Conversation:

Ken:  Hey Vince.  Do you want to go to that wilderness survival seminar this weekend?

Vince:  I can’t.  I’ve got this paper to do for biology class on Monday.  I’m going to have to work for days on end to finish it.

Ken:  Are you sure you can’t tear yourself away from it just this once?

Vince:  I don’t think so.  I’ve turned over a new leaf — work first, play afterwards.  Besides, I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I’m afraid you’ll just have to go by yourself.

Ken:  I could never let my work tie me down and keep me from enjoying myself.  Tell me, what brought about this sudden change in your study habits?

Vince:  I realized I was wasting a lot of time and wasn’t prepared for classes, so I took the bull by the horns and made up a weekly schedule for myself.  I’ve planned some recreation time, but only in the late afternoons.  The rest of the time is study time.

Ken:  Do what you want, but when I look back on these years, I want to remember the good times I had.  Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming?

Vince:  Yes, I’m sure.  Now please leave me alone.  I’ve got to get on this paper.

Ken:  No problem.  I’ll give you a week with your new schedule, and then I’m sure you’ll be singing another tune.  Well, I’ve got to hit the road.  I’ll see you Sunday night.

Vince:  Sure.  You can fill me in on the seminar when you get back.

Vocabulary:

wilderness survival:  knowledge you need to live in nature
seminar:  a class or classes over a short time, such as a weekend
paper:  a piece of writing that requires research
besides:  here is a different reason
sudden:  quick
study habits:  the way you study
realize:  to figure out for the first time
waste time:  to let time pass doing nothing
schedule:  list and time of activities you must do
recreation:  activities that are done for fun

Idioms:

• on end:                                                                   without a break, consecutively
• tear oneself away (from something):    stop doing (something)
• turn over a new leaf:                                       start doing things more effectively
• under the weather:                                         not feeling well
• tie (someone) down:                                       limit (someone’s) activities
• bring about (something):                           cause (something) to happen
• take the bull by the horns:                         make a decision to do something
• look back (on something):                         remember (something) from long ago
• get on (an activity):                                        start working (on something) immediately
• sing another tune:                                          feel differently, change one’s opinion
• hit the road:                                                       leave by car or other vehicle
• fill (someone) in:                                            tell (someone) what happened

Notes:

Sing another tune can also be sing a different tune.
Get on (an activity) can also be get on with (an activity)

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Hank: My history professor really spelled it out for us this morning.  She told us that apart from having chapter quizzes every week, mid-term and final exams, and a 3000-word research paper, there may also be some other marked assignments in store but she didn’t give us any details.

John: It sounds like your prof wants everyone to toe the line. You’d better get down to work right away.

Hank: I will. Also, she keeps after us to make sure we’ve done the reading assignment for that day. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. She told us she could decide to give a quiz on the spur of the moment.

John: I hate pop quizzes.  It sounds like you’re going to be busy this term.

Hank: You can say that again. But you know, as a rule I respond well to teachers like her. She makes me want to work hard and even go the extra mile.
John: Well, good luck. I hope you’re not in over your head.
Hank: I doubt it. I think I’ll make out just fine.

Vocabulary:

apart from:  in addition to
marked assignments:  work that the teacher will give a mark for
details:  complete information
’d better (had better):  must
pop quizzes:  tests that students can’t prepare for
doubt it:  don’t think so

Idioms:

• spell it out (for someone)                         explain something (to someone)
• in store                                                             planned for the future
• toe the line                                                        follow the rules, do what’s expected
• get down to                                                       start (an activity)
• keep after (someone)                                 remind (someone) constantly
• the tip of the iceberg                                   a small piece of the whole
• on the spur of the moment                     impulsively, suddenly
• you can say that again                               what you said is true
• as a rule                                                             generally, usually
• go the extra mile                                           do more than is necessary
• in over one’s head                                        have more than one can handle
• make out                                                            have a result / see clearly

Notes:

Make out has 2 meanings.  The other one is “see clearly.”  Example:  Can you make out that sign in the distance?

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Judy: Hey Lana, you’ll never guess what I heard through the grapevine.

Lana: Tell me!

