Set Your Sights High

Idiom: to set __ sights (high/low); used as a verb

First Example:

Scott: What do you plan on doing after you graduate?

Ernest: Well, my next step will be to go to graduate school and get a Master's degree in International Relations.  My eventual goal is to go into politics.

Scott: Are you hoping to work in local government?

Ernest: Actually, my dream is to become a U.S. Senator.

Scott: Wow, you've set your sights pretty high!  I didn't realize you were so interested in politics.

Ernest: Yeah, ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to do something to help make the world a better place, and politics seems like a good way to do that.

Meaning: When people "set their sights high," it means that they have goals that others might consider difficult to achieve.  The "sights" in the expression is what the person is looking to achieve.  In the example above, Ernest has set his sights on a political career, with a position as a Senator his eventual goal.  The expression can also be used with the word "low" in a similar way, as can be seen in the following example: 

Ernest: What about you?  What do you plan on doing after graduation?.

Scott: I actually don't have any plans yet.  I think I might just find a job as a bartender and give myself some time to figure it out.                                                          

Ernest: Well, if I set my sights high, it sounds like you're setting your sights too low!  You're one of the smartest guys I know, and you have really good grades.  Why aren't you looking into graduate school?

Scott: I'm kind of tired of education right now, and I'd like to take some time off.  But I don't plan on staying away forever; I just want to take a year off and consider my options.

In this example, Ernest is telling Scott not to set his sights low after graduation.  Ernest thinks Scott should aim for more than a bartending position.  Notice that the word "too" is being used to emphasize "low," which is common with this expression (especially in warnings with a negative, as in "Don't set your sights too high," which means "Don't expect too much, or you will be let down.").

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/   

Bumper-to-bumper

Examples:

1. The traffic is bumper-to-bumper. I don't think I will be home in time for dinner. 
2. The cars on the freeway are so close together. I won't get to school on time in this bumper-to-bumper traffic.  

Explanation:

A "bumper" is the part of the car at the very front and the very back. When cars are very close to one another in a traffic jam, the front bumper of one car can almost touch the back bumper of the car ahead of it.

This idiom comes from Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.com

To Come Forward

Example 1:

No new witnesses have come forward with information to help police catch the people who stole the jewels from the museum. The authorities are asking anyone with any clues to please contact the police right away.

Example 2:

Jen: Please, Stacy. You have to help Josh. He could get kicked out of school because of Ben!

Stacy: I want to help, but I'm scared! Ben would never forgive me. 

Jen: You just need to come forward and explain that Ben was cheating, not Josh. 

Explanation:

to come forward means to come to an authority with your knowledge about a crime or a problem. In the first example, the news report indicates that no witnesses have come to the police with information about the crime at the museum. In the second example, Jen is urging Stacy to come to the school principal with information about a cheating incident involving Ben and Josh. 

This idiom was taken from our L/S Book, Reading Savvy, 1st Edition. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

dead serious

Example 1:

Mike: Hey Jennifer, how's it going?

Jennifer: Oh Mike, pretty good--but I didn't get any sleep last night... my neighbors were partying late AGAIN!

Mike: I see... Did you tell them to quiet down? Also, maybe you should tell them that if they do it again, you'll call the police.

Jennifer: Actually, I did! But they don't seem to take me seriously...

Mike: Well, I think you should tell them that you're dead serious about calling the police next time. 

Jennifer: Good advice, Mike. I really am dead serious about this. I need my sleep!

                                    


Example 2:

Tony: Lisa, I've been thinking maybe we shouldn't live together anymore, but I would still like for us to date each other... 

Lisa: What? Listen, Tony, if we stop living together--then we should just break up.

Tony: But I really like you! Are you serious?

Lisa: I'm dead serious! We've already been seeing each other for two years and I'm ready for the next step. I need a commitment. 

                                    

Meaning: absolutely serious, not joking

The idiom "dead serious" was taken from Unit 5 ("Hanging Out") in LSI's textbook Speaking Savvy for Level 5 Speaking/Listening classes.  

Grossed Out

Idiom: "grossed out"

Context #1:
Sara: Did you know Tom likes to eat cow brains?  He says it's really good.
Jane: Yeah I saw him eating that one time and it really grossed me out.

Context #2:
Jenny: My friend Sam has a pet snake.  He asked me if I wanted to pet it but I was so grossed out when I saw it that I screamed.
Kathy: I don't like snakes either, but I get even more grossed out when I see a spider.

Meaning: "grossed out" is an expression used to describe when someone feels really disgusted.

This idiom can be found in the book LSI Speaking Savvy. This book is used to teach Level 5 Speaking/Listening at LSI schools. For more information visit: www.languagesystems.com

To Give Someone a Dirty Look

"To Give Someone a Dirty Look"

Example: Mary,

How was your weekend? I hope you are feeling better.
I have to tell you what happened at the party last night!
Everyone was there on time. Susan called and said she was running a little late, so we all waited for her to arrive to start having dinner.
She arrived 2 hours later...We were all very mad and of course, starving!
Everyone gave her a dirty look when she walked in... That was so inconsiderate!
She apologized and started eating before everyone else! Unbelievable!
Anyway, we had a good time... Susan will not be invited to any parties anytime soon.

Call me when you have a chance! Feel better!

Gloria.

To Give Someone a Dirty Look means to look at someone in an angry way.

This idiom was taken from our L/S Book, Speaking Transitions. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com

Needless to Say

Needless to say means "obviously, unnecessary to mention".

Example:
Barb: Hey, Rob! How are things with you and Sandy?
Rob: Oh, you haven't heard yet? We broke up....
Barb: What? What do you mean? What happened?
Rob: Well, I went to New York for work last month.
Barb: Yes, I remember that much. You were there for 2 weeks, right?
Rob: Well, I was supposed to be there for 2 weeks, but they needed me back in LA after a week, so I came back a week earlier.
Barb: OK... Then what?
Rob: Well, I got home and Sandy was... She was...
Barb: She was, what???
Rob: Well, she was eating all my expensive chocolate. She knew that no one touches my chocolate!
Barb: That's so lame, Rob! Come on!
Rob: Well, she knew it, Barb! No one eats my chocolate! I got really upset and started to yell at her. Needless to say, she left and said she would never want to see me again...
Barb: I don't blame her, Rob... You are so weird!



This idiom was taken from our LSI book, Reading Horizons! For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.com