Like wildfire

Idiom: Like wildfire

Meaning: Spreading, growing or gaining popularity in an accelerated way; Quickly gaining attention. 

Context #1 – A new song was released by a very popular music artist.

Joc: Hey Clay, did you hear the new McPac-Man song? 

Clayton: No, why?

Joc: Dude, seriously?  It’s been spreading like wildfire.  It’s become so popular across the world, so quickly, that the president wants to meet him.

Clayton: No way!  That popular?

Larry:  Yeah!  They say it will be the track of the century.

Context #2 – The most popular kids in school started dating.

Jay: Manny started dating Jinkee.

Alice: I heard! OMG

Jay: Wow, I guess everybody knows.

Alice: I guess so.  Seems the news has been spreading like wildfire.

Jay:  Yeah, even our other campuses know about this romance.

Alice: Wow, it really is like wildfire. 

Jay: With social media, you can’t keep anything a secret for long.

Meaning: The idiom “like wildfire” means that information about something positive/negative has spread so quickly that it’s almost impossible to stop.  Spreading like wildfire means gaining popularity at a pace most people didn’t imagine possible.  The news become almost impossible to control.

www.languagesystems.edu

A night on the town

Idiom: A night on the town

Meaning: an evening when people go various places and enjoy different types of entertainment such as dancing in a nightclub, eating in a restaurant, or drinking in a bar.

Context #1 – Kiki just graduated from UCLA and her friend wants to take her out to celebrate

Gerry: Congratulations, Kiki! You made it! How does it feel to be a college graduate?

 Kiki: It feels great! All those years of studying are now worth it.

Gerry: Well, I want to take you out to celebrate. Why don’t we go out for a night on the town this weekend?

 Kiki: Oh, that sounds like fun! Where should we go?

Gerry: It’s up to you. You should choose since we are celebrating your graduation.

Kiki: Well, I love dancing. Do you think we could go to that new nightclub that just opened up in West Hollywood?

Context #2 – Jackie has friends coming in from out of town

Jackie: A couple of my friends are coming to visit from Florida next month. This is their first time to LA and I really want to show them a good time.

Tommy: Well, LA is known for its nightlife. Why don’t you take them out for a night on the town?

Jackie: That’s a good idea! In fact, we could go to a really nice restaurant and see if we can spot any celebrities! That would be fun.

Tommy: Yes, but you had better make reservations right away for that kind of restaurant.

Jackie: I’ll do it now. This will be a night they will never forget!

Meaning: “In context 1, they are going out dancing to celebrate Kiki’s graduation from UCLA. In context 2, Jackie is planning to take her friends out to a really nice restaurant in LA and she is hoping to see some celebrities there. Both are typical examples for the idiom a night on the town.

www.languagesystems.edu

To line (someone or something) up

Idiom: To line (someone or something) up

Example:

Context #1 – Students are trying to plan a surprise party for their teacher

Jeff: Next Friday is our teacher’s last day of class before she moves to China. I think we should line something up for her surprise farewell party. Something really big!!

 Mimi: Hmmmm...let me think about that. How many people are in the class?

Jeff: About 15 people and they are all adults.

 Mimi: Oh, I know! Let’s line up a magician for the party. I recently saw a magician named “Alvin the Great” who hypnotizes people and makes them do crazy things. When they wake up, they forget ever doing those things!

Jeff: Really? That sounds a little strange. What if they do something embarrassing?

Mimi: Well, he only hypnotized people who were willing and they didn’t do anything too crazy. Just funny things.

Jeff: OK. Do you think we have enough time to line “Alvin the Great” up for the party?

Mimi: Let me call him now.

Context #2 – Students are rushing to see a magician’s show

Jack: OK, everyone. Line up over here by the stage if you want to get a closer look at “Alvin the Great.”

Terri: Oh, this is so exciting! I want to volunteer during the show.

Jack: Well, if you line up first, you will have a better chance.

Meaning: To schedule someone or something for something (figurative); to put people or things in a line (literal)

“In context 1, the figurative meaning is to arrange or schedule someone or something for an event. Jeff and Mimi are scheduling a magician to come and perform during their teacher’s farewell party. In context 2, the literal meaning is to put people or things in a line. In this case, the students are lining up to see the magician and Terri wants to be the first in line so that she can volunteer during the show. 

www.languagesystems.edu

To be a cheapskate

Idiom: To be a cheapskate

Example:

Marc: OMG! Eric is such a cheapskate! He brought a tiny bag of candies for Peter’s kids on their birthday!

