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Meaning：Relax and enjoy oneself
Sentences：
Eat, drink and be merry, Christmas comes but once a year, so let yourself go.
The evening was really a great success, everyone let themselves go.
I love to dance and just let myself go. Let yourself go, John. Learn to enjoy.
When I was depressed, I let myself go and was really a mess.
Conversation 1
Guy finds his friend alone in the kitchen at a party
A: Hi, what are you doing in here?
B: Oh, I’m not really in the mood for a party.
A: Why not? This is a great party.
B: I know, but I just broke up with my girlfriend last week so I’m feeling a little down.
A: Don’t be stupid, you have to get over her.
B: I know
A: there are lots of cute girls here at the party, let yourself go, have a good time and you might meet someone else or at least have fun trying, remember there are plenty more fish in the sea.
A: Ok, I’ll try
Conversation 2
Girl to her friend
A: Hi are you going to come out with us tonight.
B: No, I don’t think so.
A: Why not, you never come out.
B: I just don’t really feel like it.
A: Come on, let yourself go, you might enjoy yourself. Don’t be so shy
B: Alright then, I’ll come out tonight.
Conversation 3
Opposite negative meaning
A: Have you seen Kate recently?
B: Yes, I saw her yesterday, why?
A: I hadn’t seen her for weeks and I saw her today and didn’t recognise her.
B: Yes, she has put on some weight.
A: Some? You mean a lot, she has totally let herself go, she used to be so pretty, but now she looks terrible, what happened to her?
B: I don’t know, maybe you should talk to her.
A: I will.
(Callan book4, Stage 8 765p)
Meaning:
to discipline oneself after going through a difficult time.
Synonyms:：
get a grip on oneself, get over it, buck up(informal),
Sentences：
He’s finding it hard to pull himself together after the accident.
You’ll have to pull yourself together if you want to pass that exam.
He pulled himself together and got back to work.
Conversation 1
A: I got into a fight with friend this morning.
B: Are you all right? What happened?
A: We had a little disagreement on one issue that I just could not pull myself together and yelled at him.
B: It’s not you.
A: Sorry, mom.
Conversation 2
A Girl finds her workmate crying in the back room at work.
A: Hey what are you doing in here?
B: (Crying)
A: What’s the matter? Is everything alright?
B: (Still crying) The boss just told me off, he said if I don’t improve then I will lose this job.
A: There, there, calm down, pull yourself together.
B: I don’t know what to do, if I lose this job I am in real trouble.
A: I know, but you are not going to make things better by hiding in here crying.
B: What am I going to do?
A: Well, first you need to dry your eyes and straighten yourself out, then get out there and prove him wrong. Don’t let him get to you.
B: Thanks for your help, I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Conversation 3
A: Hi there, is Sarah home.
B: No she has gone out drinking again, I have hardly seen her for weeks.
A: She’s out again?
B: Yeah, she goes out nearly every night.
A: What happened? She never used to be like that.
B: Her boyfriend back home broke up with her a few weeks ago, and she has been going out a lot since then.
A: Oh I see, was she really upset?
B: I think so, but she pretends that everything is ok.
A: She needs to pull herself together, she’ll get herself into trouble if she keeps going out drinking all the time. Can you get her to call me when you see her? And I’ll see if I can help her.
B: Ok, I will. Good luck.
(Callan book4, Stage 8 757p)
Meaning:
I am confused (by so much that is happening)
Sentences：
I don’t know whether I’m coming or going
I’ve got so many problems and so much work to do that I just don’t know if I’m coming or going.
Conversation 1
A: How was your dinner party?
B: Oh, it was pretty good, but I had to cook for about fifteen people.
A: You’re joking, how did you manage?
B: It wasn’t too bad, but in the end I didn’t know if I was coming or going because everything was ready at the same time.
A: But was the food okay?
B: I think so, nobody said anything, but I think a few things were a little burnt.
Conversation 2
A: What are you doing tonight?
B: Nothing at all, I have had a crazy day at work so I am going to go home and put my feet up.
