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Street Talk 1 - A Closer Look: Lesson 3

Explore additional vocabulary, expressions, meanings, and usage from Street Talk 1 Lesson 3 with a closer look at the language used in the lesson.

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Street Talk 1
an arm and (a|) leg

a large sum of money

Ex: That new laptop costs an arm and a leg. 
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to [twist] {one's} arm

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

Ex: I didn't want to give the presentation, but my manager twisted my arm. 
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to [get] off {one's} back

to finally stop criticizing or annoying someone

Ex: Will you please get off my back?  I'm doing the best I can. 
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to [get|put] {one's} back up

to make someone become really annoyed or angry

Ex: His rude remarks really put my back up. 
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the [shirt] off {one's} [back]

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

Ex: He would give you the shirt off his back if you were in trouble. 
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to [let] {sth} roll off {one's} [back]

to not allow negative things such as an unfair criticism, etc. to have any effect on one

Ex: He learned to let rude comments roll off his back. 
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you scratch my back and I will scratch yours

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. 
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to [have] a bone to pick with {sb}

to have a problem with someone or be annoyed with them and want to tell them all about it

Ex: I have a bone to pick with you about what happened yesterday. 
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to bone up

to study or prepare intensively for something

Ex: I need to bone up on chemistry before the test. 
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bonehead
bonehead
[noun]

a stupid or stubbornly foolish person

Ex: He's a big bonehead for ignoring all the warning signs about the scam. 
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boney
boney
[Adjective]

extremely thin or lacking flesh

Ex: The stray cat was so boney that you could see its ribs through its fur. 
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to [make] no bones about {sth}

to not hesitate to do or say what one truly wants

Ex: She made no bones about her dislike of the new policy. 
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skin and bone

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

Ex: After months of illness, he was reduced to skin and bone. 
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birdbrain
birdbrain
[noun]

a silly or foolish person with little intelligence

Ex: You birdbrain, why did you put salt in the coffee instead of sugar? 
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brainy
brainy
[Adjective]

very smart

Ex: The brainy scientist made significant breakthroughs in the field of quantum physics. 
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to [pick] {one's} [brain]

to ask a knowledgeable or informed person their opinion on something

Ex: Can I pick your brain about this marketing plan? 
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to [rack] {one's} [brain]

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

Ex: I racked my brain, but I still couldn't remember his name. 
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scatterbrain

a person who is consistently forgetful, unfocused, and disorganized

Ex: He’s such a scatterbrain that he misplaced his keys three times in one day. 
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to [keep] {one's} eyes (peeled|open|skinned)

to be careful to notice a thing or person

Ex: Keep your eyes peeled for a small blue sign near the bridge. 
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to [see] eye to eye

to completely agree with someone and understand their point of view

Ex: We don't always see eye to eye, but we respect each other. 
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shuteye
shuteye
[noun]

informal expression for getting some rest

Ex: After a long day, he desperately needed some shuteye. 
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finger-pointing

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

Ex: The meeting turned into a session of finger-pointing as everyone tried to avoid taking the blame for the project's failure. 
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to [lift|raise] a finger

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

Ex: He watched us carry the boxes and didn't lift a finger to help. 
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to [put] {one's} finger on {sth}

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

Ex: I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. 
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to [give|flip] {sb} the finger

to raise one's middle finger and point it toward a person to show one is angry with them, hates, or disrespects them

Ex: The driver flipped me the finger after I honked at him. 
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to [wrap|twist|wind] {sb} around {one's} (little|) finger

to manage to convince someone to do whatever one asks of them out of love or respect that they have for one

Ex: With one smile, she had him wrapped around her little finger. 
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cold feet
cold feet
[noun]

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

Ex: He got cold feet just before signing the contract. 
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footloose
footloose
[Adjective]

unconstrained and able to move about or act freely

Ex: As a freelancer, she enjoys a footloose lifestyle, traveling and working from anywhere. 
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to [foot] the bill

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

Ex: The company agreed to foot the bill for the training program. 
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foot in the door

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

Ex: The internship gave her a foot in the door at a major law firm. 
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to [get] {one's} feet wet