Anne: Really? I can’t believe it. I know he likes to save money, but they are his nephews!

Marc: Not only that, Peter always makes really nice gifts on his birthday! Remember last year’s?

Anne: Oh yeah, Peter got him an iPad Air 2!!

Meaning:

The expression “to be a cheapskate” means to be unwilling to give or spend money, to be miserly or stingy.

www.languagesystems.edu

To imbue with

Idiom: To imbue with

Example #1:

Saul: What should we teach during summer camp this year?

Jay: I’m not sure, but remember last year’s camp? Our teachers really imbued us with a positive attitude.

Saul: That’s because we had a mature leadership crew last year.

Jay: I’m sure they imbued us with good values so we could have a positive influence on new camp members.

Example #2:

Leslie: Our mother really imbued us with good values, don’t you think?

Michael: She sure did.

Leslie: She really made an effort to influence us in a good way.

Michael: That’s why mom is the best.

  

Meaning: The expression "imbued with" means to influence or inspire someone to be filled with a feeling/custom. 

In the first example above, Leslie mentions that her mom "imbued her" with good values. That means her mother taught her how to be a good person.

www.languagesystems.edu

To have a change of heart

Idiom: To have a change of heart; used as a verb 

Example:

Maria: So what do you think of the puppy now?

Neil: Now that he's at home, I admit, he is pretty adorable. And you're right, we did have enough room for a pet.

Maria: I'm glad you had a change of heart. I know you didn't want a dog at first, but I think we made a good choice.

Neil: So do I.

Meaning: The expression "have a change of heart" means that someone changes his/her mind on a decision or opinion, usually from a negative to a positive. 

In the example above, Todd has "had a change of heart" because he didn't initially want a pet.  But now that they have the puppy, he's happy about it.

www.languagesystems.edu 

To have a heart

Idiom: To have a heart; used as a verb 

Example:

Maria: Look at these adorable puppies my friend posted on facebook. They're looking for homes. Maybe we should adopt one?

Neil: We don't need a dog.

Maria: Why not? They're so adorable, and they need homes. And I have been thinking a pet could be fun.

Neil: I don't know.

Maria: Oh, have a heart. At least go look at them with me and think about it. They need homes, and we have one.

Neil: OK, we can go see the puppies tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything.

Meaning: The expression "have a heart" means to be compassionate, generous or forgiving. In the example above, Maria tells Neil to "have a heart" when he initially rejects her suggestion that they adopt a puppy. This imperative usage (telling someone to do something) is one of the most common ways to use this idiom. When a person rejects something that is compassionate, generous or forgiving, someone else might say "have a heart;" this suggests that the person should reconsider.

In addition to the imperative usage above, the idiom is also often used with the word "if," as in the following example:

Christine: I know you're still mad at Daniel for scratching your car, but he apologized and offered to pay for it. 

Thomas: I know, but it was really irresponsible of him.

Christine: If you had a heart, you would just forgive Daniel and move on.

Meaning: In this case, saying "if you had a heart" is almost a challenge, telling someone that they need to be more compassionate, generous or forgiving (as in this specific example).

www.languagesystems.edu

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. 

www.languagesystems.edu

Wouldn’t dream of doing

Idiom: Wouldn’t dream of doing– Something a person would never consider doing

Example 1:

Marco:  Did you ever imagine we would be trekking the Andes?

Chuck: Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of it!

Marco: Yes, this is an unbelievable experience.

Chuck: Next, we should go trekking in the jungles of Guatemala.

Example 2:

Juan: I can’t believe I’ve been living in Taipei for three years now.

Erick: Yeah, you said you would never travel abroad.

Juan: It’s true, I wouldn’t dream of moving to Taiwan before graduating college.

Erick: I guess that’s how it goes sometimes. 

Meaning: “Wouldn’t dream of doing” means something a person would never consider doing in life. 

In example #1, Chuck never thought he would do something exotic like trek the Andes of South America.  

In example #2, Juan never imagined he would travel abroad, let alone live abroad.

www.languagesystems.edu

Out with the old, in with the new

Idiom: Out with the old, in with the new - To change the old for the new. To leave old things or ideas behind and bring in new things or ideas.

