Page 35 - Speak English Like an American

Susan: | guess there’s no accounting for taste. Have a good time.

Ted: Don’t worry. We’ll have a blast!

Susan: (under her breath) That’s what I’m afraid of!

Kal
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IDIOMS — LESSON 5

about to — see Lesson 1

(to be) crazy about — to like very much
EXAMPLE 1: Amy is so crazy about golf, she’d like to play every day.
EXAMPLE 2: I’m sure Katie will agree to go out on a date with Sam. She’s
crazy about him!

cup of tea — the type of person or thing that one generally likes
ExampLe 1: Hockey isn’t Alan’s cup of tea. He prefers soccer.
EXAMPLE 2: I know Joy is nice, but she’s simply not my cup of tea.
Nore: This expression is almost always used in the negative. She’s not
my cup of tea.

(to be) down in the dumps — to feel sad; to be depressed
ExampLe |: It’s not surprising that Lisa is down in the dumps. Paws, the
cat she had for 20 years, just died.
EXAMPLE 2: It’s easy to feel down in the dumps when it’s raining outside.

(to) drop by — to pay a short, often unannounced visit
EXAMPLE |: If we have time before the movie, let’s drop by Bill’s house.
ExampLe 2: “Hi, I was in the neighborhood so I thought I’d drop by!”

(to) hang around — to spend time idly; to linger
EXAMPLE 1: We had to hang around the airport for an extra six hours

because our flight was delayed.
EXAMPLE 2: Nina’s boyfriend Boris is coming over soon. She hopes her
parents aren’t planning on hanging around the house.
(to) hang out — to spend time (often doing nothing)

ExampLe 1: Ted spent all of last summer hanging out by his friend’s pool.
EXAMPLE 2: Kathy and her friends like to hang out at the mall.
Nore: “Hang out with” means to keep company with someone.

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