To run off at the mouth

Context 1: 

2016 is an election year in the United States, which means that Americans will be choosing their next President. There are some candidates who are well qualified and have good, solid ideas for improving the county. In contrast, there are other candidates who don't appear to be serious and are experts at running off at the mouth; their ideas are unrealistic and many of their statements are offensive. 

Context 2: 

Parent: You must listen to me, Bobby! It's very important that you pay attention in class when the teacher is talking. You have been in trouble 3 times this week for interrupting her lesson! What is your explanation?!

Child: My teacher is so boring! All she does is run off at the mouth. No one listens to her because no one likes her.

Parent: I can't believe you would be so disrespectful! 

Explanation: 

To run off at the mouth means that you are talking a lot, but not saying anything important, or to talk a lot without consideration of your words. This expression has negative connotations and may be considered rude. Please use with caution!

Example 1 mentions presidential candidates who talk a lot, but doesn't provide anything useful and are sometimes offensive. 

Example 2 shows a conversation between a parent and child. The child says his teacher just talks a lot and doesn't say anything useful, that's why he is having trouble in this class. His mother is surprised that he would be so rude.

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Dough

Context #1

Carl: You owe me $80 for the Lakers ticket I got you.

Tony: Oh yeah.  But I don't have any dough on me now.  Let's go by the bank ATM machine and I'll get that money I own you. 

Context #2

Bethany:  I heard the restaurant you work at was super busy last night.  Did you get a lot of good tips?

Chrissy: Yeah, I worked so hard, but I didn't mind because I need the extra dough.

Meaning: "dough" is an American slang expression used for "money."

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Deep Pockets

Context #1

Tom: Did you hear about the new class action law suit against the Paypal?

Chris: Yeah, but big companies like that don't care.  

Tom: You're right. They have such deep pockets that they can just pay people and move on.

Context #2

Jennifer: I heard that Sarah's company is sending all the employees on a free cruise to Hawaii.

Kathy: Yeah I know!  But don't worry.  Her company has really deep pockets. They can afford it!

Meaning: to have deep pockets is an idiom used mainly for a company or corporation. It means that they have massive, almost limitless, financial resources.

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To give your John Hancock

First Example:

Ken: I can’t believe that I have been offered a position to play in the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball club.

Dan:  All you have to do is write your John Hancock on the contract and you will be eight million dollars richer.

Ken:  I never thought my Signature would mean so much.

Dan:  You better get used to it. Now that you’re famous, you will need to use your John Hancock for everything from contracts to autographs.

Second Example:

Nancy: We can’t buy this car without giving our John Hancock.

John: Everything official needs a signature.  Giving our John Hancock is our acknowledgement of commitment.

Nancy: Yeah, that’s true.  I just wish I would have practiced a nicer looking signature.

John:  It doesn’t really matter.  You’re not famous anyway.

Meaning: The expression "John Hancock" refers to a person’s signature.  It dates back to the signing of the American Declaration of Independence.  Mr. Hancock’s signature was so large that it was very noticeable.  It’s expressed in several ways.  Some of the most common ways are: “to give your John Hancock” or “Write your John Hancock.”

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Big Guns

First Example:

Nick: Who’s going to play on your basketball team for the tournament?

Ben: We have Michael taking the lead.

Nick: Oh! You’re bringing out the big guns.  You really want to win.

Ben: What’s the point of playing if you don’t have a strong leader that plays well?

Nick: That’s true.  We don’t have big guns on our team, just good team players.

Ben: Hey, that’s not bad.  You can’t depend on one good player only.  The big guns should only complement the team.

Second Example:

Julia: Hey, are you hosting the party this Saturday?

Tom: Yes.  I’m going to bring out the big guns and have a live band.

Julia: Oh cool.  You mean no DJ?  Just live music?  Who’s playing?

Tom: My friend’s brother is the lead singer of Green Day.

Julia:  What? That’s definitely the big guns.  No one will forget your party.

Meaning: The expression "big guns" refers to an important person in an organization or something/someone that has strong influence or value.  For example, Nick said to Ben that because Michael is playing, he’s bringing in the big guns.  He recognizes that Michael will make a big difference in favor of Ben’s team.  He can add value or strong competition for the team.

By Carlos T. #NELA

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Puppy love (used as a noun)

First Example:

            Tom: Chris said your son is dating?

            Carol: That's what he's telling everyone.

            Tom: I thought he was only 13!

            Carol: He is. It's only puppy love. But he and his girlfriend are so cute together.

            Tom: I remember my first girlfriend. We were both 12, and her name was... actually, I don't remember her name.

            Carol: Don't tell my son that. He told me he's going to marry this girl one day.

Meaning: The expression "puppy love" refers to the strong feelings at the beginning of a relationship, often used for young people and implying that the relationship won't last. Here, Carol says that her 13-year-old son's relationship is only "puppy love," which Tom seems to agree with when he can't remember the name of his girlfriend when he was 12.

Second Example:

            Sheila met her husband in high school; they were both only 17. Their parents and friends said it was just puppy love, and that they'd never last. But they got married 3 years later, and they have been happily married for 20 years now.

Meaning: The expression "puppy love" is also often used in this context, referring to relationships that started at a young age but developed into something long term.

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To have the hots for someone (used as a verb)

First Example:

            Sandra: Have you seen the new Calculus professor, Mr. Crow? He's really handsome.

            Patty: Oh my gosh! You have the hots for teacher!

            Sandra: I do not! I was just surprised that he's so young, and kinda cute.

            Patty: (sarcastically) Sure, I believe you. Did you check if he has a wedding ring?

            Sandra: No! I would never date my teacher.

            Patty: Whatever you say...

Meaning: The expression "to have the hots for" someone means to be strongly attracted to someone. The idiom is most often used by another person, often in a teasing manner as in the example here. Here, Patty jokes that Sandra "has the hots for" the new professor after Sandra comments on the teacher being handsome. (usage note: when using this idiom to discuss a teacher, no article is used, presumably due to the 1980s Van Halen song "Hot For Teacher")

Second Example:

            Kevin: Are you going to Tina's party this weekend?

            Jeff: Maybe. Why do you ask?

            Kevin: Well, we all know you've had the hots for her since High school.

            Jeff: What makes you say that?

            Kevin: I just always thought you had a crush on her but didn't do anything because she was dating Michael. Now that they've broken up...

            Jeff: No, I do not have the hots for Tina. She's just a friend.

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