Sunday, December 20, 2015
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
"TH" Sound Practice
Spring Baby
1. This woman has a new baby.
2. Her name is Ruth.
3. The baby’s name is Theo.
4. Ruth buys many things for Theo.
5. When she is at the drugstore, she buys this and that.
6. When she is at the mall, she buys this and that.
7. Theo’s date of birth is May 6, 2009.
8. Ruth wanted Theo’s birthday to happen in Spring.
9. Ruth’s favorite month is May.
10. Theo is her first baby.
The Office
1. This is a downtown office.
2. It is Thursday.
3. There are many people at the office.
4. There is a long line of people.
5. It is a doctor’s office.
6. This doctor is expensive.
7. In the months of January and February, he is cheap.
8. He helps poor people in the winter months.
9. There is a stethoscope around his neck.
10. There is a pen in his shirt pocket.
The Dentist
1. This woman has very bad teeth. She brushes her teeth a lot, but she likes chocolate and sugary drinks.
2. She is always seeing the dentist. This is because the dentist always finds cavities during her checkups.
3. Over the years, she also had several root canals. She did not put caps on the teeth because she could not afford them.
4. The dental insurance plans usually cover $1,500, if that much. $1,500 is the total needed for both a root canal and a cap for one tooth.
5. She even had one tooth removed because it was so rotten. They gave her a lot of painkillers and yanked the tooth from her mouth.
6. She does not like all these tooth problems. Anyway, she is thankful that she lives in an age of painkillers and clean offices!
Taking the Bus
1. This family takes the bus every day. They take the bus to their English class.
2. These are the adults in the family. They are between thirty and fifty years old.
3. Every day they take bus number three. They get on the bus and think.
4. They look at all the other people. People are wearing everything from thick jackets to thin hats.
5. It is autumn and the weather is changing. It is difficult to choose a jacket that is not too thick and not too thin.
6. Many people wear several shirts in the morning. Then they take off one or two shirts when the sun is high in the sky.
Gardening
1. People have many theories about gardening. For some people, gardening means getting rid of thorns, thistles and weeds. It means having a clean, easy yard.
2. Other people love the roses with their thorny branches. The rose bushes have to be cut back every year. Cutting back means getting to know the rose thorns.
3. Some people enjoy a wild garden. They like tall flowers in many colors and they think tall grass is beautiful. They don’t mind thistles, as long as the thistles are not on the garden paths.
4. There are also different theories about the seasons, especially summer. Some people like to let the grass turn brown during summer months. They think it looks natural and saves water.
5. Others want green grass all summer and water the lawn all the time. This means they have to mow the grass and trim the bushes throughout the summer.
6. Some people garden thoroughly and notice every weed, while other people garden once or twice a month. All homeowners have to choose the gardening theory that works for them.
More Idioms
GET A HANDLE ON (SOMETHING)
to find a way to deal with a problem or difficult situation
1. I’m trying to get a handle on my job search, so I’m updating my resume and asking my old teachers for letters of recommendation.
2. Margaret’s babysitting job was difficult at first, but she got a handle on the children after she promised to read them a story.
GET (A) HOLD OF (ONESELF)
to get control of oneself; stop being emotional
1. Stop crying, Mary. Get a hold of yourself and calm down.
2. The man narrowly missed hitting another car on the highway. Afterward, he pulled off the road to try to get hold of himself.
Compare to: get it/(one’s) act together; go to pieces
The expression get (a) hold of oneself emphasizes emotional control whereas get one’s act together emphasizes mental or physical control.
GET (A) HOLD OF (SOMEONE)
to contact someone or communicate with someone, usually by telephone
1. The real estate agent couldn’t get hold of them before the house was sold to someone else. They never answered their phone.
2. The ambulance brought the little boy to the hospital, and the doctor got a hold of the boy’s parents before he operated.
