From time to time

Context #1

Luz: Do you like watching action movies?  I think they’re the best.

Leo: Sure, from time to time. 

Luz: Like how often?

Leo: maybe once every three or four days.  Not too often.

Context #2

Bob: From time to time I remember when we first met. 

Shannon: That’s so sweet of you to say.  I didn’t think you thought about that at all.

Bob: Yes, occasionally I’ll have a memory that brings me back to the moment I ran into you while crossing the street with your friend.

Shannon: Well, from time to time I remember when you asked me out ten minutes later after we crossed the street.

Bob: I guess we both like thinking about the beginning of our relationship.

Meaning: Irregularly; now and then; occasionally; sometimes; not predictably.

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Be second to none

Context #1

Saul: Today was such a good soccer game. I didn’t think I would score so many goals.

Jay: Duh, everyone knows you’re second to none. You’re the best player in the league. 

Saul: I didn’t really think about it that way. I’m glad people can see how hard I train.

Jay: Bro, you’re the best. Like I said, you’re second to none. 

Context #2

Dwayne: This restaurant is so delicious. It’s not even that expensive. 

Alexis: Yes! This place is second to none, even though it’s a small local joint.

Dwayne: I guess people never think small community restaurants like these can be world class.

Alexis: Well, most restaurants start somewhere right? 

Dwayne: Yeah. And your knowledge of finding good restaurants like these is definitely second to none.

Meaning: Second to none means literally: there is no one to whom this person would be second. Example: It is the best. It can be applied to objects, too.

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For a living

Context #1

Peter: Did you see the new blue house at the corner?

Ana: Yes, I loved the colors. Who painted that?

Peter: It was John's art! He paints houses for a living.

Ana: Oh, nice to hear that! I wish I had such talent! 

Context #2

Brianna: Can I ask you something, Mel? 

Melanie: Of course you can! 

Brianna: That's fine! What do you do for a living?

Melanie: I work at the market on Fridays, Bri! I told you! 

Brianna: Oh, my God! I thought you were a veterinarian!

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By hand

Context #1

Mark: Hi Dave, how are you? Oh, why do you look so worried?

Dave: Yeah, I'm a little worried about pollution.

Mark: I know, Earth is suffering. Pollution is terrible! That's why I always have my bag made by hand with me. They are super cute and sustainable. 

Dave: You made my day! I'm going to buy it now!

Meaning: Made by human hands and handheld tools as opposed to a machine. 

Context #2

Michael: Hello, Ana! Would you like me to help you with the deliveries?

Ana: No, Michael! I'm sorry but my boss told me to deliver the message by hand.

Michael: That's fine! I just wanted to help!

Meaning: Something that is delivered "by hand" is delivered by a person and given directly to the person it is addressed to. 

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To pig out

Context #1

Matt and Pete are about to leave for a party.

Matt: Are you ready for the party?
Pete: Oh yeah! I’m starving!
Matt: What? Really?
Pete: Yes! I haven’t eaten all day. I’ve been waiting for the party so I can pig out!
Matt: Ah, Pete: I don’t know if they will have food. I hope you know that this party we’re going to is a political party.

Context #2

Melinda sits in front of many empty plates and used napkins. Janet approaches her.

Janet: How was dinner, Melinda?
Melinda: Delicious! Too delicious! Look at how much I ate. I can’t eat another bite.
Janet: Too bad you pigged out on dinner because this restaurant has the best desert in the world!
 

Meaning: To eat a lot, to eat more than expected. We think of a pig as an animal that never stops eating. When we use “pig out” with a person, we basically say that person “eats as much as a pig.” “To make a pig of” oneself is another

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Crocodile tears

Meaning: A display of an emotion that is not real; or showing an emotion but not feeling that emotion. If a person is not sad but wants to look sad, he or she will shed crocodile tears, meaning that person is acting sad rather than feeling sad. People often use the verbs “cry,” “shed,” or “weep” before the idiom crocodile tears.

Example 1: Shasta worked at an awards show the night before her conversation with Jean.

Jean: Did you watch the Tuney Awards last night?
Shasta: Oh, I didn’t tell you? I worked backstage at the Tuney’s!
Jean: What?! No, you didn’t tell me! Did you meet Darlene Lafleur?
Shasta: Yeah, I met her.
Jean: What a lovely person! I thought her speech after winning best song and best new artist was so…heart-felt! And she was so surprised that she won. What a humble woman! I’m glad she brought tissues to the stage for her tears.
Shasta: Um, she brought tissues to the stage because she had prepared to cry. Those were crocodile tears. Just before she appeared on stage I heard her say, “Everyone out there knows I’m going to win. Those other artists are terrible. I can’t believe they even showed up.”

Example 2: BREAKING NEWS!

Police have arrested and charged John Dalia with the murder of his co-worker Kevin McDonald. Police claim that Dalia waited for McDonald outside his home and attacked him as he was leaving for work. Dalia wiped tears from his eyes as he spoke to the press this afternoon: “I did not kill Kevin. He was my friend. I loved that man and would never hurt him.” Dalia’s co-workers, however, claim he was crying crocodile tears: “John never had a nice thing to say about Kevin; but John’s wife did!” 

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You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Idiom: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks -  You cannot make people change their habits or character; it is very difficult to change the way a person does something when they have been doing it the same way for many years

Context #1 

Students are in English class

Terry: Hi, Sal. What’s wrong?

Sal: Oh, hi Terry. I’m just really tired. I’ve been trying to show my grandpa how to use his new smartphone, but he is really being stubborn.

Terry: What do you mean? Smartphones are great!

Sal: Well, he wants to return his smartphone for an old-fashioned flip phone. He says that he cannot even use the smartphone. It’s too hard!

Terry: Well, he is not used to that new technology, so it’s all probably confusing for him. You should probably just let him get an older phone he knows how to use.

Sal: I guess you’re right. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!

Terry: Yes. He will be much happier with a phone he actually knows how to use.

Context #2 

Two friends talking about fitness

Sara:  I’m so tired!!

Pat: Why? You aren’t working full-time right now.

Sara: Well, my fitness coach told me that I should start getting up really early around 6 AM. He told me I would feel much better and get more things done.

Pat: What time do you usually get up?

Sara: 10 AM or so. I’m a night person. I love staying up late!

Pat: Well, if you are used to getting up at 10 AM, I don’t think you are going to be able to get up at 6 AM every day, especially right away.

Sara: I guess you are right. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Perhaps I’ll compromise and get up at 9:30 AM instead!

Meaning: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” means that you cannot make people change established habits of behavior or character. In Context 1, Sal’s grandpa cannot use a smartphone, no matter how much Sal tries to teach him. In Context 2, Sara thinks she can start getting up much earlier than she is used to getting up. In both contexts, it is too difficult to change their habits. 

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