Which idioms do you remember from Part I?

Remember what we told you? What we want you to do is:

1. Read the list
2. Choose 5 idioms
3. Remember them and write sentences with them, this way you will remember them!
4. Repeat again next week!

Idioms

Have an ace up one’s sleeve - to have something that you can use to gain an advantage (in a card game the ace is often the most valuable card and a cheater could have an ace up his or her sleeve to use against an opponent).
Example: “I have an ace up my sleeve: my Dad is friends with the boss, so I will get the job”

Have (someone) in one’s pocket - to have control over someone.
Example: “That polititian is in that big company’s pocket, everyone knows he’s corrupt”

Hit (someone) below the belt - to do something in an unfair or cowardly way.
Example: “Jenny hit me below the belt: she knew I wanted to wear the red dress”

Hot under the collar - to be very angry.
Example: “Before the interview, he was getting hot under the collar”

If the shoes fits, wear it - used to say that something said or suggested about a person is true and that the person should accept it as true.
Example: “Helen got angry when I said she was a liar. But she never tells the truth, so if the shoe fits she should wear it”

In fashion - fashionable.
Example: “Pink hats are in fashion; I think they’re horrible”

In one’s Sunday best - in one’s best clothes that you would wear to go to worship in a church (in the days when people dressed in a more formal way to attend church).
Example: “When we visit my grandmother, we have to go in our Sunday best”

Keep (something) under one’s hat - to keep something secret.
Example: “I can’t believe you kept such a big secret under your hat!”

Laugh up one’s sleeve - to laugh quietly to oneself.
Example: “When I overheard the joke, I laughed up my sleeve”

Lick (someone’s) boots - to behave in a servile manner toward someone.
Example: “Graham is always licking the teachers boots to get a better grade”

Make (something) by hand - to make something with one’s hands rather than with a machine.
Example: “Laura made me a beautiful pair of hand made earrings for my birthday”

On a shoestring - on a very low budget, with very little money.
Example: “We are travelling on a shoestring:

Out of fashion - not fashionable.
Example: “Cowboy hats are out of fashion”

Play one’s cards close to one’s chest - to be extemely secretive and cautious about something (to hold playing cards close to your chest so the other players cannot see them).
Example: “He’s playing his cards close to his chest about his job… I wonder why”

Pull (something) out of a hat - to produce something as if by magic, to invent something.
Example: “Laila is going to pull an amazing party out of her hat, it’s like magic”

Pull up one’s socks - to make a greater effort than before to do something.
Example: “I told Mary to pull up her socks and try harder to find a job”

Put on one’s thinking cap - to think long and hard about something.
Example: “Hmmm, I’ll put on my thinking cap and together we’ll solve the problem”

Roll up one’s sleeves - to get ready for a hard job, to prepare to work hard or seriously.
Example: “Ok, roll up your sleeves and get to work!”

Shoe is on the other foot - used to say that a situation has changed to the opposite of what it was before.
Example: “Now the shoe is on the other foot: John cheated on Samantha, and now she’s cheating on him”

Smarty pants - a person who is annoying because they always have an answer or seem to know everything
Example: “Her brother is a smarty pants: he always knows more than you, it’s so annoying”

Talk through one’s hat - to say something without or understanding the facts.
Example: “My neighbour is constatly talking through his hat, he talks about things he doesn’t know”

Tighten one’s belt - to live on less money than usual
Example: “During an economic crises, everyone tightens their belts”

Too big for one’s boots - to think you are more important than you are.
Example: “My aunt is getting too big for her boots: she makes a lot of money but thinks she’s royalty!”

Wear more than one hat - to have more than one set of responsibilities.
Example: “At work, Eva wears more than one hat: she’s a designer, she helps management and she programs the computers”

Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve - to show one’s feelings openly.
Example: “My husband always wears his heart on his sleeve, all his emotions show on his face”

Wear the pants in the family - to be the boss of a family or household.
Example: “Oliver was only 5 but he wore the pants in the family; he was always telling people what to do”

Wolf in sheep’s clothing - a person who pretends to be good but is really bad.
Example: “Joan was a wolf in sheep’s clothing; pretending to be nice but only there in self-interest”

Hello!

One of the most famous British meals is the English Breakfast. It’s a substantial meal, best enjoyed on the weekend. Then you have time to prepare, enjoy and not fall asleep at work!

It’s also often served in hotels as a treat.

What do you need?

