Hundreds of idiomatic expressions to give you an edgy in English

Do you want your English to sound natural and fluent?

Then you need this. Idiomatic expressions are as essential to natural-sounding English as strong vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. But they can be challenging to remember, and even harder to use in conversation. This program can help you, though. It is a simple and straightforward way to master hundres of useful and common idiomatic expressions. Best of all, you don't need to use a book, so you can listen anywhere and anytime it's convenient. all you have to do is listen and repeat, and soon your English will sound more natural and confident-it's a piece of cake!

Lesson 1

My toe is killing me!

1.    To be tied up with something or someone.
2.    To be killing someone
3.    A beauty
4.    To do a number on something
5.    A surefire way to do something
6.    To live something down
7.    To outdo yourself
8.    A tall order
9.    To be out of the question
10.    To be back in the saddle
11.    To handle something
12.    To be a piece of cake
13.    To take it easy
14.    To baby someone or something
15.    To keep an eye on
16.    To get in touch with
17.    To drop by
18.    To follow up on something

首先把第一课贴出来，看看大家认为如何，如果受欢迎，将会继续发表。
个人认为很不错的一个学习资料。

thank you

There are so many stange words I can't understand .
I think I shoud work harder.
Thanks.

I‘m sorry that I haven't read  all it that is so long ,I can't open the MP3 website,give me a correct message.Thanks very much.

thank you for you great work

　　加油加油，希望哪天自己能够全通

　　四年没碰英语了，生疏滴狠哪。。。

哈哈，我刚刚到其他网站上下了书的PDF格式。。。不错的书

thank you very much

Dear Mom and Dad,
How are you? It’s the end of the semester and I’m really under
the gun. I’m up to my eyeballs in work. The amount of reading my
professors assign is ridiculous. And, as you know, I thought I’d try my
hand at a new sport and joined the university’s rowing team this
semester.With that decision, I may have bitten off more than I can
chew. Between school,my job, and that, the only time I find time to
study is late at night. I’m burning the midnight oil six days out of
seven. And even though I’ve really buckled down and begun to study,
I’m still not finding the time to get everything done.
What else? Oh!My old computer finally bit the dust.What a pain
in the neck—right at the end of the semester! It really puts me
between a rock and a hard place. I try to use the computers in the
library, but it’s only open until 11 p.m. I never make it there on time,
so I have to ask my roommate if I can use his computer. But as you
know, the guy is a bit odd. Personally, I don’t think he’s playing with
a full deck. You know, I always say,“you scratch my back, I’ll scratch
yours,” but the favors he asks of me are usually outrageous, and he
then gets mad if I don’t agree to them. The other day, he asked to
borrow my car for a six-hour drive to visit his girlfriend for the day.
When I said no, he blew up at me, and then that night, about an hour
after I had turned in for the night, he got up, turned on his music and
started to do yoga! Anyway,money’s not so good now that I have to
save for a new computer. I don’t want to cut corners and buy a cheap
computer, because I’d just have to replace it soon anyway.
On a more positive note, I’m all about this rowing thing. I wanted
to be on the competition team next semester, but thought I didn’t
have a prayer since, for most of the guys on that team, rowing is old
hat. They’ve been at it since they were kids and I’m still green. But
Coach said yesterday that if I keep at it, I’m a shoo-in for a position on
the competition team. That made my day.Well, that’s all for now. I’ll
write again soon.
Love, Brad

1. To be under the gun. To be under pressure or stress.
2. To be up to one’s eyeballs in something. To have a lot of or too
much of something.
3. To try one’s hand at something. To try something for the first
time.
4. To bite off more than you can chew. To commit yourself tomore
than you can handle.
5. To burn the midnight oil. To be awake and doing something late
at night.
6. To buckle down. To dedicate yourself to an activity, to work very
hard and seriously at something.
7. To bite the dust. To break. To be nomore. To die.
8. To be a pain in the neck. To be an annoyance, a difficulty, a
hindrance.
9. To be between a rock and a hard place. To be in a position where
you can’t do what you want to do because you’re caught
between two options that are both difficult or disagreeable.
10. To not be playing with a full deck. To behave in an illogical or
crazy way. To be crazy.
11. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Said about a situation in
which two people can benefit from each other’s help. Each will
do the other a favor in order to get what he or she wants from
the other person.
12. To blow up at someone. To suddenly get very angry with
someone and yell. To explode.
13. To turn in, or to turn in for the night. To go to bed.
14. To cut corners. To fail to spend the proper amount ofmoney,
effort, or time on something.
15. On a positive note. To talk about happier issues.
16. To be all about something. To be very interested or active in
something. To like something very much.
17. To not have a prayer. To not have a chance or hope.
18. To be old hat. To be something someone is accustomed to.
19. To be at something. To engage or take part in something.Notice
that you can also say “keep at” something,meaning to continue
to take part in something.
20. To be green. To be new or inexperienced.
21. To be a shoo-in. To be the best or most likely candidate for
something.
22. Tomake someone’s day. To cause someone great happiness, joy,
or pride.

