To go the extra mile

Idiom: To go the extra mile - to do more than what is required to reach a goal or complete a task; to do more and make a greater effort than what is expected. 

Context #1 – Two friends talking during lunch

Lance: Hey, Brittany. You look really happy. What's up?

Brittany: Oh, I just finished my English Conversation class.

Lance: Really? I thought it ended at 12:30. It's 1:15 right now.

Brittany: Well, my teacher stayed after class and explained some idioms to me and how to use them in conversation. Now I really understand and I feel great.

Lance: What a nice teacher! It sounds like she really cares.

Brittany: Yes, she does. My teacher really goes the extra mile to help us understand new idioms in class. She often stays late and explains things to students with questions. She doesn't have to do that during her free time.

Lance: True! You are lucky to have a teacher like her.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about a party last Saturday

Sara:  Did you like that party Billy threw for me last Saturday night for my birthday?

Pat: Yes! He really went the extra mile to make the perfect party for everyone.

Sara: I know! I totally didn't expect him to rent such a big room at the hotel and have the party catered with such delicious food! On top of that, he hired a live DJ to come in for the night. It was so nice!

Pat: Well, Billy is like that. He is a great guy and always willing to go the extra mile for his family and friends.

Meaning: To go the extra mile for someone means to do more than what is required to reach a goal or complete a task or to do more than what is expected of a person. In context 1, Brittany is happy because her teacher went the extra mile to help her understand something in English class. Therefore, the teacher did more than required to help Brittany understand the English lesson by staying during her own free time. In context 2, Billy threw a party for Sara and it was a super nice party. Billy did much more than what was expected to make it a great party.  

To be running on fumes

Idiom: To be running on fumes – to continue to do something or stay awake when there is almost no energy left to do it.               

Context #1 – Two friends talking

Vincent: Hey, Brandy! Oh my God, you look so tired. Are you OK?

Brandy: Not really. I still haven't finished this paper I have to write for my English class. I stayed up all night trying to finish it.

Vincent: Oh no! Are you almost done?.

Brandy: Yes, maybe I can finish it if I can stay awake and focus. At this point, I'm just running on fumes and I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Vincent: Why don't you have a large cup of coffee? I can help you finish it right now. I have time.

Brandy: Really? Thank you so much!

Context #2 – Talking about a soccer match

Selena:  That was such a great match! Both teams were playing so hard and wanted to win.

Patricio: I know. You could tell that the other team, the Sharks, were just running on fumes at the end. They just didn't have the strength of the home team.

Selena: Yeah, I guess so. They did look really tired.

Patricio: Well, I'm glad our team was able to keep going and finally win.

Meaning: To be running on fumes means to continue to do something or stay awake when there is almost no energy left to do it. This is said about a person or people, but it specifically refers to the last fumes of gasoline in an empty tank in a car. In context 1, Brandy has been up all night writing a paper and is super tired. However, she still has to finish the paper. She is running on fumes at this point. In context 2, Selena and Patricio have just been watching a soccer match and one of the teams looks really tired. That team was just running on fumes and eventually lost.

To Shape Up

EXAMPLE  1:

Dear Zora,

This is the last time I will remind you to wash the dishes after cooking.

We are roommates and we share a space. You never clean up after yourself! I always have to ask you to keep the apartment clean... Sometimes I feel like I am your mother! Seriously, if you don't shape up, I will ask you to leave. 

Sincerely,

Tasha Orushko

EXAMPLE 2:

Dear Tasha,

I don't care what you say! I pay my rent on time and I always wash the dishes!

I am not your maid. I will clean up my mess, but don't expect me to pick up after you.  Am I clear?

You are the one who has to shape up, my friend!

Have a great day!

Zora

MEANING: To shape up means to improve performance or behavior 

http://languagesystems.edu/

In Over one's Head

Example 1:
I want to graduate early, so I registered for 2 extra classes this semester. I thought I could handle it, but I'm starting to think I am in over my head. With all the homework, reading assignments, and classes to attend, I'm not sleeping well and I'm feeling overwhelmed. The deadline to drop classes is next week. I'll probably have to drop one to make things more manageable.

