Game Changer

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Bae

Example 1: Two friends discussing weekend plans
Barry: What are you doing this weekend?

Iris: I’m going out with (my) bae to the beach.
Barry: Oh, I didn’t know you were in a relationship.

Iris: My bae is all I think about.

Example 2:

Nusret: I’m going to start a steak house

Henry:  Why? What’s so special about the meat you will sell compared to others?

Nusret:  I will only buy the best, most expensive meat, and perform for my clients by pouring salt in a fun way.

Henry:  Is it a gimmick?

Nusret:  No, it’s entertainment.  I’ll film the videos and attract people to come.  No one has ever done it.  I’ll be the first, before anyone else.  I will call myself “Salt Bae.”

Explanation: 

Bae is an acronym for “Before Anyone Else.”  It’s more typically used to describe someone’s significant other (Example 1).  However, many people think it means baby or babe, but that’s incorrect.  It means to do something first that no one else has.  

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To twist someone’s arm

Example 1: Two friends discussing evening plans
Lana: What should we do tonight?
Betty: Let’s just stay home. I don’t want to get dressed up to go out.
Lana: That sounds so boring! Let’s go to the new club that everyone at school is talking about.
Betty: I don’t know… I’m already sleepy and if we go out, we’ll be out pretty late.
Lana: Come on! It’ll be so fun! Since it’s spring break, I bet there will be lots of cute guys there from out of town! You know you want to!
Betty: OK, OK! You’ve twisted my arm. Let’s start getting ready. What should I wear….?

Example 2: Boyfriend and Girlfriend discussing weekend plans
GF: So… my cousin is having a party on Saturday. It should be really fun. It would also be a good chance to meet some of my family.
BF: Oh, really? Hmm, I’m not sure if I have to work this weekend or not.
GF: But you never have to work on Saturday nights. This week is different?
BF: Uh, yeah. I think so. I have to check my schedule.
GF: You know what I think? I think you’re lying to me about having to work; you’re just not interested in meeting my family. I don’t want to have to twist your arm if you don’t want to go. I want you to come with me only if you really want to. Just tell me the truth and I’ll try to understand. Lying isn’t going to help our relationship, you know.
BF: I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m really nervous to meet your family. Please just give me more time.
GF: Okay, that’s all you have to say!


Explanation:
To twist someone’s arm means to work to convince someone to do something they might not want to do. Sometimes it’s used similarly to force. Please note: people are not actually twisting someone’s arm physically!

In example 1, the friends are discussing their plans. Betty doesn’t really want to go out, but Lena convinces her by reminding her that she can meet cute guys at the club.

In example 2, the girlfriend is almost angry in feeling that she has to force her boyfriend to go to a family party with her.

Some more example sentences:
You’ll have to twist my arm to see that movie! I really don’t like the actress.
Johnny didn’t want to come to the baby shower. I had to twist his arm.
Let’s get some ice cream! … Great idea! You don’t have to twist my arm!

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suck at

suck at: bad at doing something

Situation #1: Two coworkers

Bill: Can you help me with this spreadsheet? I can't figure out the right formula

Linda: Probably not. I suck at Excel.

Bill: Could you take a look at it?

Linda: Sure... Yeah, I don't know what I'm looking at. Have you asked Karla? She's great at Excel.

Bill: No. I'll ask her. Thanks.

Explanation: Bill was having trouble with a formula in Excel and asked for Linda's help, but she said that she sucks at Excel, which means she is not good in that software.

Situation #2: A group of friends is playing basketball and another one joins.

Todd: Hey, Greg! Come join us!

Greg: No, that's ok. I'll just watch.

Brian: No! Join us! Todd's team has one more player than us, so you will make us even.

Greg: You don't want me on your team. I suck at basketball.

Brian: You couldn't make us any worse! We're already down by 10 points.

Greg: Ok.

Todd: Great! Now Brian can't keep saying that he's losing because of uneven numbers!

Explanation: Todd and Brian are playing basketball (on different teams), and they both ask Greg to join them. Greg says that he sucks at basketball, but Brian convinces him by pointing out that his team is one player short, and that his team is already losing anyway. 


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Salty

Salty: Upset, annoyed or angry

Situation #1: Two friends are talking after school

Janette: Hi, Anne. How are you doing?

Anne: Who wants to know?

Janette: I'm just asking how you are.

Anne: So what?

Janette: Hey, don't get salty with me just because you are having a bad day! I didn't do anything.

Anne: I guess you're right. Sorry. Mondays suck.

Explanation: Janette was having a bad day and was acting angry and being rude to her friend. Her friend told Janette not to "get salty" or "be angry/rude" with her because she didn't do anything to cause Janette's anger. 

