Rug Rat

Idiom: Rug rat – a small child

 

Context #1 – Kindergarten

Barry: My group of rug rats has too much energy today.

Donnie: Perhaps they had too much sugar to eat this morning.  Maybe give them a couple of extra minutes of recess to burn the energy out.

Barry: That’s not a bad idea.

Donnie: Yeah, otherwise the rug rats will tire your patience out.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about their new kids

Henry: My new baby cries all night.

Marie: Yeah, they’ll do that. They just need mom and dad’s attention to feel comfortable. 

Henry: I’m sure that in five months, these little rug rats will have different needs. Marie: Yeah, rug rats always need something new.

Meaning: “Rug rats” means a child.  People have rugs at home and as children begin to crawl, they resemble a small animal crawling on the rug. It’s just a “cute” slang name to describe a small child.

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Off-the-Cuff

Context #1 – Students in class at university

Vickey: I’m so confused after Professor Johnson’s lecture today. Did you understand any of it?

Mac: Not at all! He just makes a bunch of off-the-cuff remarks and thinks it is a lecture. I doubt he even knows what he is talking about.

Vickey: I agree. He doesn’t seem prepared at all and then he changes his mind in the middle of class.

Mac: Yes, he shouldn’t just speak off-the-cuff every day. He needs to prepare for his lectures.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about a person they saw on TV

Sierra:  Did you see Bob on TV last night?

Peter:  Yes, I saw him being interviewed on the 10:00 News.  He was amazing!

Sierra: Did you know that he was speaking off-the-cuff? He didn’t prepare his answers at all.

Peter: Wow! Really? I wish I could give off-the-cuff answers like that. He really sounded good.

Sierra: Well, he is really talented when it comes to public speaking. He is a quick learner.

Meaning: “Off-the-cuff” means unprepared or spontaneous and can be used as both an adjective and adverb. In Context 1, the students are talking about a professor who makes off-the-cuff remarks (used as an adjective), which make his lectures confusing. They both agree that the professor shouldn’t speak off-the-cuff (used as an adverb). In context 2, the friends think that Bob’s off-the-cuff answers in the interview on TV were very good. 

                                           http://languagesystems.edu/

Off the Beaten Path

Idiom: Off the Beaten Track/Path – in or into an isolated place; in a place where very few people go; a place not known by the general public

Context #1 – Roommates at home

Vanessa: Hey, Brad! I’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been?

Brad: Oh, hi Vanessa. Sorry, I was really stressed out at work today. I needed to just get away from the crowds for a while, so I stopped by a little pub that is off the beaten path. It was nice just sitting down alone and relaxing for a while with no one to bother me.

Vanessa: You found a pub that is off the beaten path in LA?

Brad: Yes, unbelievable! There are a few regulars that go there, but it’s never crowded and people just leave you alone. It’s great when you need to unwind.

Context #2 – Two friends talking before going on vacation

Sami:  I’m so excited. I can’t wait until my vacation!

Petra: Really? Where are you going?

Sami: Well, I’ve been really stressed out with school lately, so I wanted to go somewhere that is off the beaten track. Someplace where I can be alone.

Petra: Sounds nice!

Sami: Yes. I am driving up to Oregon and I’m going to stay in a little Bed and Breakfast my roommate told me about a few weeks ago.

Petra: Well, if you want to go somewhere quiet, it is always good to find a place that is off the beaten track. Then, you don’t have to deal with all the crowded places that tourists like to visit.

Meaning: “Off the beaten track/path” means a place that is isolated or is not known by a lot of people. In context 1, Brad needs to go somewhere quiet where no one will bother him, so he finds a pub that is “off the beaten path.” In context 2, Sami wants to spend her vacation in a place that is off the beaten track so that she doesn’t encounter crowds of people and can just relax.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To Pose For

To pose for  - To assume a position or attitude for a photograph or painting.

Context #1 – Two friends talking

Victoria: Hey, Bob. What are you doing?

Bob: I’m getting ready to pose for a photoshoot online. They want to feature me in a piece they are doing on successful business people.

Victoria: OK. Why are you standing that way? You look weird.

Bob: Well, the photos are of confident business people at work, so I’m standing confidently while I tell employees what to do. Also, I’m not smiling because I need an intense look to show control and strength.

Victoria: Hmmm…I think you are overdoing it a bit. Just be natural.

