To run off at the mouth

Context 1: 

2016 is an election year in the United States, which means that Americans will be choosing their next President. There are some candidates who are well qualified and have good, solid ideas for improving the county. In contrast, there are other candidates who don't appear to be serious and are experts at running off at the mouth; their ideas are unrealistic and many of their statements are offensive. 

Context 2: 

Parent: You must listen to me, Bobby! It's very important that you pay attention in class when the teacher is talking. You have been in trouble 3 times this week for interrupting her lesson! What is your explanation?!

Child: My teacher is so boring! All she does is run off at the mouth. No one listens to her because no one likes her.

Parent: I can't believe you would be so disrespectful! 

Explanation: 

To run off at the mouth means that you are talking a lot, but not saying anything important, or to talk a lot without consideration of your words. This expression has negative connotations and may be considered rude. Please use with caution!

Example 1 mentions presidential candidates who talk a lot, but doesn't provide anything useful and are sometimes offensive. 

Example 2 shows a conversation between a parent and child. The child says his teacher just talks a lot and doesn't say anything useful, that's why he is having trouble in this class. His mother is surprised that he would be so rude.

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To Blow a Fuse

Context #1 – Two people are discussing about a broken

Bodhi: Hey bro, why didn’t you tell me that you borrowed my surf board?

Johnny: Dude, because I knew you would blow a fuse.

Bodhi: Really? I’ve never treated you bad man. 

Johnny: Yeah, but last time Tyler dropped your board you really blew a fuse.

Bodhi: That’s because she had lost my board previously.  I didn’t want her touching my property anymore.

Context #2 – Leroy is trying to explain to his younger brother why he should remain calm in all situations

Leroy: Richie, it is important that you don’t blow a fuse so easily and contain yourself.

Richie: Those guys threw me into the trash can after bullying me.  How can I not blow a fuse?

Leroy: You should spend some time meditating to help you relax.  That was an isolated incident.

Richie: Oh really?  I just saw those same guys bothering your girlfriend at her job.

Leroy: What did you say?

Richie:  Whoa, whoa! Relax, don’t blow a fuse. 

Meaning: to blow a fuse means to get very angry or to lose one’s temper to the point you lose control.  In the first situation, Johnny was worried that Bodhi would be very upset if he told him he used his surfboard.  Johnny didn’t want Bodhy losing his temper because he noticed a similar situation in the past where Bodhi did blow a fuse.  In the second situation, Leroy was trying to convince his brother Richie not to become upset so easily.  However, upon hearing that Leroy’s girlfriend was also bullied, Richie reminded Leroy of his own advice; not to blow a fuse.

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head back to one’s hometown

Context #1

Gary: What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?

Chris: Well, normally we go to my parents' place. But this year we're heading back to my wife's hometown in Nebraska.

Gary: Nebraska? I hope you have a nice warm jacket to take with you.

Context #2

Amanda: How do you celebrate the Chinese New Year in China?

Yi Fei: Well, a lot of people head back to their hometown to spend time with their family.

"head back to one's hometown" is a common American idiom that means "to return to one's hometown."

Off the grid

Example 1:

Jason: I think the most logical thing we could do is keep a low profile and stay off the grid.

James: That’s not my style Jason.  I know some people like to do that, but I need to be social.

Jason: I’m not saying that’s fun, but just to get away from things for some time.

James: Getting off the grid means my social life would be dead.  I’m sorry, but I need massive

human interaction.


Example 2:

Griz: I was thinking of a vacation to the Andes of South America.

Leslie: Would we be off the grid?

Griz:  That’s the idea.

Leslie:  Good luck with that.  I’m not giving up my comforts and friends to go climb some

mountains.  I don’t like camping.

Ted:  You should really reconsider.  I think it would be good to get away from all this technology

and from people in general.

Leslie:  You should do it.  That way you can be alone in the mountains and I can be alone at

home.  Yay!  It works for the both of us.  Have fun!


Meaning: to be away from anything relating to media, television, radio, electricity, etc.  To

get off the grid means to be in a remote outdoor place with no access to any services most

people depend on.  Some people who don’t depend on electric companies, grow their own food,

don’t use motorized vehicles that run on petroleum can be considered off the grid.


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Doubleheader

Example 1:

Johnny: Hey Daniel, are you really going to compete in a doubleheader? Isn’t your leg hurt?

Daniel: Don’t worry Johnny, I know one competition right after the other might sound crazy, but I can handle it.

Johnny: What if someone sweeps your leg or something?

Daniel: It wouldn’t be the first time.  Besides, if I can win both competitions in one day, I’ll get even more famous.

Example 2:

Bill: We should totally give a presentation on History.

Ted: No way dude! How about a presentation on time travel?

Bill:  Dude, you thinking what I’m thinking?

Bill & Ted:  Presentation Doubleheader!  Excellent!

Ted:  But Bill, wouldn’t that take a lot of work.  I mean one presentation after the other sounds 

difficult.  A doubleheader will need lots of presenters.  Maybe we can dress people up in costumes.

Bill:  That’s awesome.  And I can have my stepmom and little brother can help us prepare.  

Meaning: Two events, presentations, movies, etc. happening one after the other.  Usually there’s a short time between both events, but they are both happening the same day.

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to pal around (with)

Idiom: to pal around (with) (used as a verb)

First Example:
Christina: Have you seen Jackie lately?
Beatrice: No, she seems to spend all her time with Tim.

Christina: They do seem to spend a lot of time together. Do you think they're dating?       

Beatrice: No, they've been palling around together for years. They're best friends.

Christina: Ahh, that makes sense.

