Thursday, January 22, 2015

To do something in one's sleep

Idiom: To do something in one's sleep

Context #1:
Sean: Did you finish the math homework yet?
Terry: Are you kidding?  It was so easy I could've done it in my sleep.
Sean: Oh, come on! It wasn't that easy!

Context #2:
Crissy: I heard your really good at making lasagna. Do you think you could teach me?
Sarah: Sure, I make it every week for my husband because he loves it.  In fact, I've made it so many times and I could do it in my sleep.
Crissy: Sounds great!

Meaning: "to do something in one's sleep" is used when something becomes so easy to do that you don't even have to really think about it or concentrate very much any more. 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

To bomb something

Idiom: to bomb something


Context #1:
Jim: How did you do on the History final exam yesterday?
Chuck: Actually, I think I bombed it!  I didn't study at all.
Jim: What were you thinking? That exam is like one quarter of our overall grade.

Context #2:
Sally: Can you help me study for the Geometry exam that we have next week?
Cathy: Sure! 
Sally: I am having a hard time in this class and I don't want to bomb the exam.
Cathy: No problem.  Let's meet at Starbucks tonight and I'll help you with it.

Meaning: "to bomb something" means to totally fail. It is most often used in an educational context, but it can also be used for such things like job interviews and projects.