Speak English Like an American Lesson 10 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 10 – Bob Visits the Village Market
BOB VISITS THE VILLAGE MARKET
Bob goes to the Village Market, a supermarket in town. He asks Carol, the owner of the store, if she would like to sell Susan’s Scrumptious Cookies. Carol agrees, but isn’t able to tell Bob how much she’ll pay him.
Bob: Thank you for making time for me today, Carol.
Carol: Don’t mention it, Bob. What’s up?
Bob: My wife baked these cookies from scratch. Please take one.
Carol: Mmmm, chewy. These are out of this world!
Bob: My wife’s a great cook.
Carol: You can say that again. I don’t want to make a pig of myself, but let me take a few more.
Bob: Oink oink! Just kidding!
Carol: I’d like to sell these at the Village Market. My customers will go nuts over these!
Bob: How much would you pay us for each cookie?
Carol: I’m not sure. I need to roll up my sleeves and figure out the finances.
Bob: Can you give me a ballpark figure now?
Carol: I don’t want to jump the gun. Sit tight for now, and we’ll talk things over this evening.
IDIOMS
- ballpark figure
→ an approximate number
EXAMPLE 1: The auto mechanic didn’t know exactly how much the repairs would cost, but he was able to give me a ballpark figure.
EXAMPLE 2: The plumber estimated that it would cost $150 to fix our sink, but that was just a ballpark figure.
- Don’t mention it!
→ you’re welcome
EXAMPLE 1: “Thanks for bringing the cookies,” I said to Susan. “Don’t mention it!” she replied.
EXAMPLE 2: “Thanks for picking up my suit at the dry cleaners.” – “Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure.”
- (to) figure out
→ to solve; to determine
EXAMPLE 1: Ted couldn’t figure out one of his math problems, so he asked his sister for help.
EXAMPLE 2: Susan is sure she’ll never figure out why kids today behave the way they do.
- from scratch
→ from the beginning; using all fresh ingredients rather than using a prepared mix
EXAMPLE 1: The house was in such bad shape, they decided to tear it down and re-build it from scratch.
EXAMPLE 2: You baked these muffins from scratch? They’re delicious!
- (to) go nuts
→ to react with great enthusiasm
EXAMPLE 1: When Tiger Woods got a hole-in-one during the golf tournament, the crowd went nuts.
EXAMPLE 2: When Eminem appeared on stage, everybody went nuts.
NOTE: This expression also means “to go crazy” or “to become crazy with anger.” Example: Jim went nuts when his wife told him she was leaving him for another man.
- (to) jump the gun
→ to start doing something too soon or ahead of everybody else
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole really jumped the gun by writing her acceptance speech before the results of the elections were announced.
EXAMPLE 2: The bookstore jumped the gun by selling the new Harry Potter book two weeks before its official release date.
- just kidding
→ talking more to get a laugh than anything
EXAMPLE 1: I was just kidding when I said your new orange dress makes you look like a pumpkin.
EXAMPLE 2: Are you sure that’s your boyfriend? I thought he was your grandfather. Just kidding!
- (to) make a pig of oneself
→ to overeat; to eat too much
EXAMPLE 1: I made a pig of myself by eating four slices of pie.
EXAMPLE 2: Of course you could eat another hamburger, but you don’t want to make a pig of yourself.
- (to) make time for
→ to put time in one’s schedule for something
EXAMPLE 1: Don is a busy lawyer, but he always makes time for his family.
EXAMPLE 2: I’ll be sure to make time for you when you visit me.
- out of this world
→ delicious
EXAMPLE 1: Mrs. Field’s oatmeal raisin cookies are out of this world!
EXAMPLE 2: Mmmm, I love your chicken soup. It’s out of this world!
- (to) roll up one’s sleeves
→ to prepare to work
EXAMPLE 1: Let’s roll up our sleeves and finish making these cookies!
EXAMPLE 2: You’d better roll up your sleeves and finish your homework.
- (to) sit tight
→ to wait patiently
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole won’t hear back from the colleges she applied to until April. For now, she’ll just have to sit tight.
EXAMPLE 2: Sit tight, the doctor will be with you in a few minutes.
- (to) talk over
→ to discuss
EXAMPLE 1: Dave and I spent hours talking over the details of the plan.
EXAMPLE 2: Before you make any big decisions, give me a call and we’ll talk things over.
- What’s up?
→ What’s going on? What’s new?
EXAMPLE 1: What’s up? I haven’t spoken to you in a long time.
EXAMPLE 2: You never call me anymore. What’s up with that?
- you can say that again
→ I agree with you
EXAMPLE 1: You think our house needs repairs? You can say that again — even our toilet is broken!
EXAMPLE 2: “The weather is so nasty today.” – “You can say that again! I don’t even want to go outside!”
