Episode Thirty-Seven:
Food Related Idioms
In this lesson, we will discuss food related idioms. As with all idioms, the meaning is not literal, so be sure to listen to the definition and example. To learn more about idioms and discover additional resources, you can visit my idioms resources page.
lemon
Definition: something that you buy which turns out not to work
Example: That motorcycle I bought was a real lemon. It’s been in the shop ever since I bought it.
a piece of cake
Definition: very easy
Example: I was worried about taking my driver’s test, but it was a piece of cake.
Bread and butter
Definition: job or activity that provides you with the money you need to live
Example: Teaching piano lessons is my bread and butter.
cry over spilled milk
Definition: complain about something bad that happened in the past
Example: Stop worrying about losing the game. There’s no use crying over spilled milk.
not my cup of tea
Definition: not something that I’m interested in
Example: Watching basketball is not my cup of tea. I prefer watching golf.
Have one’s own cake and eat it too
Definition: to try to have two incompatible things: you can not eat the cake and still have it.
Example: Scottie doesn’t want to work extra hours, but he wants a pay raise. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
couch potato
Definition: person who lays around all the time doing activities like watching t.v.
Example: My teenage son is such a couch potato. I can’t ever get him to go outside.
bun in the oven
Definition: pregnant
Example: We have a big announcement. Stella has a bun in the oven!
tough cookie
Definition: person who has a strong personality; person who is difficult to get along with
Example: Stanley is a tough cookie. I would never want to work with him again.
meat and potatoes
Definition: basic; average
Example: Brent is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. He doesn’t need a fancy car to feel important.
egg head
Definition: person who is very smart
Example: Delbert has always been an egghead. It’s no surprise that he got accepted to Harvard.
take with a pinch of salt
Definition: not completely believe what you are told
Example: Take what that politician says with a grain of salt. He just wants votes.
peanuts
Definition: too little money
Example: I made peanuts when I worked as a waitress.
bad apple
Definition: person who makes bad decisions and affects others negatively
Example: It’s not surprising Eric is in jail. He was always a bad apple.
meat head
Definition: person who has a lot of muscles because they lift a lot of weights
Example: Adam is such a meat head. He doesn’t think about anything except working out.
Until next time, Happy learning!
Se você quiser aprender mais idiomas, pode fazer meu curso intensivo de idiomas de conversação: 60 idiomas para entender melhor os falantes nativos de inglês em StudyWithAndrea.com/idioms.
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The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
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Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
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Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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