Page 120 - Speak English Like an American

(to) go wrong — to make a mistake; to go astray; to malfunc-
tion; to work incorrectly
Examete 1: Follow the directions I gave you, and you can’t go wrong.
ExampeLe 2: Something went wrong with my neighbor’s car alarm sys-
tem, and the alarm wouldn’t stop ringing all night.

(to) live with it — to accept a difficult reality

Examp_e |: Your boss is an idiot. Live with it.
EXAMPLE 2: Your hair will never be straight. Just live with it!
Note: There is also the expression “to learn to live with it,” which means
to get used to something annoying or difficult. Example: Sandra knew
that Roger would always throw his dirty clothes on the floor. She’d just
have to learn to live with it.

(to) make a fool of oneself — to cause oneself to look stupid

Example 1: Dan drank too much and then made a fool of himself.
EXAMPLE 2: Please stop arguing with me in front of all these people.
You’re making a fool of yourself!

(to) mess up — to make a mistake; to spoil an opportunity

EXxampLe 1: Amber messed up and put salt instead of sugar in the cookies.
EXAMPLE 2: Ted really messed up on his chemistry test. He got a “D.”
SYNONYM: screw up [slang]

(to) put the blame on (someone) — to name somebody else
as responsible for a misdeed or misfortune
EXAMPLE |: Mrs. Lopez put the blame on her husband for losing their
life savings in the stock market.
ExampLe 2: Don’t put the blame on me that your plants died while you
were on vacation. You forgot to tell me to water them!

EXAMPLE 2: Nicole has a good chance of getting accepted to Yale, but it’s

(to) set the record straight — to correct an inaccurate account
EXAMPLE |: Ken knew his father was innocent, and he hoped he could set
the record straight one day.
EXAMPLE 2: Let me set the record straight. I won the last game.
sure thing — an outcome that is assured
ExamPpLe 1: Gary bet all his money on a horse named Trixie, thinking she
was a sure thing.

still not a sure thing.

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