Be bent on doing something

Context #1:

Jean: Phillip! I'm so tired! Can't we finish tomorrow? The project isn't due until 5 pm. We have plenty of time in the morning. Let's go to sleep!

Phillip: No way, Jean. I told myself we'd finish this by tonight and we're not going to bed until we do. Sorry!

Jean: You're being really selfish, you know. You're so bent on finishing this project but you're not considering any one else's feelings. I'm tempted to just let you finish it on your own.

Context #2:

Mother: Son, why are your grades so low in your science class this semester?

Son: I don't know mom. I work really hard but the teacher is bent on making my life miserable. She hates me.

Mother: Why do you think that? I'm sure it's not true.

Son: It's true. She doesn't treat me the same as others.

Mother: I'll have to go and talk to her then.

Son: NO! Don't do that. It's really OK!

Explanation: 

To be bent on doing something means that you are obsessed with doing something and you MUST do it.

In example 1, Phillip MUST finish his project, even if it means that Jean and he will lose sleep. 

In example 2, the son claims that his teacher is obsessed with making his life difficult. 

Be sure to change the be verb to match your tense and always use an ing-verb following on

She is bent on preparing all of the appetizers by herself. She won't consider a caterer. 

Mr. Lee has been bent on learning English in less than two years. He studies every single day. 

When I was a kid, I was bent on reading all of the Harry Potter books.

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Bark up the wrong tree

Context #1 Alex: I'm sure that Cynthia took my candy. Mike: Cynthia? There's no way she took it. Alex: I think she did! She was at school yesterday. Mike: So was everyone else! It's a big school. Alex: She likes candy. Mike: Lots of people like candy. I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Alex: Wait a minute. Why are you so sure she didn't take it?

Context #2

Young Aaron's birthday is coming up soon. He will turn five years old on his birthday. Aaron's parents have been keeping Aaron's birthday present as a surprise but Aaron really wants to know what his present will be. As a result, Aaron is asking his mother all kinds of unusual questions to try to discover what his gift is. Aaron asks if his mother or father have gone shopping anywhere different. Aaron asks if his present is larger than a loaf of bread. He asks if his gift is hidden in the house. Aaron asks many questions. Finally, Aaron's mother says...

"Young man, if you think that I will tell you what your present is, you are very mistaken. You are barking up the wrong tree!"

Meaning: To make a wrong assumption about someone or something.

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To play dumb

Context #1

Tony: Did you take my book?

Jack: What are you talking about? I didn't see any book.

Tony: Don't play dumb. I know you took it.

Context #2

Grace: So did you ask your boyfriend about that text he got from that girl Chrissy.

Amanda: Yeah, but he played dumb and said that she probably texted the wrong number.

Grace: So you think he was lying?

Amanda: Yeah, I could tell by the look on his face.

Meaning: "to play dumb" is used when someone pretends like they don't know something, when they really do know!

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To blow it

Context #1 

Jim: So how did you do on your driving test yesterday?

Harry: Oh man, I totally blew it!

Jim: What happened?

Harry: I accidentally ran through a stop sign, so I failed it.

 

Context #2 

Kathy: I have that big job interview later today.

Sara: Good luck!

Kathy: Thanks, but I'm so nervous! I hope I don't blow it

Sara: Relax. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Meaning: "to blow it" is used when someone makes a mistake that leads to failure.

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Munchies

Context #1 – Hanging out at home

Jo: Hurry up, the movie is starting.

Becky: I’m trying to hurry, but there’s nothing to snack on and I have the munchies.

Jo: You’re always hungry. Can’t you watch without food?

Becky: Movies are so much better with a snack to munch on.

Jo: I guess. In that case, maybe we should go buy snacks before the movie starts.

Context #2 – Taking a road trip

Charlie: Do you mind making a stop in the next gas station?  We’ve been driving for some time now and I’m starting to get the munchies.

Ana:  No problem. I’m getting hungry too.

Charlie: Do you think we should grab some food first then?

Ana: The next restaurant is way too far from our next stop, so I think snacks will have to do.  We’ll have to better prepare next time. It’s always easy to get the munchies while driving.

The “Munchies” means hunger. Usually for non nutritious foods, like fast food, pastries, snack (junk) foods, etc. Munchies can also be used as a noun to represent snacks (e.g. I need to get some munchies for later). 

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To go dutch

Context #1 – Friends Having Dinner Together

Marc:That was a good dinner. Let me ask for the check.

Henry:Yeah, please do. Let me know how much I should cover.

Marc: No way man! I invited you to dinner.

Henry: I only agreed to dinner if we would go Dutch. So, no arguments. 

Marc: Okay, but next time, you have to let me pay.

Context #2 – Paying for the taxi

Vivian: It’s great to see you again. I ordered us a taxi.

Roy: How much was it? I want to cover for it.

Vivian: We never said we would go Dutch. You can pay the next taxi.

Roy: Okay, sure. But for dinner, we will go Dutch. The restaurant we’re going to is not cheap.

To “go Dutch” means to pay for one self. For example, if friends go out to dinner or planned activity, each person will pay for their own food, transportation, etc.

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To Diss Someone

          

Context #1 – Two guys who like the same girl

Vinnie: Hey, Brad. What's up?

Brad: Oh, hi. I’m just getting ready to go out with my girl.

Vinnie: Nice, dude. Is she in our class?

Brad: Yeah, it's Samantha.

Vinnie: What? Samantha is my girl. 
Brad: Well, not anymore.
Vinnie: No way! She would never go out with a guy who looks like you. You’re so ugly, you have to sneak up on your mirror so you don't scare yourself.

Brad: That's a really bad joke. You are dissing me because you’re just mad that Samantha is with me now.

Vinnie: I’m not joking. If you really want a joke, look in the mirror.

Brad: You can keep dissing me, but Samantha is a with a real man now, Vinnie!

To diss someone: a shortened version of “disrespect,” to purposely disrespect someone, to put someone down, to insult someone    

Context #2 – Two roommates are talking at home

Katrina: What’s wrong Cindy. You look sad.

Cindy: Oh, hey Katrina. I don’t know what to do. This woman at work is dissing me like every day. And I’m not good with a comeback.*

Katrina: Why don’t you tell her to stop? What does she say?

Cindy: She is so subtle about it that I look foolish if I tell her to stop dissing me. She will say things like “Oh no, Cindy, you look so pale today. Are you OK?” She said this to me after I came back from a Hawaii vacation and I looked great with my tan.

Katrina: Well, she is obviously just jealous. Why don’t you diss her back? The next time you see her, get a look of surprise on your face and say something like, “Was anyone else hurt in the accident that did this to you?"

Cindy: Ha, ha, ha!! That would be so funny, but I could never diss someone like that.

Katrina: OK. Well, I guess you will just have to ignore her every time she disses you. Instead, pretend you are talking about her until you have her attention and then just ignore everything she says!

Cindy: Sounds good to me!

Meaning: "To diss someone” is short for “to disrespect someone.” It usually involves insulting someone directly or indirectly. In context 1, Vinnie and Brad are both dating Samantha, so Vinnie starts dissing Brad by insulting his looks. In Context 2, Cindy is being dissed by a woman at work and does not have a good comeback (reply to the critical remark). Katrina gives Cindy an idea of how to diss the woman at work, but Cindy decides to just ignore that person. Please note that dissing someone should not frequently be used in daily situations and people should always be careful. Unless it's a joke, dissing someone could provoke a very extreme reaction in a person.

*Comeback – a quick reply to a critical remark

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