GET (A) HOLD OF (SOMETHING)
to acquire or obtain something
1. I was able to get hold of a copy of the magazine, but it was the last one.
2. Sarah was very lucky to get a hold of an extra ticket to the ballgame.
The expression is used to describe something that is somewhat difficult to acquire, perhaps because it is rare.
GET A LEG UP
to make a good start on some activity or project
1. It took a long time, but you’ve finally got a leg up on your college degree. It shouldn’t take you much longer to finish.
2. I’m going to get a leg up on next year’s budget by planning several months in advance.
This expression originally meant “to be lifted onto a horse,” and can indicate getting ahead of other people.
GET A MOVE ON
to hurry
1. Get a move on! Everyone is waiting for you.
2. We asked the waiter to bring our check twenty minutes ago. I sure wish that he would get a move on!
Synonyms: shake a leg!; step on it!
This expression can be used as a verb or as a command to another person.
GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE
to insert a word or sentence into an otherwise one-sided conversation
1. Elizabeth talked on and on. No one else got a chance to tell her what he or she thought because they couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
2. Jerry finally got a word in edgewise when Tony stopped talking to take a drink.
The word edgewise means to turn something to its narrowest dimension. The expression suggests that one must put one’s words edgewise in order to squeeze them into a conversation where words are run together very tightly. The expression is usually used in the negative, can’t get a word in edgewise, meaning that one is unable to get into the conversation because someone else is doing all the talking.
GET BY
to just barely manage, financially (sentence 1) or with one’s work or responsibilities (sentence 2)
1. We’re getting by now, but if we get an unexpected bill it would bankrupt us.
2. I’m getting by the best way I know how: by working hard.
Synonyms: keep one’s head above water; make ends meet
GET CAUGHT/BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG [LEAVE (SOMEONE) HOLDING THE BAG]
to make someone the scapegoat; to be blamed for something that was not one’s fault or was only partly one’s fault
1. The other team members left, Bill was left holding the bag, trying to explain a bad project.
2. Christine helped Tim invent a scheme to cheat people out of their money and it went wrong. She left town and Tim got caught holding the bag.
Compare to: leave (someone) in the lurch
Leave someone in the lurch is usually applied more generally to any number of situations involving responsibility whereas leave someone holding the bag is usually applied to a situation involving theft in which one person is literally left holding (or caught with) the stolen goods.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Today's Idioms
CALL (SOMEONE) ON THE CARPET
to confront or hold someone responsible for some misdeed
1. The student tried to make the teacher think that his report was original, but the teacher knew it wasn’t, and called him on the carpet.
2. I got called on the carpet for being late again.
Synonyms: rake (someone) over the coals; chew (someone) out; read (someone) the riot act
This phrase originates from the military, where it used to be that only senior officers had carpet in their offices. To be called on the carpet meant that a lower-ranking soldier was brought into the senior’s office to be formally reprimanded for an offense.
CALL (SOMEONE’S) BLUFF
to challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove the truth of a statement
1. I told my parents that I had gotten passing grades in all my classes, but they didn’t believe me. They called my bluff and asked to see my report card.
2. The bank robber threatened to shoot the bank guard, but the guard called the robber’s bluff by walking up to him and taking away his gun.
This idiom is based on the literal meaning of this phrase as used in card games such as poker. A player who is bluffing may pretend to have a winning hand when in fact he or she does not. To call one’s bluff in poker is to challenge one to show his or her cards.
CALL A SPADE A SPADE
to speak plainly or call something by its right name, even if it is unpleasant
1. Some people say Ben is generous with his money, but I call a spade a spade. He’s not generous, he’s foolish.
2. It’s polite of you to refer to them as “lively” children, but let’s call a spade a spade. They are actually very naughty.
