With Friends Like This, Who Needs Enemies

Idiom: With friends like this, who needs enemies

Example 1:

Kirk: I'm so mad at Daniel right now.

Maria: Your friend Daniel?

Kirk: Yeah. We're taking the same English class, and I didn't finish my essay because we were out this weekend.

Maria: So why are you mad at Daniel?

Kirk: Well, I told the instructor I was sick this weekend, and asked for an extension, which he said yes to. But then when he went to collect the paper from Daniel, Daniel said he didn't have it because he and I were out partying all weekend.

Maria: He said your name?

Kirk: Yeah. So the instructor called me up and said I couldn't turn it in late after lying to him, all because Daniel ratted me out.

Maria: With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Example 2:

Jennifer was interested in dating Tom, a new guy in her class. Tom was cute, intelligent, funny - everything she could want in a boyfriend. She told her roommate, Stella, all about Tom, asking for advice in what she should do to get his attention. The next day, Jennifer saw Stella talking to Tom outside of her class. When Jennifer asked Stella about it, Stella told her that she and Tom were going out on a date this weekend! With friends like Stella, who needs enemies?

Meaning: Used to describe a bad friend, or a friend who betrays the speaker. Used when comparing a friend's actions to something an enemy might do. 

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Old Enough To Be Your Mother/Father

Idiom: Old enough to be your mother/father

Example 1:

Jane met a guy who seemed like a perfect match on her favorite internet dating site, so she decided to meet him in person. But when she saw him, he was much older than the picture he had posted! She said she couldn't date someone who was old enough to be her father.

Example 2: 

Tina: I heard you're dating someone new?

Jim: Yeah, she's awesome.

Tina: I also heard she's older than you are?

Jim: A bit - she's 36.

Tina: Whoa! She's old enough to be your mother!  

Jim: She's not THAT much older. I'm 25.

Tina: Still, 11 years is a big age difference!  

Jim: She makes me happy, so that's all that matters.

Meaning: The expression "old enough to be (someone's) mother/father" means that another person is substantially older than the person in question.  The expression is used to point out a considerable age difference in dating situations, even when the person is not actually technically old enough to be a person's parent.

www.languagesystems.edu

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Idiom: Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Example 1: 

Lisa: Did you see that new guy in class? He is SO cute!!

Tina: Oh, you mean James? Yes, he is very handsome! He is my brother's friend.

Lisa: I want to go out on a date with him.

Tina: Lisa, you are barking up the wrong tree!!

Lisa: What do you mean?

Tina: He is gay. He isn't interested in girls!

Example 2:

News Anchor: The police investigation revealed that Mr. Thompson was not guilty of committing the burglary. It was actually his neighbor who had committed the crime. The police finally realized that they were barking up the wrong tree by accusing Mr. Thompson.

Meaning: To waste your effort pursuing the wrong thing, person or path.

www.languagesystems.edu 

Let Nature Take Its Course

Idiom: Let Nature Take Its Course

Example 1: 

My daughter Isabella is 17 years old. She just graduated from high school and I am worried about her. The thing is, she has never dated anyone. All her friends have gone on dates but her.

Should I try to help her? Or should I let nature take its course?

Example 2: 

Ted: My friend didn't study at all last term for his algebra class. I took the final exam one day before the rest of the class. After the exam, he wanted me to give him all of the answers.

Irene: He wanted you to cheat?! Well, did you give him the answers?

Ted: Oh, no. I let nature take its course: he failed the exam.

Meaning: To let nature take its course means to let things happen naturally with no interference from an outside source.

www.languagesystems.com