(verb) to get a strong position that will allow for improvement later
Example Sentences:
The young actor is trying to gain a foothold in Hollywood.
Our company gained a foothold by opening up several stores in China.
I’m planning on gaining a foothold on the industry by offering my services for free.
From the News:
Wal-Mart gains foothold in Vancouver
Media:
(verb) to have a great relationship with someone quickly
(verb) to travel, to commute, to move around
Example Sentence:
A: When you visit Cuba, how do you plan to get around?
B: I’m going to rent a motorcycle.
Most students get around Vancouver by Skytrain or bus, and some take the Seabus.
(verb) to have a lot of sex with multiple partners
Example Sentence:
Sandy really gets around! She had sex with 3 different guys at the party on Friday.
Note:
get around is usually used in a negative way.
(idiom) hurry up
Example Sentences:
You’d better get cracking if you don’t want to miss your bus!
Son: Mom, I want to go outside and play!
Mom: Get cracking with your homework and then you can go outside.
Media:
(verb) to annoy or bother someone
Example Sentences:
My younger sister gets on my nerves. I find her so annoying!
A: How is your new roommate?
B: He keeps getting on my nerves.
A: Why? What is he doing?
B: He’s always having parties, being messy, eating my food….
The movie Be Kind, Rewind really got on my nerves. I found it so annoying!
Media:
(verb) to be enthusiastic about something that is going to happen
(verb) leave someone alone
Example Sentences:
Mom: Son, you need to get a job!
Son: Get out of my face Mom! I’ll get a job when I’m ready!
If you don’t get out of my face, I’m going to call the police!
The friendly man in the bar got out of my face when my boyfriend came over and put his arm around me.
(verb) to break a commitment, to avoid doing something you had already planned
Example Sentence:
I have plans tonight, but I can get out of them if you need me to help you.
Thomas was supposed to take his mom to an appointment, but he got out of it when he had to work.
A: Are you still going to volunteer today?
B: No, I can’t. I’m too busy.
A: You can’t keep getting out of it all the time. You promised them you would volunteer!
Related:
(verb) to tell someone about your feelings or emotions, especially after not speaking for a long time
Example Sentences:
Mom: I need to get something off my chest. I hate your new boyfriend!
Daughter: But I love him!
A: Dad, I don’t want to study Law anymore. I want to be a dancer.
B: How long have you felt this way?
A: For 2 years. I’m only getting it off my chest now because I didn’t want to disappoint you.
B: You can never disappoint me, son!
Stuart’s roommate got something off his chest last night when he told Stuart that he was too messy.
(phrasal verb) to pass or survive a difficult situation
Example Sentences:
Most people thought Shawn wouldn’t get through the car accident. Thankfully, he survived.
I don’t know how I’m going to get through my final year of college. It’s so difficult!
The lazy student’s friends were amazed to learn that he got through university without studying.
Dad: How is your military service going, son? Are you getting through it?
Son: Yeah dad, but it’s pretty hard.
(idiom) to make someone understand, to communicate something to someone
Example Sentences:
The angry teacher spent hours trying to get through to his bored students.
Am I getting through to you, or should I speak slower?
I really love this new singer. What she was singing about really got through to me.
(idiom) annoys or bothers
Example Sentences:
My younger sister really gets to me. I find her so annoying!
A: How is your new roommate?
B: He keeps getting to me.
A: Why? What is he doing?
B: He’s always having parties, being messy, eating my food….
The movie Be Kind, Rewind really got to me. I found it so annoying!
(idiom) get to the most important part or topic
Example Sentences:
Boss: I have some bad news everyone. Let me first say that you are all great employees, and I love you all.
Employees: Thanks, boss!
Boss: Let me get to the point. You’re all fired.
Employees: Thanks, boss!
Father: Son, your mother and I love you very much, and we want you to know that we’ll always take care of you. But, let me get to the point. We’re getting a divorce.
Son: Oh.
Media:
(idiom) to wake up in a bad mood
Example Sentence:
What’s wrong with you today, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?
My brother got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, he’s very angry for no reason!
If you keep getting up on the wrong side of the bed, you’re not going to have many friends left. You’re annoying everybody!
Media:
(idiom) compromises and agreements that all people involved agree to do
Example Sentences:
My roommate was mad because I was always messy, and I was mad because she is always having parties. After a lot of give and take, we were able to reach an agreement. I will be neater, and she will party only on Fridays.
Husband: You buy too many shoes!
Wife: You spend too much money on sports!
Husband: But I like sports!
Wife: I like shoes!
