Mini-Lesson 9.1

Right away – immediately

Ring a bell (with) – sound familiar to

Rough it – experience somewhat difficult or primitive conditions

Rule out – say smth is impossible, eliminate

Run a temperature – have a fever

Run for office – try to get elected

Run into – 1) meet unexpectedly, bump into; 2) collide with

Run late – be late, finish late, be in a hurry

Run of the mill - ordinary

Mini-Lesson 9.2

Save one’s breath – don’t bother asking smb

Search me – I don’t know, I have no idea, beats me

See eye to eye (with smb) (on smth) – have the same opinion, be in agreement

See (smb) off – accompany (to an airport or train station, for example)

See to – take care of, check on, fix

Serve one right – receive the proper punishment, get the penalty one deserves

Short for – a nickname for

Show around – orient, give a tour

Show off – try to attract attention by unusual behavior

Show up – arrive

Shut down – close

Sign up (for) – enroll (for a class, for example)

Mini-Lesson 9.3

Sing another tune – change one’s opinion, feel differently

Size up – measure, estimate

Sleep on it – postpone a decision until the next day

Slowly but surely – gradually, steadily but not quickly

Snowed under – very busy

So far, so good – up until now, there are no problems

Sooner or later – at some indefinite future time

Speak one’s mind – say what one is thinking

Speak up – speak more loudly

Speak up for – support verbally

Spell out (for) – make smth very clear, explain in detail

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. “Has John gone back to Minneapolis yet?” “Yes, I just ___________ him ____________ at the airport.”

2. “This pipe is leaking again.” “We’d better have a plumber ___________ _______________ it.”

3. I was late because I __________ __________ _____________ gasoline.

4. Write down your ideas ______________ _____________. If you wait to write them down, you may forget them.

5. When the factory _________ _______, hundreds of workers were laid off.

6. “Did you _________ __________ ___________ Professor Carmichael’s class?” “No, I decided to take Professor Knudson’s class instead.”

7. “Vicki, how’s that project you’re working on coming along?” “________ _________, _________ ________, but the tricky part will be next week.”

8. “Have you ever heard of an actor named Anthony Reed?” “Hmm. I don’t think so. The name doesn’t _______ ______ _______ ______ me at all.”

9. “Frank doesn’t take a hint very well, does he?” “No, you have to ______________ things _________ __________ Frank. He likes everything crystal clear.”

10. I’d heard that clothes in that store were very nice, but I found them __________ __________ _____________ _____________.

11. “Bennet thought those stories Tina told about you were pretty funny.” “They weren’t funny; they were embarrassing. Bennet would be ________ ________ ________ if Tina told that kind of story about him.”

12. Norman doesn’t like to ______________ ____________ when he goes on vacation. He prefers to stay at luxury hotels.

13. I don’t like to go to parties too early. I’d rather ______________ ___________ a little bit late.

14. It’s expensive to ___________ _____________ ______________ these days. Political campaigns cost a lot of money.

15. “So, do you plan to buy this motorcycle or not?” “I’m still not sure. Can I __________ __________ it and let you know tomorrow morning?”

16. “Have you seen the campus yet?” “Yes, my cousin Melissa is a student there, so she _______________ me _______________.”

17. “I’m collecting money for the Red Cross. I think I’ll ask Pat to contribute.” “____________ your ____________. Pat never contributes to anything.”

18. “Are you going to medical school?” “Not this year, but I wouldn’t ________________ it _______________ in the future.”

19. I _____________ ______________ my old friend Leslie downtown today. I haven’t seen her for months.

20. “I understand you’re learning how to speak Russian.” “Yes, and it was really hard for me, especially at first. Now, though, I’m ____________ ____________ ____________ getting the hang of it.”

21. “Your sister’s name is Jessie?” “That’s what everyone calls her – it’s ______________ ___________ Jessica.”

22. “Have you a busy night at the restaurant?” “We weren’t just busy – we were ___________ ____________! I’ve never seen so many customers!”

23. “I feel terrible. I have a terrible cold or maybe even the flu.” “Are you _______ ________? If you have a fever, then you probably have the flu.”

24. My brother and I agree on most issues, but I sure don’t ____________ __________ __________ __________ ___________ him ____________ this proposal to build a new stadium.