Raise the Bar.pptx

English idioms explained and illustrated.

1. Challenge Yourself Challenge Your Memeory Try to remember the following 5 idioms

2. to play it safe (in paragraph 6) to get on someone’s nerves (§ 3) to get a feel for it (§ 9) to get your foot in the door (§ 1) you are keen (§ 9) Text: How to Get Your Dream Job

3. to be keen to get on someone’s nerves Meaning/Usage : Used when someone or something is bothering you. Explanation : Your body uses your "nerves" to feel any sensation such as a tap on the shoulder, a poke, a hot fire that is too close, or anything else. In this phrase, "nerves" is not used in a physical way, but to express that they are  feeling  bothered by what is happening.

4. " get on one's nerves "  means =  to irritate , annoy , or provoke someone a lot. eg : 1/ Arrogant and bossy people get on my nerves. 2/ Please stop making this loud popping noise with your chewing gum . It really gets on my nerves. 3/ We really got on each other ‘s nerves when we were living together . to be keen to get on someone’s nerves

5. to be keen to get a feel for it " have/ get / give a feel for it "   INFORMAL expression meaning to develop a good knowledge or understanding of something and skill in doing it . If you   get the feel of  something, for example a place or a new activity, you become familiar with it. eg : He wanted to get the feel of the new flat. I’m still trying  to get a feel for what the software can do. Your child needs to have   exercises that give him a feel for numbers

6. " to get   your  foot in the door " to obtain some kind of advantage at the beginning of a bigger or longer process . eg : There are a lot of talented students fresh out of university out there who just need a foot in the door . to be keen get your foot in the door

7. to be keen get your foot in the door If you say   that something   helps   someone to  get   their  foot in the  door  or their   toe  in the door , you   mean   that it   gives   them an  opportunity  to  start   doing something new, usually in an area that is   difficult  to  succeed  in. eg : Making  contacts  can  help  you get a foot in the  door   when it comes to getting a job.

8. " to be keen "  means = to be interested in something   and enjoying it . eg : 1/ I’m keen on riding horses . 2/ He’s not too keen on Maths, but he’s mad keen on biology . 3/ Her children are mad keen on computer games . mad keen = extremely interested in SOMETHING to be keen to be keen

9. "Play it safe"   is a fixed expression meaning to avoid taking risks, doing what is normal and considered safe. eg : Play it safe and wear your seat belt. play it safe

10. play it safe Two friends are talking ... Friend 1 : What time is your flight? Friend 2 : In three hours. Friend 1 : Then you had better  play it safe  and leave for the airport now. You never know how bad traffic will be and you are on an international flight so you are supposed to be there two hours early. Friend 2 : I suppose you are right. I don't want to miss the plane. My ticket is non-refundable.

11. Discussion questions Are you a naturally cautious person, or do you generally play it safe? Can you think of an example of a time when you played it safe? Or a time when you regret  not  playing it safe? In the following slides you have more examples about "Play it safe"

12. I consider myself a cautious person but you never know what’s coming about. I usually play it safe and back up my most important computer files. I definitely play it safe , but I think this is because of my mother. She always advises me to be cautious. When I do a test, I always bring an extra pen with me, just in case the first one fails.

13. As I live in Bogota, the weather is quite unpredictable. When I started living here, I didn’t know that. I remember a time when the sky was nice, blue and clear, so I took no umbrella at all. However, it poured down hours later, so I got completely wet, I even caught a nasty cold which cleared up after a couple of weeks. From then on, I decided to play it safe , and take my umbrella no matter what the day looks like. When some friends come around, they often make a fun of me because I go out nowhere without my umbrella. of course, I tell them I’d rather play it safe , just in case it rains.

14. Now it’s over to you Challenge your memory and try to remember these 5 idioms . to play it safe to get on someone’s nerves to get a feel for it to get your foot in the door to be keen Try to put them in sentences related to your life.