More Speak English Like an American Lesson 15 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 15: Mark and Sara Discover Delicious Dumplings
MARK AND SARA DISCOVER DELICIOUS
Mark and Sara successfully locate Madame Chu, the woman selling dumplings by the Great Wall. The dumplings are so delicious, Mark offers Madame Chu $500 for her recipes. A suspicious Madame Chu says no to the offer.
Mark: There it is – Madame Chu’s Dumpling Stand.
Mme Chu: What can I get for you?
Sara: What do you recommend?
Mme Chu: The variety plate is popular. It has pork and vegetable dumplings.
Mark: That sounds good.
Sara: Mmmm, these dumplings are to die for!
Mark: They do hit the spot.
Sara: I wish we could bring Madame Chu to California with us, but that’s probably not in the cards.
Mark: I wonder if we can get our hands on her recipes.
Sara: Getting secret information out of women is right up your alley! You had great success with Cindy!
Mark: That was a cheap shot!
Sara: All kidding aside, maybe she’d be willing to share her recipes. Just ask her.
Mark: Excuse me, would you give me your recipes?
Mme Chu: Not a chance! These recipes have been in my family for over 100 years.
Mark: I’ll pay you.
Mme Chu: I’m not interested, not for all the tea in China!
Mark: How about for $500?
Mme Chu: I smell a rat. Why are you offering so much.
Mark: Because I want to make these delicious dumplings at home!
Mme Chu: I can see the writing on the wall. You and your wife will set up shop down the road and compete with me!
Mark: No, that’s the furthest thing from my mind!
Mme Chu: I have customers waiting. Good-bye.
IDIOMS
- to die for
→ very tasty; delicious
Example: Mmmmm, this chocolate cake is to die for!
- (to) hit the spot
→ to satisfy a desire, such as for food or drink
Example: On a hot summber day, a cold beer really hits the spot.
- in the cards
→ likely to happen; possible
Example: The economy is slowing down. Do you think a recession is in the cards?
- (to) get one’s hands on
→ to get, sometimes with difficulty
Example: We asked the owner of the used bookstore where we could get our hands on a first edition of The Grapes of Wrath.
- right up one’s alley
→ something someone is good at, has a lot of experience with, or really enjoys
Example: Tom loves horror movies, so Dawn of the Dead was right up his alley.
- cheap shot
→ a nasty comment; an unfair thing to say
Example: After the bank reported bad earnings, the journalist took a cheap shot a its CEO by writing, “Some leadership might help.”
- all kidding aside
→ seriously (note: say this after you joke about something, to indicate that you are now changing your tone)
Example: “Who left the science experiments in the company refrigerator? All kidding aside, please tell the employees to throw our their old food.”
- Not a chance!
→ No way; That’s not a possibility
Example: “Do you think Paul would let me borrow his motorcycle?” – “Not a chance! He never lets anybody else use it.”
- not for all the tea in China
→ not for anything
Example: Martin loves football. He would not miss the Superbowl for all the tea in China.
- (to) smell a rat
→ to be suspicious about something
Example: Ivan got an investement proposal by email, but he smelled a rat when he read the line, “Please deposit $25,000 into my account by next Friday.”
- (to) see the writing on the wall
→ to see signs of trouble in the future; to know what is going to happen
Example: The furniture store is selling everything at 60% off. I can see the writing on the wall: soon they’ll be going out of business.
Note: You may also see the variation “handwriting on the wall.”
- (to) set up shop
→ to open a business; to expand a business to a new location
Example: When the English language school heard about the demand for English in Korea, they set up shop in Seoul.
- That’s the furthest thing from my mind
→ I wouldn’t even think of doing that
Example: “I hope you’re not planning to stay at this job for a few months, get information, and then start your own company.” – “That’s the furthest thing from my mind!”