Husband: Can we have a bit of give and take?
Wife: How?
Husband: How about you buy shoes once a week, and I buy sports equipment once a week?
Wife: That’s a fair compromise. Let’s go shopping!
From the News:
Media:
(phrasal verb) to tell a secret,
Example Sentence:
Did you watch Lost last night? It was so great! I don’t want to give away any secrets, but Jack and Kate…..
The young child was upset when his brother gave away a secret by telling him about his surprise party.
You keep giving away my secrets, I’m not going to tell you anything anymore!
(verb) give it a try, try it
Example Sentences:
A: I don’t know how to cook properly.
B: Come on, you should give it a go, I’m sure you’ll be fine!
I tried to give cooking a go by making a turkey dinner, but I burned down the house.
(idiom) stop talking about or doing something ridiculous
Example Sentences:
Mike: Did I tell you that I have visited every country in the world?
Trevor: Give it a rest, you’re lying.
Mike: Yeah, you’re right.
My friend told me that he planned to swim from New York to London. I told him that it was a crazy idea, and that he should give it a rest.
(verb) give it a try, try it
Example Sentences:
A: I don’t know how to cook properly.
B: Come on, you should give it a shot, I’m sure you’ll be fine!
I tried to give cooking a shot by making a turkey dinner, but I burned down the house.
Media:
(verb) to clap and cheer
Example Sentence:
What a great performance. Let’s give them a hand, everybody!
(verb) to help someone
Example Sentence:
Hey kids, can you give me a hand with the groceries? They are heavy.
Your sister is having difficulty with her homework. Could you give her a hand and review it with her?
Bob, this box is very heavy. Could you give us a hand and help us lift it?
(idiom) use the same methods as your enemy
(idiom) believe something is true because you don’t have any reason to think it is a lie
(verb) to be unfriendly to someone on purpose
Example Sentences:
Wife: Why do you always give my mother the cold shoulder when she comes to visit us?
Husband: Because she always criticizes me!
I don’t like my homestay mother, because she is always giving me the cold shoulder.
The angry father gave his 15 year-old daughter’s new boyfriend the cold shoulder because he thought she was too young to have a boyfriend.
From the News:
Toronto gives Miss Universe cold shoulder
Media:
(verb) to give someone approval to do something
Example Sentences:
The employee asked the boss to give him the go ahead to take his vacation in December.
A: I can’t believe that she made this mistake!
B: I know! We’re going to lose thousands of dollars!
A: Who gave her the go ahead to do this?
B: I have no idea!
Father #1: Are you planning on giving your son the go ahead to go to Canada to study English?
Father #2: Yeah, I want him to speak well, so I’m going to let him go.
(verb) to give someone approval to do something
Example Sentences:
The employee asked the boss to give him the green light to take his vacation in December.
A: I can’t believe that she made this mistake!
B: I know! We’re going to lose thousands of dollars!
A: Who gave her the green light to do this?
B: I have no idea!
Father #1: Are you planning on giving your son the green light to go to Canada to study English?
Father #2: Yeah, I want him to speak well, so I’m going to let him go.
(phrasal verb) to quit something
Example Sentences:
I’m trying really hard to give up smoking, but it’s nearly impossible!
A: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
B: Yeah, I’m planning on giving up red meat. I want to be healthier!
Ever since she gave up drinking, she just isn’t very much fun!
Media:
(phrasal verb) to stop doing something after a lot of effort
Example Sentences:
I know I tried to learn how to snowboard for 5 months, but I give up! It’s just too hard for me!
You’ll never be able to speak English if you keep giving up every time you have some difficulties.
Sally gave up swimming after she nearly drowned.
Media:
(noun) a thing that is given away for free, a free item
Example Sentences:
A: Where did you get that chocolate bar?
B: It was a giveaway! They were handing them to everyone on the street!
Media:
(idiom) very interested in something
Example Sentences:
A: Why didn’t you answer the phone when I called you?
B: Sorry, I was watching TV and I was glued to lost.
A: Is that a good show?
B: It’s fantastic!
The man on the bus was so glued to his book that he missed his stop!
Media:
(verb) go for a quick drive, often with no destination
Example Sentence:
I’ve got a new car, do you want to go for a spin?
(slang) leave me alone!
Example Sentence:
A: Do you have any money?
B: Go fuck yourself! I’m not giving you any money!
The rude man told his roommates to go fuck themselves when he was drunk. Now they are mad at him.
