Idioms lesson 8 - 10 Flashcards
To be about to
to be at the moment of doing something, to be ready This idiom is often sued with the adverb just.
-I was just about to leave when you telephoned.
-Oh, hi, John. We’re just about to eat dinner.
to turn around
to move or face in the opposite direction.
-The man turned his car around and drove back the way he came.
-The company has been very successful since the new business manager was able to turn it around.
to take turns
to alternate, to change people while doing something.
-During the trip, Darlene and I took turns driving so that neither of us would tire out.
-I have to make sure that my two sons take turns playing the video game.
to pay attention (to)
to look at and listen to someone while they are speaking, to concentrate.
-Please pay attention to me while I’m speaking to you!
-You’ll have to pay more attention in class if you want to get a good grade.
to brush up on
to review something in order to refresh one’s memory.
-Before I traveled to Mexico, I brushed up on my Spanish; I haven’t practiced it since high school.
-In order to take that advanced mathematics class, Sidney will have to
brush up on his algebra.
over and over (again)
repeatedly (also: time after time, time and again).
-The actress studied her lines in the movie over and over until she knew them well.
-Children have difficulty remembering rules, so it’s often necessary to repeat them over and over again.
-Time and again I have to remind Bobby to put on his seatbelt in the car.
to wear out
to use something until it has no value or worth anymore, to make useless through wear (S).
-When I wear out these shoes, I’ll have to buy some that last longer.
-What do you do with your clothes after your wear them out?
to throw away
to discard, to dispose of (S).
-I generally throw away my clothes when I wear them out.
-Don’t throw the magazines away; I haven’t read them yet.
to fall in love
to begin to love.
This idiom is used with the expression at first sight to indicate a sudden interest in love.
-Ben and Sal fell in love in high school, and got married after graduation.
-Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?
to go out
to stop functioning; to stop burning; to leave home or work (also: to step out).
-The lights went out all over the city because of an electrical problem.
-The campers didn’t have to put out the fire because it went out by itself.
-Gary isn’t here right now; he went out to the store for a moment.
-I have to step out of the office briefly to pick up a newspaper.
out of the question
impossible, not feasible.
-Stephen told Deborah that it was out of the question for her to borrow his new car.
-Don’t expect me to do that again. It’s absolutely out of the question.
to have to do with
to have some connection with or relationship to.
-Ralph insisted that he had nothing to do with breaking the window.
-What does your suggestion have to do with our problem?
to wake up
to arise from sleep, to awaken (S)
Compare wake up and get up (Lesson 1) as used in the first example.
-Marge woke up this morning very early, but she did not get up until about ten o’clock.
-My alarm clock wakes me up at the same time every day.
to be in charge of
to manage, to have responsibility for.
-Jane is in charge of the office while Mrs. Haig is a business trip.
-Who is in charge of arrangements for the dance next week?
as soon as
just after, when
-As soon as it started to snow, the children ran outside with big smiles on their faces.
-I’m busy now, but I’ll meet you as soon as I’ve finished this work.