Antonym: beat about/around the bush
The expression is usually used when something is described more favorably than it deserves. Call a spade a spade is a request for a more realistic description. The phrase dates back to ancient Greece, where the words for “spade,” “boat,” and “bowl” were very similar; the original translation my have been ‘call a boat a boat
CALL THE SHOTS
to be in control or to give orders
1. In this classroom, the teacher is in control. The teacher calls the shots, not the students.
2. The lawyer tried to take control of the courtroom, but the judge reminded him that it is the judge who calls the shots.
This idiom stems from use in sports that involve aiming. For example, in darts, the thrower might call out the exact spot he/she expects to hit on the target. Calling the shots well shows the player to be in control of the outcome.
CAN OF WORMS, OPEN A
a situation that contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences
1. The company’s management thought their new policy would increase employee productivity, but instead it opened a whole new can of worms.
2. His situation is completely messed up; it’s a can of worms that I’m happy not to have to deal with.
Synonym: Pandora’s box, open a
CARRY A TORCH (FOR SOMEONE)
to be in love with someone, usually someone who does not love in return
1. Why don’t you find a new boyfriend? Don’t spend your life carrying a torch for someone who doesn’t love you anymore.
2. Sara will never remarry. She will always carry a torch for Henry.
The expression suggests that love is a flame in the heart.
CARRY THE BALL
to take on work or responsibility in order to keep a project moving forward
1. We need more people to help get this work done on time. Are you going to sit there and do nothing or are you going to help carry the ball?
2. The people in the office were sorry to see Amira leave the company. She was such a dependable worker and you could always count on her to carry the ball.
CHEW (SOMEONE) OUT [GET CHEWED OUT]
to scold someone harshly
1. When Peggy came home three hours late, her parents were very angry. They chewed her out and told her she was restricted for two weeks.
2. The newspaper boy got chewed out by Mrs. James when he ran through her flower garden.
Compare to: read (someone) the riot act; rake (someone) over the coals; call (someone) on the carpet; give (someone) a piece of (one’s) mind
CHEW (SOMETHING) OVER
to think slowly and carefully about something
1. I know the idea doesn’t seem appealing at first, but why don’t you chew it over for a few days before you decide?
2. Janice is not sure she is going on vacation in August. She’s chewing it over.
The idiom probably originates from another expression, chew the cud, referring to the fact that a cow chews slowly and regurgitates its food to chew it a second time.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Pronunciation Practice
Pronunciation Practice
Gonna - Going to
She’s gonna meet you at the airport.
I’m gonna be late for the meeting.
I’m gonna have to call you back later.
We’re gonna finish the report before lunch.
The film’s gonna start in 15 minutes.
He’s gonna call you back in a little while.
We’re gonna get you set up in a bigger office.
What are ya gonna have for lunch?
What’s gonna happen to Mark?
Wanna - Want to
They wanna meet with us before the end of the week.
Wanna grab a cup of coffee?
Does he wanna meet us at the airport?
Does Peter wanna ride with us to the airport?
I wanna try to beat the traffic so I’m gonna leave earlier.
We wanna make sure they’re happy with our work.
Do the managers wanna work longer hours?
They wanna buy a new house?
What do you wanna do tonight?
Wanna catch a movie?
Wanna grab a bite to eat?
Do they wanna meet us there?
Hafta - Have to
I hafta get going soon.
We hafta start getting to work on time.
They hafta stop talking so much.
We hafta take better care of ourselves.
You hafta stop smoking in the building.
We hafta leave soon.
They have to get a better handle on their employees.
I hafta work late tonight.
I hafta charge my phone soon.
You hafta work seven days a week for the foreseeable future.
We hafta finish our meeting before 2:00.
Hasta - Has to
She hasta start doing better work.
He hasta outline the new proposal in five minutes.
My car hasta get warmed up before I can drive it.
She hasta get back to me before the end of the day.
It hasta get warmer before I start walking to work.
The new logo hasta fit in with our overall branding.
He hasta start taking his job more seriously.
Our app hasta work all the time, not just once in awhile.
Mary hasta find a babysitter otherwise she won’t be able to come tonight.
Their boss hasta make some tough decisions in the near future.
