Chapters 1_16 Flashcards
fill me in (to)
give me the details”I want to know what heppened on your date last night. Fill me in”
humongous
enourmos, gigantic, huge immense”You’d better study hard because the final exam is going to be humongous”
pin someone against something (to)
push someone up against something”The hockey player pinned his opponent up against the boards”
blabber (to)
talk to much, gab, yak, yap”The drunk guy I met in the bar blabbered on and on about his ex-wife”
stretch one’s legs (to)
exercise one’s leg after a period of inactivity”I really nedded to stretch my legs after sitting on the bus for five hours”
run off at the mouth (to)
talk to much, gab, yak, yap”She was running off at the mouth about her new boyfriend for the entire evening”
booze
alcohol, liquor”Don’t forget we have to buy some booze for the party tonight”
pester someone (to)
contantly harass/bother someone”The young boy kept pastering his mother to buy him the expensive toy”
bombed
hammered, loaded, smashed, very drunk”She got bombed on New Year’s Eve because she drunk so much champagne”
gulp down something (to)
drink something quickly”He gulped down the orange juice after playing tennis in the hot summer sun”
B.O.
bad body odor (a hygiene problem)”He had terrible B.O. because he hadn’t taken shower in three days”
appalling
awful, dreadful, terrible”The appalling behavior of the teenagers shocked the older married couple”
on the bright side
on the positive side”He crashed the car, but on the bright side nobody got hurt”
safe and sound
safely”We arrived home safe and sound even though we had to drive through the blizzard”
spoiled
pampered, get anything one wants”That child was spoiled rotten because his parents never disciplined him”
brat
terrible child”Someone should tell that brat to sit down and be quiet until the movie is finished”
fling something (to)
throw something”The infant didn’t eat the food. She was more interested in flinging it all over the place”
settle down (to)
calm down”The teacher finally had to tell the noisy students to settle down”
burst into tears (to)
start to cry suddenly and loudly”She burst into tears when she found out the her husband had died in the car accident”
jetlag
fatigue caused by air travel”I can´t stay awake in class because I still have jetlag”
get over something/someone (to)
recover from something/someone”It took me almost two weeks to get over my cold”
dive (a)
a terrible, old, dirty place”That bar was disgusting. I’m never going back to that dive again”
come across something (to)
find something by accident”I came across an old high school picture while I was cleaning up my room”
feel at home (to)
feel comfortable in a new place”I’m starting to feel at home after living here for several weeks”
put something behind someone (to)
forget about a bad experience”I’m going to have to put that awful experience behind me”
in no time
quickly, soon”He finished his homework in no time because he wanted go to the movies”
bundle of nerves (a)
very nervous”I was a bundle of nerves before I took the TOEFL exam”
kick oneself (to)
regret doing something”I could just kick myself for leaving my wallet in the restaurant last night”
keyed up
very nervous”The tennis player was keyed up while he waited for his match to begin”
knot in one’s stomach
a nervous feeling in the stomach”I had a knot in my stomach when I asked that beautiful girl for a date”
change of pace (a)
a change from one activity for something different”I’m tired of studying. How about a change of pace? Why don’t we go for coffee?”
wander (to)
walk slowly, saunter, stroll”Whould you like to wander through the shopping mall this afternoon?”
know one’s way around (to)
be familiar with a particular area”I’ve never been to this part of town before. Do you know your way around?”
take in the sights (to)
sightsee”I’d like to take in the sights after we check into the hotel”
down-and-out
destitute, very poor”The unshaven man in the dirty clothes looks down-and-out”
wrong side of the tracks (the)
the bad section of a city”She became a millionaire even though she grew up on the wrong side of the tracks”
play it safe (to)
be careful”I think you’ve had too much to drink. Let’s play it safe and take a taxi home”
as far as someone knows
to the best of one’s knowledge”As far as I know, there’s a bank right around the next corner”
get off the beaten path (to)
go to an area not visited by most people”He was completely lost for two hours after he got off the beaten path”
run out of something (to)
use up all of something”I ran out of things to do in my free time while I was living in that small town”
bundle (a)
a lot of money”I spent a bundle when I bought a jacket at that designer cloth store”
wipe out something (to)
destroy something”The hurricane wiped out at least half of the town”
shopping spree (a)
a shopping binge, shop a lot”He went on a huge shopping spree after he won the state lottery”
in check
under control”I’ll try to keep my smoking in check”
run up a bill (to)
get into debt, spend a lot of money”I ran up a large bill at the hotel while I was there on vacation”
take it from me (to)
trust me”Take it from me, that movie is unbelievably boring”
drag (a)
a bore”The advanced accounting course I took at college was such a drag”
kitty-corner
diagonal in location”The post office you’re looking for is kitty-corner to the high scholl”
take a break (to)
take a rest”I think we’ve worked long enough. What do you say we take a break from studying?”
