Page 29 - Speak English Like an American

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IDIOMS — LESSON 4

(to) butt in [slang] — to interrupt; to interfere
EXAMPLE |: Nancy is always butting in to other people’s business.
EXAMPLE 2: Sara is really rude. She always butts in to other people’s
conversations,

(to) drive one crazy — to annoy someone very much
Exampte 1: Don’t ask Mrs. Smith how old she is. It drives her crazy.
EXAMPLE 2: 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
Examete 1: Lisa enjoys arguing with people, so she decided to go into law.
Examp_e 2: 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
Exampce 1: When Daniel got promoted to vice president of the bank, his
colleagues were green with envy.
EXAMPLE 2: You won the lottery? I’m green with envy!

gung ho — very enthusiastic; very excited (about something)
Exampce 1: Heather is really gung ho about her new job.
ExampLe 2: Sharon really loves college. She’s very gung ho.
Note: If the expression “gung ho” doesn’t sound like English to you,

ExampLe 2: I can’t believe you only won second prize in the competition.
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

ExamPLe 1: The Boston Symphony Orchestra is head and shoulders
above any other orchestra in the area.

You were head and shoulders above the first-prize winner!

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