To eat, sleep and breathe (something)

Idiom: to eat, sleep and breathe (something); used as a verb

First Example:

Janet: Have you seen Jamie lately?  She always seems to be busy.

Corey: Oh, she's really into the World Cup.

Janet: Really?  I didn't know she liked soccer.                              

Corey: She was never that interested before, but ever since the World Cup started, she eats, sleeps and breathes soccer.  If she's not watching a game, she's reading predictions or recaps.

Janet: Wow!

Corey: I've never seen her this enthusiastic about something. I wouldn't be surprised if she dreams about soccer.

Meaning: The idiom "to eat, sleep and breathe (something)" is used when someone is  incredibly enthusiastic about something, focusing all of their energy on that one thing.  In the example above, Corey says that Jamie "eats, sleeps and breathes" soccer since the World Cup started.  This means that Jamie spends all of her time focusing on soccer.  Alternatively, some Americans will use the slightly different idiom "to live and breathe (something)" for the same meaning.

Valerie: How is your sister doing in school? 

Timothy: Great!  She finally decided on her major.

Valerie: What did she choose?                                                       

Timothy: Guess.

Valerie: Well, ever since she was little, she has lived and breathed ballet, so I'm going to guess Dance?

Timothy: And you are correct.  My parents were trying to convince her to become a business major, saying it would be better for her career, but I've never had any doubt she'd become a dancer.         

Meaning: In this example, Timothy's sister "lives and breathes" ballet, meaning that she dedicates all of her energy on ballet.  These two idioms basically mean the same thing and different people will prefer one over the other (often based on age or region). 

This week's idioms inspired by the excitement over the World Cup here at LSI. 

Starstruck

Idiom: "Starstruck”

Example #1:

Jan: I’m so excited to be at the World Cup this year. I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream.

Steve: I know! I’m so excited for the game today. I can’t wait to see Neymar and Dos Santos in person!!

Jan: With all these famous players around, you are acting so starstruck!! Hopefully you can get one autograph from someone famous.

Steve: Just seeing the players in person is enough for me!

Example #2:

Selena: You are not going to believe who I just saw at the restaurant in Santa Monica!!

Jackie: I can’t even guess.

Selena: Johnny Depp.

Jackie: No way!

Selena: Yes, I just sat there and stared at him in starstruck awe watching him the whole time I was there.

Jackie: Actually, that sounds a little creepy, but I’m sure he gets that a lot!

Meaning: feeling or showing great interest in and admiration for famous people. “Starstruck” means to be really interested in famous people and to sometimes feel overwhelmed in a famous person’s presence.  In the first example, Steve is acting starstruck around all the famous soccer players he is seeing at the World Cup. In the second example, Selena just sat and stared at Johnny Depp in starstruck awe; she couldn’t do anything.

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu

Get a kick out of something

Idiom: "Get a kick out of something"

Example #1:

Chris: Hey Leo, are you watching the World Cup game today?

Leo: I love watching the World Cup. I get a kick out of major tournaments. They’re always exciting.

Chris: Yeah, me too. It’s nice to see the world come together for such a big event.

Leo: Besides, it’s every four years. You don’t get to watch it all the time.

Example #2:

Diego: The first game of the tournament is going to be really good. 

Edson: I heard it would be a tough game.

Diego: I get a kick out of watching a weak team win against a strong team.

Edson: It’s definitely good for the sport and makes things more exciting.

Meaning: “Get a kick out of something” means to enjoy watching or doing something. 

In example 1, Leo really enjoys watching big tournaments.  In example 2, Diego enjoys watching underdog teams beat favored teams.

For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.edu