To toss something

Idiom: to toss something

Context #1:

Sean: Hey Tim!  Smell this milk and tell me if you think it is still good.

Tim: (After smelling the milk) Whoa!  That milk stinks!  I would toss it if I were you.

Sean: Yeah, I guess you're right.  I'll get some fresh milk today.

Context #2:

Kathy: Can I borrow your backpack this weekend?  We're going hiking on Saturday.

Tiffany: Actually, that backpack had a huge rip on the bottom and instead of trying to fix it I just tossed it.  Sorry about that!

Kathy: That's alright.  I think Andrew has an extra one.  I'll ask him.

Meaning: "to toss something" means to throw something away. Usually people toss something because it's old, broken, or no longer needed. 

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu

To sneak into

Idiom: to sneak into

Context #1:

Jim: So we are going to the movies tonight, right?

Sam: Yeah, the show starts at 7pm.

Jim: Ok, you know the candy and food at the theater is so expensive!

Sam: I know!  I think I'll buy some candy before we go and just sneak it into the movie.

Context #2:

Sarah: You know that cool reggae band that is playing tonight at the House of Blues? Well, my friend is the drummer.

Christine: Really?  That's cool!  I heard that tickets are all sold out.

Sarah: That's true!  But my friend said he can sneak me into the concert tonight if I come early.

Meaning: "to sneak into" is a common American idiom that is used to describe a situation where you secretly (and usually inappropriately) bring or take something into another place.  Usually the thing or person you are sneaking in is not allowed, or is not supposed to be there.  If you get caught, you could be in trouble. So be careful!   

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu

Fair-weather friend

Idiom: Fair-weather friend

Example: Fred Anderson won the lottery. Not long after that, Fred met Thomas Henry. Fred and Thomas became very good friends. Thomas went everywhere Fred went; they partied together, ate together and talked everyday.

About two months after Fred and Thomas had met, Fred was in a very bad car accident. All of Fred's lottery winnings went toward his medical bills. While Fred was in the hospital, he only received one call from Thomas, who claimed he was too busy to visit Fred in the hospital.

Once Fred was released from the hospital, his insurance company paid all of his bills and gave him an extra $200,000! News of Fred's recent good fortune spread quickly. Within a week, Thomas showed up at Fred's door to see how his friend was doing. However, Fred refused to answer his door. "I don't need fair-weather friends!" said Fred.

Meaning: A fair-weather friend is a person who only wants contact when you can help him. As soon as you need him, he's not around.

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu

It takes two to tango

Idiom: It takes two to tango

Example:

Kyle: I can't believe it! My girlfriend still won't speak to me.

James: Oooh, that's too bad, What did you do to make her so angry?

Kyle: Nothing! She just suddenly stopped talking!

James: Nothing? I find that hard to believe. It takes two to tango.

Meaning: conflict requires two participants. We use this idiom to indicate "fault," "blame," or responsibility for an argument or fight rests not with one but with two people.

For more information, please visit:www.languagesystems.edu

To cause a stir

Idiom: to cause a stir; used as a verb

First Example:

Newscaster: The dramatic game between Brazil and Germany on July 8th caused quite a stir.  At 7 to 1, Germany set a new record for the most goals scored in a semifinal game, with 5 of those goals scored within the first 29 minutes of the game - also a record.  Sports fans everywhere were shocked by the outcome, and even many non-sports fans were paying attention.    

Meaning: The idiom "to cause a stir" is used when something causes a lot of excitement, interest, or agitation.  The idiom is not used for just any exciting moment, being reserved for unusual moments that cause a great deal of unusual excitement, interest or agitation, such as in the example above, when Germany set two World Cup records in its game against Brazil.  However, excitement isn't the only "stir" that can be "caused"; the idiom is also often used to describe controversy, as in the next example.

Second Example:

Nicole: How was work today? 

