Level 3 idioms – Unit 04

Conversation:

Pat: Hi Yumi. Your office looks like a hurricane hit it. What’s going on?

Yumi: I’ve got to make way for a new computer work center I just bought, which means that I have to take apart this old center so I can move it out of here.

Pat: I’ve got to hand it to you. I didn’t think you’d ever get this business off the ground. It seemed like such pie in the sky, but your hard work has paid off.

Yumi: I’d never pat myself on the back, but thanks for saying that. When I first started, there were a lot of problems I had to iron out, but now everything is running smoothly, and I’m having the time of my life. I actually look forward to getting up every morning and coming to work.

Pat: I wish I could say the same thing, but I don’t enjoy my job very much. I do the same thing day in and day out, and I’m getting fed up with it. I’m just not cut out for that type of work.

Yumi: It sounds like things are coming to a head. Do you think you might quit?

Pat: I don’t know. We’ll see.

Vocabulary:

hurricane: very fast wind and rain that destroys things
running: operating
look forward to: expect something good in the future

Idioms:

• make way make space for
• take apart separate into pieces
• hand it to (someone) congratulate (someone)
• get off the ground start to be successful
• pie in the sky an unachievable goal
• pay off result in success / pay completely
• pat oneself on the back congratulate (oneself)
• iron out solve (a problem)
• have the time of one’s life have an outstanding experience
• day in and day out all the time, continuously
• not cut out for (something) not have the talent or desire (to do something)
• come to a head reach a critical point

Notes:

Pay off has 2 meanings. The other meaning is “pay completely.”
Example: We’re celebrating tonight because we just paid off our Visa card.

Not cut out for can also be not cut out to be if it is followed by a trade or profession.
Example: Jerry is not cut out to be a lab technician. He’s too clumsy.