1. Fried Egg
2. Bacon
3. Hash Brows
4. Bread
5. Mushrooms
6. Tomatoes
7. Sausages

You can also eat baked beans, black pudding or have mashed potato. If you decide to have everything, the breakfast is called a Full Monty.

Of course, being a traditional English meal, the preferred drink is English Breaffast tea.This tea is made from teas that originate all over the world, from Assam, Ceylon and Kenya. It’s one of the most popular teas in Britain, thanks to Queen Victoria.

The origin of this hearty breakfast are unclear and believed to originate in rural England as a sustaining meal to carry workers through a long morning. It is also believed that the English had two main meals, breakfast and dinner, so they needed a big breakfast!

Remember that this is not a very healthy meal, so only eat it occasionally.

What is the most traditional breakfast in your country? We’d love to know!

Vocabulary

Substantial – large in amount, size, or number.

Treat – to deal with or think about (something) especially in a particular way.

Hash brows – boiled potatoes that have been cut up, mixed with chopped onions and fat, and fried until brown.

Black pudding – a very dark sausage that contains a lot of blood; also called black sausage.

Full Monty – British expression that means “the whole thing”. It is used a lot in the North of England.

Preferred – to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else.

Hearty – large enough to satisfy hunger.

Sustaining – to provide what is needed for (something or someone) to exist, continue, etc.

Good morning!

Did you have a good weekend? Today’s lesson is beautiful, it’s about a girl whose face has been voted most perfect in the UK. Ready to learn some more?

1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

Text

It might not launch a thousand ships, but this is the face that won the title “Britain’s Most Natural Beauty”. Eighteen-year-old Florence Colgate’s face is considered almost flawless … it’s perfectly symmetrical, with large eyes, full lips and high cheekbones.

- I had to send in a picture wearing no make-up and from that I got called to say I got through into the top 5 out of 8000 people. It’s just unbelievable. Honestly, I did not expect to get this far at all.

The competition wasn’t just about subjective beauty – it was settled with science. Researchers say the distances between facial features and the width and length of the face are deciding factors for perfection. And Colgate scored very close to the ideal.

- I think I just look at my face and I see me, I don’t really see, like science, it’s just yeah.

Colgate works part-time at a local fish and chips shop. But she says her new-found fame doesn’t seem to have made her more popular with customers.

- I haven’t really noticed. Obviously you still get your regulars who come in every week. I don’t know, it’s a busy fish and chip shop anyway.

Colgate plans to study business management at university, unless of course, a lucrative modeling contract shows its face.

Vocabulary

Launch – to send or shoot (something, such as a rocket) into the air or water or into outer space.

Flawless – with no faults or errors.

Full – having a rounded shape : not thin or narrow.

Cheekbones – a bone of the face that is located below the eye.

Subjective – relating to the way a person experiences things in his or her own mind.

Lucrative – producing money or wealth.

Video

What do you think? Do you think she’s beautiful?

Hey there! How are you?

Today, we wanted to remind you of something very important: you only learn IF you pay attention.

It’s better to study English for half an hour but concentrate and understand the lesson, than study for two hours and not remember much. This concept is called Deliberate Practice. The theory says that what makes an expert – or a great student – is not the hours the person studies, but how they study. To become a great student, you must:

1. Improving different skills: listening, writing, grammar, vocabulary, etc.
2. Continual practice at more challenging levels

What does this mean? This means you must try to constantly study at harder levels than you are.

This is the way to become proficient at learning English, or improve any skills you wish to master.

So, to what have you paid attention today?

Hello,

How are you today?

Are you all ready to start the weekend? Or should I say are you already to start the weekend?

Hmmmm…

Oh no! We have an error in one of those sentences. Don’t worry, all ready vs. already is a common mistake in English for both English learners and native speakers.

So today we are going to take a look at the difference.

The first very important point is that “all ready” is a way to put emphasis on “ready.” To say that someone/something is completely ready or prepared.

I am ready.
Or
I am all ready.

Both sentences are correct but the second one puts more stress on the fact I am entirely ready.

Take a listen to this song and see if you can find a place where “all ready” can be substituted for “ready.” What about “already”? Can you find it in the song?

Already is an adverb used to describe things that have happened before now and usually that have happened earlier than expected. For example:

1) They are not hungry because they have already eaten.

2) She has finished her homework already.

