Pull yourself together (used informally)

Idiom: Pull yourself together: used informally

Context #1 Coach and player talking

Coach: Ok, this is really an important race. If we win the next race then our team will be in first place. 

Vinnie: I know coach but I'm so nervous. I don't think that I will be able to compete. I think I'm going to be sick.

Coach: Come on..... pull yourself together. You have run this race many times and you have always done well.

Vinnie: Yeah, but I feel so sick.....

Coach: Come on and do your best.

Context #2 2 Students at an ESL school


Meaning:This phrase is used when someone needs to calm down and to control their emotions. 

Kenji: Oh dude I forgot that we have a test today. I'm going to flunk it.

Mai: How could you forget about this test. We have been talking about it all week. And I'm sure you won't get an "F".

Kenji: I know. What am I going to do?

Mai: Well first you gotta pull yourself together. Freaking out isn't going to help you. I'm sure you will do well. Remember it's only a small percentage of our final grade.

Jenji: You're right. Any grade is better than a zero.

In context #1 The racer is worried about loosing the race and disappointing his coach and team. 

His coach tried to relax him and remind him that he is a good runner.  

In context #2 Kenji is upset because he forgot about a test and is worried about getting a poor grade.

Mai gets Kenji to calm down by reminding him that he is a good student.

http://languagesystems.edu/ 

Comfort food (used as a noun)

Context #1 A teacher and his student talkingTeacher: What's wrong Tatiana? Tatiana: I have been feeling a little down recently and last night I went to a Russian restaurant near my apartment. Teacher: I hope you had a great time. Did you eat anything good? Tatiana: Yeah, that's the problem. Since I was missing home I ate some Russian comfort food. I had a very delicious bowl of Borscht. Teacher: That's wonderful! So what's the problem? Tatiana: It reminded me of home so much that now I'm really homesick.

Context #2 Two friends talking Henry: So Jeries , do you get home often? Jeries: Not as often as I would like to. My boss keeps me really busy. Henry: I hear you. My boss can be like that too. Don't you miss you family and friends? Jeries: Nope. My mom sends me some really good Mac and Cheese. She makes it from scratch. Henry: That's gotta be good to eat some old fashioned comfort food. Jeries: Yeah, it reminds me of when I was a little boy. we would have Mac and Cheese almost every weekend. I am amazed that I still love it.

Meaningf Comfort food is simple, homestyle food that brings an individual comforting thoughts of their home or childhood. In context #1 Borscht reminds Tatiana of her home in Russia. In context #2 the Mac and Cheese reminds Jeries of the time when he was young.

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To Step Up (one's) Game (used as a verb)

First Example:

Tina: Did you hear? I just got the project.

Alec: Really? I thought my proposal was a lock.

Tina: They liked mine better. Looks like you need to step up your game if you're gonna compete with me.

Alec: Don't get too cocky. You won one proposal, your first.

Tina: The first of many.

Alec: We'll see.

Meaning: To "step up (one's) game" is a phrase that means to improve one's skills or talents. This idiom is sometimes used in a somewhat joking manner between people who are competing, as Tina uses it above.  Alternatively, it can also be used to commend someone on their improvement, as in the next example:     

Vito: I heard you got a promotion?

Kate: Yeah, they liked my last couple reports and told me to keep up the good work.

Vito: Congratulations! You've really stepped up your game. I remember when you first got here, you seemed so lost.

Kate: I was lost! I was terrified someone would figure out at any moment that I had no idea what I was doing, and I'd get fired.

Vito: Well, you know what you're doing now. You'll probably end up being my boss one day.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To Dig in (one's) Heels

Idiom: to dig in (one's) heels; used as a verb

First Example:

Jennifer: How is the wedding planning going?

James: Ugh.

Jennifer: That bad, huh? What's wrong now?

James: We can't agree on the music. I just want to have a DJ, but Natalie has dug in her heels on an expensive live band. She won't even consider any of the alternatives I suggested.

Jennifer: Just like she dug in her heels with that expensive hotel?

James: Yep, and I assumed she'll dig in her heels on some expensive flowers as well.

Jennifer: Well, it is her wedding day, so she wants it to be special.

James: It's my wedding day as well, and I don't want us spending the next ten years paying off loans!

Meaning: To "dig in (one's) heels" is a phrase that means to refuse to give in. This idiom is used when a person stubbornly refuses to change an opinion or action.  In the example, James says his fiancé Natalie is digging in her heels about wedding options that are too expensive.

Unusual for an English expression, the preposition in this idiom can be moved to the end without affecting the meaning. The expression to dig (one's) heels in (with the preposition at the end) is also correct and has the same meaning.

Here is an example of that usage:  

Michelle: How about sushi for dinner?

Greg: I don't want to go out. Can't we just order a pizza?   

Michelle: Well, I wanted something healthier than bread and cheese. How about that new salad place? That's not far?

Greg: Can't you get a salad from a pizza place?

Michelle: Not a good one. Let's go out.

Greg: There has to be a healthy delivery place. Let me look online.

Michelle: Wow, you're really digging your heels in on delivery, aren't you?

Greg: I just had a long day, and I'd rather stay home.

www.languagesystems.com

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/