Bob: Victoria, you don’t understand. When you pose for a special photo, you must overact a little in order to project a certain image.

Victoria: If you say so. I still think you look like your shoes are on too tight! 

Artistic Photograph by Tami 

Context #2 – An uncle and his niece are at a concert

Patty: Thank you so much, Uncle Sal, for bringing me to this concert. I love this band!

Uncle Sal: This band is good! I’m glad I came.

Patty: Come here and let’s take a selfie so that we can post it on Instagram.

Uncle Sal: OK. Wait, Patty. What’s wrong with your lips? They are puffy* all of a sudden. Are you having an allergic reaction?

Patty: Oh my god, Uncle Sal! Don’t you know that you are supposed to puff up** your lips when you pose for a selfie? Everyone does it.

Uncle Sal: Oh, I see. OK. Wait, let me practice posing for the picture.

Patty: Ha! That’s perfect! One, two, three……

Meaning: "To pose for" means to make a certain posture or look for a photograph, painting, or drawing (usually a photo). In the first context, Bob is standing a certain way with a stern look on his face because he wants to look strong and business-like for the pictures. In the second context, Patty is making her lips puffy, or bigger, for the selfie and she tells her Uncle Sal that it is normal to do this for selfies. 

*Pillow-like, bigger or swollen

**To swell or become larger

 http://languagesystems.edu/

To Munch Out

Context #1 – Roommates watching TV at home

Vanessa: Hi Brad. I just bought some hamburgers and fries from In-N-Out. Set up the table so that we can munch out while watching Game of Thrones!

Brad: Really? Actually, I bought some food from In-N-Out too. I think we have way too much food!

Vanessa: Not at all! Now we can really munch out!

Context #2 – Two friends in the school cafeteria

Sami:  Hey, Petra! How are you?

Petra: Oh, hi Sami. I’m so hungry!!! I just finished this huge 3-hour test and I’m just starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in years.

Sami: Ha! Well, you can have half of my broccoli sandwich.

Petra: You can’t be serious! Thanks but no thanks. I don’t feel like munching out on a broccoli sandwich.

Sami: Well, I have some celery with low-fat plain yoghurt. Very healthy and yummy!

Petra: Ahhh, I think I’ll pass. I’m going to go over a munch out on that super-sized pizza I just ordered.

Sami: All by yourself?

Petra: Yep! I would offer you some pizza, but you obviously are busy munching out on your broccoli sandwich and celery sticks.

Meaning: “To munch out” means to eat a lot of food in a very short period of time. In the first dialogue, the roommates want to munch out while watching a TV show. In the second dialogue, Petra is so hungry that she is going to munch out on an super-sized pizza all by herself.

                                          http://languagesystems.edu/

Eye-popping

Idiom: Eye-popping; used as an adjective

Context #1:

Taylor: Did you see the new Christopher Nolan movie?
Jake: Yeah. You?
Taylor: Yeah, and while I didn't really care for the story, the cinematography was eye-popping! I was not expecting it to look that amazing.
Jake: Yeah, I was blown away by how beautiful it was.

Meaning: The expression "eye-popping" means that something is visually shocking or surprising. In the above example, Taylor uses "eye-popping" to say that something was surprisingly beautiful. It can also be used in a number of other ways, such as when someone wears a particularly revealing outfit, as in the next example:

Context #2:

The actress wore an especially eye-popping outfit to the awards show after party. She was wearing a very short shirt and a blouse that was rather low-cut. A few critics called it a scandal, but others said she looked gorgeous.

                                                http://languagesystems.edu/

Street Smart

Idiom: street smart(s); used as an adjective or noun

Context #1:

Lenny: So Mayra got a new place.

Bruce: Really? Where is it?

Lenny: Over on 4th, kind of near the freeway.

Bruce: Isn't that kind of a bad neighborhood?

Lenny: Yeah, but she's street smart. She grew up in an area like that, so she knows how to survive. And she's saving a ton of money compared to her last place.

Meaning: The expression street smart means that someone knows how to survive in dangerous urban areas, usually because they have experience living in similar areas. The expression can be used as an adjective, as in the example above, or as the non-count noun street smarts, as in the next example:

Context #2

Don't go into that neighborhood without any

street smarts; it can be a rough area, and

people walk around with expensive jewelry and talking on expensive mobile phones are likely to get mugged.

 http://languagesystems.edu/