Idioms & expressions - lesson 17

Part 2

(to be) running behind

to be late; to be delayed

example: I'm calling to say I'm running behind. I'll be at your office in 15 minutes.

synonym: running late

don't waste your breath

don't bother; don't bother trying to defend yourself; I don't want to hear your excuses

example: Don't waste your breath trying to talk me into buying an advertisement in your magazine. I've already spent my advertising budget for the year.

(to) burn one's bridges

to do something which makes it impossible to go back; to dam­age a relationship to such an extent that one can never go back to that person again

example: When he was fired, Chad really felt like telling Lisa that she was a terrible manager, but he didn't want to burn his bridges.

origin: This expression comes from the military. Soldiers dating back to the days of the Roman Empire used to burn the bridges behind them. This meant the Roman troops couldn't retreat; they had to keep moving forward. It also made it more difficult for the enemy to follow them.

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practice the idioms

Fill in the blanks, using the following idioms.

slave driver the last straw

shape up or ship out run a tight ship

turn a blind eye What's the deal?

cut me some slack pulling his weight

sick and tired spare me the sob story

Jill is a manager of the automotive department at Sears. One of her salespeople, Len, isn't (1) Jill is (2) of the fact that Len shows up late every day and is constantly flirting with Tatiana, the saleswoman in the electronics department. Yesterday, Jill watched as Len was rude to a customer. "Go get your tires somewhere else!" Len yelled at the customer. That was (3) .

She pulled him aside and said to him, "Len, _ (4) !" Len was surprised. " (5) " he asked. "I thought you and I were friends, and now suddenly you're turning into a (6) ." Jill replied, "Len, I do like you, but I'm trying to (7) here. I can no longer (8) to the fact that you're not taking this job very seriously." Len turned red and frowned. "Hey, (9) .

I've been under a lot of stress lately at home." Jill didn't want to hear any excuses. " (10) ," she replied.

ANSWERS TO LESSON 17, p. 193

Lesson 18

DISCUSSING OFFICE SCANDALS

With his naughty behavior, Bill Swing provides plenty of material for office gossip. Cindy and Steve discuss his latest move and review his other recent insensitive behavior.

Cindy: Did you hear the latest dirt?

Steve: Of course not. I'm totally out of the loop! I'm always the last one to find out everything.

Cindy: According to the rumor mill, Bill Swing made a pass at Laura Teller, the new marketing manager. Now she's threatening to sue him for sexual harassment.

Steve: Sounds like Bill's up to his old tricks again. He's always on the make. Last year, Paula Reynolds accused him of pinching her...

Cindy: I remember that. Too bad Paula quit before they could get to the bottom of it.

Steve: Two years ago he got nailed for organizing a company offsite to a strip joint!

Cindy: Oh, that really takes the cake. That's so un-PC!

Steve: Bill is definitely not politically correct!

Cindy: What goes around comes around. One day, he'll get his.

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IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS - LESSON 18

the latest dirt

the latest gossip

example: Have you heard the latest dirt? Rob was fired for calling the chairman of the board a "jerk" to his face.

out of the loop

unaware of what's going on

example: If you want to know what's really going on at the company, don't bother asking Adam. He's out of the loop.

according to the rumor mill

according to gossip

example: According to the rumor mill, Neil didn't leave his position voluntarily. He was fired.

(to) make a pass at someone

to make a sexual advance toward someone

example: Glen got drunk at the office holiday party and made a pass at Amber, his secretary. Unfortunately for Glen, Amber's boyfriend was in the same room!

up to one's old tricks

repeating the same behavior as before (usually annoying, dis­honest, or sneaky behavior)

example: Our boss is up to his old tricks. This is the third time we've gone out to lunch and he's forgotten his wallet back at the office.

on the make

This idiom has 2 very different meanings: 1) actively looking for a sexual partner

example: Look at Ron flirting with our new receptionist! He's always on the make.