stroll (to)
walk slowly, saunter, wander”I’d like to stroll along that beautiful white sand beach after lunch”
Check out something/someone (to)
look at something/someone”Check out that convertible sports car. It must be really expensive”
cover a lot of ground (to)
travel a great distance”We’ve been walking for over an hour. We’ve certain covered a lot of ground”
know something like the back of one’s hand (to)
be very familiar with something”I know this area like the back of my hand because I’ve lived here all my life”
pile (a)
a bunch, a load, a lot, a stack, a ton”I have a pile of laundry that I have to wash this morning”
run of the mill
average, ordinary”The speech he gave to the college students was just run of the mill”
cream of the crop (the)
the best of the group”The cream of the crop study at Harvard University”
one’s days are numbered
someone are going to die or get fired soon”I think his days are numbered because of his poor performance at work”
keep one’s fingers crossed (to)
hope for a possible positive result”I hope your team wins the game this afternoon. I’ll keep my fingers crossed”
knuckle down (to)
become serious about one’s work”I’m going to have to knuckle down if I hope to pass that difficult course”
one’s first crack at something
one’s first attempt at something”Today he’s going to take his first crack at ballroom dancing”
slack off (to)
reduce the amount of work one does”Most of students slacked off after they wrote the midterm exam”
cram (to)
study hard”She has to spend tonight cramming for the final exam”
slate (to)
schedule”She said that the quiz is slated for the day after tomorrow”
look into something (to)
investigate something (to)”I don’t know the answear to your question. I’ll have to look into it”
stressed out
more stress than someone can handle”She’s stressed out over the presantation he has to give to the class tomorrow”
lose sleep over something (to)
worry about something”I’m sure your audition will go well. Don’t lose any sleep over it”
up to
doing, occupied with”What are you up to after scholl today?”
hook up with someone (to)
meet someone”She’s going to hook up with her friends at the club tonight”
hitch
problem”I’d like to go to the movies with you. There’s just one hitch. I don’t have any money”
two’s company, three’s a crowd
a third person isn’t welcome”I don’t want your sister to come with us on our date. Two’s company, three’s crowd”
ditch someone (to)
lose someone on purpose”We ditched him on the bar when he went to the bathroom”
pull one’s leg (to)
joke, kid”I’m not serious. I’m just pulling your leg”
sleep on something (to)
consider something overnight”That’s a big decision. I’m afraid that I’ll have to sleep on it”
errand
a short trip to buy groceries, do banking, etc”I’ll be back in about thirty minutes because I need to run a few errands”
make a fuss over something (to)
overreact, go over the top”My friend really made a fuss over my 21st birthday”
crushed
devasted, emotionally destroyed”The little boy was crushed when his dog got run over my car”
getting on
getting old”I realized my parents are getting on the last time I went home for a visit”
young at heart
have a youthful attitude”My granmother is 75 years old, but she’s still young at heart”
run (to)
leave”I have to run or I’ll be late for my next business appointment”
hit the books (to)
study”We should hit the books tonight because we have a quiz tomorrow”
go over something (to)
review something”She wants to go over her notes before she gives her speech to the audience”
at the end of one’s rope
frustated, stressed out”I’m almost at the end of my rope because my lazy co-worker never helps me”
mind/memory like a steel trap (a)
a great memory”She never forgets a name. She has a mind like a steel trap”
on the tip of one’s tongue
on the verge of remembering something”What’s the name of that small town we went to? It’s right on the tip of my tongue.
mull something over (to)
consider, think something over”I’ll have to mull it over for awhile before I make a decision”
hung up on something/someone
stuck on something/someone, unable to continue”I can’t stop thinking about that beautiful woman. I’m really hung up on her”
what’s(his/her)-face
used when a person’s name can’t be remembered”Could you please give this book to what’s-her-face the next time you see her”
cacth hell (to)
reprimand someone harshly”The teenage boy caught hell because he didn’t come home last night”
tell someone off (to)
reprimand someone harshly”He told his girlfriend off because she forgot his birthday for the second time”
chew someone out (to)
reprimand someone harshly”She chewed her brother out after he broke her CD player”
badmouth someone (to)
say negative things about someone”That guy never says anything positive about anyone. He’s always badmouthing people”
have it in for someone (to)
get even with someone, seek revenge”I’ve had it in for him ever since I found out that he stole my wallet”
run into someone (to)
meet someone by accident”I ran into someone friends from school whilw I was at the library on Sunday”
cover for someone (to)
provide an alibi for someone”I’ll cover for you if you skip class and go to the beach instead”
new flame
new lover”She’s very happy because her new flame is handsome and charming”
come down with something (to)
get a cold/the flu”I came down with the flu just before my vacation started”
come up with something (to)
think of something”Have you come up with something to do on Friday night?”
vivid
colorful, dramatic, vibrant”The vivid colors in that painting of the sunset are very interesting”
coming along
progressing”How’s the essay you’re writing coming along?”
make a dent in something (to)
make a little progress in something”I’ve only made a dent in the essay that I have to write”
surf the net (to)
use the internet”I usually surf the net on my new computer when I get home from school”
weight off one’s shoulders (a)
a relief”It was a weight off his shoulders when he finally got accepted to law school”
come down hard on someone (to)
reprimand someone harshly”The boss came down hard on the salesman who fell asleep during the meeting”
doesn’t look a half bad
looks pretty good”The meal you prepared for us tonight doesn’t look half bad”
make something from scratch (to)
make something by oneself, not store bought”I’m proud of this tasty dessert because I made it from scratch”
thaw out something (to)
defrost something”Do you want me to thaw the lasagna for dinner tonight?”
