Tuesday, February 28, 2012
to be out of
to be out of
Context #1:
Sam: Oh man! I wanted to cook dinner tonight, but I'm out of rice.
Jim: No problem. I can take you to the store to get some more.
Sam: Ok, thanks! Let's go.
Context #2:
Waitress: Can I take your order?
Julie: Sure. I'll have the mahi mahi.
Waitress: I'm sorry! We're out of the mahi mahi.
Julie: Really! Well then, I'll have the salmon.
Meaning: to be out of something means that something is all gone, no longer available, or sold out. This is a very common idiom in American English.
This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions" which is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Speaking and Listening. For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.com
Thank you Ty!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
“to take advantage of someone”
“to take advantage of someone”
Buddy: Sometimes I think I’m too nice. I think people are starting to take advantage of me!
Lauren: You are a really nice guy, but what do you mean exactly?
Buddy: Well, the other day I told me friend he could borrow my car for an afternoon, so I let him. Two days later, he asked if I could lend my car to him again for the weekend. I let him borrow it then, too.
Lauren: That was kind of you!
Buddy: I know, but he just asked to borrow it again, and this time he wants it for a whole month!
Lauren: A month! That’s a really long time! Don’t you need your car?
Buddy: Actually, I do. I use it every day.
Lauren: Well, what are you going to tell him?
Buddy: I already told him that he could borrow it. I don’t know what I’m going to do without my car.
Lauren: Oh, Buddy! You are too nice! If you don’t stand up for yourself, people are going to take advantage of you! Don’t be a pushover!
Buddy: OK, I’ll try. Can I borrow your car?
Lauren: No! See? It’s easy, right?
“to take advantage of someone” happens when someone finds a weakness in another person, and then uses (exploits) that weakness for their own benefit
This idiom is in our LSI book, Speaking Transitions!
Buddy: Sometimes I think I’m too nice. I think people are starting to take advantage of me!
Lauren: You are a really nice guy, but what do you mean exactly?
Buddy: Well, the other day I told me friend he could borrow my car for an afternoon, so I let him. Two days later, he asked if I could lend my car to him again for the weekend. I let him borrow it then, too.
Lauren: That was kind of you!
Buddy: I know, but he just asked to borrow it again, and this time he wants it for a whole month!
Lauren: A month! That’s a really long time! Don’t you need your car?
Buddy: Actually, I do. I use it every day.
Lauren: Well, what are you going to tell him?
Buddy: I already told him that he could borrow it. I don’t know what I’m going to do without my car.
Lauren: Oh, Buddy! You are too nice! If you don’t stand up for yourself, people are going to take advantage of you! Don’t be a pushover!
Buddy: OK, I’ll try. Can I borrow your car?
Lauren: No! See? It’s easy, right?
“to take advantage of someone” happens when someone finds a weakness in another person, and then uses (exploits) that weakness for their own benefit
This idiom is in our LSI book, Speaking Transitions!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
"to follow up"
Example 1:
Boss: (to her staff at a meeting) Hi everyone! I want to follow up on the new policies we talked about at our last meeting.... How is everything so far?
Employee 1: I think the changes are good!
Employee 2: Maybe, but some of the new policy information hasn't been sent to me yet.
Boss: Ok, thanks for letting me know. I'll have my office get that to you right away.
Example 2:
Jerry: I can't believe it! My bank charged me an extra fee for a service I never asked for!
Mark: Oh, that's not good. Did you contact them about it?
Jerry: Yes~ the customer service representative apologized and told me they would reverse it.
Mark: Good. If I were you, I would follow up with them to make sure they give you your money back.
Jerry: For sure! If I don't see the money returned to my account tomorrow, I'll give them a call.
Meaning: to check on something after the first action. It also means to discover more about something.
In Example 1, the boss wants to check that everything is ok with her staff after they discussed new policies at their last meeting. And she probably wants to discover if her staff has any problems, questions, or input.
In Example 2, the idiom is used to make sure that everyhting is ok, as in Example 1. It also shows how important it is to check and make sure that someone does what they say they will do.
Usage notes: We use this idiom with the prepositions "on" or "with."
Example 1: to follow up on something
Example 2: follow up with someone
Also, when using this idiom after a modal verb (can, could, may, might, will, would, should, etc.), remember to omit "to."
