Idiomatic American English - Lesson 55+56 - Thấm Tâm Vy

Thẩm Tâm Vy, Feb 15th, 2020 IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 28

IDIOMATIC AMERICAN ENGLISH 28

Lesson 55. The Real McCoy

Dialogue

Mike: I'm in a bind. This man had some jewelry. He said if I bought the whole kit and caboodle, I could have it for peanuts. Eric: I can't believe you didn't smell a rat. Mike: At first I said, no dice, but he said he was selling it so cheap because he was in a tight squeeze. Eric: Let me guess. The jewelry he palmed off wasn't the real McCoy. He left you high and dry.

Vocabulary

- in a bind adv.) in trouble no matter what you do - (the whole) kit and caboodle n.) the entire amount, all - peanuts n.) a srnall amount of money - smell a rat v.) become suspicious - No dice. No. Certainly not. - tight squeeze n.) difficult situation financially - real McCoy n.) the genuine thing - palm off v.) sell or get rid of by trickery - high and dry adv. or adj.) alone without help, stranded

PRACTICE l. Complete the sentences with the corcect idiom.

a) the real McCoy b) in a bind c) tight squeeze d) high and dry e) no dice f) peanuts g) palmed it off h) smelleda rat i) kit and caboodle

1. I'll take everything. Give me the whole................. 2. I need to earn more money. What I'm making is................. 3. After everybody left the party, I had to clean up by myself. I was left................. 4. This ring only cost me $5.00. It isn't................. 5. That car wasn't working right. The salesman.................on me. 6. I like living in this area.When the children asked me to move south, I said, ................. 7. I don't have the money for that now. I'm in a................. 8. I have a test tomorrow. Not only did I leave my notes at school, but I'm sick and don't feel well enough to study. I'm................. 9. Somebody offered me expensive merchandise for a small amount of money. Of course I.................

II. Rewrite the phrases in italics, using the proper idiomatic expression. 1. Everybody left me alone with all this work. 2. I refuse to do that. 3. I can understand why you became suspicious.

4. That company pays very little money. 5. I have a big problem. No matter what I do, I'm in trouble. 6. I'll buy everything you have. 7. I can't buy that now. I'm short of money. 8. I don't think that diamond is genuine. 9. I didn't want to buy that but he tricked me.

Lesson 56. A Has-Been

Dialogue

Julie: That performer is a has-been. He's been washed up for ages. Bruce: I think he's going to have a go at a comeback. This time he'll sink or swim. Julie: He doesn't have what it takes. I saw his act. It was from hunger. Bruce: Then this will probably be his swan song.

Vocabulary

- has-been n.) person once popular but no longer in public favor - washed up adj.) no longer successful or needed; failed - ages n.) a long time - have a go at v.) to try, often after others have failed - comeback n.) an attempt to reclaim a respected position, be successful again - sink or swim v.) fail or succeedby your own efforts - what it takes n.) any ability for a job; courage - from hunger adj.) terrible, bad - swan song n.) final appearance

PRACTICE I. Completethe sentences with the correct idiom.

a) has-been b) havea goat c) fromhunger d) what it takes e)ages

f) swansong g) sink or swim h) comeback i) washed up

1. Nobody else could open the bottle, but she wanted to.................it. 2. She'll never perform after tonight. This is her................. 3. Is that the beautiful dress you were talking about? I think it's terrible. It's strictly................. 4. I'm alone in the office. I hope I don't make a bad mistake. Nobody can help me. It's................. 5. She's a terrific mother. She has patience and love. She has................. 6. She used to be a big star. I'd love to see her perform again. I hope she makes a................. 7. I'm so happy you visited. I haven't seen you in................. 8. His ideas are old-fashioned. He's................. 9. A long time ago, she was a very beautiful …