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53 Cards in this Set

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1- about to

ready to; on the verge of




without you.

Phrasal verb


EXAMPLE 1: It's a good thing Bob left the furniture store when he did. Peter was so angry, he was ~ throw a dining room chair at him. EXAMPLE 2: I'm glad you're finally home. I was just ~ have dinner

1- after all

despite everything; when everything has been considered; the fact is


Transition


EXAMPLE 1: You'd better invite Ed to your party. ~, he's a good friend. EXAMPLE 2: It doesn't matter what your boss thinks of you. ~, you're going to quit your job anyway.

1- at least

anyway; the good thing is that...

EXAMPLE 1: We've run out of coffee, but ~ we still have tea. EXAMPLE 2: Tracy can't afford to buy a car, but ~ she has a good bicycle.

1- (to) break the news

to make something known

EXAMPLE 1: Samantha and Michael are getting married, but they haven't yet broken the news to their parents. EXAMPLE 2: You'd better break the news to your father carefully. After all, you don't want him to have a heart attack!

1- (to) cost an arm and a leg

to be very expensive

EXAMPLE 1: A college education in America costs an arm and a leg. EXAMPLE 2: All of the furniture at Honest Abe's costs an arm and a leg!

1- dead-end job

a job that won't lead to anything else

EXAMPLE 1: Diane realized that working as a cashier was a dead-end job. EXAMPLE 2: Jim worked many dead-end jobs before finally deciding to start his own business.

1- (let's) face it

accept a difficult reality

EXAMPLE 1: Let's face it, if Ted spent more time studying, he wouldn't be failing so many of his classes! EXAMPLE 2: Let's face it, if you don't have a college degree, it can be difficult to find a high-paying job.

1- (to) give one the creeps

to create a feeling of disgust or horror

EXAMPLE 1: Ted's friend Matt has seven earrings in each ear and an "I Love Mom" tattoo on his arm. He really gives Nicole the creeps. EXAMPLE 2: There was a strange man following me around the grocery store. He was giving me the creeps!

1- (to) go back to the drawing board -

to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning

EXAMPLE 1: Frank's new business failed, so he had to go back to the drawing board.


EXAMPLE 2: The president didn't agree with our new ideas for the company, so we had to go back to the drawing board.

1- (to) go belly-up

to go bankrupt

EXAMPLE 1: Many people lost their jobs when Enron went belly-up. EXAMPLE 2: My company lost $3 million last year. We might go belly-up.

1- (to) give someone the ax

to fire someone

EXAMPLE 1: Mary used to talk to her friends on the phone all day at work, until one day her boss finally gave her the ax.


EXAMPLE 2: Poor Paul! He was given the ax two days before Christmas.

1- (to) lose one's temper

to become very angry

EXAMPLE 1: Bob always loses his temper when his kids start talking on the telephone during dinner. EXAMPLE 2: When Ted handed in his essay two weeks late, his teacher really lost her temper.

1- (to) make up one's mind

to reach a decision; to decide

EXAMPLE 1: Stephanie couldn't make up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford. Finally, she chose Stanford.


EXAMPLE 2: Do you want an omelette or fried eggs? You'll need to make up your mind quickly because the waitress is coming.

1- no point in

no reason to; it's not worth (doing something)

EXAMPLE 1: There's no point in worrying about things you can't change.


EXAMPLE 2: There's no point in going on a picnic if it's going to rain.

1- (to) put up with

to endure without complaint

EXAMPLE 1: For many years, Barbara put up with her husband's annoying behavior. Finally, she decided to leave him.


EXAMPLE 2: I don't know how Len puts up with his mean boss every day.

1- real flop or flop (v)

a failure

EXAMPLE 1: The Broadway play closed after just 4 days - it was a real flop!


EXAMPLE 2: The company was in trouble after its new product flopped.

1- (to) save the day

to prevent a disaster or misfortune

EXAMPLE 1: The Christmas tree was on fire, but Ted threw water on it and saved the day. EXAMPLE 2: We forgot to buy champagne for our New Year's party, but Sonia brought some and really saved the day!

1- (as) sharp as a tack

very intelligent

EXAMPLE 1: Jay scored 100% on his science test. He's as sharp as a tack. EXAMPLE 2: Anna got a scholarship to Yale. She's as sharp as a tack.

1- (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.

1- top dollar

the highest end of a price range; a lot of money

EXAMPLE 1: Nicole paid top dollar for a shirt at Banana Republic.


EXAMPLE 2: Wait until those jeans go on sale. Why pay top dollar?

2- (to) change one's mind

to change one's opinion or decision

EXAMPLE 1: Brandon wasn't going to take a vacation this year, but then he changed his mind and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.


EXAMPLE 2: Why aren't you applying to medical school this year? Did you change your mind about becoming a doctor?

2- easier said than done

more difficult than you think

EXAMPLE 1: You want to climb Mount Everest? Easier said than done!


EXAMPLE 2: Moving into a new home is easier said than done.

