More Speak English Like an American Lesson 1 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test

Lesson 1: Gourmet International Gets New Competition

GOURMET INTERNATIONAL GETS NEW COMPETITION 

Mark, Ron, and Steve work at Gourmet International, a small food company specializing in ethnic frozen foods. Mark, a marketing manager at the company, tells his boss Ron and his co-worker Steve that Grand Foods, a large food company, is going to start competing with them in the frozen Chinese meals market. Mark got his information from an ex-girlfriend. Ron tells Mark to call her back and see if she can give more details.

Mark: I just found out that Grand Foods is planning to come out with a line of gourmet frozen Chinese meals.

Ron: It was only a matter of time before a big company decided to enter the market.

Mark: That’s true. We’ve been making money hand over fist with out frozen Chinese meals for the past two years!

Steve: They’re going to eat our lunch! Mark: Our dinner, too.

Ron: Let’s not push the panic button yet. Mark, how did you get this information?

Mark: I have my sources.

Ron: Out with it! Who told you?

Mark: An ex-girlfriend. She’s the head honcho at Shop-Well.

Ron: Call her back and see what else she can tell us. We need to get this information by hook or by crook.

Mark: She’s my ex.* It’s very awkward!

Ron: Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone.

Mark: I’ll call her tomorrow, but this is not in my job description.

Ron: Don’t worry about your job description. If you drag your feet on this, you’re not even going to have a job! Call her back right now.

*ex – a former spouse or romantic partner (short for ex-husband, ex-wife or ex-boyfriend)

IDIOMS

• (to) come out with

→ to release (as in a product or service)

Example: Levi’s has come out with a new line of “eco jeans” made from organic cotton.

• (to be) only a matter of time before

→ to be sure to happen

Example: The stoplight at the intersection is broken. It’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident.

Note: You will sometimes see this expression as “it’s just a matter of time before.” Also, you may hear the variation “it’s only a matter of time until.”

• (to) enter the market

→ to start competing; to become a competitor

Example: Apple entered the market for cell phones in 2007 with the iPhone.

• (to) make money hand over fist

→ to make a lot of money, often quickly or easily

Example: Mike is making money hand over fist by buying old apartment buildings, renovating them, and then renting them out.

• (to) eat one’s lunch

→ to take away one’s business

Example: Our competitor’s new cell phone offers more features than ours at a cheaper price. If we don’t act quickly, they’re going to eat our lunch.

• (to) push the panic button

→ to panic suddenly; to everreact

Example: Our soccer team has lost four games in a row, but we’re not ready to push the panic button yet.

• I have my sources

→ I know people who have information (say this when you don’t want to say who gave you some information)

Example: “Who told you that Jack is planning to leave the company?” – “I have my resources.”

• Out with it

→ Tell me; Don’t hold back the information

Example: The teacher said, “Out with it! Who drew this picture of me on the blackboard?”

• head honcho

→ an important person; the boss or somebody in a senior position

Example: When Jeff Immelt became the head honcho of General Electric, he made some strategic changes at the company.

• by hook or by crook

→ in any way possible, fair or unfair

Example: Roy was going to get the client to sign the contract by hook or by crook.

• (to) leave (or get out of) one’s comfort zone

→ to do something that makes one feel uncomfortatble in order to achieve a certain goal

Example: Larry doesn’t like speaking in front of large groups, so he’ll have to leave his comfort zone to make a speech at is daughter’s wedding.

• This is not in my job description

→ an expression used to point out that what you’re being asked to do is beyond your usual responsibilities (and you are not very happy about it)

Example: I can’t believe I’m cleaning everybody’s old food out of the office refrigerator. This is not in my job description!

• (to) drag one’s feet

→ to delay doing something

Example: You’d better stop dragging your feet and start working on your college applications. Otherwise, you’re not going to get them in on time.