to fake it

Example 1:

My boyfriend loves action movies, but I prefer romantic comedies. He gets so excited when we go to the theater to see the newest action movie. I don't want to make him feel bad, so I fake it and act excited, too.

Example 2:

Bonnie: Shhh! Look, little Joey is sleeping. Let's be very quiet. I don't want to wake him up. 

Amanda: OK, I'll be quiet.

Joey: HAHA! I tricked you! I'm not sleeping!

Bonnie: Joey! You were faking it! You tricked us!

Meaning:

Remember the word fake (adj) means "not real."
The idiom to fake it means to pretend, and is used as a verb. 

In example 1, the speaker's excitement for action movies is fake, she doesn't really enjoy them. When she goes to see an action movie with her boyfriend, she fakes it/pretends

In example 2, Joey is pretending to sleep, meaning that his sleeping is fake. He is faking it and not actually sleeping. He just wanted to play a joke on Bonnie and Amanda. 

This idiom comes from the LSI book titled Reading Transitions.  This book is used to teach Level 4 Reading/Vocabulary classes at LSI schools.  For more information please visitwww.languagesystems.com 

to kick back

Context #1:

David: So what are you going to do this weekend?
Sam:  I had such a busy and stressful week at work, so this weekend I'm just going to kick back and get some rest.
David:  That sounds good.  Call me if you change your mind and you want to go out and do something.
Sam: All right.

Context #2:

Stephanie:  When I was a kid, I lived way up in the mountains.
James:  Really?  Did you like living there?
Stephanie:  Yeah it was pretty cool.  After dinner, I used to go outside, kick back, and look at all the stars in the sky.  It was so beautiful.  In Los Angeles, we hardly ever see stars at night.
James: Yeah, that's true.

Meaning:  to kick back means to relax and take it easy. 

This idom comes from the LSI book titled Speaking Savvy.  This book is used to teach Level 5 Speaking classes at LSI schools.  For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

to be/get tied up

to be/get tied up

Context #1:

Tom:  What happened to you yesterday?  You were supposed to go out to dinner with me and Jeff?

Jerry: Well, I got tied up at work and I couldn't leave my office until it was like 10pm.

Tom: Oh, we were worried.  Next time just call us and let us know if something comes up.



Context #2:

Sara: Do you want to go to the beach with us this Saturday?

Jill: Oh, I would love to, but my friend is moving and I'm going to be tied up helping her pack and move.

Sara: Alright maybe next time!

Meaning:  to be/get tied up is an American idiom that means someone is busy doing something.  When this idiom is followed by a very phrase it must be followed by a gerund (see context #2 above).

This idiom was taken from LSI's book Speaking Savvy, which is used to teach the Level 5 Speaking class at LSI schools.  For more information please visit www.languagesystems.com

“to go back” vs. “to come back”

“to go back” vs. “to come back”

These two phrasal verbs are often confused because they both mean “to return,” but they are used in different ways, so you have to be careful!

Basically, “to go back” means to return home (your house, your apartment, your country, your city, etc.). However, “to come back” means to go somewhere else, and then return to the same place where they were when they said the statement.

Here is an example:

“After I finish my studies at L.S.I., I will go back to Italy and see my family and friends again. I hope I can come back to Los Angeles someday, but I don’t know when I can do that,” said Claudio, an Italian student who is in L.A. right now.

So, in other words, “to go back” means to return home and stay there, usually for a long time.

“To come back” means to go to a different place (anywhere, it don’t have to be home) and return to the same area he/she is standing when the sentence was said.

Posted by Paul G.

Off the Top of My Head

Off the top of my head

Read the following dialogue and try to guess the meaning of the idiom in bold:

Joe: “ Hey, Mary. Do you know your sister’s phone number?”

Mary: “ Not off the top of my head. I have to check my phone.”

Joe: “Would you mind checking? I really need to talk to her!”

Mary: “Is everything ok?”

Joe: “ Well, I am in love with her and need to tell her…”

Mary: “ Joe, how many times have you met her?!”

Joe: “ Off the top of my head, I guess once or twice.”

Mary: “And you love her already? How about me? We’ve known each other for at least 7seven years!”

Joe: “ But, Mary… You are so different from her.”

Mary: “ What? What are you talking about, Joe? She’s my twin sister!”

Meaning:

Off the top of my head: to say something without thinking about it for very long.

"all in a day's work"

Example 1:

Karen: So, you're doing yoga now, and what else?

Naomi: Well, I'm taking a cooking class and teaching English to private students. Today was a little crazy because I had to schedule private students in between my own classes. Remember, I'm finishing my Master's degree too.

Karen: Wow, Naomi! How do you do it?

Naomi: Oh, it's nothing! All in a day's work!



Example 2:

Tom: So, do you have any plans for the weekend?

April: Yes, I do! I'm going to have some friends over and we're going to barbecue...! How 'bout you?

Tom: Nice! Yes, I'm going out of town, but first I have to finish my reports. They're due by 5.

April: All in a day's work, right Tom?

Tom: Yup! Exactly.


Meaning: nothing special, expected and normal

In Example 1, Naomi is used to having a busy schedule, so doing all these things is normal for her!

In Example 2, Tom has to finish his reports before he can leave for the weekend and April is assuring him that it's expected. Sometimes we use "all in a day's work" as an ironic comment when something is unpleasant, but a normal situation.



The idiom "all in a day's work" was taken from Unit 5 (At the Beach) in LSI's textbook Speaking Transitions for Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes.

"to work up to it"

Example 1:

Karen: Hey Naomi, how's your new yoga class going?

Naomi: It's awesome! It helps me relax so much and I'm getting in shape too...!

Karen: Cool! I tried yoga once, but the poses were so hard--my body is not that flexible.

Naomi: Yeah, I've been learning a new pose this week--the crow! I have to work up to it slowly because I need to get stronger and I don't want to injure myself!


Example 2:

Tom: Hi April, how's your friend Lisa doing?

April: Hi Tom! She's fine.... Why do you ask?

Tom: To be honest, I really like her. I'm working up to asking her out on a date... do you think she'll go out with me?

April: I don't know--you should ask her!


Meaning: to build slowly or progress to something, especially when you are not able to do it yet and need to develop strength or skills first.

In Example 1, Naomi talks about starting slow in her yoga pose to become flexible and strong enough to do it correctly or easily. She doesn't want to push herself until she is ready because she wants to avoid an injury.

In Example 2, Tom is shy and nervous about asking Lisa (April's friend) on a date. He's been thinking about it and is building up the courage to ask her out.

Usage notes: "work up to it" means "work up to something." Note that this idiom form is "work up to + noun." So, you can use the gerund (verb + ing) in this idiom too! See Example 2: "working up to asking her out...."


The idiom "to work up to it" was taken from Unit 5 (At the Beach) in LSI's textbook Speaking Transitions for Level 4 Listening/Speaking classes.