Gotta - Got to
Ya gotta keep trying.
She’s gotta try harder next time.
We gotta do a better job next time.
I gotta take this call.
We gotta wrap this up soon.
He’s gotta wake up early tomorrow.
Andrey’s gotta make an important call in five minutes.
You gotta try harder next time.
We’ve gotta start showing him more respect.
Ya gotta wanna.
He’s gotta catch a plane in three hours.
The new salesman hasta start making some money for the company.
Ya gotta face the facts.
We’ve got get our act together.
Usta - Used to
She usta smoke but that was years ago.
I usta ride my bike everyday when I was a child.
They usta go the theater every weekend.
We usta have a lot more fun when we were kids.
You usta be late everyday when you first started here.
He usta walk to work almost every day.
Katy usta to call me all the time before she moved.
They usta call me by my last name in the military.
I usta drink a lot more coffee.
We usta take the subway into the city on the weekends.
Where did you usta work before you came here?
She usta be such a good employee.
We usta be best friends.
Lisa usta talk about me behind my back all the time.Sunday, November 1, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Intonation Practice
Intonation Practice
A: Waiter! Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!
B: A fly in your soup? What's it doing there?
A: I have no idea.
B: Well, what do you want me to do about it?
A: I want you to come and get it out.
B: All right. Calm down. I'll be there in a few minutes.
Practice the dialogue with appropriate intonation, substituting the words below.
Police! Police!
Waiter! Waiter!
Mommy! Mommy!
Daddy! Daddy!
Teacher! Teacher!
Help! Help!
Jimmy! Jimmy!
Mr. Hopkins!
Waitress! Waitress!
Ms. Chivous!
Principal!
Mrs. Harper!
Grandma! Grandma!
Teacher! Teacher!
Grandpa! Grandpa!
Uncle George!
Aunt Martha!
Mr. Lee! Mr. Lee!
Tammy! Tammy!
|
There's a rhinoceros in my backyard!
There's a spider in my spaghetti!
There's a kangaroo in the living room!
There's a gorilla in the garage!
There's a scorpion in my school bag!
There's a hippopotamus in the bathtub!
There's a lizard in my slipper!
There's a crocodile in the cafeteria!
There's a worm in my hamburger!
There's a fish in cash register!
There's a giraffe in the gymnasium!
There's a snake in the snack bar!
There's a rabbit in the refrigerator!
There's a rat in my backpack!
There's a bird in the attic!
There's a stork in the auditorium
There's a pig in the parlor!
There's a bull in the china shop!
There's a bat in the belfry!
|
"R" and "W" Practice
Consonant ‘R’
Consonant ‘W’
Two things to remember when making an American ‘R’ sound…
• Your mouth and lips come forward, like you are going to kiss.
• Your tongue moves back in your mouth, NOT forward.
‘R’ at the beginning of words
Rock
Rip
Reach
Road
Rain
Rich
Rome
Raise
Robe
Rice
‘R’ at the end of words or after a vowel
Car
Far
Star
Door
Bear
Four
Air
Year
Turn
Poor
‘R’ in the middle of words
Very
Direction
Arrange
Erase
Correct
Marry
Garage
Original
Hurry
Zero
Marine
Berry
Operation
Caring
Arrive
Everyone
‘R’ Sentence
The round rooster rushed into the wrong road.
R’ Blends
Remember…
•‘R’ is the strongest sound of the blend.
•When the blend is at the beginning of a word, your mouth prepares for the ‘R’, by coming forward before you even say the word.
‘R’ blends at the beginning of words
Training
Trust
Trip
Great
Tropical
Bring
Print
President
Product
Cracker
Crawl
Break
‘R’ blends in the middle of words
Subtract
Waitress
Nutrition
Australia
Introduce
Compress
Oppression
Betray
‘R’ practice sentences
- The story he read on the radio was incorrect.
- Her career in the law firm is permanent.
