(to) set the record straight - to correct an inaccurate account
EXAMPLE 1: Ken knew his father was innocent, and he hoped he could setthe record straight one day.
EXAMPLE 2: Let me set the record straight.
I won the last game.sure thing - an outcome that is assured
EXAMPLE 1: Gary bet all his money on a horse named Trixie, thinking shewas a sure thing.
EXAMPLE 2: Nicole has a good chance of getting accepted to Yale, but it'sstill not a sure thing.
as a matter of fact - in fact; actually
EXAMPLE 1: We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going toask you to go shopping.
EXAMPLE 2: This isn't the first time Andy has gotten in trouble at school.As a matter of fact, just last month he was suspended for an entire week.
(to) blow things out of proportion - to exaggerate; to makemore of something than one should
EXAMPLE 1: They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter?Don't you think they're blowing things out of proportion?
EXAMPLE 2: Sally called the police when her neighbor's party got tooloud. I think that was blowing things out of proportion.SYNONYM: To make a mountain out of a molehill
(to) find out - to learn; to discover
EXAMPLE 1: Al is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.
EXAMPLE 2: David had a big party at his house while his parents wereaway on vacation. Fortunately for him, they never found out.
(to) get a handle on - to gain an understanding of
EXAMPLE 1: This new computer program is very difficult. I still haven'tgotten a handle on it.
EXAMPLE 2: Once you get a handle on how the game works, please explainit to everybody else.
(to) get one's act together - to get organized; to start operatingmore effectively
EXAMPLE 1: If Ted gets his act together now, he might be able to get intoa good college.
EXAMPLE 2: We'd better get our act together. Otherwise, we're going tomiss our flight.
(to) knock oneself out - to work very hard at something(sometimes too hard)
EXAMPLE 1: Ted knocked himself out getting votes for Nicole, and shedidn't even say thank you.
EXAMPLE 2: I really knocked myself out getting these free concert ticketsfor you and your girlfriend. I hope you appreciate it.
NOTE: "Don't knock yourself out!" means don't work too hard at somethingor for someone; it's not worth it. Example: Don't knock yourselfout for Jeremy — he won't appreciate it anyway!
one's heart goes out to (someone) - to feel sorry for someone
EXAMPLE 1: My heart goes out to the Richardsons. Their home wasdestroyed in a fire.
EXAMPLE 2: Naomi's heart went out to all the people who lost their jobswhen the auto plant shut down.
(to) rant and rave - to talk loudly, often in anger
EXAMPLE 1: A customer in the video rental store was ranting and ravingthat the DVD he rented was broken.
EXAMPLE 2: Please stop ranting and raving! Let's discuss this issue in acalm manner.
(to) sweep (something) under the rug - to hide something,often a scandal
EXAMPLE 1: "Senator, don't try to sweep it under the rug. Everybodyknows about your affair with the intern."
EXAMPLE 2: Let's just sweep this incident under the rug and move on.
taken aback - surprised (almost always in a negative sense)
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole was taken aback when her friend Rosa told her sheno longer wanted to hang out with her.
EXAMPLE 2: I was taken aback when my friend asked me if she couldborrow my toothbrush because she forgot hers at home.
(to) throw the book at someone - to punish or chide severely
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted failed his chemistry test the second time, histeacher really threw the book at him.
EXAMPLE 2: The judge threw the book at Matt for stealing a footballfrom the store. He'll be going to jail for six months.
as a matter of fact - in fact; actually
EXAMPLE 1: We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going toask you to go shopping.EXAMPLE 2: This isn't the first time Andy has gotten in trouble at school.As a matter of fact, just last month he was suspended for an entire week.
(to) blow things out of proportion - to exaggerate; to makemore of something than one should
EXAMPLE 1: They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter?Don't you think they're blowing things out of proportion?
EXAMPLE 2: Sally called the police when her neighbor's party got tooloud. I think that was blowing things out of proportion.SYNONYM: To make a mountain out of a molehill
(to) find out - to learn; to discover
EXAMPLE 1: Al is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.
EXAMPLE 2: David had a big party at his house while his parents wereaway on vacation. Fortunately for him, they never found out.
(to) get a handle on - to gain an understanding of
EXAMPLE 1: This new computer program is very difficult. I still haven'tgotten a handle on it.
EXAMPLE 2: Once you get a handle on how the game works, please explainit to everybody else.
