discount store

C H A P T E R 2

S H O P P I N G A T T H E D I S C O U N T S T O R E

(Scene: At a huge discount store on a busy highway Rich is introducing his Jordanian friend, Mehdi, to shopping - American style).

Rich: I try to come to this store whenever I get the chance. They have weekly specials here that
are a real steal!

Mehdi: But there are so many people, I can't see what they are selling!

Rich: Yea, it's a mob scene all right, but chill out! If you want to save some money, this place is
for you.

Mehdi: Look at the prices of these video tapes! How do they sell things so cheaply?

Rich:Beats me! I think they buy in large quantities and then sell at blow out prices.

Mehdi: But how do you know what will be on sale each week?

Rich: You don't. I just drop by from time to time. It goes without saying that sometimes there's
nothing I need. At other times, I hit it big!

Mehdi: I see that you can save money here, but Rich, I've seen you spend much money on clothes.

Rich: I cut where I can so I can afford to buy nice clothes. You've gotta learn the ropes around
here. Look at the prices on these plastic crates! This place blows my mind!

Mehdi: Now you're buying crates, but do you need them?

Rich: Not right now, but someday I will. When you see a bargin, you jump on it!

Mehdi: And this store can still make a profit at these prices?

Rich: The turn over is enormous. The profit on each item is small, but they make up for it in
volume.

Mehdi: I feel that I should buy something even though I don't need anything!

Rich: That's the spirit! Most of these people don't need the junk they're buying. They just get a
kick out of shopping. Hey, that's the American way!

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. Get the chance: (a) to have the opportunity, (2) to get a ticket, (3) to seek wisdom

2. A real steal: (a) a thief, (b) a bargain, (c) stolen merchandise

3. Mob scene: (a) a part of a play, (b) a crowd of people, (c) a gangster film

4. Chill out: (a) to become calm, (b) to become cold, (c) to get a fever

5. Beats me: (a) not to know, (b) to be assaulted, (c) to suffer insult

6. Blow out: (a) to fall from the force of the wind, (b) to expand, (c) to move quickly

7. Drop by: (a) to visit, (b) to lower one's self, (c) to stumble

8. From time to time: (a) between hours, (b) occasionally, (c) upon impulse

9. Goes without saying: (a) soon forgotten, (b) whispered, (c) not necessary to explain or
implicit

10. Hit it big: (a) to become violent, (b) to have great success, (c) to take a big swing

11. Cut where I can: (a) to slice something, (b) to save or reduce, (c) to search for a way

12. Learn the ropes: (a) to recognize types of cord, (b) to learn to tie knots, (c) to learn how
systems operate.

13. Blows my mind: (a) amazes me, (b) upsets me, (c) confuses me

14. Jump on it: (a) to exercise, (b) to seize the opportunity, (c) to focus on something

15. Turn over: (a) to reverse, (b) amount of sales, (c) ways of fortune or chance

16. Get a kick: (a) to receive pain, (b) to exercise, (c) to receive enjoyment

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

1. When Rod learned of the half price fares to Seattle, he _______________ and immediately
phoned his travel agent.

2. I think of her _____________________, especially when I'm walking through the park.

3. When I answered the door and saw Doris, I was surprised. I didn't think that she would
_______ to see me.

4. Jamie buys lottery tickets everyday. He hopes that someday he will ________________ and
be able to retire.

5. Instead of giving in to those violent urges , Rick need to learn how to ______________.

6. I drink champagne, but I don't _______________________ from it.

7. I couldn't believe what the auditorium was like after the concert. With all the people pressing
in towards the stage, it was a real ________________.

8. A 1957 Thunderbird for only $7,000? Buy it! At that price, it's a ___________________.

9. Allan's car dealership broke all records in November. They _______________more cars than
they had in the previous six months!

10. When I'm in Washington on Wednesday, I want to visit the memorial for President Kennedy
at Arlington cemetary, if I ________________.

11. Since I love ice cream, I try to avoid other fatty foods. When it comes to dieting,
________________________ .

12. When asked if she remembered the date of Jim's birthday, all Rhonda could say was,
"________!"

13. Don't feel badly about not understanding the organization. It takes time to
_____________________ in this company.

14. Here it is in January and that store is advertising __________________prices on their air
conditioners.

15. Of course he's a conservative. Just look at his voting record. His political affiliation
_________________________.

16. Everytime I see the special effects in Terminator VII, they just ____________________.

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

1.Get the chance:___________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. Real steal: _______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Mob scene: ______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

4. Chill out: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Beats me: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

6. Blow out: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

7. Drop by: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

8. From time to time: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

9. Goes without saying: _______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

10. Hit it big: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

11. Cut where I can: __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Learn the ropes: ___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

13. Blows my mind: ___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

14. Jump on it: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

15. Turn over: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

16. Get a kick: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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 (b), 4 (a), 5 (a), 6 (c), 7 (a), 8 (b), 9 (c), 10 (b), 11 (b), 12 (c),
13 (a), 14 (b), 15 (b), 16 (c).

Answers to exercise 2:
            1. jump on it                                          9. turned over
            2. from time to time                           10. get the chance
            3. drop by                                           11. cut where I can
            4. hit it big                                          12. beats me
            5. chill out                                           13. learn the ropes
            6. get a kick                                       14. blow out prices
            7. mob scene                                     15. goes without saying
            8. a real steal                                     16. blows my mind

© Charles Bordogna 2002