Lesson 12

------------------------------------------------------------------

as usual = in the normal way

He is going to be late as usual.

As usual, I brushed my teeth right after I ate dinner. 

------------------------------------------------------------------

back up = move backwards

My father had to back up because the car in front of him broke down.

Could you please back up? You are standing too close.

------------------------------------------------------------------

be cut out for = have the correct qualities for

I don't think he's cut out for swimming!

Nobody thought she was cut out for the army, but she became an officer.

A: I didn't know that Dave is afraid of flying.

B: Yeah, I don't think he's cut out to be a pilot.

------------------------------------------------------------------

catch on = realize; understand

It took him a few minutes to catch on to the joke.

A: Wow. You learned how to juggle in one day?

B: Yes. I caught on to it quickly.

------------------------------------------------------------------

for ages = for a long time

We haven't visited our grandparents for ages.

A: How's your cat?

B: I don't know. I haven't see it for ages.

------------------------------------------------------------------

hand over = give to another

This is robbery! Hand over all of your money!

A: Alright! Hand over my keys!

B: don't have them!

------------------------------------------------------------------

serve one right = be the correct punishment for one

A: Billy had to do extra homework because he came late to class.

B: Serves him right!

------------------------------------------------------------------

take apart = separate something into pieces

He had to take apart the robot.

He takes apart cars and sells the engines.

------------------------------------------------------------------

turn down = decline; say 'no'

She asked him to go out with her, but he turned her down.

------------------------------------------------------------------

work out = exercise doing aerobics or weight lifting

How often do you work out each week?

I don't really like to work out, but I do like to play tennis and basketball.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Amy asked her husband to go shopping with her. As usual, her husband was too busy watching television to go with her. Amy tried to persuade her husband. She told him, "Come with me, honey. We haven't been shopping together for ages. I want you to take a look at some summer dresses with me. You can help me pick out the best one."

Her husband turned her down, saying, "You always want to check every store, Amy. I'm just not cut out for all that walking around."

"Think of it as your chance to work out," Amy suggested. "You'll be getting your exercise for the day."

But her husband wasn't listening. He was concentrating on the football game on television. Amy was so upset that she wanted to take apart the TV and flush each piece down the toilet! She set out for the shopping mall alone. But as she was backing up the car in the driveway, she had an idea. She stopped the car and went back in the house. She told her husband, "I'm sorry for bothering you, honey. Have fun watching the game." Then she gave him a kiss and left.

At the mall, she found hundreds of dresses for sale and took her time looking through them all. She picked out two nice ones and went to pay for them. As she was handing over her credit card to the cashier, the remote control for her television fell out of her purse.

"My husband is home watching television," Amy explained to the confused cashier. "When he catches on that I stole the remote control, he'll go crazy! But it serves him right for not coming with me."

------------------------------------------------------------------