(to) get one's act together - to get organized; to start operatingmore effectively
EXAMPLE 1: If Ted gets his act together now, he might be able to get intoa good college.
EXAMPLE 2: We'd better get our act together. Otherwise, we're going tomiss our flight.
(to) knock oneself out - to work very hard at something(sometimes too hard)
EXAMPLE 1: Ted knocked himself out getting votes for Nicole, and shedidn't even say thank you.
EXAMPLE 2: I really knocked myself out getting these free concert ticketsfor you and your girlfriend. I hope you appreciate it.
NOTE: "Don't knock yourself out!" means don't work too hard at somethingor for someone; it's not worth it. Example: Don't knock yourselfout for Jeremy — he won't appreciate it anyway!
one's heart goes out to (someone) - to feel sorry for someone
EXAMPLE 1: My heart goes out to the Richardsons. Their home wasdestroyed in a fire.
EXAMPLE 2: Naomi's heart went out to all the people who lost their jobswhen the auto plant shut down.
(to) rant and rave - to talk loudly, often in anger
EXAMPLE 1: A customer in the video rental store was ranting and ravingthat the DVD he rented was broken.
EXAMPLE 2: Please stop ranting and raving! Let's discuss this issue in acalm manner.
(to) sweep (something) under the rug - to hide something,often a scandal
EXAMPLE 1: "Senator, don't try to sweep it under the rug. Everybodyknows about your affair with the intern."EXAMPLE 2: Let's just sweep this incident under the rug and move on.
taken aback - surprised (almost always in a negative sense)
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole was taken aback when her friend Rosa told her sheno longer wanted to hang out with her.
EXAMPLE 2: I was taken aback when my friend asked me if she couldborrow my toothbrush because she forgot hers at home.
(to) throw the book at someone - to punish or chide severely
EXAMPLE 1: When Ted failed his chemistry test the second time, histeacher really threw the book at him.EXAMPLE 2: The judge threw the book at Matt for stealing a footballfrom the store. He'll be going to jail for six months.
(to) blow it - to spoil an opportunity
EXAMPLE 1: The actress got nervous and forgot all of her lines. She reallyblew it!
EXAMPLE 2: I'll give you one more chance, but don't blow it this time!SYNONYM: to screw up [slang]. Example: I can't believe you screwed upduring the interview by asking for six weeks of vacation before you evengot the job offer!
(to) burn the midnight oil - to stay up late studying or working
EXAMPLE 1: Michael burned the midnight oil studying for his algebratest.
EXAMPLE 2: The project is due tomorrow and we're far from finished.We're going to have to burn the midnight oil tonight.
chitchat - casual conversation; gossip
EXAMPLE 1: Peter told Heather to stop the chitchat and get back to work.
EXAMPLE 2: Okay, enough chitchat! Let's start discussing this week'sreading assignment.SYNONYM: to shoot the breeze
NOTE: Chitchat can also be a verb. Example: Amber and Ted were chitchattingall night long.
(to) deliver the goods - to meet expectations; to do what'srequired
EXAMPLE 1: Peter thought Bob wasn't delivering the goods, so he firedhim.
EXAMPLE 2: I'm depending on you to finish the job on time. I know thatyou can deliver the goods!SYNONYM: to cut the mustard. Example: If you can't cut the mustardhere, you'll have to find a new job.
(to) do one's best - to try as hard as possible
EXAMPLE 1: Although Ted did his best, he still failed his chemistry test.
EXAMPLE 2: You might not get a perfect score on your history test, butjust do your best.SYNONYM: to give it one's all
rest assured - be sure
EXAMPLE 1: Rest assured that the police will find the thieves.
EXAMPLE 2: Rest assured I'll take good care of your dog while you're onvacation.
right away - immediately
EXAMPLE 1: When Meg realized her house was on fire, she called the firedepartment right away.
EXAMPLE 2: You need some sugar for your cookies? I'll bring some overright away.
(to) sell like hotcakes - to sell fast; to be a popular item
EXAMPLE 1: Those new Fubu blue jeans are selling like hotcakes. All thegirls love them.
EXAMPLE 2: Stephen King's new novel is selling like hotcakes.
(to be) sitting pretty - in a good position (often financially)
EXAMPLE 1: After Chad won the lottery, he was really sitting pretty. Hequit his job and bought a mansion in Malibu, California.