many

Jade: I’m so tired of shopping! Trying to find the perfect
clothes for me out of the hundreds of things we’ve
seen is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
Orlando: Oh, don’t exaggerate.We haven’t seen that much.Hey
look! That place looks nice. Let’s check it out.
Jade: I don’t know . . . those clothes in the window aren’t
exactly my cup of tea. Plus, it looks expensive.We’d
probably have to pay through the nose for anything we find.
Orlando: Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this
morning or what?! Don’t be such a wet blanket. You’re
the one who’s always complaining about your clothes
being out of style. I let you drag me out shopping so
you can keep up with the trends, so this is all for you,
not for me.
Jade: Okay, you’re right.We’ll give it a try.
Orlando: Hey, look at this blouse. Do you want to try it on?
Jade: Wow, it’s a bit low-cut, don’t you think? And you can
see right through it! Won’t leave much to the imagination . . .
Orlando: I don’t know, I think it might be kind of hot.
Jade: Forget about it, I’mnot wearing that in public. It
would turn too many heads, and you know you’re the
jealous type.
Orlando: Well, in private then . . .
Jade: Just drop it!
Orlando: Okay,what about these pants?
Jade: Hmm. . . Those aren’t bad . . .Wait . . . Let me see the
price . . . Right . . . Just as I thought.Unless you want to
cough up $150 for a pair of pants . . . I don’t think so.
Orlando: All right . . . How about these jeans? Nice cut, basic,
they don’t cost an arm and a leg . . .
Jade: Yeah, but they look like cheap knockoffs. If I’mgoing to
wear bargain basement clothing I want to be the only one who knows it.
Orlando: Oh, come on, these look fine. And besides,why do you
give a darn what other people think?
Jade: Didn’t you always use to say that the clothes make the man?
Orlando: Well, now I’m reformed. I just throw on whatever’s
clean and out the door I go.
Jade: Well, I like to make a nice impression, to come off as
someone who cares about the way she looks.
Orlando: Speaking of which, check out these pants. They’re really great.
Jade: Yeah . . . but these pleats, all these pockets, they’re a bit busy.
Orlando: I think they’re unusual, really one of a kind.Why don’t
you just try them on? You might like them.
Jade: Oh, all right.Hand them over. I’ll try them on.
(Pause)
Orlando: Well, let’s have a look! Can I see them von you?
Jade: What do you think? I don’t think they’re me. I told you
it would be impossible to find . . .
Orlando: I hate to burst your bubble, but those pants look great
on you . . . They fit you like a glove.Why are you
frowning? We’ve finally found something that looks great!
Jade: Now we have to find a top to go with it!

1. Like looking for a needle in a haystack. Looking for something
that is very difficult to find.
2. To check something out. To see or find out about something.
3. To be someone’s cup of tea. To be pleasing or interesting to
someone. To fit someone’s tastes or interests.
4. To pay through the nose. To pay a lot of money.
5. To wake up on the wrong side of the bed. To be in a bad mood.
6. Wet blanket. Unenthusiastic or disagreeable, lacking the
appropriate attitude or spirit for a particular situation.
7. Out of style.No longer in fashion or vogue.
8. To drag someone somewhere. To convince someone to go or
come somewhere they don’t want to be.
9. To keep up with the trends. To follow new fashions or trends
very closely.
10. To try something on. To wear a piece of clothing to see if it fits
properly or looks nice on a person. Notice that you can extend
this idiom to “try something on for size.” It can mean the same
thing as to try an article of clothing on, or it can be used
generally to mean to try something and see how it feels or works.
11. Low-cut. Describes clothing that is cut to reveal skin, to cover
less of the body than usual.
12. It doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Said of clothes that
reveal a lot of skin, that are very tight, or that are nearly see through.
13. Hot. Physically attractive, sexually appealing.
14. To turn heads. To be beautiful, to cause people to turn and look
at you.
15. To drop something. To forget something, or to stop talking
about something.
16. To cough something up. To find the means to provide
something, especially money.
17. Knock off. A cheap and low-quality reproduction of something expensive.
18. Bargain basement. The area of a store where older sale items
are displayed for discount prices. This expression is also used to
describe any cheap or low-quality clothing.
19. The clothes make the man. An expression meaning that people
are judged by their appearance, including especially the clothes
they choose to wear.
20. To throw on. To put clothes on hastily and thoughtlessly.
21. Make a nice impression. To give people a favorable idea of who you are.
22. To come off as. To give a certain impression, to suggest a certain
attitude or style.
23. Busy. Describing something that is overly designed—clothes,
patterns,wallpaper, art, etc.—or has too many elements.
24. One of a kind. Unique. Unlike anything else.
25. It’s very me. It’s typical of something I’d wear, do, or say. It’s
representative of me.
26. To burst someone’s bubble. To disappoint someone. To give
someone disappointing news.
27. To fit someone like a glove. To fit someone perfectly, as if the
thing that fits were made specifically for that person.
28. To go with something. To match something. To look nice
together with another thing.

Lesson 7 Now We’re Cooking!

