More Speak English Like an American Lesson 13 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 13: Mark and Sara Fly to China
MARK AND SARA FLY TO CHINA
Mark and Sara are flying to Beijing to research Fu Dong Foods and the Chinese food market. Mark tries to speak with Sara on the plane, but she’s still angry with him. He explains why he was with another woman in the restaurant, but Sara doesn’t like his excuse.
Mark: I see you’re reading Let’s Speak Chinese. Boning up on your Chinese for the trip?
Sara: None of your business.
Mark: Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed!
Sara: I’m still ticked off at you.
Mark: Well, I hope we can clear the air. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long week!
Sara: Okay, come clean. Who was that woman in the restaurant?
Mark: That woman was my ex-girlfriend. She had inside information on Grand Foods. When Ron found out, he told me to get the information.
Sara: Even if it meant getting back together with her?
Mark: I wasn’t planning on getting back together with her. I was just pumping her for information.
Sara: How could you stoop so low?
Mark: Ron demanded the information. He said the company would fail without it.
Sara: Don’t try to pin this on Ron.
Mark: Why not? This is all Ron’s fault!
Sara: This whole experience has been an eye-opener. You and I are not on the same wavelength.
Mark: Give me another chance.
Sara: I’m going back to my Chinese lessons now.
IDIOMS
- (to) bone up on
→ to study quickly, usually just before the information is needed
Example: Before the debate, all of the presidential candidates were busy boning up on the issues.
- None of your business
→ That is not your concern
Example: When Tanya’s ex-husband asked her if she was dating anybody, she replied, “None of your business.”
- (to) wake up on the wrong side of the bed
→ to feel annoyed; to be in a bad mood
Example: “Glen screamed at me when I walked into his office to ask a question!” – “He must’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed.”
- ticked off at
→ angry at
Example: I hope you’re not ticked off at me for forgetting to invite you to my party.
- (to) clear the air
→ to make bad feelings go away; to settle an issue that is causing tension between people
Example: Jay’s wife is angry at him for forgetting to pick up their son from school, but he hopes he’ll be able to clear the air.
- (to) come clean
→ to talk openly; to admit everything
Example: The mayor should come clean and admit that he bought a new car for his wife with taxpayers’ money.
- inside information
→ private information; information known only to those working inside a company or closely associated with a company
Example: My boss’s laptop was stolen, and it had lots of inside information about our company’s strategic plans on it. What a nightmare!
- (to) get back together
→ to restart a romantic relationship
Example: Ken and Nancy got divorced two years ago, but lately they’ve been talking about getting back together.
- (to) pump someone for information
→ to get secret information from someone
Example: As a producer at HBO, Sharon already knows how the popular TV series will end. Her friends are trying to pump her for information.
- (to) stoop so low
→ to behave poorly; to behave in an unethical or undignified way
Example: Our biggest competitor was caught going through our company’s trash bins. How could they stoop so low?
Example: I can’t believe Seth was cheating on his wife with her best friend. How could he stoop so low?
- (to) pin something on someone
→ to shift the blame to someone or something else
Example: When the high school football team lost the game, the players pinned the loss on their coach.
- eye-opener
→ an experience or activity that makes one realize what is really going on
Example: Working as an intern in the White House was an eye-opener for Joy. She learned how politics really works in Washington.
- on the same wavelength
→ in agreement; able to understand one another; compatible
Example: “How was your date with the guy you met online?” – “He was a nice guy, but talking to him was difficult. I don’t think we were on the same wavelength.”
