Lesson 18

Do without... according to.... be bound to… for sure… take for…. try out….tear down… tear up…. go over…. run out of…. at heart… about to
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To do without: survive or exist without something (also: to go without)
Ø With prices so high now, I’ll have to do without a new suit this year.
Ø As a traveling salesperson, Monica can’t do without a car.
Ø It’s a shame that so many poor people in the world have to go without basic necessities of life such as nutritious food and suitable shelter.
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According to: in the order of, on the authority of
Ø The students on the football team were ranked according to height, from shortest to tallest
Ø According to my dictionary, you are using that word in your essay incorrectly.
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To be bound to: to be certain to, to be sure to
This idiom is used when the occurrence of an event seems inevitable or unavoidable.
Ø We are bound to be late if you don’t hurry up.
Ø With the economy improving now, their business is bound to make more money this year.
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For sure: without doubt (also: for certain)
Ø In the dark, I couldn’t tell for sure whether it was Polly or Sarah who drove by.
Ø I know for certain that Gene will move back to Washington next month
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To take for: to perceive or understand as (S)
This idiom is usually used when someone is mistakenly perceived. A noun or pronoun must separate the idiom.
Ø Because of his strong, muscular body, I took him for a professional athlete. As it turns out, he doesn’t play any professional sports.
Ø What do you take me for – a fool? I don’t believe what you’re saying at all.
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To try out: to test, to use during a trial period (S)
Ø You can try out the new car before you decide to buy it.
Ø I can let you try the computer out for a few days before you make a decision
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To tear down: to destroy by making flat, to demolish (S)
Ø The construction company had to tear down the old hotel in order to build a new office building.
Ø The owners had to tear the house down after it burned down in a fire.
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To tear up: to rip into small pieces (S)
Ø Deidre tore up the letter angrily and threw all the pieces into the trash can.
Ø He told the lawyer to tear the old contract up and then to prepare a new one.
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To go over: to be appreciated or accepted
This idiom is usually followed by the adverb well.(In lesson 6 this idiom has the meaning to review, as in the second sentence of the second example below)
Ø The teacher’s organized lessons always go over well with her students.
Ø The comedian’s jokes weren’t going over well; the audience wasn’t laughing much at all. I think that the comedian should go over his material more carefully before each act.
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To run out of: to exhaust the supply of, not to have more of
Ø We ran out of gas right in the middle of the main street in town.
Ø It’s dangerous to run out of water if you are in an isolated area.
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At heart: basically, fundamentally
This idiom is used to describe the true character of a person
Ø James sometimes seems quite unfriendly, but at heart he’s a good person.
Ø The fares often don’t see eye to eye, but at heart they both love each other very much.
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About to: ready to, just going to
Ø We were about to leave the house when the phone rang.
Ø I’m sorry that I broke in. What were you about to say?
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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. We’ll have to use the restrooms on the next floor because the ones on this floor
are not in working condition.
a. run out of
b. torn down
c. out of order (lesson 6)
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2. Jennifer seems unpleasant at times, but basically she’s a kind person.
a. at heart
b. for sure
c. according to
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3. The salesperson agreed to let me test the computer for an hour or so in the
store.
try out
tear up
do without
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4. Because of his uniform, he was perceived as a police officer, but actually he
was just a security guard.
a. taken for
b. bound to
c. looked out (lesson 5)
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5. On the authority of the courts, essential government workers cannot go on
strike or refuse to perform their jobs.
about to
according to
as a matter of fact (lesson 14)
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6. Don’t you hate to see the city demolish those old historic buildings, all in the
name of progress?
a. put out (lesson 6)
b. tear down
c. go without
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7. I think that you’d better check by wearing those pants before you spend so
much money on them.
a. go over
b. tear up
c. try on (lesson 4)
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8. I was ready to go to bed when someone knocked on my apartment door.
a. bound to
b. about to
c. feel like (lesson 14)
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9. The President’s speech was accepted so well that all the members of Congress
stood up and applauded.
went over
was bound to
found out (lesson 2)
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10. Wes is planning to go with us to Disneyland without doubt.
out of the question (lesson 8)
at last (lesson 2)
for sure
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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1. If you lost your job and didn’t have much money, what would you have to do without?
2. Why are students in some schools placed in classes according to ability?
3. If parents want to raise their children well, what are they bound to do?
4. If you see a man leaving a house through a window at night, what might you take him for?
5. Why would you be sure to try out a car before you buy it?
6. Why might you feel like tearing up a letter or some schoolwork?
7. Have you ever said or done something special that went over well? What was it?
8. What should you do if you run out of energy while you’re studying in the evening?
9. Are you a serious person or a fun-loving person at heart?
10. What would you do if you were about to watch a favorite TV show at home and the telephone rang?