Host: Welcome to Now We’re Cooking!—where eating
gourmet doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Each
week we break down culinary master pieces from
world-famous chefs, and take you step by step from
choosing the right ingredients to serving them up.
Today we’ve got a lasagna by our guest chef Vincent
Charbelle that will knock your socks off. I mean, it’s
really out of this world. Chef Charbelle is here with
us to share his recipe and teach us a few tricks of
the trade.Welcome, Chef Charbelle. Thank you for
joining us.
Chef Charbelle: Thanks for having me, Brian.
Host: The lasagna we’ll make today is your own recipe?
Chef Charbelle: Yes.
Host: And we’ll make it all from scratch . . .
Chef Charbelle: Certainly, and all with fresh ingredients.
That’s really the secret to top-notch cooking.
Host: When did you first dream up this special lasagna?
Chef Charbelle: About eight years ago. I was eating at a friend’s
party and realized how lifeless most people’s
lasagna is. I wanted a lasagna with zip, something
that would stick to the ribs, but wouldn’t weigh you
down. So I went home that night and baked about
fifteen trays of it until I came upon this recipe.
Host: Incredible! It took some time, but you really came up
with something unique.Well, let’s get started. As
usual here on Now We’re Cooking! to prove that even
amateurs can make meals to die for, we invite a
member of our studio audience to lend a hand in the
preparation of the dish. Today we have Beatrice from
San Diego.Welcome, Beatrice.
Beatrice: Hello.
Host: Are you ready?
Beatrice: I’m really a terrible cook. . . .
Host: That’s why you’re here, Beatrice . . . To show the
world that you too can make exquisite food. Just
give it your best shot.
Beatrice: Okay. I’ll try it. I guess the proof is in the pudding!
Or at least the lasagna, in this case.
Host: That’s right.Okay, let’s take a short commercial
break, and then we’ll pick up with our lasagna where
we left off.
(Commercial break.)
Host: Hello,welcome back to Now We’re Cooking! During
the commercial break,we mixed the cheeses and
spices, boiled the noodles, and made a sauce from
home-grown tomatoes. So now we’re ready to put
this baby together!
Beatrice: I think I over-boiled the noodles.
Chef Charbelle: No, Beatrice, you did fine . . . You caught them in the nick of time.
Host: Well, that brings up a good point. For lasagnas, or
any pasta dish that will be baked or re-heated later,
you want to undercook the noodles . . . This prevents
them from getting soggy when you re-cook them later.
Chef Charbelle: Absolutely, Brian.
Host: So, let’s get to it.
Chef Charbelle: You might notice that Beatrice has laid out the
noodles flat while we were waiting to use them. This
is so that they don’t dry in weird positions before we
get a chance to put the lasagna together.
Host: Great.Now, the rest of this is really a piece of cake.
Chef Charbelle: You said it.We’re just gonna put down a layer of
noodles, then sauce, then cheese, and keep on like
that till we fill the tray.Here Beatrice, you try.
Beatrice: Okay.
Chef Charbelle: Now to give this lasagna some kick, you want to lace the
lasagna throughout with a grated cheese that
has bite . . . Beatrice is using a nice robust pecorino
cheese. Lookin’ good, Beatrice!
Beatrice: Thanks.
Chef Charbelle: While Beatrice finishes up here, I’ll show you
a tray that I finished and baked ahead of time.
Host: Let me help you . . . Can our cameras get a shot of
that? Now that’s a lasagna you can sink your teeth
into! Thanks,Mr. Charbelle. That’s all for our show
today. Folks, as always, don’t forget what we always
say here at Now We’re Cooking!—The devil’s in the
details and the secret’s in the sauce!

1. To be cooking. To be on the right track, to be making very good
progress, to be on a roll with ideas.
2. To cost an armand a leg. To be very expensive.
3. To break something down. To divide something into smaller
parts in order to explain it or understand it more easily.
4. Step by step.One piece or part at a time, little by little.
5. Out of this world.Outstanding, incredibly good.
6. Tricks of the trade. Information that experienced people in a
field know that makes their work easier or the product of their
labor of a better quality.
7. From scratch.Homemade, by hand, from basic rather than
prepackaged ingredients.
8. Top-notch.Of the highest quality.
9. To dream up. To invent or conceive of.
10. Zip. Spiciness, flavor, tanginess.Not usually used with reference
to sweet foods.Note that zing, bite, and kick are all used to mean the same thing.
11. To stick to the ribs. To be filling. To be substantial.
12. To weigh someone down. Tomake someone feel slow or tired.
Said of something experienced as a weight—emotional,
physical, psychological, etc.
13. To come upon. To discover by accident.
14. To come up with. To create something original.
15. Something to die for. Something that is amazing or great.
16. To lend a hand. To help.Notice that “a hand” can be used to
mean “help” in other expressions—to offer a hand, to ask for a
hand, to need a hand, etc.
17. To give it your best shot. To try the best that you can.
18. The proof is in the pudding. A saying that means that the true
measure of how good something is can only be judged once it
is made or done.
19. In the nick of time. Just in time,with no extra time to spare.
20. To lay out. To arrange in a flat position, to spread out.
21. Something to sink your teeth into. Something of substance or
depth. Also used in reference to non-food items.
22. The devil’s in the details. A saying that means that changes in seemingly
small orminor elements can make a big difference in the outcome.
23. The secret’s in the sauce. A saying that means that the secret
that makes something special or valuable is hidden or not
immediately visible.

Lesson 6  Honey, There’s Something on My Mind . . .

