GLOSSARY OF TERMS

(to) compare apples to oranges to compare two unlike things; to make an invalid comparison EXAMPLE: Comparing a night at Econo-Lodge with a night at the Four Seasons is like comparing apples to oranges. One is a budget motel, and the other is a luxury hotel. NOTE: You will also see the related expression "compare apples to apples" which means to compare two things of the same type. This means that you are making a valid comparison, as opposed to when you're comparing apples to oranges.

(to) go back to the drawing board to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning EXAMPLE: We didn't like the print advertisement our ad agency designed, so we asked them to go back to the drawing board.

in the bag a sure thing EXAMPLE: Boeing executives thought that the new military contract was in the bag and they were surprised when it was awarded to Airbus instead. SYNONYM: a done deal. Example: Boeing executives thought the new military contract was a done deal.

(to) jump through hoops to go through a lot of difficult work for something; to face many bureaucratic obstacles EXAMPLE: We had to jump through hoops to get our visas to Russia, but we finally got them.

(to) miss the point to not understand EXAMPLE: You're missing the point. Your son wants an expensive new cell phone so he can impress his friends, not because he actually needs all of those bells and whistles.

beef up - see Lesson 5

PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

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

1) Procter & Gamble had to jump through hoops to get its new drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

a) ask the right people

b) take many steps c) show proven results

2) Nora had a very good job interview with the bank. She thinks

the job is in the bag.

a) she'll get an offer

b) she'll get a rejection letter c) she'll get a bag with the bank's logo on it

3) Madeleine Albright made many connections while she was U.S. Secretary of State. It was a no-brainer for her to open a political consulting firm after she left office.

a) a poor decision

b) a logical decision c) a tough decision

4) When the popular coffee house announced it would start staying open until midnight and start serving beer, many loyal customers feared it would become a different animal.

a) become a hangout for dogs and cats

b) change in character c) become an even better coffee house

5) I know you were hoping for a higher bonus, but $5,000 is nothing to sneeze at!

a) less than you deserve

b) disappointing c) a good amount of money

6) Of course, I prefer Dom Perignon champagne over a $4 bottle of sparkling wine, but comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges.

a) you can't really compare the two

b) one is fruitier than the other c) it makes sense to compare the two

7) If you need advice on where to set up your new manufacturing facility in China, talk to Stan. He knows China inside and out.

a) He's been to China a few times.

b) He speaks Chinese.

c) He knows China very well.

8) Chris spent a year working as an intern at Chelsea Brewing Company in order to get some experience under his belt. Then he opened his own microbrewery.

a) have a good time

b) make some money c) gain experience

ANSWER KEY p.157