Situation #2: Two co-workers talking about their boss after work

Bill: I can't believe I made it through the day!

Sandi: I know! Fred was so salty today. I couldn't even look at him.

Bill: What was his problem anyway?

Sandi: Well, I heard that he thinks everyone is being lazy at work and not putting in the amount of time he expects.

Bill: That may be true for a few people, but not everyone. I certainly put in a lot of time and often work late.

Sandi: Me, too. But I don't think he sees us working hard. He only sees the lazy people. That's why he is always salty at work.

Explanation: Fred, the boss, is salty because he thinks everyone at work is lazy. This means he is irritated and angry with his employees.

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For a living

Context #1

Peter: Did you see the new blue house at the corner?

Ana: Yes, I loved the colors. Who painted that?

Peter: It was John's art! He paints houses for a living.

Ana: Oh, nice to hear that! I wish I had such talent! 

Context #2

Brianna: Can I ask you something, Mel? 

Melanie: Of course you can! 

Brianna: That's fine! What do you do for a living?

Melanie: I work at the market on Fridays, Bri! I told you! 

Brianna: Oh, my God! I thought you were a veterinarian!

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Get out of here

Context #1

Sam: Guess what?  I got a new car.  I got a brand new BMW.

Chris: Get out of here!

Sam: Really!

Context #2

Sharon: I finally broke up with Matt.

Tammy: Now way. Get out of here!

Sharon: Really. This time it's is over.

Meaning: "to get out of here" is a common idiom that is used when you are surprised and don't believe someone.  It has the same meaning as "no way!"

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To sit on the fence

Definition: Avoid making a decision or choice

Henry: Hi Vinicius! Have you decided what class you want to take next session?
Vinicius: No I'm still sitting on the fence.
Henry: Which class are you on the fence about?
Vinicius: I will either take Advanced Conversation or Level 7, but I'm trying to figure out which one would be better for me.

In this conversation, Vinicius has to decide between which two classes to take. Since he can't decide or is undecided we say that he is sitting on the fence.

Fillipe: What happened yesterday at the business meeting?
Yuka: Janice and Robert got into a large argument about how best to complete the project.
Fillipe: So did you voice your opinion?
Fillipe: Smart thinking.
Yuka: Oh I sat on the fence for this one

In this conversation, Yuka thought it best not to take sides in an argument and remain neutral so she sat on the fence.

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Bootleg

Bootleg; used as an adjective, noun or verb

Context #1:

Maria: Do you want to watch the new Star Wars movie?

Henry: Yeah, but it's not out yet. Christmas seems so far away

Maria: I have a bootleg copy.

Henry: How did you get that?

Maria: I downloaded it. Come over tonight and we'll watch.

Henry: I don't know; I'd feel guilty.

Maria: It's up to you, but I'm going to watch it.

Meaning: The word "bootleg" means that something was obtained and/or sold illegally. In the above example, Maria downloaded a movie that hasn't opened in theaters yet. Since she didn't pay for the movie, it's a "bootleg"."Bootleg" can be used as an adjective, as in the conversation above, and as a noun, as in the previous sentence. It can also be used as a verb, as in the following example, which explains the word's past:

The word "bootleg" was first used in the late 19th century, and it's believed it originated with cowboys who hid small guns in their boots. Whatever the origin, the word "bootleg" was associated with secrecy. In the 1920s and early 30s, Prohibition was passed, making all alcohol illegal to sell or produce in the United States. Of course, some people started illegally selling, or bootlegging, alcohol that was either purchased in another country (often Canada) or made illegally. Since then, the term has been used for any illegal production and distribution, especially those of inferior quality when compared to the original item. A person can bootleg music (especially concerts recorded without permission), movies (often cheap DVDs, sometimes handheld recordings from inside movie theaters), software, toys, games and of course, homemade alcohol.

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Rug Rat

Idiom: Rug rat – a small child

 

Context #1 – Kindergarten

Barry: My group of rug rats has too much energy today.

Donnie: Perhaps they had too much sugar to eat this morning.  Maybe give them a couple of extra minutes of recess to burn the energy out.

Barry: That’s not a bad idea.

Donnie: Yeah, otherwise the rug rats will tire your patience out.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about their new kids

Henry: My new baby cries all night.

Marie: Yeah, they’ll do that. They just need mom and dad’s attention to feel comfortable. 

Henry: I’m sure that in five months, these little rug rats will have different needs. Marie: Yeah, rug rats always need something new.

Meaning: “Rug rats” means a child.  People have rugs at home and as children begin to crawl, they resemble a small animal crawling on the rug. It’s just a “cute” slang name to describe a small child.

