Idiomatic American English - Lesson 9 When the chips are dorvn - Thấm Tâm Vy

Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 8th, 2019 PRACTISE AMERICAN ENGLISH 5

IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 5

Lesson 9. When the Chips Are Dorvn Dialogue Tom: I can't believe I'm down and out. I'm living hand to mouth and pinching pennies. Pat: You can always turn to me when the chips are down. Tom: I don't want any handouts. I don't mooch off anyone. Pat: Just sit tight. You'll get out from under. Vocabulary - down and out: (adj.) having no money, no success - hand to mouth: (adv. or adj.) barely able to cover daily expenses - pinch pennies: (v.) be thrifty, careful how you spend money - turn to: (v.) go to for help - when the chips are down: (adv.) at the worst time, when one faces the biggest obstacle - handout: (n.) charity - mooch: (v.) borrow, beg, get without paying - sit tight: (v.) wait patiently - get out from under: (v.) end a worrisome situation

PRACTICE Exercise I. Complete the sentences with the c:orrect idiom.

a) get out from under b) turn to c) mooch d) sit tight e) down and out f) hand to mouth g) pinching pennies h) when the chips are down i) handout 1. It's terrible to see those old men on a corner asking people for a............................. 2. He lost his job last week and now his family is living............................. 3. Someday he wants his own business so now he's saving and............................. 4. She needs money. Her parents are the only ones she can............................. 5. You only know your true friends............................. 6. He used to be very successful, but he gambled it away. Now he's............................. 7. He never buys his own drinks but he'll .........................from everyone else. 8. If you work hard enough in that company someday you'll be an executive. Just........................ 9. I know you have a lot of bills, but with your new raise, you should be able to.......................... Exercise Il. Rewrite the phrases in italics, using the proper idiomatic expression. 1. I know you're anxious but you'll just have to wait patiently. 2. He's always trying to get something without paying for it. 3. He doesn't like to get anything from charity. 4. He asked me for money when he was in a crisis. 5. He's a failure now. 6. They have no money saved. They can just pay their bills from day to day. 7. He's very careful how he spends money. 8. He lost his job. Who can he go to for help?

9. He's going to be able to pay his bills because he won the lottery.

Lesson 10. Keeping One's Head Above Water Dialogue Tony: I'm racking my brains to find a way to keep my head above water. Edward: I didn't know you were hard up. Tony: I put up a good front but I haven't seen daylight for a long time. Edward: I'll give you some moola to bail you out. Tony: That's just a drop in the bucket. I need too much to get back on my feet. Vocabulary - rack one's brains: (v.) try hard to think or remember - keep one's head above water: (v.) be able to exist on one's income, pay bills - hard up: (adj.) in desperate need of something - put up a good front: (v.) pretend to be happy, fool people about one's status - see daylight: (v.) achieve or expect a favorable result - moola: (n.) money - bail one out: (v.) help - a drop in the bucket: (n.) a small amount - back on one's feet: (adj.) financiaily independent or physically healthy again.

PRACTICE Exercise I. Complete the sentences with the correct idiom.

a) bail him out b) get back on his feet c) keep his head above water d) hard up

e) racking his brains f) a drop in the bucket g) see daylight

h) put up a good front i) moola 1. He works in advertising and is....................... 5constantly to think of creative ideas. 2. I'd like to borrow some money because I'm.......................right now. 3. He finds it difficult supporting a family and trying to....................... 4. I have so much work. I don't know when I'll....................... 5. How much.......................would that car cost? 6. Whenever he gets in trouble, his parents …