Scene:
A woman's clothing store. Ivona, a young woman from Poland, has just been
hired as a salesperson. She is speaking with Carol, her supervisor.
Carol: Your resume speaks
well of you. I'm impressed by the sales experience you had in
Poland. I think
you're a natural to work here.
Ivona: My only concern is
the language. Even though I have studied the American language for several
years, I
am worried that some
customers will use words that I am not familiar with.
Carol: That might happen,
but if someone says something confusing, just don't lose
your head. Simply ask
her to explain what
she wants.
Ivona: I appreciate your understanding. I don't want to lose a single sale.
Carol: Ivona, you are an intelligent,
charming woman. Our customers will recognize that. I don't think things
will
ever get
out of hand. Have confidence. You'll quickly get
the hang of it.
Ivona: I want to do my very best for you. Your store seems to be very successful.
Carol: Day
in and day out, this store's crowded. Business is really taking
off. In all likelihood, you'll be a
smashing success!
Ivona: I will work very hard. Of this you can be certain. I want to earn a good commission!
Carol: That's the spirit! By the
way, we believe our sales crew should have a voice
in the way we do things. If
you have any ideas
on how to improve sales or if you have something you want to get
off your chest, just
speak to me. You'll
find that I'm all ears!
Ivona: I truly appreciate that. You seem to respect your employees.
Carol: Yes. Of course, we do draw
the line on some things. Nevertheless, you can be sure
that you won't
get kicked around here.
Ivona: How soon can I start?
Carol: Immediately! And mark
my words, if you measure up,
we can raise your salary quickly. I always want
you to know
what the score is around here. We want to maintain good communications.
Let's go to the
sales floor. I want
to introduce you to the staff!
EXERCISES:
Exercise l:Select the meaning of the following idioms most appropriate t the above dialogue. An answer key is at the end of the chapter.
l. Speaks well of: (a) sounds loud, (b) speaks clearly, (c) praises or approves
2. You're a natural: (a) a nature lover, (b) born with skills to do a task, (c) healthy
3. Lose your head: (a) lose your life, (b) lose one's thoughts, (c) lose self-control
4. Get out of hand: (a) become uncontrolled, (b) to drop something, (c) to large to hold
5. Get the hang of it: (a) become skillful at doing something, (b) to be suspended, (c) to become inactive.
6. Day in and day out: (a) to walk in and out, (b) to come to work, (c) consistently
7. Taking off: (a) becoming successful, (b) to fly, (c) to jump or leap
8. In all likelihood: (a) similarity, (b) probably, (c) in every situation
9. Have a voice: (a) to be able to speak, (b) to give opinions, (c) to whisper
10. Get something off one's chest: (a) to carry a burden, (b) to release thoughts, (c) to clean one's chest.
11. All ears: (a) willing to listen, (b) endowed with large ears, (c) capable of hearing extreme sounds
12. Draw the line: (a) sketch, (b) indicate boundaries, (c) visualize
13. To kick around: (a) to abuse, (b) to play soccer, (c) to waste time
14. Mark one's words: (a) to indicate, (b) to pay close attention to what someone says, (c) to underline
15. To measure up: (a) to become taller, (b) to take accurate measurements, (c) to meet expectations
16. To know what the score is: (a) to know who is winning, (b) to be informed, (c) to keep records
Exercise 2:Fill in the correct idiom from the above list. An answer key is at the end of this chapter.
1. Madeline doesn't know whether
Ramon loves her or not. She certainly would like
___________________________________in their relationship.
2. Grandfather is a man of
great patience, but he also knows when to _______________ if his grandchildren
are starting to behave inappropriately.
3. I'm sorry that I wasn't
listening before to what you had to say. Tell me once more. I'm
_______________.
4. There are times when I
really get overwhelmed in the store. Customers are demanding attention
and I have
many things to do. Still, I try not to ___________________.
5. I was glad to learn that your new venture on the Internet is really ________________.
6. Tyrone has confidence that
the new recruits will _______________to the high standards of the Marine
Corps.
7. Something bad is going to happen to Carlo, you ____________________!
8. In spite of the assurances
I've received from the union, I feel that I really don't ____________
_____________ in the reorganization.
9. Professor Hansen was tremendously
impressed by Jasmine's research. Her report on the
malformations of the cingulate gyrus ______________________ of her
ability to do advanced studies.
10. Jaime has had enough of the company.
He has been _________________ by twelve managers over a
period of seventeen years.
11. I know that Matthew is difficult
now. However, ________________ he will develop those skills as he gets
older.
12. Marlene's work is always the
same. ______________________________ she faces the same
repetitive tasks for eight hours.
13. I never thought that I would
be able to inject a needle in a vein and draw blood, but after practicing
for
awhile, I began to ________________________.
14. Some people just seem to be very
comfortable on the stage. Take Darla, for example. When it comes to
performing before people, she's ___________.
15. If something is bothering you,
I wish that you would just_____________________________
and tell me.
16. The disturbance in the high school
was over a minor mater; however, since the principal didn't investigate
it, the problem soon got ______________.
Exercise 3:Use the following idioms in a spoken sentence of your own creation.
1. Know what the score is: ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Draw the line: ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. All ears: _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Lose your head: _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Taking off: _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. Measure up: ____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
7. Mark my words: _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
8. Have a voice: ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
9. Speaks well of: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
10. Kicked around: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
11. In all likelihood: _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
12. Day in and day out: ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
13. Get the hang of it: ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
14. To be a natural: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
15. Get off one's chest: _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
16. Get out of hand: _________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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( c), 2 (b), 3 (c), 4 (a), 5 (a), 6 (c), 7 (a), 8 (b), 9 (b), 10 (b), 11(a), 12 (b), 13 (a), 14 (b), 15 (c), 16 (b).
Answers to exercise 2:
1. to know what the score is
9. speaks well of you
2. draw the line
10. kicked around
3. all ears
11. in all likelihood
4. lose my head
12. day in and day out
5. taking off
13. get the hang of it
6. measure up
14. a natural
7. mark my words
15. get it off your chest
8. have a voice
16. out of hand
© Charles Bordogna 2002