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Off-the-Cuff

Context #1 – Students in class at university

Vickey: I’m so confused after Professor Johnson’s lecture today. Did you understand any of it?

Mac: Not at all! He just makes a bunch of off-the-cuff remarks and thinks it is a lecture. I doubt he even knows what he is talking about.

Vickey: I agree. He doesn’t seem prepared at all and then he changes his mind in the middle of class.

Mac: Yes, he shouldn’t just speak off-the-cuff every day. He needs to prepare for his lectures.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about a person they saw on TV

Sierra:  Did you see Bob on TV last night?

Peter:  Yes, I saw him being interviewed on the 10:00 News.  He was amazing!

Sierra: Did you know that he was speaking off-the-cuff? He didn’t prepare his answers at all.

Peter: Wow! Really? I wish I could give off-the-cuff answers like that. He really sounded good.

Sierra: Well, he is really talented when it comes to public speaking. He is a quick learner.

Meaning: “Off-the-cuff” means unprepared or spontaneous and can be used as both an adjective and adverb. In Context 1, the students are talking about a professor who makes off-the-cuff remarks (used as an adjective), which make his lectures confusing. They both agree that the professor shouldn’t speak off-the-cuff (used as an adverb). In context 2, the friends think that Bob’s off-the-cuff answers in the interview on TV were very good. 

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Eye-popping

Idiom: Eye-popping; used as an adjective

Context #1:

Taylor: Did you see the new Christopher Nolan movie?
Jake: Yeah. You?
Taylor: Yeah, and while I didn't really care for the story, the cinematography was eye-popping! I was not expecting it to look that amazing.
Jake: Yeah, I was blown away by how beautiful it was.

Meaning: The expression "eye-popping" means that something is visually shocking or surprising. In the above example, Taylor uses "eye-popping" to say that something was surprisingly beautiful. It can also be used in a number of other ways, such as when someone wears a particularly revealing outfit, as in the next example:

Context #2:

The actress wore an especially eye-popping outfit to the awards show after party. She was wearing a very short shirt and a blouse that was rather low-cut. A few critics called it a scandal, but others said she looked gorgeous.

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Pay it forward

Context #1  

John: Have you heard what people have started doing at the Starbucks drive through?  The person in front is paying for whatever the people behind them have ordered.

Steve: Yeah, I've heard about that happening. I guess people are just trying to be kind to each other.

John: That's right. It's a really cool way to pay it forward.  

Context #2

Jenny: Look someone left their wallet in the classroom.

Christine: What should we do?

Jenny: Let's take it to the school's office. I know they have a lost and found. Maybe they can even find the owner.

Christine:That's a good idea. I'm glad you're doing the right thing and paying it forward.

Meaning: "pay it forward" is an idiom that has come into use relatively recently.  It is used when someone does something kind or morally right knowing that if they do good, then in the future someone else will be kind or do good to them. If you are kind, you will receive kindness in the future. If you do bad to others, something bad will happen to you in the future. 

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A kick!!

Context #1  

Tom: What are you doing?

Chris: I'm putting Tabasco sauce in my humus.

Tom: Why?

Chris: Well, the humus tastes good, but it needs a little kick.

Context #2

Suzie: What did you order?

Teresa: I ordered the Thai green curry.

Suzie: I've had that before.  I hope you like spicy food because that green curry really has a kick.

Meaning: "a kick" is a common American expression that means a spicy component when it comes to food.  It is usually used with the verbs "to have," "to need" and "to give."   

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Shoot the Breeze!!

Context #1: 

Mark: Hey Rob! How was your date last night with Mary? 

Rob: Hi Mark. It was OK. I'm not sure we're a good match.

Mark: Why not?

Rob: Well, we met for coffee and only spent about 30 minutes together before she left. We were pretty uncomfortable, just shooting the breeze. She didn't really tell me anything about herself which is disappointing because I really wanted to get to know her. From what you said, she seemed really interesting. But this was not the case yesterday.

Mark: Oh man! That's too bad. Will you have another date with her?

Rob: I don't know. She said she would text me, but I'm not sure if she will!

Context #2

Tom: Hey Bill! How was your date with Jane yesterday?

Bill: Oh it was great! She is really easy to talk to. I really like her.

Tom: That's great!

Bill: Yeah, we had a great time. We went for coffee and spent at least 2 hours just shooting the breeze. We're going to get together next week, too!

Explanation:

To shoot the breeze is to spend time chatting casually about nothing in particular and with no purpose.

In context #1, Rob wanted to have deep conversation and get to know Mary, but they only had casual, light conversation. 

In context #2, Bill and Jane spent hours shooting the breeze  and enjoyed their time together.

This expression is often used with -ing form 

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