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

Ex: I joined a beginner class to get my feet wet in photography. 
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to hotfoot

to move quickly or in a hurry

Ex: She had to hotfoot it to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. 
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to [have] a lead foot

to have a tendency to drive very fast

Ex: My brother has a lead foot, so I never let him drive my car. 
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one foot in the grave

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

Ex: After the diagnosis, he felt like he had one foot in the grave. 
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to [put] {one's} foot down

to firmly take control and enforce a specific action

Ex: The manager finally put her foot down and made everyone follow the new rules. 
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quick on {one's} feet

able to think and respond rapidly in challenging or unexpected situations

Ex: During the debate, she was quick on her feet, countering her opponent's arguments effectively. 
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to [sweep] {sb} off {one's} feet

to make someone have intense romantic feelings for one

Ex: He swept her off her feet with his charm. 
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to [throw] {oneself} at {one's} feet

to beg someone for help or forgiveness

Ex: He threw himself at her feet and begged her to forgive him. 
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to [get|start] off on the wrong foot

to have an unsuccessful or unpleasant beginning in a relationship or activity

Ex: We got off on the wrong foot, but we became good friends later. 
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to [flap] {one's} gums

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

Ex: He flapped his gums for an hour without saying anything useful. 
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to [bust] a gut

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

Ex: We busted a gut watching his failed magic trick. 
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to [have] the (guts|nerve|spine)

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

Ex: He has the guts to speak his mind at the meeting. 
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cheeky
cheeky
[Adjective]

showing impolite behavior in a manner that is amusing or endearing

Ex: The cheeky child giggled mischievously as he played pranks on his siblings. 
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with {one's} tongue in {one's} cheek

in an ironic, humorous, or insincere way, not meant to be taken literally

Ex: He said, with his tongue in his cheek, that the two-hour meeting was the highlight of his week. 
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to [turn] the other cheek

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

Ex: After all the insults, she chose to turn the other cheek and walk away. 
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to [have] an eye for {sth}

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

Ex: She has an eye for detail. 
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to eye
to eye
[Verb]

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

Ex: The detective eyed the suspect closely, searching for any signs of nervousness. 
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eyesore
eyesore
[noun]

something that has an extremely ugly appearance, particularly a building

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{one's} eyes are bigger than {one's} (stomach|belly)

used to describe a greedy person who takes more food than they could possibly finish

Ex: Don't pile your plate so high; your eyes are bigger than your stomach. 
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goo-goo eyes

excessively affectionate glances at someone

Ex: She kept making goo-goo eyes at him during dinner. 
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green-eyed monster

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

Ex: She felt the green-eyed monster when her colleague got the promotion. 
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to [keep] an eye on {sb/sth}

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

Ex: Can you keep an eye on the kids while I make dinner? 
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[be] all ears
be all ears
[phrase]

to be eager to hear what a person wants to say

Ex: Tell me what happened at the meeting; I am all ears. 
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to [bend] {one's} ear

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

Ex: He bent my ear for an hour about his problems. 
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to [chew] {one's} [ear] (off|)

to make others tired by talking too much

Ex: He chewed my ear off about his new job. 
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dog-eared
dog-eared
[Adjective]

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

Ex: Her favorite novel was dog-eared, evidence of countless readings over the years. 
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to [have] an ear for {sth}

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: He just doesn't have an ear for music. 
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earmark
earmark
[noun]

a unique feature or trait that distinguishes someone or something

Ex: Her creativity is an earmark of her success in the art world. 
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to [fall] on deaf ears

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

Ex: Her warnings about the budget fell on deaf ears. 
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to [fall] on deaf ears

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

Ex: Her warnings about the budget fell on deaf ears. 
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to [keep|have] {one's} ear (close|) to the ground

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

Ex: Good reporters keep their ear to the ground for changes at city hall. 
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to perk up

to make someone or something more alert

Ex: The news of a surprise bonus really perked up the employees. 
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to [play] by ear

