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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Cram for a test

Meaning:  the act of attempting to learn a large amount of information in a short period of time, especially for a test.

Example 1

.

Jack and Jessica are classmates, and are in the classroom right now.

Jessica: You look stressed.

Jack: I am super stressed!!

Jessica: Why?

Jack: Jonas just told me that we have a test today in class!

Jessica: How come you didn’t know that?

Jack: I was sick this week so I have been absent for three days.

Jessica: Oh no!! What are you going to do?

Jack: I’ve been cramming for the test for the past hour!

Example 2

Megan is talking to her sister, Ella, at home in the morning at the breakfast table.

Megan: What are you reading?

Ella: I’m trying to study for my test.

Megan: When is your test?

Ella: Today!!

Megan: Oh! Are you ready for it?

Ella: No, that’s why I’m cramming for it.

Megan: I hope you remember everything.

Ella: Me too!

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Pull an all nighter

Meaning: Depriving yourself of sleep all night to do things that need to be done or you want to do. Usually used for studying.

Example 1

Matt and Ben are two friends

Matt: Are you going to John’s party tonight?

Ben: No, I’m not!

Matt: Why not?

Ben: I have a test tomorrow.

Matt: Didn’t you study for the test?

Ben: No, that’s why I have to study all night!!

Matt: Man! So you are going to pull an all nighter?

Ben: Yeah! It looks like it!

Example 2

Jessica finished her final exams at her university in the morning and is now visiting her parents in the afternoon.

Jessica: Hi mom!! It’s so good to see you.

Mom: Thanks honey! It’s so nice to see you, too. I’ve missed you.

Jessica: I’ve missed you, too. How are you?

Mom: I’m great. How about you?

Jessica: I’m so tired, mom!!

Mom: Why, honey?!

Jessica: I was awake all night

Mom: Why were you awake all night? Were you at a club? You should focus on your studies!!!

Jessica: NO Mom!!!! I was pulling an all nighter for my final exams.

Mom: Oh, I see. You are such a good student, honey!

Scarf Down

Context #1: 

The most embarrassing thing happened to me yesterday at lunch. My problems started in the morning. I forgot to set my alarm and woke up late, so had to rush out of the house without breakfast. By lunchtime, I was so hungry! I scarfed down my lunch like I hadn't eaten in days! The embarrassing part was that my very cute coworker saw the whole thing and I didn't notice until I was finished! Now he probably thinks I always eat like an animal. So embarrassing. 

Context #2: 

This week's party will include a formal dinner. Please use appropriate language. Please do not scarf down your food and don't forget to put your napkins in your laps.

Explanation:

to scarf down something means to eat something very quickly without regard for manners. When using this expression, a noun or name of food should follow the expression. 

He scarfed down the whole bag of potato chips by himself.

Don't scarf down your dinner. You'll upset your stomach. 

In Example 1, the speaker is recalling the embarrassing experience of being extremely hungry and so eating her food so quickly and ravenously. At lunchtime, she didn't care how she ate, or how she looked while she ate because she was very hungry. Only after, she realized that someone else had witnessed her wild eating.

In Example 2, the speaker is giving instructions for the upcoming party. Since the dinner will be formal, participants are instructed to eat slowly and politely, NOT to scarf down their food. 

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