Al: Hi, sweetie! How are you? Don’t you normally work on Fridays?
Beth: Yeah, but I had to talk to you. It couldn’t wait.
Al: Oh, sure . . . Um,what’s up?
Beth: Well, I need to get something off my chest.
Al: That’s good, because there’s been something on my mind, too.
Beth: Let me go first; this is important.
Al: Okay.
Beth: I’m sorry to spring this on you, but I think we should break up.
Al: Wow . . . That’s big news.Well, how . . . I mean . . .Well,
why do you want to dump me?
Beth: I suppose it would be fair of me to give you a reason.
Al: Well, yeah! This comes out of nowhere. A reason would be nice.
Beth: I’m breaking up with you because you’ve become a
real couch potato. All you do is watch TV. And the only
thing you like to watch on TV is cartoons.
Al: But I thought you were crazy about cartoons!
Remember that time we saw the movie “A Bug’s Life”?
You were smiling during the whole thing . . . And you
were in seventh heaven for the rest of the night. Didn’t you enjoy it?
Beth: I thought it was cute, but I then I moved on! You’re still obsessed with cartoons.
Al: Well,what else?
Beth: You’ve really let yourself go, too! We used to go biking
and play tennis, and now you just sit around eating
cereal,watching your cartoons!
Al: So, I don’t turn you on anymore? Isn’t it a bit shallow
to break up with someone just over looks?
Beth: But that’s not all. You never want to go out and do
anything.We stay here all the time, and your
apartment is a pigsty. You never do the dishes or the
laundry. There are empty pizza boxes from two weeks
ago on your kitchen table. It really drives me up the wall!
Al: Mmmm. . . But we’ve been going out for two years
now, and I’ve never exactly been tidy . . .Why didn’t
you bring this up sooner?
Beth: I thought it was cute at first . . . I thought I would get
used to it. Later, I thought you would grow out of it.
Anyway . . . that’s not the point. I just don’t want to see you anymore.
Beth: So . . . you said you had something you wanted to tell
me? I suppose how you hate that I try to control your
life and change you . . .
Al: No—actually, I wanted to ask you if you knew where I
left the remote control for the TV—I haven’t been able
to find it for weeks.
Beth: It figures.

1. To get something off your chest. To say something important
that you’ve been thinking about a lot.
2. To be on yourmind. To be something you think a lot about.
3. To spring something on someone. To give someone unexpected
news with no preparation or warning.
4. To break up with someone. To end a romantic relationship.
5. To dump someone. To stop being in a romantic relationship with someone.
6. To come out of nowhere. To seem to happen without any logical
explanation or warning.
7. Couch potato. A person who sits around and does very little
physical activity, often just watching TV.
8. To be crazy about something. To like something a lot.
9. To be in seventh heaven. To feel wonderful, to be very happy.
10. Tomove on. To begin something else, to stop focusing on one
person or thing and to start to think about someone or something else.
11. To let yourself go. To allow yourself to be in bad physical
condition because of diet or lack of exercise.
12. To turn someone on. To be a turn-on. To cause an attraction, usually physical.
13. To drive someone up the wall. To annoy someone very much.
14. To bring something up. To start to talk about something, to
introduce a topic in conversation.
15. To get used to something. To become accustomed to or familiar
with something.Notice that this expression is similar to “to be
used to something,”meaning to be accustomed to or familiar with something.
16. To grow out of something. To become too old for something, to
stop having an interest in something that used to be interesting.
17. To be the point. To be the most important fact or consideration about a topic.
18. It figures. This expression is used, often ironically, to mean that
some outcome is logical, expected, or unavoidable.

Lesson 5  Like Pulling Teeth

Salena: What a pain in the neck! It’s like pulling teeth trying to
get anything done with them!

Dario: What? Who?

Salena: The credit card company sent another bill to my old
address!

Dario: Not again . . .

Salena: This is the third time! I thought we got things squared
away after the last time I called.Now they’re saying I
have to cough up 150 dollars in late fees!

Dario: You’re gonna call and get that ironed out, right?

Salena: I don’t know . . . I’mso tired of dealing with them, I
think I might just bite the bullet and pay the late fee.

Dario: Don’t do that . . . That’s not right . . . Call again and
insist on talking to someone who can get it off your record.

Salena: Dario, it’s like flogging a dead horse . . . Every time I call
I get the same story. Address changed, everything
should be fine. And if I ask to speak with a manager, I
have to call back later because no one is there.

Dario: Sounds like they’re giving you the runaround. Just
cancel the card and refuse to pay.

Salena: Well, I will cancel the card, but if I don’t pay, I’ll have
that on my credit record.

Dario: If I were in your shoes, I’d call right now.

Salena: Okay . . . Fine . . . You’ll see.

Kurtis: Hello,my name is Kurtis.How can I help you today?

Salena: Hi, Kurtis. I got a bill saying that I owe late fees, but
the problem is that your company keeps sending
statements tomy old address, so the payment is
already late by the time I get them, and . . .

Kurtis: Okay, let me just pull up your account. Just one
moment.Okay, there we are. I see that your address is
listed as 47 Maple Terrace . . .

Salena: Yeah, that’smy new address. But the statements are
still being sent to the old one.

Kurtis: Okay, let me just put through a change of address, and
we’ll . . .

Salena: No, Kurtis, I’ve been down that road before. A few
times in fact. I really just want to have these late fees
taken care of.Obviously, I shouldn’t have to pay them.

Kurtis: I understandma’am, but unfortunately I don’t call the
shots in that area.

Salena: Okay, then I’d like to talk to someone who does.

Kurtis: All right,ma’am. If you’ll just hold . . .

Salena: Kurtis, please don’t put me on hold. I’ve been trying to
take care of this problem for weeks now, and I’m really
at my wit’s end. I need to speak to someone right now.

Kurtis: I’m sorry ma’am, but no one is available right now. If
you’ll just hold . . .

