Lesson 14

Eat in / eat out..... cut and dried…. Look after….. feel like….. once and for all…. hear from… hear of… make fun of… come true… as a matter of fact…. have one's way... look forward to...
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to eat in / to eat out: to eat at home / to eat in a restaurant
Ø I feel too tired to go out for dinner. Let’s eat in again tonight.
Ø When you eat out, what restaurant do you generally go to?
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Cut and dried: predictable, known beforehand, boring
Ø The results of the national election were rather cut and dried, the Republicans won easily.
Ø A job on a factory assembly line is certainly cut and dried.
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To look after: to watch, to supervise, to protect (also: to take care of, to keep an eye on)
Ø Grandma will look after the baby while we go to the lecture.
Ø Who is going to take care of your houseplants while you are away?
Ø I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on my car while I’m in the store.
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To feel like: to have the desire to, to want to consider
This idiom is usually followed by a gerund (the –ing form of a verb used as a noun).
Ø I don’t feel like studying tonight. Let’s go to a basketball game.
Ø I feel like taking a long walk. Would you like to go with me?
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Once and for all: finally, absolutely
Ø My daughter told her boyfriend once and for all that she wouldn’t date him anymore.
Ø Once and for all, John has quit smoking cigarettes.
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To hear from: to receive news or information from
To hear from is used for receiving a letter, telephone call, etc.. from a person or organization.
Ø I don’t hear from my brother very often since he moved to Chicago.
Ø Have you heard from the company about that new job?
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To hear of: to know about, to be familiar with, to consider
The second definition is always used in the negative sentence.
Ø When I asked for directions to Mill Street, the police officer said that she had never heard of it.
Ø Byron strongly disagreed with my request by saying, “ I won’t hear of it!”
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To make fun of: to laugh at, to joke about
Ø They are making fun of Carla’s new hairstyle. Don’t you think that it’s really strange?
Ø Don’t make fun of Jose’s English. He’s doing the best he can.
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To come true: to become reality, to prove to be correct
Ø The weatherman’s forecast for today’s weather certainly came true.
Ø Everything that the economists predicted about the increased cost of living has come true.
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As a matter of fact: really, actually (also: in fact)
Ø Hans thinks he knows English well but, as a matter of fact, he speaks very poorly.
Ø I didn’t say that. In fact, I said quite the opposite.
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To have one’s way: to arrange matters the way one wants (especially when someone else doesn’t want the same way) (also: to get one’s way)
Ø My brother always wants to have his way, but this time our parents said that we could do what I wanted.
Ø If Sheila doesn’t get her way, she becomes very angry.
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To look forward to: to expect or anticipate with pleasure
This idiom can be followed by a regular noun or a gerund.
Ø We’re greatly looking forward to our vacation in Mexico.
Ø Margaret never looks forward to going to work.
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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.
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1. I asked my neighbor to watch my dog while I was out of town.
a. to come to (lesson 13)
b. to make fun of
c. to look after
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2. Do you want to consider going to a movie tonight?
a. feel like
b. stand to reason (lesson 12)
c. look forward to
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3. I wonder when I’m finally going to receive news from Joe.
a. to hear of
b. to hear from
c. to get in touch with (lesson 9)
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4. The teacher told her young student, “Please don’t cheat again from this time
into the future”
a. from now on (lesson 11)
b. once and for all
c. as a matter of fact
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5. Aren’t you glad that we decided to eat at a restaurant tonight? This food is
great!
a. to eat in
b. to take out (lesson 3)
c. to eat out
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6. The decision to sell the failing business was rather predictable.
a. come true
b. in fact
c. cut and dried
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7. Barbara is a nice person, but unfortunately she always has to arrange matters
the way she wants.
a. to have her way
b. to make up her mind (lesson 5)
c. to come true
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8. Are you pleasantly anticipating the end of the school semester?
a. hearing of
b. looking forward to
c. paying attention to (lesson 8)
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9. Actually, I really don’t want to take a break right now. I’d rather continue
working.
a. Little by little (lesson 2)
b. As a matter of fact
c. For good (lesson 5)
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10. Everything that my parents told me about becoming an adult proved to be
correct.
a. came true
b. to hear of it
c. in fact.
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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1. What famous American actors and actresses have you heard of?
2. If you were a parent, what activity would you not hear of your small child doing?
3. When was the last time that you heard from an old friend from your childhood?
4. Do you prefer to eat in or eat out? How often do you eat out?
5. Is there anything that you want to stop doing once and for all? What?
6. What event in the near future are you looking forward to?
7. When might you insist on having your way with your friends?
8. How do you feel when other people make fun of you?
9. When do you most feel like studying – in the morning or in the evening? Why?
10. All people have hopes and desires for the future. What hope or desire do you want most to come true?