Lesson 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

beside the point

A

not relevant; not important

EXAMPLE 1: Whether or not I asked the waiter to bring us water is beside the point. Waiters should always bring water to the table.

EXAMPLE 2: The reason you’re late is beside the point. The fact is, your dinner is now cold.

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2
Q

(to) blow something

A

to spoil or botch something

EXAMPLE 1: Brenda blew the interview and didn’t get the job offer.

EXAMPLE 2: Randy managed to get a date with the most popular girl in his class. Now I hope he doesn’t blow it!

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3
Q

(to) buckle down

A

to start working seriously

EXAMPLE 1: If Don buckles down now, he might be able to graduate from high school this year.

EXAMPLE 2: Team, if we want to win this tournament, we’re going to need to buckle down!

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4
Q

can’t stand

A

to hate

EXAMPLE 1: Bob can’t stand bureaucrats, so he’d never do well working at a large corporation.

EXAMPLE 2: Nicole can’t stand broccoli. She simply refuses to eat it.

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5
Q

(to) cut class

A

to miss class without an excuse

EXAMPLE 1: Ted often cuts class to spend more time with his girlfriend.

EXAMPLE 2: If you keep cutting French class, you’re going to fail it.

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6
Q

Get real!

A

be serious or realistic about what’s going on

EXAMPLE 1: You think you won’t get a speeding ticket when you drive 85 miles per hour? Get real!

EXAMPLE 2: You think you’re going to win $1 million in the lottery? Get real!

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7
Q

(to) have one’s heart set on

A

to really want something

EXAMPLE 1 Nicole has her heart set on going to New York this weekend.

EXAMPLE 2: Did you really have your heart set on going to Harvard?

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8
Q

(to) hit the books

A

to start studying

EXAMPLE 1: Ted partied all weekend. Finally, on Sunday night, he decided it was time to hit the books.

EXAMPLE 2: Hit the books! I know you have a test tomorrow.

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9
Q

lost cause

A

something hopeless

EXAMPLE 1: Cindy spent five years studying Russian. Finally, she realized it was a lost cause. She would never learn it.

EXAMPLE 2: Jack needs to stop drinking so much coffee, but he’s so ad­dicted to caffeine that it’s a lost cause.

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10
Q

(to) not give a hoot

A

to not care about

EXAMPLE 1: Tom likes to walk around town in his pajamas - he doesn’t give a hoot what people think.

EXAMPLE 2: Stephanie doesn’t give a hoot if she’s the only one wearing a green dress to the high school prom.

SYNONYMS: to not give a damn; to not give a dam

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11
Q

over one’s head

A

beyond one’s understanding

EXAMPLE 1: The professor was speaking over our heads. None of us could understand him.

EXAMPLE 2: The article on cloning was written for scientists. It was over
my head.

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12
Q

(to) slack off

A

to waste time

EXAMPLE 1: Amanda doesn’t get much done at the office. She’s too busy slacking off.

EXAMPLE 2: I’d better stop slacking off. My essay is due in two hours.

Norn: People who slack off all the time are called “slackers.”

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13
Q

(to) stand a chance

A

to have the possibility of success

EXAMPLE 1: Although the American figure skaters were good, they didn’t stand a chance of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

EXAMPLE 2: Wilton High School has the best soccer team in the state. I’m afraid we don’t stand a chance against them!

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