- Richard and Brooke took a ride in their brand new Range Rover truck.
- Everyone will respect the Royal Family when they arrive at the airport.
- The trip to the Rocky Mountains will be rescheduled on Friday.
Consonant ‘W’
Practice first with » 'OO’
then go into » ‘OOOOOWAWAWA’
Remember, A “W” is always makes a “W” sound. It NEVER makes a “V” sound.
‘W’ Sentence
What will we do?
Comparing ‘R’ and ‘W’
Rick – Wick
Right – White
Remember, the ‘W’ sound is also at the
beginning of the words One and Once.
‘W’ at the beginning of words
Why
Which
When
What
Wipe
Wish
Weight
Wing
‘W’ in the middle of words
Always
Away
Beware
Rewind
Awake
Someone
Halloween
Hollywood
‘W’ practice sentences
- The wind from the west was very wet.(Notice very has a /v/ sound)
- We woke up and washed the white washcloth.
- We waited for the waitress to give us water.
- We had a wonderful time in Washington and Wisconsin.
‘Q’ words (produced as a KW sound)
Question
Quiet
Queen
Qualify
Quit
Quebec
Quilt
Choir
Paragraph Practice
Word Review -
Ray
Russia
Dreamed
Roller Coaster
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Friend
Fred
Norway
Railroad
Traveling
Creative
Perfect
Construct
Everyone
Ray was born in Russia. He dreamed of building the perfect roller coaster at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. He had a friend named Fred who lived in Norway. Fred’s profession was designing railroad tracks and his career involved traveling around the world. Ray thought it would be perfect if Fred designed his roller coaster ride. Fred was creative, brilliant and worked well with railroad tracks. He would be the perfect engineer for the project. The ride took two years to construct and was painted red and white. Everyone really wanted to ride the brand-new roller coaster.
Consonant ‘W’
Two things to remember when making an American ‘R’ sound…
• Your mouth and lips come forward, like you are going to kiss.
• Your tongue moves back in your mouth, NOT forward.
‘R’ at the beginning of words
Rock
Rip
Reach
Road
Rain
Rich
Rome
Raise
Robe
Rice
‘R’ at the end of words or after a vowel
Car
Far
Star
Door
Bear
Four
Air
Year
Turn
Poor
‘R’ in the middle of words
Very
Direction
Arrange
Erase
Correct
Marry
Garage
Original
Hurry
Zero
Marine
Berry
Operation
Caring
Arrive
Everyone
‘R’ Sentence
The round rooster rushed into the wrong road.
R’ Blends
Remember…
•‘R’ is the strongest sound of the blend.
•When the blend is at the beginning of a word, your mouth prepares for the ‘R’, by coming forward before you even say the word.
‘R’ blends at the beginning of words
Training
Trust
Trip
Great
Tropical
Bring
President
Product
Cracker
Crawl
Break
‘R’ blends in the middle of words
Subtract
Waitress
Nutrition
Australia
Introduce
Compress
Oppression
Betray
‘R’ practice sentences
- The story he read on the radio was incorrect.
- Her career in the law firm is permanent.
- Richard and Brooke took a ride in their brand new Range Rover truck.
- Everyone will respect the Royal Family when they arrive at the airport.
- The trip to the Rocky Mountains will be rescheduled on Friday.
Consonant ‘W’
Practice first with » 'OO’
then go into » ‘OOOOOWAWAWA’
Remember, A “W” is always makes a “W” sound. It NEVER makes a “V” sound.
‘W’ Sentence
What will we do?
Comparing ‘R’ and ‘W’
Rick – Wick
Right – White
Remember, the ‘W’ sound is also at the
beginning of the words One and Once.
‘W’ at the beginning of words
Why
Which
When
What
Wipe
Wish
Weight
Wing
‘W’ in the middle of words
Always
Away
Beware
Rewind
Awake
Someone
Halloween
Hollywood
‘W’ practice sentences
- The wind from the west was very wet.(Notice very has a /v/ sound)
- We woke up and washed the white washcloth.
