To Bet

James: Where's Chris? Class is going to start in like 2 minutes.

Steve: I know. I bet he's going to be late again.

James: Man, that guy is always late.

Julie: Did you hear about the big sale this weekend at Forever 21? 

Diane: Yeah, I bet it's going to be so crowded tomorrow. I'm going to get there early before things get to crazy.

Julie: Good idea!

Meaning: "to bet" is used in American English when you think you are pretty sure about something. It basically means "I think." Practical idioms like this are taught in the Speaking and Conversation classes at LSI. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com 

To Be MIA

Context #1

Tod: Hey, have you seen Kim lately? She hasn't come to class for like a week.

Joe: Yeah I know. She's MIA. I tried calling her a couple of days ago but I couldn't get a hold of her.

Tod: I hope she's alright.

Context #2

Kelly: Hey Christine! Long time no see! How have you been? I haven't seen you at the gym for a while.

Christine: Yeah, I was MIA for a while. I went back to New York to spend Christmas with my family. I just got back a few days ago.

Kelly: I see. I heard it was freezing in New York.

Christine: Yeah, I'm happy to be back in warm sunny California.

Meaning: "to be MIA" means to be "missing in action." You can use this idiom when someone "disappears" and you don't see them for a long time. Practical idioms like this are taught in the Speaking and Conversation classes at LSI. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com