to just scrape by

Context #1:

Tom: Did you pass your physics class this semester?

Brian: Yeah, but I barely scraped by. I almost failed!

Context #2:

Jennifer: This Russian class I'm taking is so hard.

Whitney: Are you failing it?

Jennifer: I'm not failing, but I am just scraping by. It's super difficult.

Meaning: to just scrape by is used when you are barely passing a class. You are right on the border of passing or failing.

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Afraid of One's Own Shadow

Example 1: 

Mark: Are you OK, Sandra? You look worried about something.

Sandra: Oh, hey Mark. I didn't see you there. I've been a little more anxious these days. I can't seem to relax.

Mark: Did something happen?

Sandra: I had a car accident recently. It was pretty bad. Since then, everything scares me. I'm even afraid of my own shadow!

Mark: Well, it will take some time to feel normal again. At least you still have your sense of humor!

Example 2:

Betty: Hey, Jane. I heard you broke up with Steven. I thought you two were getting along. Did something happen?

Jane: No, nothing happened. We got along just fine, but it always bothered me that he was a little too wimpy. 

Betty: Wimpy? What do you mean?

Jane: He wasn't very strong or brave. Last week, someone took a parking spot from us when we were clearly next in line! He didn't do anything! Then, I needed help moving some furniture at home and he tried to help me, but he couldn't lift the dining chair. He's a nice guy, but honestly, he's afraid of his own shadow. I like scary movies, roller coasters, adventure, and excitement! I think he'll have a heart attack if he spends more time with me. 

Explanation:

If someone is described as being afraid of his/her/their own shadow,  it can be said that they get frightened very easily by things that wouldn't normally scare someone. Your shadow is generally something that doesn't frighten you because you understand that it is harmless.

In Example 1, Sandra is emotionally and mentally recovering from an accident. She's understandably still unsettled after her accident, but she jokes that her shadow even frightens her.

In Example 2, Jane felt that Steven was too afraid of things that, in her opinion, shouldn't scare a person. So she ended their relationship.

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Scare the Daylights Out of Someone

Example 1:

Jill: Hey Bill, did I tell you the story about the racoon?

Bill: No, but it sounds interesting! What happened?

Jill: Well, last week when I went to take out the garbage, a giant racoon hissed at me! I think I was interrupting his dinner!

Bill: Wow! That's pretty scary! I heard racoons can be pretty dangerous.

Jill: Yes, they can be. He scared the daylights out of me! Tom is taking out the trash next week.

Example 2:

Mom: Sean! Where have you been? You said you would be home at 6. It's almost 9! Why didn't you call?

Sean: Sorry, mom. I was playing video games with Frank and I lost track of time. My phone battery died and I didn't realize it until it was too late.

Mom: I was so worried. It scared the daylights out of me when I called your phone and it went straight to voicemail. Anything can happy and you know how much I worry about you!

Sean: I know mom, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry.

Explanation:

to scare the daylights out of someone means the same as frighten someone, usually unexpected and surprising.

In Example 1, the racoon surprised and scared Jill. The racoon scared the daylights out of Jill.

In Example 2. Sean frightened his mother. Sean scared the daylights out of his mother.

What is something that scares the daylights out of you?

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to study one’s brains out

Idiom: to study one’s brains out

Context #1:

Jim:  How did you do on the grammar test?
Sam: I got 100%.  I studied my brains out for that test.
Jim:  Nice job!

Context #2:

Chrissy: Are you preparing for the GRE exam?
Tammy: Yeah, I've been studying my brains out for the last 6 months.
Chrissy:  Well I'm sure you'll do great!

Meaning: to study one's brains out means to study extremely hard for something.

SHOPPING SPREE

Example 1:

Jenny: I won a $2,000 shopping spree at TNA! I'm heading there right now, want to come?
Vanessa: Hell, yeah! Let's go!!

Example 2:

Maria: I wish I didn’t go on that shopping spree two weeks ago!

Tatsu: Why? You were so happy with everything that you bought.

Maria: I know! But now I’m short on rent.

Tatsu: Yikes!

Shopping Spree:  To go to a mall and spend all your money buying many things, especially clothes, jewelry, makeup, etc.

Curveball

Meaning: a difficult, strange or unusual situation (This idiom comes from baseball. The person responsible for throwing the ball towards the batter “the pitcher” has an array of different throws, one of them being the “curveball.”  It’s a particularly difficult throw to strike, as it can change direction.

Context #1 – At work

Clayton: Hey Zach, I’m not quite sure what’s going on with our manager; he really 

threw a curveball with those new company policies.

Zach: Tell me about it.  It’s unusual for changes to be made so suddenly.  It was 

definitely a curveball situation.

Clayton: I’m wondering if the new owners decided to implement the new policies as 

soon as they took over the company.

Zach: Either way, they should have warned us.  Now I’m just upset.

Context #2 – Dating

Sarah: Oh my goodness! The guy I went on a date with totally surprised me.

Leslie: Why? Was he strange?

Sarah: He hit me with a curveball.  Apparently he only likes to date for two weeks and then try to find a new girlfriend after.

Leslie: How strange.  It must be difficult dealing with a relationship like that;  Definitely a curveball.

Meaning: The idiom “curveball” means a tricky, difficult, unusual situation due to the change in direction into an unusual place.  In example #1, Clayton was upset at the unexpected and sudden new policies the company implemented.  In example #2, Sarah went on a date to meet a nice guy she could date, but the guy was unusual in his relationship expectations.  Sarah was not expecting to meet someone like that.

In the boonies

Idiom: In the boonies

Meaning: very rural area; far away from large populations or urban areas

Context #1 – New Job, New Location

Kevin: I heard you got a new job and you have to move away.  Where are you going to live now Vee?

Vee: I got a great job as a Geologist in a university.  But it’s way out in the boonies.

Kevin: What do you mean?  How far in the boonies is it?

Sal: Let me put it to you this way, it takes about three hours to drive to a supermarket.

Context #2 – Survival trip

Bear: How was your trip?

Les: It was great.  It got a little scary because we were far in the boonies and we were afraid that if someone got hurt, there would be no help.

Bear: Wow! How far away in the boonies were you?

Les: Let’s just say the boonies are a couple of hours away, and we were in the boonies of the boonies.  So about a two day walk to the nearest road.

Meaning: The idiom “in the boonies” means a very rural location.  Usually, it means it’s difficult to reach, even by vehicles; it’s not necessarily a negative point, but it’s typically thought of as a negative thing.  In context #1, Vee got a new job he really likes, but the downside is that it’s very rural.  In context #2, Les was in one of the most remote locations possible.  When he says, “the boonies of the boonies” he’s trying to say they were in an extremely remote area.