Example 2:
My new job just started. It was probably a terrible idea to lie on my resume about my experience. Now my responsibilities includes skills that I don't actually have. I'm totally in over my head. I will have to be honest with my boss and let them know that I'm not actually qualified for this position. 

Explanation:

To be in over one's head is to be overwhelmed by something you can't handle. Usually a person puts themselves into this situation.
In Example 1, this student has registered for too many classes. The workload has become a problem. It is more than the student can handle.
In Example 2, this person gave false information to her employer, now they have responsibilities that are beyond their knowledge and experience. They cannot handle their job. 

Use the be  verb with a possessive pronoun to form sentences.
I am in over my head
She/He is in over her/his head
We are in over our heads
They are in over their heads 

http://languagesystems.edu/

A No-Brainer

Example 1:

Bill: Do you have plans for vacation, Mike?
Mike: Nope. I can't decide what I want to do. My roommates want to go to Las Vegas, but my parents want to take me on a cruise through Mexico.
Bill: Mike! That's a no-brainer! You can go to Vegas anytime! The cruise to Mexico is something you shouldn't pass up.

Example 2: 

Seth: Have you heard back from the company you interviewed with last week? I know you've been looking for work for a few months.
Ruth: Yes, actually. They called me the other day to offer me a position.
Seth: Wow! That's great! You're going to take the job, right?
Ruth: Of course! It's a no-brainer!

Explanation:
A no -brainer is an extremely easy question or decision to make.
In Example 1, Mike has to decide between a trip to Las Vegas with his friends or a cruise to Mexico with his parents. While both trips sound fun, Bill thinks the choice is obvious and easy to decide- of course he should go to Mexico! Living in southern California, Mike has plenty of opportunities to travel to Las Vegas, but it's unlikely his parents will take this same cruise again.
In Example 2, Ruth says she will take the job. To her, there is no other option. It is the obvious choice.
You can think of something as a no-brainer if someone who has no-brain can still make the decision easily.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To Take Something With a Pinch/Grain Of Salt (used as a verb)

First Example:

Lucy: Did you go to that political rally last night?
Jason: Yeah, and it was amazing! She had such great ideas, and her campaign promises are really inspiring.
Lucy: Maybe, but make sure you take anything she says with a pinch of salt.
Jason: What do you mean?
Lucy: Well, she's a politician. They're known for promising things they can't actually deliver just to get more people to vote for them.
Jason: I know, but I think she's for real.

Meaning: 

To "take (something someone says) with a pinch of salt " is a phrase that means you should be critical of what a person says. This idiom is often used when the person who says it doesn't trust something another person said, or thinks they have an ulterior motive.  In the example, Jason is excited by a political candidate, but Lucy says he should take what she says with a pinch of salt, suggesting that the candidate may be promising things she doesn't intend to deliver on.  
In addition, the word "grain" is sometimes used instead of "pinch." The idiom means the same thing with either "pinch" or "grain."

Here is another example:  
            
Bill: Want to try that restaurant that just opened?
Kelsey: I don't know; I heard their service isn't very good.              
Bill: Where did you hear that?
Kelsey: I read a review on Yelp.
Bill: Oh. Well, I take reviews on there with a grain of salt. A lot of people only write reviews if something went wrong and they want to complain.
Kelsey: True, and it got a pretty good review in the paper. Yeah, let's try it and decide for ourselves.


In this case, Bill says to take online reviews with a grain of salt, suggesting online reviews are often skewed. 

http://languagesystems.edu/

Be On The Fence

Context #1

Jim:  Have you decided who you're going to vote for?

Chris: I still don't know.  I'm kind of on the fence right now.  Both candidates are qualified and seem great for the job.

Context #2

Carol:  Have you and your husband found a new apartment yet?

Shelly:  Well, we're still on the fence about which city to live in.  I want to live closer to the beach, but my husband wants to live closer to his work. 

MEANING: to be on the fence means that you cannot make up your mind between two choices or alternatives.  It means that you are having a hard time deciding on one thing over the other.