To Cater To

To Cater To

Example 1:

Tammy: I just love that new restaurant on 9th street! It has the most delicious sandwiches!

Selma: I know! I went there with some friends from school last week. The best thing about the restaurant is that it caters to vegetarians, so we tried a variety of different types of dishes. Restaurants in this area usually only carry a few common vegetarian dishes, but this
restaurant had so many!

Tammy: Yes, I really want to go back there.


Example 2:

Kitty: I absolutely loved staying at that hotel on the coast. When I was there, the hotel employees catered to my every need. All I needed to do was ask.

Jolene:That must have been expensive! Usually hotels that offer a lot of services charge much more.

Kitty: Actually, it was not too expensive. I guess that hotel caters to young couples looking for a romantic weekend. It worked with us because my husband and I are definitely going back.

Jolene: Wow, I’ll have to check it out the next time I go out of town for the weekend.

Meaning:
To cater to means to supply what is wanted or needed. In the first example, the restaurant supplies food for vegetarians. In the second example, the hotel supplies a lot of services for people staying there. This idiom can be found in the LSI textbook Reading Transitions. This book is used at LSI schools in the level 4 Reading/Vocabulary classes.
For more information, please visit: http://www.languagesystems.com/

To Network

To network

Example 1:
Tim: Wait just a minute. I’d like to update my Facebook page and add some more information to my profile.

Selene: Wow, you really spend a lot of time on Facebook! I know it’s interesting to see what your friends are doing, but don’t you get bored after a while?

Tim: Well, I don’t just use Facebook to keep in touch with my friends. I also use the site to network for work contacts. I’d really like to get a new job. I’ve joined some new Facebook groups connected to my job.

Selene: Really? I’ve never thought of that and I’ve been on Facebook for about two years. I use it to see what my friends are doing.

Tim: Well, these days more professionals are using social networking sites to network with other people in fields related to their jobs.


Example 2:
Kitty: I’m trying to raise money for homeless people and I’ve started a volunteer group to collect donations and bring food to the homeless.

Jolene: Really? That’s a wonderful idea! You should make a Facebook page for your group so that you can network with your contacts and get more help for your group.

Kitty: You’re right! I didn’t think about that before, but I have a lot of Facebook friends, so networking for my volunteer group on Facebook might be just the thing we need to help our group grow.

Meaning:
To Network means to meet or come in contact with other people to share information, contacts or other help or to communicate with and within a group. In the first example, Tim is using Facebook to network for a job. In the second example, Kitty is networking with all her friends on Facebook for a volunteer group that helps the homeless.

This idiom can be found in the LSI textbook Speaking Transitions. This book is used at LSI schools in the level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

Eye Candy

Example 1:

I love to go to Santa Monica on the weekends for many reasons. The first reason is shopping! The Promenade has the best shops. The second reason is food. Santa Monica has some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles. Finally, the third reason is the eye candy! There are always such great looking people walking around. Santa Monica is awesome!

Example 2:

I don't really like soccer but I will go to a soccer game any time I have a chance. It might seem strange, but have you ever noticed all the eye candy at soccer games? The players, the fans, it's great!

Meaning:
eye candy is a very informal way to refer to an attractive person or an attractive group of people.

It's a fun expression that can be used in many situations
I go to the beach for the eye candy.
Look at all the eye candy at this party.
Is there a lot of eye candy there?This idiom comes from the LSI textbook Speaking Savvy. LSI teachers use this book to teach Level 5 Speaking/Listening. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

to talk into

Example 1:

Marcy isn't coming with us to the Grand Canyon. She said that it was more important for her to stay in Los Angeles to work and study. I told her that it was going to be a really great experience and it might be her only chance to see if before she goes back to her country. Although I tried my best, I couldn't talk Marcy into going with us.

Example 2:

Hank: Hey, Frank! What are you going to do this weekend?

Frank: I don't have plans yet. Why? What are you going to do?

Hank: I have to move to my new apartment and I was hoping you could help me....

Frank: Oh.... that doesn't sound like fun.. I think I might be busy, actually. Yes, I have plans!

Hank: Come on, Frank! You are lying! If you help me, I will treat you to pizza and a movie after. And besides, Jena will be helping me, too..

Frank: Jena will be there?! OK, you talked me into it! See you on Saturday.


Meaning:
to talk into is a separable phrasal verb that is similar in meaning to the verb convince.

In the first example, one friend is trying to convince Marcy to join them on the trip, but at last, she couldn't convince her. She couldn't talk Marcy into going.

In the 2nd example, Hank convinces Frank to help him move by offering dinner and a movie, as well as a chance to spend time with Jena. Frank initially says no, but changes his mind after Hank gives him more information.

This idiom comes from the LSI textbook Speaking Transitions. LSI teachers use this book to teach Level 4 Speaking/Listening. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

to get a chance

Context #1:

Akiko: Guess what! Next week I'm going to go to my first American Baseball game.

Shuhei: Really? That's great!

Akiko: Yeah! I hope I get a chance to see someone hit a homerun!

Context #2:

Shane: Last Saturday I went to my 20-year high school reunion.

Tony: Wow! Did you have a good time?

Shane: I had a great time! I got a chance to hang out with a lot of my old friends.

Meaning: to get a chance is an American idiom that means you have a special opportunity to experience something. This idiom is followed by infinitive verbs, as you can see in the examples above. It is also commonly used with the definite article "the" instead of "a." You can say, "I hope I get the chance to... + verb."

This idiom is taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Savvy." LSI teachers use this book to teach the Level 5 Speaking class. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

To Keep One's Cool

Context #1:

Jane: I heard you and your boyfriend got into an argument after class yesterday.

Cindy: Yeah... he was really upset and he started yelling at me.

Jane: Did you yell back at him?

Cindy: No, I just kept my cool. Later he felt bad and apologized to me. I'm glad I didn't lose my temper too.

Context #2:

Tom: In California some people are crazy drivers! People cut me off all the time.

Sam: Yeah, me too! One time I got mad and honked my horn at the guy who cut me off. What do you do when people cut you off?

Tom: I keep my cool. I don't honk my horn or give them a dirty look. I try to remain calm.

Meaning: to keep one's cool is an American idiom that means to remain calm and to not lose your temper or get angry. This idiom comes from the LSI textbook Speaking Savvy. LSI teachers use this book to teach Level 5 Speaking/Listening. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

To Get Back to Someone

Read the following letter and guess the meaning of the idiom in bold:

Dear Gloria,

I am writing to thank you for the wedding invitation!
I am so happy for you and Paul... I feel honored that you invited me to this special day in your lives, even though we have only known each other for 2 months.
I really want to attend it, but because the wedding will be in Australia I am not sure I can afford it. I will take a look at my finances and get back to you.

Thank you, again!

Samantha

Meaning: To Get Back to Someone means to phone, write, or speak to someone at a later time because you were busy or could not answer a question earlier.

This idiom was taken from our LSI book Speaking Savvy