More Speak English Like an American Lesson 25 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 25: One Year Later
ONE YEAR LATER
Ron promotes Mark to marketing director after telling him that the dumplings were a great idea. He tells Mark that he’s marrying Cindy and that when they return from their honeymoon, Cindy will start working at the company.
Ron: I’m glad we decided not to launch the meal kits. Grand Foods is going to deep-six their meal Kits. Sales have been terrible.
Mark: Where did you hear that?
Ron: I heard it through the grapevine.
Mark: Good thing we went with the dumplings instead.
Ron: Yes, Madame Chu’s dumplings are flying off the shelves! Their success is a real feather in your cap.
Mark: Well, I am proud of the successful launch.
Ron: I’m promoting you to marketing director.
Mark: Thanks. That’s great news!
Ron: And you’ll be in charge of the company while I’m on my honeymoon.
Mark: Honeymoon? I didn’t know you were getting married.
Ron: Yes, I am. Cindy Hansen and I really hit it off. We’re tying the knot next month.
Mark: Good for you!
Ron: I know the two of you had some problems in the past, but please don’t bad-mouth her around the office.
Mark: I wouldn’t dream of it.
Ron: She’ll be joining our sales department after we get back from our honeymoon.
Mark: Really? What happened to her job at Shop-Well?
Ron: She got her walking papers after they found out she was giving us the lowdown on Grand Foods.
Mark: I don’t think I can work with her.
Ron: Well, she’s coming on board, and I expect you to show her the ropes when she gets here.
Mark: I guess I should’ve known I was playing with fire when I introduced you to!
IDIOMS
- (to) deep-six
→ to discontinue; to get rid of; to scrap
Example: After enough people complained, the governor finally agreed to deep-six the new tax on services.
- (to) hear it through the grapevine
→ to hear news from someone who heard it from someone else; to hear a rumor
Example: I heard it through the grapevine that Marilyn’s husband is leaving her to marry his administrative assitant.
- (to) fly off the shelves
→ to sell very well; to be popular
Example: After Oprah picked A New Earth as her book club selection, the book flew off the shelves at bookstores around the country.
- feather in one’s cap
→ an achievement; a success one can use for future advantage
Example: Kate is already the star of the tennis team and the president of her class. Winning the art contest is yet another feather in her cap.
- (to) hit it off
→ to get along great from the start
Example: Andrea and Dave met at a party and hit it off immediately. They’re still together after five years.
- (to) tie the knot
→ to get married
Example: Hal and Leah tied the knot during their trip to Las Vegas.
- (to) bad-mouth
→ to say bad things about someone; to speak poorly of someone
Example: I hate to bad-mouth our receptionist, but she chats on the phone all day and is rude whenever you ask her for anything.
- I wouldn’t dream of it
→ I definitely wouldn’t do that
Example: “If we pay for you to get your MBA, you’d better not leave the company once you get your degree.” – “I wouldn’t dream of it.“
- (to) get (or to be given) one’s walking papers
→ to be fired; to be let go from a job
Example: After the bank suffered big losses from the mortgage crisis, one of their mortgage brokers got his walking papers.
- (to) give someone the lowdown on
→ to give someone information
Example: After being out of the office for six weeks, Anna asked me to give her the lowdown on what she’d missed.
- (to) come on board
→ to join; to start working somewhere
Example: We have a new employee coming out board tomorrow.
- (to) show someone the ropes
→ to help a new employee learn his or her job; to help somebody learn how to do an activity
Example: Karen just hired a new marketing assistant. She’s going to spend a couple of weeks showing him the ropes.
Note: This terms comes from the world of sailing. New sailors were shown how to use the ship’s ropes.
- (to) play with fire
→ to do something that can lead to danger; to get involved with people or an activity that can lead to trouble
Example: When Wendy told me she was dating a married man, I warned her that she was playing with fire.