Notice that the adverb “already” can be placed before the main verb (in sentence #1 have is the auxiliary verb and left is the main verb) or at the end of the sentence as seen in #2.

Well, that’s all for now. As you should already know we want to help you learn lots and hope you are feeling all ready to continue doing so!

Have a great weekend,

Written by: Sarah, Teacher from ABA English

Hi!

The following video is quite hard to watch. A man walks a tight-rope over a canyon in China, defying death and leaving the people watching breathless.

1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

Text

This type of a stunt might warrant a ‘Don’t try this at home’ disclaimer. But for professional highliner Dean Potter, putting his best foot forward across China’s Enshi Grand Canyon is just another day at the office.

The rope, known as a slackline, is two centimeters thick – a material that’s more challenging than a tightrope because it’s not as taut and is therefore more susceptible to bouncing and stretching. And watching this American balance his steps 1,800 meters in the air or almost 1,970 yards is enough to make you hold your breath.

But defying death had Potter kissing the ground he walks on – completing the 40 meter or 44 yard distance in just over two minutes

Vocabulary

Stunt – to stop (someone or something) from growing or developing.

Warrant - to require or deserve (something).

Disclaimer - a statement that is meant to prevent an incorrect understanding of something (such as a book, a movie, or an advertisement).

Highliner – this means someone who walks tight-ropes high up in the sky.

Slackline – a line which is not stretched or held in a tight position.

Tightrope - a tightly stretched rope or wire high above the ground that a performer walks on, does tricks on, etc., especially in a circus.

Taut - very tight from being pulled or stretched : not loose or slack.

Susceptible - easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something.

Defying death - very dangerous.

Video

Wow! What do you think of that? Do you think you could do it?

Hello everyone!

How many of you like Hello Kitty? It doesn’t matter if you don’t, because this news item will still make you smile.

1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

Text

It promises to be the cutest flight experience on the planet. Starting with its pink check-in counter, Taiwanese EVA airlines launched a flight service fully themed on Hello Kitty.

After handing over the Hello Kitty boarding pass, passengers enter the aircraft. Rows of seats adorned with the cat character await them inside. Even the food matches the feline theme. But as EVA senior instructor, Chang Ai-lin explains, selling “cute” is good for the business.

- For our flight route from Japan, many Japanese passengers who travel to Taiwan choose to take the Hello Kitty flight.

Indeed a powerhouse brand, Hello Kitty is part of a multi-billion dollar franchise of Japan’s Sanrio Company. And fans it has – ready to board the next Hello Kitty flight.

- Hello Kitty is all over the place and it’s very attractive. Also, I have children and it would be fun to bring them here.

Right now the airline has three Hello Kitty jets in service flying between Asian countries. It seems that for one cat the sky is not the limit.

Vocabulary

Item - an individual thing : a separate part or thin.

Cutest - clever in an appealing way.

Counter - a piece of furniture with a flat surface that workers and customers stand on opposite sides of when doing business in a store, restaurant, etc.

Themed - the particular subject or idea on which the style of something (such as a party or room) is based – in this case an airplane.

Feline - of or relating to the cat family.

Powerhouse - a group of people or an organization that has a lot of power.

Franchise - the right to sell a company’s goods or services in a particular area.

Video

Story time!

Remember when you were kids and your mother, father or granparents would tell you a story? Great memories!

Today’s story is about a bucket. A bucket is an open container with a handle that is used especially to hold and carry water and other liquids.

1. Read and understand the vocabulary
2. Watch the video 

Vocabulary

Once - at some time in the past.

Swing - to move backward and forward or from side to side while hanging from something.

Handle - a part of something that is designed to be held by your hand.

Fetch - to go after and bring back (someone or something).

Hole - an opening into or through something.

Useless - not at all useful : not doing or able to do what is needed.

Tossed - to throw (something) with a quick, light motion.

Rust - a reddish substance that forms on iron or some other metal usually when it comes in contact with moisture or air.

Kicked - to hit (someone or something) with your foot.

Muttered - to speak quietly so that it is difficult for other people to hear what you say.

Flapped - to move (something) up and down or back and forth.

Soothingly - producing feelings of comfort or relief.

Blinking - to close and then open your eyes very quickly.

Spluttering - to make a series of short, loud noises like the noises of someone who is struggling to breathe.

Spirits - the force within a person that is believed to give the body life, energy, and power.

Peered - to look closely or carefully especially because something or someone is difficult to see.

