To be running on fumes

Idiom: To be running on fumes – to continue to do something or stay awake when there is almost no energy left to do it.               

Context #1 – Two friends talking

Vincent: Hey, Brandy! Oh my God, you look so tired. Are you OK?

Brandy: Not really. I still haven't finished this paper I have to write for my English class. I stayed up all night trying to finish it.

Vincent: Oh no! Are you almost done?.

Brandy: Yes, maybe I can finish it if I can stay awake and focus. At this point, I'm just running on fumes and I don't know how much longer I can do this.

Vincent: Why don't you have a large cup of coffee? I can help you finish it right now. I have time.

Brandy: Really? Thank you so much!

Context #2 – Talking about a soccer match

Selena:  That was such a great match! Both teams were playing so hard and wanted to win.

Patricio: I know. You could tell that the other team, the Sharks, were just running on fumes at the end. They just didn't have the strength of the home team.

Selena: Yeah, I guess so. They did look really tired.

Patricio: Well, I'm glad our team was able to keep going and finally win.

Meaning: To be running on fumes means to continue to do something or stay awake when there is almost no energy left to do it. This is said about a person or people, but it specifically refers to the last fumes of gasoline in an empty tank in a car. In context 1, Brandy has been up all night writing a paper and is super tired. However, she still has to finish the paper. She is running on fumes at this point. In context 2, Selena and Patricio have just been watching a soccer match and one of the teams looks really tired. That team was just running on fumes and eventually lost.

To fall into your lap

Example 1:

Tom and Elizabeth are brother and sister. Tom has been looking for a job for about a month.

Elizabeth: How’s your job hunt going, Tom?

Tom: I finally have a job

Elizabeth: Really?

Tom: Yes! I’m going to be working as a Coder for Google.com

Elizabeth: Oh wow!! That’s so exciting! Congratulations

Tom: Thank you sis!

Elizabeth: How did you get that job?

Tom: I’d turned in my resume about two months ago and completely forgot about it. Well, they called me last week and interviewed me over the phone.

Elizabeth: That’s amazing! It seems like it just fell into your lap

Tom: Yes! I’m surprised how easily it fell into my lap. They want me to start tomorrow.

Elizabeth: I’m so happy for you

Tom: Me too.

Example 2:

I’ve been looking for a cheap apartment in West Hollywood. My best friend pays $950 for a one bedroom apartment there. That rate is unheard of for that area. She told me that she is going to be going to Russia to teach English for one year, so I can take over her lease. I’ll be paying the same amount for rent. I can’t believe how effortlessly that apartment fell into my lap.

Meaning: To come to you without you making any effort.

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To Buy the Farm

Context #1 – Two friends talking

Victoria: Did you hear the news?

Brandon: No, what happened?

Victoria: Do you know that older man who lives down the street from us?

Brandon: Oh, yes. I do.

Victoria: Well, he bought the farm yesterday.

Brandon: Really? But he was only 87 and in good shape.

Victoria: I know! And I've heard he would go skydiving twice a week.

Brandon: So he bought it while skydiving? .

Victoria: No, he was fine after skydiving yesterday. He came home, ate dinner, and then went to bed. It happened in his sleep.

Listen how to pronounce the idiom now

Context #2 – Talking about a movie

Sal:  That movie was so violent! It's like everyone bought the farm at the end.

Patty: Well, it was a war movie.

Sal: Yeah, I guess so.

Patty: It really shouldn't have surprised anyone when most of the characters bought it. That's just the way it goes.

Sal: Well, it's depressing. Why don't we go see a comedy next time?

Patty: Sound good to me.

Meaning: “To buy the farm” or “to buy it” means to die or be killed. It's usually used in the past tense (bought the farm) and it is sometimes used without “farm” (bought it). In Context 1, the older man dies in his sleep with no visible cause. In Context 2, many of the people in the war movie are killed in combat, so it is a violent film.

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Leave No Stone Unturned

Example 1: 

When Bobby went to the park with his family, his father accidentally dropped the keys to the car. For more than an hour, the whole family was searching for them. Bobby's mother instructed them to "leave no stone unturned, we need those keys to get home!" So the family searched in all possible places until Bobby's sister found them near the car. After that, the family could relax and enjoy the park.

Example 2:

The police is the city left no stone unturned  in the search for the missing bank robbers. All leads were investigated and every contact was questions. The police had almost exhausted all of their resources when the thieves were  found in Mexico living in luxury.

Explanation:

The expression to leave no stone unturned means to use all your power, energy, and resources to find something/one. In example 1, Bobby's family had to literally look under and around every stone in the park until the missing keys were located. In example 2, the police searched everywhere and followed all leads until the thieves were located. 

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Pushy

Context 1:

Nathan: Hey, Paul. What's up?

Paul: Nathan! I was about to call you.

