Unit 2

Set #1: The Best of Both Worlds

Dialogue
Jerry: My friend Tommy eats like a horse but still doesn't gain any
weight, despite getting on in years.
Linda: Lucky guy. I eat like a bird but still have to watch my weight. I
do try to spice things up though with different kinds of salads and things
like that.
Jerry: Tough break! I generally eat whatever I want but my wife can
tell when I start to eat too much junk food!
Linda: Ideally, I'd have the best of both worlds. I could eat junk food
but also not gain weight. It's not my fate though!

Vocabulary
The best of both worlds: Getting the benefits of two things at the same time. For
example, having children but being able to afford a full-time nanny.
Spice things up: To make things more interesting or exciting.
Eat like a bird: To eat very little.
Eats like a horse: To eat a lot.
Getting on in years: Becoming older.
Tough break: When something unlucky or bad happens.
Junk food: Unhealthy food. For example, potato chips, fast food or candy.
Watch my weight: Gaining weight easily and having to be careful about what you
eat.

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Fate: Something that happens over which you have no control.

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. She _____ but she's still so skinny.
2. I love to eat _____, especially while I'm watching TV.
3. I appreciate the fact that my teacher is trying to _____ a little bit but it comes
across badly.
4. My doctor said that I have to _____.
5. Having grandchildren but not having to watch them all the time is _____.
6. I'm worried about my mom. She _____ these days.
7. The ball deflected in off the defense. What a _____.
8. My dad is _____ and may have to go to a care home.
9. My son thinks it's his _____ to take over the family business. But I do think he
has a choice in this.

Answers:
1. eats like a horse 2. junk food
3. spice things up 4. watch my weight
5. the best of both worlds 6. eats like a bird
7. tough break 8. getting on in years
9. fate

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Set #2: Speak of the Devil

Dialogue
Jerry: Have you seen Kenny lately? He looks like a million bucks,
always wearing flashy clothes and driving his fancy new car.
Linda: I haven't seen him lately but guys like that are a dime a dozen in
this town. They all made their money in finance, I think.
Jerry: Speak of the devil! I think I see him coming in the door right
now! Let's call him over.
Linda: I don't want to beat around the bush so I'll just say it. I don't
like Kenny! He ripped me off on his old TV that he sold me. It was
hanging on by its' last legs.
Jerry: Let's get out of here then before he sees us.

Vocabulary
Speak of the devil: The person you are talking about appears at that exact
moment. For example, you are talking about a coworker and then they walk into
the room right then.
Looks like a million bucks: To look attractive or well put together.
A dime a dozen: Something that is very common, not special.
Beat around the bush: Avoid talking about something important, or not getting to
the main point directly.
Ripped me off: To make a bad deal with someone. To be stolen from.
Get out of here: To leave a place, usually quickly.
Flashy: Bright, shiny, expensive.

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Last legs: Something that is close to breaking/stopping/not working.

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. Tim _____ these days with his new haircut.
2. Job offers like that are _____.
3. I want to _____ so badly! I hate this school.
4. “Oh, _____! We were just talking about you!”
5. Honestly, I hate that my boss loves to _____. I wish he'd just get to the
point.
6. I'm so embarrassed that he_____.
7. My brother got a _____ new haircut in preparation for his job
interview.
8. I'm going to have to buy a new car. This one is on its' _____.

Answers:
1. looks like a million bucks 2. a dime a dozen
3. get out of here 4. speak of the devil
5. beat around the bush 6. ripped me off
7. flashy 8. last legs

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Set #3: See Eye to Eye

Dialogue
Jerry: I don't want to make waves here, but I don't think your friend is
making a good financial decision.
Linda: Oh, I don't know. Maybe you just don't see eye to eye? I think
she's done a lot of research and knows what she's doing.
Jerry: Well, I understand why you'd think that. You were born with a
silver spoon in your mouth, just like your friend. Anyway, it's some food
for thought! I'm personally hoping to avoid making the same mistake as
your friend.
Linda: To play the Devil's advocate, you might do well to reconsider
your own financial decisions.
Jerry: Hmmm...okay. Let's agree to disagree. We're never going to
settle this over a beer.

Vocabulary
See eye to eye: Agreeing with someone.
Born with a silver spoon in your mouth: Someone who comes from a wealthy
family who doesn't have to work that hard in life.
Food for thought: Something to think about.
Make waves: To cause trouble.
Devil's advocate: Taking the other side in an argument.
Knows what she's doing: To be sure of something or do something correctly.
Agree to disagree: To stop talking about something controversial when you can't
come to an agreement.

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Settle: Decide or agree to something.

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. My mom and I had to finally _____ because there was no way we
could understand each other's point of view.
2. I'm not trying to _____ but I just don't agree with what's going on at
my company.
3. I'm thinking about changing jobs. My boss and I don't _____.
4. My cousin was _____ and has never had to work a day in his life.
5. My younger brother's most annoying habit is his need to always play
the _____.
6. That newspaper article had some _____ in it.
7. My teacher _____. I've learned so much from her.
8. I was hoping to not have to _____ for that job because the salary isn't
great but it's tough in this economy.

