Thursday, February 28, 2013

To Be Out Of (Something)




To Be Out Of (Something)

Context #1:
Jimmy: Oh man!
Mark: What's wrong?
Jimmy: We're out of coffee! I'd better go to the store and get some more. I really need my cup of coffee in the morning.  I'll be back.
Context #2:
Restaurant Waiter: Hi, are you guys ready to order?
Restaurant Customer: Yeah, I'll have the fresh lobster.
Restaurant Waiter: I'm sorry but we are out right now. The shrimp is really good too.
Restaurant Customer: Ok, I'll try the shrimp.

Meaning: to be out of something means that there is no more left. The thing that was available before has been used up.

This idiom was taken from LSI's book titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

To Skip Something




To Skip Something

Context #1:

Tom: I am so hungry I think I'm going to pass out!
Jane: It's only 10 am. What did you have for breakfast?
Tom: That's the problem. I skipped breakfast. I'm not going to do that again.

Context #2:

Grace: Wow, I missed the grammar class for one week and we are already on chapter 10?
Julie: Actually the teacher said we needed to skip chapters 8 and 9. So basically we went from chapter 7 to 10. Don't worry!

Meaning: to skip something means that you do not do something because there is no time, or something unexpected comes up, or maybe because you just don't feel like doing it.

This idiom was taken from LSI's book titled Speaking Savvy. This book is used to teach Level 5 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com