ESL#2

Question 1

a phrase used when waking someone up, especially when one wants to be very cheerful and happy

Answer 1

rise and shine! [breakfast is ready!]

Question 2

a time that is not too early or late; a time that is considered appropriate or normal for performing a certain activity

Answer 2

decent hour

Question 3

a small section in a barn that is separated from other areas by walls, used for one large animal, usually a horse

Answer 3

stall

Question 4

to clean an animal and brush its fur (hair), and possibly to cut its claws (nails) and brush its teeth

Answer 4

to groom

Question 5

to remove unwanted plants from an area to make the ground more attractive and/or to give other plants more room to grow

Answer 5

to weed

Question 6

to be qualified or prepared to do something, especially when referring to someone’s inner qualities rather than skills that can be learned

Answer 6

to be cut out to be

Question 7

a store that sells a particular type of thing that may not interest all consumers

Answer 7

a specialty store

Question 8

a very large building with many stores in one building, so that people can walk between stores without going outside, usually with a food court

Answer 8

a shopping mall

Question 9

a store where products are sold to individuals at normal prices

Answer 9

a retail store

Question 10

to spend time with another person in a relaxed, informal way without any clear purpose or goal

Answer 10

to hang out

Question 11

someone or something that makes a situation more difficult and does not add any value or provide any assistance; a burden (heavy weight) that must be carried, but has no worth

Answer 11

dead weight

Question 12

a party pooper; someone who spoils everyone’s fun; someone who ends a good or enjoyable situation

Answer 12

buzzkill

Question 13

a situation where there is a lot of money or people make a lot of money very easily

Answer 13

gravy train

Question 14

extra and unnecessary; more than is needed or wanted

Answer 14

extraneous

Question 15

to appease people; to do or say something that addresses others’ concerns and makes them feel calmer or less upset

Answer 15

to quell the masses

Question 16

benefits one receives in a job in addition to one’s pay or salary

Answer 16

perks

Question 17

a necessary part of something; a part that is separate, but cannot be avoided

Answer 17

part and parcel [Learning how to paint and fix leaking faucets are part and parcel of being a homeowner.]

Question 18

to hear about something; to hear a rumor; to become aware of something

Answer 18

to get wind of

Question 19

a phrase used to present the most important point or a conclusion about something that is complex

Answer 19

the long and short of it [I could show you graphs and charts full of data all day long, but the long and short of it is that our company is losing market share.]

Question 20

a long meeting held outside of the office where people normally work, often for strategic planning or teambuilding, and often with opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment

Answer 20

retreat

Question 21

for hair to fall out so that there is less hair covering one’s scalp (the skin on the top of one’s head)

Answer 21

to thin

Question 22

dignified; getting respect from others; showing authority

Answer 22

distinguished

Question 23

elusive; not clear, direct, or straightforward; hiding something

Answer 23

evasive

Question 24

to say things that prevent another person from committing suicide by jumping off of a tall building

Answer 24

to talk (someone) off a ledge

Question 25

to behave or function improperly, not as something should

Answer 25

to act up

Question 26

exploit the power of

Answer 26

to harness; “harness natural forces and resources”

Question 27

to explain something in such a way as to deeply convince one's listeners of your point of view

Answer 27

to drive a point home

Question 28

a phrase used when there is only one answer or solution, and there are no other options or alternatives

Answer 28

no two ways about it

Question 29

to make someone feel unwelcome or excluded

Answer 29

to alienate (someone)

Question 30

to accept a new or increased cost and pay for it without asking one’s customers to pay that additional amount, thereby reducing one’s profits

Answer 30

to absorb

Question 31

to counterbalance; to make up for; to do the opposite of something

Answer 31

to offset

Question 32

a percentage calculated by dividing a company’s net income (money received minus expenses) by total revenues (the total amount of money received)

Answer 32

profit margin

Question 33

to become smaller; to be reduced in size

Answer 33

to shrink

Question 34

basic materials, such as wood or metal, that are used to make a product

Answer 34

raw materials

Question 35

a company that sells materials that other companies need to make other goods and services

Answer 35

supplier

Question 36

a very good way to do something; a way of doing something that always succeeds and has no chance of failure

Answer 36

sure way to

Question 37

to do things more quickly or less expensively, but at a lower quality

Answer 37

to cut corners

Question 38

to depart in large numbers; for many people to stop doing or using something

Answer 38

to leave in droves

Question 39

to stop doing something; to no longer continue to do something, especially to stop making a product

Answer 39

to discontinue

Question 40

to make or create many of the same items, especially in a factory

Answer 40

to manufacture

Question 41

entirely; completely

Answer 41

altogether

Question 42

the people who are employed by a business or in an industry; labor; workers

Answer 42

workforce

Question 43

not under consideration; not an option; out of the question

Answer 43

off the table