Take A Toll On / Take Its Toll On

Idiom: to take a/its toll on; used as a verb

First Example:

Sharon: Wow, you've been working late a lot lately!

Geoff: Yeah, and it's beginning to take a toll on me.

Sharon: What do you mean?

Geoff: Well, I've been really stressed, and my health is getting worse because I haven't been going to the gym or getting enough sleep. I've gotten sick twice in the last two months!

Sharon: Wow, maybe you should take some time off.

Geoff: I'm planning on it, once I get this report finished.

Meaning: When something "takes a toll on" something, it means that the subject is having a negative effect on the object of the idiom.  Usually, the idiom "take a toll on" is used when a person or thing has been doing a certain action a lot, and that action is starting to have a negative impact on the person or thing doing it.  In the example above, Geoff has been working late a lot, and the extra time at work and stress is having a negative impact on, or "taking a toll on", Geoff's health.  The expression can be used with the word "a" or "its" interchangeably, so the example above could have also been "Yeah, and it's beginning to take its toll on me" without a change in meaning.  Look at another example involving an object that is being affected: 

Michael: I need to get a new car.

Jennifer: I thought you said you would never get rid of that BMW?

Michael: Yeah, I love the car, but traffic is really beginning to take its toll on the engine.  I've broken down twice in the last month, and there's a weird sound coming from under the hood.

Jennifer:  How old is the car?        

Michael: It's from 1972, and it was great when I drove short distances, but I don't think it was made for sitting in traffic.  Hopefully I can find a collector who wants to restore it.  Then I can use the money as a down payment on something a little newer and more reliable.

In this example, Michael says he needs to get a new car because the traffic is "taking its toll" on his current car.  He thinks sitting in traffic is having a negative effect on the older car, so he is thinking about selling it and buying something newer.  Notice that Michael used "its" instead of "a" in the idiom (although "taking a toll" would also be technically correct in this instance).

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

To Take Something To Heart

Idiom: to take __  to heart; used as a verb

First Example:

Chrissie: Can you believe Patti said that?

Steven: What did she say?

Chrissie: She said that I should just quit the tennis tournament now so that I'm not embarrassed later. She said she's going to kick my butt!

Steven: Oh, you shouldn't take anything she says to heart.  She's just very competitive and loves talking trash* to her opponents.

Chrissie: Really?  She was so aggressive that she kind of scared me.

Steven: She's not going to hurt you, and I'm sure you're not the only person she has said that to.  Just focus on how good it's going to feel when you prove her wrong.

Chrissie: Yeah... I guess I am a more experienced player.

Steven: There you go.  Keep telling yourself that!

Meaning: When people "take something to heart," it means that they consider a comment as being personally significant.  Usually used with a noun or "it" in the middle, the expression is often used with a negative when telling someone not to take something personally.  In the example above, Chrissie is worried about Patti's comment, but Steven says that Patti is always aggressive when she competes, and that Chrissie shouldn't take her comments to heart.  The expression can also be used without a negative, as can be seen in the following example from an email: 

Hi Lou,

Thanks for your feedback on my behavior at work.  At first, I got a little defensive after you told me I "shouldn't be preaching at work."  I thought you were attacking my religious beliefs, and my feelings were hurt.  But then I thought about how I would feel if someone was forcing their beliefs on me at work, and I realized that you were not attacking me personally; I was just making you uncomfortable!  So I took your comments to heart, and I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. I will try not to talk about religion at work any more, and if I'm ever making you feel uncomfortable again, please let me know.

Thanks,

Maureen

In this example, Maureen is writing an email to Lou thanking him for feedback on her behavior.  In the email, she says that his comment about preaching at work initially hurt her feelings, but that she eventually understood, and that she took his comments to heart.  This means that she applied them to herself and it made her change her opinion and/or behavior.

*Note: to "talk trash" means to speak in negative, insulting or abusive ways; it is commonly used when speaking to competitors.

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/   

To Fend for Oneself

To Fend for Oneself

Meaning: To take care of oneself without help.

Example 1:

Tom: Oh, my! What a cute little kitten!

Sarah: Yes, isn’t she adorable? I just found her yesterday in the back yard of my parents’ house. She was all alone and in good health. I was surprised because she is so young and it is hard for a kitten to fend for herself without a mother cat.

Tom: Yes, that is surprising. Usually baby animals have a hard time surviving by themselves. It’s really great that she was able to fend for herself and stay healthy at the same time.

Sarah: Yes, I know. We want to pick out a good name for her that shows how strong she is. Do you have any ideas?

Tom: Well, you could call her “Kick Butt Kitty!”

Sarah: Ha ha! That’s cute, but a little too long.

