Học Thành ngữ qua đối thoại: Lesson 2- BOB RETURNS HOME WITH BAD NEWS

Lesson 2: BOB RETURNS HOME WITH BAD NEWS

Bod tell his wife Susan that he lost his job. Susan suggests that he start his own business.
Susan: What’s the matter, dear? Bob: Susan, I got canned today at work.
Susan: But Bob, you were Peter’s right-hand man!
Bob:  Yes, and he stabbed me in the back.
Susan: Keep your chin up. Maybe he’ll change his mind and take you back.
Bob: When pigs fly! Once he makes up his mind, he never changes it. Besides, I told him off.
Susan: Look on the bright side: you won’t have to set eyes on Peter ever again.
Bob: Thank goodness for that!
Susan: Hang in there. I’m sure you won’t be out of work for long.
Bob: In the meantime, we’ll have to live from hand to mouth.
Susan: Don’t get too stressed out, Bob. We’ll make ends meet.
Bob: I can always get a job at McDonald’s as a last resort.
Susan: I don’t think they’re hiring right now.
Bob: If worse comes to worst, we can sell our home and move into a tent
Susan: Let’s think big! Maybe you can start your own business
Bob: Easier said than done!
 
 
IDIOMS – LESSON 2
(to) change one’s mind: to change one’s opinion or decision
Ex1: Brandon wasn’t going to take a vacation this year, but then he changed his mind and went to Bora Bora for two weeks.
Ex2: Why aren’t you applying to medical school this year? Did you change your mind about becoming a doctor?
Easier said than done: more difficult than you think
Ex1: You want to climb Mount Everest? Easier said than done!
Ex2: Moving into a new home is easier said than done.
(to) get canned (slang): to lose one’s job, to get fired
Ex1: After Chris got canned, it took him a year to find a new job.
Ex2: Lisa a lousy secretary. She deserves to get canned!
Synonyms: to get sacked, to be given the ax.
(to) hang in there : to persevere, to not give up
Ex1: I know you’re four games behind, but you can still win the tennis match. Just hang in there!
Ex2: Hang in there, Don! Your invention will soon be a success.
If worse comes to worst: in the worst case, if absolutely necessary.
Ex1: Ted’s car isn’t running well. If worse comes to worst, he can take the bus to school.
Ex2: I know you’re running out of money. If worse comes to worst, you can always sell some of your jewelry.
(to) keep one’s chin up: to stay positive
Ex1: Even when he was unemployed and homeless, Bill managed to keep his chin up.
Ex2: Keep your chin up! You’ll find your lost dog soon.
Last resort: if there are no other alternative left; the last solution for getting out of a difficulty
Ex1: David was locked out of his house. He knew that as a last resort, he could always break a window.
Ex2: I don’t like taking medicine. I’ll only take it as a last resort.
(to) live from hand to mouth: to barely have enough money to survive
Ex1: Jenny was earning $5 an hour working at the store. She was really living from hand to mouth.
Ex2: George is really poor. He lives from hand to mouth.
(to) look on the bright side: to be optimistic, to think about the positive part or aspect of a situation.
Ex1: Leo was upset that his soccer game was canceled. His mother said, “ Look on the bright side, now you can stay home and watch TV.”
Ex2: You lost your job? Look on the bright side, now you’ll have more free time!
(to) make ends meet: to manage one’s money so as to have enough to live on, to be oaky financially.
Ex1: Kimberly wasn’t able to make ends meet so she had to ask her parents to pay her rent.
Ex2: If you can’t make ends meet, you’ll need to start spending less.
(to) make up one’s mind – see Lesson 1
Out of work: unemployed; not working
Ex1: Gary was out of work for a year before finding a new job.
Ex2: Bob is out of work. Do you know anybody who might want to hire him?
Right-hand man: the most helpful assistant or employee
Ex1: Juan’s right-hand man helps him make all of his decisions.
Ex2: When Jack Thompson retired as president of his company, his right-hand man took over.
(to) set eyes on: to look at, to see for this first time.
Ex1: Ted was in love from the moment he set eyes on Amber.
Ex2: Susan knew from the moment she set eyes on Ted’s friend Lucas that he would be trouble.
(to) stab someone in the back: to betray someone
Ex1: Jill and Healther were friends, until Heather stabbed Jill in the back by stealing her boyfriend.
Ex2: You’re firing me after all I’ve done this company? You’re really stabling me in the back!
(to be) stressed out: under severe train, very anxious
Ex1: Al is so stressed out about his job that he can’t sleep at night.
Ex2: You’ve been so stressed out lately. You really need to take a long vacation!
(to) tell off: to scold, to tell someone in strong words what one really thinks.
 
Ex1: When Ted showed up for chemistry class a half an hour late, his teacher really told him off.
Ex2: Patty is going to tell off the plumber because the pipes he said he fixed are still leaking.
Thank goodness: I’m grateful, I’m relieved
Ex1: When Ted came home at 4 a.m last Sunday, his mother said, “Thank goodness you’re home! I was so worried about you.”
Ex2: Thank goodness you didn’t go to California on Monday. It rained there every day this week.
(to) think big: to set high goals
Ex1: Why run for Governor of New York? Think big: run for President of the United States!
Ex2: Ken and Sandra hope to sell their house for $3 million dollars. They always think big.
What’s the matter? : What’s the problem?
Ex1: What’s the matter, Bob? You don’t look very happy.
Ex2: Oscar looks very pale. What’s the matter with him?
When pigs fly! [slang] : never
Ex1: Will Ted teach Nicole how to play the guitar? When pigs fly!
Ex2: Sure, I’ll give you my new laptop. When pigs fly!
Synonyms: When hell freezes over, never in a million years.