Speak English Like an American Lesson 3 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 3 – Ted’s Day at School
TED’S DAY AT SCHOOL
Ted tells his parents he did poorly on his chemistry test. They tell him he needs to get serious and study more.
Susan: How was your day at school today, Ted?
Ted: Bad. I had a chemistry test, and I blew it!
Susan: Maybe if you didn’t cut class so often, you’d do better.
Bob: That’s right, son. Stop slacking off and start hitting the books!
Ted: But I can’t stand chemistry class. Besides, it’s a lost cause. That class is way over my head.
Susan: You need to buckle down.
Ted: When I’m a famous musician, people won’t give a hoot about my knowledge of atoms and molecules.
Bob: That’s beside the point.
Susan: We know you have your heart set on going to New York University.
Bob: And you don’t stand a chance of getting in there with such poor grades!
IDIOMS
- beside the point
→ not relevant; not important
EXAMPLE 1: Whether or not I asked the waiter to bring us water is beside the point. Waiters should always bring water to the table.
EXAMPLE 2: The reason you’re late is beside the point. The fact is, your dinner is now cold.
- (to) blow something
→ to spoil or botch something
EXAMPLE 1: Brenda blew the interview and didn’t get the job offer.
EXAMPLE 2: Randy managed to get a date with the most popular girl in his class. Now I hope he doesn’t blow it!
- (to) buckle down
→ to start working seriously
EXAMPLE 1: If Don buckles down now, he might be able to graduate from high school this year.
EXAMPLE 2: Team, if we want to win this tournament, we’re going to need to buckle down!
- can’t stand
→ to hate
EXAMPLE 1: Bob can’t stand bureaucrats, so he’d never do well working at a large corporation.
EXAMPLE 2: Nicole can’t stand broccoli. She simply refuses to eat it.
- (to) cut class
→ to miss class without an excuse
EXAMPLE 1: Ted often cuts class to spend more time with his girlfriend.
EXAMPLE 2: If you keep cutting French class, you’re going to fail it.
- Get real!
→ be serious or realistic about what’s going on
EXAMPLE 1: You think you won’t get a speeding ticket when you drive 85 miles per hour? Get real!
EXAMPLE 2: You think you’re going to win $1 million in the lottery? Get real!
- (to) have one’s heart set on
→ to really want something
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole has her heart set on going to New York this weekend.
EXAMPLE 2: Did you really have your heart set on going to Harvard?
- (to) hit the books
→ to start studying
EXAMPLE 1: Ted parried all weekend. Finally, on Sunday night, he decided it was time to hit the books.
EXAMPLE 2: Hit the books! I know you have a test tomorrow.
- lost cause
→ something hopeless
EXAMPLE 1: Cindy spent five years studying Russian. Finally, she realized it was a lost cause. She would never learn it.
EXAMPLE 2: Jack needs to stop drinking so much coffee, but he’s so addicted to caffeine that it’s a lost cause.
- (to) not give a hoot
→ to not care about
EXAMPLE 1: Tom likes to walk around town in his pajamas — he doesn’t give a hoot what people think.
EXAMPLE 2: Stephanie doesn’t give a hoot if she’s the only one wearing a green dress to the high school prom.
SYNONYMS: to not give a damn; to not give a darn
- over one’s head
→ beyond one’s understanding
EXAMPLE 1: The professor was speaking over our heads. None of us could understand him.
EXAMPLE 2: The article on cloning was written for scientists. It was over my head.
- (to) slack off
→ to waste time
EXAMPLE 1: Amanda doesn’t get much done at the office. She’s too busy slacking off.
EXAMPLE 2: I’d better stop slacking off. My essay is due in two hours.
NOTE: People who slack off all the time are called “slackers.”
- (to) stand a chance
→ to have the possibility of success
EXAMPLE 1: Although the American figure skaters were good, they didn’t stand a chance of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
EXAMPLE 2: Wilton High School has the best soccer team in the state. I’m afraid we don’t stand a chance against them!