chow down on something (to)
eat something”I’m really hungry. I want to chow down on some pizza for lunch”
I don’t know how to break this to you
I don’t know how to tell this to you”I don’t know how to break this to you, but you didn’t get the job”
something is on me
I’ll pay for you”Would you like to go out for supper tonight? It’s on me”
never let someone live something down (to)
never let someone forget something”I went to school once with zipper open. My friends never let me live that down”
let someone off the hook (to)
let someone avoid punishment”My father let my sister off the hook after she broke the living room window”
fix breakfast/lunch/dinner (to)
make/prepare/cook a meal”could you fix breakfast for this morning”
let someone down (to)
disappoint someone”My friend let me down when he forgot to help me move into my new apartment”
on the fritz
broken, on the blink”The television has been on the fritz for the last three days”
come to
cost, the total bill”What did the repairs to the fridge come to?”
rip someone off (to)
overcharge someone”The mechanic ripped me off when I had him fix my car’s transmission”
jack-of-all-trades (a)
a multitalented laborer”It seems as though you can repais anything. You´re a jack-of-all trades”
in mint condition
in perfect condition”The antique table I bought at the auction was in mint condition”
give someone the creeps (to)
scare or disgust someone”That scary-looking guy over there gives me the creeps”
can (the)
the bathroom/washroom”Are you finished yet? You’ve been in the can for over an hour”
in the buff
in the nude, in the raw, in one’s birthday suit, naked”The baby was running around the kitchen in the buff”
slip one’s mind (to)
forget something”I’m really sorry I forgot your birthday. It completely slipped my mind”
turn beet red (to)
blush”He turned beet red once he realized that he had a piece of spinach on his tooth”
stay on one’s good side (to)
make someone have a favorable opinion of you”You should stay on your father’s good side if you want to use his car”
in the long run
in the long term, over a long period of time”You ought to get some regular exercise. You’ll be healthier in the long run”
dough
cash, money”She must have spent a lot of dough on that beautiful wedding dress”
work out (to)
exercise”I try to work out at the fitness club at least three times a week”
drop in on someone (to)
visit someone”I was happy when my friend dropped in on me this afternoon”
pop by somewhere (to)
visit somewhere”I want to pop by the supermarket on our way home”
decadent
indulgent”That famous actor is very rich. I’m sure he has a decadent lifestyle”
hit somewhere (to)
visit somewhere”Why don´t we hit the library after we finish school today?”
mark down (to)
reduce in price”They’re having a sale. All their tennis shoes are supposed to be marked (way) down”
break the bank (to)
spend all of one’s savings”I’d like to buy a new suit today, but I don’t want to break the bank doing it”
jam-packed
crowded, mobbed”The subway was jam-packed during rush hour this morning”
snap up something (to)
buy/take something quickly”The customers snapped up the sale merchandise in less than 15 minutes”
right up one’s alley
perfectly suited to someone”I think the beautiful blouse you found in that store is right up your alley”
take in (to)
reduce the waist size of one’s pants/skirt”These pants are too big. I’m going to ask the tailor to take them in”
run (to)
cost”How much does that flashy sport car run?”
steep
expensive”I can’t afford to buy a house in that district because the prices are really steep”
shell out (to)
fork out, spend”He shelled out a lot of money when he redecoreted his entire apartment”
cash
dough, money”How much cash did you spend on dinner at that Italian restaurant?”
rack
a stand used to display clothes”Could you please put this coat back on the rack for me?”
first thing in the morning
very early in the morning”If we’re going skiing tomorrow, we’ll have to leave first thing in the morning”
have one’s name on it (to)
perfectly suited to someone”It’s too bad they didn’t have my size because that shirt had my name on it”
long gone
bought/left/taken a long time ago”I’m sure our friends are long now that the concert’s over”
get a load of something/someone (to)
look at something/someone”Get a load of the view from this apartment. It’s unbelievable”
clash (to)
do not match in color or design”Do you think this shirt clashes with the pants I’m wearing?”
there’s no account to taste
there’s no explaining someone’s style”I can’t believe what he’s wearing. There’s certainly no account for taste”
full of oneself
arrogant, conceited, smug, snobby”I don’t like her because she always look so full of herself”
dressed to kill
dressed up”She was dressed to kill when she went to her high-school graduation party”
last resort (a)
a final option”I wouldn’t go to that terrible restaurant even as a last resort”
shoot one’s mouth off (to)
speah in an inappropriate manner”That student often gets into trouble because he shoots his mouth off in class”
dressed to the nines
dressed up”She was dressed to the nines when she went out on her big date”
sell oneself short (to)
underestimate oneself”You have plenty of hability and experience. Don’t sell yourself short”
for the time being
for now”What do you say we just relax in the park for the time being”
hit the spot (to)
satisfying”A hot cup of coffee would really hit the spot right now”
melt in one’s mouth (to)
food that easily dissolves in one’s mouth”This steak is so tender that it almost melts in your mouth”
time to spare
extra time”She spent an hour at the coffee shop because she had time to spare”
make great time (to)
arrive somewhere faster than expected”They made a great time getting to the office this morning”
gridlock
very heavy traffic”I was late for work this morning because of the gridlock downtown”
luck out (to)
lucky”She lucked out when she picked the winning numbers for the lottery”
kill time (to)
waste time”I’m going to kill time at student lounge untill the class begins”
grab a bite to eat (to)
eat something quickly”What do you say we grab a bite (to eat) before we go to the theater?”
