a hotel or motel; to leave or deposit for transporting or safekeeping (S)

The adjective form check-in derives from this idiom.

o       Courtney arrived in town at mid-day and promptly checked in at the Plaza Hotel. The hotel permitted an early check-in time.

o       There dozens of people at the airline counters waiting to check their bags in for their flights.

to check out: to pay the bill at a hotel or motel and then leave; to investigate, to examine (S)

The adjective form check-out derives from this idiom.

o       The latest you should check out of the hotel is 12 noon. However, in your case, we can set a special check-out time of 2:00 P.M.

o       The police received a call from someone claiming to have witnessed a murder. The police sent two detectives to check the call out right away.

to take at one's word: to accept what one says as true, to believe

o       When he offered to be responsible for the fund raiser, I took him at his word. Now he's saying that he's not available to do it.

o       You should be careful about taking her at her word. She's been known to say one thing but to do another.

to serve (the/one's) purpose: to be useful, to suit one's needs or requirements

o       I don't have a screwdriver to open this, but I think that a knife will serve the purpose.

o       Jane prefers working to studying, so it served her purpose to drop out of school and take that job.

in the worst way: very much, greatly

o       Jim and Claudia want to have children in the worst way. They are trying very hard to conceive.

o       Because Umer ahs relatives in Turkey, he wants to visit there in the worst way.

to cop out: to avoid one's responsibility, to quit

This idiom is an informal version of the second definition to back out (lesson 29). The noun form copout means an excuse for avoiding responsibility.

o       Evelyn had agreed to help us with arrangements for the party, but she copped out at the last minute.

o       I can't believe that Cindy offered such an explanation for failing to show up. What a poor copout!

to line up: to form a line; to arrange to have, to manage to obtain (S)

o       The moviegoers lined up in front of the theater showing the most popular film of the summer.

o       Rob is going to schedule the famous author to speak at the convention if he can line her up in time.

to lose one's cool: to get excited, angry, or flustered

o       Despite the boos from some in the audience, the actors on stage never lost their cool.

o       Although the group of skiers were in danger form an apparent avalanche, their ski guide never lost his cool.

to leave open: to delay making a decision on (S)

o       In making up the job announcement, the firm decided to leave the salary open until a qualified candidate was found.

o       We know that the annual summer camp will be held in August, but let's leave the exact dates open for now.

to turn on: to interest greatly, to excite (S)

The idiom with the opposite meaning is to turn off. These idioms are used to form the nouns turnon and turnoff.

o       Does great art turn you on? I find going to a museum and viewing classic works of art a real turnon.

o       Going to a bar and having silly conversation with strangers really turns me off. In fact, most bar scenes are really turnoffs to me.

to miss the boat: to lose an opportunity, to fail in some undertaking

o       The precious metals market was looking up several months ago, but unfortunately most investors missed the boat.

o       Mr. Vlasic's new business went bankrupt within a short time. He really missed the boat by opening a tanning salon near the beach.

to think up: to invent, to create (also: to dream up)

This idiom is often used for an unusual or foolish thought.

o       Who thought up the idea of painting the living room walls bright red?

o       When asked by the teacher why she was late, the student dreamed up a plausible excuse.

LESSON 35

to pin on: to find guilty of a crime or offense (S) (also: to hang on)

This idiom is divided by a noun phrase containing the crime or offense. The accused person is mentioned after the preposition on.

o       The prosecuting attorney tried to pin the murder on the victim's husband, but the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty."

o       I wasn't anywhere near the window when it got broken. You can't pin that on me.

to get a rise out of: to provoke a response from

This idiom is usually used when someone is teased into responding in anger or annoyance.

o       You can kid me all day about my mistake, but you won't get a rise out of me.

o       I got a rise out of Marvin when I teased him about his weight. Marvin weighs over two-hundred pounds.

to stick around: to stay or remain where one is, to wait

This idiom is used when someone is waiting for something to happen or for someone to arrive

o       Todd had to stick around the house all day until the new furniture was finally delivered in the late afternoon.

o       Why don't you stick around for a while and see if Sarah eventually shows up?

to pick up the tab: to pay the cost or bill

This idiom applies when someone pays for the cost of another person's meal, tickets, etc.

o       The advertising manger is flying to Puerto Rico for a conference, and her firm is picking up the tab.

o       The government picked up the tab for the visiting dignitary. It paid for all of the lodging and meals, as well as transportation, during his stay.

by the way: incidentally

This idiom is used when someone thinks of something further in the course of a conversation.

o       Movies are my favorite form of entertainment. Oh, by the way, have you seen the new picture that's playing at the Bijou?

o       Vera's been divorced for three years now. She told me, by the way, that she never plans to remarry.

to go to town: to do something with enthusiasm and thoroughness

o       Our interior decorator really went to town in remodeling our living room. I'm afraid to ask how much it's going to cost.

o       Charlie really went to town on his research project. He consulted over forty reference works and wrote a ninety-page report.

to let slide: to neglect a duty (S); to ignore a situation (S)

o       Terry knew that she should have paid the electric bill on time instead of letting it slide. Now the utility company has turned off her service.

o       When he tried to get a rise out of me by mentioning my failure to receive a promotion at work, I just let it slide.

search me: I don't know (also: beats me)

This idiom is used informally, usually as a command form.

o       When Elmer asked his wife if she knew why the new neighbors left their garage door open all night, she responded, "Search me."

o       When I asked Dereck why his girlfriend wasn't at the party yet, he said, "Beats me. I expected her an hour ago."

to get off one's chest: to express one's true feelings (S)

This idiom is used when someone has long waited to express themselves.

o       Ellen felt a lot better when she finally talked to a counselor and got the problem off her chest.

o       Faye hasn't shared her concern about her marriage with her husband yet. I think that she should get it off her chest soon.

to live it up: to spend money freely, to live luxuriously

o       Kyle and Eric saved up money for two years so that they could travel to Europe and live it up.

o       After receiving a large inheritance from a rich aunt, I was able to live it up for years.

to liven up: to energize, to make more active (also: to pick up)

o       The teacher occasionally took the class on field trips just to liven things up a bit.

o       The animals in the zoo began to liven up when evening came and the temperatures dropped.

o       Many people have to drink coffee every morning just to pick themselves up.

to have a voice in: to share involvement in

o       The new vice-president was promised that she would have a voice in developing the company's international expansion.

o       The students are trying to have a voice in college affairs by gaining representation on administrative committees.