English Expression & Idioms W2 - May 29th, 2021

No.	Expressions/idioms	Explanations
1	Be about to	Be ready to  . I was about to start working on my homework when the power suddenly went out. . She is pregnant and now, she is about to have a baby.
2	After all	After you consider everything            어쨌든  / 결국에는   . I got into really big fight with John. I decided to invite him to my birthday party even though I’m still upset. After all, he’s still my brother! . He didn’t agree with his boss’s order. But, after all, he followed it. . He promised to come here. But. He didn’t show up after all.
3	To break the news	To inform or tell people something they don’t know (both good and bad news)     . I was very nervous about breaking the news to my parents that I would be moving to Canada.  . He always gives me to break the new about getting a job.   Cf) bring (something) to light : (새로운 정보를) 드러내다. 밝히다.  . His crime has been brought to light. . I bring your secret to light. . The scientists brought their findings to light.
4	To cost an arm and a leg	Very expensive . My new phone cost me an arm and a leg. That’s why I use a protective case for it. . The house cost me an arm and a leg. . I want to make it even though it costs me an arm and a leg.
5	A dead end job	A job without possibility for higher/different position   . John hates working as a night security guard. He says it’s a dead end job. . I couldn’t find any kinds of hope or vision. It was a dead end job for me.
6	To give (s.b.) the creeps	To make you feel uncomfortable   . Every time I walk out of my house, my neighbor just stares at me with a strange look on his face. He really gives me the creeps.   . He’s starting to give me the creeps.   * She is creepy = She is a creep.
7	To o back to the drawing board	To go back and start again usually from scratch.   . I bought some materials at the hardware store(RONA) and started to construct a new kitchen. My wife just changed her design so I have to go back to the drawing board.
8	To go belly up	To go bankrupt   . I opened up a new restaurant right before pandemic. Unfortunately, it went belly up and I had to lay everyone off.
9	To give (s.b.) the ax(e)	해고하다 . If John continues being late for work, his boss is going to give him the axe. . He gave her the axe because she dropped the ball about the major contract.   * to get fired  =  to get the axe  =  to get the boot  =  to get canned  : 해고되다. . The incompetent boss got canned.
10	Lay off	To lose your job because of financial or other problems out of your control   . The company laid them off due to economic crisis. . Many employees were laid off last year.