IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS - LESSON 28

Let's get together and bat _________ some ideas. a) around b) about c) off

8) You didn't reply to my urgent e-mail because your computer wasn't working? Spare me the_______ story! a) tragic b) sad c) sob

9) According to the rumour ______, Wayne has been having an affair with his administrative assistant for the past twenty years. a) mill b) bin c) machine

10) Zachary showed up late for work again and then claimed he had a dentist appointment. He's up to his _____ tricks. a) new b) old c) favourite

11) I know you're not enjoying your international assignment, but you'll be leaving in a few months. For now, you'll just have to _____ and bear it. a) grin b) smile c) laugh

12) Roy is in charge of sales at our company, and our sales are down by 75 percent versus last year. His days are _________. a) limited b) lettered c) numbered

13) If you want to get _________ at this company, you're going to have to kiss up to your boss and put in long hours like everybody else. a) up b) forward c) ahead

14) You can try to talk me into going to the conference until you're ______ in the face. I've already decided I'm not going. a) green b) blue c) red

15) When Shane was told he would have to move into a much smaller office, he got really ________ out of shape. a) twisted b) bent c) stretched

ANSWER KEY p.157

Lesson 21

EXPLAINING THAT YOU'RE FEELING OVERWORKED

Mary is feeling overwhelmed between commitments at home and work. Dan advises her to be patient and stay focused. Things will improve once their busy period at the office is over.

Dan: Mary, why weren't you at the staff meeting this morning? We all missed you.

Mary: Oh, it completely slipped my mind.

Dan: How could you forget? These meetings are not optional.

/ don't know whether I 'm coming or going.

Mary: I'm feeling so stressed out these days. Sometimes I don't know whetherI'm coming or going!

Dan: Well, it is crunch time right now. Things will settle down after tax season is over.

Mary: I hope so. I am wiped out after putting in 60-hour weeks at the office and taking care of my five kids and sick mother.

Dan: Wow, you really do have a lot on your plate. I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

Mary: Yeah, I can hardly keep my head above water. Maybe I should scale back my hours.

Dan: Just hang in there a little longer. After April 15th, it'll quiet down around here. For now, keep your nose to the grindstone and focus on getting your most important work done. Mary: You're right. I need to remember the 80/20 rule. I get 80 percent of my results from just 20 percent of my activities. Now if I could only figure out what that 20 percent is!

IDIOMS & EXPRESSIONS - LESSON 21

slip one's mind be forgotten EXAMPLE: Sorry I didn't send out that memo last Friday. To be honest with you, it slipped my mind.

NOTE: Notice that the subject is "it" in the expression "it slipped my mind," making this the passive voice. It's like this unknown "it" is responsible for the fact that you forgot to do something. In contrast, "I forgot" is the active voice. You are taking more responsibility (and possibly more blame) when you say, "I forgot."

stressed out under severe strain; very anxious; very nervous EXAMPLE: After hearing a rumour that there were going to be layoffs at her company, Barbara was really stressed out.

I don't know whether I'm coming or going I'm so busy, I can barely think clearly; I'm not focused; I'm distracted EXAMPLE: I accidentally sent an e-mail complaining about my boss to the boss himself! I don't whether I'm coming or going today.

crunch time a short period when there's high pressure to achieve a result