To Strut One's Stuff

Idiom: to strut one’s stuff

Context #1 – Two people are watching a soccer game and one of the players just scored a goal.

Jen:  Goal!!! That was a great shot! Look at him strut his stuff!

Kat: Hmmm. I think that was just a lucky shot.

Jen: Seriously? Look at the replay. It was an AMAZING shot, not luck!

Kat: Well, I don’t think so. Believe me, he should not strut his stuff and celebrate like that over one lucky shot. It’s silly.

Jen: I think he should strut his stuff every chance he gets. Anyways, the game is over so let’s eat dinner.

Context #2 - Two people are watching others dancing at a club.

Jack: Look at Paul out there on the dance floor just strutting his stuff.

Terri: I know! Where did he learn to dance like that?

Jack: Oh, he has been dancing since he was a baby. Plus, I think he has a lot of natural talent.

Terri: Well, that’s obvious. I wish I could do that.

Jack: You should ask Paul to give you lessons. In no time at all, you’ll be strutting your stuff on the dance floor!

Terri: Ha, ha! I don’t think I could ever be that good, but it would be a lot of fun.

Meaning: “To strut one’s stuff” means to show off what you can do well or to walk proudly and show off (or celebrate) one’s best features or talents. In context #1, the soccer player struts his stuff, or shows off, after making an amazing goal. In context #2, Paul is a talented dancer and is strutting his stuff, or showing off his dance moves, on the dance floor.
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Heat Wave

Idiom: Heat Wave

Context #1 – Walking in LA during a heat wave

The temperature is 105 plus degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), and it feels like you just stepped into a huge oven. It's the hottest it's been in recent memory. You just passed a homeless guy who was trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk. There is air conditioning in just about every place you go, except your apartment because you don’t have an air conditioner. You are desperately looking for a place to cool off until the sun goes down. Just staying outside for an extended period of time could be bad for your health. It is difficult to move and EVERYONE is cranky because of the hot weather. You are experiencing a HEAT WAVE....

Context #2 – Two roommates in an apartment without air conditioning during a heat wave

Jennie:  I cannot even believe how hot it is right now. It’s like I’m in hell and there is no end in sight.

Katie: I know! I can’t even breathe. I feel like I’m in an oven. I had no idea there could be a heat wave like this in California.

Jennie: We really should have rented an apartment with air conditioning. I just didn’t think we would need it.

Katie: Well, we are going to melt if we stay in this apartment any longer. Why don’t we go see a movie? It’s always nice and cool in the movie theater.

Jennie: That sounds like a plan. Maybe it will cool off later after the movie finishes.

Katie: I doubt it! Mrs. Cline our neighbor says that she cannot remember a heat wave like this and she has been living in California her whole life!

 Meaning: “Heat wave” is an idiom that is specifically used to talk about a period of time that is much hotter than usual. In context #1, it describes a person experiencing a heat wave while walking outside. In context #2, the roommates are in their apartment, but they don’t have air conditioning, so they are trying to find a way to stay cool.  @LSILA @LSINE @LSIOC @LSIS

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At face value

Idiom: at face value

Example 1- Sales representatives will do anything to sell you their product.  So, don’t take their word at face value.

Example 2- Charlie is very smart; if he gives you legal advice, you should take it at face value.

Meaning: "at face value" means the superficial appearance or implication of something. @LSILA @LSINE @LSIOC @LSISB

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To face the music

Idiom: to face the music

Example 1- (In school) Sally didn’t study for her tests this week.  She’ll have to face the music when it’s time to show her parents her results.

Example 2- I had to face the music after the teacher caught me using my phone during the test.

Meaning: "to face the music" means to accept the consequences of something one is responsible for. @LSILA @LSINE @LSIOC @LSISB

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To stay tuned

Idiom: to stay tuned

Example 1-(News story on television) There was a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in our town this morning. Reports of damage are slowly being reported. Residents are urged to stay tuned for emergency instructions.

Example 2- Stay tuned for more updates and pictures from the Beach Party.

Meaning: "to stay tuned" means to stay on one news channel, radio station, or website and wait for more information. @LSILA @LSINE @LSIOC @LSISB

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To have a blast

Idiom: to have a blast

Example 1- (last week) Don't forget to buy your ticket for the Beach Party! It's on Friday and we always have a blast, so you don't want to miss it!

Example 2- (this week) The Beach Party was so much fun! We had a blast playing beach volleyball, tug-of-war, water games, and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! I'm so glad I didn't miss it! I can't wait for next year. 

Meaning: "to have a blast" means to have a lot of fun. 

Grammar note: the verb have changes according to the necessary verb tense:

We will have a blast next week. 

We had a blast yesterday.                  @LSINE @LSIOC

We are having a blast right now.         @LSISB @LSILA

See all the #LSIBeachParty14 pictures on Picasa at https://plus.google.com/photos/102773294412586155497/albums/6054915585057002849?banner=pwa

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To burn off

Idiom: to burn off 

Context #1:

Julie:  Hey, do you want to go to the beach today?

Kathy: I don't know.  It's really cloudy right now.

Julie: I know.  California is like that in June.  It's always cloudy in the morning but once the clouds burn off it'll be gorgeous.

Kathy: Really?  Ok!  Let's go then.

Context #2:

Tom: Did you guys go to the beach yesterday?

David: Yeah, we were going to go in the morning, but it was too cold and cloudy. We waited until the clouds burned off.

Tom: I bet the weather was amazing in the afternoon.

David: Yeah, it was perfect! Clear, sunny skies and not a lot of wind.

Meaning: "to burn off" is an idiom that is specifically used to talk about the process of morning clouds gradually disappearing.  Usually along the coast in California the sky is cloudy in the morning. But then in the late morning or early afternoon the clouds go away and it becomes sunny and hot. 

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