To follow someone's lead

Example 1
Kate is such a wonderful person! She does a lot of volunteer work in her community helping the homeless and under-privileged children. I think more people should follow Kate's lead and help people who need it most.

Example 2
If you are trying to get into shape and be healthy, you should follow John's lead. He exercises often and eats lots of fruits and vegetables.

To follow someone's lead means to do as someone else does, to use someone as an example.

"To follow someone's lead" is a common idiom used by native speakers. Practical idioms like this can be learned from LSI Speaking books like "Reading Connections," which is used to teach the Level 3 Reading/Vocabulary classes at Language Systems.   For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com 

To put someone behind bars

Example 1

Joe was arrested for fraud. He was filing fake insurance claims and collecting money he did not deserve. The judge decided to put Joe behind bars for at least 2 years.

Example 2

When the police realized that Frank had been driving while drunk, they put him behind bars for the weekend.

To put someone behind bars means to put someone in jail. Usually  only the police or authorities are used as the subject because they have the authority to send someone to jail.

"To put someone behind bars" is a common idiom used by native speakers. Practical idioms like this can be learned from LSI Speaking books like "Speaking Transitions," which is used to teach the Level 4 Speaking/Listening classes at Language Systems schools.  For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com 

To Ask For It

Idiom: "To Ask For It"

 

Context #1:

 

John:  Man!  What happened to your hand? It's all wrapped up like you just came from the hospital!

Tony:  I got bit by my neighbor's dog this morning.

John:  The dog just attacked you?

Tony:  No, I was teasing the dog and I guess the dog got angry and bit me.

John: That was pretty stupid of you.  You asked for it!

 

Context #2:

 

Paulina:  Guess what?  I got another speeding ticket today.

Kathy: Again?  I thought you were going to start driving more carefully.

Paulina:  Well, I was late for work and to make it on time I had to go like 85mph on the freeway.  I was driving so fast that I had to weave in and out of the cars that were going like 70.

Kathy: You were going 85 on the freeway?  You were asking for a ticket.

 

"To ask for something" is a common idiom used by native speakers.  It means that someone deserved the negative consequences they experienced.  It's the same as saying, "Well, you deserved it."  Practical idioms like this can be learning in LSI Speaking books like "Speaking Savvy," which is used to teach the Level 5 Speaking/Listening classes at Language Systems schools.  For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com 

My Bad

Idiom: "My Bad"

Context #1:

Tom (passenger): Oh man look!  We got a parking ticket!  How much is it for?

Steve (owner of the car): I have to pay $55.

Tom: Do you want me to help you pay the ticket?

Steve: You don't need to.  It's my bad.  I knew I should have put some money in the parking meter.

Context #2:

Sally: I heard you broke up with your boyfriend.

Jane: Yeah, actually, he kind of broke up with me.

Sally:  Really?  What happened?

Jane:  Well, I think it was my bad.  I just kept nagging him too much about every little thing. 

Meaning: "my bad" is a very common idiom in American English, especially among young people.  It basically means, "it was my fault."  American young people use this expression when they take responsibility for something that went wrong.  Everyday expressions like this are taught in the Speaking/Listening classes at Language Systems International.  For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com

Hit The Spot

Idiom: Hit the Spot

 

Example: Mike and Alex are eating at a restaurant after class

 

Alex: Wow! You ate that sandwich pretty quickly!

Mike: Dude, I was so hungry. I was running late today so I had to skip breakfast.

Alex: I see. Did the sandwich hit the spot?

Mike: Yeah! It definitely hit the spot!!

 

Meaning of 'hit the spot': to be exactly what is needed or wanted (if the food hits the spot, it makes you feel satisfied). 

http://www.languagesystems.com

To Go For It

To Go For It

Chad and Todd are standing in front of their workplace, drinking coffee.

Chad: I got a job offer yesterday.

Todd: You mean - you’re leaving us?

Chad: Well, I’ve been working for this company for 6 years. I love you guys, but I think I need to move on. I’m just a little nervous.

Todd: Tell me about the new position.

Chad: It’s a management position. But the salary is a little lower than what I make now. On the other hand, the benefits are great and I have one month off every year.

Todd: Sounds like a good deal. You should go for it!

Chad:  I think I will. Will you visit me in Alaska?

Meaning: To go for it – an expression which is used to encourage someone to do something.

This idiom was taken from LSI’s book, SPEAKING SAVVY. For more information, please visithttp://www.languagesystems.com

Take A Toll On / Take Its Toll On

Idiom: to take a/its toll on; used as a verb

First Example:

Sharon: Wow, you've been working late a lot lately!

Geoff: Yeah, and it's beginning to take a toll on me.

Sharon: What do you mean?

Geoff: Well, I've been really stressed, and my health is getting worse because I haven't been going to the gym or getting enough sleep. I've gotten sick twice in the last two months!

Sharon: Wow, maybe you should take some time off.

Geoff: I'm planning on it, once I get this report finished.

Meaning: When something "takes a toll on" something, it means that the subject is having a negative effect on the object of the idiom.  Usually, the idiom "take a toll on" is used when a person or thing has been doing a certain action a lot, and that action is starting to have a negative impact on the person or thing doing it.  In the example above, Geoff has been working late a lot, and the extra time at work and stress is having a negative impact on, or "taking a toll on", Geoff's health.  The expression can be used with the word "a" or "its" interchangeably, so the example above could have also been "Yeah, and it's beginning to take its toll on me" without a change in meaning.  Look at another example involving an object that is being affected: 

Michael: I need to get a new car.

Jennifer: I thought you said you would never get rid of that BMW?

Michael: Yeah, I love the car, but traffic is really beginning to take its toll on the engine.  I've broken down twice in the last month, and there's a weird sound coming from under the hood.

Jennifer:  How old is the car?        

Michael: It's from 1972, and it was great when I drove short distances, but I don't think it was made for sitting in traffic.  Hopefully I can find a collector who wants to restore it.  Then I can use the money as a down payment on something a little newer and more reliable.

In this example, Michael says he needs to get a new car because the traffic is "taking its toll" on his current car.  He thinks sitting in traffic is having a negative effect on the older car, so he is thinking about selling it and buying something newer.  Notice that Michael used "its" instead of "a" in the idiom (although "taking a toll" would also be technically correct in this instance).

This idiom is from LSI's new edition of "Reading Horizons," which will be used in the Level 6 Reading classes. For more information, please visit http://www.languagesystems.com