(noun) a competitor that has little to no chance of winning
Example Sentence:
Canada is the dark horse in tonight’s football match, because they are playing Brazil.
Media:
(verb) destroyed
Example Sentence:
I had my hopes dashed when I learned that my girlfriend didn’t want to marry me.
The athlete had his dreams of becoming a professional dashed when he suffered a serious injury.
Media:
(adjective) very stupid
Example Sentences:
My new boyfriend is dead from the neck up, but he’s really handsome.
My co-workers don’t know how to do anything. They’re dead from the neck up. I can’t believe how dumb they are!
(idiom) to be very or completely serious
Example Sentence:
I won the lottery, I am dead serious. Why don’t you believe me?
A: I’m going to Ireland.
B: Are you serious?
A: I’m dead serious.
Media:
(noun) a person who takes an opposite or controversial opinion in order to have a conversation
Example Sentence:
So you believe that Canadians are friendly? I’m going to be the devil’s advocate and say that they’re unfriendly!
Media:
(verb) to break plans with someone without telling them
Example Sentences:
A: Is Willy coming to the party tonight?
B: Yeah.
A: I hate him so much! Do you want to ditch him?
B: Sure! Let’s leave him at the library!
Tammy is mad at her boyfriend because he was always ditching her to meet his friends.
I was supposed to meet my friends to see Dark Knight last night, but they ditched me! I’m so mad!
Media:
(noun) an ugly, dirty, or unattractive place (especially a restaurant or bar)
Example Sentence:
That restaurant is such a dive, I’m never going in there again!
The university students enjoyed going to the dive bar, because the drinks were much cheaper there.
Media:
(phrasal verb) remove, kill
Example Sentences:
All societies should do away with the death penalty. It’s cruel and unfair.
I decided to do away with some of my old clothes, because they no longer fit. Do you want some of them?
Many people think our school should do away with many of the rules we have.
The USA did away with Saddam Hussein.
Media:
(noun) a situation that is extremely important, and failure would result in a big problem
(idiom) to do the majority of the work when working with a group
(adjective) unsafe, uncertain, questionable
Example Sentences:
A: Do you want to go to the restaurant in the bad part of town?
B: No, it’s kind of dodgy over there. Let’s go to McDonald’s instead.
The English student decided to choose a different tutor because she thought that Wayne was a bit dodgy.
We decided to call the police after a dodgy man was seen walking around our house. The cops told us he was trying to damage our car!
Media:
(idiom) a statement does not appear to be correct or reasonable
(idiom) doesn’t work at all, is very lazy
Example Sentence:
A: Are you still having trouble with your teenage son?
B: Definitely. He eats all my food, he is always angry, and he’s so lazy. He doesn’t lift a finger around the house
Tom is going to hire a housekeeper so he doesn’t have to lift a finger around the house.
Media:
(idiom) keep in touch, let’s keep in contact even though we’re parting
Example Sentence:
I’m going back to Brazil and you’re going back to Italy. Here is my e-mail address, please don’t be a stranger!
Student 1: I am going back to Brazil.
Student 2: I am going back to Korea.
Student 1: Good luck to you! I hope we will meet again soon!
Student 2: Don’t be a stranger!
Have fun on your vacation! I hope you enjoy Mexico! Don’t be a stranger!
Media:
(proverb) don’t make future plans based on something that has not happened yet
Example Sentences:
Teenager: I’m going to go to Harvard and do an Undergraduate degree. Then I’m going to study Law, and become a successful and rich lawyer. After that, I’m going to go into politics and maybe become the President.
Dad: Okay son, but don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched. Focus on getting into Harvard first, and then make your decisions.
(proverb) don’t get upset about small things that have no importance
Example Sentences:
A: I missed my bus! I’m so angry!
B: Hey, don’t cry over spilled milk. Another bus will come along soon.
I know you feel bad about failing that test, but you really shouldn’t cry over spilled milk. I’m sure you’ll do better on the next one.
Media:
(idiom) to feel that one is not strong enough, smart enough, fast enough, to do a specific task
Example Sentence:
I don’t have what it takes to be a doctor. You have to work too hard.
He doesn’t have what it takes to run a marathon. He’s too lazy.
Media:
(proverb) looks are not as important as what is inside
Example Sentences:
A: Eww, I’m not going into that nightclub. It looks terrible!
