Lesson 24 Flashcards
all along
throughout; from beginning to end
EXAMPLE 1: Jenny told Nicole she would vote for her, but all along she was planning on voting for Andrea.
EXAMPLE 2: I never believed Joel when he told us he was marrying a princess from Denmark. I knew all along that he was lying.
all better
completely cured
EXAMPLE 1: “All better?” asked Maureen, after her son stopped crying.
EXAMPLE 2: If you’re not all better, you shouldn’t go to work tomorrow.
(to) buy (some) time
to make more time available (in order to achieve a certain purpose)
EXAMPLE 1: We’re not sure yet whether or not we want to buy the house. We’d better buy some time so we can think about it over the weekend.
EXAMPLE 2: I’m not sure whether or not I want to take the job offer. I’d better buy some time to think about it.
(to) chill out [slang]
to relax
EXAMPLE 1: Chill out! If we miss this train, we’lI just take the next one.
EXAMPLE 2: Your dog ate your homework? Chill out, I’m sure your teacher will understand!
(to) cut it out
stop it; stop the annoying behavior
EXAMPLE 1: Tracy was chewing gum loudly during the movie. Her boy friend finally told her to cut it out.
EXAMPLE 2: Cut it out! Stop trying to pull my shoes off!
first things first
let’s focus on the most important thing or task first
EXAMPLE 1: You want to work here at Lulu’s Dance Club? First things first, have you ever worked as a dancer before?
EXAMPLE 2: You want to ask your teacher if you can hand in your paper two weeks late? First things first, you’d better think of an excuse.
(to) freak out [slang]
to respond to something irrationally or crazily; to overreact
EXAMPLE 1: Ashley’s parents freaked out when she told them she was dropping out of college to become an actress.
EXAMPLE 2: Don’t freak out when I tell you this, but I lost the laptop you lent me last week.
(to be) in charge of
having responsibility for
EXAMPLE 1: John is in charge of all international sales for his company.
EXAMPLE 2: Who’s in charge of making sure we don’t run out of toilet paper in the bathroom?
in progress
happening; under way; going on now
EXAMPLE 1: The play is already in progress, so you’ll have to wait until intermission to sit down.
EXAMPLE 2: Once the test is in progress, you will not be allowed to leave the room.
(to) make a fortune
to make a lot of money
EXAMPLE 1: Adam made a fortune when he sold his company to Microsoft.
EXAMPLE 2: Emma made a fortune selling candy to her classmates after lunch every day.
SYNONYMS: to make a bundle; to make a killing
(to be) sick and tired of
completely bored with; sick of
EXAMPLE 1: Ted is sick and tired of hearing about what an excellent student Nicole is.
EXAMPLE 2: I’m sick and tired of this nasty weather we’ve been having!