A: Why was work so crazy?
B: We have had people off sick all week so we are all working twice as hard. Most of the time I don’t know if I’m coming or going because I am trying to do three jobs at once. I’m looking forward to the weekend.
A: Me too, and my week has been really dull!
(Callan book4, Stage 8 750p)
Meaning:
to write a short letter or notice/ to contact someone
Synonyms:
drop a letter/call
Sentences：
Don’t forget to drop us a line whilst you’re away.
Drop a line when you get back.
I hope you’ll drop me a line soon
If you’ve got a few minutes to spare you could always drop
her a line.
Conversation 1
A: I haven’t talked to Eileen in ages
B: You should drop her a line.
A: I think I will. I really miss her.
B: Hey, good friends are hard to come by.
Conversation 2
A: When are you going on holiday?
B: I’m off next week.
A: Are you scared about flying by yourself?
B: Not really, I’ll drop you a line when I get there to let you know that I arrived safely
A: That would be great, thanks
Conversation 3
A: Your mother called last night while you were out.
B: Yeah, I don’t really want to talk to her at the moment, maybe I’ll drop her a line and let her know that I’m ok
A: Why don’t you want to talk to her?
B: She keeps telling me how much she wants me to come home.
Conversation 4
A: I’m going off fruit-picking next month so I don’t know if I will be able to use my mobile or the internet
B: Ok, how will you let me know when you are coming back?
A: I’ll drop you a line, there must be a postbox somewhere
Meaning:
I don’t understand what he is trying to say. It all sounds mad to me
Synonyms:
I am not sure what he/she is on about
What are you on about?
Sentences：
Couldn’t understand what he was on about.
Conversation 1
A: How is your new job?
B: Oh the job is ok, but I have a bit of a problem with the manager.
A: Really, what’s the problem?
B: He has a really strong accent so I am not sure what he is on about half of the time.
A: Oh that’s not good, you should ask him to speak a bit slower.
B: I thought about that, but I don’t want him to think that my English isn’t very good.
Conversation 2
A: Oh god no…
B: Huh?
A: How could he?
B: What?
A: And with her…
B: Who?
A: I’m going to kill him
B: Wait, what are you on about?
A: My boyfriend
B: What? Slow down.
A: I found my boyfriend kissing the girl from the club with the short skirt.
B: Ah, I see…
Conversation 3
There you go, it’s a bit tricky to fit in to conversations and make people understand the conversation, and otherwise it would be
A: jhfbkvfnvknmmph
B: Huh?
A: ljegfouhefojk kufhlem clhf jewf klju4 oirkn
B: What are you on about?
(callan book stage 8, 721p)
Meaning:think carefully before you do anything which uncertain
Synonyms:Look twice before you leap.
Sentences：
It is important to look before you leap.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t sign the lease for that apartment. I’m just saying you should look before you leap.
Conversation 1
A: I’m thinking about going to night school.
B: Are you sure you can spare the time and the money? Look before you leap.
Conversation 2
A: Did you read today’s paper? Stock prices rocketed.
B: Yes, I did. So I will invest all of my money in stocks.
A: Cool down. Look before you leap.
Conversation 3
A: What is the matter with you, why are you crying?
B: I have made the most stupid mistake.
A: Calm down, what have you done?
B: I quit my job because my new boyfriend told me I could get a job working with him.
A: So what is the problem?
B: He left me last night, he was lying.
A: Oh dear, you should have looked before you leap.
Conversation 4
A: I’m going to go to Queensland next week.
B: Great, what are you going to do there?
A: I don’t know, I’ll get a job and find somewhere to live.
B: Have you got any offers?
A: No, nothing. Everything will be fine.
B: Maybe you should look before you leap.
（Callan book stage 8, 735p）
Meaning:someone who puts his nose into other people’s business or private lives.
Synonyms:busybody, meddler
Sentences：
He’s a real old nosey parker, always putting his nose into other people’s business.
Conversation 1
A: How was your date last night?
B: It was great.
A: So come on, what happened, tell me everything.
