Lose it

To lose control of one’s emotions or to lose your mind (go crazy).

1. A few years ago Britney Spears lost it and shaved all her hair off. On the same day she also got 2 tattoos. They say that she was probably rebelling against the agents who were controlling her looks.

2. In an online article on the Aljazeera website, it says, “Gaddafi has lost it ... With his hold over Libya loosening, Muammar Gaddafi seems to have lost his mind…”

3. If I watch the movie “Titanic” one more time I think I’m going to lose it!

To show up

To “show up” means to arrive or to appear. Another phrasal verb, which is a synonym, is “turn up”.

1. For social occasions or events, most people in Latin America show up 30 minutes to 1 hour later than the time given, which is acceptable, because there is an unspoken understanding that everyone will arrive “late”.

2. Do you think it is more important for the teacher or for a student to show up on time?

3. Person “A” & “B” are going on a date and have agreed to meet at a specific restaurant. Person “A” shows up on time and waits for more than 2 hours. Person “B” doesn’t show up and neither does he answer his cell phone. Person “B” stood person “A” up (to stand someone up: to not show up to an appointment, especially a romantic date).

Don't quit your day job!

"Don't quit your day job" is used to criticize or joke about a person’s talent (especially musical, singing or acting), implying, for example, that if they quit their regular day job to pursue a career as a musician instead - they would not be successful enough to survive.

In the above comic strip the spider jokes about spending less time on the “web” and more time with his family. In this case, “web” is a pun (a play on words) because it could mean a spider’s web or the internet (World Wide Web). The prisoner is not impressed with the spider’s attempt at humor and tells him not to quit his day job (because he wouldn’t be able to make a successful career as a comedian).

1. If you go to a karaoke party and a friend of yours sings terribly, you could jokingly tell him, “Don’t quit your day job!”

2. If someone tells you that he wants to be a professional soccer player but is very clumsy (has bad coordination), you could tell him not to quit his day job.

Deal with

   

“Deal with” is used to resolve a difficult situation or a problem. It is also when you take action and focus on doing something specific. In some cases it could be the same as “to put up with” (to tolerate). Another meaning of “deal with” would be when someone is working through (coping with) a difficult emotional situation.

1. During my vacation I don’t want to deal with anything or anyone. I just want to relax.

2. When you have too many things to deal with at the same time, you need to prioritize and focus on the most important things first.

3. At the end of this year I have to deal with renewing my residence visa for Brazil.

Loophole

A loophole is a way to avoid doing something that you know you should do… or finding an alternative way to achieve what you want. If you find a weakness (hole) in a system or an exception, you have found a loophole. It is often used with law, politics and paying taxes.

1. In the above comic strip, the loophole for Calvin is, “In your own words”. He doesn’t know the answer, but technically he is writing in his own words (in an unknown language).

2. In the United States, married couples sometimes find themselves paying more taxes than an unmarried couple with the same income. In order to avoid paying additional taxes (marriage penalty), some couples discovered a tax loophole: If the couple could get a quick legal divorce in a foreign country by December 31st, they would be considered single. The couple could then remarry legally in the United States during the following year and repeat the process.

3. If a hacker can find a loophole (weakness) in a firewall or a server security he can gain access to any company or system. This has recently happened with the Pentagon, Sony Corporation and NASA.

It's up to (you)

A loophole is a way to avoid doing something that you know you should do… or finding an alternative way to achieve what you want. If you find a weakness (hole) in a system or an exception, you have found a loophole. It is often used with law, politics and paying taxes.

1. In the above comic strip, the loophole for Calvin is, “In your own words”. He doesn’t know the answer, but technically he is writing in his own words (in an unknown language).

2. In the United States, married couples sometimes find themselves paying more taxes than an unmarried couple with the same income. In order to avoid paying additional taxes (marriage penalty), some couples discovered a tax loophole: If the couple could get a quick legal divorce in a foreign country by December 31st, they would be considered single. The couple could then remarry legally in the United States during the following year and repeat the process.

3. If a hacker can find a loophole (weakness) in a firewall or a server security he can gain access to any company or system. This has recently happened with the Pentagon, Sony Corporation and NASA.

