Listening to idioms - Part I

Land on feet
Meaning: To be lucky or successful after you have been in a difficult situation.
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Listen to the following conversation:
- You know who I ran into yesterday? Lenny Ramos!
- Lenny, our former programmer? What's he doing these days?
- He was out of work for three months after he got laid off here, but now he has a new job with Banana Computers. He loves it, and he's making more money.
- Good for him! He's such a hard worker, I knew he'd land on his feet.

Cut corners
Meaning: To do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often harming the quality of your work.
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Example:
The company cut corners on the new product by using a less expensive part in the design.
We have to find a way to cut corners on this project because we've gone over our budget.

Dying to do something
Meaning: Want to do something very, very much.
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Example:
(the vowel is exaggerated)
-I'm dyyyying to go to the party = I really want to go to the party.
-I'm staaaaaarving = I am really hungry.
-I'm freeeezing = I'm really cold.

One of those days
Meaning: If we have "one of those days", we have a very bad day when many things go wrong. If we have "one of those days", nothing seems to go right.
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Example sentences:

1. It's one of those days.
2. I'm having one of those days.
3. It was one of those days.

Example dialogue:

A: How are things going today, Jimmy?
B: Not so good, to tell you the truth.
A: Why not? What's the problem?
B: I don't know. It's just one of those days.

Practice:

When was the last time you had "one of those days"?

Low hanging fruit
Meaning: Something that is easy to get/ do .
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Examples: He always goes after the low hanging fruit because those are the quickest sales. Let's concentrate on the low hanging fruit first, then we'll get quick results. Pronunciation: Let's get the LOW hanging fruit first.

Sing a different tune
Thay đổi giọng điệu. Thay đổi thái độ.
Meaning: To change one's manner, usually from bad to good. (Almost the same as dance to another tune.)
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Audio example:
Mike has been saying all over town the quarrel is all my fault. He is lying, and when my lawyer gets finished with him, I guarantee he’ll be singing a different tune.

Anther example:
When she learned that I was a bank director, she began to sing a different tune.

Sing the blues
Than thân trách phận
Meaning: To complain
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Audio example:
Bob‘s still singing the blues about losing his girlfriend six months ago. I guess the poor guy didn’t realize how much he cared for her until she walked out on him.

Anther example:
Computer programmers are singing the blues because business is bad and no one is hiring.

A feather in your cap
Thành tích xuất sắc
Meaning: A success or achievement that may help you in the future.
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Audio example:
Congratulations, Sarah! I'm so proud of you. A real feather in your cap. I know how hard you worked. This makes you the first doctor we've ever had in our family.

Beating around the bush
Vòng vo tam quốc.
Meaning: Not getting to the point. Not dealing with the major issues, not talking about the real subject.

Example: If you want to ask me, just ask; don't beat around the bush.

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Thí dụ sau nói về tính cách của người "thẳng tính" (direct) và người khéo tính (indirect).
Audio example:

Your direct person would be more likely to say, "Vote for Johnson." Direct people -- they get straight to the point. No bones about it. They don't beat around the bush. They're very aggressive. They know what they want. They know what they want to say and they know what they want to get done. Whereas your indirect person might say something like, "Well, I think that maybe we should consider voting for Johnson. Or, maybe as a group, we should talk about voting for Johnson." They're a lot more indirect. They're a lot less aggressive and they're much more interested in involving the group to get a decision, where a direct person knows exactly what they want.

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