Example 2:

Ken: Did you hear about Kevin’s mom?

Jack: No, what happened?

Ken: She was in a terrible car accident and will be in the hospital for at least two months!

Jack: Oh, no! And his father left them a long time ago, so he only has his mom!

Ken: Yes, on top of that, Kevin’s mom does everything for him even though he is 20 years old. I’m worried about him. I don’t think he will be able to fend for himself while she is gone.

Jack: Yes, that’s going to be really tough. I don’t think he even knows how to make a sandwich. He might starve! How will he eat? What about his clothes? Who will clean them?

Ken: Well, I told him last summer that he should come camping with me for two weeks in the wilderness. It’s a tough trip, but he could have learned how to fend for himself and not be so dependent on his mother.

Jack: He’ll have to find a job, too so that he can pay the rent and buy gas for his car. I guess he is going to learn really fast how to fend for himself!

Ken: Yes. I hope he can do it.

Meaning:
To Fend for Oneself means to take care of oneself without the help of others. In the first example, the kitten was able to fend for herself alone outside even though she was just a baby. In the second example, Kevin depends completely on his mother for every part of his life, so when his mother is in the hospital, Kevin’s friends are worried they he won’t be able to fend for himself.

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

To Zero in On

Meaning: Direct one's attention to, concentrate or focus on

Example 1:

Tom: Did you hear about that big bank robbery yesterday on Main Street?

Sarah: No! What happened?

Tom: Well, a couple of guys dressed up as clowns went into the bank around 1:00 yesterday and stole almost $100,000 in cash!

Sarah: Really? Do the police have any idea who the robbers could be?

Tom: Well, the police have zeroed in on a couple of guys working at a local circus that is in town for a few weeks. They think perhaps that is where the guys got their wigs and make up for the clown costumes. Plus, the men were seen running toward the circus area after robbing the bank.

Sarah: Well, I guess it wasn’t too hard to zero in on those two. They must not be very smart!

Example 2:

Ken: So, have you found a new house yet.

Jack: Well, we have been looking at so many different houses in the past couple of weeks, but we haven’t zeroed in on any one special house yet.

Ken: Don’t worry. Take your time so that you find the house that is just right for you.

Jack: Yes, I know. But I don’t want to take too long because the kids are tired of living in this small apartment we rented while looking for a house.

Ken: I’m sure after looking at all those different houses, you’ll be able to zero in on one soon and move in right away.

Jack: I hope so!

Meaning:
To Zero in On means to direct one’s attention to someone or something or to focus on someone or something. In the first example, the police have zeroed in on who the bank robbers are since they were seen running toward a certain area of town. In the second example, Ken is trying to find a new house, but has not zeroed in on a house yet because he has looked at so many different houses.

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

To Be All Set To Go

Example 1

Gina: Are you almost ready to go? Our flight leaves in 2 hours!

Kevin: I'll be all set to go in 5 minutes. I have to finish packing my shoes.

Gina: I hope we don't miss our flight because of your shoes!

Kevin: Ok, I'm all set!


Example 2:

Ok, we have our bottles of water, hiking boots, and sunblock. We are all set to go on our hike!

to be all set to go = to be ready to go

This expression is often shortened "be all set" meaning "to be ready"
It can also be used with other verbs: be all set to + verb.. for example I'm all set to take the test.

This idiom was taken from LSI's book titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com

To Be Bummed

Example 1:

Marty was bummed after his flight was delayed. He wasn't going to arrive in Cancun in time to watch the parade. 

Example 2:

Bill: Hey, Ted. Why are you so bummed these days?

Ted: Hey, Bill. I'm bummed I failed my English test and now my parents won't let me go to Sandy's farewell party!



In Examples 1 & 2, Marty and Ted are bummed. They are a little sad and disappointed by their circumstances. However, the idiom to be bummed isn't usually used for serious situations.

This idiom was taken from LSI's book titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com

To Be Out Of (Something)

To Be Out Of (Something)

Context #1:
Jimmy: Oh man!
Mark: What's wrong?
Jimmy: We're out of coffee! I'd better go to the store and get some more. I really need my cup of coffee in the morning.  I'll be back.
Context #2:
Restaurant Waiter: Hi, are you guys ready to order?
Restaurant Customer: Yeah, I'll have the fresh lobster.
Restaurant Waiter: I'm sorry but we are out right now. The shrimp is really good too.
Restaurant Customer: Ok, I'll try the shrimp.

Meaning: to be out of something means that there is no more left. The thing that was available before has been used up.

This idiom was taken from LSI's book titled Speaking Transitions. This book is used to teach Level 4 Speaking classes at LSI schools. For more information please visit: www.languagesystems.com