To Ask For It

Idiom: "To Ask For It"

 

Context #1:

 

John:  Man!  What happened to your hand? It's all wrapped up like you just came from the hospital!

Tony:  I got bit by my neighbor's dog this morning.

John:  The dog just attacked you?

Tony:  No, I was teasing the dog and I guess the dog got angry and bit me.

John: That was pretty stupid of you.  You asked for it!

 

Context #2:

 

Paulina:  Guess what?  I got another speeding ticket today.

Kathy: Again?  I thought you were going to start driving more carefully.

Paulina:  Well, I was late for work and to make it on time I had to go like 85mph on the freeway.  I was driving so fast that I had to weave in and out of the cars that were going like 70.

Kathy: You were going 85 on the freeway?  You were asking for a ticket.

 

"To ask for something" is a common idiom used by native speakers.  It means that someone deserved the negative consequences they experienced.  It's the same as saying, "Well, you deserved it."  Practical idioms like this can be learning in LSI Speaking books like "Speaking Savvy," which is used to teach the Level 5 Speaking/Listening classes at Language Systems schools.  For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com 

My Bad

Idiom: "My Bad"

Context #1:

Tom (passenger): Oh man look!  We got a parking ticket!  How much is it for?

Steve (owner of the car): I have to pay $55.

Tom: Do you want me to help you pay the ticket?

Steve: You don't need to.  It's my bad.  I knew I should have put some money in the parking meter.

Context #2:

Sally: I heard you broke up with your boyfriend.

Jane: Yeah, actually, he kind of broke up with me.

Sally:  Really?  What happened?

Jane:  Well, I think it was my bad.  I just kept nagging him too much about every little thing. 

Meaning: "my bad" is a very common idiom in American English, especially among young people.  It basically means, "it was my fault."  American young people use this expression when they take responsibility for something that went wrong.  Everyday expressions like this are taught in the Speaking/Listening classes at Language Systems International.  For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com