idiom 2

Bug

Meaning/Usage: To annoy

Explanation: Bugs, like mosquitoes can be annoying when they are buzzing around your ear, or bothering you in some other way.

"I need to concentrate on this, so stop bugging me."

"I need to get out of the house. My little brother has been bugging me all day."

"Let's go bug John."

"If you bug me one more time, I'm going to kick your butt."

Sleep on it

Meaning/Usage: To take time to think about something.

Explanation: Some people report that they think more clearly after a good night sleep. Also, some people say they often times regret a decision they have made. When something is important, making a decision after a good night sleep is a good practice.

"I've been thinking about this problem for two hours. I think I will sleep on it. It might come to me in the morning."

"I don't think I can decide now. Let me sleep on it and I'll tell you my answer tomorrow."

"I'm going to need to sleep on it. I don't want to rush my answer right now."

Play it by ear

Meaning/Usage: To decide to do something as the situation develops; choosing to deal with a situation as more events unfold.

Explanation: The original meaning is to play music without using a score or music sheet to look at. Just as a musician will play something unplanned without looking at something, this idiom is to do something unplanned depending on the situation.

"I'll have to play it by ear because I don't know how long they want me to work."

"We'll have to play it by ear for next Friday because everything is uncertain."

"Should we plan something for this Saturday or should we play it by ear?"

Speak of the devil

Meaning/Usage: When someone appears just as you are talking about that person.

Explanation: This is from English and is shortened from the original phrase, "Speak of the Devil and he doth appear." The shortened form presented in this lesson became popular.

"I was at a party last night, and I saw Jake play the guitar in front of an audience... speak of the devil, there's Jake right now."

"Joanne did great on her presentation. Speak of the devil... Hi Joanne."

Grab a bite

Meaning/Usage: To get something to eat

Explanation: "A bite" refers to food. This is a pretty literal so it is simply saying to get something to eat.

"When do you want to go grab a bite?"

"I don't have much time, so let's grab a quick bite."

"If you didn't have lunch yet, let's grab a bite to eat."

Take it easy

Meaning/Usage: To relax; to stop working so hard; to calm down

Explanation: Usually used to calm someone down when they are too excited, or when you want to tell someone to relax because they are working too much.

"You're pushing yourself too hard. Take it easy."

"Take it easy man. You're putting too much pressure on yourself."

"I don't want to take it easy so stop telling me to take it easy."

Go with the flow

Meaning/Usage: To do things as other people are doing it because it is easier to do; to not go against the common way of doing things

Explanation: Rowing up the river is very difficult to do. If you go with the flow, you are following the path of the least resistance.

"Why do you do everything differently? You should just go with the flow."

"If you don't know where the shuttle is, just go with the flow. Everyone is going in that direction."

"If you don't want to stand out, go with the flow."

Twenty-four seven

Meaning/Usage: Constantly; always available; every minute of the day and night

Explanation: There are 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week.

"7-11 is a great store because they are open twenty-four seven."

"If a business doesn't provide twenty-four seven customer support, they will not succeed."

"You better be careful because I'm going to be watching you twenty-four seven."

"They're available twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year."

Under the weather

Meaning/Usage: Feeling sick; not well

Explanation: When a sailor gets sick on a boat, they would go under the deck and away from the weather to get better. This phrase became popular to express sickness.

"I'm going to stay home because I'm feeling under the weather today."

"I told my boss that I was under the weather. She told me to stay home for the day."

"My wife is feeling under the weather, so I need to get home early today."

You can say that again

Meaning/Usage: Completely agreeing with a statement

Explanation: When you hear something you agree with, you can simply agree. But if you completely agree, then you wouldn't mind hearing it again. This is not literally telling the person to say it again, but to tell the person that you "really" agree.

A: "Britney Spears is so hot!"

B: "You can say that again."

Broke

Meaning/Usage: To have no money

Explanation: "Broke" is an informal way of saying "broken." Long time ago broken was defined as "having no money" or to "become bankrupt, to fail." Although the meaning long time ago meant bankrupt, it is used regularly just to express you don't have any money at that moment.

"I'm flat broke."

"I can't afford to buy that television. I'm totally broke."

"I can't pay my bills. I'm broke."

Beats Me

Meaning/Usage: To not know; to not understand

Explanation: Not many resources on this phrase, but could come from beating information out of someone. When someone is holding back information, they would get beat until they tell the answer. In this case, the person could be saying that even if I was beaten, I wouldn't know. Therefore, it became popular to say "beats me" to indicate you do not know.

"It beats me how they finished before us."

"Beats me why he was so mean to you."

"Beats me how she found out we did it."

I Don't Buy it

Meaning/Usage: Disagree; to not be convinced

Explanation: This phrase comes from a popular way of getting agreement, which is "buy in." For example, a company director can say, "we need buy in from all the board members to proceed." In this statement, "buy in" is getting agreement. Therefore, if you "don't buy it," then you are not agreeing.

"He said he didn't do it but I don't buy it."

"Their prices are supposed to be better but I don't buy it."

