Page 60 - Speak English Like an American

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(to) count on someone — to depend or rely on someone
EXAMPLE 1: My brother has a great sense of humor, so I can always count
on him to cheer me up.
EXAMPLE 2: If I can count on you to wake me up, I won’t set my alarm
clock.

(to be) crazy about — see Lesson 3

full of oneself — to think too much of oneself

Examp.e 1: After Angela appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine, she
was really full of herself.
EXAMPLE 2: Mitch thinks he’s really great. He’s so full of himself.

(to) get down to business — to get serious about a task
EXAMPLE 1: The book club members spent the first two hours of their
meeting eating and drinking before finally getting down to business.
EXAMPLE 2: Our dinner guests are arriving in two hours. We’d better get
down to business and start preparing.

(to) get or to have under one’s belt — to have or to get expe-
rience
ExampLe |: Kristen had three years of working for a large law firm un-
der her belt before leaving to start her own firm.
EXAMPLE 2: Ernie needs to get an MBA under his belt to get the job he
wants.

(to) give (someone) a run for (one’s) money — to be strong
competition
EXampLe 1: We lost the soccer tournament, but we certainly gave the
girls from Stamford High School a run for their money.
EXamMpLe 2: Tina is a good tennis player and always gives me a run for
my money.
one on purpose; to snub someone

(to) give someone the cold shoulder — to be cold to some-

EXAMPLE 1: When Lisa saw Amber at the mall, she didn’t even stop to
talk to her. She really gave her the cold shoulder.
ExampLe 2: I can’t understand why Joe would give you the cold shoul-
der, I thought you two were good friends!
Synonym: to blow someone off. Example: Amber can’t understand why
Lisa blew her off at the mall.

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