Conversation:

Julio:  I can’t believe you got an ace on the river to beat me.  I think I’m going to call it quits for the day and go home.

Allan:  At least you’re a good sport.  Most people would be beside themselves with anger after losing $100 playing poker.

Julio:  The way I look at it is that I broke even for the week.   Three days ago I won a hundred bucks at the casino.  Can I ask you a question?  Do you think I’ve got a gambling problem?

Allan:  The idea has crossed my mind.  You do spend a lot of time playing poker.  I think you should move on and find something else to do that tickles your fancy.

Julio:  You might be right.  Poker’s not as much fun as it used to be.  It’s become a drag.

Allan:  I didn’t mean to come down hard on you, but you did ask.

Julio:  No, I’m glad you spoke your mind.  I’ve been running on autopilot for a long time, and I definitely need a change.

Allan:  Well, if anybody can pull it off, you can.  I’ve got confidence you’ll do the right thing.

Vocabulary:

ace:  the highest value card
the river:  the last card placed on the board
bucks:  dollars
casino:  gambling house
gambling:  betting money on a game of chance
used to be:  was in the past
definitely:  absolutely
confidence:  belief

Idioms:

• call it quits:                                              stop doing it
• a good sport:                                           someone who can win or lose and not show emotion
• be beside oneself:                                 show strong emotion
• break even:                                              have the same amount of money as originally
• cross one’s mind:                                 be thought about
• move on:                                                   stop doing the same thing and do something different
• tickle one’s fancy:                                 be something one likes
• a drag:                                                        something boring
• come down hard on (someone):   tell (someone) what they’re doing wrong
• speak one’s mind:                                honestly say what one thinks
• run on autopilot:                                  do things automatically without thinking
• pull it off:                                                 accomplish (something), be successful at (something)

Notes:

come down hard on and be tough on have the same meaning.

run on autopilot can also be be on autopilot.

a drag can be made stronger by adding “real”:  a real drag.

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Nick:  You look like you’re walking on air.  What’s up?

Sergey:  Remember Sarah?  We met her at the New Year’s Eve party last year?

Nick:  No. Her name doesn’t ring a bell.  What does she look like?

Sergey:  Tall, long dark hair, beautiful blue eyes.

Nick:  I’m still drawing a blank, but what about her?

Sergey:  Well, this morning we met by chance in the coffee shop and we both hit it off right away.  Now, I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but she could be the one for me.  There’s only one small problem.  I can’t lay my hands on her phone number.  She wrote it on a napkin, and now I can’t find it!  I’m on pins and needles.

Nick:  I can imagine.  You know if you don’t call her up within a few days, you’re going to be in hot water.  She’s going to think you don’t like her.

Sergey:  I know.  I know.  What am I going to do?

Nick:  Get a grip!  It won’t help to get upset.  If I were you, I’d go back to the coffee shop tomorrow and try to find her.

Sergey:  Hang on.  It just dawned on me that I changed by jeans when I got home.  I’ll bet her number is in one of the pockets.  I’ll go look.

Nick:  For your sake, I hope it is.  But if it’s not, it serves you right for being so careless.

Sergey:  Here’s her phone number!  It was in my jeans pocket all along.

Vocabulary:

by chance:  accidentally
the one:  the perfect person
hang on:  wait
sake:  benefit, well-being

Idioms:

• walk on air                                         feel very happy
• ring a bell                                           be something one remembers
• draw a blank                                      not be able to remember
• hit it off                                              become friendly immediately
• jump to conclusions                         form an opinion without all the evidence
• lay one’s hands on (something)     be able to find (something)
• on pins and needles                          anxious, nervous
• in hot water                                        in trouble
• get a grip                                            make oneself calm
• dawn on (someone)                          (someone) realizes
• it serves (someone) right                 (someone) gets the punishment he/she deserves
• all along                                              for the whole time

Notes:

ring a bell and draw a blank are opposites.

on pins and needles and on edge have the same meaning.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Ron:  Meg, I’m so sorry.  I completely forgot about our lunch date yesterday, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.  It’s just that I had a really important meeting yesterday morning, and it went so well, we all went for lunch.

Meg:  Tell me what happened, and this had better be good.

Ron:  I’ve had this business deal in the works for three months now, but I didn’t want to say anything and jinx it.  The long and the short of it is that I’m going into partnership with a Chinese firm that wants to sell it’s anti-virus software in North America.

Meg:  Well, it looks like things are looking up for you.  Only once in a blue moon does an internet business like yours take off.

Ron:  I know.  I guess I was in the right place at the right time.  The deal is still up in the air, but when the dust settles, I should have enough money to retire if I want to.

Meg:  Wow.  I’m impressed.  Personally, I would never take the plunge and start a business like you did.  I’m just not cut out for it.

Ron:  I wouldn’t say that.  Everyone makes mistakes at first, while they are learning the ropes.  It’s the ones who stick with it who eventually succeed.  Also, because business people are all in the same boat, it’s a good idea to join a business group and hear how others solve their problems.

Meg:  I know it’s extremely hard to start a business without a hitch, but I think you’re right.  If I want to be financially independent in the long run, I have to start working for myself.

Vocabulary:

had better:  must
deal:  agreement:
jinx:  to give something bad luck:
partnership:  two companies helping each other
firm:  company
anti-virus software:  computer programs that kill viruses.
take off:  become successful
impressed:  thought of in a very good way
cut out for it:  not have the talent or desire
stick with it:   continue doing it
eventually:  slowly
financially independent:  having enough money to not worry

Idioms:

• make it up to (someone)        do something good to balance the bad
• in the works                             currently being worked on
• the long and the short of it    a condensed version
• things are looking up              the situation is improving
• in a blue moon                         in a very long time
• up in the air                              not yet decided or agreed on
• when the dust settles              when things have stopped happening
• take the plunge                         take action without waiting anymore
• learn the ropes                          learn how to do a job
• in the same boat                       in the same situation
• without a hitch                          without any problems
• in the long run                           over a long period of time

Notes:

The long and the short of it has the same meaning as in a nutshell.

Learn the ropes is the opposite of show (someone) the ropes.  Example:  I’ll show her the ropes on her first day.  I hope she’s smart enough to learn the ropes in one day.

Without a hitch is often used after the expression come off or go off, both of which mean to happen. Example: We worked really hard to make sure everything would come off without a hitch.

In the long run is the opposite of in the short run.

When the dust settles can also be after the dust settles.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

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