Example 1

Jerry:  What are you doing?

Malcom: I’m eating raw spinach with almonds for lunch.

Jerry: That doesn’t look very appetizing.

Malcom: Well, with the new year comes the "Out with the old, in with the new" attitude. No more double cheeseburgers with fries for lunch. It’s spinach salads for the new year and an hour workout at the gym every morning!

Jerry: Really? Well, good luck with that!

Example 2

Kathleen: I’ve made a decision.

Tia: OK.

Kathleen: For the new year, I’m going to break up with Philip.

Tia: But you guys are always breaking up and then getting back together.

Kathleen: Well, this is it. It’s the new year. Out with the old, in with the new. I’m going to ask Javier out on a date. I’ve always thought he was cute and I think we would have a lot of fun.

Tia: You would make a cute couple!

Meaning: “Out with the old, in with the new” means to leave old things or ideas behind and start fresh with new things or ideas. People usually say this at the beginning of a new year or at the beginning of something new.  In the first example, Malcom is throwing out his old habit of eating fast food  and starting to eat healthier food for lunch instead.  In the second example, Kathleen is leaving her old boyfriend behind and looking for a new relationship with someone she can have fun with.

www.languagesystems.edu

To start from scratch

Idiom: To start from scratch - To start something from the very beginning

Context #1

Jen:  I really admire Keisha. She has become a successful restaurant owner in just three years.

Kat: I agree. And did you know that she started from scratch? There were no restaurants in that area and she raised the startup money herself! She even cooked the food on the menu at the beginning until she had more money to hire a cook.

Jen: That’s really impressive! Nowadays, it’s so hard to be successful when starting from scratch. Usually, it’s much easier to just take over a business that is already established.

Context #2

Jack: What’s wrong? You look really sad.

Terri: Oh, I’m just having problems finishing my new book.

Jack: Really? You usually put out a new book every 6 months or so.

Terri: Well, not this time. I had finished about half of the book when my editor told me it was all wrong and didn’t make sense. He told me that I would have to start over again.

Jack: Wow! You had to start from scratch after finishing almost half of the book? That’s tough.

Terri: I know. Hopefully, I can do it a little faster this time.

Meaning: “To start from scratch” means to start something from the very beginning without using anything else as a starting point. 

In context #1, Keisha started her business from scratch, meaning that she started her business new. 

In context #2, Terri had to throw out half of the book she had written and start the book over again from the beginning.

www.languagesystems.edu

Deck the Halls

 

Idiom: Deck the Halls

Example 1:

Jennifer: (singing) Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

Olaf: What? I don’t understand a word you are singing!

Jennifer: It’s an old Christmas carol, or song, Deck the Halls!

 Olaf: What does it mean?

Jennifer: Well, “deck the halls” means to decorate for Christmas. A bough is a branch, so they are hanging up branches of holly.

Olaf: Ummm, what is holly?

Jennifer: Oh, it’s a type of flowering plant, usually with green leaves and small red round berries.

Olaf: I see those everywhere at Christmas time. Teach me the song!

Example #2 – Two roommates are talking at home

Jack: This neighborhood is gorgeous. Look at all the Christmas lights.

Terri: I know! Every single house is decorated with something unique. It’s a beautiful sight.

Jack: Hey, I heard that Carlos is moving to this neighborhood with his new wife next year.

Terri: Well, they had better be prepared to deck the halls and a whole lot more at Christmas time!

Meaning: “Deck the halls” comes from an old Christmas carol, or song, and it simply means to put up decorations at Christmas time.  @SBLA @OC @NELA @DTLA

www.languagesystems.edu

Be my guest

Idiom: be my guest

Example 1:

Matt: Hey man, I’m going to San Diego next year.

Dee:  Oh really? Can I come too?

Matt: Be my guest.

Dee: Really? That’s awesome.

Example 2:

Thomas: Do you think I can turn in those reports on Monday of next week?

Charles: Be my guest.  They’re not due until Tuesday anyway. 

Meaning: "Be my guest" means: “go ahead,” “help yourself,” or it could mean giving someone permission to do something.  It’s a neutral term used by many people in formal or informal settings.

@SBLA @OC @NELA @DTLA

www.languagesystems.edu