Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.
hold one’s horses: wait, be patient
Example:
I know you’re hungry, but you’ll have to hold your horses – supper won’t be ready for another half hour.
holy cow: used to express strong feelings like astonishment, pleasure or anger
Example:
Holy cow, you guys are making so much noise I can’t think! Turn it down, ok?
1. Where is this picture taken?
This picture is taken inside a barber shop.
2. What kind of chair is the man sitting in?
The man is sitting in a barber’s chair, or a barber’s stool.
3. What is the man in the barber’s stool doing?
The man in the barber’s stool is getting a shave.
4. What is on the man’s face?
There is shaving cream, or shaving lather, on the man’s face.
5. What is the barber doing?
The barber is holding a razor. He is shaving the man in the barber’s stool.
6. What tools can a barber use when giving a haircut?
The tools that a barber can use when giving a haircut are scissors (or shears), a razor, clippers, and a comb or brush.
7. What tools can a barber use when he gives a shave?
The tools that a barber can use when giving a shave are a razor and a shaving brush.
8. What must a barber do if his razor or scissors are dull?
If the razor or scissors are dull, the barber must sharpen them. The razor can be sharpened using a barber’s strop, and the scissors can be sharpened by a scissors grinder.
9. What other things might a barber have to take care of hair?
Some other things that a barber might have to take care of hair are combs, brushes, hair tonics, and gels.
10. What can you use to make your hair look neat?
You can use a comb or a brush to make your hair look neat.
11. How can you ask the barber to remove your beard or mustache?
You can ask for a shave if you want the barber to remove your beard or mustache.
12. What is a slang expression for “getting your hair cut”?
“Getting your ears lowered” is a slang expression that means “getting your hair cut”: Where are you going? —I’m going to get my ears lowered.
13. What can you say to the barber if you want only a little bit of hair cut off?
If you want only a little bit of hair cut off, you can ask the barber for a trim.
14. What can you say to the barber if you want a lot of hair cut off?
If you want a lot of hair cut off, you can ask the barber for a buzz cut, or a crew cut.
15. What does the barber do to protect your clothes from hair clippings?
To protect your clothes from hair clippings, the barber will put a cape over your chest.
16. If there are a lot of customers waiting, how can the barber keep track of who is next to get a haircut?
If there are a lot of customers waiting, the barber can keep track of who is next by having you take a number, and wait your turn.
17. What can you do at the barbershop while waiting for your turn?
While you’re waiting for your turn at the barber shop, you can read a magazine or a newspaper. Some barber shops have a TV that you can watch.
18. What kind of sign does a barber often have outside his shop?
Many times a barber has a barber’s pole outside his shop. This is a traditional sign or symbol for a barber.
19. What are some different kinds of cuts a man might get?
Some of the different cuts a man might get are a crew cut (buzz cut), a bowl cut, a flat top, a Mohawk, or a jarhead cut (military cut).
20. What else could you get at some barber shops, besides a haircut or a shave?
At some barber shops, you can also get your shoes shined.
Paragraph: At a Barber Shop
Jimmy went to the barber shop. His mother had given him money for a haircut, because his hair was getting long and it was hanging in his eyes. He opened the door to the shop and greeted the barber, Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams told him it would be about a ten-minute wait, so he could just have a seat. Jimmy sat down in a chair and picked up the sports pages of the newspaper. He didn’t care much for reading, but he liked to read about his favorite teams. Before he knew it, Mr. Williams told him it was his turn. Jimmy went over and sat in the barber’s stool. Jimmy was a regular customer of Mr. Williams, so Mr. Williams knew exactly how Jimmy wanted his hair cut – a classic, Caesar cut. Mr. Williams was an experienced barber, and he liked using a razor rather than scissors for cutting hair whenever possible. He put a cape on Jimmy and began cutting with the razor. He combed and cut, and combed again, all around Jimmy’s head. Finally, Mr. Williams took his scissors for some light trimming, then handed Jimmy a mirror so he could see how he looked. Jimmy looked all around, and nodded with satisfaction. He paid Mr. Williams for the haircut and went home.
