Street Talk 1 - A Closer Look: Lesson 3

review-disable

review

flashcard-disable

flashcard

spelling-disable

spelling

quiz-disable

quiz

start-learning
Street Talk 1

a large sum of money

Ex: The luxury car he bought cost him an arm and a leg , but he considered it a status symbol .

to force or persuade someone to do something they are unwilling to do

Ex: She resisted at first , but the enticing offer eventually twisted her arm , and she decided to take the job .

to finally stop criticizing or annoying someone

Ex: Once I prove my abilities , I 'm confident they will get off my back and trust my judgment .

to make someone become really annoyed or angry

Ex: While I was explaining , his constant skepticism was getting my back up .

everything a person has to offer for helping someone, even things that they need for themselves

Ex: He 's the type of friend who would give you the shirt off his back if you asked for it .

used suggest that if one does a favor for someone, they will be more likely to reciprocate that favor in the future

Ex: I helped my friend move last weekend, and now he's offering to lend me his truck - it's a classic case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

to study or prepare intensively for something

Ex: He 's boning up for the big presentation tomorrow .
bonehead [noun]

a person who exhibits a lack of intelligence or common sense

Ex: She realized she had been a bonehead for not double-checking the instructions .
boney [adjective]

extremely thin or lacking flesh

Ex:

to not hesitate to do or say what one truly wants

Ex: The manager made no bones about the tough decisions that needed to be made in order to save the company from bankruptcy .

used to refer to someone who is extremely thin, often in an unattractive and unhealthy way

Ex: He looked like skin and bone after weeks of hardship .

a person who lacks clear thinking and is incapable of serious contemplation

Ex:
brainy [adjective]

very smart

Ex: The brainy student breezed through the challenging math exam with ease .

to ask a knowledgeable or informed person their opinion on something

Ex: The journalist interviewed the renowned author to pick her brain about the writing process and literary inspiration .

to think hard or make a great effort to remember or solve something

Ex: He 's been racking his brain , trying to recall the name of the actor in that movie .

a person who is consistently forgetful, unfocused, and disorganized

Ex: As a scatterbrain , he often wandered into rooms without remembering why he went there .

to completely agree with someone and understand their point of view

Ex: The negotiation process was challenging , but eventually , both parties found common ground and began to see eye to eye .
shuteye [noun]

informal expression for getting some rest

Ex: He 's grumpy because he did n't get enough shuteye last night .

the act of assigning blame to others, often to deflect responsibility from oneself

Ex: Instead of finding a solution , the team engaged in finger-pointing , making the situation worse .

to make a minimal effort to do something, particularly in order to help someone

Ex: I have so many chores to do , and my sister wo n't lift a finger to help me .

to figure out why things are the way they are and be able to identify the reason

Ex: When it comes to improving customer satisfaction , it 's essential to put your finger on the specific aspects that need attention .

the state in which one loses all one's confidence and willingness to continue doing something

Ex: The investor got cold feet about the risky business venture and withdrew their financial support .
footloose [adjective]

unconstrained and able to move about or act freely

Ex:

to accept the financial burden or responsibility for a certain project, service, or event, and pay for it

Ex: The government will foot the bill for disaster relief .

an opportunity for starting a business or entering an organization, etc. in order to achieve a higher level of success later

Ex: If he can get a meeting with the CEO , it could be a foot in the door for his business .

to do something that one has not done before in order to become more experienced or familiar with it

Ex: Although James had no knowledge of the game before , he insisted on getting his feet wet .

to move quickly or in a hurry

Ex: After hearing the news , he hotfooted to the hospital to be with his family .

to have a tendency to drive very fast

Ex: The police officer pulled him over for speeding , noting that he appeared to have a lead foot .

the state of being close to death due to old age or a fatal sickness

Ex: The patient 's condition was so critical that the doctors believed he had one foot in the grave , but they worked tirelessly to save him .

to firmly take control and enforce a specific action

Ex: Faced with pressure to conform , she put her foot down and confidently embraced her unique style and identity .

able to think and respond rapidly in challenging or unexpected situations

Ex: In the world of business , being quick on your feet can be a valuable asset when making decisions .

to make someone have intense romantic feelings for one

Ex: Rebecca was completely swept off her feet when Mark surprised her with a candlelit dinner.

to talk in great length without mentioning anything important or of high value

Ex: I tried to have a meaningful conversation with him , but all he did was flap his gums about trivial matters .

to laugh really hard, particularly to the point that one's stomach hurts

Ex: Jane 's witty jokes had her friends laughing so intensely that they feared they would bust a gut .

to have the necessary conviction or be brave enough to get something done

Ex: I do n't think I have the guts to go bungee jumping ; it 's too scary for me .
cheeky [adjective]

showing impolite behavior in a manner that is amusing or endearing

Ex: The comedian 's cheeky jokes had the audience roaring with laughter .

to respond to an offense with patience, forgiveness, and a peaceful attitude instead of retaliating or seeking revenge

Ex: In situations of bullying , it 's often encouraged to teach children to turn the other cheek and seek help from a trusted adult .

to naturally be good at noticing, judging, or appreciating something, particularly a thing's value or a person's talents

Ex:
to eye [verb]

to look at or observe someone or something in a particular way, often with interest or suspicion

Ex: The fashionista could n't help but eye the trendy outfit displayed in the shop window .
eyesore [noun]

something that has an extremely ugly appearance, particularly a building

excessively affectionate glances at someone

Ex: The little girl made goo-goo eyes at her parents , hoping to get a treat from the store .

the feeling of discontent caused by lacking someone else's possessions, accomplishments, etc.

