To Be Swamped

Idiom: “to be swamped”

Meaning:  To be overwhelmed with a great amount of work or obligations

Example #1:

Jackie: I’m so tired! I think I’ve been up for about 48 hours.

Johnny:  Oh, no. Why haven’t you been sleeping?

Jackie: I am absolutely swamped with work! I’m even taking it home at night and working on it. It just never seems to end!

Johnny:  Well, even though you are swamped, you still need to make time to take care of yourself and get some sleep.

Example #2:  

                         

Sarah: This is really irritating. Pete won’t even return any or my calls or texts.

Jacob: Didn’t you hear? He is swamped with family obligations right now. He has to take care of his sick grandma and his 7 year old niece is living with him, so he has to drive her to school every day.  On top of that, he works full-time. 

Sarah: Well, he could at least send me a text saying he can’t talk right now because he is swamped. It’s really rude to just not answer at all.  I thought he didn’t want to be friends anymore.

Jacob: No, he just has a lot of things to do. You should be more understanding and try to be supportive during this time. He’ll call eventually.

Sarah: You’re right.

Meaning: “To be swamped” means to be overwhelmed with work, studies, or obligations. In example 1, Jackie is so swamped with work she cannot even sleep at night.  In example 2, Pete is swamped with family obligations and cannot return any calls.  

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu 

To Be Floored

Idiom: “to be floored”

Meaning:  To shocked, surprised, or overwhelmed by something

Example #1:

Jenny: Hey, Johnny! Did you hear that Jane and Craig are getting a divorced?

Johnny:  No, I haven't heard that.

Jenny: Yes, apparently Craig found out that Jane has been having an affair with the next door neighbor! I was absolutely floored when I found out. They seemed like the perfect couple.

Johnny:  Well, I’m never floored by that kind of news. It’s just human nature.

 

Example #2:

Sarah: Guess what? Timmy won the lottery! I was just floored when I heard the news.

Jacob: Wow! That’s great. How much did he win?

Sarah: I think over a million dollars.

Jacob: I bet he was floored when he found out.

                            Sarah: Yes, he was. I think he still can’t believe it.

Meaning: “To be floored” means to be really shocked is floored by the news. In example 1, two people who seemed like the perfect couple are getting a divorce because of an affair.  Jenny cannot believe it and she is really shocked. In example 2, the two people are talking about their friend who won the lottery, which is very unusual and surprising.

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu

To be out

Idiom: to be out

Context #1

Jim:  Hey, you'd better wake up Steve.  You know the teacher hates when he sleeps in class.

Tom:  I already tried.  I poked him several times but he still didn't wake up.  He is out!

Context #2

Susie:  What time did you get home from the party last night?

Kathy: I got home around 2 o'clock in the morning. 

Susie: Yeah, me too.  I was so tired I just went to bed.

Kathy: I know.  I brushed my teeth and then turned on the TV to watch a movie but I was out in like 5 minutes.

Meaning: to be out is an American idiom that is used when you describe someone who is in a deep sleep.  When I person is out, it is usually because they are really tired, really exhausted, or really drunk. If someone is out, it is really hard to wake them up. Practical idioms like this are taught in the Speaking and Conversation classes at LSI.  

For more information please visit www.languagesystems.edu

To get jipped

Idiom:  to get jipped

Context #1:

Sam: Hey, nice cell phone!

Tom: Yeah, I got it on E-bay for $100.

Sam:  Really?  You got jipped.  I saw the same exact phone at Best Buy for $50.

Tom: Oh man!

Context #2:

Julie: I bought this book on Amazon and the seller said that it was "like new."  But look, there's writing in pen all over the place.

Christine:  It looks like you got jipped.  I would return that book and ask for a refund!

Julie:  Yeah, I'm going to do that.

Meaning:  to get jipped is an idiom in American English that is used for situations where you pay for something but the price is not fair or is unreasonably high.  Sometimes you pay too much for something that is not worth that much.  Sometimes a seller is dishonest and is trying to make a huge profit.  In these situations, you can use this idiom.  Practical idioms like this are taught in the Speaking and Conversation classes at LSI.  

For more information please visit www.languagesystems.edu

Loose Cannon

Idiom: Loose Cannon

Meaning: A person who doesn't think of their actions or their effects on those around them. 

Example:

Michele: I can't believe how Jason acted at the party.

Christina: I heard he was such a loose cannon and hurt a lot of people's feelings.

Michele: I don't think the alcohol helped any.

For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.edu

To be on cloud nine

Idiom: to be on cloud nine

Meaning: To be very content, happy, and in an excellent mood

Example:

Iain: Jennifer has been on cloud nine all day.

Mary: I know! It's because she got engaged last night.

Iain: Ah!! That makes sense now.

For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.edu

Tongue in Cheek

Idiom: tongue in cheek; used as an adjective or adverb

First Example:

Helen: What did you get me for my birthday?

Rick: Tickets to see One Direction!                                          

Helen: You're kidding, right?

Rick:  No.  You said you liked them.

Helen: Yeah, but I said it tongue in cheek. I can't believe you took me seriously!

Rick:  I'll admit, I'm kind of glad.  I thought it was a strange band for a 35-year-old woman to like.

Helen: Yeah, well, hopefully you can sell them and buy me a real present.

Meaning: When an American says that something was said "tongue on cheek," it means that the statement is meant to be understood as ironic and humorous.  It can be used as an adverb (as above) or an adject.  In the example above, Rick believed Helen when she said she liked the boy band One Direction, but he didn't realize she was making a joke, so he bought her tickets for her birthday.  This is a common problem when Americans say things "tongue in cheek." Here is another example using the phrase as an adjective:

Jen: Hey John. How was your weekend?

John: It was great!  Like I texted you, I took my grandmother to the opera on Saturday, and then...

Jen: Wait, you mean that wasn't a tongue in cheek text? You really took your grandmother to the opera?

John: Yeah, she and I both love Bizet, and they're doing Carmen.  It's a great production.  I thought it was strange that you responded back with "LOL."

Jen: I didn't realize you liked opera. Huh, you learn something new every day.

Meaning: In this case, John told Jen via text that he was going to an opera with his grandmother, but Jen thought the text John sent was a "tongue in cheek" joke, so she responded with "LOL" ("Laugh Out Loud").   In this case, John was not being ironic as he actually likes opera.  Notice that this example uses the expression as an adjective, whereas the previous example used the expression as an adverb.

This week, we have been covering strange/humorous American idioms in honor of our new favorite blog,  Venezuela Sayings.

For more information, please visit www.languagesystems.edu