picked-me-up (a)
coffee, coke (any cafeine beverage)”I feel kind of tired this morning, I really need a pick-me-up”
take five (to)
take a short break”I think we deserve a break after doing all that work at the yard. Let´s take five”
stone’s throw away (a)
close by, near by”The stadium is only a stone’s throw away from the subway station”
half-and-half
cream”Do you prefer half-and-half or milk in your coffee?”
that goes without saying
that’s obviousSteve: “I don’t thinkk she likes me very much”Alan: “That goes without saying”
go cold turkey (to)
quit smoking completely”I finally decided to quit smoke. I went cold turkey two weeks ago”
grumpy
cranky, grouchy, irritable”The boss is grumpy this morning because he didn’t get any sleep last night”
get over something/someone (to)
recover from something/someone”It took Thomas several weeks to get over his ex-girlfriend”
go ballistic (to)
furious, livid, very angry”She went ballistic when her son spilled coffee on the expensive white sofa”
craving
desire”These days, I can´t control my cravings for chocolate”
you bet
absolutely, of courseDave: “Do you think it will rain today?”Kate: “You bet”
pack on the pounds
put on weight”I should go on a diet because I’m starting to pack on the pounds”
spare-tie (a)
big stomach, pot belly”That middle-aged man in the tracksuit has a spare-tire”
chubby
chunky, fat, overweight, pudgy, tubby”If you keep eating all those fatty foods, you’re going to get chubby”
john (the)
the bathroom, washroom”You’ll have to ask the waiter where the john is”
head somewhere (to)
go somewhere”I think I’m going to head home after we finish watching the video”
holy cow!
holy smoke, wow”Holy cow! That car almost hit a woman in the crosswalk”
hit the roof (to)
furious, livid, very angry”My mom hit the roof when I came late for Christmas dinner”
that does it!
I can’t handle anymoreThat does it! I’m going to tell my noisy neighbors to turn down the stereo”
butt
cigarette”My older brother likes to smoke a butt after he eats dinner”
by all means
certainly, of courseKaren: “May I take this chair?”Peter: “By all means, help yourself”
load (a)
a bunch, a lot, a pile, a stack, a ton”This student is carrying a load of books in his backpack”
like crazy
actively, fast, very much”He was studying like a crazy the night before the big exam”
handle (to)
deal with, endure, tolerate”I can’t handle people who pick their nose while driving a car”
bug (to)
annoy, bother”My little brother always bugs me while I’m watching my favorite TV show”
heat wave
many days of hot weather”The heat wave is expected to continue at least untill the end of August”
bundle up (to)
dress warmly”It’s snowing, so you should bundle up before you go outside”
hang out (to)
spend time”I think I’m going to hang out at my friend’s house on Sunday afternoon”
kick back (to)
relax, take it easy”I’ll probably stay at home and kick back on Friday night”
get some sun (to)
get a suntan”Would you like go to the beach today and get some sun”?
fish for compliments (to)
try to get some compliments”That woman is always fishing for compliments about her wardrobe”
suit someone to a T (to)
suit someone perfectly”You look great in that new dress. It suits you to a T”
come across something (to)
find someone by accicdent”I came across an old letter from may father while I was cleaning up the attic”
two-piece (a)
bikini, a swimsuit that has two pieces”She bought a two-piece for her trip to Cancun, Mexico”
high-cut
a swimsuit that shows a lot of leg”Can you believe the swuimsuit she’s wearing? It’s really high-cut”
skimpy
scant, scarce, sparce”I think this dress is a little too skimpy for you to wear to work”
get away with doing something (to)
scape the consequences of something”The coach always lets him get away with missing the practices”
hot
sexy, gorgeous”The famous movie actress looked hot when she arrived for the Academy Awards”
one-track mind (a)
obsession”I had a one-track mind when I was a teenager. All I thought about was soccer”
knock it off (to)
stop it”I want you guys to teasing me about my haircut. Knock it off!”
muggy
hot and humid”It’s muggy in New York in the summertime”
cloud over (to)
become cloudy”Do you know when it’s supposed to cloud over and start raining?”
