Lesson 10

Make sure... now and then..... get rid of… every other (one)… go with… first-rate…. come from…. make good time… mix up…. see about… make out ….by heart
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To make sure: to be sure, to ascertain (also: to make certain)
Ø Please make sure that you turn off the radio before you go out.
Ø Could you make certain of the time? I don’t want to miss that TV show.
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Now and then: occasionally, sometimes (also: now and again, at times, from time to time, off and on, once in a while)
Both now and then and once in a while can be preceded by the adjective every. Another idiom with the same meaning and form is every so often.
Ø I don’t see him very often, but (every) now and then we arrange to have lunch together.
Ø Gary gets a cold (every) once in a while even though he takes good care of himself.
Ø Every so often my brother and I get together for a camping trip.
Ø I like to sleep late in the morning from time to time.
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To get rid of: to eliminate, to remove, to discard, to throw away
Ø Jerry tried hard to get rid of the stain on his shirt, but he never succeeded.
Ø The stain was so bad that Jerry finally had to get rid of his shirt.
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Every other (one): every second (one), alternate (ones)
Ø I play tennis with my father every other Saturday, so I usually play twice a month.
Ø There were twenty problems in the exercise, but the teacher told us only to do every other one. Actually, doing ten problems was difficult enough.
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To go with: to match, to compare well in color or design, to date, to accompany (also: to go out with)
For the first definition, adverbs such as well and poorly are often used.
Ø That striped shirt goes well with the gray pants, but the pants go poorly with those leather shoes.
Ø Eda went with Richard for about six months, but now she is going out with a new boyfriend.
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First-rate: excellent, superb
Ø The food served in that four-star restaurant is truly first-rate.
Ø The Beverly Hills Hotel provides first-rate service to its guests.
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To come from: to originate from
This idiom is commonly used in discussion of one’s hometown, state, or country
Ø What country in South America does she come from? She comes from Peru.
Ø I just learned that he really comes from Florida, not Texas.
Ø Where did this package come from? The mail carrier brought it.
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To make good time: to travel a sufficient distance at a reasonable speed
The adjective excellent can also be used.
Ø On our last trip, it rained the entire time, so we didn’t make good time.
Ø We made excellent time on our trip to Florida, it only took eighteen hours.
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To mix up: to stir or shake well (S), to confuse, to bewilder (S)
For the second definition, the passive forms to be mixed up or to get mixed up are often used.
Ø You should mix up the ingredients well before you put them in the pan.
Ø The teacher’s poor explanation really mixed the students up.
Ø The students think it’s their fault that they are mixed up so often.
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To see about: to give attention or time to (also: to attend to, to see to)
Ø Who is going to see about getting us a larger room for the meeting?
Ø I’ll see to arranging music for the wedding if you attend to the entertainment.
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To make out: to do, to succeed, to progress
Ø Charlie didn’t make out very well on his final examinations. He may have to repeat one or more classes.
Ø How did Rachelle make out on her acting audition in Hollywood yesterday?
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By heart: be memorizing
Ø He knows many passages from Shakespeare by heart.
Ø Do you know all the idioms you have studied in this book by heart?
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E X E R C I S E S
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Choose the appropriate idiomatic expression to substitute for the italicized word or words in each sentence below. Idioms from previous lessons are indicated by number.
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1. Jack has been too busy with his work to date anyone recently
to see about
to make out
to go out with
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2. The manager wanted her assistant to ascertain when the products would be
delivered.
a. to make good time
b. to get rid of
c. to make sure
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3. You should stir the milk and eggs before you add the butter.
a. cut down on (lesson 9)
b. mix up
c. come from
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4. I was so nervous about giving the speech that I learned every word by
memorizing.
a. by myself (lesson 3)
b. by heart
c. now and then
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5. The weather is so bad today that we should definitely postpone the picnic.
a. put off (lesson 5)
b. call off (lesson 5)
c. see about]
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6. George never seems to study. How is he progressing in his coursework?
a. making out
b. coming from
c. looking over (lesson 6)
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7. The test instructions were so poorly written that the students were confused
about what to do.
were attended to
paid attention (lesson 8)
were mixed up
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8. This yellow tie doesn’t match your blue jacket at all.
go with
get rid of
come from
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9. John enjoys going hiking with his friends. They take a hike together every
second weekend.
every now and then
every other
all weekend long (lesson 3)
10. This tablecloth is too old to use anymore, would you mind if we discard it?
get rid of
come from
see to
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Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of an idiomatic expression from this unit only.
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Jean: Hi, Helen. I really like your blouse. It ______________ your pants.
Helen: Thanks, Jean, but haven’t you seen it before? I’ve had it for years, and I
was planning to ____________ it!
Jean: Oh, no, it still looks fine. Tell me, how are you __________ with your final
class presentation? Are you still writing it?
Helen: I’m all finished. Tomorrow I’m going to practice until I know it _________.
Jean: Why don’t you practice in front of me right now?
Helen: Maybe later. Right now I’d like to _____________ having dinner. I’m really
hungry.
Jean: Do you want to cook here, or eat out?
Helen: Let’s eat out. I just heard about a new Italian restaurant that is supposed
to be _____________.
Jean: Sounds great. But it’s almost 9 P.M. When does it close?
Helen: I think that Jim said 9:30. It’s easy to ___________ on city streets at night,
So I’m sure we can get there in time.
Jean: Let’s go!