To Be Moved

To be moved: to be affected emotionally

Example 1:

Taka: I just saw that new movie everyone has been talking about!

Sarah: Really? You mean the one with that child actor, Josh Roberts?

Taka: Yes, he really did a wonderful job acting. The movie is about a boy who is blind, but learns how to do amazing things. I was really moved in many of the scenes in the movie. In fact, I even cried a couple of times because his acting was so powerful.

Sarah: Wow! I didn’t think it was possible for a 10 year old child to act so well in a part like that, but I heard that he has been nominated for many awards.

Taka: I know! I saw him accepting an award on TV last night and I was even moved by his speech! He thanked his parents and sister. He seems like such a nice boy.

Sarah: Ahhh. That’s so sweet, especially coming from a 10 year old.

Taka: Yes, it’s hard not to be moved when a child is so talented and speaks so well.

 Example 2:

Ken: What’s a matter, Jackie? You look so sad!

Jackie: Oh, sorry. I’ve been crying a lot.

Ken: Oh, no! Why? What made you so upset?

Jackie: Today was my last day teaching TOEFL at LSI. I’ve decided to go abroad and teach ESL in Korea.

Ken: OK. So shouldn’t you be happy and excited?

Jackie: I am excited, but I’ll miss my students a lot. Today, they gave me a card and a homemade cake at the end of class. I was really moved by their kindness. They were a great class and many of them are my friends.

Ken: I know that can be hard leaving one place and going to another.

Jackie: I was so moved that I started crying and just couldn’t stop!

Ken: It’s OK. Soon you’ll be starting your new job abroad and you’ll be fine.

Jackie: Yes, I know. And I have a lot of really good memories.

Meaning:

To be moved means to be affected emotionally by something or someone. In the first example, the movie and the child actor really moved Taka. In the second example, the going away party the TOEFL class gave Jackie really moved her.

This idiom can be found in the upcoming new edition of Reading Horizons. This book is used at LSI schools in the level 6 Reading/Vocabulary classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up

Meaning: a sign that means “good” in the U.S.

Example 1:

Ted: I was so nervous during my presentation in class this morning! I really wanted to do well in front of all those people.

Sheila: Really? You didn’t look nervous at all. I thought you did a great job.

Tom: Well, I started out kind of shaky, but when the teacher gave me the thumbs up from the back of the class, I became more confident and relaxed.

Sheila: That’s good. You deserve a big thumbs up for such a great presentation!

Tom: Thank you! Are you ready for your presentation tomorrow?

Sheila: I don’t know. After I start, could you give me the thumbs up to make me more confident!

Ted: Sure! I know you’ll give a great presentation.

Example 2:

Kim: Wow! That movie was great! I’m giving it a big thumbs up!

Gina: Really? What was it about?

Kim: It was an action movie and the excitement never stopped. There wasn’t one slow scene in the whole movie.

Gina: Well, if you give the movie a thumbs up, then I’ll have to see it. We like the same kind of movies.

Kim: You should definitely see it. You won’t be disappointed!

Meaning:
Thumbs up shows that someone or something is good, especially when it comes to a performance or action with good results. In example 1, Ted was giving a presentation and was doing well, so his teacher gave him a “thumbs up” from the back of the class. We usually use thumbs up with the verb “give.” In example 2, Kim loved the movie she saw, so she gave it a “thumbs up” meaning it was really good.

This idiom can be found in the LSI textbook Speaking Transitions. This book is used in the level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com