Idiomatic American English - Lesson 27+28 - Thấm Tâm Vy

Thẩm Tâm Vy, Dec 05th, 2019 IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 14

IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 14

Lesson 27 ~ A Hard Nut to Crack Dialogue

Matt: I can't put my finger on why business is bad. It's a hard nut to crack. Shelley: Do you go overboard when you buy merchandise? Matt: Sometimes I get carried away but I usually buy within reason. Shelley: Let's try to pinpoint it. Is your rent too high? Matt: What I pay would make your hair stand on end. Shelley: If that's the problem, maybe you should pull up stakes.

Vocabulary

- put one's flnger on: (v.) find precisely, remember exactly - go overboard: (v.) overact, be reckless - be carried away: (adj.) adversely influenced by strong emotions - within reason: (adv. or adj.) sensible, reasonable; reasonably - pinpoint: (v.) find exact location or cause - hard (tough) nut to crack: (n.) something difficult to do or understand - make one's hair stand on end: (v.) frighten, horrify - pull up stakes: (v.) move to another location

PRACTICE

I. Completethe sentences with the correct idiom.

a) make your hair stand on end b) within reason c) carried away d) pinpoint

e) put my finger on f) go overboard g) a hard nut to crack h) pull up stakes 1. I haven't been feeling very well lately, but I can’t ...................the cause. 2. Many executives get transferred and their family must .................... 3. Her cooking is so good, I always ....................and eat too much. 4. The movie was so sad, she started crying loudly. She didn't realize she got............... 5. That's a beautilul dress. I'll buy it if the price is.................... 6. Getting into show business is.................... 7. The extreme poverty in that country would.................... 8. I know I met him somewhere but I can't.................... it. II. Rewritethe phrasesin italics, usingthe proper icltomatic 1. The American pioneers kept moving to another location. 2. Passing chemistry courses in college is difficult to do. 3, Going in that old house at night would frighten you. 4.That's a beautiful watch. I'll buy it if the price is sensible. 5. Some dieters don't use judgment when eating. 6. When I went to Mexico, silver jewelry was so cheap. I spent more than I wanted to. 7. I know the author of that book, but I just can't remember her name. 8. I can't remember the exact location.

Lesson 28. The Last Straw Dialogue

Sam: That was the last straw. I don't like people making fun of me. Nick: Just shrug it off. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill Sam: If he does it again, the fur will fly. Nick: Don't make waves. Sam: If I don't nip it in the bud, he'll keep doing it. Nick: If I were you, I'd bury the hatchet.

Vocabulary

- the last straw: (n.) the last insult or injury that one can endure - make fun of: (v.) ridicule - shrug off: (v.) not be bothered or hurt, dismiss - make a mountain out of'a molehill: (v.) make a big problem out of a small one - the fur will fly, make the fur fly: (v.) create a disturbance - make waves: (v.) upset the status quo, create a disturbance - nip in the bud: (v.) prevent at the start - bury the hatchet: (v) make peace, stop arguing

PRACTICE

I. Completethe sentences with the correct idiom.

a) last straw b) make fun of c) nip it in the bud d) shrugged off e) make waves

f) make a mountain out of a molehill g) bury the hatchet h) fur's going to fly 1. They have been fighting for years. I don't think they will ever.................... 2. It wasn't difficult. It was easy. Don't .................... 3. When your child starts smoking, it's best to.................... 4. The baseball pitcher ................... the booing of the fans. 5. He lost all his money at the racetrack. When he gets home, the................... 6. Some people avoid controversy. They don't like to.................... 7. Her son watched TV all day and didn't work. When he started to gamble, she was furious. That was the.................... 8. It's not nice to ...................crippled people. II. Rewrite the phrases …