Judy: Do you want the long version, or should I tell it in a nutshell?

Lana: I want all the juicy details.

Judy: Well, Tina has been keeping everyone in the dark, including Tom.  It turns out she’s been cheating on him — with her fitness coach!

Lana: No way! Really?

Judy: Yes. When I heard the news, I called Tom on his cell phone and heard firsthand that he moved out last month.  He told me he had been feeling so good about everything, so Tina’s confession came from out of the blue.

Lana: Well now that the cat’s out of the bag, everyone’s going to have to take sides, you know.  Personally, I’m on her side.  First of all, she’s my oldest friend, and secondly, Tom is a really dull guy.  He never wanted to do the things she liked.  I guess it was only a matter of time before she wanted more out of life.  I can’t hold that against her.

Judy: You know, I just may ask him out.  Good husbands are hard to come by.

Vocabulary:

version:  the story according to someone
juicy:  fascinating, intriguing
confession:  admitting that she had a lover
personally:  what’s true for me
dull:  boring, unexciting

Idioms:

• hear through the grapevine                 hear indirectly through other people
• in a nutshell                                                   in a very few words
• in the dark                                                      not knowing
• cheat on (someone)                                  betray one’s spouse by making love to someone else
• no way                                                               that’s not possible
• hear firsthand (from)                               hear directly (from someone involved)
• from out of the blue                                  without warning, unexpectedly
• the cat is out of the bag                           something is no longer a secre
• take (or choose) sides                               support one person or group in an argument or break-up
• a matter of time                                            definitely going to happen in the future
• hold that (or it) against (someone)   not forgive (someone)
• hard to come by                                            difficult to get

Notes:

From out of the blue can also be out of the blue.  Example:  Out of the blue he told her that he loved her.
The cat is out of the bag is similar to (someone) let the cat out of the bag, but the first one is a condition and the second is an action implying that the person who told the secret should not have done so.  Example:  Peter was wrong to let the cat out of the bag so soon.
Take sides and choose sides have the same meaning.
Hold that against (someone) and hold it against (someone) have the same meaning.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Anton:  Hey, Pete.  Guess what I did?   I took up skiing.  Why don’t you do the same?

Pete:  Are you out of your mind?  It’s too dangerous.  And besides, I don’t usually go in for cold-weather sports.  But that’s just me.  How do you like it?

Anton:  Let me tell you.  Once skiing gets in your blood, you’ll be hooked.

Pete:  You think so?  What’s it like?

Anton:  When I’m skiing down the slope, I feel like a million dollars.  Of course, I have to be on the ball and keep an eye out for snowboarders and other skiers.  Collisions can happen at the drop of a hat.  But mostly it’s fun.

Pete:  Well, I don’t know.

Anton:  Listen, if you take lessons, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.  Then you and I can ski together for the rest of the season.  How does that sound?

Pete:  Actually, I have a hunch I might get a kick out of it.  Okay, then.  I’ll do it.

Vocabulary:

slope:  a clear part of a mountain that slants down.
snowboarders:  people who use a board, not skis, to come down a mountain.
collisions:  running into someone or something.

Idioms:

• take up                                                                      start doing (an activity) for the first time
• out of one’s mind                                                crazy, irrational
• go in for                                                                     enjoy doing (a sport, hobby)
• get in one’s blood                                                 become something one wants to do all the time
• be hooked (on something)                             need to do (something) all the time
• feel like a million dollars                                 feel very good
• on the ball                                                                 paying attention
• keep an eye out (for someone/thing)       look (for someone/thing) while doing other things
• at the drop of a hat                                              immediately and without a plan
• get the hang of (something)                            learn how to do (something)
• have a hunch                                                            think something may be true
• get a kick out of (something)                         get great enjoyment from (something)

Notes:

Often people ask the question, “Guess what I did?” and then answer it immediately
with “I took up skiing” as a way of introducing a topic.

Get the hang of is future,  have (or have got) the hang of is present, and got the hang of is past.  Examples:   I want to get the hang of this new technology.  I have the hang of this new technology.  I got the hang of this new technology in only two days.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Pat:  Hi Yumi.  Your office looks like a hurricane hit it.  What’s going on?