barber’s stool
shave
haircut
trim
barber pole
razor
scissors
clipper
part
side part
beard
mustache
sideburns
crew cut / buzz cut
bowl cut
flat top
mohawk
jarhead cut / military cut
get a (haircut / trim / shave)
get one’s ears lowered
cape
shears
customer
take a number
part the hair (on the side / in the middle)
comb the hair back
shaving (cream / lather)
shaving soap
alum
aftershave
goatee
comb
brush
shave brush
barber’s (strap / strop)
1. Where is this picture taken?
2. What kind of chair is the man sitting in?
3. What is the man in the barber’s stool doing?
4. What is on the man’s face?
5. What is the barber doing?
6. What tools can a barber use when giving a haircut?
7. What tools can a barber use when he gives a shave?
8. What must a barber do if his razor or scissors are dull?
9. What other things might a barber have to take care of hair?
10. What can you use to make your hair look neat?
11. How can you ask the barber to remove your beard or mustache?
12. What is a slang expression for “getting your hair cut”?
13. What can you say to the barber if you want only a little bit of hair cut off?
14. What can you say to the barber if you want a lot of hair cut off?
15. What does the barber do to protect your clothes from hair clippings?
16. If there are a lot of customers waiting, how can the barber keep track of who is next to get a haircut?
17. What can you do at the barbershop while waiting for your turn?
18. What kind of sign does a barber often have outside his shop?
19. What are some different kinds of cuts a man might get?
20. What else could you get at some barber shops, besides a haircut or a shave?
Paragraph: At a Barber Shop
Almost everyone has gone to a shop to get a haircut. Write a short paragraph about the last time you had your hair cut.
Exercises: Use the given words to respond to the following questions, using the phrase “I don’t know / I’m not sure. I (He, They, etc.) might…”
Example:
What are you doing this afternoon? (store) ==> I don’t know. I might go to the store this afternoon.
Where is Tom going for vacation? (Florida) ==> I’m not sure. He might go to Florida.
“might” is used to indicate possibility. We use it when we are not certain if something will happen.
Pattern:
might + V (infinitive) …
Example:
I might cook spaghetti tomorrow night.
Be careful! You might slip and fall on the ice.
He might get a job working at the gas station.
We might see a movie next weekend.
They might close the store early.
Note: “might” is the same, regardless of person and number. First person singular, third person plural – it doesn’t matter :).
To form the negation, put “not” between “might” and its infinitive verb.
Negation:
might not + V (infinitive) …
Example:
I might not get to the appointment on time.
You might not make the team if you don’t practice.
Who knows, it might not rain tomorrow anyhow.
We might not see him again for a long time.
They might not be able to afford it.
“might” is often used with “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure”:
A: What are you going to eat?
B: I’m not sure. I might try the salmon.A: Have you decided where you’ll go for your honeymoon?
B: We don’t know. We might go to the Bahamas.A: Do you know if Tom is coming?
B: I don’t know. I suspect he might not make it.
Recall:
“am going to” indicates certainty – something will happen.
“might” indicates uncertainty – we do not know if something will happen.
Tom is going to stop by later. (He will certainly come.)
Tom might stop by later. (Maybe he will come, or maybe he won’t. We don’t know.)I am going to take a nap after lunch. (I am so tired, I will certainly rest.)
I might take a nap after lunch. (I don’t know. I have a lot of work to do, so maybe I will do that instead.)
When we are talking about uncertainty, we can use “may” instead of “might”:
Tom may stop by later = Tom might stop by later.
Exercises: Use the given words to respond to the following questions, using the phrase “I don’t know / I’m not sure. I (He, They, etc.) might…”
Example:
What are you doing this afternoon? (store) ==> I don’t know. I might go to the store this afternoon.
Where is Tom going for vacation? (Florida) ==> I’m not sure. He might go to Florida.