Answers:
1. agree to disagree 2. make waves
3. see eye to eye 4. born with a silver spoon in his mouth
5. Devil's advocate 6. food for thought
7. knows what she's doing 8. settle

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Set #4: Once in a Blue Moon

Dialogue
Jerry: Why are all of our coworkers living hand to mouth? We get
paid a living wage. I can't make heads nor tails of it.
Linda: Well, I think most of them hit the bottle pretty hard after work
every day. That costs a pretty penny. But, your guess is as good as mine.
Jerry: I've noticed that too. I used to drink a lot but now it's only once
in a blue moon. I had to quit cold turkey for a couple of years before I
could get a handle on it.
Linda: Good for you for making a big change like that! Plus, it's saved
you a lot of money I'm sure.

Vocabulary
Once in a blue moon: Something that doesn't happen often.
Quit cold turkey: Suddenly stop doing something addictive. Most commonly
refers to smoking.
Living hand to mouth: To live paycheck to paycheck. Not having lots of money,
especially disposable income.
Living wage: Salary that is high enough to cover all the monthly bills relatively
easily.
Your guess is as good as mine: To not know something.
Hit the bottle: Drink alcohol.
Get a handle on it: To control something.
Costs a pretty penny: Is expensive.
Can't make heads nor tails of it: Unable to understand something.

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Drink a lot: Consume lots of alcohol.

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. My dad _____ hard when I was a kid.
2. That new car I want _____.
3. I'm going back to school so can find a job that pays a _____.
4. I only eat junk food _____.
5. I want to quit smoking but it's difficult to _____.
6. I've heard that the best way to stop smoking is to _____.
7. It's often hard for single parents to avoid _____.
8. Math just isn't my subject! I _____.
9. Wow! They sure do _____.

Answers:
1. hit the bottle 2. costs a pretty penny
3. living wage 4. once in a blue moon
5. get a handle on it 6. quit cold turkey
7. living hand to mouth 8. can't make heads nor tails of it
9. drink a lot

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Set #5: When Pigs Fly

Dialogue
Jerry: My kids are buttering me up because they don't want to have to
help put up Christmas lights.
Linda: You're lucky that you can get some help once in a while. My
kids never pitch in for stuff like that. When pigs fly, right?
Jerry: Ah, it's all smoke and mirrors at my house usually. My kids
make a show out of cleaning up after themselves after dinner but their
rooms are still like a pigsty.
Linda: What have we gotten ourselves into?

Vocabulary
When pigs fly: Something that is very unlikely to happen.
Pitch in: To contribute to or help with something.
Buttering me up: To flatter or please someone because you want something in
return. For example, a child who is extra nice to their parents around Christmas
because they want an expensive video game system.
Smoke and mirrors: Flashy things that distract from what is real.
Christmas lights: Lights on houses for decoration around Christmas.
Once in a while: Sometimes.
Make a show out of: To do something in a flashy way.
Pigsty: Usually refers to a very messy room or space.

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Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. I like to let loose _____.
2. His presentation was all _____. No real substance.
3. My kids love to help me put up _____.
4. We all _____ every Saturday morning to clean up the house.
5. My kid's bedroom is a _____.
6. My mom always used to say, “_____” when I asked her for money!
7. I know when my kids are _____ but I fall for it anyway. Their sweet smiles!
8. I hate that my coworkers always _____ finishing even the smallest task.

Answers:
1. once in a while 2. smoke and mirrors
3. Christmas lights 4. pitch in
5. Pigsty 6. When pigs fly
7. buttering me up 8. make a show out of

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Set #6: Cost an arm and a leg

Dialogue
Jerry: Hey Linda, don't jump the gun on buying a car. They cost an
arm and a leg. It's wise to do some research first. A good rule of thumb is
one hour of research for every $500 you plan to spend on something!
Linda: You're such a smart cookie. I'm glad to call you a friend. What
would I do without you?
Jerry: I'm not sure! But, you're a really good shoulder to cry on and
you've been with me through thick and thin. I appreciate you too!
Linda: Well, birds of a feather flock together. We have so much in
common it's impossible not to be friends!

Vocabulary
Cost an arm and a leg: Very expensive.
Rule of thumb: A general, unwritten rule about something.
Smart cookie: An intelligent person.
Jump the gun: Do something too quickly.
Shoulder to cry on: Someone that offers comfort in a difficult situation.
Thick and thin: Through good and bad times.
Birds of a feather flock together: Good friends who are there for each other.

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase or idiom
1. My brother is a _____. He always got top marks in school.
2. My husband and I have been together through _____.

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3. New cars these days _____.
4. He's always ready to _____ but it'd do him well to be a bit more patient.
5. My _____ is to always turn off the lights when I leave a room.
6. Today, I need a _____.
7. My dad always used to say, “_____” to talk about my brother and I. We'd never
tattle on each other no matter what.

Answers:
1. smart cookie 2. thick and thin
3. cost an arm and a leg 4. jump the gun
5. rule of thumb 6. shoulder to cry on
7. birds of a feather flock together

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