1 To check something out (pv): to see, watch, examine, try. Something/someone is not one’s cup of tea (i)(s): something or someone is not your style, not something you would like to do. Food for thought (i): something to think about, mental food for thinking. 2 ¡
2 To be beat (s)(adj): to be tired, or exhausted. To pull (o ff ) an all-nighter (s): to stay up all night to study or fi nish a project. To come up with (pv): to think of an idea or a plan. 3 ¡
2 Hit me (e)(s): Tell me. To be psyched (s): to be excited. Synonym: to be pumped up. To rip something o ff (pv)(s): to copy something. To rip someone o ff (pv)(s): to cheat, steal money or overcharge someone. A rip o ff (n)(s): too expensive, and/or poor quality. An imitation product. Synonym: A knock-o ff 4 ¡
2 Something is not going to fl y (i)(s): when something won’t work, will not be successful. To miss the mark (i): to fail the target, to not reach the result that was expected. (Let’s) Face it (e): Accept it, accept reality, we must accept the truth. 5 ¡
2 To call it a day (i): To stop doing something for the day, to go home, to retire. To touch base (i): to connect with someone, to follow up, to make contact brie fl y. 6 ¡
3 To take one’s mind o ff something (i) : to cause you to stop thinking or stop worrying about something, to do something to help you forget about something. At stake (i): at risk, in danger of being lost. A game plan (s)(n)(sports): a strategy, especially in sports, politics, and business. 7 ¡
3 To think big (i): to be ambitious, to have plans to be very successful. To gain/have the upper hand (i): to take control and have power over something, to be in the dominant position. Origin: playground games (baseball bat), poker, couples holding hands. To jump on the bandwagon (i): to follow the crowd, to join a trend (bandwagon e ff ect, herd behaviour). There’s no time to lose (e): don’t waste time, something must be done immediately or as soon as possible. 8 ¡
3 A smart cookie (i) : a smart person. To think on one’s feet (i): to think and react quickly, and intelligently, especially when under pressure, and without preparation. To play the devil’s advocate (i): to pretend to be against an idea in order to make people discuss or defend their argument. Origin: Devil’s Advocate was employed to argue against someone being made a Saint. 9 ¡
3 To have mixed feelings about something/someone (i): to feel positive about one aspect, and to feel negative about another aspects. To feel uncertain because of con fl icting emotions. To push someone out of somewhere (pv): to make someone leave a job, or stop being involved in an activity or project, to force someone out. A long shot (i)(n)(sports) : To do something with a low chance of success. Origin: ship guns were e ff ective only at a close range. 10 ¡
3 To hit a (brick) wall (i)(s): to be forced to stop because of an obstacle, to be extremely physically tired. To go back to square one (i): to go back to the beginning, to return to the starting point. Synonym: To go back to the drawing board. Origin: board games. To think outside of the box (i): To think creatively. 11 ¡
Discuss 1. What’s not your cup of te not your cup of tea a in terms of movies, music, food, people? 2. Do you know any websites that o ff er a lot of fo food for thought d for thought? 3. When was the last time you pul pulle led an al d an all-nighter l-nighter? How long did it take you to recover from it? 4. Tell me about a time you were psyche psyched. d. 5. Have you ever been ripp ripped o d o fff when you were traveling? Have you ever bought any rip-o fff s? rip-o 6. What do you do when you want to take your mind o take your mind o fff something or some something or someone? one? 7. Do you enjoy gambling? Tell me about a time when a lot of money was at stake at stake (gambling, betting). 8. What sports do you enjoy? Do you think you are good at creating game plans game plans? What is involved in creating a good game plan game plan? 9. Do you often think big think big? What are some ambitious goals you have in your life? 12 ¡
Discuss 1. Why do people jump on the b jump on the bandwagon andwagon? Did you do or buy something because everyone else was also doing or buying it? 2. Are you good at thinking on your feet? What jobs or business situations would require you to think on your fe think on your feet et? 3. Who would you describe as a smart c a smart cookie okie? 4. Imagine you had to make an important decision. Is it important to ask someone to play the devil’s advo play the devil’s advocate ate? Who would you ask to play the devil’s advo play the devil’s advocate ate? Why? 5. Do you know anyone who was pushe pushed out d out of a company they founded? What happened? 6. Tell me about something or someone you have or have had mixe mixed fe d feelings elings about. 7. Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a wal hit a wall or gone b gone back to squar ack to square one e one? Explain. 8. Are you good at thinking outside the b thinking outside the box ox? What are some ways that help you think think outside of the b outside of the box ox? 13 ¡
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