Up to a Point

Up to a Point

Meaning: not completely, partially, not fully

Example 1:

Terry: I don’t know what to do. I’m so upset!

Sarah: What’s wrong?

Tom: My roommate is so messy! All I ever do is clean up after her.

Sarah: Really? Have you tried to talk to her about it?

Tom: That’s the problem. She is so nice and when she first moved in, she warned me that she wasn’t very clean. I mean, I can handle a messy house up to a point, but it’s ridiculous when I find pieces of bread under the sofa cushions!

Sarah: Wow. I guess that would get annoying. Why don’t you just tell her that? Just say that you have been able to handle this situation up to a point, but now it is just too much and she needs to make some changes.

Terry: You’re right. I will talk to her and hopefully things get better. Otherwise, I’ll need to find a new roommate and that’s hard.

Sarah: Well, good luck!

Example 2:

Kelly: I’m really happy with my new job and I’m getting a lot of hours, so I’ve been able to save a lot of money.

Jenny: That’s great. Do you work on the weekends, too?

Kelly: Yes, I do. I can work weekends up to a point, but if I do that for too long, I’ll get really tired.

Jenny: You should probably tell your boss so that he doesn’t expect you to always work weekends.

Kelly: You’re right. I’ll let him know that working on the weekends is only temporary.

Meaning:
Up to a point means partially or not completely. In example 1, Terry is able to tolerate his roommate’s messy habits partially, or somewhat, but he is at the point now where he cannot handle it.  In example b, Kelly is happy to be working a lot of hours so that she can make more money. However, she can only work a lot on the weekends for a while and doesn’t want to do it permanently.

This idiom can be found in the LSI textbook Reading Horizons, 2^nd edition. This book is used in the level 6 Reading/Vocabulary classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

To Hit the Jackpot

To Hit the Jackpot

Meaning: To have really good luck or to be very successful at something

Example 1:

Tom: I was looking for an apartment for so long that I was about to give up. But last Sunday, I hit the jackpot! I found an absolutely perfect place.

Sarah: That’s great! Where is it?

Tom: It’s only two blocks from the school, so I can walk every day. Also, there is a supermarket and theater right across the street. Plus, it has a really nice pool where I can have parties on the weekend. And it’s only $600 per month!

Sarah: You really did hit the jackpot! How did you find it?

Tom: A friend of my uncle Bob needed to rent it fast and wanted someone responsible. I guess that would be me!

Sarah: Congratulations!

Example 2:

Kelly: You and Sam make such a good couple. You really hit the jackpot when you met him!

Jenny: Yes, I know. When you consider how we met, then I really consider myself lucky.

Kelly: Really? How did you meet?

Jenny: Well, I crashed into him at a stoplight while on my way to work. There was a lot of damage to his car, and I thought he would hate me instead of asking me out on a date!

Kelly: What a nice guy! I guess he was able to ignore your bad driving skills and get to know you as a person.

Jenny: Hey! I’m not that bad! I just made a mistake. Besides, I really did hit the jackpot that day. Who knows about the future?

Meaning:
To hit the jackpot means originally meant to win a lot of money when gambling or playing a game. However, it is commonly used to show when someone is lucky at finding a good deal, like the apartment in the first example. Also, if someone finds a good friend or spouse, it can also be used to express luck (see example 2).

This idiom can be found in the LSI textbook Reading Horizons, 2^nd edition. This book is used in the level 6 Reading/Vocabulary classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

make up your mind!

Example 1: I just can't make up my mind! Should I go to El Camino College now, or stay at LSI to study English for 6 more months?! Someone help!

Example 2: You need to make up your mind soon. El Camino's application deadline is coming up, so you need to make a decision soon!

Explanation: make up one's mind = make a decision
The decision should have more than one option. In example 1, the student is deciding between El Camino College or LSI. In Example 2, they are urging their friend to decide between El Camino College and LSI.

I need to make a decision = I need to make up my mind
She needs to make a decision = She needs to make up her mind
We need to make a decision = We need to make up our minds

This idiom  can be found in Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. This book has been used to teach Level 5 Reading/Vocabulary. To learn more, please visit www.languagesystems.com

to Wipe Out

Example 1: Be careful when you are out on the ocean surfing! If you aren't paying attention when the next wave comes, you could wipe out and get hurt!

Wipe Out - VIDEO  

Example 2: So many trees were wiped out in the fire. 

Explanation: wipe out can be used in many different ways. 

In example 1, wipe out means fall. When used this way, wipe out is a phrasal verb to describe a fall off of a movie object such as a surfboard or skateboard and is commonly related to sports. This expression is often informal. 

In example 2, wipe out means destroy. When used this way, wipe out is often used in the passive voice. Ex: The city was wiped out by the fire. This is often used to describe very serious situation with large scale destruction. 

This idiom can be found in the book LSI Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. This book is used to teach Level 5 Reading/Vocabulary at LSI schools. For more information visit:www.languagesystems.com

To People Watch

Idiom: "To People Watch"

Context #1:

Joe: I have to pick up my friend today at the airport.  I hate going to the airport.

Chuck: Really?  Not me!  I love sitting in airports.  It's a great place to people watch!

Joe:  Yeah I guess that's true.

Context #2:

Sally: I went Christmas shopping at the mall last night.  It was so crowded!  There were way too many people.

Bill: Yeah, I know.  Every year before Christmas the mall is a zoo.  I let me wife do the shopping while I find a comfortable place to just sit and do a little people watching.  There are so many interesting things to observe.

Meaning: "to people watch" is an expression used to describe the activity of just watching the different kinds of people in a public place. Usually someone "people watches" just out of curiosity.  This idiom can be found in the book LSI Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking/Listening at LSI schools. For more information visit:www.languagesystems.com

Soulmate

Idiom: Soulmate

Context #1:

 

Sara: Guess what?  My boyfriend asked me to marry him!

Jane: Wow!  That's great!  You finally found your soulmate.

 

Context #2:

 

Jim: So do you think everyone just has one soulmate?

Bill: Well, I think that it is possible to have more than one choice when it comes to deciding on who to spend the rest of your life with.

 

Meaning:  "soulmate" is an expression used to describe the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with.  This idiom can be found in the book LSI Reading Savvy.  This book is used to teach Level 5 Reading/Vocabulary at LSI schools.  For more information visit: www.languagesystems.com

To be a Must

Idiom: to be a must; used as a verb ("must" being a noun). 

First Example:

Maria: I'm so excited!  I'm going to Disneyland this weekend.

Neil: Have you been before?

Maria: No, I've never been.

Neil: You'll have a great time

Maria: Which rides should I go on?  I like fast rides.

Neil:  Then you should definitely go on Space Mountain.  It's a must.  And the railroad and Matterhorn are pretty fun as well.

Meaning: While "must" is normally used in English as modal, it can be used as a noun meaning something that is indispensable or required.  However, while "must" usually has a formal meaning when used as a modal, it's often used as a noun in informal situations, when someone is giving a suggestion of something that is worth doing.  In the example above, Neil says that the ride Space Mountain is a must, meaning that Maria should make sure to go on it.  Usually, "must" is used as a noun in the phrase "to be a must."

Here is another example:

            Having a car is a must if you hope to live and work in Los Angeles.  While the public transportation is acceptable for visitors, it's usually not reliable enough for everyday commuting.

Meaning: In this case, it's being suggested that a car is necessary for those living and working in Los Angeles due to unreliable public transportation.

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/