Học Thành ngữ qua đối thoại: Lesson 4- NICOLE'S DAY AT SCHOOL

LESSON 4: NICOLE’S DAY AT SCHOOL
Nicole tells her mother Susan about her successful presentation at school. Her brother Ted overhears and interrupts the conversation. Susan: How was your day at school today, Nicole?
Nicole: It was great, Mom. I gave a presentation on Hillary Clinton in government class. Afterwards, my teacher paid me a compliment.
Susan: What did she say?
Nicole: She said my presentation was head and shoulders above the others.
Susan: Way to go!
Nicole: She also said I should go into politics, just like Hillary.
Ted: You’re so gung ho about school. It drives me crazy.
Nicole: Ted, don’t butt in! You’re just jealous.
Ted: Right. You hit the nail on the head. I’m green with envy.
Nicole: Would you just shut up? You’re on thin ice with me right now.
Ted: Oh no! Look at me. I’m shaking in my shoes!
IDIOMS- LESSON 4:
(to) butt in [slang] to interrupt, to interfere
Ex1: Nancy is always butting in to other people’s business.
Ex2: Sara is really rude. She always butts in to other people’s conversations.
(to) drive one crazy: to annoy someone very much
Ex1: Don’t ask Mrs.Smith how old she is. It drives her crazy.
Ex2: Please stop chewing gum so loudly. It’s driving me crazy!
Synonyms: to drive one nuts, to drive one up the wall.
(to) go into: to enter a profession
Ex1: Lisa enjoy arguing with people, so she decided to go into law.
Ex2: Do you like solving people’s problems? If so, you should consider going into psychology.
 
NOTE: “Go into” has several other meanings, including:

1. Enter. Go into the house and get a pen.
2. Enter another emotional state. Sally went into hysterics.
3. Discuss details. I don’t have time now to go into the whole story.

Green with envy: desiring another’s advantages or things
Ex1: When Daniel got promoted to vice president of the bank, his colleague were green with envy.
Ex2: You won the lottery? I’m green with envy!
Gung ho: very enthusiastic, very excited (about something)
Ex1: Heather is really gung ho about her new job.
Ex2: Sharon really loves college. She’s very gung ho.
Note: If the expression “gung ho” doesn’t sound like English to you, there’s a reason. It comes from a Mandarin Chinese phrase meaning “working together”. A US Marine Corps commander in China adopted this expression as the motto for his battalion during World War 2 and from there it sailed over to the United States and came into common use.
Head and shoulders above: far superior to
Ex1: The Boston Symphony Orchestra is head and shoulders above any other orchestra in the area.
Ex2: I can’t believe you only won second prize in the competition. You were head and shoulders above the first-prize winner!
(to) hit the nail on the head: to be right
Ex1: Dawn hit the nail on the head when she said that Tiffany is jealous of Amber.
Ex2: Steve hit the nail on the head with his idea of moving his company’s manufacturing facility to China.
(to be) on thin ice (with someone): to be in a dangerous position; to be temporarily on somebody’s bad side.
Ex1: Joey was on thin ice with his mom after she saw him at the movie theater with another girl.
NOTE:  There is also the variation “to skate on thin ice” Joey knew he was skating on thin ice when he bought candy with his lunch money.
(to) pay (someone) a compliment: to give someone a compliment; to offer someone an admiring comment.
Ex1: Professor Russo paid Jennifer a compliment. He said she had a beautiful smile.
Ex2: Isn’t it wonderful to pay someone a compliment? It makes them feel good, and it doesn’t cost you anything!
(to) shake in one’s shoes: to tremble with fear; to be afraid
Ex1:  Brianna is scared of her French teacher, Monsieur Le Monstre. Whenever he speaks to her, Brianna starts shaking in her shoes.
Ex2: During the storm, Billy was hiding under his kitchen table and was really shaking in his shoes.
Shut up:

1. be quiet, stop speaking

Ex: The professor talked for hours. I thought he’d never shut up.

1. Stop speaking!

Ex: Nicole kept telling Ted to turn down his stereo. Finally, he got angry and said, “ “Shut up”
Note: Remember that telling somebody to “shut up!” is rude. It’s better to say “ Be quiet!” or more politely, “Please be quiet!”
Way to go! : Good work!
Ex1: You won $2000 in the poetry writing contest? Way to go!
Ex2: That was an interesting article you wrote. Way to go!