B: Hey, don’t judge a book by its cover. It looks bad on the outside, but it’s really nice inside.
When I first met my boyfriend, I thought he was really unattractive. After I got to know him, I realized that he was funny, intelligent, and really nice. I’m glad I didn’t judge a book by its cover, or I never would have married him!
Media:
(proverb) don’t put all of your risk into one thing
Example Sentences:
If you are saving for your retirement, you should make sure that you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure you put some money into stocks, mutual funds, and bonds.
Billy decided to travel to Paris to live with a girl he met on the internet. He had to sell all of his things in order to get an airplane ticket. Billy’s friends warned him that he was putting all of his eggs in one basket, but he didn’t listen.
Media:
(adjective) good, great, awesome
Example Sentences:
Pulp Fiction is a dope movie. It’s so great!
My English school is so dope, I love it!
What a dope song!
Media:
(idiom) to be acting in a depressed way
Example Sentence:
I’m sorry I’ve been so down in the mouth lately. I’m just upset because my girlfriend left me.
Anna is very down in the mouth because her father just died.
Media:
(verb) to drink something quickly
Example Sentence:
The bar is closing in 10 minutes. Hurry up and down your beer so we can go home.
If you keep downing soft drinks all day, you are going to get fat!
The marathon runner downed a bottle of water after he finished the race.
Media:
(idiom) leading to a situation that will only get worse
Example Sentence:
Once you turn 50, your life is going to go downhill. The rest of your life will be terrible.
Our business started to go downhill when the price of gas went up.
Johnny’s grades have gone downhill ever since he met his new girlfriend.
It’s all downhill after you have children!
Media:
(verb) to suddenly forget something
Example Sentence:
A: Quick, what is your phone number?
B: Um, 604-513….. Sorry I am drawing a blank. Can I tell you tomorrow?
The young girl drew a blank when her teacher asked her the answer to question 2.
If you draw a blank during the final exam, take a deep breath and count to three. This may help you remember.
Media:
(idiom) dressed very nicely, extravagantly, or elaborately
Example Sentence:
The man was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, hat, gold watch and expensive shoes, because he was going to accept an award.
A: Why are you dressed to the nines?
B: I have a hot date tonight!
I’m going to dress to the nines tonight because I’m meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time.
Media:
(verb) to drink a lot of alcohol
Example Sentence:
Thomas drank like a fish at The Cambie pub.
It’s my birthday! I’m going to drink like a fish!
If you keep drinking like a fish you are going have a hangover.
Media:
(idiom) to make someone crazy, to irritate someone
Example Sentence:
My children always drive me around the bend when they are tired and in a bad mood.
John’s girlfriend keeps driving him around the bend because she always asks him questions when he gets home from the bar.
I quit my job because my boss drove me around the bend every time I went to work.
From the Blogs:
Curly hair shouldn’t drive you around the bend
Media:
(idiom) to make someone crazy, to irritate someone
Example Sentence:
My children always drive me crazy when they are tired and in a bad mood.
John’s girlfriend keeps driving him crazy because she always asks him questions when he gets home from the bar.
I quit my job because my boss drove me crazy every time I went to work.
From the Blogs:
Opening day for lakes drives me crazy
Media:
(idiom) to make someone crazy, to irritate someone
Example Sentence:
My children always drive me up a wall when they are tired and in a bad mood.
John’s girlfriend keeps driving him up a wall because she always asks him questions when he gets home from the bar.
I quit my job because my boss drove me up a wall every time I went to work.
Media:
(idiom) to neglect or forget to do something important which you were responsible for, causing it to be ruined
Example Sentence:
Thomas dropped the ball when he forgot to pick his girlfriend up at the train station. She was so mad that she returned to her hometown, ruining their vacation.
A: Hey, welcome to my party!
B: Thanks!
A: Did you remember to bring the beer? It was your responsibility.
B: Oh no, I dropped the ball and totally forgot.
A: Now we have no beer for the party! It’s going to suck!
B: I’m so sorry!
Media:
(adjective) awesome, great, very good
Example Sentences:
Wow, your new car is so dynamite! Can I take it out for a drive?
Maria’s new tattoos are dynamite. I love them!.
She is a dynamite Hebrew teacher!
Media:
(noun) an extremely energetic person
Example Sentences:
Our new boss is such a dynamo! She has so much energy!
The 3 year-old boy was acting like a dynamo because he had too much sugar.
Media:
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