to take one's pick

Take one's pick

Example 1:

Jenny: Wow, the theater is empty! I thought it would be crowded since the movie just came out.

Shelly: Yes, I know. I was afraid we wouldn’t even be able to find a seat.

Jenny: Well, I guess we were wrong.

Shelly: Yes, we can take our pick of any seat in the theater!

Jenny: Great!


Example 2:

All the guys in our class like Sandy and want to take her out on a date. She is so lucky because she can take her pick of any guy in the class.

Meaning:
To be able to choose what you want when there are many of what you want available. For example, if someone brings 2 dozen cookies to class and you are the only one who likes cookies, then you can take your pick of any cookie in the box.

This idiom was taken from LSI's text book titled Reading Horizons. This book is used to teach Reading and Vocabulary in our Level 6 class. For more information please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com/

Junkie

Junkie
Example 1:

Jenny: Oh, I’m having such a hard time losing weight because I love anything with chocolate in it! I could each chocolate all day long. I just can’t resist when someone offers me chocolate candy or cake.

Shelly: Wow, it sounds to me like you are a real chocolate junkie!

Jenny: Yes, I guess so. It’s really too bad because I have to lose weight before my sister’s wedding.

Shelly: Yes, I know what you mean. By the way, would you like a brownie? I made them last night and they are delicious!

Jenny: (sigh)


Example 2:

Jennifer is a student at UCLA and has to study a lot. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to get a lot of studying done since she opened a Facebook account. Now, all she wants to do is go on Facebook to update her status and see what all her friends are doing. She also takes at least two or three photos a day to add to her album on Facebook. When she is studying, her Facebook friends send her messages, and she just has to answer. She is really a Facebook junkie, and if she’s not careful, she won’t finish school!

Meaning:
Junkie noun
This noun was originally used to describe drug addicts, especially people addicted to heroin. However, it is now commonly used to describe a person who is extremely enthusiastic about something; therefore, someone who can't stop eating fast food would be a fast food junkie or someone who can’t stop watching TV would be a TV junkie.


This idiom was taken from LSI's textbook titled Reading Horizons. This book is used to teach Reading and Vocabulary in our Level 6 class. For more information please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com/

to turn down

Example 1:

Sandra has been looking for a job for about a month. She had a job interview today with a great company. The company was really impressed with Sandra and offered her a job right away. The only problem is that Sandra is still a student and she takes classes in the morning. The company needs someone who can work the morning shift. Unfortunately, Sandra had to turn down the job offer.

Example 2:

Jared and Susan have 3 classes together this semester. They spend a lot of time together in class and out of class studying. Jared started having special feelings for Susan after late-night study sessions during mid-term exams. He was sure that she felt the same, so he asked her out on a romantic date. Susan was so surprised! She was really excited because she was feeling the same way about Jared. Of course, Susan accepted the date, and Jared was happy that Susan didn't turn him down.

Meaning:

to turn down (phrasal verb) means to say no to someone's proposal/suggestion/request or refuse an offer. In Example 1, Sandra must refuse the job offer because of her schedule. In Example 2, Jared requests a date with Susan and Susan did not refuse.

to turn down is a separable phrasal verb, so be careful when using object pronouns, shorter nouns (2 words or less), and longer nouns (more than 2 words).

turn (object pronoun) down
ex: She turned him down.

turn (short noun) down
ex: Carl will turn the offer down.

turn down (short noun)
ex: Carl will turn down the offer.

turn down (long noun)
ex: Mike had to turn down the job offer in Texas.


This idiom was taken from LSI's textbook titled Speaking Savvy. This book is used to teach Speaking and Listening in our Level 5 class. For more information please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com/

to be crazy about something/someone

Example 1:

Sherman is really crazy about Star Wars. Every year, he attends the Star Wars convention dressed as Darth Vader. He collects all the action figures and toys he can find. Sherman even named his new puppy Princess Leia! I hope he can find a girls who is as crazy about Star Wars as he is!


Example 2:

I am crazy about Martin. He is so handsome, and he tells the best jokes! I can't stop thinking about him. Martin is the perfect guy for me!

Meaning:

to be crazy about something/someone is an expression that many Americans use when they are talking about something/someone that they really, really, really like.

So, if you really, really like chocolate, you can say, "I am crazy about chocolate."
If you like baseball very much, you can say, "I am crazy about baseball."

What are you crazy about?

This idiom was taken from LSI's textbook titled Speaking Savvy. This book is used to teach Speaking and Listening in our Level 5 class. For more information, please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com/

To Look After

Idiom: to look after (something/someone); used as a verb.

First Example: Herb was going on vacation, but he was worried about his cat, so he asked Cindy to take care of it. She agreed, and she looked after his cat while Herb was out of town.

Meaning: "to look after (something)" means to take care of something, often something that isn't yours. In this example, Cindy is taking taking care of Herb's cat while he's out of town. This idiom can apply to any situation where someone takes care of something else, but it's usually used for people and things that can't take care of themselves or are likely to get into trouble (such as an animal, a child or an elderly person). It's used in the simple past tense in this example to explain that she isn't caring for the cat anymore.

Here is another example:

Second Example: Both of Billy's parents work, and they don't get home until after 6:00pm. Billy is old enough to be alone, but his little sister, Melody, isn't, so Billy looks after Melody until his parents get home.

Meaning: In this case, Billy is looking after his little sister, who is too young to take care of herself and might get into trouble if left alone. This idiom can be used for short-term care (such as the first example, which only happened for a few days/weeks) or long-term care (such as this example, which happens every school day). In this example, it's used in the simple present tense to clarify that Billy regularly does this.

This idiom is from LSI's book "Speaking Transitions," which is used in the Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/

to throw a party

Situation #1

Tim: Hey, next Saturday is Grace's birthday..

Joe: Really? We should throw a party for her.

Tim: Good idea! Let's do it! We can have it at my place.

Joe: Perfect!

Situation #2

When I graduated from college, my parents threw a really nice party for me and my friends. My parents have a bog backyard and my dad barbequed steaks for eveyone. My parents had all kinds of food and all my friends had a great time.

Meaning of idiom: to throw a party means that someone organizes or plans a party. Someone usually comes up with the idea or is in charge of planning.

NOTE: In English you cannot say "do a party" or "make a party.." These expressions are incorrect. You must say "throw a party" or "have a party."

This idiom was taken from LSI's textbook titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Speaking and Listening. For more information please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com

To work like a horse

Please read the following letter and try to guess the meaning of the idiom to work like a horse.
Dear Sheila,

How are things with you, my dear sister? I hope all is well.
I am still trying to adapt to New York’s life style. I can’t believe I’ve been here for almost six months now! I have been thinking about moving back to Los Angeles. At least there I have you, Mom and Dad, my friends, and I would be able to get my old job back.
My work schedule is crazy! I work from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. almost everyday. I know I am lucky to have such a well-paying job having just graduated from college, but I work like a horse and then go home and sleep. I don’t have the time or energy to enjoy all the money I am making… I am sorry to be so negative, but I am really upset and have no idea if I’ll be able to do this anymore.
I will write again after I make a decision.
I can’t write anymore now. I have a meeting starting in 3 minutes.

I love you,

Timothy.

What do you think to work like a horse means?

a. to work at the zoo
b. to work too much
c. to work just a little
d. to work dressed as a horse

Meaning:

To work like a horse means to work too much.

This idiom was taken from the LSI level 4 L/S book Speaking Transitions.