More Speak English Like an American Lesson 17 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 17: Mark Gets a Surprise Call
MARK GETS A SURPRISE CALL
Mark and Sara are talking about going out for dumplings when Mark gets a surprise phone call. It’s Cindy yelling at him for going away without telling her. Mark tells her that he doesn’t need to tell her where he’s going because they’re not together anymore. Cindy says she thought they were going to get married.
Sara: Good morning! What’s that you’re having for breakfast?
Mark: Rice and pickled vegetables. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Sara: Wow, You’ve really gone native. That didn’t take long.
Mark: I asked the hotel where we can get the best dumplings in town. I’ve got a list of places.
Sara: Don’t fill up on rice now. Save room for the dumplings!
(Mark answers his cell phone)
Mark: Don’t worry. Oh, there’s my cell phone.
Mark: Hello?
Cindy: Mark, it’s Cindy! Where have you been? You dropped off the face of the earth.
Mark: I’m in Beijing. It was a last-minute business trip.
Cindy: You went to China on the spur of the moment?
Mark: That’s right.
Cindy: Well, when you be back in town? I need to see you!
Mark: Cindy, I can’t see you anymore.
Cindy: What?
Mark: It’s over between us.
Cindy: What? You and I were going to get hitched!
Mark: We must’ve gotten our wires crossed! I was never going to marry you.
Cindy: I can’t believe my ears! So all this time we were just stringing me along.
Mark: We’re breaking up. This is a bad connection. I’d better hang up now.
IDIOMS
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do
→ When you’re visiting a foreign country or new place, behave like the local people
Example: Once she moved to the United States, Juanita decided she would only speak English. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” she said.
- (to) go native
→ to start behaving like the locals when in a new place or a foreign country
Example: When Adam moved to Los Angeles, he went native and started wearing shorts and sandals to work every day.
- (to) fill up on
→ to eat so much of something that you’re no longer hungry
Example: If you fill up on bread, you won’t be able to eat the rest of your dinner.
- (to) save room for
→ to make sure you still have some appetite left for
Example: Be sure to save room for dessert. I baked an apple pie.
- (to) drop off the face of the earth
→ to disappear
Example: Maria and I used to talk on the phone every week, but then she stopped calling and just dropped off the face of the earth.
- last-minute
→ unplanned; with little prior planning; at the latest possible moment
Example: I know this is a last-minute invitation, but are you free tonight to come over for dinner?
- on the spur of the moment
→ on very short notice; unplanned; spontaneous
Example: We had no plans for the weekend, so on the spur of the moment we decided to go to Altantic City.
- It’s over between us
→ Our romantic relationship is finished
Example: “How are you and Vera doing?” – “It’s over between us.”
- (to) get hitched
→ to get married
Example: Bob and Ann got hitched last Saturday night in Las Vegas.
- (to) get one’s wires crossed
→ to have a misunderstanding
Example: “I waited for you Starbucks for 45 minutes this morning. Where were you?” – “We must’ve gotten our wires crossed. I thought our meeting was tomorrow morning!”
- I can’t believe my ears
→ I’m shocked by what you’re telling me
Example: Bart got promoted to vice president? I can’t believe my ears! He is the worst manager in this company.
- (to) string someone along
→ to create false hope in someone; to deceive someone in order to get something from them
Example: Before you move in with Sam, make sure that he’s serious about getting marrried, and he isn’t just stringing you along.
- (to) break up
→
1) to lose a telephone connection
Example: “Hello? Hello? I can hardly hear you. We’re breaking up.”
2) to end a romantic relationship
Example: Wendy and Mike fight all the time, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they break up.