CORRECT: I need to follow up. (need is not a modal verb)
CORRECT: I will follow up.
CORRECT: I will follow up with them.
INCORRECT: I will to follow up.
INCORRECT: I can to follow up.
The idiom "to follow up" was taken from Unit 9 (The Speed of Romance) in LSI's textbook Reading Transitions for Level 4 Reading/Vocabulary classes.
Boss: (to her staff at a meeting) Hi everyone! I want to follow up on the new policies we talked about at our last meeting.... How is everything so far?
Employee 1: I think the changes are good!
Employee 2: Maybe, but some of the new policy information hasn't been sent to me yet.
Boss: Ok, thanks for letting me know. I'll have my office get that to you right away.
Example 2:
Jerry: I can't believe it! My bank charged me an extra fee for a service I never asked for!
Mark: Oh, that's not good. Did you contact them about it?
Jerry: Yes~ the customer service representative apologized and told me they would reverse it.
Mark: Good. If I were you, I would follow up with them to make sure they give you your money back.
Jerry: For sure! If I don't see the money returned to my account tomorrow, I'll give them a call.
Meaning: to check on something after the first action. It also means to discover more about something.
In Example 1, the boss wants to check that everything is ok with her staff after they discussed new policies at their last meeting. And she probably wants to discover if her staff has any problems, questions, or input.
In Example 2, the idiom is used to make sure that everyhting is ok, as in Example 1. It also shows how important it is to check and make sure that someone does what they say they will do.
Usage notes: We use this idiom with the prepositions "on" or "with."
Example 1: to follow up on something
Example 2: follow up with someone
Also, when using this idiom after a modal verb (can, could, may, might, will, would, should, etc.), remember to omit "to."
CORRECT: I need to follow up. (need is not a modal verb)
CORRECT: I will follow up.
CORRECT: I will follow up with them.
INCORRECT: I will to follow up.
INCORRECT: I can to follow up.
The idiom "to follow up" was taken from Unit 9 (The Speed of Romance) in LSI's textbook Reading Transitions for Level 4 Reading/Vocabulary classes.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"to be head over heels"
Example 1:
Jane: Wow, Sarah and Todd are inseparable!
Steve: I know.... I never hang out with Todd anymore. And when I do see him, he always talks about Sarah.
Jane: They must be head over heels! Sarah's constantly talking about Todd as well.
Steve: That's awesome. They're very happy together. Happy Valentine's Day!
Example 2:
Teacher: Have you seen Mike?
Student: No, but I heard he's head over heels in love...!
Teacher: Uh-oh... I hope he remembers his priorities. He's very young to get into a serious relationship....
Student: Yes, I am worried about him. He shouldn't be missing school because of his girlfriend.
Meaning: The expression "to be head over heels" has been used for hundreds of years and is still very popular today. It means to "be crazy in love" or to "be so excited that you want to turn cartwheels." This idiom is usually used when a relationship is new and two people have just fallen deeply in love. They can't think of anything or anyone else but each other! Therefore, this expression can be either positive or negative.
Example 1 is positive. Two people have found each other and want to spend all their time together. Maybe they don't have time for their old friends now, but that's normal when you fall in love. Who knows? Maybe they'll become engaged and get married.
Example 2 is negative. This young man is losing himself in a relationship that he's probably not ready for. He is not attending school and seems to have lost his focus. He is probably too young to understand what love really is.
Usage notes: be + head over heels (in love) should not be confused with the adverb "head over heels" which means to fall or tumble upside down. Example: When I tried snowboarding, I fell head over heels down the mountain!
The idiom "be head over heels" was taken from Unit 8 (Relationships) in LSI's textbook Speaking Savvy for Level 5 Listening/Speaking classes.
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Jane: Wow, Sarah and Todd are inseparable!
Steve: I know.... I never hang out with Todd anymore. And when I do see him, he always talks about Sarah.
Jane: They must be head over heels! Sarah's constantly talking about Todd as well.
Steve: That's awesome. They're very happy together. Happy Valentine's Day!
Example 2:
Teacher: Have you seen Mike?
Student: No, but I heard he's head over heels in love...!
Teacher: Uh-oh... I hope he remembers his priorities. He's very young to get into a serious relationship....
