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Monday, August 5, 2013

Down-To-Earth



Idiom:  Down-To-Earth; used as an adjective.

First Example:  
“All the boys in Judy’s class love the new girl, Sabrina.  Unlike the other girls who only think about celebrity news and gossip, Sabrina is a very friendly and down-to-earth girl who often values true friendship with others.”

Meaning:  Down-To-Earth refers to people who have a sensible and practical character and/or personality.  In the example above, Sabrina is very popular amongst the boys in her class because she has a very sensible personality and values friendship above celebrity gossip.  This idiom can apply to any person who has a very practical and sensible personality.  This idiom is most often used as an adjective when describing sensible people.

Here is another example:

Second Example:
“Everybody in the company admires the new General Manager, Henry.  Thanks to his leadership and down-to-earth approach to solving problems, every employee was able to get a bonus this year.”

Meaning: In this case, the idiom, Down-To-Earth, serves to describe Henry’s practical and sensible decision-making ability.  Because Henry has a very practical approach to solving problems, the company was able to provide their employees with a bonus for the year.  In this example, the idiom is being used as an adjective.

This idiom is from the book "The Idiom Adventure – Fluency in Speaking and Listening," which is used as supplementary material in LSI’s Intermediate Conversation classes.


For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/ 

Word of Mouth



Idiom:  Word of Mouth; used as a noun, usually as the object of a prepositional phrase.

First Example:  
“Before newspapers were invented, news was spread by word of mouth.”

Meaning:  Word of Mouth refers to information that was obtained via gossip spread by spoken communication.  In this example, the primary method in which information was disseminated was primarily through verbal communication.  In other words, before newspapers were invented, people would find out about current events through gossip, rumors, or other verbal forms.  This idiom can apply to any situation where information can be obtained through verbal means.  This idiom is most often used as an object for the prepositions, “by” or “through”.

Here is another example:

Second Example:
“The rumor that Cynthia had been cheating on her boyfriend was spread through word of mouth.”

Meaning: In this case, the idiom, Word of Mouth, serves to express the idea that the rumor behind Cynthia cheating on her boyfriend had been mainly transmitted via verbal communication.  Whether or not there is any truth to the rumor is irrelevant.  In this example, the emphasis is that the rumor had been communicated orally between different people.  In this example, the idiom is being used as a noun.

This idiom is from the book "The Idiom Adventure – Fluency in Speaking and Listening," which is used as supplementary material in LSI’s Intermediate Conversation classes.


For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com/ 

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

To Pass Time

Example 1: I usually read a magazine to pass time in the waiting room when I visit the doctor's office.

Example 2: It's 6:00 pm now and the movie starts at 8:00 pm. I think I will walk my dog and finish my homework to pass the time until we go to the theater.

Explanation: to pass time means to do something while you're waiting. In the first example, the speaker is waiting to see the doctor, so he is reading a magazine while waiting. In the second example, the speaker is going to walk her dog and then finish her homework while waiting for the movie.

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


To Wolf Down

Example 1: We found a lost puppy on our street. I don't know how long it was out there, but he was really hungry! He wolfed down a plate of food in a few minutes!

Example 2: I didn't have breakfast this morning and now I'm running late for lunch! I'm sure I'll just wolf it down when I finally have time..

Explanation: to wolf down means to eat extremely quickly. 

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 visithttp://www.languagesystems.com/

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

To Let Something Go



Idiom: To let (something) go
 
Context #1:
 
Chris: Last night we lost the Championship basketball game. I can't believe it!
Joe: Yeah it was a tough loss, but you have to let it go and think about next season.
Chris: You're right. I shouldn't keep thinking about it.
 
Context #2:
 
Sally: Did I tell you that my boyfriend cheated on me last weekend? I have been trying to forgive him but I can't!
Carissa: It must be hard. If you can't let this go you might have to just end the relationship.
Sally: Yeah, if I can't forgive him it is going to be really hard to continue in this relationship. 
 
Meaning: To let something go means to stop thinking about something negative. When you learn to stop letting something bother you or make you sad, angry, or feel negatively, then you learn to let that thing go.  Idioms like this are learned and practiced by students at Language Systems International in the Speaking and Conversation classes. For more information please go to: www.languagesystems.com

Thursday, July 18, 2013

To Make One's Day



Idiom: To make one's day
Meaning: To give or provide happiness and/or excitement; to brighten someone's day.

Situation: Tom was sick and feeling down until his friend Roger sent him a funny text message...

Tom texts Roger: "Thanks for the message. It really made my day!"

Note: when using this idiom, you must remember to place a possessive noun or pronoun before the word "day" (for example: his day,her day, Jane's day).

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Take A Hike



Idiom: Take a hike
Meaning: Leave, go away

Situation: Natalia is standing outside a restaurant waiting for a friend. Bob, who is wearing tight pants and many gold chains, walks up to her...

Bob: Hi, beautiful! How about giving me your phone number?
Natalia: Oh, I have a boyfriend. I can't.
Bob: Don't worry; I won't tell him!
Natalia: Take a hike!

"Take a hike" can be considered rude, but is also very direct.

www.languagesystems.com