Lesson 9 Flashcards
brown-noser [slang]
a person who’s constantly trying to win favor with people above them, such as teachers or bosses
EXAMPLE 1: Lauren is such a brown-noser. She’s always telling her teacher how much she enjoys class.
EXAMPLE 2: Dennis brought the boss lunch today? What a brown-noser!
Norn: You will also see the verb form of this expression: “to brown- nose.” Example: Dennis is always brown-nosing the boss, but I still don’t think he’s going to get a promotion.
by far
by a wide margin; by a great difference
EXAMPLE 1: Some people think Tom Hanks is by far the best actor in America today.
EXAMPLE 2: Mediterranean Grill is by far the best restaurant in town. No wonder it’s so hard to get a reservation there!
SYNONYMS: by a long shot; far and away; hands down
(to) count on someone
to depend or rely on someone
EXAMPLE 1: My brother has a great sense of humor, so I can always count on him to cheer me up.
EXAMPLE 2: If l can count on you to wake me up, I won’t set my alarm
clock.
full of oneself
to think too much of oneself
EXAMPLE 1: After Angela appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine, she was really full of herself.
EXAMPLE 2: Mitch thinks he’s really great. He’s so full of himself.
(to) get down to business
to get serious about a task
EXAMPLE 1: The book club members spent the first two hours of their meeting eating and drinking before finally getting down to business.
EXAMPLE 2: Our dinner guests are arriving in two hours. We’d better get down to business and start preparing.
(to) get or to have under one’s belt
to have or to get experience
EXAMPLE 1: Kristen had three years of working for a large law firm un der her belt before leaving to start her own firm.
EXAMPLE 2: Ernie needs to get an MBA under his belt to get the job he wants.
(to) give (someone) a run for (one’s) money
to be strong competition
EXAMPLE 1: We lost the soccer tournament, but we certainly gave the girls from Stamford High School a run for their money.
EXAMPLE 2: Tina is a good tennis player and always gives me a run for my money.
(to) give someone the cold shoulder
to be cold to some one on purpose; to snub someone
EXAMPLE 1: When Lisa saw Amber at the mall, she didn’t even stop to talk to her. She really gave her the cold shoulder.
EXAMPLE 2: I can’t understand why Joe would give you the cold shoulder. I thought you two were good friends!
SYNONYM: to blow someone off. Example: Amber can’t understand why Lisa blew her off at the mall.
(to not) give someone the time of day
to ignore someone; to refuse to pay any attention to someone
EXAMPLE 1: Sandra never gave me the time of day back in college, but now she calls me all the time for advice.
EXAMPLE 2: Why don’t you find a new stockbroker? Yours is always so busy, she barely gives you the time of day.
goody-goody
self-righteously or smugly good
EXAMPLE 1: Goody-goodies usually sit in the front row and smile at the teacher during class.
EXAMPLE 2: Samantha is a real goody-goody. She always offers to erase the blackboard at the end of class.
SYNONYMS: goody two-shoes; teacher’s pet
it’s a deal
I agree (to a proposal or offer)
EXAMPLE 1: You’ll make dinner every night for a month if l help you with your homework? Okay, it’s a deal!
EXAMPLE 2: “If you rake up all the leaves in front of the house, I’ll do the dishes.” - “It’s a deal!”
(to) kid around
to joke around; to tease
EXAMPLE 1: Jeremy loves to kid around, so don’t be offended by any thing he says.
EXAMPLE 2: While they were kidding around, Tim accidentally poked Rob in the eye. He had to be rushed to the emergency room of the hospital.
Norn: You will often here this in the negative “not kidding around.” This means to take something very seriously. Example: The White House is not kidding around with airport security.
(to) talk into
to persuade; to convince
EXAMPLE 1: Chris didn’t want to jump out of the plane, but Erin talked him into it.
EXAMPLE 2: Stop trying to talk me into going to the dance club on Saturday night. I already decided that I’m going to Maria’s party instead.
you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
if you do me a favor, I’ll do you a favor; let’s cooperate
EXAMPLE 1: I’ll help you with your homework if you do the dishes. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
EXAMPLE 2: If l drive you into the city, will you pick up my dry cleaning? You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
