Going to the Airport

C H A P T E R 1 0

G O I N G T O T H E A I R P O R T

(Scene: Driving on the turnpike, Rich, a young American, is taking his friend Oscar to the airport).

Oscar: Are you sure we'll arrive on time at the airport? What if we're late?

Rich: We'll make it with time to spare! Besides, I took a dry run last week and got there in
twenty-two minutes.

Oscar: What if we drive into a traffic jam?

Rich: Don't worry!

Oscar: I just worry about missing the plane. It's the only flight to El Salvador leaving today.

Rich: You're all on edge. Relax! Getting there's a piece of cake!

Oscar: I haven't seen my family in over two years. They will be all at the airport when the plane
lands to meet me. I don't want to miss that plane!

Rich: (blowing his horn) Hey, watch where you're driving, pal! Do you believe how that guy cut
me off?

Oscar: I think you cut him off about a mile back. Getting back to my family. My sister had a baby
three months ago. I'm an uncle!

Rich: Sounds great! Uh-oh! It looks like the traffic is slowing up ahead.

Oscar: Look at that back-up! It must go on for miles! I'll never catch my flight now! We don't
stand a chance.!

Rich: Don't lose your grip. I'm cut out for situations like this. Nerves of steel, cat-like reflexes, I
can drive around this mess. We'll ride on the shoulder to the service entrance and exit there!

Oscar: That's not exactly legal, is it?

Rich: You want to catch that plane, don't you? I'm going to pull out all stops! Hold onto your
hat! Here we go!

Oscar: What if the police should stop us? I'll get arrested. I'll spend the night in jail!

Rich: They'd have to catch us first. Besides, they're probably stuck in traffic, too! Here comes the
service road. Keep an eye out for the police.

Oscar: This is an entrance.

Rich: Not for us, it isn't! I'll hang a sharp right! Mark my words! I'll get you to the airport on
time!

Oscar: No one is following us, but what about that heliocopter?

Rich: It's probably reporting on the traffic tie-up. Here we go - clear sailing! Look, the terminal's
are up ahead.

Oscar: And there's the sign for my airline.

Rich: What service! Right to the curb! And are we on time, pal?

Oscar: I only have five minutes before take-off! Thank you, Rich! Thanks for everything!

Rich: Don't forget your bags!

Oscar: Rich, there's a police car coming up with flashing red lights. Well, thanks again!
(As Oscar leaves, a police officer walks up to Rich's car.)

Police: That was the most reckless driving I've seen in quite a while. May I see your license?

EXERCISES:

Exercise 1: Select the meaning of the following idioms most appropriate to the above dialogue. An answer key is at the end of the chapter.

1. On time: (a) regularly, (b) at a precise time, (c) immediately

2. Dry run: (a) without gas, (b) a rehearsal, (c) (c) without adequate refreshments

3. On edge: (a) to be tense, (b) on the side, (c) on a ledge

4. Piece of cake: (a) a slice of cake, (b) something too sweet, (c) something easy to do

5. Cut someone off: (a) to attach someone with a knife, (b) to close a door in someone's face,
(c) to interrupt or to block someone

6. Back-up: (a) a delay, (b) to lift, (c) to run away

7. Catch a flight: (a) to take a trip without reservations, (b) to take a trip without tickets, (c) to
arrive for a reserved plane flight before it takes off

8. Stand a chance: (a) to gamble, (b) to have the possibility of achieving or winning something,
(c) to wait on line

9. Lose one's grip: (a) to lose control, (b) to get tired, (c) to lose a connection

10. Pull out all stops: (a) to play wildly, (b) not to stop, (c) to do everything one can to
accomplish something

11. Hold onto one's hat: (a) to prepare for fast movement, (b) to be careful, (c) not to sit on one's
hat

12. Keep an eye out: (a) to wash one's eyeglasses, (b) to look for someone or something, (c) to
strain one's vision

13. Hang a right (or left): (a) turn right while driving, (b) to suspend, (c) to miss a turn

14. Mark my words: (a) remember one's words, (b) underline one's words, (c) grade one's words

15. Clear sailing: (a) to sail without storms, (b) to progress without obstacles, (c) to have
extensive vision

16. Take-off: (a) the departure of a plane, (b) to forget to take something, (c) to forget

17. Quite a while: (a) for a long period of time, (b) a large amount, (c) a long wait

Exercise 2: Fill in the correct idioms from the above list. An answer key is at the end of this
chapter.

1. We were driving quite fast when I saw the sign for the motel. I told Judy to __________
_____________into the parking lot.

2. As the submarine began to sink beneath the waves, the captain began to panic and _____
__________________ on the situation.

3. I don't mind picking Josephine up in the morning, but everyday I must wait because she is
never ______________.

4. Once Mack drive out the the traffic around Atlantic City, the highway was nearly empty. He
had _______________all the way to the Parkway.

5. I'll never forget what my father said when I told him that I planned to elope.
"____________," he yelled, "you'll regret this for the rest of your life!"

6. There were over a hundred car behind me at the traffic light. I had never seen such a
_________ at that intersection before.

7. We were cruising in the motorboat when Tim suddenly shouted,
"________________________! I'm going to see how fast this boat can go!"

8. I know that Bill is going to meet us, but it's difficult to see in this crowd. He's wearing his
Mickey Mouse tee-shirt. Please _____________________for him.

9. Melvin was sitting in his seat on the plane filled with excitement. Since this was his first
flight, in a few moments he would experience his first __________________.

10. When a heard the loud sound of a horn, I realized that I had _______________ by changing
lanes without using my directional signal.

11. I was told that the crossword puzzle in the magazine was challenging, but I found it to be a
__________________.

12. Since Manny was concerned about getting to the auction on time, she took a __________to
its location last night.

13. Reginald hopes that he gets the job, but between you and me, I don't think that he
_________________________.

14. Time has a way of passing quickly. I realized that it has been
_________________________since I last went to see a baseball game.

15. Frances wanted to win more than anything else. When she reached the final lap of the race,
she _________________ and surged into the lead.

16. That is the last time I have three cups of coffee for breakfast. I've been feeling
__________all afternoon.

17. Bridget's new job requires that she flies around the country very frequently. In fact, I know
that she has to ________a flight at four o'clock this afternoon.

Exercise 3: Use the following idioms in sentences which you might speak.

1. On time: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. Dry run: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. On edge: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. Piece of cake: _____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Cut someone off: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. Back-up: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

7. Catch a flight: ____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

8. Stand a chance: ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

9. Lose one's grip: ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

10. Pull out all stops: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

11. Hold onto one's hat: _______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

12. Keep an eye out: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

13. Hang a right: ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

14. Mark my words: ___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

15. Clear sailing: ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

16. Take-off: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

17. Quite a while: ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 4: Examine the previous sentences and decide which of them would be suitable for formal written expression through the use of synonyms. Rewrite those sentences using precise, appropriate synonyms.

Answers to exercise 1: 1 (b), 2 (b), 3 (a), 4 (c), 5 (c), 6 (a), 7 (c), 8 (b), 9 (a), 10 (c), 11 (a), 12 (b) 13 (a), 14 (a), 15 (b), 16 (a), 17 (a)

Answers to exercise 2:
1. hand a right                 10. cut someone off
2. lose his grip                 11. piece of cake
3. on time                        12. dry run
4. clear sailing                 13. stands a chance
5. Mark my words           14. quite a while
6. back-up                       15. pulled out all stops
7. Hold onto your hat      16. on edge
8. keep an eye out            17. catch a flight
9. take-off