- We waited for the waitress to give us water.
- We had a wonderful time in Washington and Wisconsin.
‘Q’ words (produced as a KW sound)
Question
Quiet
Queen
Qualify
Quit
Quebec
Quilt
Choir
Paragraph Practice
Word Review -
Ray
Russia
Dreamed
Roller Coaster
Grand Canyon
Arizona
Friend
Fred
Norway
Railroad
Traveling
Creative
Perfect
Construct
Everyone
Ray was born in Russia. He dreamed of building the perfect roller coaster at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. He had a friend named Fred who lived in Norway. Fred’s profession was designing railroad tracks and his career involved traveling around the world. Ray thought it would be perfect if Fred designed his roller coaster ride. Fred was creative, brilliant and worked well with railroad tracks. He would be the perfect engineer for the project. The ride took two years to construct and was painted red and white. Everyone really wanted to ride the brand-new roller coaster.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
A Few More Idioms
GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED
to be in a bad mood from the beginning of the day
1. Don’t be upset that Peggy got angry with you; she’ll cool off soon. She always has a short temper when she gets up on the wrong side of the bed.
2. I’m sorry I yelled at you. I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.
Originally this phrase was “got up left foot forward” and dates back to the ancient Romans. In their time, the left side of anything was seen as sinister or unlucky, and Romans believed it was bad luck to put the left foot down first when getting out of bed. The idea that left is bad continued for centuries and eventually the word left was replaced with wrong.
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE/SOMETHING) SHORT SHRIFT
to make quick work of something or to give little time to someone
1. The secretary preferred working with people directly. She was an excellent secretary but she gave short shrift to typing up notes and preparing reports.
2. I haven’t much time for incompetent fools like Sam. I gave him short shrift when he came in here asking for a pay raise.
The expression conveys a negative feeling about someone or something. They are thought of as unworthy of much time or consideration.
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE COLD SHOULDER
to ignore someone intentionally
1. Margie and Steve used to be close friends, but now every time they meet, she gives him the cold shoulder.
2. When we bought our new house, we thought everyone would welcome us to the neighborhood. But people give us the cold shoulder when we try to be friendly and neighborly.
Synonym: turn up (one’s) nose at (someone/something)
Whereas give someone the cold shoulder is used only with people, turn up one’s nose can be applied to both people and things.
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE GO-AHEAD
to get or give permission to proceed
1. The kids asked their mother for permission to set up a lemonade stand. Her lemon tree was full of lemons, so she gave them the go-ahead.
2. Playing baseball in the middle of the work day sounds like a great idea, but you should probably get the go-ahead from our boss before we start.
Synonym: get/give (someone) the green light
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE GREEN LIGHT
to get or give permission to proceed
1. The planning stage of the project was complete and we got the green light to start construction.
2. The boss gave them the green light to order all the equipment they needed.
Synonym: give/get (someone) the go-ahead
This expression comes from the green light on a stop light, which indicates that cars can move forward.
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE SACK
to be fired from one’s job
1. John lost his job yesterday. He got the sack.
2. Marie has two small children to support. You can’t just give her the sack. What is she going to do for money?
3. I was sacked from my last job for showing up late every day.
Compare to: pink slip
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE SHORT END OF THE STICK
to get (give someone) the unfair or less advantageous part of a deal or arrangement
1. Martha agreed to babysit the children while Henry went shopping. Martha had much more work to do than Henry did. She got the short end of the stick.
2. Look out for your interests and speak up if you think you’re getting an unfair deal. Don’t let them give you the short end of the stick.
GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE THIRD DEGREE
to be questioned in great detail
1. My parents didn’t believe that I’d spent the evening at the library. They gave me the third degree, questioning me about when I had arrived and left and what I’d done while I was there.
2. When it was revealed that the candidate had been arrested some years before, he got the third degree from the newspaper reporters. He had to answer question after question.