2- (to) get canned

[slang] - to lose one's job; to get fired


SYNONYMS: to get sacked; to be given the ax

EXAMPLE 1: After Chris got canned, it took him a year to find a new job. EXAMPLE 2: Lisa is a lousy secretary. She deserves to get canned!

2- (to) hang in there

to persevere; to not give up

EXAMPLE 1: I know you're four games behind, but you can still win the tennis match. Just hang in there!


EXAMPLE 2: Hang in there, Don! Your invention will soon be a success.

2- if worse comes to worst

in the worst case; if absolutely necessary

EXAMPLE 1: Ted's car isn't running well. If worse comes to worst, he can take the bus to school.


EXAMPLE 2: I know you're running out of money. If worse comes to worst, you can always sell some of your jewelry.

2- (to) keep one's chin up

to stay positive

EXAMPLE 1: Even when he was unemployed and homeless, Bill managed to keep his chin up. EXAMPLE 2: Keep your chin up! You'll find your lost dog soon.

2- last resort

if there are no other alternatives left; the last solution for getting out of a difficulty

EXAMPLE 1: David was locked out of his house. He knew that as a last resort, he could always break a window.


EXAMPLE 2: I don't like taking medicine. I'll only take it as a last resort.

2- (to) live from hand to mouth

to barely have enough money to survive

EXAMPLE 1: Jenny was earning $5 an hour working at the store. She was really living from hand to mouth. EXAMPLE 2: George is really poor. He lives from hand to mouth.

2- (to) look on the bright side

to be optimistic; to think about the positive part or aspect of a situation

EXAMPLE 1: Leo was upset that his soccer game was canceled. His mother said, "Look on the bright side, now you can stay home and watch TV."


EXAMPLE 2: You lost your job? Look on the bright side, now you'll have more free time!

2- (to) make ends meet

to manage one's money so as to have enough to live on; to be okay financially

EXAMPLE 1: Kimberly wasn't able to make ends meet so she had to ask her parents to pay her rent. EXAMPLE 2: If you can't make ends meet, you'll need to start spending less.

2- out of work

unemployed; not working

EXAMPLE 1: Gary was out of work for a year before finding a new job. EXAMPLE 2: Bob is out of work. Do you know anybody who might want to hire him?

2- right-hand man

the most helpful assistant or employee

EXAMPLE 1: Juan's right-hand man helps him make all of his decisions. EXAMPLE 2: When Jack Thompson retired as president of his company, his right-hand man took over.

2- (to) set eyes on

to look at; to see for the first time

EXAMPLE 1: Ted was in love from the moment he set eyes on Amber. EXAMPLE 2: Susan knew from the moment she set eyes on Ted's friend Lucas that he would be trouble.

2- (to) stab someone in the back

to betray someone

EXAMPLE 1: Jill and Heather were friends, until Heather stabbed Jill in the back by stealing her boyfriend. EXAMPLE 2: You're firing me after all I've done for this company? You're really stabbing me in the back!

2- (to be) stressed out

under severe strain; very anxious

EXAMPLE 1: Al is so stressed out about his job that he can't sleep at night.


EXAMPLE 2: You've been so stressed out lately. You really need to take a long vacation!

2- (to) tell off

to scold; to tell someone in strong words what one really thinks

EXAMPLE 1: When Ted showed up for chemistry class a half an hour late, his teacher really told him off. EXAMPLE 2: Patty is going to tell off the plumber because the pipes he said he fixed are still leaking.

2- thank goodness

I'm grateful; I'm relieved

EXAMPLE 1: When Ted came home at 4 a.m. last Sunday, his mother said, "Thank goodness you're home! I was so worried about you."


EXAMPLE 2: Thank goodness you didn't go to California on Monday. It rained there every day this week.

2- (to) think big

to set high goals

EXAMPLE 1: Why run for Governor of New York? Think big: run for President of the United States! EXAMPLE 2: Ken and Sandra hope to sell their house for $3 million dollars. They always think big.

2- What's the matter?

What's the problem?

EXAMPLE 1: What's the matter, Bob? You don't look very happy.


EXAMPLE 2: Oscar looks very pale. What's the matter with him?

2- When pigs fly!

[slang] - never

EXAMPLE 1: Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the guitar? When pigs fly!


EXAMPLE 2: Sure, I'll give you my new laptop. When pigs fly! SYNONYMS: when hell freezes over; never in a million years

3- 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.

3- (to) blow something - EXAMPLE 1: Brenda blew the interview and didn't get the job offer.

to spoil or botch something

EXAMPLE 2: Randy managed to get a date with the most popular girl in his class. Now I hope he doesn't blow it!

3- (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!

3- 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.

3- (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.

3- 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!

3- (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?

3- (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.

3- lost cause

something hopeless


a person or thing that can no longer hope to succeed or be changed for the better.

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.

3- (to) not give a hoot

to not care about


SYNONYMS: to not give a damn; to not give a darn

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.

3- 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.

3- (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."

3- (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!