Student: Yes, I am worried about him. He shouldn't be missing school because of his girlfriend.
Meaning: The expression "to be head over heels" has been used for hundreds of years and is still very popular today. It means to "be crazy in love" or to "be so excited that you want to turn cartwheels." This idiom is usually used when a relationship is new and two people have just fallen deeply in love. They can't think of anything or anyone else but each other! Therefore, this expression can be either positive or negative.
Example 1 is positive. Two people have found each other and want to spend all their time together. Maybe they don't have time for their old friends now, but that's normal when you fall in love. Who knows? Maybe they'll become engaged and get married.
Example 2 is negative. This young man is losing himself in a relationship that he's probably not ready for. He is not attending school and seems to have lost his focus. He is probably too young to understand what love really is.
Usage notes: be + head over heels (in love) should not be confused with the adverb "head over heels" which means to fall or tumble upside down. Example: When I tried snowboarding, I fell head over heels down the mountain!
The idiom "be head over heels" was taken from Unit 8 (Relationships) in LSI's textbook Speaking Savvy for Level 5 Listening/Speaking classes.
Happy Valentine's Day!!
Friday, February 10, 2012
a _____ person
Example 1:
Example 2:
It is used when talking about a person's likes or dislikes.
In the first example:
Cindy doesn't really like coffee = She is not really a coffee person
In the second example:
They will not attend the basketball game because they like soccer more. He is a soccer person.
This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com
Jared: Hey, Cindy! Let's go get some coffee after class and study for the test together.
Cindy: I'd like to study with you, but I'm not really a coffee person. Do they have hot chocolate?
Jared: Of course they do! They have tea, too!
Cindy: Great! I'll see you then.
Example 2:
I'm going to skip the basketball game tonight. I'm more of a soccer person.a _____ person is a very common expression in American English.
It is used when talking about a person's likes or dislikes.
In the first example:
Cindy doesn't really like coffee = She is not really a coffee person
In the second example:
They will not attend the basketball game because they like soccer more. He is a soccer person.
This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com
the look on somone's face
Example 1:
Example 2:
the look on someone's face is an expression you can use when a person's facial expression gives you information about their feelings.
the look = the expression
In Example 1: Brother and Sister are talking about their Mom. The can see their Mom's face is angry! Mom's face looks angry, so the children can know she is angry.
In Example 2: Boyfriend just gave a gift to Girlfriend for Valentine's day. Boyfriend can see a disappointed expression on his girlfriend's face even though she says she loves the gift. Her expression is showing her true emotion.
some structures to use with this expression:
Brother: Did you see the look on mom's face?
Sister: Yeah! She is really mad! What should we do?
Brother: We need to apologize first, then go buy some flowers!
Example 2:
Boyfriend: Hey, what's wrong? You don't like your Valentine's gift?
Girlfriend: Nothing is wrong. Of course I love it.
Boyfriend: Are you sure? The look on your face is making me worry.
Girlfriend: Well, now that you ask.....
the look on someone's face is an expression you can use when a person's facial expression gives you information about their feelings.
the look = the expression
In Example 1: Brother and Sister are talking about their Mom. The can see their Mom's face is angry! Mom's face looks angry, so the children can know she is angry.
In Example 2: Boyfriend just gave a gift to Girlfriend for Valentine's day. Boyfriend can see a disappointed expression on his girlfriend's face even though she says she loves the gift. Her expression is showing her true emotion.
some structures to use with this expression:
I can tell by the look on your face that you are + (emotion)This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Speaking Transitions." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com
I can tell by the look on your face that you are angry. Let's talk about it.
Did you see the look on (someone's) face?
Did you see the look on the boss' face? Be careful today!
Friday, February 3, 2012
To rush
Idiom: To rush
Example #1:
Jim: Oh man!
Terry: What's up?
Jim: I forgot my cell phone. I have to go back home and get it.
Terry: I was rushing this morning because I got up late.
Example #2:
Jane: Before we go to the movies I need to rush to the bank real quick and get some cash.
Kathy: No problem! We have time.
Jane: Yeah, it'll only take a second.
Meaning: to rush is an expression that means to hurry or to do something very quickly.
This idiom was taken from the LSI textbook "Reading Connections." This book is used at LSI schools to teach Level 3 Reading classes. For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com
Thank you Ty!
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