Salena: Kurtis, look, I don’t mean to get on your case
personally, but I feel like I’mjust spinning my wheels
every time I talk to someone in customer service. I’m
very dissatisfied, and I’m very frustrated. I’ve got a
good mind just to cancel my card.

Kurtis: I’m really sorry you feel that way,ma’am. You are a
valued customer, and . . .

Salena: Kurtis, please don’t feed me that line! If I’m such a
valued customer,why can’t anyone take care of my
problem? It really is beyond me how your company
can call me a valued customer but continue to . . .

Kurtis: Ma’am, I’m really sorry, but my hands are tied. If you’ll
just let me put you on hold or call back later, I’ll . . .

Salena: Call back later? Are you out of your mind? I . . .Wait,
you know what, I’m not going to take out my
frustration on you. I know it’s not your fault, that you
just work there, but I’ve really had it with your
company. I’d like to go ahead and cancel my card.

Kurtis: Okay,ma’am. I’msorry to hear that, but I do
understand. I’mgoing to transfer you to our
Cancellations Department, so if you’ll just hold . . .

Salena: Oh, for crying out loud . . .


1. Pain in the neck. Annoying or bothersome.

2. Like pulling teeth.Very difficult and tedious.

3. To get something squared away. To tie up loose ends. To solve
the various smaller problems of a larger troublesome situation.

4. To iron something out. To fix a problem, to correct a mistake in a
process.

5. To bite the bullet. To accept a disagreeable solution for a
difficult situation.

6. To flog a dead horse. To do something that has no hope of
succeeding or bringing about the desired result.Note that this
idiomis often used with “beat” instead of “flog.”

7. The same old story. The same explanation for a situation given
over and over again.

8. To give someone the runaround. To avoid answering a question
or giving someone help by treating them evasively or by
misleading them.

9. To be in someone’s shoes. To be in someone else’s position or
situation.

10. To pull up. To access a file or other information on a computer.

11. To have been down that road before. To have experienced or
tried something before, especially if it was not helpful or
pleasant.

12. To call the shots. Tomake the important decisions.

13. At your wit’s end. Completely frustrated and confused about
how to solve a problem.

14. To get on someone’s case. To aggressively bother or nag
someone about something.

15. To be spinning your wheels. To be putting forth an effort that is
having no useful effect. To be working in vain.

16. To have a goodmind to do something. To be inclined to do
something. To have a strong desire to do something.

17. To feed someone a line. To tell someone something that is not
genuine or truthful. To use a trite or clichéd expression instead
of the truth.

18. To be beyond someone. To be impossible to understand, to be
completely unbelievable.

19. To have your hands tied. To be unable to do anything to help a
situation.

20. To be out of yourmind. To be crazy, to be unreasonable or
irrational. This expression is very often used in response to
someone who proposes something completely unreasonable.

21. To take something out on someone. To direct anger or
frustration about something at someone who is not
responsible for it.

22. To have had it with something or someone. To be fed up with. To
not be able to handle anymore of a situation or person.

23. For crying out loud . . . This expresses complete frustration
about a situation.

thanks

my eyes...so many..

Lesson 4 I Have a Bone to Pick with You!

Rob: It’s not just the shirt, Andrew. It’s that you lean on
everyone else and expect them to pick up your slack.
You don’t take responsibility—you’re always passing the buck.
Andrew: That’s insane. I needed a shirt for a new job. If I were
such a slacker I wouldn’t even have a job.
Rob: Okay, let’s talk about the job, then.
Andrew: What about it?
Rob: Well, I got you that job. I hooked you up with a great
job at a place where I’ve worked for three years.
Andrew: And I’ve thanked you for it like a thousand times.
Rob: Yeah, but what you do there reflects onme. If you
screw up it really gives me a bad name.
Andrew: How amI screwing up? I work my tail off there!
Rob: Sometimes, yeah, but you also sit around twiddling
your thumbs a lot, too.
Andrew: Oh, that’s bull.
Rob: No, it’s true. And you also seem to find a lot of time to
chat up the pretty girls who walk in instead of doing your job.
Andrew: I’m a salesman! I’m supposed to talk with the customers.
Rob: But it’s the same thing at home. You’re still living with
Mom and Dad, and you hardly ever lift a finger around
the house to help out. You’re 22 years old and your
room looks like a train wreck. You don’t even pitch in
with groceries . . .
Andrew: That’s not true at all! And how would you know?
You’re not even there.
Rob: I have eyes, Andrew. I can see. You still act like a child
sometimes.
Andrew: Oh, you need to get off your high horse, Rob. You’re the
one acting like a child. You’re still trying to show
everyone up, like little Mr. Perfect. You were a goodygoody
as a kid, and you haven’t changed since.
Rob: Hey,what do you know . . . ?
Andrew: What?
Rob: While we were at each other’s throats you somehow
managed to get us to Aunt Helen’s.
Andrew: Don’t we get off here, at this exit?
Rob: Beatsme . . . You said you had the directions covered.
Andrew: Yeah, but I’malso driving right now. Just look in the
glove compartment. I think I put them in there.
Rob: They’re not here.
Andrew: They should be . . . Let me see . . . Ohman, I took them
out to double-check something and forgot to put
them back in. It must have slippedmy mind . . .
Rob: So we’re lost? That’s great.
Andrew: It’s no big deal.We can call or ask someone for directions.
Rob: This is typical.Why did you say you’d handle the
directions if you weren’t going to handle them?
Andrew: Look who’s talking! The only reason I said I’d handle
them is because I knew you couldn’t be counted on.
Rob: Me? You’ve got to be kidding. You’re the one who
doesn’t give a damn about anyone around you.
Andrew: All right, let’s not fly off the handle here.We just need
to get directions. There’s no reason to make a
mountain out of a molehill.What’s the deal?
(Silence.)
Andrew: C’mon. If you have a bone to pick with me, don’t beat
around the bush . . . Let’s get it out in the open before
we get to Aunt Helen’s place.
Rob: All right, fine. I think you’ve become a bit of a slacker
lately.
Andrew: You think I’ma slacker? That’s a bit harsh.Why would
you say something like that? What’s eating you?
Rob: Well, for instance, last week you needed to borrow one
of my shirts for work because you didn’t bother to
plan ahead and buy one yourself.
Andrew: It’s just a shirt! Are you really that bent out of shape
over my borrowing a shirt? You need to lighten up a bit, Rob.
Andrew: Oh, yeah. That’s her house there. Pretty good for such
a slacker.
Rob: Just park the car and give it a rest for now.
Andrew: Gladly. Just don’t criticize my parking job.
Rob: Ugh. The ride home is going to be long . . .