Veranda - a long, open structure on the outside of a building that has a roof.

Good morning everyone!

How are you today? Ready to learn some vocabulary?

Today we will be looking at crime related words.

Steal - to take (something that does not belong to you) in a way that is wrong or illegal.

Rob - to take money or property from (a person or a place) illegally and sometimes by using force, violence, or threats.

Notice that the difference between these two verbs is the object. In “steal” the object is the thing which was taken away, for example: “He stole my bike”. With the verb “rob” the object is the person or place from which things were stolen: “Jenny was robbed last night” or “Jenny was robbed by a man in black”.

Crime vocabulary

Murder - the crime of deliberately killing a person.
Criminal: murderer
Ex: “The murder happened at night”

Shoplifting - to steal things from a shop or store.
Criminal: shoplifter
Ex: “An actress was caught shoplifting diamonds from a jewelers”

Burglary - the act of illegally entering a building in order to steal things.
Criminal: burglar
Ex: “There was a burglary at my local sports shop”

Smuggling - to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly.
Criminal: smuggler
Ex: “Some people make money smuggling cigarrettes over the border”

Kidnapping - to take away (someone) by force usually in order to keep the person as a prisoner and demand money for returning the person.
Criminal: kidnapper
Ex: “A little girl has been kidnapped from her primary school”

Legal vocabulary

Trial - a formal meeting in a court in which evidence about crimes, disagreements, etc., is presented to a judge and often a jury so that decisions can be made according to the law.
Ex: “He was put on trial for the attempted murder of his girlfriend”

Case – a situation that is being investigated or managed by someone (such as a police officer or social worker) in an official way.
Ex: “Case closed, the crime has been solved”

Evidence - something which shows that something else exists or is true.
Ex: “We found no evidence that Erin was the culprit”

Proof - something which shows that something else is true or correct.
Ex: “She wanted proof that the burglar had been caught”

Judge - to form an opinion about (something or someone) after careful thought.
Ex: “Judge Judy is a very popular show about a female judge”

Jury - a group of people who are members of the public and are chosen to make a decision in a legal case.
Ex: “The jury decided the man was innocent”

Exercise

To make sure you have understood the new vocabulary, fill in the gaps in the exercise bellow. Remember to put the verbs in the correct verb tenses!

1. On Monday an armed gang __________ the school. They ___________ all the laptops.
2. My luggage _________ at the airport. I think it was ___________ by the blond man in a pink jacket.
3. Every year large numbers of banks __________.
4. Ali __________ of the opportunity to become class president.

How are you today? It’s lovely to have you here.

This lesson is about the most famous diamond in the world. Worth millions of dollars, it will be sold on the 15th of May.

1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the video

Text

The diamond coveted by royalty for centuries will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in Geneva. Beau Sancy had a part in the fluctuating fortunes of Europe’s royal families for more than 400 years and currently belongs to Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and head of the former ruling dynasty of the German empire.

The 34-carat modified “pear double rose cut” diamond is expected to fetch between two and four million U.S. dollars. And Sotheby’s David Bennet says the sale is a major event in the diamond world.

- It’s extremely rare for a diamond of this importance to come on the market. It’s never been out of royal hands, so it’s immaculate provenance. It’s also a spectacular stone, it weighs 34 carats. It’s in all the history books of famous stones.

Bennett sold a pink diamond for 46.2 million U.S. dollars in 2010, a record for any jewel at auction. He said estimating the value of a stone like the Beau Sancy was difficult given its rarity.

- Of course on the 15th of May in Geneva, we will find out how accurate or not that was. But there’s been a lot of interest as we’ve taken it all around the world; it’s been in Hong Kong, New York and Europe. It’s been greeted with a lot of admiration wherever it’s been.

And even though Sotheby’s says Queen Elizabeth II has long wanted to own Beau Sancy, it will remain in London only until May 1st, when it will be taken to Geneva ahead of the May 15th sale. And for the first time in its history, the famous gem could even land in the hands of a commoner.

Vocabulary

Coveted - to want (something that you do not have) very much.

Auctioned - to sell (something) at an auction. An auction is a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most.

Fluctuating - to change level, strength, or value frequently.

Dynasty - a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time.

Fetch - to be sold for (an amount of money).

Immaculate - having no flaw or error.

Provenance - the origin or source of something.

Gem - a valuable stone that has been cut and polished for use in jewelry.

Commoner - a person who is not a member of the nobility.

Video