Talking About a Brown Noser, Part 2: When You're Overheard

EXAMPLE: When Molly realized her business partners were selling stolen goods, she decided to wash her hands of the whole business. ORIGIN: This expression comes from the Bible. Pontius Pilate, a Roman official, announced before a crowd that he wouldn't save Jesus from execution. Then he washed his hands in front of the crowd, symbolically washing away the responsibility.

Dream on! That's what you'd like, but it's not realistic. EXAMPLE: You want to retire in five years, and you've only got $5,000 in the bank? Dream on!

(to) point fingers at each other / (to) point the finger at someone to blame EXAMPLE: Don't point the finger at me! You need to take the blame for this mistake.

(to) track something down to find, usually with difficulty EXAMPLE: Sheila left an important file in a taxi, and now she's going to have to track it down.

PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Choose the most appropriate response to the following:

1) Please don't try to talk me into exhibiting at your trade show this year.

a) Okay, I'll sign you up.

b) Okay, I'll call you tomorrow to talk about it some more.

c) Okay, if you're sure you're not interested, I won't ask again.