After the Movie

C H A P T E R 1 3

A F T E R T H E M O V I E

(Scene: Sejal, a young woman recently arrived from India, sits with her brother Dakesh, who has been in the United States for several years).

Sejal: American movies are very different from films in India. The stories here are very diverse. Most films in
India have the same story.

Dakesh: This is so true! In the three years that I have been here, I have seen dozens of films, and many were
amazingly interesting. By the way, if you would like to go out with Kumar, the young man who works with me
at the store, I can fix you up. He is very up and coming.

Sejal: I should like that, but would he want to have a date with me?

Dakesh: When he saw you the other day, you made his head spin. He'd love to take you out but he believes
that it's out of the question. He's still only a clerk, but he did fall for you.

Sejal: Arrange for him to come to your house. Once we've spoken together, I will be able to tell if I really would
like to go on a date with him.

Dakesh: You could always back out. In fact, if you're still not certain after meeting him, leave it open. I'd like to
see you go out and loosen up. Here we do not have our parents watching over us like mother hens.

Sejal: You date without notifying our parents?

Dakesh:When in Rome.... If they found out about half of what I've done here, they would be shocked, not that I
have led a wild life! Here, dating is your own thing. Parents step aside and mind their own business.

Sejal: You lie to them?

Dakesh: I simply throw them a curve.

Sejal: What do you mean?

Dakesh: Simply this, I've adapted some American styles. There are ways to date without making waves or
stirring up the waters!

Sejal: And our parents don't know?

Dakesh: What they don't know won't hurt them. Certain things are better left unsaid.
I am becoming an American!

Sejal: That I can see, but what about me?

Dakesh: That is up to you.

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. To go out with: (a) to date, (b) to be put someplace, (c) to be out of fashion

2. Fix someone up: (a) to repair, (b) to arrange for a date, (c) to improve

3. Up and coming: (a) promising, (b) about to arrive, (c) growing

   4. Make someone's head spin: (a) to play a game with someone, (b) to be very attractive to
       someone, (c) to make someone dizzy and sick

   5. To take someone out: (a) to bring someone outside a house, (b) to have a date with
       someone, (c) to carry someone

6. Out of the question: (a) something which cannot be answered, (b) something which cannot be
considered, (c) something which cannot be questioned

7. To fall for someone: (a) to trip, (b) to stumble due to someone's carelessness, (c) to find
someone very attractive

8. To back out: (a) to withdraw from a commitment, (b) to turn around, (c) to walk backwards

9. To leave something open: (a) not closed, (b) not a firm commitment, (c) to look into something

10. To loosen up: (a) to exercise, (b) to relax, (c) to untie

11. When in Rome (do as the Romans do): (a) try to learn the Italian language, (b) only speak Italian in Italy,
(c) adapt to local customs or behaviors

12. To do one's own thing: (a) to build from personal design, (b) to be selfish, (c) to do what one perfers

13. To step aside: (a) not to interfere, (b) to pretend to dance, (c) to walk in a different direction

14. To mind one's own business: (a) to focus on business activities, (b) to focus only on one's own
activities, (c) to be a better business person

15. To throw a curve: (a) to deceive or fool, (b) to be a pitcher in baseball, (c) to throw a ball wildly

16. Making waves: (a) to splash in water, (b) to cause or incite trouble, (c) to get seasick

17. Stirring up the waters: (a) to splash water, (b) to provoke, (c) to row a boat

18. Up to someone: (a) a personal problem, (b) a personal choice, (c) a personal skill

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

1. I couldn't tell if the repairman was speaking honestly with me or if he was trying to
_______me______________.

2. Mel would love to date Phyllis, but he is too shy to ___her ______.

3. There are times in life when parents must _______________and let their children make their own
decisions.

   4. Professor Drake confessed to Sonya that he would love to ____________________her but he is married.

   5. She was outstanding in her first two film performances, so I would say that she is an
        _________________ star.

6. After thoroughly considering all your options, the choice of a career is ultimately
_____________you.

7. Helen is an radical militant for her cause and nothing pleases her as much as
_______________________.

8. Things are going very smoothly, so we don't need Kyung to start_________________.

9. Joanna hasn't met anyone new since Bill's death last year. I told her that I would be happy to
_________her_______with one of my single friends.

10. Nadine was so radiantly beautiful in her new dress that she __________my ____________.

11. You want me to change the design after I've worked on this project for two years. Why that's completely
__________________________!

12. I got very annoyed at Darren's constant attempts to probe into my affairs, so I told him bluntly to
___________his _________________.

13. Back in the 1960s, it became very popular for young people not to listen to their parents but to go off and
________their _______________.

14. I had never used chop sticks before, but when I finally went to a fine Chinese restaurant, I decided to try
them. I remembered the old saying, ____________________.

15. So you are attracted to Mikaela. How are you going to make her _________you?

16. Over the past thirty years we have witnessed changes in dress codes in the United States.
Standards in schools have certainly _______________.

17. I'm not certain whether I can meet with you next Wednesday. Could you ________the date
_________ and I'll let you know for certain in a few days.

18. Let's plan on going down to the shore for the weekend. If something unexpected comes up, you can always
_______________.

Exercise 3:Use the following idioms in a spoken sentence of your own creation.

1. Go out with: ______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. Fix (pronoun) up: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. Up and coming: ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. Make (pronoun) head spin: __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. Take (pronoun) out: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. Out of the question: ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

7. Fall for (pronoun): _________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

8. Back out: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

9. Leave it open: _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

10. Loosen up: _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

11. When in Rome...: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

12. To do (pronoun) own thing: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

13. Step aside: _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

14. Mind (pronoun) own business: ________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

15. Throw (pronoun) a curve: ___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

16. Making waves: ____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

17. Stirring up the waters: ______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

18. Up to (pronoun): __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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

Answers to exercise 1: 1 (a), 2 (b), 3 (a), 4 (b), 5 (b), 6 (b), 7 (c), 8 (a), 9 (b), 10 (b), 11 (c), 12 (c), 13 (a), 14 (b), 15 (a), 16 (b), 17 (b), 18 (b).

Answers to exercise 2:
    1. throw me a curve                                10. made my head spin
    2. take her out                                         11. out of the question
    3. step aside                                           12. mind his own business
    4. go out with                                           13. do their own thing
    5. up and coming                                    14. When in Rome....
    6. up to you                                              15. fall for
    7. stirring up the waters or                     16. loosened up
                   making waves                          17. leave the date open
    8. making waves or stirring up              18. back out
                   the waters