This coming Sunday is April 1, also known as April Fools’ Day, or All Fools’ Day. Although not an official holiday, this prank day is nonetheless widely celebrated around the globe. The concept of some sort of a prank day dates back to the time of the Persians in the 6th century BC, and throughout history it has cropped up in various cultures and at various times of the year. Some cultures celebrated a prank day on January 1; others celebrated it on March 25. But in modern times, April 1 is the most common date for this prank day.
Not only have there been different dates for a prank day, but there have been different names as well – in Italy and in French-speaking cultures, for example, “April Fools’ Day” is referred to instead as “April’s fish.”
What sort of pranks are played on April Fools’ Day? The vast majority of pranks are not malicious – they are not meant to harm anyone. The main idea is to trick someone into doing something silly, which only causes a bit of embarrassment to the victim. So, pranks range from the relatively simple (for example, attaching some paper money to a hard-to-see string and laying it on the sidewalk, then pulling it away whenever someone tries to pick it up) to the relatively complex (for example, the BBC played an April Fools’ joke in the 1950s about the “Swiss Spaghetti Harvest,” which had many people believing that they could grow spaghetti in their own back yards).
So, if you find yourself the victim of an April Fools’ joke, don’t let it upset you. Laugh about it, and repay the favor by pranking one of your friends!
You can find some well-known April Fools’ pranks here.
Exercise: In the following sentences, choose either “will” or “going to” to make an appropriate sentence.
Example:
I’m tired, so I think I (will / am going to) go to bed. ==> I’m tired, so I think I will go to bed.
A: What are you doing tomorrow night?
B: We (will / are going to) go out for dinner and watch a movie. ==> We are going to out for a dinner and watch a movie.
1. It snowed a lot overnight. I will shovel the driveway before I go to work.
2. A: I have a ton of work to do.
B: That’s all right. We will help you.
3. I’m confused. I think I will ask Sam to explain these instructions to me.
4. A: Have you done your homework yet?
B: No, I will do it later, I think.
5. I’m tired. I think I will skip exercising today.
6. A: Are you going to do anything this weekend?
B: No, I am going to stay home and get caught up on my reading.
7. Someone’s at the door. Will you answer it?
8. A: What are you doing after lunch?
B: I am going to go ice skating. Want to come?
9. Mother likes flowers, so I think we will get her a colorful bouquet for her birthday.
10. A: This room’s a mess.
B: Don’t worry – I will clean it up.
11. Do you know how expensive that wine is? If we buy that for the party, it will cost a fortune!
12. A: We’re having a potluck this Saturday.
B: Okay. I will bring a salad.
13. I’ve finished reading my library books. I think I will return then and get some more.
14. A: Why are you baking so many cookies?
B: I am going to gift wrap plates of cookie and give them away as presents.
15. We didn’t get a Christmas tree this year. We will get one next year, okay?
16. A: The car’s low on gas.
B: I will fill it up on my way to the store.
17. I’m hot. I think I will go swimming to cool off.
18. A: The plants need watering.
B: I will do it as soon as I’m done washing these dishes.
19. I will give you a call tomorrow, okay?
20. A: I have a taste for pretzels.
B: I will bake some.
Many ESL students are confused about “will” and “going to.” Both are used to indicate future events. But their connotations are slightly different.
going to:”going to” is used when a person has already decided to do something. After you have made your plans to do this or that, you use “I’m going to …” when you tell somebody about your future.
will:”will” is used at the moment you have made your decision. For example, someone might say, “The phone is ringing.” You could respond, “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.” You would not say, “I’m going to get it,” because you did not make your decision until the phone started to ring.
Another example: Someone asks, “Who wants to go with me to the store after lunch?” Up until now you had not considered doing that. But after someone asks you, you think that it would be something you are interested in doing. So you decide to go along, and you respond, “I will.”
If some other person asks you (even only 5 minutes later), “What are you doing after lunch?” you would then respond: “I am going to the store.” You would not say, “I will go to the store.” Why? Because your decision was already made before the other person asked.