Note: go fuck yourself is slang and should be used very carefully
From the Blogs:
George Bush to Conservatives: “Go Fuck Yourself“
Media:
(phrasal verb) to review
Example Sentence:
The student went over her notes before the final exam.
Please go over the idioms you learn every night.
The actors were busy going over their lines to prepare for the play.
(phrasal verb) to experience a difficult situation
Example Sentence:
A: What do you have to go through to become a doctor?
B: Well, first you have to go to University. Then, you must….
The immigrant family went through a lot of difficulties when they first moved to America.
You don’t know me! you don’t know what I’m going through! It’s hard being a teenager.
(idiom) have surgery
Example Sentences:
I’m going to go under the knife because I have a bad heart.
Samantha’s going under the knife, as she thinks her nose is too big.
Ever since they went under the knife to get breast implants, they are attracting a lot more attention.
(idiom) trust one’s instincts and feelings when making a decision
(noun) a very helpful or valuable person, thing, or moment in time
Example Sentence:
My English tutor is a godsend. She is always able to answer my questions.
My portable electronic English dictionary is a godsend. It is so useful.
Losing my job was a godsend, because it allowed me to focus on my art instead of working all the time.
Media:
(noun) the things that are happening
Example Sentence:
Have you heard about all the goings on? Jenkins just got promoted to manager!
A: What are all the goings on?
B: Sally is pregnant!
The neighbours were upset by the goings on during the party last night.
(noun) a woman who dates other people only because they are rich, so that they can get money from them
Example Sentences:
A: My rich 87 year-old grandfather has a new girlfriend. I think she is a gold digger.
B: Why do you think that?
A: Because she’s 25.
Martin’s friends tried to warn him that his girlfriend was a gold digger, because she was always asking them how much money he had.
Media:
(noun) the best thing of its type
Example Sentences:
If you want to study English in a North American city, the gold standard is Vancouver. It’s the best place to study!
Ferrari is the gold standard among automobiles.
Media:
(noun) an expensive payment made to someone when they retire early or are fired
(noun) a chaotic and disastrous event
Example Sentence:
A: How was your party?
B: It was such a gongshow! My stuff was stolen, my house was destroyed, and the police came!
The carefully planned presentation turned into a gongshow when the student forgot her notes.
Media:
(idiom) crazy, not thinking properly
Example Sentence:
Mom: If you think I’m going skydiving, you’ve got a screw loose.
Son: Come on, mom!
Mom: No way!
If Steven thinks he can go out on a date with the most beautiful woman in school, he’s got a screw loose.
(idiom) get something to eat
Example Sentence:
I’m hungry, do you want to go grab a bite at that new restaurant?
Last night, we grabbed a bite before we went to the movie.
I feel like grabbing a bite. Do you want to get some dinner?
(idiom) messing around while at work
Example Sentences:
The boss was furious because his employees were always grab-assing instead of working.
The boss fired his secretary because he caught her grab-assing on Facebook instead of working.
Media:
(proverb) other people’s things always seem so much better than your things
Example Sentences:
A: Have you seen my new neighbour? He’s good-looking!
B: So are you.
A: He drives a Ferrari!
B: So do you.
A: He has a sexy wife!
B: Your wife is good-looking as well. Don’t you think that maybe the grass is always greener on the other side? You are jealous just because he’s your neighbour.
A: You’re right, thanks. Stay away from my wife.
After visiting Canada, the American man wanted to move there. Then he remembered that the grass is always greener on the other side, and he decided to stay in the USA.
Media:
(adjective) environmentally friendly, environmentally conscious
Example Sentences:
I recycle, I take the bus instead of driving, and I don’t waste. I’m a very green person.
Media:
(noun) an area of confusion between two or more things
Example Sentences:
A: If I download music, will I go to jail?
B: It’s a bit of a grey area. Some people think it is illegal and you will go to prison, some think you may be fined, and others think that the police will leave you alone.
The question of whether or not the president is corrupt is a bit of a grey area.
Media:
(adjective) extremely interesting
Example Sentence:
This book is gripping. I couldn’t stop reading it.
The movie No Country for Old Men was gripping. I was interested the whole time!
Media:
(noun) something a person enjoys despite feeling guilty about liking it
(noun) stomach
Example Sentence:
I have a pain in my gut from drinking too much whiskey.
My husband was up all night drinking beer and eating pizza. Now he has a pain in his gut.
Notes:
gut is usually used by men.
Media:
(idiom) to be brave
Example Sentence:
You don’t have the guts to go skydiving. You are a coward!
I’ve got the guts to go talk to that beautiful woman over there. Watch me!
Media:
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