"She said she was sorry but I don't buy it."

Keep Your Cool

Meaning/Usage: To act normal

Explanation: "Cool" is described as composure and the absence of excitement in a person. To maintain composure, you wouldn't get excited and you would act normally.

"I know you're upset but you have to keep your cool."

"Here she comes, keep your cool."

"Keep your cool. You don't want to mess this up."

Sort Of

Meaning/Usage: A little; kind of

Explanation: Usually used to express a lesser degree.

"Dinner was sort of expensive."

"I sort of like her."

"I sort of know how to cook."

Good For You

Meaning/Usage: Expressing that you are happy for a person

Explanation: This is pretty literal. However, this can be used sarcastically.

"Good for you, you finally passed your test."

"I heard you got accepted to college, good for you."

"I heard you got married recently, good for you."

Good Luck

Meaning/Usage: Wishing someone well. Also can mean that it is not possible.

Explanation: The literal definition of wishing someone well is very literal. It is used very frequently in this way. However, another popular way this phrase is used is when you don't think a person can do something. The third sentence below is an example of this.

"Good luck on your interview tomorrow."

"I heard you're going to look for a new house, good luck."

"Good luck trying to find a better deal than this one."

Shotgun

Meaning/Usage: To claim the front seat in a car.

Explanation: Instead of people fighting over who will sit in the front seat, people would decide who gets the front seat by whoever shouts out "shotgun" first.

"Why does he always get to ride shotgun?"

"If we go to the store with mom I call shotgun."

"I am heading out to the party. Do you want to ride shotgun?"

Who Cares

Meaning/Usage: To express something is not important to you.

Explanation: This phrase is usually used by itself when you are responding to a statement someone made. The example sentences below show a full sentence to provide more context, but it is normally used by itself.

"Who cares if they win or lose?"

"Who cares whether or not it rains."

"Who cares about what they think."

Big Deal

Meaning/Usage: Something really important. Often times used with "no" to express that the event is not as important as they think.

Explanation: This phrase is also used sarcastically. For example, if someone says "I did 30 push-ups this morning." Someone else can respond, "Big deal. I did 50 push-ups!"

"Passing my driver's test was no big deal."

"He thinks he is such a big deal."

"It's no big deal if we don't go tonight."

What a Small World

Meaning/Usage: Used when a person knows someone you know by chance

Explanation: The world is very large with a lot of people in it. When two people know the same person by chance, then the world doesn't seem so big. In this case, the phrase "what a small world" is commonly used.

"I didn't know that you knew my uncle. What a small world."

"You have family in Florida too? What a small world."

"I went to high school with his mom, what a small world."

What's going on?

Meaning/Usage: To ask what is happening

Explanation: This is fairly straightforward and is used more in spoken English.

"What's going on tonight?"

"I'm not sure why she is upset, what's going on?"

"What's going on with your job?"

Now You're Talking

Meaning/Usage: Used to agree with someone

Explanation: This is similar to "you can say that again." When someone talks and talks and talks, and then finally says something you really like or agree with, you can say, "now you're talking."

"A cold drink sounds great, now you're talking!"

"Now you're talking, the beach sounds relaxing."

"Now you're talking, I would love to go out to the club tonight."

Over My Dead Body

Meaning/Usage: Disallow absolutely

Explanation: This is usually used when a teenager asks a parent something that is absolutely not allowed. Instead of just saying no, this phrase is used to tell the teenager that they can do it when I am dead. This became popular when knights would protect something and wouldn't give up unless they were killed. The other person would literally have to kill the knight and walk over the body to get what they want.

"There is no way I will let you do that, not over my dead body."

"You want a tattoo? Over my dead body."

"You're moving in together? Over my dead body."

Coming Right Up

Meaning/Usage: Used frequently by restaurant servers to tell customers the food is almost ready

Explanation: This can be used in a sentence, but is commonly used by itself.

"Your order is coming right up."

"It's coming right up!"

"Your food is coming right up."

Good Thinking

Meaning/Usage: To tell someone they did a good job to avoid a problem

Explanation: This is fairly straightforward.

"I am glad you brought an umbrella. That was good thinking."

"Good thinking to call ahead and reserve tickets."

"It was good thinking to send out invitations sooner than later."

Shoot

Meaning/Usage: A type of exclamation

Explanation: Substitute for the profanity word "shit"

"Shoot, I forgot my grocery list at home."

"Oh shoot that was awkward."

"Shoot, he asked Jenny to the prom instead of me."

Nothing Matters

Meaning/Usage: To express nothing else is important

Explanation: Usually used before expressing what is actually important. The below example sentences will illustrate this.

"Nothing matters more than being happy."

"Don't worry about what she said. Nothing matters but what you think."

"Nothing matters if we can't start getting along better."

Come On

Meaning/Usage: Urging someone; also used to try and speed things up

Explanation: There are many definitions of "come on." This is only one common way of using it.

"Come on, you can tell me."

"Oh come on, you have to be kidding me."

"Come on man, be serious for once."