Speak English Like an American » LESSON 25 - Ted Brings Home More Good News

Ted Brings Home More Good News

Ted tells his family that a talent agent wants to meet with him. The agent will fly Ted and Amber to New York. Nicole announces that she's been named president of the Spanish Club.

Ted: Amber and I are going to break into the music business. Last night after our concert, a talent agent asked us to meet with him in New York.

Susan: Congratulations! We'll give you some spending money for your trip.

Ted: No need. The agent is footing the bill for everything. And when we get there, he's going to wine and dine us.

Susan: He must think you're the cream of the crop.

Ted: He thinks we sound like the Goo Goo Dolls.

Nicole: Who are they?

Ted: You're really out of it. They're a popular rock band.

Nicole: Our family is certainly on a winning streak. I was elected president of the Spanish Club today.

Ted: The Spanish Club? Big deal!

Nicole: You don't get it, Ted. This is only the beginning. Today, president of the Spanish Club. Tomorrow, ambassador to Spain!

Ted: Well, Ambassador, you'll need to wrap up my chemistry homework before you leave for the Spanish Embassy.

Susan: A rock star and a diplomat — I'm so proud of both of you!

Idioms
  • Big deal!
    → So what? That doesn't really matter.
    EXAMPLE 1: You won five dollars in the lottery? Big deal!
    EXAMPLE 2: Your father has a job with a big company in New York City? Big deal!
  • (to) break into
    → to enter or be let into a profession
    EXAMPLE 1: If you want to break into journalism, it's a good idea to work on a college newspaper.
    EXAMPLE 2: These days it's difficult to break into investment banking.

    NOTE: "Break into" has several other meanings:

    1. Interrupt. Boris and I were talking. Please don't try to break into our conversation.
    2. Enter illegally or by force. Somebody broke into Peter's house and stole his DVD player.
    3. To suddenly begin an activity, such as singing. After receiving the check from the National Cookie Company, Susan broke into song.
  • cream of the crop
    → the best of a group
    EXAMPLE 1: In the world of women's tennis, the Williams sisters are the cream of the crop.
    EXAMPLE 2: Of course you'll get accepted to Harvard. Don't forget, you're the cream of the crop!

    SYNONYM: creme de la crème

  • (to) foot the bill
    → to pay
    EXAMPLE 1: You paid last time we went to the movies. Let me foot the bill this time.
    EXAMPLE 2: Fortunately, whenever we go out to dinner with the boss, she foots the bill.

    SYNONYM: to pick up the tab

  • (to) get it
    → to understand
    EXAMPLE 1: I invited 40 people to my Thanksgiving dinner, but only 10 people came. I don't get it!
    EXAMPLE 2: Don't you get it? Your company is about to go out of business!
  • (to be) out of it
    → not aware or knowledgeable about trends or modern habits
    EXAMPLE 1: Don't ask for Susan's advice on fashion. She's really out of it. She wears sneakers with everything.
    EXAMPLE 2: Betsy has never even heard of Harry Potter. She's really out of it!

    NOTE: "Out of it" also means "confused" or "disoriented." Example: After staying up all night studying, Ted felt out of it the next day.

  • spending money
    → money for minor expenses
    EXAMPLE 1: Before Tim left for Europe, his parents gave him $400 in spending money.
    EXAMPLE 2: Martin's parents are paying his college tuition, but he has to earn his own spending money.

    SYNONYM: pocket money

  • (to) wine and dine
    → to take someone out for an evening or an expensive meal
    EXAMPLE 1: Donna wined and dined Bob and Susan and then presented them with a contract for the sale of Susan's Scrumptious Cookies.
    EXAMPLE 2: Kate was wined and dined during her trip to Santiago.
  • (to be on a) winning streak
    → a series of wins
    EXAMPLE 1: The basketball team hasn't lost a game all season. They're on a winning streak!
    EXAMPLE 2: You won 10 games in a row? You're on a winning streak!
  • (to) wrap up
    → to finish
    EXAMPLE 1: If you wrap up your homework by eight o'clock, we'll have time to catch a movie tonight.
    EXAMPLE 2: Okay folks, let's wrap up these exercises so we can go home early tonight.
Practice The Idioms

Fill in the blank with the missing word:

  1. I invited you to dinner, so let me _____ bill.
    • a) hand off
    • b) arm
    • c) foot
  2. My friend Kate is really _____ it. She doesn't even know who Oprah Winfrey is.
    • a) out of
    • b) into
    • c) unaware of
  3. Ted told Amber he'd need to call her back later in the evening since he was just _____ to have dinner.
    • a) up
    • b) around
    • c) about
  4. After Bob and Susan wrap _____ the sale of their business, they can relax for a while.
    • a) through
    • b) around
    • c) up
  5. Sally got a job with a law firm in Manhattan? _____ deal!
    • a) Small
    • b) Big
    • c) Huge
  6. We love to visit our friends in Florence, Italy. They always _____ and dine us.
    • a) liquor
    • b) wine
    • c) beer
  7. Bob and Susan plan to give Nicole $ 1,000 per year of spending _____ when she's in college.
    • a) cash
    • b) dough
    • c) money
  8. I recommend that you go to a concert at Carnegie Hall. The musicians who play there are always the cream of the _____.
    • a) crop
    • b) lawn
    • c) lot
Answer Key
Practice The Idioms
  1. c
  2. a
  3. c
  4. c
  5. b
  6. b
  7. c
  8. a
Answer Key
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