Lesson 19

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all along = the whole time

He knew about the surprise party all along.

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be true of = correct when talking about

These statistics are true of high school students, but not university students.

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cut out = stop

I am trying to cut out drinking during the week.

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every so often = sometimes

Every so often he feels homesick.

Every so often he goes to a movie by himself.

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on account of = because of

The game was cancelled on account of the rain.

She didn't call us on account of the fact she was busy.

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pass away = die

The fish passed away last night.

My grandmother passed away last year.

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speak up = say aloud

I can't hear you. Could you please speak up?

I can't hear you. Speak up.

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stay put = not move

I will go and look for him, but you stay put.

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suffer from = be ill with or bothered by

He suffers from severe headaches.

My mother suffers from depression.

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under the weather = a little sick

She missed the party because she was feeling under the weather.

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Some people are afraid to be alone. That is true of my wife. We live in a nice neighborhood, but she is still afraid when she is alone at night. I think she suffers from a slight case of paranoia. I don't like to leave her alone, but every so often, I have to go out of town.

One time I had to travel to attend the funeral of an aunt who had passed away. My wife was feeling under the weather and decided to stay home. That evening, someone knocked on the door. My wife was in the living room at the time. The person knocked again. My wife just stayed put in the living room. She didn't answer the door on account of the fact that she was a little scared.

The person at the door kept knocking and then spoke up. "Hello? Hello?" My wife was becoming more and more anxious. She wished the person would cut out the knocking and go away. Then my wife had an idea. She started barking like a dog! The person at the door stopped knocking and went away.

The next evening, I was home when the boy who delivers our newspaper came to collect money from us. He told me, "I came here last night, but your wife started barking at me. So I left."

I guess our paperboy can tell a dog's bark from a human's bark. Or maybe he knew my wife was home all along.

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