【Speak English Like An American】Lesson 4 Nicole’s Day at School

Nicole tells her mother Susan about her successful presentation at school. Her brother Ted overhears and interrupts the conversation.

Susan: How was your day at school today, Nicole?

Nicole: It was great, Mom. I gave a presentation on Hillary Clinton in government class. Afterwards, my teacher paid me a compliment.

Susan: What did she say?

Nicole: She said my presentation was head and shoulders above the others.

Susan: Way to go!

Nicole: She also said I should go into politics, just like Hillary.

Ted: You’re so gung ho about school. It drives me crazy.

Nicole: Ted, don’t butt in! You're just jealous.

Ted:   Right. You hit the nail on the head. I’m green with envy.

Nicole: Would you just shut up? You’re on thin ice with me right now.

Ted: Oh no! Look at me. I’m shaking in my shoes!

Idioms

(to) butt in [slang] — to interrupt; to interfere 插嘴

EXAMPLE 1: Nancy is always butting in to other people’s business. 

EXAMPLE 2: Sara is really rude. She always butts in to other people’s conversations.

(to) drive one crazy - to annoy someone very much 烦人

EXAMPLE 1: Don’t ask Mrs. Smith how old she is. It drives hercrazy. EXAMPLE 2: Please stop chewing gum so loudly. It’s driving me crazy!SYNONYMS: to drive one nuts; to drive one up the wall

(to) go into - to enter a profession 进入某行业

EXAMPLE 1: Lisa enjoys arguing with people, so she decided to go into law. 

EXAMPLE 2: Do you like solving people’s problems? If so, you should consider going into psychology.

green with envy - desiring another’s advantages orthings

EXAMPLE 1: When Daniel got promoted to vice president of the bank, his colleagues were green with envy.

EXAMPLE 2: You won the lottery? I’m green with envy!

gung ho — very enthusiastic; very excited (about something)狂热的

EXAMPLE 1: Heather is really gung ho about her new job.

EXAMPLE 2: Sharon really loves college. She’s very gung ho.

NOTE: If the expression “gung ho” doesn’t sound like English to you, there’s a reason. It comes from a Mandarin Chinese phrase meaning “working together.” A US Marine Corps commander in China adopted this expression as the motto for his battalion during World War 2 and from there it sailed over to the United States and came into common use.

head and shoulders above - far superior to 远远超出，大大胜过

EXAMPLE 1: The Boston Symphony Orchestra is head and shoulders above any other orchestra in the area.

EXAMPLE 2: I can’t believe you only won second prize in the competition. You were head and shoulders above the first-prize winner!

(to) hit the nail on the head - to be right一语中的

EXAMPLE 1: Dawn hit the nail on the head when she said that Tiffany is jealous of Amber.

EXAMPLE 2: Steve hit the nail on the head with his idea of moving his company’s manufacturing facility to China.

(to be) on thin ice(with someone) - tobe in a dangerous position; to be temporarily on somebody’s bad side 处于危险境地

EXAMPLE 1: Joey was on thin ice with his mom after he spent his lunch money on candy bars.

EXAMPLE 2: Bill was on thin ice with his girl friend after she saw him at the movie theater with another girl.

NOTE: There is also the variation “to skate on thin ice.”Joey knew he was skating on thin ice when he bought candy with his lunch money.

(to) pay (someone) acompliment - to givesomeone a compliment; to offer someone an admiring comment 恭维

EXAMPLE 1: Professor Russo paid Jennifer a compliment. He said she had a beautiful smile.

EXAMPLE 2: Isn’t it wonderful to pay someone a compliment? It makes them feel good, and it doesn’t cost you anything!

(to) - to tremble with fear; to be afraid吓得发抖

EXAMPLE 1: Brianna is scared of her French teacher, Monsieur Le Monstre. Whenever he speaks to her, Brianna starts shaking in her shoes.

EXAMPLE 2: During the storm, Billy was hiding under his kitchen table and wasreally shaking in his shoes.

shut up住嘴

1)      be quiet, stopspeaking

EXAMPLE: The professor talked for hours. I thought he’d nevershut up.

2)      Stop speaking!

EXAMPLE: Nicole kept telling Ted to turn down his stereo. Finally, he got angry and said, “Shut up!”

NOTE: Remember that telling somebody to “shut up!” is rude. It’s better to say “Be quiet!” or more politely, “Please be quiet!”

Way to go! - Good work! 就该这么做

EXAMPLE 1: You won $2,000 in the poetry writing contest? Way to go! 

EXAMPLE 2: That was an interesting article you wrote. Way to go! 

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