1. Beatsme. I don’t know. I have no idea.
2. To have something covered. To be responsible for something, to
handle something.
3. To slip someone’smind. To be forgotten by someone.
4. Look who’s talking! An expression of disbelief or ironymeaning
that someone is guilty of something he or she is blaming
someone else for.
5. To not give a damn. To not care.Note that some people consider
the word “damn” to be harsh and impolite, so an alternate
expression is to not give a darn.
6. To fly off the handle. To become extremely agitated, excited, or
angry. To react too strongly to a situation.
7. Tomake amountain out of amolehill. To exaggerate a situation,
to turn a relativelyminor situation into somethingmuch bigger
ormore important than it should be.
8. To have a bone to pick with someone. To have a problemor
complaint about someone.
9. To get something out in the open. To air a complaint or a
grievance, to discuss something openly.
10. Slacker. A lazy or irresponsible person. This expression is related
to the verb “to slack off.”
11. To be eating someone. To bother, aggravate, or frustrate
someone over a period of time.
12. Bent out of shape. Annoyed or bothered by something. Upset.
Note that this expression suggests that the reason behind the
emotion is insignificant or not worth being upset about.
13. To lighten up. To take amore casual or relaxed attitude. To not
be overly upset or angry about something.
14. To lean on. To rely or count on, to be dependent on someone else
instead of being self-sufficient.
15. To pick up someone’s slack. To compensate for someone else’s
shortcomings
16. To pass the buck. To put the blame or responsibility on someone
else.
17. To hook someone up with something. To arrange for someone
to have something. To help someone obtain something or to
give someone something.
18. To screw up. Tomakemistakes, to performpoorly.
19. To give someone a bad name. To give someone a bad
reputation.
20. To work your tail off. To work very hard. To put forth great effort.
21. To twiddle your thumbs. To do nothing. Literally, to have your
hands clasped and tomove your thumbs in circles around each
other.
22. Bull.Nonsense. Something untrue or unbelievable. Note that
this is a shortened,more polite formof an expression
containing a four-letter word. “Bull” on its own is not considered
vulgar, though.
23. To chat someone up. To talk to someone, to show interest in
someone bymaking conversation.
24. To lift a finger. To offer help. To put forth effort to do some sort
of physical work.
25. To look like a train wreck. To be verymessy or in terrible
condition. To appear as if destroyed in some kind of accident.
26. To pitch in. To assist, to share in a responsibility, such as
housework or bill paying.
27. To get off your high horse. To stop acting superior or selfrighteous.
28. To show someone up. To try to appear better ormore competent
than other people.
29. Goody-goody. An unflattering name for someone who behaves
very well, is very responsible, and never gets into any kind of
trouble. An expression that suggests that someone is afraid to
do anything wrong.
30. To be at someone’s throat. To be fighting with someone. To be
aggressively attacking someone.
31. To give something a rest. To stop doing something, to pause or
take a break fromsome kind of activity.

lesson 3

That’s a Weight off My Shoulders!

Giovanni: Hello?

Briona: Hey,Giovanni. It’s Bri.

Giovanni: Hey.

Briona: You know,Dad’s birthday is coming up in four days . . .

Giovanni: Ohman, I almost forgot! It really sneaked up on me this year.

Briona: Yeah, I thought it might have slipped your mind. So, I was wondering—do you wanna go in on a gift for him with me?

Giovanni: Yeah, sure . . . but I don’t have a clue what we should get him.

Briona: Me neither. I was thinking we could go to themall and look around.Maybe something will turn up.

Giovanni: When do you want to go?

Briona: Friday good?

Giovanni: Sounds like a plan. See you then.

Briona: What about a new grill?

Giovanni: Bri, I’mnot a rich guy. I can’t afford to break the bank with this gift.

Briona: Okay, how about a gift certificate to a bookstore? Dad loves to read.He’s a real bookworm.

Giovanni: Yeah,we already thought of that, and Aunt Linda is on the case.

Briona: Fine.Neckties?

Giovanni: Can you get anymore run-of-the-mill?

Briona: Well, thenWHAT?! Every suggestion Imake, you tear to pieces. At least throw me a bone here! It’s not helpful for you to just shoot downmy ideas!

Giovanni: Well, I don’t know what to get him either.What do you buy for theman who has everything?

