Học Thành ngữ qua đối thoại: Lesson 3 - TED’S DAY AT SCHOOL

Lesson 3: TED’S DAY AT SCHOOL
Ted tells his parents he did poorly on his chemistry test. They tell him he needs to get serious and study more. Susan: How was your day at school today, Ted?
Ted: Bad. I had a chemistry test, and I blew it!
Susan: Maybe if you didn’t cut class so often, you’d do better.
Bob: That’s right, son. Stop slacking off and start hitting the books!
Ted: But I cant stand chemistry class. Besides, it’s a lost cause. That class is way over my head.
Susan: You need to buckle down.
Ted: When I’m a famous musician, people won’t give a hoot about my knowledge of atoms and molecules.
Bob: That’s beside the point
Susan: We know you have your heart set on going to New York University.
Bob: And you don’t stand a chance of getting in there with such poor grades!
IDIOMS- LESSON 3
Beside the point: not relevant, not important
Ex1: Whether or not I asked the waiter to bring us water is beside the point. Waiters should always bring water to the table.
Ex2: The reason you’re late is beside the point. The fact is, your dinner is now cold.
(to) blow something: to spoil or botch something
Ex1: Brenda blew the interview and didn’t get the job offer.
Ex2: Randy managed to get a date with the most popular girl in his class. Now I hope he doesn’t blow it!
(to) buckle down: to start working seriously
Ex1: If Don buckles down now, he might be able to graduate from high school this year.
Ex2: Team, it we want to win this tournament, we’re going to need to buckle down!
Can’t stand: to hate
Ex1: Bob can’t stand bureaucrats, so he’d never do well working at a large corporation.
Ex2: Nicole can’t stand broccoli. She simply refuses to eat it.
(to) cut class: to miss class without an excuse
Ex1: Ted often cut class to spend more time with his girlfriend.
Ex2: You think you’re going to win $1 million in the lottery? Get real!
(to) have one’s heart set on: to really want something
Ex1: Nicole has her heart ser on going to New York this weekend.
Ex2: Did you really have your heart set on going to Harvard?
(to) hit the books: to start studying
Ex1: Ted parried all weekend. Finally, on Sunday night, he decided it was time to hit the books.
Ex2: Hit the books! I know you have a test tomorrow.
Lost cause: something hopeless
Ex1: Cindy spent five years studying Russian. Finally, she realized it was a lost cause. She would never learn it.
Ex2: Jack needs to stop drinking so much coffee, but he’s so addicted to caffeine that is’s a lost cause.
(to) not give a hoot: to not care about
Ex1: Tome likes to walk around town in his pajamas- he doesn’t give a hoot what people think.
Ex2: Stephanie doesn’t give a hoot if she’s the only one wearing a green dress to the high school prom.
Synonyms: to not give a damn, to not give a darn
Over one’s head: beyond one’s understanding
Ex1: The professor was speaking over our heads. None of us could understand him.
Ex2: The article on cloning was written for scientists. It was over my head.
(to) slack off: to waste time
Ex1: Amanda doesn’t get much done at the office. She’s too busy slacking off.
Ex2: I’d better stop slacking off. My essay is due in two hours.
Note: People who slack off all the time are called “slackers”
(to) stand a chance: to have the possibility of success
Ex1: Although the American figure skaters were good, they didn’t stand a chance of wining a gold medal at the Olympics.
Ex2: Wilton High school has the best soccer team in the state. I’m afraid we don’t stand a chance against them!