pour (to)
rain heavily”Look at those dark clouds on the horizon. I think it’s going to pour soon”
doze off (to)
nap, nod off, sleep, snooze”He dozed off on the sofa while watching a footbal game on TV”
bend one’s hear (to)
talk to much”That annoying guy has been bending my hear for the last hour”
take a dip (to)
go for a swim”She took a dip in the pool as soon as she got home from school”
mobbed
crowded, jam-packed”The department store was mobbed because there was a huge sale”
everybody and his brother
many people”Everybody and his brother went to the free concert in the park on Saturday”
out of this world
amazing, fantastic, great, unbelieveble”I thought the pyramids in Egypt were out of this world”
kick off (to)
begin, start”The party at the community center kicks off at 7 o’clock tonight”
finish with a bang (to)
end something in a dramatic way”The band finished with a bang by playing their most popular song last”
breathtaking
beautiful, gorgeous, stunning”I thought she was breathtaking the first time I met her”
par for the course
typical, usual”He didn’t finish his homework again! That’s par for the course”
run a fever (to)
have a fever/temperature”She doesn’t feel very good this morning because she’s running a fever”
on the lookout for someone
watch for someone”I’ll be on the lookout for them just in case they arrive late”
show up (to)
arrive, come”What time will everyone show up at your house tonight?”
catch (to)
see”I’d like to catch a movie tonight at the theater near your place”
bored stiff
very bored”I didn’t like that class. I was bored stiff for the whole lesson”
flirt with someone (to)
show someone that you’re attracted to them”I think that guy sitting alone at the bar is flirting with you”
have the hots for someone (to)
be very attracted to someone”I have the hots for that actress since I was a teenager”
hit it off (to)
become good fiend with someone quickly”She was relieved when her new boyfriend hit it off with her father”
have a crush on someone (to)
be very attracted to someone”He’s had a crush on that beautiful girl for at least two years”
get someone off one’s mind (to)
stop thinking about someone”I can’t get her off my mind even though I only met her once”
verge (on the)
close to doing or experiencing”I was on the verge of going out, but then something interesting came on TV”
chicken out (to)
lose the courage to do something”I’d like to go skydiving, but I’m afraid that I’d chicken out”
get in touch with someone (to)
contact someone”He wants to get in touch with you before he goes back to England”
get up the guts to do something (to)
get enough corage to do somethingCalvin: “Did you ask her to dance?”Rick: “Not yet. I have to get up the guts to talk to her”
grab a bite to eat (to)
eat something quickly”Would you like to grab a bite (to eat) at that diner down the street?”
make a killing (to)
make a lot of money”He made a killing on the product that he invented”
sit tight (to)
wait patientlyDave: “Do you want to wait for them a little bit longer?”Kim: “Yeah. Let’s just sit tight”
better late than never
better to do something late than not at allHeather: “They finally got here”Blair: “I guess better late than never”
give someone the silent treatment (to)
ignore someone”He gave me the silent treatment because I completely forgot about his birthday”
work out (to)
exercise”She usually works out at the gym about 3 times a week”
out of shape
poor physical condition”I was so out of shape that I couldn’t even run one lap around the track”
tuckered out
exhausted, pooped, tired, wiped out, worn out”He was tuckered out after running up 10 flights of stairs”
second wind (a)
catch one’s breath, recover from exercise”I got a second wind after taking a short break from the game”
stomach (to)
endure, handle, tolerate”I can’t stomach doing any more exercise today”
do someone some good (to)
benefit from something”I think a nutritious meal would do me some good right about now”
by the way
incidentally”By the way, what time are you coming over to my house?”
kick the habit (to)
break the habit”I’ve been trying to stop smoking, but I just can’t kick the habit”
just between you and me
condidentially, privatelyJust between you and me, I’m quitting my job at the end of the next month”
clean up one’s act (to)
improve one’s behavior”He never pays attention in class, so the teacher told him to clean up his act”
open up (to)
become available”Look, a parking space just opened up. Let’s take it before someone else does”
pooped
exhausted, tired, tuckered out, wiped out, worn out”She was pooped because she spent the whole day working in the yard”
carried away
excited or moved to extrem action”This is our first day at the gym, so we shouldn’t get too carried away”
call it a day (to)
finish work”We’ve been working on this project all the afternoon. Let’s call it day”
out of breath
breathe heavily, winded”He is out of breath because he just finished running across the park”
build up (to)
strengthen, to make stronger”I’m going to build up my endurance by running for 30 minutes every day”
light as a feather
very light”This shoping bag isn’t heavy. It’s (as) ligt as a feather”
do wonders for something (to)
improve the conditions of something”A little rest and relaxation would do wonders for your health”
something is killing someone
something is hurting someone”I can’t play tennis with you today because my back is killing me”
tip the scales at (to)
weigh”I was really surprised when I saw that I tipped the scales at”
face the music (to)
accept the unpleasant results of one’s actions”The criminal has to face the music now that he has been found guilty”
limp (to)
walk in a awkward manner due to an injury to the leg”The soccer player slowly limped off the field after he twisted his ankle”
charley horse
stiffness in the leg as result of an injury”I have a charley horse because I was kicked in the leg during the game”
hurt like the devil (to)
hurt very much”He said that his broken finger hurts like the devil”
hilarious
