Page 123 - Speak English Like an American

Bob: Couldn’t we just sweep this under the rug?

Carol; No. This is too serious.

Bob: But I was just getting a handle on the cookie business.
Now what will I do? I don’t have any other way of
making a living!

Carol: My heart goes out to you, Bob, but you need to get
your act together. I want to sell chocolate chip
cookies, not hair cookies!

Bob: I guess I just knocked myself out for the past week for
nothing.

Carol: Clearly!

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IDIOMS — LESSON 20

as a matter of fact — in fact; actually
EXAmpLe 1: We need more milk? As a matter of fact, I was just going to
ask you to go shopping.
ExameLe 2: This isn’t the first time Andy has gotten in trouble at school.
As a matter of fact, just last month he was suspended for an entire week.

(to) blow things out of proportion — to exaggerate; to make
more of something than one should
ExampLe |: They sent a 12 year-old boy to jail for biting his babysitter?
Don’t you think they’re blowing things out of proportion?
EXAMPLE 2: Sally called the police when her neighbor’s party got too
loud. I think that was blowing things out of proportion.
SYNONYM: To make a mountain out of a molehill

(to) find out — to learn; to discover
Examp I: Al is calling the theater to find out what time the movie starts.
Le
EXaMPLE 2: David had a big party at his house while his parents were
away on vacation. Fortunately for him, they never found out.

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