B: No, I don’t want to.
A: Why not? Come on I want to know.
A: Don’t be such a nosey parker!!!
(This sentence could also be…)
A: Don’t be so nosey.
Conversation 2
A: I’m sick of living with my landlord.
B: Why?
A: He is always asking about what I am doing, where I am going, what time I am going to come home, it is like living with my mother!!
B: He sounds like a right nosey parker. (He sounds really nosey)
A: He is, what can I do about it?
B: Tell him to mind his own business.
Etymology：The origin of this idiom is unclear, nobody seems to know where it comes from, there are a couple of ideas floating around on the internet.
The first is that it was based upon a 15 century Catholic Archbishop, but that sounds a bit dodgy because the first time the expression appeared in print was in 1907.
The most convincing explanation comes from the great exhibition in Hyde park in London in 1851, great numbers of people came to see the exhibition, which was a kind of world fair exhibiting the latest in science, technology and art from around the world.
Because many people stayed in the park when they came to see the exhibition, it is thought that the parkers (the people who looked after the park) used to spy on people doing what they were doing (probably having sex!!!) hence the term nosey parker.
In the 1960’s the term was used again for the character of Parker in the TV show Thunderbirds, which was very popular, and has remained popular. Thunderbirds was made into a Hollywood movie in 2004
Nowadays, many people don’t use the full name ‘nosey parker’ which is why I gave alternative answers above. The expression ‘nosey’ is still very common. However ‘nosey parker’ as an idiom is still very much alive, there is even a I phone app which is called nosey parker
“Nosey Parker is an iPhone app for UK drivers that find the nearest, cheapest or safest car park.” So there you go, nobody knows why exactly!!!
（Callan book stage 8, 727p）
Meaning:Be careful what one does or says
Synonyms:You have to watch your step
You’d better watch your step
Sentences：
You’ll have to watch your step or you’ll find yourself in great difficulty.
You have to watch your step when you do business with people you know nothing about
He’s in a bad mood, so watch your step and don’t say anything wrong!
Conversation 1
A: I’m going to go bushwalking this weekend.
B: Really? Where are you going?
A: Up in the Blue Mountains.
B: Oh, some of the paths up there are very narrow and a little dangerous, you’d better watch your step.
A: Thanks for the advice, but I will be careful.
Conversation 2
A: Did you hear about Kate’s new boyfriend?
B: Yes I met him last weekend.
A: What did you think?
B: There was something about him that I didn’t like.
A: What?
B: I’m not sure, but I didn’t trust him, so I told her to watch her step.
Conversation 3
A: What are you doing tonight?
B: I’m going out drinking with my friends.
A: Where are you going?
B: Up to Kings Cross.
A: You’d better watch your step up there, I hear it can be dangerous.
B: I’ll try to.
Conversation 4
A: I was late for work today, again
B: Oh no, what did the boss say?
A: He wasn’t very happy, he told me that if I didn’t watch my step then I would be looking for a new job.
B: Oh dear, make sure that you are on time tomorrow.
(Callan book4, Stage 8 715p)
Meaning：to be very determined in stopping something
Synonyms：Take a firm stand, Assert something strongly
Sentences：
My dad puts his foot down when it comes to my bedtime.
She put her foot down and changed the name of the company.
I finally put my foot down and demanded to talk to someone in charge.
Conversation 1
A: Is your housemate still causing trouble?
B: No, he’s being really good now.
A: Wow, what happened?
B: I put my foot down and told him that if he didn’t start behaving himself I would have him thrown out.
A: Was he angry?
(続きを読む…)
Meaning：
exactly what is needed
‘just the job’ is an expression that we use to describe something that is exactly what we need at a particular moment, for example, an ice cream may be just the job on a hot day, but not in the middle of winter.
Sentences：
I looked until I finally found something that was just the job for repairing the table
Conversation 1
A: Do you need a hand with that?
B: No, I’m O.K. but I just need something to hold the door open.
A: Why don’t you put a chair against it?
B: Thanks, that’s just the job.
(続きを読む…)
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