IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS - LESSON 24

IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS - LESSON 18

the latest dirt the latest gossip EXAMPLE: Have you heard the latest dirt? Rob was fired for calling the chairman of the board a "jerk" to his face.

out of the loop unaware of what's going on EXAMPLE: If you want to know what's really going on at the company, don't bother asking Adam. He's out of the loop.

according to the rumour mill according to gossip EXAMPLE: According to the rumour mill, Neil didn't leave his position voluntarily. He was fired.

(to) make a pass at someone to make a sexual advance toward someone EXAMPLE: Glen got drunk at the office holiday party and made a pass at Amber, his secretary. Unfortunately for Glen, Amber's boyfriend was in the same room!

up to one's old tricks repeating the same behaviour as before (usually annoying, dishonest, or sneaky behaviour) EXAMPLE: Our boss is up to his old tricks. This is the third time we've gone out to lunch and he's forgotten his wallet back at the office.

on the make This idiom has 2 very different meanings: 1) actively looking for a sexual partner

EXAMPLE: Look at Ron flirting with our new receptionist! He's always on the make.

2) aggressively trying to improve one's social or financial status EXAMPLE: Jeff works 80-hour weeks as an investment banker in Manhattan. He's an ambitious young man on the make. get to the bottom of something see Lesson 7

(to) get nailed to get in trouble; to get caught doing something EXAMPLE: Troy tried to cheat on his expense report by including a dinner he had with his girlfriend, but he got nailed and had to return the money.

(to) take the cake to rank first; to be the best or worst example of something EXAMPLE: Stuart stole your idea and presented it as his own during the meeting? That really takes the cake! ORIGIN: Dating back to Ancient Greek times, a cake was a popular prize given to contest winners.

un-PC insensitive; offensive; not politically correct (PC) EXAMPLE: George came right out and asked his colleague if he was gay? That's so un-PC!

politically correct (PC) This expression refers to language or behaviour that is carefully controlled (sometimes too controlled) to avoid offending people based on gender, ethnicity, etc. The concept emerged in the 1980s in the United States. Nowadays, it often has a negative meaning. EXAMPLE: The university president suggested that women may not be as good as men in science because of differences in their brains? That's not politically correct.

what goes around comes around people usually get what they deserve in the end

EXAMPLE: Dana is always trying to steal everybody else's clients. But what goes around comes around.

he'll get his / she'll get hers something bad will happen to him (or her), just as he (or she) deserves EXAMPLE: Cheryl got promoted to vice president after firing half her staff? Don't worry, she'll get hers.

SYNONYM: he (or she) will get what's coming to him (or her)

PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:

1) Jake says he only hires pretty girls to work at his restaurant. He's so unPC!

a) bad with computers

b) kind c) offensive

2) Tiffany called in sick on Tuesday, and she showed up for work on Wednesday with a suntan. She's going to get nailed for lying about being sick.

a) be awarded

b) get in trouble c) get fired

3) Brad said that Tammy made a pass at him while they were on a business trip to Moscow.

a) tried to initiate a sexual relationship with him

b) threw a football at him c) was rude to him

4) Frank keeps taking all of the best customer accounts for himself. We hope that one of these days, he'll get his.