Nathan: Really? What's going on?

Paul: I was wondering if you would like to make a donation to my basketball team... We need some money to buy new uniforms and...

Nathan: Paul, seriously! You already asked me this four times this week! I already made a donation!

Paul: I know! Thank you so much, but you know, if you make another $10.00 donation by the end of today, it would really help us!

Nathan: Paul, you have asked me so many times! I already made a donation and you keep asking for more... You are sopushy! Please stop!

Paul: OK... I understand! Well, in case you change your mind, please check our website.You can also make a donation at the front desk.

Nathan: WOW! I have to go! Don't call me!

Paul: Alright! Don't forget my team! We really need your help!

Context 2: 

Hi Bryan,

I am e-mailing you because I don't want to talk to you anymore.

Yesterday I reached my limit with you. I already told you we are just friends, but everytime we meet you insist on flirting and telling me how much you want us to be a couple!

I have made it very clear that I am not interested, but you don't seem to understand! 

I am tired of this! You are so pushy! 

Please don't contact me anymore... I wish you the best.

Becca

MEANING: A pushy person is someone who insists on something in order to have what he or she wants. A pushy person is aggressively persuasive.

Hands down

Context 1: 

Title: Two friends

Bob:  Hey, Miriam! Did you try that Mexican restaurant I recommended?

Miriam: Hey! Yes, I did. I went there with my boyfriend… You know he is from Mexico, right?

Bob: Oh, that’s why you were asking about Mexican places! Did he like it?

Miriam: He did! He said that restaurant is hands down the best Mexican restaurant in L.A!

Bob: Really? Wow! I thought the food was good, but after hearing that, I know it is really the best one in town!

Miriam: Yes, thank you so much for the recommendation. Guess what happened during dinner?

Bob: I don’t know. What happened?

Miriam: My boyfriend proposed! He asked me to marry him!

Bob: That’s incredible! Congratulations… Did you say ‘yes’?

Miriam: Actually, I did not.

Bob: What? Wh… wha… What are you talking about?

Mriam: Bob, I met someone who is kind, smart, handsome, and every time I see him, my heart melts… He is hands down the best guy I have ever met… I fell in love with him!

Bob: Oh, really? Lucky guy… I fell in love with the nicest girl, but I know she just sees me as a friend.

Miriam: No, she doesn’t… She loves you, too…

Bob: Miriam, what are you talking about?

Miriam: I love you, Bob!

Bob: Miriam, you are hands down one of my best friends, but… I am in love with your sister.

Context 2: 

Title: Are you serious?

Janet:  Miriam just broke up with Mark.

Kristy: That’s too bad. They were hands down the coolest couple at work!

Janet: I know! I think I will ask him out on a date…

Kristy: Janet! Are you serious?

Hands down means: “without a doubt”

Scarf Down

Context #1: 

The most embarrassing thing happened to me yesterday at lunch. My problems started in the morning. I forgot to set my alarm and woke up late, so had to rush out of the house without breakfast. By lunchtime, I was so hungry! I scarfed down my lunch like I hadn't eaten in days! The embarrassing part was that my very cute coworker saw the whole thing and I didn't notice until I was finished! Now he probably thinks I always eat like an animal. So embarrassing. 

Context #2: 

This week's party will include a formal dinner. Please use appropriate language. Please do not scarf down your food and don't forget to put your napkins in your laps.

Explanation:

to scarf down something means to eat something very quickly without regard for manners. When using this expression, a noun or name of food should follow the expression. 

He scarfed down the whole bag of potato chips by himself.

Don't scarf down your dinner. You'll upset your stomach. 

In Example 1, the speaker is recalling the embarrassing experience of being extremely hungry and so eating her food so quickly and ravenously. At lunchtime, she didn't care how she ate, or how she looked while she ate because she was very hungry. Only after, she realized that someone else had witnessed her wild eating.

In Example 2, the speaker is giving instructions for the upcoming party. Since the dinner will be formal, participants are instructed to eat slowly and politely, NOT to scarf down their food. 

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To go bananas

Idiom: To go bananas

Meaning: (1) to go or act a little crazy; (2) to become very angry or lose control of your temper.

Context #1 – A man is complaining that his best friend painted a mural on his backyard wall without asking him.

 George: Hey Ted, you didn’t have to go bananas on me just because I drew a mural on your backyard wall.

Ted: George, your little art work cost me two thousand dollars.  I think I can go a little bananas.

 George: But it was a picture of you and me together.  You’re my best friend. 

Ted: The only one that went bananas here is you.  It’s easier to print a picture or poster out.  You went to buy paint and spent hours working on that.

Context #2 –

Dominic: I may have gone bananas this past weekend.

Brian: Why do you say that?  It’s not unusual for you to do crazy things.

Dominic: I spend forty thousand dollars on getting parts for my car.

