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Thursday, September 19, 2013

To Put Out

Idiom: “to put out”

Meaning:  To stop from burning; to publish; to inconvenience

Example #1:
Jenny: Hey, Johnny! No smoking is allowed in this building. You need to put out your cigarette now!
Johnny: It’s OK. No one will know. I’ll just blow the smoke out the window.
Jenny: Are you serious? The fire alarm might even go off any minute!
Johnny: Oh, all right. I’ll put it out.


Example #2:
Sarah: I’m so excited! My sister just put out a new crime novel!
Jacob: Wow! That’s great. What’s her name?
Sarah: Tammy J. Janison.
Jacob: Hmmm, I haven’t heard of her. Has she put out any other novels?
Sarah: Yes, she has already put out two novels in the past four years. I can’t wait to read her new one.


Example #3:
Sam: Megan, thank you so much for letting me and my family stay at your house last weekend. When the electricity went out at my house, I really didn’t know what to do.
Megan: No problem.
Sam: Well, I hope I didn’t put you out too much. My three-year old is really active and is always playing!
Megan: Well, since we don’t have any kids, it was fun having your family around. You didn’t put us out at all.




Meaning: In example #1 “to put out” means to stop something from burning. In this example, Johnny needs to put out his cigarette. In example #2, “to put out” means to publish a book. In this example, Sarah’s sister has put out a crime novel. In example #3, “to put out” means to inconvenience someone or trouble them in some way. In this example, Sam’s family stayed with Megan over the weekend because Sam’s electricity went out. Sam has a small child and he is worried that he put Megan out or inconvenienced her. This idiom can be found in Speaking Horizons, which is used in level 6 Listening/Speaking class. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

To Be Up For

Idiom: “To Be Up for”
Meaning: To be interested in doing something; to be one of a group of people that might get an award or win an election; to be awake for a period of time

Example #1:
Jan: Hey, Steve! I’m planning on going surfing this weekend at Huntington Beach. I heard you know how to surf really well. Are you up for it?
Steve: That sounds like a lot of fun! I’m always up for surfing!
Jan: OK. Then let’s meet at 6:00 AM on Saturday at the beach.
Steve: I’ll see you then!
 

Example #2:
Selena: Did you hear the news about Paul?
Jackie: No, what happened?
Selena: He is up for an award.
Jackie: Really? Which award?
Selena: He is up for “Father of the Year.”  
 

Example #3:
Bob: I’m so tired!!!! I was up for 24 hours and I haven’t slept at all!
Maggie: Why were you up for so long?
Bob: I had to study for my final exams and I didn’t have time to sleep.
Maggie: Oh. I hope you did well after all that work!



Meaning: In example #1 “to be up for” means to have in interest in doing something. In this example, Steve has an interest in going surfing on Saturday. In example #2, “to be up for” means to maybe get an award. In this example, Paul is up for the “Father of the Year” award. In example #3, “to be up for” means to be awake for a period of time. In this example, Bob has been up for 24 hours because he really needed to study for his final exams.  This idiom can be found in Speaking Horizons, which is used in level 6 Listening/Speaking class. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com