very funny”I thought the movie we saw last night at the theater was hilarious”
pay off (to)
a positive result brought about by hard work”I feel healthier these days. I think the exercise I’ve been doing has paid off”
out of breath
breathe heavily, winded”He is out of breath because he just finished running across the park”
round of drinks
a number of drinks bought for a group”I’ll pay for a round of drinks at the bar if you guys help me tonight”
crazy about something/someone
love something/someone”She’s just crazy about that famous actor. She thinks he’s so handsome”
bummed out
depressed, sad, unhappy”I was bummed out when I didn’t get the job that I applied for”
mope around (to)
move around in a sad manner”He’s been moping around ever since his girlfriend broke up with him”
hear through the grapevine (to)
hear gossip. hear a rumor”I heard from the grapevine that the company might hire some new employees”
fool around on someone (to)
cheat on someone, have na affair”He has been fooling around on his wife for at least a year”
bouncer
doorman at a bar/disco”The bouncer at that bar has a temper, so I’d be careful around him”
muscle-bound
very muscular”I saw a muscle-bound guy playing touch football at the beach today”
jerk
terrible man”Sometimes my older brother acts like a real jerk”
cheat on someone (to)
fool around on someone, have an affair”She cheated on her boyfriend while he was on vacation in Italy”
lady’s man
lady killer, playboy, stud”I think he’a a lady’s man because he’s with a diferente woman every weekend”
give someone a dirty look (to)
scowl/sneer at someone”She gave her ex-boyfriend a dirty look when she saw him at the disco”
pissed off
angry, mad, teed off, ticked off”I was pissed off at my sister when she borrowed my sweater without asking first”
turn on the charm (to)
become charming”Your friend is quite charismatic. He can really turn on the charm when he wants to”
like night and day
totally diferente”She acts differently outside the office. It’s like night and day”
stick it out (to)
endure it”I don’t like my job, but I’m going to stick it out because I need the money”
leery
apprehensive, wary”I was a little bit lerry about learning how to snowboard, but now I love it”
short fuse
a quick temper, get angry easily”I wouldn’t tease him too much if I were you. He has a very short fuse”
get into a scrap (to)
get into a fight”I almost got into a scrap over the last parking space in the garage”
on the house
free”My dinner was on the house because the waiter spilled coffee all over me”
have a soft spot for someone (to)
fond of someone”My father has Always had a soft spot for my best friend from high school”
opening line
a sentence used to start talking with the opposite sex”He started a conversation with the woman by using an opening line”
hammered
bombed, drunk, intoxicated, loaded, smashed”He was so hammered that he couldn’t drive home last night after the party”
drink like a fish (to)
drink a lot of alcohol”I can’t believe how much alcohol your friend can hold. He drinks like a fish”
hangover
sickness caused by drinking too much alcohol”I had such a hangover this morning that I didn’t get out of bed until noon”
toss one’s cookies (to)
barf, puke, throw up, vomit”He tossed his cookies after eating the undercooked fish for dinner”
one for the road
one final drink before leaving somewhere”We don’t have to leave for another 30 minutes. Let’s have one for the road”
concession
snack bar, refreshment stand”The price of a chocalate bar is always very high at the concession”
cost an arm and a leg (to)
very expensive”The designer coat she bought at that trendy store cost an arm and a leg”
rip-off
overcharged, overpriced”The jacket that he bought at the mall yesterday was such a rip-off”
munchies
snack food”I brought some munchies to eat while we watch the footbal game on TV”
row
line of seats”We had front row seats for the big rock concert at the coliseum”
aisle
passageway between seating areas”I had to seat next to the aisle because all the window seats were taken”
catch a movie
see a movie”“Would you like to catch a movie with me on Thursday night?”
tearjerker
very sad movie”I cried a little bit when I watched that tearjerker on TV last night”
touching
hearthbreaking, moving, stirring”He told me a touching story about his early chilhood”
have a lump in one’s throat (to)
become emotional”I had aa lump in my throat by the end of that sad movie”
hold back the tears (to)
control/stop one tears”My mother couldn’t hold back the tears as she drove me to the airport”
bawl (to)
cry very loudly”The young boy start bawling when his mother wouldn’t buy him a toy”
get to someone (to)
make someone sad or emotional”Her story really got me. I had a tear in my eye after I heard it”
scare someone to death (to)
scare someone very much”I’m sure that horror movie will scare you to death”
twists and turns
changes in the plot”There were so many twists and turns that it was difficult to understand that movie”
on the edge of one’s seat
filled with suspense”I was on the edge of my seat as the actress walked down a dark alley”
catch someone off guard (to)
catch someone unprepared”The ending to that horror movie caught me off guard”
blow someone away (to)
amaze/atonish/astound someone”The laser show at the rock concert really blew me away”
two thumbs up
excellent, highly recommended”That movie we saw at the theater was very funny. It gets two thumbs up”
nominate (to)
select for a possible award/position”That actor’s performance should be nominated for an Academy Award”
into something
enjoy something”I love rollerblading around town in my free time. I’m really into it”
wimp
chicken, coward, sissy, wuss”He is such a wimp that he cries every time I tease him”
freak out (to)
extremely emotional, upset”I freaked out when I got lost in the mountains for a few hours”
movie buff
movie fan”My friend is a movie buff. She knows everything about the movie industry”
give someone a ring
phone someone”Could you please give me a ring as soon as you get to the office?”