GET/HAVE (SOMETHING) DOWN PAT
to do something repeatedly until one knows how to do it without a mistake; to perfect an activity
1. Lynn worked on her dance routine until she could practically do it in her sleep. She had it down pat.
2. Practice saying your speech again and again. I want to be sure you get it down pat.
GET/LEND (SOMEONE) A HAND
to help someone
1. I need some help lifting these boxes. Who can give me a hand?
2. They gave him a hand with his rent and utility bills while he was unemployed.
The expression suggests that by giving someone a hand, one helps that person do more work than he could do with his own two hands. The expression is usually used in the sense of helping someone physically (sentence 1) but it can also be used in a financial sense (sentence 2).
GIFT OF GAB, THE
the ability to speak easily and well
1. We always enjoy listening to Uncle Charlie’s stories. He really knows how to tell good ones—he’s got the gift of gab.
2. I’m not much of a talker. I wasn’t blessed with the gift of gab.
Compare to: talk a blue streak
The expression is used humorously or with admiration. It suggests that being able to speak (gab) is a welcome trait (gift). The word gab is probably an Old English variation of the Scottish word ‘gob,’ which means ‘mouth’ or ‘beak.’
GIVE IN
to surrender
1. The workers refused to give in and accept the unfair contract, so the strike continued.
2. The parents tried to resist their children’s pleas for sweets, but the kids were so cute that the parents were forced to give in.
Similar to: cry uncle; knuckle under
GIVE (ONE’S) RIGHT (BODY PART) FOR/TO DO (SOMETHING)
to want something very much
1. I want that car so badly. I’d give my right arm for that car.
2. Veronica wants so badly to spend her vacation on the beach, she said she’d give her right leg to go to Hawaii.
The expression suggests that one wants something so much that one is willing to give an essential part of one’s body for it.
GIVE (SOMEONE) A HARD TIME
to be difficult with someone; to give someone unnecessary difficulty
1. Patricia had not done a good job on the report, and she thought her boss would just ask her to redo it. Instead, gave her a hard time and wouldn’t stop talking about it. He gave her a hard time about the report.
2. The students gave the new teacher a hard time on his first day. They dropped their books, passed notes while he was talking, and were generally uncooperative.
GIVE (SOMEONE) A PIECE OF (ONE’S) MIND
to confront someone who has behaved badly
1. Joan was upset with Bill and she told him just what she thought of him. She really gave him a piece of her mind.
2. I can’t believe that they let their dog loose in my garden. I’m going over there right now to tell them that if I find that dog in my yard again, I’ll call the police. I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!
Synonyms: read (someone) the riot act; chew (someone) out; rake (someone) over the coals; speak (one’s) piece
GIVE (SOMEONE) A RING
to call someone on the telephone
1. When Sally arrived, she found a telephone in the airport and gave her mother a ring.
2. I’ll be home by the phone all morning. Give me a ring when you get a chance.
Refers to the ringing of a telephone when it receives a call.
GIVE (SOMEONE) A SNOW JOB
to give someone a description of something or someone that is unrealistically attractive and positive
1. The English teacher was trying to find students to help with the publication of the school newspaper. She gave us a snow job about how much fun it would be and how little work it was—in fact, it was very hard work.
2. Richard tried to get Marsha to go out with his friend Don. Richard told Marsha that Don was good-looking, had a great personality and was rich. Richard gave Marsha a snow job, because Don turned out to be none of those things.
Synonyms: sales pitch; con job; song and dance; pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes
GIVE (SOMEONE) A/SOME SONG AND DANCE
to give someone an overly dramatic or unbelievable excuse
1. Don’t give me a song and dance about how difficult it was for you to get this work done on time—I know you’ve been goofing off.
2. We went to collect the rent from Paul, but he gave us some song and dance about not having the money right now.
Synonyms: pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes; cock and bull story; snow job
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