a _____ person

Example 1:

Jared: Hey, Cindy! Let's go get some coffee after class and study for the test together.

Cindy: I'd like to study with you, but I'm not really a coffee person. Do they have hot chocolate?

Jared: Of course they do! They have tea, too!

Cindy: Great! I'll see you then.

Example 2:

I'm going to skip the basketball game tonight. I'm more of a soccer person.

a _____ person is a very common expression in American English.
It is used when talking about a person's likes or dislikes.

In the first example:
Cindy doesn't really like coffee = She is not really a coffee person

In the second example:
They will not attend the basketball game because they like soccer more. He is a soccer person.


This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

the look on somone's face

Example 1:

Brother: Did you see the look on mom's face?

Sister: Yeah! She is really mad! What should we do?

Brother: We need to apologize first, then go buy some flowers!

Example 2:

Boyfriend: Hey, what's wrong? You don't like your Valentine's gift?

Girlfriend: Nothing is wrong. Of course I love it.

Boyfriend: Are you sure? The look on your face is making me worry.

Girlfriend: Well, now that you ask.....

the look on someone's face is an expression you can use when a person's facial expression gives you information about their feelings.

the look = the expression

In Example 1: Brother and Sister are talking about their Mom. The can see their Mom's face is angry! Mom's face looks angry, so the children can know she is angry.

In Example 2: Boyfriend just gave a gift to Girlfriend for Valentine's day. Boyfriend can see a disappointed expression on his girlfriend's face even though she says she loves the gift. Her expression is showing her true emotion.


some structures to use with this expression:

I can tell by the look on your face that you are + (emotion)
I can tell by the look on your face that you are angry. Let's talk about it.

Did you see the look on (someone's) face?
Did you see the look on the boss' face? Be careful today!

This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

To rush

Idiom: To rush

Example #1:

Jim: Oh man!

Terry: What's up?

Jim: I forgot my cell phone. I have to go back home and get it.

Terry: I was rushing this morning because I got up late.

Example #2:

Jane: Before we go to the movies I need to rush to the bank real quick and get some cash.

Kathy: No problem! We have time.

Jane: Yeah, it'll only take a second.

Meaning: to rush is an expression that means to hurry or to do something very quickly.

This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Reading Connections." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 3 Reading classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

Thank you Ty!

to learn one's lesson

Example #1:

Tom: Yesterday I was in a hurry, so I drove in the carpool lane even though I was all by myself.

Joe: So what happened?

Tom: I got a ticket. Man! It's going to cost me a lot of money.

Joe: I hope you learned your lesson!

Tom: I did! I'll never do that again.

Example #2:

Sara: Every year at Christmas I always wait until the last minute to go shopping. I hate it!

Julie: Why? The stores get so crazy! Why don't you do your shopping earlier?

Sara: I don't know. I just keep procrastinating.

Julie: When are you going to learn your lesson?

To learn one's lesson is used to describe the process of learning a lesson in life through a difficult experience or mistake. These are lessons you cannot learn from a book or a class. Usually people have to learn their lesson the hard way.

This idiom was taken from LSI's textbook "Speaking Savvy." This book is used to teach Level 5 Speaking classes at LSI. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

Thank you Ty!

To Tell a White Lie

White lie – noun; a lie that won’t hurt others. “White lie” is usually used with the verb “to tell.” A white lie is often told to a person who does not want to hear the truth or will be negatively effected by the truth.

EXAMPLE:

Jane: Look at this dress! I love the way the orange stripes match my blue eyes, don’t you?

Eriko: Ah, sure. Orange and blue look lovely together.

Jane: I’m going to try it on. I’ll be right back.

Tom: Eriko, you really think that orange dress matches her blue eyes?

Eriko: No, but she really thinks so. It was just a little white lie. The truth might hurt her feelings.

Jane: I’m back! It feels fantastic! And it looks great! Tom, what do you guys think?

Tom: The stripes really highlight your figure!

Jane: Thanks, Tom. I’m going to buy it!

Jane leaves. Eriko turns to Tom.

Tom: You’re right, Eriko. A white lie isn’t so bad.


* From Speaking Savvy, which is used as the speaking/listening textbook for level 5…

to hurt (someone’s) feelings

to hurt (someone’s) feelings
Used as a verb

Example:

Larry: Hi, Emma! How have you been? I haven’t seen you in a long time!

Emma: Hey, Larry! Yeah, it’s been a while, but I’ve been well. How about you?

Larry: I’ve been all right. Hey, what have you done with your hair? It looks different from the last time I saw you.

Emma: Oh, it’s a lot shorter now. The last time you saw me, it was much longer. Do you like it this way?

Larry: Actually, no. I think you looked much prettier when your hair was longer. The short hair makes your face look fat.

Emma: Larry! How can you say such a thing?!? You really hurt my feelings! My face doesn’t look fat!

Larry: I’m sorry, but I’m just telling the truth.

Emma (crying): You’re a jerk! Never speak to me again! You’ve really hurt my feelings! (sobbing)

Meaning:

“To hurt (someone’s) feelings” means to cause someone to feel bad or sad about themselves. It is usually considered rude, because the words can easily make someone feel upset. Hurting someone’s feelings is generally an insensitive and mean thing to do.

This idiom is from LSI's book " Reading Connections" which is used in the level 3 Reading classes. For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/

Posted by Paul Grosfield

To Come to Terms With

Idiom: to come to terms with: used as a verb


First example: The economic situation of the past few years has been hard for people in most countries around the world. Unemployment is high all over the world, and people have much less money to spend. In the beginning, people thought that the economy would get better in a year or two. Now, however, these people are coming to terms with the realization that world economy may take several years to make a complete recovery. People have started to make serious adjustments in their lifestyle as they accept just how long it might be for a full recovery.


Meaning: “To come to terms with” means “to accept.” It is almost always used to refer to a negative situation that needs to be accepted. In the example above, it describes the poor economy the world has been facing for the last few years. Originally, people believed that the period would be short: a year or two. Now they realize that they will have to deal with the difficult economic situation for a lot longer. The adjustments the people have started making show they have come to terms with how long the poor economy may last.


Here is another example:


Second example:


Jessie: Hi Professor Martin, I’d like to talk about my grade with you.


Professor Martin: Ok, what’s on your mind?


Jessie: I needed a ‘C’ to get credit for the class, but you gave me a ‘D.’


Professor Martin: Hmmm, let me look at your grades. Oh, I see why. You missed several classes, only turned in half of your assignments, and skipped a couple of tests. When you turned in the work, you did well on it, but all of the zeros really affected your grade.


Jessie: Well, since you know I can do the work, can’t you change my grade? I really need to pass this class. My parents are going to be upset if I don’t get credit for it.


Professor Martin: Of course I can’t. That wouldn’t be fair to the other students. They worked hard to make sure they passed the class. You have to come to terms with the fact that you’ll need to take the course again if you want credit for it. Next time, make sure you come to class regularly and complete all of the work you’re supposed to do.


Meaning: In this situation, Jessie asks Professor Martin to change her grade. According to Jessie, she knows how to do the work, so she should get a higher grade, even though she didn’t complete all of the assignments. The professor has a different view and feels he must be fair to all of the students. Professor Martin tells Jessie she must come to terms with her poor grade and repeat the class if she hopes to get credit for the course.


This idiom is from LSI's book "Reading Savvy," which is used in the level 5 Reading classes. For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/