Lesson 15

Inside out... upside down... fill in… fill out… take advantage of… no matter… take up…take up with… take after…. In the long run… in touch…. out of touch…..
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Inside out: with the inside facing the outside
Ø Someone should tell little Bobby that his shirt is inside out.
Ø The high winds ruined the umbrella by blowing it inside out.
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Upside down: with the upper side turned toward the lower side
Ø The accident caused one car to turn upside down, its wheels spinning in the air.
Ø One of the students was only pretending to read her textbook, the teacher could see that the book was actually upside down.
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To fill in: to write answers in (S), to inform, to tell (S)
For the second definition, the idiom can be followed by the preposition on and the information that someone is told.
Ø You should be careful to fill in the blanks on the registration form correctly.
Ø Barry was absent from the meeting, so I’d better fill him in.
Ø Has anyone filled the boss in on the latest public relations disaster?
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To fill out: to complete a form (S)
This idiom is very similar to the first definition above. To fill in refers to completing various parts of a form, while to fill out refers to completing a form as one whole item.
Ø Every prospective employee must fill out an application by giving name, address, previous jobs, etc.
Ø The teenager had some trouble filling the forms out by himself, so his mother helped him.
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To take advantage of: to use well, to profit from, to use another person’s weakness to gain what one wants.
Ø I took advantage of my neighbor’s superior skill at tennis to improve my own ability at the game.
Ø Teddy is such a small, weak child that his friends take advantage of him all the time. They take advantage of him by demanding money and making him do things for them.
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No matter: regardless of
This is a shortened form of it doesn’t matter. It is followed by a question word such as how, where, when, who, etc.
Ø No matter how much money he spends on his clothes, he never looks well dressed.
Ø No matter where that escaped prisoner tries to hide, the police will find him sooner or later.
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To take up: to begin to do or study, to undertake (S), to occupy space, time, or energy (S)
Ø After today’s exam, the class will be ready to take up the last chapter in the book.
Ø The piano takes up too much space in our living room. However, it would take too much time up to move it right now, so we’d better wait until later.
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To take up with: to consult someone about an important matter (S)
The important matter follows the verb take, while the person consulted follows with.
Ø Can I take the problem up with you right now? It’s quite urgent.
Ø I can’t help you with this matter. You’ll have to take it up with the manager
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To take after: to resemble a parent or close relative (for physical appearance only, also: to look like)
Ø Which of your parents do you take after the most?
Ø Sam looks like his father, but he takes after his mother in personality.
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In the long run: eventually, after a long period of time
This idiom is similar in meaning to sooner or later (Lesson 1). The difference is that in the long run refers to a more extended period of time.
Ø In the long run, the synthetic weave in this carpet will wear better than the woolen one. You won’t have to replace it so soon.
Ø If you work hard at your marriage, you’ll find out that, in the long run, your spouse can be your best friend in life.
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In touch: having contact
Ø James will be in touch with us soon to relay the details of the plan.
Ø I certainly enjoyed seeing you again after all these years. Let’s be sure to keep in touch.
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Out of touch: not having contact, not having knowledge of
Ø Marge and I had been out of touch for years, but then suddenly she called me up the other day
Ø Larry has been so busy that he seems out of touch with world events.
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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. It is a fact of life that older children use the weaknesses of their younger
brothers and sisters.
take up with
out of touch with
take advantage of
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2. If you want the water to come out of the bottle, you have to turn it so the top is
where the bottom was with the upper side facing the lower side.
a. inside out
b. in the long run
c. upside down
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3. Bernice has a determination to do well in every aspect of her work, she never
stops trying just because the work is difficult.
a. gives up (lesson 13)
b. takes up
c. takes after
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4. Regardless of what he says, I don’t believe any of the excuses he offers.
a. As for (lesson 12)
b. No matter
c. As a matter of fact (lesson 14)
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5. Janice just got back from vacation, let’s inform her on what happened while she
was gone.
a. fill her in
b. fill her out
c. think her over (lesson 4)
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6. This assignment is so boring and predictable that I’ll be finished in a very short
time.
a. out of the question (lesson 8)
b. out of touch
c. cut and dried (lesson 14)
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7. After Larry finished taking art classes, he decided to begin to study journalism.
a. to take up
b. to take advantage of
c. to look like
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8. Tom and I have been not having contact for many years now, I can hardly
believe that he just wrote me a letter.
a. in touch
b. in the long run
c. out of touch
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9. Whom do you think that Terry resembles most – her mother or her father?
a. look over (lesson 6)
b. takes after
c. fills out
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10. Several neighbors called the police as soon as a big fight became widespread
in the neighborhood.
a. was carried away (lesson 11)
b. took up with
c. broke out (lesson 12)
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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1. Which of your parents do you take after in appearance?
2. What people in your life are you most in touch with?
3. Who have you been out of touch with for many years?
4. What object takes up the most space in your room?
5. What are some good ways that you can take advantage of a friend?
Some bad ways?
6. What is the difference between filling something in and filling something out?
7. When you apply to college or university, what forms do you have to fill out?
8. What kind of life do you want for yourself in the long run?
9. If a person has serious mental or emotional problems, whom can this person take the problem up with?
10. For what reasons might you find yourself wearing a piece of clothing inside out?