Ex: In the past , his green-eyed monster led to conflicts and misunderstandings with his colleagues .

to closely watch a person or thing, particularly in order to make sure they are safe

Ex: The teacher reminded the students to keep an eye on the clock so they would finish the exam on time .

to be eager to hear what a person wants to say

Ex: I 'm all ears , please tell me what happened during your trip .

to speak to someone who is unwilling to listen for an extended period of time

Ex: My colleague always bends my ear about his latest business ideas , going into great detail and expecting my full attention .

to make others tired by talking too much

Ex: I met my neighbor at the grocery store , and she proceeded to chew my ear off with a long-winded story about her cat 's adventures .
dog-eared [adjective]

showing signs of wear and tear from excessive use, particularly with pages that have bent or folded corners

Ex: The dog-eared cookbook revealed the recipes she loved the most .

to be quick at learning and understanding a piece of music or a specific language and be able to accurately reproduce or utilize it

Ex:
earmark [noun]

a unique feature or trait that distinguishes someone or something

Ex: One earmark of a good leader is the ability to inspire others .

(of statements, warnings, requests, etc.) to be completely ignored

Ex: The employee 's complaints about workplace safety issues fell on deaf ears until there was a serious accident .

(of statements, warnings, requests, etc.) to be completely ignored

Ex: The employee 's complaints about workplace safety issues fell on deaf ears until there was a serious accident .

to make an effort to stay well informed on the developments or changes of a situation

Ex: In the world of business , successful entrepreneurs keep their ear to the ground , tracking market trends and consumer preferences .

to have the ability to play music by listening to it and recreating the sounds and melodies without relying on sheet music or written notation

Ex: In improvisational theater , actors often have to play by ear and respond to audience suggestions .

to talk to someone for an extended period of time, particularly in a way that annoys them

Ex: My mom talks my ear off every time I visit , telling stories from my childhood for hours .

a great amount of physical effort or work that is put into something

to forcefully make a path through a crowded or obstructed area

Ex: The ambitious entrepreneur elbowed her way into the industry , overcoming fierce competition and establishing herself as a key player .

enough space that enables people to move easily

Ex: The children were excited to have a large backyard , giving them plenty of elbow room to play games and run around .

to have social interaction with people, especially with ones who are famous or important

Ex: He rubbed elbows with his movie star clients and appeared on numerous TV talk shows.

a concept in which if someone harms one, one should harm them back in the same way

Ex: The community leaders stressed the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation instead of seeking an eye for an eye after the conflict .

a look in someone's eyes that reveals their sexual attraction toward someone else

Ex: He could n't resist her charms when she looked at him with bedroom eyes .

something or someone that grabs attention

Ex: The shiny car parked outside was an eye-catcher for all the car enthusiasts .
gutsy [adjective]

exhibiting bravery and resolve when confronted with challenges or danger; bold and unrestrained

Ex: She gave a gutsy performance , unafraid to take risks on stage .

to share with someone all one's feelings, most private thoughts, and secrets

Ex: Sarah and Jessica are best friends , and they always spill their guts to each other about everything .
hairy [adjective]

dangerous or scary, usually in an exciting way

to behave in a comfortable manner, without worrying about one's problems or other people's opinions

Ex: On vacation , he decided to let his hair down and try new activities he 'd never experienced before .

to persistently annoy someone by doing something or by simply being around them

Ex: I know that upcoming project is going to get in my hair ; it 's going to be demanding and time-consuming .
to hand [verb]

to physically take an object and give it to someone

Ex: She reached out to hand me the book she had finished reading .
handout [noun]

money, food, or other resources distributed freely to those in need, typically by an organization or government

Ex: The local church offers weekly handouts of groceries to struggling families in the community .
hands down [phrase]

in a way that is free of all ambiguity or uncertainty

Ex: The team played exceptionally well and won the game hands down .

to survive with only the bare minimum resources, often with no savings or financial security

Ex: Many people in impoverished regions live hand to mouth , relying on daily wages to survive .
old hand [noun]

(of a person) having extensive knowledge about or a lot of experience in a particular activity or job

Ex: Our coach is an old hand in the world of professional sports , with multiple championships under his belt .
on hand [phrase]

used to refer to someone or something that is accessible and near to one

Ex: The store keeps a variety of products on hand to meet customer demand .

the most reliable and supportive assistant or partner

Ex: He ’s the coach 's right-hand man , providing valuable insights and strategies for the team .
secondhand [adjective]

previously owned or used by someone else

Ex:
short-handed [adjective]

lacking a sufficient number of workers or assistants

Ex: He had to cancel his plans to help out at the store because they were short-handed .
airhead [noun]

a person who is forgetful, absent-minded, or not very intelligent

Ex: That airhead thought the test was next week .

to leave a place or go on a journey, especially for a specific destination

Ex: She heads out for her morning run every day .

to become completely and suddenly very much in love with someone

Ex: She fell head over heels in love with a guy she met on holiday .
headstrong [adjective]

determined to do things in one's own way and often resistant to the opinions or suggestions of others

Ex: