Go with the flow

Example 1:

Cody: Wow! This is such a fancy party. I’m not sure that I’ll know who to talk to or what to talk about.

Jada: Don’t think about it too much, just go with the flow. I’m sure you’ll find interesting people and have interesting conversations.

Cody: You think so? I hope I don’t get too shy.

Jada: I’m sure everyone feels that way here.

Example 2:

Lucy: I went out with Karl last week and I wasn’t sure how he felt about me.

Kathrin: So what did you do? Did you guys have a good time? Did you have great conversations?

Lucy: I just went with the flow and everything turned out great. I think he likes me.

Explanation:

To go with the flow means to follow whatever the situation is or whatever people are doing. In the first example, Cody wasn’t sure how to interact with people at an upscale party; to which Jada replied that he should just do whatever everyone was doing or go with the flow. In the second example, Lucy explains that she didn’t know how her date felt about her, but after following his lead, or his actions (went with the flow), she discovered that he liked her.

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In a daze

Context #1

Jim: Yesterday when we were playing soccer, Mary and I both went to head the ball and we collided.

Sam: Are you ok?

Jim: I was in a daze for a few minutes, but after that I was ok.

Context #2

Bethany: I heard Christine is totally in love with this guy she met at the gym.

Sally: Yeah, I know. She has been walking around in a daze since they met.

Meaning: "in a daze" means to feel a little confused, or not able to concentrate or think clearly.

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A trip

Context #1

Tom: Remember our high school P.E. teacher Mrs. Stevens?

Chris: Yeah, of course.

Tom: Well I ran into her at the store yesterday. It's been like 20 years.

Chris: Wow! That must have been a trip!

Context #2

Sara: Did you see that new Matrix movie?

Jane: Yeah, but it was a little strange.

Sara: I know. That movie is a trip.

Meaning: "a trip" is a noun that is used as a kind of slang word to mean something that is strange, unbelievable, or really fascinating. The adjective is "trippy." It is used more by guys than girls. 

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You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Idiom: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks -  You cannot make people change their habits or character; it is very difficult to change the way a person does something when they have been doing it the same way for many years

Context #1 

Students are in English class

Terry: Hi, Sal. What’s wrong?

Sal: Oh, hi Terry. I’m just really tired. I’ve been trying to show my grandpa how to use his new smartphone, but he is really being stubborn.

Terry: What do you mean? Smartphones are great!

Sal: Well, he wants to return his smartphone for an old-fashioned flip phone. He says that he cannot even use the smartphone. It’s too hard!

Terry: Well, he is not used to that new technology, so it’s all probably confusing for him. You should probably just let him get an older phone he knows how to use.

Sal: I guess you’re right. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!

Terry: Yes. He will be much happier with a phone he actually knows how to use.

Context #2 

Two friends talking about fitness

Sara:  I’m so tired!!

Pat: Why? You aren’t working full-time right now.

Sara: Well, my fitness coach told me that I should start getting up really early around 6 AM. He told me I would feel much better and get more things done.

Pat: What time do you usually get up?

Sara: 10 AM or so. I’m a night person. I love staying up late!

Pat: Well, if you are used to getting up at 10 AM, I don’t think you are going to be able to get up at 6 AM every day, especially right away.

Sara: I guess you are right. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Perhaps I’ll compromise and get up at 9:30 AM instead!

Meaning: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” means that you cannot make people change established habits of behavior or character. In Context 1, Sal’s grandpa cannot use a smartphone, no matter how much Sal tries to teach him. In Context 2, Sara thinks she can start getting up much earlier than she is used to getting up. In both contexts, it is too difficult to change their habits. 

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To let the cat out of the bag

Idiom: to let the cat out of the bag – to reveal or tell secret information by mistake, to reveal facts that were hidden before, to let a secret be known without intending to

Context #1 

Three Friends are talking about a surprise party next Friday

Dan: Hey, Juan! Did you hear about that surprise party on Friday night? It’s supposed to be really big! Everyone is going.

Juan: Really? No, I haven’t heard about it at all.

Debbie: Come here, Dan! You just let the cat out of the bag! How could you?

Dan: What do you mean?

Debbie: It’s a surprise party for Juan’s birthday. He doesn’t know about it because it’s supposed to be a surprise!

Dan: Oh, I see. Sorry about that. I guess he knows now.

Context #2 

Two Co-Workers are talking during a break

Sami:  Hi, Petra. Congratulations on the promotion! I’m really happy for you.

Petra: What? Promotion? I have no idea what you are talking about.

Sami: Umm…our manager hasn’t talked to you yet?

Petra: No. I haven’t seen him today.

Sami: Well, I think I let the cat out of the bag. You got a really big promotion because of all the great work you have been doing recently. Everyone knows about it.

Petra: Ha, ha! Everyone, but me! Well, that’s OK. At least it was something good!

Meaning: To let the cat out of the bag means to tell someone a secret without intending to.  In Context 1, they are planning a surprise party for Juan and Dan accidentally tells Juan about his party. In Context 2, Sami tells Petra about her promotion before she even hears it from her boss.

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To take a shortcut

Context #1

Tom:  Wow! The traffic is really bad on this freeway. I think we are going to be late for class.

Jim: Don't worry! Get off at the next exit. I know a shortcut that we can take.

Context #2

Samantha: This Friday me and my boyfriend are going to a concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. I know the traffic on the 10 freeway is going to be bad around rush-hour. Do you know of any shortcuts?

Jenny: Yeah, don't go the freeway. Just take Pico Blvd all the way to the Staples Center. It will be a lot faster.

Meaning: "to take a shortcut" means to take the fastest or shortest route to your destination. It is often used when there is traffic or construction that may be causing delays. 

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A Basket Case

Context #1

My dogs are my babies. I treat them like my children and they always have the best food, toys, beds, everything. I remember once when one of my dogs got sick. I was a complete basket case. I dropped everything and rushed my little dog to the veterinarian. I missed a whole day of work, I didn’t eat, didn’t sleep, I couldn’t rest or function normally until I knew my precious little dog was going to be OK. Luckily, she only had an upset stomach and was perfectly fine the next day. I realize now that I may have overreacted to the situation. 

Context #2

Jake is such a nervous student. He is also a perfectionist who expects perfect scores on all assignments, projects, and tests. I have known him since elementary school and I remember once in 5th grade, he didn’t read the directions correctly on a test. He missed 1 point on the test and became a total basket case. He didn’t play with us at recess; he only sat under a tree and reviewed his test paper over and over again! At lunch, he did the same thing! Now that we are in high school, he still puts the same pressure on himself.

Explanation:

A basket case is an anxious and nervous person who cannot function normally in situations where there is slight pressure, unplanned changes, or unfamiliar settings.

In Example 1, the writer became a basket case when her dog fell ill. In Example 2, Jake became a basket case when he missed a point on his test.


You can use different verbs with this expression:

You are a basket case!

Don’t be a basket case. Everything will be fine.

You turn into a basket case every semester during finals.

She was a basket case after her car accident.

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