Page 143 - Speak English Like an American

Not on your life! — definitely not
ExampLe |: You want me to sit in that sauna for an hour? Not on your life!
ExampLe 2: Thanks for offering me a job in Siberia. Am I going to take
it? Not on your life!

on the job — at work

Exampis 1: Jennifer has four men on the job painting her house.
ExampLe 2: Dan got fired for drinking on the job.

small fortune — a good amount of money
ExampLe 1: When her great aunt died, Anne inherited a small fortune.
EXAMPLE 2: You won $25,000 in the lottery? That’s a small fortune!

(to) stop by — to pay a quick visit
Examp |: I’m having some friends over for pizza tomorrow night. Why
te
don’t you stop by?
EXAMPLE 2: Stop by my office on your way home tonight.

three sheets to the wind — drunk
ExampLe 1: After drinking four beers, Bob was three sheets to the wind.
EXAMPLE 2: Somebody needs to make sure Greg gets home safely. He’s
three sheets to the wind.
EXAMPLE 1: Betsy’s grandfather used to be very well off, but he lost most
SynonyMs: wasted [slang]; liquored up [slang]; dead drunk

well off — wealthy; financially secure

of his fortune when the U.S. stock market crashed in 1929.
EXAMPLE 2: Debbie is a doctor and her husband is a lawyer. They’re quite
well off.

@S PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:

1) Nicole was very angry that she lost the election. Her mother
told her there was no use crying over spilt milk.
a) there was no point in feeling bad about what can’t be
changed
b) she should think about all the mistakes she made
c) maybe she could still change the results

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