Lesson 20 - Bob Gets an Angry Call from Carol

Question 1

in fact

actually

Answer 1

AS A MATTER OF FACT

We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going to ask you to go shopping.

Question 2

to exaggerate

to make more of something than one should

Answer 2

TO BLOW THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION

They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter? Don’t you think they’re blowing things out of proportion?

Question 3

to learn 
to discover (often by chance)

Answer 3

TO FIND OUT

Al is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.

Question 4

to gain an understanding of

Answer 4

GET A HANDLE ON

This new computer program is very difficult. I still haven’t gotten a handle on it.

Question 5

to get organized
to start operating more effectively
քեզ հավաքել

Answer 5

TO GET ONE’S ACT TOGETHER

If Ted gets his act together now, he might be able to get into a good college.

Question 6

to work very hard at something (often too hard)

to exhaust yourself doing work

Answer 6

TO KNOCK ONESELF OUT

Ted knocked himself out getting votes for Nicole, and she didn’t even say thank you.

Question 7

to feel sorry for someone

սիրտը ցավալ ինչ որ մեկի համար

Answer 7

ONE’S HEART GOES OUT TO SOMEONE

My heart goes out to the Richardsons. Their home was destroyed in a fire.

Question 8

to talk loudly, often in anger

ձայնը գլուխը գցած բողոքել

Answer 8

RANT AND RAVE

A customer in the video rental store was ranting and raving that the DVD he rented was broken.

Question 9

to hide something, often a scandal

Answer 9

TO SWEEP SOMETHING UNDER THE RUG

Let’s just sweep this incident under the rug and move on.

Question 10

surprised (almost always in a negative sense)

Answer 10

TAKEN ABACK

Nicole was taken aback when her friend Rosa told her she no longer wanted to hang out with her.