More Speak English Like an American Lesson 9 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
Lesson 9: Monday Morning at the Office
MONDAY MORNING AT THE OFFICE
Sara’s co-worker Angela tells Sara that she saw Mark dining with a very attractive woman at Café Felix on Saturday night. Sara is very angry to hear this news.
Angela: Sara, I don’t want to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, but did you and Mark split up?
Sara: No. Why?
Angela: I saw him with another woman on Saturday night at Café Felix.
Sara: Are you sure it was him?
Angela: Yes, he and his date were really living it up, too. She ordered lobster, and they had a couple of bottles of wine.
Sara: That makes my blood boil!
Angela: Sorry I brought it up, but I thought you’d want to know.
Sara: What did she look like?
Angela: Tall, thin, and blonde. My boyfriend couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He thought she was eye candy.
Sara: That must have put a damper on your evening.
Angela: It sure did!
Sara: I should’ve known better than to start dating Mark.
Angela: He is known to be a ladies’ man.
Sara: I’m going to give him a piece of my mind!
Angela: Please don’t tell him I told you! He didn’t see me at the restaurant. I don’t want to get on his bad side.
IDIOMS
- (to) stick one’s nose where it doesn’t belong
→ to interfere in someone’s business
Example: Donna asked me what Max and I discussed during out meeting. She’s always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong!
- (to) split up
→ to end a romantic relationship; to get divorced
Example: Did you hear the news? Laura and Tony have split up!
- (to) live it up
→ to really enjoy oneself (often spending a lot of money in the process)
Example: During out weekend in Manhattan, we saw two Broadway shows and ate at a French restaurant. We really lived it up.
- (to) make one’s blood boil
→ to make one very angry
Example: Pamela told you that I have a bad attitude? That makes my blood boil!
- (to) bring something up
→ to raise a topic; to start talking about something
Example: When Nicole’s father asked her how her grades were last semester, she said, “I was hoping you wouldn’t bring that up.”
- (to) not be able to keep (or take) one’s eyes off (someone or something)
→ to stare, usually because the person or object is attractive
Example: Who was that actor in Pirates of the Caribbean? I couldn’t keep my eyes off him!
- eye candy
→ a very good-looking person; a beautiful object
Example: Ryan’s wife isn’t very nice, but she is eye candy.
Example: Our company lobby is very dull. Let’s put some eye candy in there.
Note: This expression also means graphics that make software, video games, or a website more pleasing to look at.
- (to) put a damper on
→ to spoil; to make something worse
Example: When Christie’s passport was stolen in Budapest, it put a damper on her entire trip.
- I should’ve known better than to
→ I regret; I never should have
Example: Sam told everybody that I’m planning to leave the company? I should’ve known better than to trust him!
- ladies’ man
→ a man who enjoys being with women; a man who dates lots of women
Example: Luke danced with all eight of the bridesmaids at the wedding. He’s such a ladies’ man!
- (to) give someone a piece of one’s mind
→ to let someone know what one really thinks; to speak openly, usually in anger or frustration
Example: After her lousy lunch at Carmen’s Bistro, Tammy decided to write to the owner and give him a piece of her mind.
- (to) get on someone’s bad side
→ to get into a situation where someone is angry at you; to do something to annoy someone
Example: “How did you get on the teacher’s bad side?” – “I came to class late every day.”
