To Be Out Of (Something)

To Be Out Of (Something)

Context #1:
Jimmy: Oh man!
Mark: What's wrong?
Jimmy: We're out of coffee! I'd better go to the store and get some more. I really need my cup of coffee in the morning.  I'll be back.
Context #2:
Restaurant Waiter: Hi, are you guys ready to order?
Restaurant Customer: Yeah, I'll have the fresh lobster.
Restaurant Waiter: I'm sorry but we are out right now. The shrimp is really good too.
Restaurant Customer: Ok, I'll try the shrimp.

Meaning: to be out of something means that there is no more left. The thing that was available before has been used up.

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

To Skip Something

To Skip Something

Context #1:

Tom: I am so hungry I think I'm going to pass out!
Jane: It's only 10 am. What did you have for breakfast?
Tom: That's the problem. I skipped breakfast. I'm not going to do that again.

Context #2:

Grace: Wow, I missed the grammar class for one week and we are already on chapter 10?
Julie: Actually the teacher said we needed to skip chapters 8 and 9. So basically we went from chapter 7 to 10. Don't worry!

Meaning: to skip something means that you do not do something because there is no time, or something unexpected comes up, or maybe because you just don't feel like doing it.

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

To Make a Move

"To Make a Move"

Hey Susan,

Last night I went to Fabricio's birthday party and you won't believe what happened!
I was standing by the bar when Roger approached me. We started talking and I noticed that he kept looking at me in a weird way. He bought me a drink and said I looked good! I was so happy... You know how much I like him.
After a few minutes, he asked me if I wanted to dance and I said yes. I totally thought he was making a move on me, but then he started asking me questions about YOU! I was so confused! Finally he said he has been in love with you for months and didn't know how to tell you.
Well, I guess now you know... Please let me know if you guys start dating. If that's the case, I can't be your Facebook friend anymore. I hope you understand...

Have a great week,

Bob.

To Make a Move on Someone means to approach a person with the intention of becoming more than just friends.

You can find this idiom in our Reading Transition book! For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/

Set Your Sights High

Idiom: to set __ sights (high/low); used as a verb

First Example:

Scott: What do you plan on doing after you graduate?

Ernest: Well, my next step will be to go to graduate school and get a Master's degree in International Relations.  My eventual goal is to go into politics.

Scott: Are you hoping to work in local government?

Ernest: Actually, my dream is to become a U.S. Senator.

Scott: Wow, you've set your sights pretty high!  I didn't realize you were so interested in politics.

Ernest: Yeah, ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to do something to help make the world a better place, and politics seems like a good way to do that.

Meaning: When people "set their sights high," it means that they have goals that others might consider difficult to achieve.  The "sights" in the expression is what the person is looking to achieve.  In the example above, Ernest has set his sights on a political career, with a position as a Senator his eventual goal.  The expression can also be used with the word "low" in a similar way, as can be seen in the following example: 

Ernest: What about you?  What do you plan on doing after graduation?.

Scott: I actually don't have any plans yet.  I think I might just find a job as a bartender and give myself some time to figure it out.                                                          

Ernest: Well, if I set my sights high, it sounds like you're setting your sights too low!  You're one of the smartest guys I know, and you have really good grades.  Why aren't you looking into graduate school?

Scott: I'm kind of tired of education right now, and I'd like to take some time off.  But I don't plan on staying away forever; I just want to take a year off and consider my options.

In this example, Ernest is telling Scott not to set his sights low after graduation.  Ernest thinks Scott should aim for more than a bartending position.  Notice that the word "too" is being used to emphasize "low," which is common with this expression (especially in warnings with a negative, as in "Don't set your sights too high," which means "Don't expect too much, or you will be let down.").

This idiom is from LSI's new edition of "Reading Horizons," which will be used in the Level 6 Reading classes. For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/   

Bumper-to-bumper

Examples:

1. The traffic is bumper-to-bumper. I don't think I will be home in time for dinner. 
2. The cars on the freeway are so close together. I won't get to school on time in this bumper-to-bumper traffic.  

Explanation:

A "bumper" is the part of the car at the very front and the very back. When cars are very close to one another in a traffic jam, the front bumper of one car can almost touch the back bumper of the car ahead of it.

This idiom comes from Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.com

To Come Forward

Example 1:

No new witnesses have come forward with information to help police catch the people who stole the jewels from the museum. The authorities are asking anyone with any clues to please contact the police right away.

Example 2:

Jen: Please, Stacy. You have to help Josh. He could get kicked out of school because of Ben!

Stacy: I want to help, but I'm scared! Ben would never forgive me. 

Jen: You just need to come forward and explain that Ben was cheating, not Josh. 

Explanation:

to come forward means to come to an authority with your knowledge about a crime or a problem. In the first example, the news report indicates that no witnesses have come to the police with information about the crime at the museum. In the second example, Jen is urging Stacy to come to the school principal with information about a cheating incident involving Ben and Josh. 

This idiom was taken from our L/S Book, Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

dead serious

Example 1:

Mike: Hey Jennifer, how's it going?

Jennifer: Oh Mike, pretty good--but I didn't get any sleep last night... my neighbors were partying late AGAIN!

Mike: I see... Did you tell them to quiet down? Also, maybe you should tell them that if they do it again, you'll call the police.

Jennifer: Actually, I did! But they don't seem to take me seriously...

Mike: Well, I think you should tell them that you're dead serious about calling the police next time. 

Jennifer: Good advice, Mike. I really am dead serious about this. I need my sleep!

                                    


Example 2:

Tony: Lisa, I've been thinking maybe we shouldn't live together anymore, but I would still like for us to date each other... 

Lisa: What? Listen, Tony, if we stop living together--then we should just break up.

Tony: But I really like you! Are you serious?

Lisa: I'm dead serious! We've already been seeing each other for two years and I'm ready for the next step. I need a commitment. 

                                    

Meaning: absolutely serious, not joking

The idiom "dead serious" was taken from Unit 5 ("Hanging Out") in LSI's textbook Speaking Savvy for Level 5 Speaking/Listening classes.