coming attractions
movies to be released soon”I love watching the coming attractions before the movie begins”
hop in (to)
get in a vehicle”Let’s hop in the car and drive over to your house”
get up on the wrong side of the bed (to)
wake up in a bad mood”He looks terrible this morning. I think he got up onthe wrong side of the bed”
wiped out
exhausted, pooped, tired, tuckered out, worn out”She was wiped out after hiking through the woods for 5 hours”
rant and rave (to)
scream and shout”They had a huge argument. They were ranting and raving for most of the night”
get a wink of sleep (to)
a short period of sleep”He had insomnia last night, so he didn’t get a wink of sleep”
snooze (to)
nap, sleep”My dog loves to snooze on the big sofa in the living room”
handly
convenient”It’s really handy having a computer in my dormitory room”
show someone the ropes (to)
tell or show someone how something works”My older sister showed me the ropes when I was a freshman at university”
give someone a hand (to)
help someone”Could you give me a hand with the housework today?”
bumper sticker
a slogan on joker on a sticker that is displayed on a car”I laughed out loud when I read the bumper sticker on the car in front of us”
goof
geek, loser, nerd”She doesn’t like your brother because he is such a goof”
tailgate (to)
follow another car too closely”We’re going to have an accident if you keep tailgating that car”
cut someone off (to)
cross someone’s path”We almost got into an accident when that huge truck cut us off”
butt it (to)
cut in, join a line-up at the front on in the middle”I really hate drivers who try to butt in at the front of a line-up”
make one’s blood boil (to)
make someone very angry”His appalling behavior at our wedding made my blood boil”
tuck under/into something (to)
place under/into something”My father tucked $40 into my pocket just before I left for the dance”
fiddle with something (to)
finely adjust something, manipulate something”I’ve been fidding with the DVD player, but I can’t seem to get it to work”
touchy
sensitive”I wouldn’t talk to him about that. It’s a very touchy subject”
in the sticks
in the countryside”He grew up in the sticks, but went to university in a big city”
rustic
rural”The cabin we stay in at last weekend had a rustic charm”
cozy
warm and comfortable”We felt cozy sitting in front of the roaring fire at night”
unwind
relax”Playing tennis with my friend on the weekend helps me to unwind”
fidget (to)
move around, restless”The young girl couldn’t sit still during the trip. She kept fidgeting around in her seat”
drive someone nuts (to)
make someone crazy”The constant noise from the construction site is driving me nuts”
get some shut-eye (to)
get some sleep”I feel realy tired today. I think I need to get some shut-eye this afternoon”
crack a book (to)
open abook”I didn’t crack a book last night because I’d already prepared for the test”
as a matter of fact
actually”I’m really tired right now. As a matter of fact, I’m going home to bed”
shoot the breeze (to)
chat, grab, talk”I spent the last hour shooting the breeze with my friend at the coffee shop”
mixed emotions
both positive and negative feelings”She has mixed emotions about getting back together with her ex-boyfriend”
down in the dumps
blue, bumimed out, depressed, sad”He’s been down in the bumps since his dog went missing”
in the same boat
in the same situation”We’re in the same boat because neither of us has a date for Saturday night”
stick around (to)
stay”I’m going to stick around at school after class today”
hell to pay
great punishment as a result of one’s action”There was hell to pay when I forgot to pick up my mother at the shopping mall”
go by (to)
pass”Time has certainly gone by quickly this year”
time flies
time passes quickly”Time flies when you’re having fun”
part ways (to)
separate from someone”I’m going to miss you when we part ways at the end of the month”
choked up
emotional, upset”She was chocked up when she got fired from her job for no reason”
hold back the tears (to)
control/stop one’s tears”The little girl couldn’t hold back the tears when she scraped her knee”
take one’s place (to)
replace someone”I can’t go to the concert with them, so my friend is going to take my place”
compatible
like-minded, well-suited”I think they make a very nice couple. They´re very compatible”
like it or lump it (to)
something must be accepted, like it or not”Like it or lump it, you have to help me paint the house today”
by leaps and bounds
a lot, very much”My English has improved by leaps and bounds since I started to study hard”
boast (to)
brag, speak in a proud manner”That guy always boasts about how successful his company is”
holy smoke
holy cow, wow”Holy smoke! I just saw a movie star get into a limousine outside the hotel”
brag (to)
boast, speak in a proud manner”She started to brag after she got a high score on the test”
work one’s butt off (to)
work very hard”I’ve been working my butt off at university for the last three months”
you can say that again
I agree with youSteve: “Did you see her? She is gorgeous!”Jim: “You can say that again”
pore over something (to)
study very hard”I pored over my notes this morning in preparation for the final exam”
goof off (to)
waste time”The teacher made him stay after class because he goofed off during the lesson”
spare time
free time”She really enjoys reading mystery novels in her spare time”
hit the slopes (to)
go skiing/snowboarding”I’m planning to hit the slopes with my friends on the weekend”
take it easy (to)
relax, kick back”I’ll probably just take it easy at home with my family tonight”
take a spill
take a fall”A woman just took a spill on the icy sidewalk in front of that store”
hotdog
a showoff”Look at the way that guy skates around the rink. He is such a hotdog”
show off (to)