Yumi:  I’ve got to make way for a new computer work center I just bought, which means that I have to take apart this old center so I can move it out of here.

Pat:  I’ve got to hand it to you.  I didn’t think you’d ever get this business off the ground.  It seemed like such pie in the sky, but your hard work has paid off.

Yumi:  I’d never pat myself on the back, but thanks for saying that.  When I first started, there were a lot of problems I had to iron out, but now everything is running smoothly, and I’m having the time of my life.  I actually look forward to getting up every morning and coming to work.

Pat:  I wish I could say the same thing, but I don’t enjoy my job very much.  I do the same thing day in and day out, and I’m getting fed up with it.  I’m just not cut out for that type of work.

Yumi:  It sounds like things are coming to a head.  Do you think you might quit?

Pat:  I don’t know.  We’ll see.

Vocabulary:

hurricane:  very fast wind and rain that destroys things
running:  operating
look forward to:  expect something good in the future

Idioms:

• make way                                          make space for
• take apart                                          separate into pieces
• hand it to (someone)                  congratulate (someone)
• get off the ground                        start to be successful
• pie in the sky                                    an unachievable goal
• pay off                                                  result in success / pay completely
• pat oneself on the back             congratulate (oneself)
• iron out                                                solve (a problem)
• have the time of one’s life        have an outstanding experience
• day in and day out                         all the time, continuously
• not cut out for (something)     not have the talent or desire (to do something)
• come to a head                                reach a critical point

Notes:

Pay off has 2 meanings.  The other meaning is “pay completely.”
Example:  We’re celebrating tonight because we just paid off our Visa card.

Not cut out for can also be not cut out to be if it is followed by a trade or profession.
Example:  Jerry is not cut out to be a lab technician.  He’s too clumsy.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Steven: I’ve been trying to organize the class party, but I think I bit off more than I can chew.  I’m just a nervous wreck because my co-chair Carol isn’t cooperating.

Yuri: What’s the problem?

Steven: First of all, we don’t see eye to eye on the live entertainment.  I wanted to have a Rock and Roll band, but she wouldn’t go along with my choice.  She wanted Hip Hop.

Yuri: Why don’t you compromise and get a band that plays both styles?

Steven: Now there’s an idea.  But I also wanted to have an MC, and she threw cold water on that idea.  She said it was out of the question because of the cost.

Yuri: Actually, I’d love to do it, and I’d charge next to nothing.

Steven: Say, would you like to be in on organizing this thing?  We could use more help, and I’m fed up with Carol’s stubbornness.  Maybe together we can make her come around to our vision of the party.

Yuri: Sure, I’d love to help out.  What do you want done?

Steven: First of all, could you go get the soft drinks?  We have to start now and stock up so we have plenty on hand for the party.

Yuri: Anything you want.  I won’t let you down.

Vocabulary:

* co-chair:  a second leader of a committee.
* Hip Hop:  Rap music with spoken words and a heavy beat
* MC:  Master of Ceremonies.  Someone who introduces songs and activities at a party
* vision:  view, idea, plan
* soft drinks:  bubbly sweet drinks, pop

Idioms:

• bite off more than one can chew       try to do more than one can
• a nervous wreck                                         uncontrollably stressed
• see eye to eye                                                have the same opinion
• go along (with)                                           agree to (do something)
• throw cold water on                                discourage, take away someone’s enthusiasm
• out of the question                                   impossible, definitely not
• next to nothing                                          very cheap
• be in on (something)                              participate in or know about (something)
• fed up (with)                                               not able to accept anymore
• come around (to)                                     finally agree
• stock up (on something)                      get a large supply (of something)
• let (someone) down                                disappoint (someone)

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Gary:  My computer crashed, and all my work went down the drain.

Victor:  Join the club.  It’s happened to me many times.  Did you call an expert?  There’s bound to be someone who can help you.

Gary:  As a matter of fact, I tried to find someone, but real experts are few and far between.

Victor:  Well maybe my roommate can help.  He’s an old hand at computers.  I’ll give him a call.

Gary:  That would be nice.  Make a point of telling him my computer’s a Mac.