Joe: Awful!  Management sent out a memo with a new dress code policy that caused a huge stir, and that's all anyone could talk about all day.

Nicole: What was so controversial?                                                 

Joe: Well, it said women had to wear dresses or skirts; there was no mention of pants, so a lot of people were angry about that.  And they didn't include any information on casual days, suggesting that everyone would have to wear formal office wear from now on.

Nicole: Did they mean to eliminate those things?

Joe: No.  It turns out the new manager decided to just write a new policy rather than edit the old one, and he didn't think to check it with anyone before sending it out.  Management said they'd fix it and post a new one tomorrow, but it really caused a stir when everyone went into the office today and found this new policy.

Nicole: I bet.  glad it worked out though.

Meaning: In this example, a new manager "caused a stir" by writing a new, incomplete dress code policy.  In this case, the idiom is being used to show that the event caused controversy instead of excitement, even though the controversy eventually passed (when they figured out it was an error).

This week's idioms inspired by the excitement over the World Cup here at LSI. 

To eat, sleep and breathe (something)

Idiom: to eat, sleep and breathe (something); used as a verb

First Example:

Janet: Have you seen Jamie lately?  She always seems to be busy.

Corey: Oh, she's really into the World Cup.

Janet: Really?  I didn't know she liked soccer.                              

Corey: She was never that interested before, but ever since the World Cup started, she eats, sleeps and breathes soccer.  If she's not watching a game, she's reading predictions or recaps.

Janet: Wow!

Corey: I've never seen her this enthusiastic about something. I wouldn't be surprised if she dreams about soccer.

Meaning: The idiom "to eat, sleep and breathe (something)" is used when someone is  incredibly enthusiastic about something, focusing all of their energy on that one thing.  In the example above, Corey says that Jamie "eats, sleeps and breathes" soccer since the World Cup started.  This means that Jamie spends all of her time focusing on soccer.  Alternatively, some Americans will use the slightly different idiom "to live and breathe (something)" for the same meaning.

Valerie: How is your sister doing in school? 

Timothy: Great!  She finally decided on her major.

Valerie: What did she choose?                                                       

Timothy: Guess.

Valerie: Well, ever since she was little, she has lived and breathed ballet, so I'm going to guess Dance?

Timothy: And you are correct.  My parents were trying to convince her to become a business major, saying it would be better for her career, but I've never had any doubt she'd become a dancer.         

Meaning: In this example, Timothy's sister "lives and breathes" ballet, meaning that she dedicates all of her energy on ballet.  These two idioms basically mean the same thing and different people will prefer one over the other (often based on age or region). 

This week's idioms inspired by the excitement over the World Cup here at LSI. 

To Pull Out All The Stops

Idiom: to pull out all the stops.

Example:
LSI Teacher:  The United States of America’s Independence Day is on July 4^th and it is the celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This day is also known as the Fourth of July. Celebrations usually pull out all the stops, with barbeques, parades, carnivals, concerts, baseball games, and fireworks. There are a lot of fireworks and each city usually puts on a firework show at night. Hollywood studios typically save their biggest movies of the summer for the Fourth of July weekend. So, get ready for some amazing fireworks, barbecues, and movies to fill your weekend! 

Bob: I’m so excited for the game this Friday! I went to Party City and bought a bunch of decorations for my house. I also made a deal with the local sandwich shop to cater my party for a really low fee.

Ken: Wow! You are really pulling out all the stops, aren’t you?

Bob: I guess so. I know that when I went to my friend’s house to see another game last week, she really pulled out all the stops and even had a live band play after the game.

Ken: Well, that will be hard to match, but it looks like you and your friends will have a good time.

Bob: We will have a better time if our team wins!

 Meaning: To pull out all the stops means to do everything you can to make something successful. In the first example, the teacher is talking about how everyone celebrates the 4^th of July. In the second example, Bill is pulling out all the stops in order to make a successful party. 

For more information, please visit:www.languagesystems.edu