Lesson 30

Slow down... dry up... dry out… be up to something…. beat around the bush…. come to an end…. put an end to….. get even with… fool around…. look out on… stir up…. take in….
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To slow down: to go, or cause to go, more slowly (also: to slow up) (S)
This idiom can be used both with and without an object.
Ø The car was going so fast that the motorist couldn’t slow it down enough to make the sharp curve.
Ø You’re eating too fast to digest your food well. Slow down!
Ø Slow up a bit! You’re talking so quickly that I can’t catch on well.
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To dry up: to lose, or cause to lose, all moisture (S), to be depleted
Ø Every summer the extreme heat in this valley dries the stream up.
Ø All funds for the project dried up when the local government faced a budget crisis.
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To dry out: to lose, or cause to lose moisture gradually (S), to stop drinking alcohol in excess (also: to sober up)
Ø Martha hung the towel outside on the clothesline in order to dry it out.
Ø Some people go to alcohol recovery centers in order to dry out.
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To be up to (something): to be doing something, to be planning or plotting something, scheming.
The first definition usually takes the form of a question.
Ø Hi, Jake. I haven’t seen you in a long time. What have you been up to?
Ø Those boys hiding behind the building must be up to something bad.
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To beat around the bush: to avoid discussing directly, to evade the issue.
Ø Our boss beats around the bush so much that no one in the office knows exactly what he wants us to do.
Ø Instead of beating around the bush, Melinda explained her objection in very clear terms.
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To come to an end: to end, to stop
This idiom is used with finally and never when some activity lasts too long.
Ø The meeting finally came to an end at ten o’clock in the evening.
Ø Even though my friend seemed to enjoy the movie, I thought that it would never come to an end.
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To put an end to: to cause to end, to terminate in a definite manner (also: to do away with)
Ø The dictatorial government put an end to organized opposition in the country by making it illegal to form a political party.
Ø It may never be possible to do away with all forms of prejudice and discrimination in the world.
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To get even with: to seek revenge, to retaliate
This idiom is similar in meaning to to have it in for in Lesson 27.
Ø Bill has had it in for his boss for a long time. He told me he’s planning to get even with his boss by giving some company secrets to a competitor.
Ø I want to get even with Steve for beating me so badly in tennis last time. The scores were 6-1 and 6-2.
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To fool around: to waist time (also: to screw around), to joke, not to be serious
Ø The teacher got angry because her students were fooling around and couldn’t finish their work before the end of class.
Ø Sometimes I wish that Pat would stop fooling around so much and talk about something more interesting to others.
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To look out on: to face, to overlook
Ø We really enjoy our new apartment that looks out on a river.
Ø Their rear window looks out on a lovely garden.
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To stir up: to cause anger (S) to create (trouble or difficulty) (S)
Ø The senseless murder of a small child stirred up the whole neighborhood.
Ø The boss is in a bad mood today so don’t stir her up with any more customer complaints.
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To take in: to visit in order to enjoy (S), to decrease the size of clothes (S), to deceive, to fool (S)
Ø We decided to take in Toronto on our trip to Canada, and that is where we took in the most memorable outdoor stage play we have ever seen.
Ø Lois lost so much weight that she had her skirts and slacks taken in by her tailor.
Ø The fraudulent investment advisor took everyone in with his sincere manner and generous promises. Most investors lost all their money.
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E X E R C I S E S
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Substitute an idiomatic expression for the word or words in italics, making any necessary grammatical changes as well. Then complete each sentence appropriately with your own idea. Also try to use idioms from previous lessons.
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Many of the lakes in this part of the country have lost all moisture because…
When I asked Ted what he was doing, he responded that…
Karen hopes this meeting stops soon because…
If the government wants to terminate drug abuse in this country, it will have to…
Ruth sought revenge on the girl who stole her boyfriend away from her by…
Because our son Allen is always joking, nobody…
The house for sale was a valuable piece of property because it faced…
Old-time residents in the neighborhood became angered when their new neighbor…
Marge has lost so much weight in the last month that she has had to decrease the size of…
We visited the San Diego Zoo in order to visit and enjoy….
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Answer these questions orally by making use of the idiomatic expressions studied in this lesson.
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When driving during rainy weather, why should you slow down?
Imagine that a country is facing a budget crisis. Which type of government funds are most likely to dry up first – those for social programs or those for military programs? Why? What is your opinion about the criteria used in such cases?
How might a person with a drinking problem be able to dry out? What kinds of problems might keep them from sobering up?
If someone asked you what you were up to these days, how would you respond?
How can you tell when young children are up to something? Can you remember any personal experience when you were a child?
When might someone choose to beat around the bush? What could you do to avoid this?
What problems in the world would you like to put an end to? Do you thing that there is hope for this?
Has someone ever stirred you up so much that you wanted to get even with him or her? What did you do?
What attractions in the area that you are living now have you already taken in?
Have you ever been taken in by someone such as a salesperson or a stranger on the street? What happened?