Victor:  That’s not a problem.  He’s got a Mac too.

Gary:  Also, I don’t want him to think I’m trying to take advantage of him, so it goes without saying that I’ll pay for his time.  For the time being, I think I’ll call it a day.

Victor:  Okay, and I’ll see to it that my roommate calls you soon.

Vocabulary:

crashed:  broke down
expert:  someone who knows a lot about computer
Mac:  an Apple computer

Idioms:

• go down the drain                                    be a wasted effort
• join the club                                                I and several others have had that experience
• bound to                                                        certain to
• as a matter of fact                                     actually, in reality
• few and far between                                 infrequent, uncommon
• an old hand (at)                                         very experienced (at)
• make a point of (something)              emphasize (something)
• take advantage of                                      use while (someone/thing) is available
• it goes without saying                              it is obvious
• for the time being                                      for the present
• call it a day                                                    stop working for the day
• see to                                                                do the necessary work

Notes:

Take advantage of, when followed by a person, is a negative idea, meaning that you get something from the person and don’t give equally in return.  Example:  I took advantage of Paul and bought his guitar for only twenty dollars.  When followed by an object, however, it’s a positive idea.  Example: We’re going to take advantage of the sale and get two for the price of one.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Sarah:  Boy, this cafeteria food is a far cry from my mother’s cooking.

Babak:  I know what you mean.  It’s by no means a five-star restaurant.  But what can we expect?  By and large, institutional food is pretty tasteless.

Sarah:  I agree.  Besides the food, how do you like the university?

Babak:  I love it.  My older brother went to UBC, so I’m following in his footsteps.  I’m going to be a civil engineer just like him.  How about you?  Do you like it here?

Sarah:  It’s okay, but it’s very different from high school where I knew everybody.  I feel like a fish out of water.  And tuition is costing my family an arm and a leg, so I need to find a part-time job to make ends meet.

Babak:  I guess I’m lucky that my grandparents are helping to put me through school.  They’re chipping in to help my parents out.  Otherwise, I might have to get a job too.  Was UBC your first choice?

Sarah:  No.  I was accepted at two local colleges, but when I was accepted here, there was no way I was going to pass up coming to one of the best schools in the country.

Babak:  Me neither.  This school is anything but run of the mill.  It stacks up well against the other universities in the country.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

five-star:  excellent
institutional:  cooked for large groups of people
civil engineer:  designer of roads, bridges and other things for society
UBC:  University of British Columbia
otherwise:  if this were not true

Idioms:

• a far cry from                                            inferior to, not as good as
• by no means                                               in no way
• by and large                                               mostly, generally, on the whole
• follow in (someone’s) footsteps    do what someone else has done
• a fish out of water                                  someone outside of his/her usual environment
• cost an arm and a leg                           cost a lot of money
• make ends meet                                      have enough money to pay one’s bills
• put (someone) through                      support (someone) financially while attending school /
make (someone) have a bad experience
• chip in (on/for)                                         contribute money or time
• pass up                                                          not choose, not accept
• run of the mill                                           ordinary, common
• stack up against (something)          compare with (something)

Notes:

By no means and not at all have the same meaning

Put (someone) through has 2 meanings.  The other meaning is “make (someone) have a bad experience.”
Example:  Our first cat was declawed, but I won’t put my other cat through that.

Stack up against (something) can also take the word “well.”
Example:  This restaurant stacks up well against the one we went to last week.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Barbara:  Hi Suzanne.  I don’t mean to break in on your phone call, but I’ve got to ask you a question.

Suzanne:  That’s okay.  I was about to hang up anyway.  (To the phone)  Judy, I’ll call you back later.  Bye.  (To Barbara)  Now how can I help you?

Barbara:  You know about fashion.  Do you think this green blouse goes with these khaki shorts?

Suzanne:  I’d say yes.  This season that combination of colors has taken off.  Ow, my toothache is coming back.  I guess the pain killer I took this morning is starting to wear off.  I promised to take sandwiches to the picnic this afternoon, but I think I’d better see the dentist instead.

Barbara:  The school picnic?  Oh no, I forgot about it.  What time does it get under way?

