More Speak English Like an American Lesson 2 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 2: Mark Discusses His Regrets
MARK DISCUSSES HIS REGRETS
Mark regrets telling Ron that his ex-girlfriend Cindy was the source of his information. He doesn’t want to call Cindy back because he’s afraid she’ll think he wants to date her again. Steve tells him he’ll need to call her anyway.
Steve: What’s wrong.
Mark: I’m kicking myself for telling Ron about my ex-girlfriend. He’s on my case. He wants me to call her for more information.
Steve: What’s the big deal?
Mark: She’s off her rocker, and I think she still has the hots for me. I don’t want to open a can of worms!
Steve: So she’s got a few screws loose! It couldn’t be that bad.
Mark: It is. She’s a control freak, too.
Steve: If I were you, I’d just call her. Suck it up!
Mark: I’m afraid it’s a recipe for disaster. If I call her, she may think I want to get back together.
Steve: well, Ron is not going to let you off the hook. He wants more information.
Mark: I’m in a no-win situation. If I don’t call her, Ron will keep breathing down my neck. If I do caller, I’ll have to talk to her!
IDIOMS
- (to) kick oneself
→ to regret something
Example: Sue is kicking herself for quitting her job before finding a new one. Now she’s got no money and can’t get any interviews.
- on someone’s case
→ bothering or nagging somebody to do something
Example: Ted complained that his mother was always on his case about doing his homework.
- What’s the big deal?
→ What’s the problem? What are you worried about?
Example: “So Diane’s decided to leave the company. What’s the big deal?” – “She’s one of our top employees!”
- off one’s rocker
→ crazy
Example: When Briney Spears shaved her head, some people thought she was off her rocker.
- (to) have the hots for someone
→ to have romantic feelings for someone
Example: Gary has the hots for you. Didn’t you see how he was starting at you during the meeting?
- (to) open a can of worms
→ to do something that will lead to problems later
Example: We’d like to let you work from home, but it would just open a can of worms. Everybody would want to work from home.
- (to) have a few screws loose
→ to be crazy
Example: Nick met a woman on the Internet, and she showed up in a wedding dress on their first date! He realized she must have a few screws loose.
- control freak
→ a person who wants to control everything
Example: “You moved the chairs around in the conference room without asking me first?” – “Yes, I did. I didn’t realize you were such a control freak!”
- (to) suck it up
→ to deal with something unpleasant; to endure something without complaining
Example: I know you don’t like your roommate, but the school year is almost over. Suck it up for another couple of months.
- recipe for disaster
→ something which is likely to cause trouble; a bad idea or plan
Example: Emily put the time and place of her next party on Facebook.com for everybody to see? That’s a recipe for disaster!
- (to) get back together
→ to restart a romantic relationship
Example: Ken and Nancy got divorced two years ago, but lately they’ve been talking about getting back together.
- (to) let someone off the hook
→ to free someone from a duty or obligation; to forgive someone for not doing a duty
Example: You’re too busy to walk the dog today? Okay, I’ll do it today, but I’m not letting you off the hook for tomorrow.
- no-win situation
→ a situation where all options are unpleasant
Example: I’m in a no-win situation. If I promote Rachel, then Bill will be angry. If I promote Bill, then Rachel will leave the company.
- (to) breathe down someone’s neck
→ to watch over someone very closely in a way that makes them uncomfortable or pressures them to do something
Example: I promised my boss I’d finish the report by Friday. Hopefully, he won’t be breathing down my neck all week.
