Lesson 20 Flashcards
as a matter of fact
in fact; actually
EXAMPLE 1: We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going to ask you to go shopping.
EXAMPLE 2: This isn’t the first time Andy has gotten in trouble at school. As a matter of fact, just last month he was suspended for an entire week.
(to) blow things out of proportion
to exaggerate; to make more of something than one should
EXAMPLE 1: They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter? Don’t you think they’re blowing things out of proportion?
EXAMPLE 2: Sally called the police when her neighbor’s party got too loud. I think that was blowing things out of proportion.
SYNONYM: To make a mountain out of a molehill
(to) find out
to learn; to discover
EXAMPLE 1: Al is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.
EXAMPLE 2: David had a big party at his house while his parents were away on vacation. Fortunately for him, they never found out.
(to) get a handle on
to gain an understanding of
EXAMPLE 1: This new computer program is very difficult. I still haven’t
gotten a handle on it.
EXAMPLE 2: Once you get a handle on how the game works, please ex plain it to everybody else.
(to) get one’s act together
to get organized; to start operating more effectively
EXAMPLE 1: If Ted gets his act together now, he might be able to get into a good college.
EXAMPLE 2: We’d better get our act together. Otherwise, we’re going to miss our flight.
(to) knock oneself out
to work very hard at something (sometimes too hard)
EXAMPLE 1: Ted knocked himself out getting votes for Nicole, and she didn’t even say thank you.
EXAMPLE 2: I really knocked myself out getting these free concert tickets for you and your girlfriend. I hope you appreciate it.
Norn: “Don’t knock yourself out!” means don’t work too hard at some thing or for someone; it’s not worth it. Example: Don’t knock yourself out for Jeremy - he won’t appreciate it anyway!
one’s heart goes out to (someone)
to feel sorry for someone
EXAMPLE 1: My heart goes out to the Richardsons. Their home was destroyed in a fire.
EXAMPLE 2: Naomi’s heart went out to all the people who lost their jobs when the auto plant shut down.
(to) rant and rave
to talk loudly, often in anger
EXAMPLE 1: A customer in the video rental store was ranting and raving
that the DVD he rented was broken.
EXAMPLE 2: Please stop ranting and raving! Let’s discuss this issue in a calm manner.
(to) sweep (something) under the rug
to hide something, often a scandal
EXAMPLE 1: “Senator, don’t try to sweep it under the rug. Everybody knows about your affair with the intern.”
EXAMPLE 2: Let’s just sweep this incident under the rug and move on.
taken aback
surprised (almost always in a negative sense)
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole was taken aback when her friend Rosa told her she no longer wanted to hang out with her.
EXAMPLE 2: I was taken aback when my friend asked me if she could borrow my toothbrush because she forgot hers at home.
(to) throw the book at someone
to punish or chide severely
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted failed his chemistry test the second time, his teacher really threw the book at him.
EXAMPLE 2: The judge threw the book at Matt for stealing a football from the store. He’ll be going to jail for six months.