Brian: Wow!  I may go bananas just from hearing what you did.

Meaning: To go bananas means to go a little crazy/wild or to lose one’s temper.  It’s not always a negative meaning.  It could be used as an expression of exaggeration.  For example, in context 2 Dominic and Brian aren’t having a negative conversation, they’re just both surprised at the actions taken by Dominic.  In context #1, George expresses to Ted that he didn’t have to become too upset about his gift, while Ted explains to George that his actions were, in his opinion, crazy.

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To Blow a Fuse

Context #1 – Two people are discussing about a broken

Bodhi: Hey bro, why didn’t you tell me that you borrowed my surf board?

Johnny: Dude, because I knew you would blow a fuse.

Bodhi: Really? I’ve never treated you bad man. 

Johnny: Yeah, but last time Tyler dropped your board you really blew a fuse.

Bodhi: That’s because she had lost my board previously.  I didn’t want her touching my property anymore.

Context #2 – Leroy is trying to explain to his younger brother why he should remain calm in all situations

Leroy: Richie, it is important that you don’t blow a fuse so easily and contain yourself.

Richie: Those guys threw me into the trash can after bullying me.  How can I not blow a fuse?

Leroy: You should spend some time meditating to help you relax.  That was an isolated incident.

Richie: Oh really?  I just saw those same guys bothering your girlfriend at her job.

Leroy: What did you say?

Richie:  Whoa, whoa! Relax, don’t blow a fuse. 

Meaning: to blow a fuse means to get very angry or to lose one’s temper to the point you lose control.  In the first situation, Johnny was worried that Bodhi would be very upset if he told him he used his surfboard.  Johnny didn’t want Bodhy losing his temper because he noticed a similar situation in the past where Bodhi did blow a fuse.  In the second situation, Leroy was trying to convince his brother Richie not to become upset so easily.  However, upon hearing that Leroy’s girlfriend was also bullied, Richie reminded Leroy of his own advice; not to blow a fuse.

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Travel Light

Example 1:

I'm going home for the holidays this year. I am so excited to see my family after 6 months of being here in America studying English. My classmate gave me good advice for my trip. She advised Itravel light. She explained that if I take just a small amount of luggage, I can save money on the flight fee and also have a lot of space to bring back my favorite things from my country! This is such a good idea because there are so many things I want to bring back to America with me, so if I travel light, I'll have space in my luggage to bring it back with me!

Example 2:

John: Mike, are you ready for our camping trip?

Mike: I sure am! I've got the tent, the sleeping bag, the portable TV, the portable DVD player, the generator...

John: Mike! Have you ever been camping before? We won't need a TV or a DVD player! We'll be enjoying nature. And besides, it's always best to travel light when camping. We'll have to hike up to the campsite from the car. We can't carry so much!

Mike: Oh, I see. OK. I guess I have to go home and repack my things....

Explanation:

To travel light means to pack only a little luggage for a trip. 

In Example 1, the student will travel light in order to leave space to bring back souvenirs.

In Example 2, John tells Mike that it's important to travel light when camping because they will be hiking.

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SHOPPING SPREE

Example 1:

Jenny: I won a $2,000 shopping spree at TNA! I'm heading there right now, want to come?
Vanessa: Hell, yeah! Let's go!!

Example 2:

Maria: I wish I didn’t go on that shopping spree two weeks ago!

Tatsu: Why? You were so happy with everything that you bought.

Maria: I know! But now I’m short on rent.

Tatsu: Yikes!

Shopping Spree:  To go to a mall and spend all your money buying many things, especially clothes, jewelry, makeup, etc.

In the boonies

Idiom: In the boonies

Meaning: very rural area; far away from large populations or urban areas

Context #1 – New Job, New Location

Kevin: I heard you got a new job and you have to move away.  Where are you going to live now Vee?

Vee: I got a great job as a Geologist in a university.  But it’s way out in the boonies.

Kevin: What do you mean?  How far in the boonies is it?

Sal: Let me put it to you this way, it takes about three hours to drive to a supermarket.

Context #2 – Survival trip

Bear: How was your trip?

Les: It was great.  It got a little scary because we were far in the boonies and we were afraid that if someone got hurt, there would be no help.

Bear: Wow! How far away in the boonies were you?

Les: Let’s just say the boonies are a couple of hours away, and we were in the boonies of the boonies.  So about a two day walk to the nearest road.

Meaning: The idiom “in the boonies” means a very rural location.  Usually, it means it’s difficult to reach, even by vehicles; it’s not necessarily a negative point, but it’s typically thought of as a negative thing.  In context #1, Vee got a new job he really likes, but the downside is that it’s very rural.  In context #2, Les was in one of the most remote locations possible.  When he says, “the boonies of the boonies” he’s trying to say they were in an extremely remote area.