Meaning: The expression "to pal around (with)" means to spend time doing things you enjoy with a friend.  In the example above, Jackie and Tim are best friends according to Beatrice, saying they've been "palling around together for years" to emphasize that they often spend time together (and are not romantically involved). Notice that in this example, Beatrice did not use "with;" "with" is only used when a person is the object of the expression, as in the next example: 

Second Example:

Daniel: Hey, want to hang out this weekend

Jennifer: I can't; I have plans with Kelly.

Daniel: You've been palling around with her a lot lately.

Jennifer: Yeah, we just realized we have a lot in common. This weekend, we're going to a music festival. Want to go with?

Daniel: Nah, I can't stand being around that many people. But have fun! 

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friends in high places

Idiom: friends in high places (used as a noun)

First Example:

Sandra: Did you hear that Ben got the promotion?
Donald: No way! I thought for sure you'd get it!
Sandra: Well, I don't have as many friends in high places.
Donald: What do you mean?
Sandra: Well, he has a few friends in upper management. Something tells me that helped him more than his qualifications...

Meaning: The expression "friends in high places" means to know people in important positions who can help and support you.  In the example above, Sandra claims that Ben has friends in upper management positions, and that these friends in high places are what helped him get the promotion.

Second Example:

Ally: Want to go to a big movie premiere tonight?

Cameron: Sure, but how are we going to get in?

Ally: Let's just say that I've got a few friends in high places.

Cameron: Like who?

Ally: That's not your concern. 

Cameron: But seriously, who?

Ally: OK, fine. I used to babysit the producer of the film. His mom and my mom are friends, so when I heard he was making this movie, my mom called his mom, and she made him give me two tickets. Anyway, do you want to go with me? 

Cameron: Sure! Do you have any embarrassing stories you can share about him?

Meaning: In the second example, Ally doesn't actually have a friend in a traditional position of power; rather, her mother knows the film's producer's mother. Often, the expression "friends in high places" is used like this, in order to suggest a person knows someone important but wants to keep the identity of that person secret. 

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TO SHOP AROUND

Example 1:

James:  I’m going to buy a laptop for $800.00

Leo: What?! That’s expensive! Have you shopped around for cheaper ones?

James: Not, really…

Leo: You should! I’m sure you can find one for way less than $800.00

James: Good idea!

Example 2:

Gina: Did you buy dad’s Fathers’ Day gift?

David: I’m shopping around to find the best price on the golf clubs he wants.

Gina: Ok, let me know when you find a good deal.

Shop around: To look at different stores to find what you want at the best price.

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to just scrape by

Context #1:

Tom: Did you pass your physics class this semester?

Brian: Yeah, but I barely scraped by. I almost failed!

Context #2:

Jennifer: This Russian class I'm taking is so hard.

Whitney: Are you failing it?

Jennifer: I'm not failing, but I am just scraping by. It's super difficult.

Meaning: to just scrape by is used when you are barely passing a class. You are right on the border of passing or failing.

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Afraid of One's Own Shadow

Example 1: 

Mark: Are you OK, Sandra? You look worried about something.

Sandra: Oh, hey Mark. I didn't see you there. I've been a little more anxious these days. I can't seem to relax.

Mark: Did something happen?

Sandra: I had a car accident recently. It was pretty bad. Since then, everything scares me. I'm even afraid of my own shadow!

Mark: Well, it will take some time to feel normal again. At least you still have your sense of humor!

Example 2:

Betty: Hey, Jane. I heard you broke up with Steven. I thought you two were getting along. Did something happen?

Jane: No, nothing happened. We got along just fine, but it always bothered me that he was a little too wimpy. 

Betty: Wimpy? What do you mean?

Jane: He wasn't very strong or brave. Last week, someone took a parking spot from us when we were clearly next in line! He didn't do anything! Then, I needed help moving some furniture at home and he tried to help me, but he couldn't lift the dining chair. He's a nice guy, but honestly, he's afraid of his own shadow. I like scary movies, roller coasters, adventure, and excitement! I think he'll have a heart attack if he spends more time with me. 

Explanation:

If someone is described as being afraid of his/her/their own shadow,  it can be said that they get frightened very easily by things that wouldn't normally scare someone. Your shadow is generally something that doesn't frighten you because you understand that it is harmless.

In Example 1, Sandra is emotionally and mentally recovering from an accident. She's understandably still unsettled after her accident, but she jokes that her shadow even frightens her.

In Example 2, Jane felt that Steven was too afraid of things that, in her opinion, shouldn't scare a person. So she ended their relationship.

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Scare the Daylights Out of Someone

Example 1:

Jill: Hey Bill, did I tell you the story about the racoon?

Bill: No, but it sounds interesting! What happened?

Jill: Well, last week when I went to take out the garbage, a giant racoon hissed at me! I think I was interrupting his dinner!

Bill: Wow! That's pretty scary! I heard racoons can be pretty dangerous.

Jill: Yes, they can be. He scared the daylights out of me! Tom is taking out the trash next week.

Example 2:

Mom: Sean! Where have you been? You said you would be home at 6. It's almost 9! Why didn't you call?

Sean: Sorry, mom. I was playing video games with Frank and I lost track of time. My phone battery died and I didn't realize it until it was too late.

Mom: I was so worried. It scared the daylights out of me when I called your phone and it went straight to voicemail. Anything can happy and you know how much I worry about you!

Sean: I know mom, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry.

Explanation:

to scare the daylights out of someone means the same as frighten someone, usually unexpected and surprising.

In Example 1, the racoon surprised and scared Jill. The racoon scared the daylights out of Jill.

In Example 2. Sean frightened his mother. Sean scared the daylights out of his mother.

What is something that scares the daylights out of you?

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