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: She never learned to read music, but she can play almost any song by ear. 
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to [put] a bug in {one's} ear

to provide someone with a hint or suggestion

Ex: I put a bug in his ear about applying for the scholarship. 
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to [talk] {one's} [ear] off

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

Ex: My neighbor talked my ear off about his garden. 
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elbow grease

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

Ex: The old table just needs some elbow grease to look new again. 
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to [elbow] {one's} way

to forcefully make a path through a crowded or obstructed area

Ex: He elbowed his way through the crowd to reach the exit. 
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elbow room

enough space that enables people to move easily

Ex: The new chairs give passengers more elbow room. 
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to [rub] elbows with {sb}

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. 
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an eye for an eye

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

Ex: He believes in an eye for an eye, so he always tries to get even. 
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bedroom eyes

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

Ex: She gave him bedroom eyes across the table. 
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eye-catcher

something or someone that grabs attention

Ex: The bright mural on the wall is an eye-catcher for everyone passing by. 
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gutsy
gutsy
[Adjective]

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

Ex: Her gutsy decision to start a business in a competitive market paid off. 
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to [hate] {one's} guts

to hate someone to an extreme degree

Ex: She hates his guts after everything he did to her. 
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to [spill] {one's} guts (out|)

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

Ex: After the argument, he sat down with me and spilled his guts. 
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hair-raising
hair-raising
[Adjective]

causing great fear or excitement

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hairy
hairy
[Adjective]

dangerous or scary, usually in an exciting way

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to [let] {one's} hair down

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

Ex: After a long week, she went out with friends to let her hair down. 
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to [get] in {one's} hair

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

Ex: The kids have been getting in my hair all morning. 
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to [give] {sb} a hand

to offer help to someone with a task or problem

Ex: Can you give me a hand with carrying these groceries? 
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to hand
to hand
[Verb]

to physically take an object and give it to someone

Ex: Can you hand me the document? 
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to hand it to {sb}

***to give credit to someone

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handout
handout
[noun]

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

Ex: The government provides financial handouts to support low-income families during economic downturns. 
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hands down
hands down
[phrase]

in a way that is free of all ambiguity or uncertainty

Ex: She is hands down the best teacher in the school. 
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to [know] {sth} like the back of {one's} hand

to be well-informed about or completely familiar with something

Ex: She knows this neighborhood like the back of her hand. 
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to [live] (from|) hand to mouth

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

Ex: After losing his job, he had to live hand to mouth for months. 
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old hand
old hand
[noun]

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

Ex: Don't worry about the negotiations; Lisa is an old hand at this. 
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on hand
on hand
[phrase]

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

Ex: A nurse was on hand in case anyone felt sick. 
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out of hand
out of hand
[phrase]

impossible or very hard to control

Ex: The crowd got out of hand during the concert and the police had to intervene. 
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right-hand man

the most reliable and supportive assistant or partner

Ex: As the CEO's right-hand man, he manages all the critical tasks and ensures everything runs smoothly. 
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secondhand
secondhand
[Adjective]

previously owned or used by someone else

Ex: She bought a secondhand car to save money. 
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short-handed
short-handed
[Adjective]

lacking a sufficient number of workers or assistants

Ex: The restaurant was short-handed during the busy lunch hour, causing longer wait times for customers. 
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the right (hand|) does not know what the left (hand|) [is] doing

used to refer to the lack of communication between the different parts of an organization about their roles or activities that leads to confusion and dysfunction

Ex: In this company, the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. 
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to [try] {one's} hand at  {sth}

to attempt to do something that one has no experience in

Ex: She decided to try her hand at pottery during the weekend workshop. 
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airhead
airhead
[noun]

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

Ex: She's such an airhead, she forgot her backpack again. 
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to [bite|snap] {one's} head off

to angrily reply or react to someone

Ex: I only asked a simple question, and she snapped my head off. 
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to head out

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

Ex: He needs to head out to the store to pick up some groceries. 
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to [fall] head over heels

to become completely and suddenly very much in love with someone

Ex: He fell head over heels in love with her the moment they met. 
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headstrong
headstrong
[Adjective]

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

Ex: She was too headstrong to follow anyone’s advice. 
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