Mini-Lesson 1.2

Back out of smth – withdraw an offer

Bank on – depend on, count on

Be my guest – do what you want, feel free, help yourself, yes

Be rusty – need practice or review

Beats me – I don’t know, I have no idea (often used in response to a question)

Better off (doing smth) – in an improved condition

Bite off more than one can chew – take on more responsibility than one can

handle

Be bound to – certain, sure to

Break down – stop functioning

Break in (on) – interrupt

Break the ice – break through social barriers (as at a party)

Mini-Lesson 1.3

Break the news (to) – inform, give bad news

Break up – end (a meeting, for example)

Break up (with) – stop being a couple (a boyfriend and girlfriend)

A breeze – something very simple and easy to do

Bring about – cause to happen, make happen

Bring up - 1) raise (a child); 2) introduce (a topic, for example)

Brush up on – review, study, practice

Bump into – meet unexpectedly, run into

By and large – mostly, generally, on the whole

By heart – by memory, learned word by word

By no means – (negative) in no way, not at all

Exercise: Fill in the blanks in the sentences or dialogues with idioms from the list above. There will be one word per blank. It may be necessary to change the verb forms in order for the sentences to be grammatically correct.

1. “Can you talk now?” “No, I’m about to go to the grocery store, but I’ll call you as soon as I get back.”

2. “You’re probably too tired to play another game of racquetball, right?” “I’m not that tired, really. ______ ______ _______ _______ _______, I’d enjoy another game”

3. “Will you support my proposal at the meeting?” “Certainly. You can ______ ______ my support”

4. I was talking to my aunt when suddenly my cousin George ___________ __________ ___________ our conversation.

5. “I understand Diane lost her job.” “Yes, but she’s actually ________ ___________. She found a more interesting job with a higher salary.”

6. ____________ __________ _____________, Carlos is very punctual, but he sure was late tonight.

7. My car _________ _________ last week, and I had to take the bus to work until it was repaired.

8. I was taking a quiet walk last night when, _________ __________ __________ _________, there was a loud explosion.

9. Kent is _________ _________ fail that class if he doesn’t start studying.

10. They __________ _________ their children to be honest.

11. There were a few things I didn’t like about Professor Wong’s class, but ___________ ___________ ___________ I enjoyed it.

12. “I think Matthew was cheating on that quiz.” “That doesn’t _________ ____________. Why should the best student in the class cheat?”

13. “Can I have another sandwich?” “Sure, ___________ ____________ _____________. I made plenty.”

14. Actors and actresses must know their lines __________ __________.

15. If you don’t want to talk about this problem, why did you ____________ it ______________?”

16. Many accidents are ______________ _____________ by carelessness.

17. Their team won the game, but they ____________ ___________ ____________ dominated it. It was a very close game.

18. “What a boring party! No one is talking to one another.” “Maybe we should put on some music and start dancing. That might ____________ _________ _________.”

19. “Have you studied Spanish before?” “Yes, but it’s been years since I took a Spanish class, so I’ll need to ____________ ____________ _____________ it before I go to Venezuela.”

20. “You’re taking five classes this term?” “Yes, and I’m having trouble getting caught up. I’m afraid I ___________ __________ ___________ ___________ I ___________ ____________ this time.”

21. “You’re all packed and ready to go, I see.” “I could leave _______ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________.”

22. “Do you know what the name of this street is?” “___________ ___________. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in this town.”

23. “How’s that biology class you’re taking?” “So far, it’s been _______ _________. We’ve just been going over things I studied last semester.”

24. “What time did the party ___________ _________ last night?” “I don’t know. It was still going on when I went home.”

25. “I was awfully nervous when I gave that speech.” “Really? You hid it well. I thought you were completely __________ __________.”