Suzanne:  It’s supposed to start at noon.  I hope this rain lets up, and it turns into a nice day.

Barbara:  Me too.  I forgot all about the party, but I can’t go anyway.  I have no shoes to wear with this outfit.

Suzanne:  Why don’t you run down to the campus clothing store and buy some?

Barbara:  I wish I could, but I’ve got no money.  My parents cut off my allowance last week because my father got laid off from his IT job.

Suzanne: That’s awful.  By the way, what’s IT stand for?

Barbara:  It stands for the Information technology.

Suzanne:  Ow, not again!  I’ve got to do something about this tooth.

Barbara:  Why don’t you go see the dentist now.  I’ll take over and make the sandwiches for you.

Vocabulary: 

khaki:  a light shade of yellow-brown similar to tan or beige
combination:  two things together
ow:  a word you say when you’re in pain
pain killer:  medicine to stop pain
had better:  should
instead:  in place of something else
supposed to:  scheduled to
outfit:  top and bottom clothing together
allowance:  weekly or monthly spending money given by parents
awful:  terrible

Idioms:

• break in on                             interrupt a conversation
• about to                                    almost ready to (do something)
• go with                                      look good together (clothes)
• take off                                      become popular / remove clothing / leave the ground
• wear off                                    disappear gradually
• get under way                        begin
• let up                                          become less severe (wind, storm, noise)
• turn into                                  change into
• cut off                                        discontinue (a service)
• lay (someone) off                stop (someone’s) employment because of lack of work.
• stand for                                  represent
• take over                                  take control

Notes:

Take off has 3 meanings:  Another meaning is “remove clothing.”  Example:  Take off your sweater if you’re too hot.  The other meaning is “leave the ground.”  Example:  My plane didn’t take off for three hours because of fog.

Let up and die down have the same meaning.

Take over  is similar to fill in for, but take over is used for a short task, while fill in for is used for longer work like a job.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Shirley:  Hi, Juan.  Do you mind if I sit here?

Juan:  Be my guest.  It’s a free country.

Shirley:  Would you rather I leave you alone?

Juan:  No, no.  I have to kill time anyway before my dentist appointment.  I hate to bring this up, but I don’t think I’ve forgiven you for standing me up that time you asked me over.  Where did you go, and why didn’t you call me?

Shirley:  Actually, that’s the reason I wanted to talk to you in person.  Do you remember when I told you about Stan, my old boyfriend?

Juan:  Yes, I remember.  I thought you were over him?  How is old Stanley anyway?

Shirley:  It’s not Stanley.  Stan is short for Stanton, remember?  He came back last week, and we got back together again.  That’s why I haven’t phoned you.

Juan:  Well isn’t that just fine!  I guess I can rule out a relationship between us now.   Is there anything I can say to change your mind?

Shirley:  No Juan, save your breath.  I’ve made up my mind.  Stan is the one for me.

Juan:  Well, I hope you two will be very happy together.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

rather:  prefer
forgiven:  stopped being angry
fine:  okay
one:  person

Idioms:

• be my guest                                                       do what you want without getting permission
• leave (someone/something) alone      don’t disturb
• kill time                                                              spend time waiting
• bring up                                                             introduce (a topic) / raise (a child)
• stand (someone) up                                   cancel a date without telling the other person
• ask (someone) over                                    invite (someone) to one’s home
• in person                                                          in front of one another
• be over (someone)                                       no longer love (someone)
• short for                                                           a shorter name (nickname) for
• rule out                                                             eliminate as a possibility
• save one’s breath                                         saying anything will have no effect
• make up one’s mind                                  decide

Notes:

Be my guest and feel free are similar in meaning, but be my guest is used alone.  Feel free can be used alone or with an infinitive phrase.  Example:  Feel free to eat what you want in the kitchen.

kill time and have time to kill have similar meanings, but have time to kill means “have extra time.” Example:  I have time to kill before my interview.  Do you want to go for coffee?

Bring up has 2 meanings:  The other meaning is “raise (a child).”  Example:  I was brought up in Riverside, California..

In person and face to face have the same meaning.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot