Session 13

Question 1

wind down {SW}

Ex: The company has already begun winding down their operation.

Answer 1

gradually reduce the level of activity, usually before closing or stopping completely

Question 2

thin out {SW}

Ex; Have you noticed your hair thinning out as you age?

Answer 2

become less crowded

Question 3

mess up {SW}

Ex: Drug addicts and alcoholics, who messed themselves up, could mess their children up as well.

Answer 3

cause someone to be very confused or to have psychological problems

Question 4

single, married, [or] with kids? {S}

Answer 4

a question about someone’s relationship status

Question 5

smart ass / smart aleck / smart - arse {SW}

Ex: If you wanna carry on being a smart ass, you can leave the room.

Answer 5

someone who behaves in an annoying way by trying to show how clever they are

Question 6

don’t push it! {S}

Answer 6

warn someone that they are asking for too much or are close to a breaking point

Question 7

push someone’s button /pushing sth {SW}
get someone’s goat {S}
Ex1: Sometimes, you really need to push someone’s button(s) in order to get a reaction.
Ex2: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get your goat.

Answer 7

irritate someone, try to get a bad reaction out of someone

Question 8

on edge {SW}

Answer 8

be constantly worried or nervous about something and be unable to relax

Question 9

read too much / too far {SW}

Ex: Now how do you read his reaction on hearing the bad news?

Answer 9

interpret something in a particular way

Question 10

to read between the lines {SW}

Ex: Don’t believe every thing you read literally. Learn to read between the lines.

Answer 10

try to get or understand the hidden meaning, without it being said explicitly

Question 11

to come across / come over / come off as {SW}
Ex1: You are trying to seem confident? It came over the other way. Very arrogant.
Ex2: When he is not drunk he can come across as a charming and knowledgeable young man.
Ex3: I don’t want to come off as desperate.

Answer 11

make a particular (usually incorrect) impression on people

Question 12

(don’t) have the goods to back it up {SW}

Ex: You are arrogant but you don’t have the goods to back it up.

Answer 12

not good enough to allow oneself to behave in a particular way

Question 13

grow on {SW}
Ex: Her mother taught her how to sew and deep interest grew on her. She has been interested in fashion design ever since.

Answer 13

begin to like something or someone more and more

Question 14

turn someone off >< turn someone on {SW}
Ex: I don’t know I turn you off so.
vs. The body that turns men on doesn’t have to be perfect.

Answer 14

cause someone to lose interest or sexual excitement

Question 15

(We) won’t miss (you) {S}
vs. Good riddance! {SW}
Ex: You won’t be missing much on TV tonight.

Answer 15

indicate that you are happy because someone has left or something is gone

Question 16

do not miss much {SW}

Ex: You haven’t seen the new movie at the theater? Well, you didn’t miss much; it was pretty boring.

Answer 16

nothing interesting or worth one’s time

Question 17

leave someone with a bad taste in their mouth {SW}

Ex: The whole business about the missing money left a bad taste in his mouth.

Answer 17

give someone a negative impression that lasts for a long time

Question 18

and we / I thought… {S}

Ex: And we thought 2009 was bad enough. It looks like 2010’s going to be even worse.

Answer 18

one’s initial impression was no longer correct

Question 19

last time I checked / the last I checked {S}
Ex1: “Is there any milk left in the fridge?” “There was, last time I checked.“
Ex2: “Do you like girls?” “Last time I checked I did.”
Ex3: “Are you Vietnamese?” “Yeah, the last I checked”

Answer 19

something you think continues to be true (sarcasm often implied)

Question 20

kick off {SW}
Ex1: The match kicked off an hour ago.
Ex2: The Mayor kicked off the party

Answer 20

start (a game or an event)

Question 21

have the chops to do something {SW}

Ex: That pianist really doesn’t yet have the musical chops to do that piece justice.

Answer 21

talent or skill in a particular activity (such as acting or playing music)

Question 22

on / with a (high / low / bad / good) note {SW}

Ex: But his recent album didn’t start with a good note.

Answer 22

begin or end in a particular state

Question 23

OH {S}
» ‘Do you know I have just bought a new house?’ ‘ OH, was it expensive?‘
» ‘Had you seen the car before?’ ‘OH yes, it was always in the driveway.’

Answer 23

used to reply to, acknowledge or indicate that you heard something just said

Question 24

» OH darling, did you see that note I left you?

» OH I think I got it now.

Answer 24

used to indicate you just remembered, realized or figured out something

Question 25

» OH, waiter! Will you come here, please?

Answer 25

used in direct address

Question 26

» How many students are there in our class right now? OH, about 60.

Answer 26

used to give an estimation

Question 27

» The police have destroyed the, OH, I don’t know what the right word is – the environment? the atmosphere? the ambience?

Answer 27

used when you are hesitating while speaking because you are searching for the right word.

Question 28

» ‘OH!’ She blinked. ‘Has everyone already gone?’.

» OH, I’m so glad you’re here.

Answer 28

used in an exclamation to express an emotion such as surprise, pain, annoyance, or happiness.

Question 29

arrogant

Answer 29

kiêu căng, kiêu ngạo, ngạo mạn

Question 30

looming audition

Answer 30

điều gì không hay đang đến

Question 31

intense

Answer 31

căng thẳng

Question 32

sulky

Answer 32

easy to lose temper

Question 33

oppressive

Answer 33

áp bức, ngột ngạt

Question 34

very bad energy

Answer 34

nhìn mặt đã không muốn nói chuyện

Question 35

charminh

Answer 35

duyên dáng

Question 36

vicious

Answer 36

cruel & mean to sb

Question 37

spanking

Answer 37

đánh roi, đánh đòn

Question 38

pick our children’s name

Answer 38

like sb too much (different gender)