Conversation:

Anton:  Hey, Pete.  Guess what I did?   I took up skiing.  Why don’t you do the same?

Pete:  Are you out of your mind?  It’s too dangerous.  And besides, I don’t usually go in for cold-weather sports.  But that’s just me.  How do you like it?

Anton:  Let me tell you.  Once skiing gets in your blood, you’ll be hooked.

Pete:  You think so?  What’s it like?

Anton:  When I’m skiing down the slope, I feel like a million dollars.  Of course, I have to be on the ball and keep an eye out for snowboarders and other skiers.  Collisions can happen at the drop of a hat.  But mostly it’s fun.

Pete:  Well, I don’t know.

Anton:  Listen, if you take lessons, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.  Then you and I can ski together for the rest of the season.  How does that sound?

Pete:  Actually, I have a hunch I might get a kick out of it.  Okay, then.  I’ll do it.

Vocabulary:

slope:  a clear part of a mountain that slants down.
snowboarders:  people who use a board, not skis, to come down a mountain.
collisions:  running into someone or something.

Idioms:

• take up                                                                      start doing (an activity) for the first time
• out of one’s mind                                                crazy, irrational
• go in for                                                                     enjoy doing (a sport, hobby)
• get in one’s blood                                                 become something one wants to do all the time
• be hooked (on something)                             need to do (something) all the time
• feel like a million dollars                                 feel very good
• on the ball                                                                 paying attention
• keep an eye out (for someone/thing)       look (for someone/thing) while doing other things
• at the drop of a hat                                              immediately and without a plan
• get the hang of (something)                            learn how to do (something)
• have a hunch                                                            think something may be true
• get a kick out of (something)                         get great enjoyment from (something)

Notes:

Often people ask the question, “Guess what I did?” and then answer it immediately
with “I took up skiing” as a way of introducing a topic.

Get the hang of is future,  have (or have got) the hang of is present, and got the hang of is past.  Examples:   I want to get the hang of this new technology.  I have the hang of this new technology.  I got the hang of this new technology in only two days.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot