Mini-Lesson 2.1

Call it a day – stop working for the day, go home

Call off - cancel

Call on - visit

Calm down - relax

Care for – 1) take care of; 2) like, feel affection for

Catch on – become popular

Catch on (to) – understand, learn

Catch up (with) – go as fast as, catch

Check in (or into) – register (at a hotel)

Check out (of) – 1) leave (a hotel); 2) take material (from a library, for example)

Mini-Lesson 2.2

Cheer up – become cheerful, be happy

Chip in (for/on) – contribute

Clear up – 1) clarify, make understandable; 2) become nice and sunny (used to talk about weather)

Come across – find, meet, encounter

Come around (to) – begin to change one’s opinion, begin to agree with

Come down with – become sick with (an illness)

Come up with – think of (an idea)

Cost an arm and a leg – be very expensive

Count on – depend on, rely on, bank on

Count in - include

Count out – eliminate, no longer consider as a factor

Cut off – stop, discontinue (a service, for example)

Be cut out (for/ to do smth) – have aptitude for, be qualified for

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. The reception in the garden was ______ ____ because of a thunderstorm.

2. Don’t get so excited. Just _______ ________ and tell me what happened.

3. I was looking up some information in the almanac when I __________ __________ an interesting fact.

4. I can __________ _________ my car. It’s very dependable and never breaks down.

5. How did you _______ _______ _______ such a strange idea?

6. I arrived in town last night at 7:30 and ________ ________ my hotel at around 8. This morning I plan to ________ ________ at about 9.

7. “Did you rent this CD?” “No, I ___________ it _________ _________ the library.”

8. You look tired. What don’t we _________ _________ _______ ________ and finish up tomorrow?

9. It won’t be too expensive to buy Professor McMillen a present if we all _________ _________.

10. If Arthur doesn’t pay his electric bill soon, the utilities company might ________ ________ his electricity.

11. “I don’t understand this theorem at all.” “Talk to Professor Adler. I’ll bet she can _________ _________ your confusion.”

12. Who _________ _________ your cat while you were out of town?

13. A good stereo system doesn’t have to __________ _________ ________ ____________ __________ __________. You can find one for a reasonable price.

14. Cauliflower isn’t my favorite vegetable. In fact, I don’t ________ _____ it at all.

15. “I’m depressed. I didn’t do very well on the first quiz.” “___________ __________! That quiz only counted for 10% of the total grade, and I’m sure you’ll do better on the other tests.”

16. “How did Eric do in the cross-country ski race?” “He got off to a bad start, so he never __________ _________ ________ the leading skiers.”

17. “Why did Brenda drop out of business school?” “She decided she wasn’t ________ ________ ________ a career in business. She’s going to study art instead.”

18. This song wasn’t very popular when it was first recorded, but now it’s starting to ____________ ___________.

19. “Your roommate is still planning to vote for Smithson for President of the Student Council?” “Yes, but I’m going to keep talking to him. I think eventually he’ll __________ ___________ __________ our point of view and vote for Brannigan.”

20. That saleswoman ____________ ____________ her clients at least once a month because she thinks personal contact is important.

21. “Is it still raining?” “No, the rain has stopped and it’s starting to ___________ ___________.”