Here are some more situations where “will” is used instead of “going to”:
Person A: It’s cold in here.
Person B: I’ll turn up the heat.Person A: We need some more milk and eggs.
Person B: I’ll go to the store later today and pick some up.Person A: I’m bored. I think I’ll go for a walk.
Person A: You look hungry. I’ll fix you a sandwich.
Person A: The roads are so snowy and icy today, I don’t think we’ll go to the museum.
Exercise: In the following sentences, choose either “will” or “going to” to make an appropriate sentence.
Example:
I’m tired, so I think I (will / am going to) go to bed. ==> I’m tired, so I think I will go to bed.
A: What are you doing tomorrow night?
B: We (will / are going to) go out for dinner and watch a movie. ==> We are going to out for a dinner and watch a movie.
1. It snowed a lot overnight. I (will / am going to) shovel the driveway before I go to work.
2. A: I have a ton of work to do.
B: That’s all right. We (will / are going to) help you.
3. I’m confused. I think I (will / am going to) ask Sam to explain these instructions to me.
4. A: Have you done your homework yet?
B: No, I (will / am going to) do it later, I think.
5. I’m tired. I think I (will / am going to) skip exercising today.
6. A: (Will you do / Are you going to do) anything this weekend?
B: No, I (will / am going to) stay home and get caught up on my reading.
7. Someone’s at the door. (Will you / Are you going to) answer it?
8. A: What are you doing after lunch?
B: I (will / am going to) go ice skating. Want to come?
9. Mother likes flowers, so I think we (will / are going to) get her a colorful bouquet for her birthday.
10. A: This room’s a mess.
B: Don’t worry – I (will / am going to) clean it up.
11. Do you know how expensive that wine is? If we buy that for the party, it (will / is going to) cost a fortune!
12. A: We’re having a potluck this Saturday.
B: Okay. I (will / am going to) bring a salad.
13. I’ve finished reading my library books. I think I (will / am going to) return then and get some more.
14. A: Why are you baking so many cookies?
B: I (will / am going to) gift wrap plates of cookie and give them away as presents.
15. We didn’t get a Christmas tree this year. We (will / are going to) get one next year, okay?
16. A: The car’s low on gas.
B: I (will / am going to) fill it up on my way to the store.
17. I’m hot. I think I (will / am going to) go swimming to cool off.
18. A: The plants need watering.
B: I (will / am going to) do it as soon as I’m done washing these dishes.
19. I (will / am going to) give you a call tomorrow, okay?
20. A: I have a taste for pretzels.
B: I (will / am going to) bake some.
This week, many schools are on Spring Break. Traditionally, Spring Break used to be called Easter Vacation, and it occurred closer to the Easter holiday – either the week before or the week after Easter. But the date of the Easter holiday varies from year to year, so in recent years Spring Break was moved to a more permanent place in the school calendar: generally, the third or fourth week of March, making it more or less coincide with the middle of the spring semester.
So, one of the chief functions of Spring Break is to give both students and teachers a short rest before they head into the last half of the semester. Some take the opportunity to go on a vacation and get out of town for a few days. Others like just being able to stay around the house and sleep in, especially since they might have had several exams the week before. Some high school students might use Spring Break to check out a few colleges that they’re considering attending. Still others might combine education with relaxation and make it Spring Break a family field trip: one year we went to Springfield, Illinois to learn about Abraham Lincoln and visit his home, as well as learn some things about the American Civil War. Older students, like college students, frequently use Spring Break as an excuse to go someplace sunny and warm, like Florida, and have fun with other college friends. Graduate students might have to spend their entire Spring Break in the library, studying for comprehensive examinations, or qualifier exams – I’ve done that, too!
Regardless of what one chooses to do, Spring Break gives everyone a chance to “recharge their batteries,” so to speak, and prepare themselves for the remainder of the semester. But whether you are a student on Spring Break, or a working person, I hope that you enjoy the nice spring weather that is starting to arrive after a long winter!
