Page 36 - Speak English Like an American

(to) have a blast [slang] — to enjoy oneself very much
EXAMPLE 1: Last summer, Nicole had a blast backpacking through
Europe with some friends.
EXAMPLE 2: Heather spent her spring break in Fort Lauderdale with mil-
lions of other college students. She had a blast!

(to) have a good time — to enjoy oneself
EXAMPLE 1: Marcy and José had a good time salsa dancing at Babalu, a
nightclub in Manhattan.
ExampLe 2: Nora and Jake had a good time on their honeymoon in Maui.

take it easy — relax; don’t worry
ExampLe 1: You lost your keys? Take it easy, I’m sure you’!I find them.
EXAMPLE 2: Stop yelling and take it easy. I’m sure there’s a good expla-
nation for why Joe borrowed your car without asking first.

(to) take something the wrong way — to take offense
ExampLe 1: Don’t take this the wrong way, but I liked your hair better
before you got it cut.
EXAMPLE 2: Jessica is offended. I guess she took it the wrong way when
I told her she should exercise more.
Note: This expression is often used in the negative form: “Don’t take this
the wrong way, but...”

there’s no accounting for taste — it’s impossible to explain
individual likes and dislikes
ExaMpLeE 1: Ted likes to put sugar on his spaghetti. I guess there’s no
accounting for taste.
Examp_e 2: Tiffany has a tattoo of a squirrel on her leg. There’s no
accounting for taste.

under one’s breath — quietly; in a whisper
Examp.e 1: “Amber is strange,” muttered Nicole under her breath,
as Ted was leaving the room.
EXAMPLE 2: Mike agreed to take out the garbage, saying under his
breath, “I always do the dirty work around here.”

(to be) up in the air — not yet determined; uncertain
ExampLe |: It might rain later, so our plans for the picnic are up in the air.
EXAMPLE 2: Our trip to Russia is up in the air. We aren’t sure we’ ll get
our visas in time.

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