Pay it forward

Context #1  

John: Have you heard what people have started doing at the Starbucks drive through?  The person in front is paying for whatever the people behind them have ordered.

Steve: Yeah, I've heard about that happening. I guess people are just trying to be kind to each other.

John: That's right. It's a really cool way to pay it forward.  

Context #2

Jenny: Look someone left their wallet in the classroom.

Christine: What should we do?

Jenny: Let's take it to the school's office. I know they have a lost and found. Maybe they can even find the owner.

Christine:That's a good idea. I'm glad you're doing the right thing and paying it forward.

Meaning: "pay it forward" is an idiom that has come into use relatively recently.  It is used when someone does something kind or morally right knowing that if they do good, then in the future someone else will be kind or do good to them. If you are kind, you will receive kindness in the future. If you do bad to others, something bad will happen to you in the future. 

http://languagesystems.edu/

A kick!!

Context #1  

Tom: What are you doing?

Chris: I'm putting Tabasco sauce in my humus.

Tom: Why?

Chris: Well, the humus tastes good, but it needs a little kick.

Context #2

Suzie: What did you order?

Teresa: I ordered the Thai green curry.

Suzie: I've had that before.  I hope you like spicy food because that green curry really has a kick.

Meaning: "a kick" is a common American expression that means a spicy component when it comes to food.  It is usually used with the verbs "to have," "to need" and "to give."   

http://languagesystems.edu/

To shoot some hoops

 

Context  #1: 

I just want to relax this weekend. I don't want to study. I don't want to clean or do laundry. I just want to relax. Maybe I'll watch something on Netflix or take a long nap. I might call up some friends and shoot some hoops if the weather is nice. 

Context #2:

We just returned from the LA Lakers NBA game in Downtown Los Angeles. It was so exciting! Basketball is my favorite sport and I can't wait to join a team so I can shoot some hoops with my friends!

Explanation:

To shoot some hoops means to play basketball. The sport of basketball is played with a ball and the object of the game is to get the ball through a hoop by throwing the ball. The verb shoot  is used the same as throw. 

http://languagesystems.edu/

Shoot the Breeze!!

Context #1: 

Mark: Hey Rob! How was your date last night with Mary? 

Rob: Hi Mark. It was OK. I'm not sure we're a good match.

Mark: Why not?

Rob: Well, we met for coffee and only spent about 30 minutes together before she left. We were pretty uncomfortable, just shooting the breeze. She didn't really tell me anything about herself which is disappointing because I really wanted to get to know her. From what you said, she seemed really interesting. But this was not the case yesterday.

Mark: Oh man! That's too bad. Will you have another date with her?

Rob: I don't know. She said she would text me, but I'm not sure if she will!

Context #2

Tom: Hey Bill! How was your date with Jane yesterday?

Bill: Oh it was great! She is really easy to talk to. I really like her.

Tom: That's great!

Bill: Yeah, we had a great time. We went for coffee and spent at least 2 hours just shooting the breeze. We're going to get together next week, too!

Explanation:

To shoot the breeze is to spend time chatting casually about nothing in particular and with no purpose.

In context #1, Rob wanted to have deep conversation and get to know Mary, but they only had casual, light conversation. 

In context #2, Bill and Jane spent hours shooting the breeze  and enjoyed their time together.

This expression is often used with -ing form 

http://languagesystems.edu/

One swallow does not make a summer

 Context #1

Jay: I can’t believe mom bought us a trip to Hawaii. Maybe she’ll get us a car too.

Saul: Calm down Jay. One swallow does not make a summer. Remember that mom has money limitations. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Jay: You don’t think mom would do that for us? 

Saul: Be realistic. Just because mom got a new job, doesn’t mean she can afford everything.

Context #2

Peter: I got into college in NY. I’m not worried anymore. I’m sure all the other colleges will accept me too.

Sonia: One swallow does not make a summer buddy. Every school has different standards and rules. Let’s not get too confident about what schools will accept you yet. You should wait before making a decision.

Peter: But this was the most difficult school to get into. How can the other schools not accept me?

Sonia: Sometimes school departments make a difference. It’s not necessarily the entire university that makes that decision. 

Meaning: The expression "one swallow does not make a summer" means that just because one good thing happened, you cannot expect every other thing that will happen to be good. For example, some people think that if something good happens at the beginning of a trip, it’s a sign that everything else will go well. In reality, that is not true. In the first example, Jay thinks that because the mother bought them a trip, surely she will also buy them a car, but there’s no evidence to prove this. It’s just a feeling. In the second example, Peter thinks every college he applied to will accept him because he got into the most difficult one. However, that’s just his belief, not a fact. He is not aware that most universities have differences in acceptance policies and that the standards of each department in that college vary. 

http://languagesystems.edu/

Cut (somebody) some slack

Context #1

Andrew: Last week’s assignment was due two days ago. Why haven’t you finished it yet?

Mia: Andrew, you know I’ve been having some personal problems. Please cut me some slack.

Andrew: There are no exceptions. If I cut you some slack, then everyone will want me to cut some slack for them. 

Mia: You’re so inflexible. I wish you would be more understanding.

Andrew: I would cut you some slack if you didn’t have a habit of turning assignments in late.

Context #2

Jeff: I’ve reported a student for using his phone during class time.

Michelle: Why can’t you cut the student some slack? Maybe the student had a legitimate emergency.

Jeff: He was checking facebook. How would the student benefit from me cutting him some slack?

Michelle: I guess there’s no excuse. You never cut anyone some slack sometimes though?

Jeff: Students get more than enough warnings before being reported. This student doesn’t deserve any slack. He does this daily.

Meaning: The expression "cut somebody some slack" means to give someone permission to do something not normally allowed or to be less strict about something (e.g. a policy or rule). In this example, Mia was upset that Andrew didn’t allow for additional time to finish her assignment. However, Andrew is unwilling to be more flexible because Mia has had a habit of turning things in late. So he is less willing to cut Mia some slack. In the second example, the teacher was upset that the student was focusing on his phone everyday and had been warned about the rules previously. The teacher didn’t think giving the student any more chances (cutting any slack) was of benefit to him or the student.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To pound the pavement; used as a verb

Context #1

Leo: How's the job hunting going?

Janice: Not so great. I've been pounding the pavement all week, I've emailed out over 40 resumes, and I still haven't gotten an interview!

Leo: Sorry to hear that. But you'll find something.

Janice: I know. That's why I'm on my way to pound the pavement some more.

Leo: That's the spirit! Keep it up!

Meaning: The expression "to pound the pavement" means to walk through the streets looking for something, usually a job. But while the idiom means to walk through the streets, it doesn't always mean that someone is literally walking around; in the example above, Janice says she has sent over 40 resumes over email, suggesting she isn't literally walking around.  Less commonly, the expression can be used for non-job related activities, although in these cases, it usually means they literally walked around, as in the next example:

Context #2

The candidate's volunteers pounded the pavement, trying to reach out to their community. Due to their efforts, 1000 people joined the candidate's rally the following Saturday.

Meaning: In this example, the volunteers probably did literally walk through the streets, discussing their preferred political candidate with others.

http://languagesystems.edu/