Lesson 13

Break down... turn out…. once in a blue moon….. give up…… cross out…. take for granted…. take into account….make clear…. clear-cut….. have on…… come to….. call for
.
To break down: to stop functioning
Compare this idiom with to burn out in Lesson 12. To burn out means that electrical equipment becomes hot from overuse and stops functioning. To break down means that something stops functioning mechanically, whether from overuse of not.
Ø I just bought my new car yesterday and already it has broken down.
Ø The elevator broke down, so we walked all the way up to the top floor.
.
To turn out: to become or result, to appear, to attend (also: to come out)
The noun form turnout derives from the second definition of the idiom.
Ø Most parents wonder how their children will turn out as adults
Ø Hundreds of people came out for the demonstration against new taxes.
Ø What was the turnout for the public hearing on the education reforms?
.
Once in a blue moon: rarely, infrequently
Ø Snow falls on the city of San Diego, California, once in a blue moon.
Ø Once in a blue moon my wife and I eat at a very expensive restaurant
.
To give up: to stop trying, to stop a bad habit (S), to surrender (S)
Ø I’m sure that you can accomplish this task. Don’t give up yet!
Ø If you give up smoking now, you can certainly live a longer life.
Ø The soldiers gave themselves up in the face of stronger enemy forces.
.
To cross out: to cancel by marking with a horizontal line (S)
Ø The teacher crossed out several incorrect words in Tanya’s composition.
Ø I crossed the last line out of my letter because it had the wrong tone to it.
.
To take for granted: not to appreciate fully (S), to assume to be true without giving much thought (S)
A noun or pronoun often follows the verb take.
Ø John took his wife for granted until once when he was very sick and needed her constant attention for a week.
Ø He spoke English so well that I took it for granted he was an American.
Ø He took for granted that I wasn’t American because I spoke English so poorly!
.
To take into account: to consider a fact while evaluating a situation (S)
Again, a noun or pronoun often follows the verb take.
Ø The judge took the prisoner’s young age into account before sentencing him to three months in jail.
Ø Educators should take into account the cultural backgrounds of students when planning a school curriculum.
.
To make clear: to clarify, to explain (S)
Ø Please make clear that he should never act so impolitely again.
Ø The supervisor made it clear to the workers that they had to increase their productivity.
.
Clear-cut: clearly stated, definite, apparent
Ø The president’s message was clear-cut: the company had to reduce personnel immediately.
Ø Professor Larsen is well known for his interesting and clear-cut presentations.
.
To have on: to be wearing (S)
Ø How do you like the hat, which Grace has on today?
Ø When Sally came into the room, I had nothing on except my shorts.
.
To come to: to regain consciousness, to equal, to amount to
Ø At first they thought that the man was dead, but soon he came to.
Ø The bill for groceries at the supermarket came to fifty dollars.
.
To call for: to require, to request, to urge
Ø This cake recipe calls for some baking soda, but we don’t have any.
Ø The members of Congress called for new laws to regulate the banking industry.
.
E X E R C I S E S
.
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.
1. The majority of the investors at the shareholders’ meeting urged the resignation
of the chairman of the board.
a. called for
b. took for granted
c. called on (lesson 2)
.
2. How many people appeared for the baseball game yesterday?
a. turned out
b. came to
c. turned around (lesson 8)
.
3. My reason for voting “no” is very apparent: I disagree completely with the
position of other committee members on this matter.
a. once in a blue moon
b. clear-cut
c. made clear
.
4. There was a big traffic jam on the freeway when a truck stopped functioning in
one of the middle lanes.
a. burned down (lesson 12)
b. gave up
c. broke down
.
5. Mrs. Thomas was very surprised when she received the bill for her hospital
stay. It equaled almost ten thousand dollars.
a. crossed out
b. came from (lesson 10)
c. came to
.
6. Aaron had the habit to drink a lot of beer until he decided to lose weight.
a. is used to (lesson 9)
b. gave up
c. used to (lesson 9)
.
7 That’s a very nice dress that you are wearing. Where did you buy it?
a. have on
b. take into account
c. take for granted
.
8. As it resulted, I didn’t have to worry about the game, we won it easily.
a. turned out
b. made clear
c. was over (lesson 7)
.
9. The gang of criminals surrendered to the police after eight hours of hiding in the
warehouse.
a. crossed out
b. gave up
c. looked out (lesson 5)
.
10. Joey’s mother considered the fact that Joe was trying to help his brother when
the accident took place.
a. took for granted
b. made clear
c. took into account
.
Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of an idiomatic expression from this unit only.
.
Mrs. Lee: Hello. How are you?
Cashier: Fine ma’am. Only buying a few groceries today, I see.
Mrs. Lee: Yes. As it _______________, I only have a few dollars with me.
Cashier: That blouse you ____________ really goes nicely with your skirt.
Mrs. Lee: Thank you. I just bought it this morning.
Cashier: Oh, no!
Mrs. Lee: What’s the matter?
Cashier: I can’t continue using the cash register. It just ______________.
Mrs. Lee: That’s terrible. Does this happen very often?
Cashier: Not at all. In fact, it happens only ____________. Unfortunately, this
kind of situation usually _____________ for the manager’s assistance
but he’s not here right now.
Mrs. Lee: Just when you ____________ that something like this won’t happen, it
does!
Cashier: I guess I have to figure out your bill with paper and pencil. Let’s see
- the total for your purchases _____________ $ 13.35.
Mrs. Lee: Did you ___________ my discount coupons?
Cashier: No, I forgot. Thanks for reminding me.