Idioms Found in The News

IDIOMS FOUND IN THE NEWS!
Task: Translate the sentences below with special attention to the idioms they contain.
1. Venture capitalist David Cowan is a professed chess-playing nerd who studied math and computer science at
Harvard. Last year, though, he decided he needed a crash course in getting hip. The Wall Street Journal
crash course - a quick lesson
(Note: a nerd is somebody who's very interested in technology and who's usually very smart but who has limited
social skills. It's similar to a geek. You may also hear the phrase "computer nerd").
2. Many older tech investors, eager not to miss out, are going to great lengths to shed fuddy-duddy images and
ingratiate themselves with the younger generation.
The Wall Street Journal
(to) miss out - to miss an opportunity; to fail to make use of an opportunity
(to) go to great lengths - to do a lot; to do a lot to achieve a certain goal
fuddy-duddy - out of fashion; not modern; an old-fashioned person who doesn't want to change
3. As she pushed her shopping cart down an aisle of the Super Stop & Shop near her hometown of Warren, R.I.,
recently, Ms. Cabrera, a retired schoolteacher, offered her thoughts on why she steers clear of high-fructose corn
syrup: "It's been linked to obesity, and it's just not something that's natural or good for you." - The New York
Times
to steer clear (of something) - to avoid something; to stay away from something. (Note that "to steer" means to
guide with a wheel or a similar device. When there's something in the road, you may need to steer your car around
it).
4. No one is predicting that the iPod economy will be slowing soon. Mr. Baker said: "We've barely scratched the
surface with the video iPod." - The New York Times
In some communities, efforts are being made to increase the amount of affordable housing. Celebrity-heavy
Aspen, for example, has created 2,600 low-cost units over the past 30 years. But such measures only scratch the
surface of the problem. - Financial Times
to (barely or only) scratch the surface - to only begin to explore or understand something; to deal with something
only superficially
5. Rap-metal, once all the rage in the '90s thanks to bands like Limp Bizkit, now seems as relevant as Beavis and
Butt- head. - People Magazine
"Condos are all the rage right now," Hodgett said. "People like to be close to downtown and walk to restaurants
and shopping. They can come home in the evening and not worry about mowing the lawn." - Contra Costa Times
all the rage - very popular, trendy
8. Weber, the grill maker founded in Mount Prospect, Ill., in 1952, is refining its most expensive grill, the $2,200
Summit Platinum D6, in response to buyers who want more bells and whistles, said Brooke Jones, a Weber
product manager. "They are looking for stainless steel grills and more accessories like rotisseries, warmer
drawers, side burners and hand lights," she said. - The New York Times
bells and whistles - fancy features; product features that make a product more premium or expensive but that are
not usually necessary; extras
9. Just seven months after the city's bid to host the 2012 Olympics fell flat, a key booster of the effort has opened
the door to a scramble for the 2016 games - statements that fly in the face of previous comments by Mayor
Bloomberg and other city officials. - New York Post
fly in the face - contradict; go against
10. It took Carolyn Fellwock and Charlie Watson only 11 months to tie the knot after meeting on Yahoo
Personals and three years more to call it quits. Wall Street Journal
to tie the knot to get married

to call it quits to end something (such as a relationship, a job, a project, etc)
11. Some people who met a spouse online and later divorced arent losing heart. Some even say they would date
online again. The Wall Street Journal
to lose heart to give up hope; to get discouraged
12. Diana Leal, a Woodland Hills paralegal, said that when she was working in Dallas, she immediately lost
respect for her attorney boss when he asked her out for dinner. I couldn't believe it. I think he just fell for my
beauty or something. And then when I said `no,' he fired me," Leal said. "Bottom line, you can't be friends with
your boss. It complicates things." Los Angeles Daily News
bottom line the main point is; the conclusion is
13. Kids too into school have lost their love of learning (if they ever had any). They cram and forget. They're
stressed. They're sleep-deprived. They compete with their "friends" and kiss up to their teachers. The Oakland
Tribune
Have a good relations hip with you boss. That does not mean kiss up to your boss. If it gets too far along a bad
path, it means you don't get the good assignments, don't get the promotions and don't have a chance to advance
your career. Plus, you may just be miserable. Make sure your relationship with your boss is open and honest,
casual yet also professional. The News & Observer
to kiss up to flatter; try to gain favor with; behave in a way to make people like you more
14. But Vladimir Nuzhny, a toxicologist, said up to half of imported wine has not corresponded to the required
quality since the fall of the Soviet Union . "It never killed anyone and Russian leadership used to turn a blind eye,
but now relations are worsening with the Georgian and Moldovan leaders they don't see a need to ignore it any
more," he said. - The Guardian
to turn a blind eye - to ignore; to pretend that something is not happening; to let something illegal or wrong
happen without saying anything
15. George W. Bush can be sure of one thing when he next visits China on official business. Chinese president Hu
Jintao won't try to emulate the Texas charm the US president dishes out at his Crawford ranch, dressing down
to shoot the breeze over pork dumplings at a village restaurant. - Financial Times
shoot the breeze - to talk; to chat; to make conversation
16. Woof woof! Animals frequently show up in English idioms. Here's one with a dog:
Steve Girdler, director of services at Kelly UK, agrees that Sugar's methods are impressive. "Sometimes I think
we can be too soft in our assessment of graduates. But what's the point when we know that in reality, business can
be a dog-eat-dog world?" - The Guardian
dog-eat-dog world - a cruel world; a challenging environment in which people just look out for themselves
17. "Helping hand" can take either "a" or "the" before it. Here's an example of each since we're so eager to lend a
helping hand!
As the cost of living for young people rises, the helping hand from parents is extending well past college years.
The New York Times
There was a table for the folks from Alcoholics Anonymous, another where people could sign up for food stamps
and another where homeless veterans could find a helping hand. -The San Francisco Chronicle
(the or a) helping hand assistance; help

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IDIOMS FOUND IN THE NEWS!

to tie the knot to get married

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