EXAMPLE 2: Gina was one of the first people to work at Amazon.com,and she made millions on her stock options. Now she's sitting pretty.
sold out - completely sold
EXAMPLE 1: Becky was really disappointed when she found out that theBritney Spears concert was sold out.
EXAMPLE 2: Susan's cookies were very popular at the bake sale. In fact,they sold out in just 20 minutes!
(to) take off- to become popular; to grow suddenly
EXAMPLE: Julia Roberts' career took off with the film "Pretty Woman."
NOTE: "Take off" has several other meanings:1. Remove. Please take off your shoes before coming inside our apartment.We just vacuumed this morning.2. To leave. We're taking off now. See you later!3. To deduct. The waiter forgot to bring us drinks, so he took $10 off the bill.4. To leave the ground. The airplane took off on time.
tall order - a task or goal that is difficult to achieve
EXAMPLE 1: It'll be a tall order to find a new governor as popular as thecurrent one.
EXAMPLE 2: You want me to figure out how to clone your pet rabbit?That's a tall order!107
at first - in the beginning
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole didn't like Don Quixote at first, but after 200 pagesshe started to get into it.
EXAMPLE 2: Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed at first. Theimportant thing is that you keep on trying!
(to) get the hang of (something) - to learn how to do something;to acquire an effective technique
EXAMPLE 1: Billy had trouble learning how to ride a bike, but after a fewmonths he finally got the hang of it.
EXAMPLE 2: When I went snowboarding for the first time, I kept fallingdown. But after a while, I got the hang of it.
(to) give (someone) a ring - to telephone someone
EXAMPLE 1: Give me a ring tomorrow so we can discuss plans for thisweekend.
EXAMPLE 2: If you're free on Saturday, give me a ring and we can go tothe movies.SYNONYM: to give (someone) a buzz [slang]
in any case - whatever the fact is; certainly
EXAMPLE 1: We can either go to the new Star Wars movie or see a playtonight. In any case, you'll need to be at my house by six o'clock.
EXAMPLE 2: You'll probably be too tired on Sunday to come over. In anycase, give me a call in the morning to discuss.
in person - personally; in one's physical presence
EXAMPLE 1: Tim hoped that he and Svetlana would get along as well inperson as they did over the Internet.
EXAMPLE 2: After hearing so much about Donna's boyfriend, I'm lookingforward to meeting him in person.
(to) keep posted - to provide up-to-date information
EXAMPLE 1: Keep me posted about your plans for the summer. If you'regoing to be at your cottage on the lake, I'd love to come visit.
EXAMPLE 2: Good luck selling your house and keep me posted! I'd loveto know how much you get for it.
(to) learn the ropes - to learn the basics
EXAMPLE 1: Mark learned the ropes of the restaurant business by workingas a cook at Outback Steakhouse.
EXAMPLE 2: David worked at a big law firm for 10 years where helearned the ropes. Now he runs his own law firm.pain in the neck - an annoyanceEXAMPLE 1: Yesterday I had to stay home all day and wait for the repairman.What a pain in the neck!EXAMPLE 2: Alice wants me to drive her to the airport early tomorrowmorning. That's going to be a pain in the neck!
piece of cake - very easy
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole finished her physics test in just 25 minutes. It was apiece of cake.
EXAMPLE 2: The driving test is a piece of cake. Don't worry about it.SYNONYM: easy as pie. You should have no trouble passing the drivingtest. It's as easy as pie.
(to) round up - to gather people together
EXAMPLE 1: The town rounded up 200 volunteers to search for the hiker,who was lost in the woods of Yosemite National Park.
EXAMPLE 2: Let's round up some volunteers to help bake cookies andpies for the bake sale.second nature - a behavior that has been practiced for solong, it seems to have been there alwaysEXAMPLE 1: Karen has been arguing with her husband every day for thepast 20 years, so by now it's just second nature.
EXAMPLE 2: With practice, riding a unicycle becomes second nature.
to tell you the truth - to speak openly; to admit
EXAMPLE 1: To tell you the truth, Ted isn't a very good student.
EXAMPLE 2: To tell you the truth, I didn't even want to attend Katie'swedding. But I knew she'd be offended if I didn't go.
your guess is as good as mine - I don't know; I don't knowany more than you do
EXAMPLE 1: Will we ever find intelligent life on other planets? Yourguess is as good as mine.
EXAMPLE 2: Will Ted graduate on time? Your guess is as good as mine!