Level 3 idioms – Unit 03

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)