Lesson 2 Flashcards
(to) change one’s mind
to change one’s opinion or decision
EXAMPLE 1: Brandon wasn’t going to take a vacation this year, but then he
changed his mind and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.
EXAMPLE 2: Why aren’t you applying to medical school this year? Did you change your mind about becoming a doctor?
easier said than done
more difficult than you think
EXAMPLE 1: You want to climb Mount Everest? Easier said than done!
EXAMPLE 2: Moving into a new home is easier said than done.
(to) get canned [slang]
to lose one’s job; to get fired
EXAMPLE 1 : After Chris got canned, it took him a year to find a new job.
EXAMPLE 2: Lisa is a lousy secretary. She deserves to get canned!
SYNONYMS: to get sacked; to be given the ax
(to) hang in there
to persevere; to not give up
EXAMPLE 1: I know you’re four games behind, but you can still win the tennis match. Just hang in there!
EXAMPLE 2: Hang in there, Don! Your invention will soon be a success.
if worse comes to worst
in the worst case; if absolutely necessary
EXAMPLE 1: Ted’s car isn’t running well. If worse comes to worst, he can take the bus to school.
EXAMPLE 2: I know you’re running out of money. If worse comes to worst, you can always sell some of your jewelry.
(to) keep one’s chin up
to stay positive
EXAMPLE 1: Even when he was unemployed and homeless, Bill managed to keep his chin up.
EXAMPLE 2: Keep your chin up! You’ll find your lost dog soon.
last resort
if there are no other alternatives left; the last solution for getting out of a difficulty
EXAMPLE 1: David was locked out of his house. He knew that as a last resort, he could always break a window.
EXAMPLE 2: I don’t like taking medicine. I’ll only take it as a last resort.
(to) live from hand to mouth
to barely have enough money to survive
EXAMPLE 1: Jenny was earning $5 an hour working at the store. She was really living from hand to mouth.
EXAMPLE 2: George is really poor. He lives from hand to mouth.
(to) look on the bright side
to be optimistic; to think about the positive part or aspect of a situation
EXAMPLE 1: Leo was upset that his soccer game was canceled. His mother said, “Look on the bright side, now you can stay home and watch TV.”
EXAMPLE 2: You lost your job? Look on the bright side, now you’ll have more free time!
(to) make ends meet
to manage one’s money so as to have enough to live on; to be okay financially
EXAMPLE 1: Kimberly wasn’t able to make ends meet so she had to ask her parents to pay her rent.
EXAMPLE 2: If you can’t make ends meet, you’ll need to start spending less.
out of work
unemployed; not working
EXAMPLE 1: Gary was out of work for a year before finding a new job.
EXAMPLE 2: Bob is out of work. Do you know anybody who might want to hire him?
right-hand man
the most helpful assistant or employee
EXAMPLE 1: Juan’s right-hand man helps him make all of his decisions.
EXAMPLE 2: When Jack Thompson retired as president of his company, his right-hand man took over.
(to) set eyes on
to look at; to see for the first time
EXAMPLE 1: Ted was in love from the moment he set eyes on Amber.
EXAMPLE 2: Susan knew from the moment she set eyes on Ted’s friend Lucas that he would be trouble.
(to) stab someone in the back
to betray someone
EXAMPLE 1: Jill and Heather were friends, until Heather stabbed Jill in the back by stealing her boyfriend.
EXAMPLE 2: You’re firing me after all I’ve done for this company? You’re really stabbing me in the back!
(to be) stressed out
under severe strain; very anxious
EXAMPLE 1: Al is so stressed out about his job that he can’t sleep at night.
EXAMPLE 2: You’ve been so stressed out lately. You really need to take a long vacation!
(to) tell off
to scold; to tell someone in strong words what one really thinks
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted showed up for chemistry class a half an hour late, his teacher really told him off.
EXAMPLE 2: Patty is going to tell off the plumber because the pipes he said he fixed are still leaking.
thank goodness
I’m grateful; I’m relieved
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted came home at 4 a.m. last Sunday, his mother said,
“Thank goodness you’re home! I was so worried about you.”
EXAMPLE 2: Thank goodness you didn’t go to California on Monday. It rained there every day this week.
(to) think big
to set high goals
EXAMPLE 1: Why run for Governor of New York? Think big: run for President of the United States!
EXAMPLE 2: Ken and Sandra hope to sell their house for $3 million dollars. They always think big.
What’s the matter?
What’s the problem?
EXAMPLE 1: What’s the matter, Bob? You don’t look very happy.
EXAMPLE 2: Oscar looks very pale. What’s the matter with him?
When pigs fly! [slang]
never
EXAMPLE 1: Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the guitar? When pigs fly!
EXAMPLE 2: Sure, I’ll give you my new laptop. When pigs fly!
SYNONYMS: when hell freezes over; never in a million years