Briona: Oh, you’re a great help! Your optimismis beginning to get on my nerves. I’m beat.Maybe we should just call it a day.

Giovanni: No,wait . . . All right, Bri, you want my two cents?

Briona: Finally! Yes!What do you think?

Giovanni: It’s his 50th birthday, so we should get him something good. . . .

Briona: Like . . . ?

Giovanni: I don’t know . . . Something that really knocks his socks off !

Briona: Big help you are! You know, you could at least . . . Hey! That’s it! Didn’t Dad say he wanted to start exercising,because he feels like he’s not in shape?

Giovanni: Yeah . . .

Briona: Well . . . we could get hima pair of running shoes, and a membership to a club!

Giovanni: Hmmm. . . That’s not bad. But how much will I have to shell out?

Briona: Don’t worry . . . Pay what you can; I’ll pay the rest.

Giovanni: This is hands down the best idea I’ve heard all day.

Briona: What a weight off my shoulders!

Giovanni: Mine too! And since I inspired it, you should treat me to lunch.

Briona: Don’t push your luck!

1. To be coming up. To be about to occur. To happen in the near future.

2. To sneak up on somebody. To happen or be about to happen
without someone’s realization or preparation. By the way, you’ll
hear many people use the past form“snuck” as well.

3. To slip someone’smind. To be forgotten.

4. To go in on something with someone. To share the cost or
expense of something with someone.

5. To not have a clue. To not know about something at all.

6. To look around. Tomove through a place and observe without
the intention of finding something in particular.

7. To turn up. To appear or be found.

8. To break the bank. To spend all yourmoney on something, to
empty your bank account to pay for something, to pay too
much for something.

9. Bookworm. A person who loves to read.

10. To be on the case. To already be working on a certain project, to
have begun working to achieve a particular goal.

11. To be run-of-the-mill. To be ordinary or typical. To be
commonplace.

12. To tear something to pieces. To find fault with something or
harshly criticize. To insult.

13. To throw someone a bone. Tomake a small or token gesture of
support for someone, often in a patronizing way.

14. To shoot something down. To dismiss or reject something, such
as an idea or a suggestion.

15. To get on someone’s nerves. To annoy or agitate someone.

16. To be beat. To be exhausted.

17. To call it a day. To decide that a project, event, or situation is over.
To stop working on something for the day.

18. To put in or give your two cents. To give your opinion or share
your ideas about something.

19. To knock someone’s socks off. To shock or surprise someone in a
pleasant or happy way by performing beyond expectation.

20. To be in shape. To be in good physical condition.Note that you
can also say “to get in shape,”meaning “to train your body and
become physically fit.”

21. To shell out. To pay, usually a bit unwillingly.

22. Hands down.Without a doubt.

23. To be a weight off your shoulders. To no longer be a source of
worry or concern for you.

24. To push your luck. To try to get too much of a reward, to be
greedy, to want too much.

lesson 2

Tying the Knot

Mike: Hmmm. . .What’s this card? “Join us!Matt and Allison are tying the knot! Take the plunge with themSaturday, June 22nd, at their Engagement/Beach Party. There’ll be no chance to get cold feet at this sizzling hot summer party! Takes place at Turtle Beach. This party is no stuffy ceremony, so join in if you want to see the couple let their hair down one last time before the walk down the aisle! RSVP by Friday, June 15th. It’ll be a blast!”Wow.Matt and Allison are gettingmarried! Didn’t see that coming.

Allison: Mike! You’re here! So glad you could make it!

Mike: Wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Matt: Hey, buddy! How are ya?

Mike: Great! Congratulations, you two!

Matt and Allison: Thanks!

Mike: Looks like a good turnout!

Matt: Yeah,we’re happy somany people could come.

Mike: So you two are finally gonna get hitched.Who popped the question?Was it you,Matt, or did you propose to him, Allison?

Matt: I decided to be the romantic one. I took Allison to the park where we had our five-year anniversary picnic, and asked her there . . . She was in a bad mood that day . . . I almost lost my nerve—I thought she was gonna turn me down!

Allison: He’s right . . . I almost left him in the park. I had a terrible migraine. Stress at work. And he’d been acting so strange, I guess getting ready for the big question.

Mike: Have you guys settled on a date yet?

Allison: We’re close . . . Sometime next July. You’ll be around,won’t you?

Mike: You can count on it.

Allison: Oh, I just sawmy aunt arrive. Sorry to bail on you Mike, right when you get here!

Mike: No, no problem;we’ll catch up later on.

Allison: Great. See you both in a bit.

Mike: Okay, can I ask you something direct?

Matt: Ha! It’s not like you’ve ever been one to beat around the bush.

Mike: Fair enough. Give it to me straight. Did she bully you into this?

Matt: No, seriously . . . I really want this.

Mike: I tell ya,when I got the invite, it really threw me for a loop. You’ve done a complete 180. Just a couple months ago, you were telling me how you kind of missed playing the field.

Matt: I know. But things have changed. I guess I’ve settled down.

Mike: I guess so! What happened?

Matt: Well, remember that car accident Allison had?When I found out, it was a real wake-up call. I remember thinking I didn’t know how I would live without this woman. It hit me—she was the one forme. I decided I should either marry her or stop seeing her.

Mike: Wow.

Matt: Really, and since I’ve proposed, everything has been perfect. I feel like a million bucks. It was the right decision.