display one’s ability in too proud a manner”My baby brother always shows off whenever company visits our house”
cut someone off (to)
cross someone’s path”I almost fell down when that careless snowboarder cutt me off”
smack into someone/something (to)
crash into someone/something”He smacked into a tree when he lost control of his truck on the corner”
heads up
be alert”Heads up! There’s a car coming this way”
take a stab at something (to)
try something”She’s going to take a stab at rock climbing this weekend”
up to doing something
able to do something, ready to do something”I don’t think I’ll ever be up to running a marathon”
get in over one’s head (to)
attempt something too difficult”I got in over my head when I took that fourth year chemistry course”
psych someone out (to)
make someone lose confidence”The tennis player tried to psych out his opponent before the match began”
go for it (to)
do it, try it”I don’t care if it’s the most difficult ski run on the mountain. I´m going for it”
under the weather
ill, sick”My roomate has been under the weather for the past few days”
wipe out (to)
fall”She wiped out when she tried to turn her bike on the gravel road”
black-and-blue
covered in bruises”His face was black-and-blue after he got into fight at school”
cranky
grouchy, grumpy, irritable”He’s cranky this morning because he didn’t get any slep last night”
moan (to)
to express pain, goan”She was moaning because she pulled a muscle in her back”
groan (to)
express pain, moan”The rugby player groaned when three opponents tackled him at the same time”
on its last legs
almost broken, ready to collapse or fail”Your motorcycle is in terrible condition. I think it’s on its last legs”
out of whack
out of alignment”What’s wrong with the front tire of your bike? Something looks out of whack”
make do (to)
do one’s best with something that is sub-standard”I don’t have the proper hammer. I’ll just have to make do with this one for now”
from the looks of something
from the appearance of something”Does the computer still work? It’s ready to be replaced from the looks of it”
take off (to)
get going, hit the road, leave”I think I’m going to take off after we finish eating lunch at the restaurant”
hold your horses (to)
wait”I’m not ready to leave just yet. Hold your horses”
hang a left/right (to)
take a left/right”You should go down the street and then hang a left at the bank on the corner”
tag along with someone (to)
follow someone”Do you mind if I tag along with you and your friends this afternoon?”
keep up with someone (to)
progress at the same speed as someone else”She is a much better runner than I am. I don’t think I can keep up with her”
kick the bucket (to)
die, pass away”I hope I don’t kick the bucket when I go skydiving next weekend”
ton
a bunch, a lad, a lot, a pile, a stack”I can’t go out with you tonight because I have to do a ton of homework”
dread doing something (to)
fear doing something in the future”I always dreaded going to the dentist when I was a child”
lug something (to)
carry something heavy”He had to lug two heavy suitcases from one side of the airport to the other”
head somewhere (to)
go somewhere”It’s getting late. I think I’m going to head home now”
live of out of one’s suitcase (to)
stay in different places briefly, never unpacking”She lived out of her suitcase while she was traveling around Europe”
knock around somewhere (to)
travel around somewhere”He wants to spend about two weeks knocking around southern California”
looking foward to doing something (to)
excited about doing something in the future”She’s looking forward to seeing you at the baseball game on Saturday”
feel out of place (to)
feel uncomfortable somewhere”I didn’t have a good time at the party because I felt out of place”
go back to square one (to)
return to the beginning, start over”He had to go back to square one after he lost his job at the assembly plant”
get the ball rolling (to)
get the process going”I’m certain my business plan will be success if I can just get the ball rolling”
bide one’s time (to)
wait patiently”Just bide your time. I’m sure you’ll find a job after you graduate from business school”
turn up (to)
show up”Only a few students turned up for the lecture this afternoon”
miss the boat (to)
miss an opportunity or chance”She really missed the boat when she didn’t go for an interview at that company”
get in on the ground floor (to)
get involved with something at the start”If you want to make money on that stock, you should get in on the ground floor”
get back one’s feet (to)
become independent again”It took him a while to get back on his feet after the car accident”
foot the bill (to)
pay the bill”My parents will foot the bill if I decide to go to the college next year”
pay one’s own way (to)
pay for something yourself”I’m going to pay my own way when I go to university next year”
weigh on one’s mind (to)
worry someone”Tomorrow’s final exam is weighing on my mind”
get someone down (to)
depress someone”That movie had depressing ending. It really got me down”
old flame
ex-lover”I saw my old flame when I went to the mall on Sunday afternoon”
give someone the cold shoulder (to)
ignore someone”She was angry at her boyfriend, so she gave him the cold shoulder”
cross paths (to)
meet by chance, run into someone”I don’t think we’ll ever cross paths again”
bon voyage party
farewell party”My friends are throwing me a bon voyage party at the apartment tonight”
get underway (to)
get started”Do you know what time the rock concert gets underway”
sharp
exactly, on the dot”I’ll meet you in front of the movie theter at 7:00 sharp”
swing by somewhere (to)
stop by somewhere, visit somewhere”She’s going to swing by the apartment after she gets off work”
wouldn’t miss something for the world
would never miss something”I wouldn’t miss your graduation ceremony for the world”
