Idiomatic American English - Lesson 69+70 - Thấm Tâm Vy

Thẩm Tâm Vy, March 28th, 2020 IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 35

IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 35 Lesson 69 – OFF THE TOP OF ONE’S HEAD

Dialogue

Cynthia: I looked over this place with a fine-tooth comb. I can't find the notes for my speech Tommy: Don't knock yourself out looking for them. I'm sure you can wing it. Cynthia: I don't know about that. I'm sweating bullets. I don't have a prayer. Tommy: It's a snap. Do it off the top of your head. Cynthia: I know I'm going to blow it. Tommy: No you won't. You can pull it off.

Vocabulary

- with a fine-tooth comb adv.) very carefully - knock oneself out v.) make a great effort - wing it v.) rely only on one's knowledge; act without preparation - sweat bullets v.) be nervous; be very hot - have a prayer (neg.) v.) have a chance - a snap n.) an easy task - off the top of one's head adv.) from memory, spontaneously - blow it v.) lose a chance, make a mistake, forget - pull something off v,) accomplish something remarkable

PRACTICE

L Complete the sentences with the correct idiom.

a) fine-toothcomb b) offthe top of my head c) wing it d)blew it e)pull it off

f) knocked herself out g) sweatingbullets h) a snap i) has a prayer 1. He's so nervous. He's ................... 2. He wasn't prepared for that job interview. He knew he ................... 3. She invited 20 people for dinner and she ................... 4. Somebodyrobbedhim. The detectives went over his apartment with a ................... 5 That teacher is not strict. Getting a good grade in her class is ................... 6. I can't think of his address ................... 7. If you're not prepared, it's sometimesvery difficult to ................... 8. Many other people have tried to win the contest. I hope I can ................... 9. Shewants to passt he test, but she didn't study. I don't think she ................... II. Rewrite the phrasesin italics, using the proper idiomatic expression. 1. Despite a lot of problems, she finished college. She accomplished something remarkable. 2. Without studying, I won't remember the answers. 3. I'm incredibly hot today. 4. I really tried to make this a great party. 5. You don't have a chance. 6. He looked everywhere in the apartment for his car keys.

7. I didn't study for that test, so I will have to rely on my own knowledge. 8. That test was very easy. 9. In the middle of the speech, she forgot her lines.

Lesson 70 – THE RAT RACE

Dialogue

Sarah: This rat race is getting me down. I'm at the end of my rope. Zachary: Don't come apart at the seams.Look for another job. Sarah: I always get cold feet. I'll be in this dead-end job 'til I kick the bucket. Zachary: Don't sell yourself short. Maybe your boss will give you a promotion.Tell him you want to talk turkey.

Vocabulary

- rat race n.) endless, competitive striving; hurried, material existence - get one down v.) depress - at the end of one's rope adj.) desperate, with nowhere to turn - come apart at the seams v.) be upset and lose control - get cold feet v.) be afraid at the last minute, lose confidence - dead-end job n.) position with no future - kick the bucket v.) die - sell oneself short v.) underestimate oneself - talk turkey v.) discuss seriously, in a business-like manner

PRACTICE

I. Complete the sentences with the corcect idiom.

al talk turkey b) came apart at the seams c) kicked the bucket d) rat race

e) cold feet f) at the end of his rope g) sell yourself short

h) dead-end job i) getting me down 1. I was going to jump from an airplane with a parachute, but I got ................... 2. All he does is work, work, work, spend, spend, spend. His life is a ................... 3 He lived to be 100 years old, then he ................... 4. If you're really serious about buying my car, let's ................... 5. He looked everywhere for a job and he can't find one. He's ................... 6. Every day we've had rain. It's been ................... 7. He won't become an executive in that company. He has a ................... …