Mike: I have to hand it to you. It seems like you’re really getting your life on track. You’re a lucky man. She’s a great person. You deserve a great woman.

Matt: Thanks, I appreciate that. But come on, this is supposed to be fun. Let’s grab a beer and join the party.

Mike: Great idea.

1. To tie the knot. To get married.

2. To take the plunge. To follow through on a big or life-changin decision.On the invitation, it has a double meaning. It refers both to a “plunge” into water at the beach party and to the fact that Matt and Allison will be getting married.

3. To get cold feet. To be or become afraid to do something. To have second thoughts.Notice that you can also say “have cold feet.”

4. Stuffy. Formal.Overly conservative in ceremony and style.

5. To let your hair down. To celebrate in a free and uninhibited way.

6. To walk down the aisle. To get married.

7. To not see something coming. To not expect something. To be surprised by something.

8. A turnout. The number of people at an event.Notice that there’s also the verb “to turn out.”

9. To get hitched. To get married. These days, this expression is an informal, humorous, and exaggerated way to say “to get married.”

10. To pop the question. To propose marriage to someone.

11. To lose your nerve. To lose courage.

12. To turn someone or something down. To say “no” to someone or something.

13. To settle on something. To decide something after discussion, consideration, or negotiation.

14. To count on something. To depend on something happening. To be sure something will happen.

15. To bail. To leave a person or quit a project earlier than expected. You can also say “to bail out on someone or something.”

16. To beat around the bush. To be indirect in approach in order to avoid confrontation.

17. To give it to someone straight. To be direct and honest with someone.

18. To bully someone into something. To force someone to do something.

19. To throw someone for a loop. To surprise someone. To confuse someone with something unexpected.

20. To do a 180. To change in a drastic way. To turn completely around.

21. To play the field. To datemany different people.

22. To settle down. To grow comfortable and content in a routine or situation, especially in a relationship with another person. Often, this implies growing older andmore responsible, or less fun-loving and free, depending on how you look at it!

23. To be a wake-up call. To be something that changes your view of what is important or possible.

24. To be seeing someone. To date someone informally.

25. To hand it to someone. To acknowledge someone’s achievement.

26. To get something on track. Tomake decisions and take actions

I got the whole text for Lesson 1

My Toe Is Killing Me!

Doctor: Sorry you waited so long, Paul; I’ve been tied up all afternoon.What seems to be the problem this time?

Paul: Doc, my toe’s killing me. I think it’s broken.

Doctor: Hmm. . . Let’s have a look.Oh, yeah, that’s a beauty. You really did a number on that toe.How’d it happen?

Paul: I was helping my brother move. I dropped a desk on my foot.

Doctor: Well, that’s a surefire way to break some bones. Paul, didn’t I see you last year for some sprained fingers?

Paul: Yeah . . . I was trying to fix the toilet and got my hand stuck. I yanked it out, and hurt myself. I’m still trying to live that one down.

Doctor: Well,Mr. Fix-it, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. You won’t be walking with this foot for eight weeks.

Paul: That’s impossible! I have a camping trip scheduled for six weeks from now. Can’t it be healed by then?

Doctor: That’s a tall order, Paul . . . But I suppose it’s not out of the question.With a lot of rest now . . . and intensive physical therapy, you just may be back in the saddle again in six weeks. But the therapy requires a lot of work, and time . . . and specifically, following the doctor’s orders . . . Can you handle that?

Paul: Piece of cake!

Doctor: But listen, even if you are walking by then, you’ve got to take it easy during the trip.No climbing trees or jumping across streams or anything. You really need to baby this leg for a while!

Paul: Sure thing.

Doctor: Well, Paul . . . let’s get you bandaged up.We’ll have you hobbling out of here in no time.Now . . . I want you to keep an eye on the swelling in the rest of the leg and foot. And get in touch with Dr. Phillips . . . She’s the physical therapist.

Paul: Okay,Doc. Should I drop by here another day?

Doctor: Yes.We’re going to want to follow up on this in about two weeks.

Paul: I’ll schedule an appointment with the receptionist. Thanks. Bye,Doc.

Doctor: You’re welcome. And Paul, take it easy,would you?

Paul: Yes, I will. I promise.

1. To be tied up with something or someone. To be busy.
2. To be killing someone. To be very painful.
3. A beauty. A very good or vivid example of something; in this case, a really good example of a bad injury.
4. To do a number on something. To damage, destroy, or hurt something badly.
5. A surefire way to do something. A way that will definitely have a certain outcome or result.
6. To live something down. To be allowed to forget about an embarrassing situation. This is used in the negative—to never or not live something down. A common way you’ll hear this expression is the phrase “I’ll never live this down!”
7. To outdo yourself. To do something very well. To do better than you normally do.Note that this expression is often used in a sarcastic way.
8. A tall order. An unusually difficult request.
9. To be out of the question. To be impossible to accomplish.
10. To be back in the saddle. To return to your normal activities, especially after an illness or injury. To be back in control of your normal activities.
11. To handle something. To cope with ormanage a situation.
12. To be a piece of cake. To be very easy.
13. To take it easy. To do things slowly and carefully,without tiring yourself.
14. To baby someone or something. To treat very carefully and with great sensitivity.
15. To keep an eye on. To watch carefully.
16. To get in touch with. To contact, to talk to someone.
17. To drop by. To visit someone.
18. To follow up on something. To address or check on a situation later.