Have got it made

If you’ve got it made, then you have everything you need for success or for a comfortable, easy or happy life:

1. Nice house, good job, lovely family - you've got it made! 

2. It seems that some people have got it made, but many of them are probably maxing out their credit cards.

3. Most people living in first world countries have got it made. They have opportunities to create a better life for themselves that people in other countries don’t have. 

Look up to (someone)

   

If you look up to someone, you respect them. They may be your role model, your inspiration, your hero, a mentor.

1. “Doctor House” is one of my favorite TV series. He is very entertaining, but I definitely don’t look up to him as someone to imitate. I look up to Chuck Norris instead.

2. Do you look up to your parents? Would you like to follow in their footsteps and be like them?

3. We are supposed to be able to look up to our world leaders, but often we find out that they are just as imperfect as us. Which leaders do you look up to?

The last straw

“The last straw” is the last of a series of irritations or disappointments that causes someone to finally lose their patience, trust, or hope. It can also be the problem that causes the collapse of something. It comes from an Arabic story, where a camel was loaded to its limit with straw until one final straw broke its back.

1. The last straw for Calvin (in the comic strip above) is that his mother wants him to clean his room. He lost his patience and wants to secede (terminate his association/ separate himself) from his family.

2. The bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was the last straw for the USA. They then got directly involved in the 2nd World War.

3. I have had many problems with my cell phone service provider. The last straw was when they charged me for calls I didn’t make. I then changed my service to another company.

Turn into

“Turn into” is a phrasal verb which means to “become” or “transform into”.

1. At midnight, Cinderella’s carriage turned back into a pumpkin and her horses turned back into mice. Here’s the full story: http://www.ivyjoy.com/fables/cinderella.html

2. When Bruce Banner gets angry or frustrated he turns into an enormous green monster, otherwise known as “The Incredible Hulk”.

3. Some people turn into a totally different person when they are driving. They will become aggressive and may shout verbal insults at other drivers, make rude gestures or drive recklessly (dangerously). This is called “road rage”.

Go to (someone's) head

If something goes to your head, it makes you become arrogant or conceited (You have a high opinion of yourself and think of yourself as better than others). In this comic strip, flying first class is going to the rat’s head.

1. Do you think it’s possible to become rich and famous and not let it go to your head? Would it be possible to keep your feet on the ground? 

2. As the highest paid actor in TV series, Charlie Sheen, the star of “Two and a half men” let his fame and success go to his head, saying such things as, “I am special and I will never be one of you”… or could it just be the drugs that have gone to his head?

3. In the movie based on Marvel Comics’ “Thor” (the god of thunder), immortality and the power Thor had with his hammer went to his head until he was cast down to earth and humbled. 

Find out

   

If you “find out” something, it is the same as saying to discover (knowledge). To “break in” is when someone enters a house or building illegally.

1. When did you find out that Santa Claus/ Father Christmas as we know him does not exist? Was it a shock?

2. When you travel to another country either on vacation or if you immigrate there, you will find out many new things that you never knew before - about the culture, language, customs etc. You will broaden your horizons (gain more experience in life).

3. When I found out that “Pluto” is not really a planet, I felt like I had been living a lie - because there are actually only 8 planets in our solar system, not 9 as we previously thought.

(How) in the world…

(How/ what/ why/ where/ who/ when) in the world…: This is used to emphasize that you are surprised or angry. Another way of saying “How in the world…” would be, “How the hell…” which has its equivalent in many languages, including Spanish and Portuguese.

1. How in the world do people survive on less than $1 a day!? For instance, 73% of Somalis, 70% of Nigerians, 63% of Zambians and 59% of Gambians live on less than $1 a day.

2. What in the world is that? It looks like a UFO.

3. Why in the world are we on this earth? Why do we exist? Is there a purpose to life?

4. For 10 years nobody knew where in the world Osama Bin Laden was hiding out. 

Get away with

If you get away with something, you don’t get caught, criticized or punished for doing something wrong or illegal. Calvin believes he can get away with anything if he is invisible.

1. Many people get away with not paying their income tax, especially if they are self-employed (work for themselves). Do you think this is ethical? Is there a legal way to avoid paying taxes?

2. “Dexter” is a TV series about a serial killer who only kills killers. I wonder (ask myself) if he will always get away with it, or if in the end he’ll get caught.

3. Many celebrities get away with drug abuse… and sometimes even murder. I’m sure that at any given time you will be able to see examples of this on the news. Are celebrities above the law?