Pushy

Context 1:

Nathan: Hey, Paul. What's up?

Paul: Nathan! I was about to call you.

Nathan: Really? What's going on?

Paul: I was wondering if you would like to make a donation to my basketball team... We need some money to buy new uniforms and...

Nathan: Paul, seriously! You already asked me this four times this week! I already made a donation!

Paul: I know! Thank you so much, but you know, if you make another $10.00 donation by the end of today, it would really help us!

Nathan: Paul, you have asked me so many times! I already made a donation and you keep asking for more... You are sopushy! Please stop!

Paul: OK... I understand! Well, in case you change your mind, please check our website.You can also make a donation at the front desk.

Nathan: WOW! I have to go! Don't call me!

Paul: Alright! Don't forget my team! We really need your help!

Context 2: 

Hi Bryan,

I am e-mailing you because I don't want to talk to you anymore.

Yesterday I reached my limit with you. I already told you we are just friends, but everytime we meet you insist on flirting and telling me how much you want us to be a couple!

I have made it very clear that I am not interested, but you don't seem to understand! 

I am tired of this! You are so pushy! 

Please don't contact me anymore... I wish you the best.

Becca

MEANING: A pushy person is someone who insists on something in order to have what he or she wants. A pushy person is aggressively persuasive.

Hands down

Context 1: 

Title: Two friends

Bob:  Hey, Miriam! Did you try that Mexican restaurant I recommended?

Miriam: Hey! Yes, I did. I went there with my boyfriend… You know he is from Mexico, right?

Bob: Oh, that’s why you were asking about Mexican places! Did he like it?

Miriam: He did! He said that restaurant is hands down the best Mexican restaurant in L.A!

Bob: Really? Wow! I thought the food was good, but after hearing that, I know it is really the best one in town!

Miriam: Yes, thank you so much for the recommendation. Guess what happened during dinner?

Bob: I don’t know. What happened?

Miriam: My boyfriend proposed! He asked me to marry him!

Bob: That’s incredible! Congratulations… Did you say ‘yes’?

Miriam: Actually, I did not.

Bob: What? Wh… wha… What are you talking about?

Mriam: Bob, I met someone who is kind, smart, handsome, and every time I see him, my heart melts… He is hands down the best guy I have ever met… I fell in love with him!

Bob: Oh, really? Lucky guy… I fell in love with the nicest girl, but I know she just sees me as a friend.

Miriam: No, she doesn’t… She loves you, too…

Bob: Miriam, what are you talking about?

Miriam: I love you, Bob!

Bob: Miriam, you are hands down one of my best friends, but… I am in love with your sister.

Context 2: 

Title: Are you serious?

Janet:  Miriam just broke up with Mark.

Kristy: That’s too bad. They were hands down the coolest couple at work!

Janet: I know! I think I will ask him out on a date…

Kristy: Janet! Are you serious?

Hands down means: “without a doubt”

To Be/Have a Big Mouth

Context 1:

Bill: Sara, do you think anyone knows about what happened on Sunday? It was so embarrassing. 

Sara: Don't tell Johnny anything if you want to keep this secret. He HAS a big mouth! Everyone will know what happened in a few hours!

Context 2: 

I learned that it's not good to BE a big mouth. I learned my lesson after I got my friend in trouble. I used to gossip and tell everyone everything, whether it was true or not. One day, I heard some negative gossip about my friend. I didn't think it was true, but I told my classmates about it because I loved to gossip. Later, our classmates wouldn't talk to her because they thought the gossip was true I felt terrible because it was my fault. I apologized to my friend and I promised myself that I would never gossip again!

Explanation:

You can BE a big mouth OR you could HAVE a big mouth. The meaning doesn't change. 

This expression describes someone who talks too much, often revealing secrets.  

http://www.languagesystems.com/

To run off at the mouth

Context 1: 

2016 is an election year in the United States, which means that Americans will be choosing their next President. There are some candidates who are well qualified and have good, solid ideas for improving the county. In contrast, there are other candidates who don't appear to be serious and are experts at running off at the mouth; their ideas are unrealistic and many of their statements are offensive. 

Context 2: 

Parent: You must listen to me, Bobby! It's very important that you pay attention in class when the teacher is talking. You have been in trouble 3 times this week for interrupting her lesson! What is your explanation?!

Child: My teacher is so boring! All she does is run off at the mouth. No one listens to her because no one likes her.

Parent: I can't believe you would be so disrespectful! 

Explanation: 

To run off at the mouth means that you are talking a lot, but not saying anything important, or to talk a lot without consideration of your words. This expression has negative connotations and may be considered rude. Please use with caution!

Example 1 mentions presidential candidates who talk a lot, but doesn't provide anything useful and are sometimes offensive. 

Example 2 shows a conversation between a parent and child. The child says his teacher just talks a lot and doesn't say anything useful, that's why he is having trouble in this class. His mother is surprised that he would be so rude.

http://www.languagesystems.com/

Dough

Context #1

Carl: You owe me $80 for the Lakers ticket I got you.

Tony: Oh yeah.  But I don't have any dough on me now.  Let's go by the bank ATM machine and I'll get that money I own you. 

Context #2

Bethany:  I heard the restaurant you work at was super busy last night.  Did you get a lot of good tips?

Chrissy: Yeah, I worked so hard, but I didn't mind because I need the extra dough.

Meaning: "dough" is an American slang expression used for "money."

http://www.languagesystems.com/

Deep Pockets

Context #1

Tom: Did you hear about the new class action law suit against the Paypal?

Chris: Yeah, but big companies like that don't care.  

Tom: You're right. They have such deep pockets that they can just pay people and move on.

Context #2

Jennifer: I heard that Sarah's company is sending all the employees on a free cruise to Hawaii.

Kathy: Yeah I know!  But don't worry.  Her company has really deep pockets. They can afford it!

Meaning: to have deep pockets is an idiom used mainly for a company or corporation. It means that they have massive, almost limitless, financial resources.

http://www.languagesystems.com/

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.”

http://www.languagesystems.com/