Speak English Around Town Lesson 11 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test

LESSON 11 – Visiting the Pharmacy

VISITING THE PHARMACY 

Ann goes to the pharmacy to get medicine for her husband. who has a rash on his back. She talks to Ken. the pharmacist.

Ann: My husband has a rash on his back. It’s driving him nuts.

Ken: When did the rash break out?

Ann: Yesterday morning. What do you think it could be?

Ken: It could be any number of things.

Ann: Such as?

Ken: For starters, it could be an allergic reaction to something.

Ann: I recently started using a new brand of laundry detergent. You may have hit the nail on the head!

Ken: If it is small red dots, it may be hives.

Ann: What do you recommend he take for it?

Ken: Is he on anything now?

Ann: No.

Ken: Try an over-the-counter anti-itch cream or a pill like Claritin.

Ann: What if those don’t work? What if it gets worse?

Ken: If it doesn’t clear up, he should see a doctor. It’s probably nothing serious, but better safe than sorry.

Ann: Right! We should nip this in the bud.

Language Lens: “What if”

“What if” questions are a way of asking what will happen in a certain situation. Use it to express worry or concern about a possible outcome. Note that we use the simple present form of the verb with “what if” even though we are referring to events that might happen or are possible in the future.

Examples:
◼ What if the car breaks down during our trip to California? (NOT: What if the car will break down … )
◼ What if the movie is sold out by the time we get to the movie theater? (NOT: What if the movie will be sold out …)
◼ What if nobody volunteers to organize the holiday party? (NOT: What if nobody will volunteer … )
◼ What if somebody breaks into our house while we’re on vacation? (NOT: What if somebody will break … )
◼ What if I don’t get into any of the law schools I applied to? (NOT: What if I will not get into … )
◼ What if Angela decides to marry Pierre and move to France? (NOT: What if Angela will decide … )

Here’s what happens when you change a statement about the future into a “what if” question:
I’m worried I won’t have enough money for college. => What if I don’t have enough money for college?
Note how the future tense verb won’t (= will not) changes to a present tense verb (don’t) in the “what if” question.

Here are more examples, with the verbs in bold:
◼ The company will have layoffs. => What if I the company has layoffs?
◼ Erin will get lost on her way to your house. => What if Erin gets lost on her way to your house?
◼ Nobody will volunteer. => What if nobody volunteers?

IDIOMS

• allergic reaction

→ sensitivity to things that come into contact with the body ( causing problems such as rashes, trouble breathing, coughing, etc.)

Example: Irene had an allergic reaction to some peanuts. Her throat swelled up and she could barely breathe.

• any number of things

→ one of many possibilities

Example: “What’s causing my ankles to swell?” – “It could be any number of things.”

• better safe than sorry

→ it’s good to be extra careful (to avoid trouble or disaster)

Example: Check the airline’s website to make sure the flight hasn’t been canceled. Better safe than sorry.

• (to) break out (in)

→ to appear; to occur (often suddenly)

Example: Shortly after taking the medication, Karen broke out in hives.

NOTE: This is often used to describe acne that can suddenly appear on the face, especially among teenagers. Example: Emily was horrified when her face broke out just before the dance.

• (to) clear up

→ to get better; to go away (when talking about problems with the skin, such as a rash or acne)

Example: Fortunately, Tyler’s face cleared up before the school dance.

• (to) drive one nuts

→ to annoy someone very much

Example: It drives me nuts when people talk during movies.

• for starters

→ to name just one problem or example; for example

Example: What’s wrong with Ted? For starters, his back is killing him.

• (to) hit the nail on the head

→ to be right; to guess correctly

Example: The doctor hit the nail on the head when she said I needed to start exercising.

• (to) nip (this, that or it) in the bud

→ to stop something before it gets any worse

Example: Your son has started to spend every night surfing the Web instead of doing his homework? You need to nip that in the bud.

• on something

→ taking medication or prescription drugs

Example: Nancy is on Claritin for her allergies.

NOTE: This can also mean that one is taking illegal drugs. Example: That guy on the street corner is in bad shape. I wonder what he’s on.

• over-the-counter

→ available on the pharmacy shelf instead of by prescription

Example: Your headaches are getting worse? Maybe you should start taking a prescription drug instead of over-the-counter medications.

NOTE: sometimes you will see the abbreviation: OTC