Idioms and Expressions - All

From Kenneth Beare,

Your Guide to English as 2nd Language.
Stay up to date!

The following idioms and expressions use 'all'. Each idiom or expression has
a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these
common idiomatic expressions with 'all'.

All-nighter

Definition: do something (for instance a study session) that lasts all night

We pulled an all-nighter to get ready for the exam.

The graduation party was an all-nighter.

All over something

Definition: very fond of something

He's all over the latest fashions.

Peter's all over antique furniture.

All right (!)

Definition: Yes, okay, fine

That's all right by me!

All right! I got an A+ on my term paper.

All shook up

Definition: extremely excited, worried, or disturbed about something

He's all shook up about his mother's illness.

Wow! I'm all shook up about Alice.

All that and then some

Definition: even more than what has been mentioned

He did all that and then some to get the new job.
Yes, that's right.

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All that and then some!

All the way (with go)

Definition: do something completely

He's going all the way for the scholarship.

We went all the way to California on our vacation.

Dash it all!

Definition: expression used when very upset

Dash it all! I didn't do very well.

Dash it all! She can't come this weekend.

For all I know

Definition: based on what I know (usually expressing displeasure)

For all I know, he'll come and win the prize.

They've decided to hire Jack for all I know.

Free for all

Definition: crazy, non-restricted activity (generally a fight)

It was a free for all! Everyone went crazy!

They stepped in to break up the free for all.

Have it all together

Definition: be very poised, successful

He has it all together. The house, the wife, the kids, the great job - everything!
I was very impressed with the candidate. She seemed to have it all together.

Hold all the aces

Definition: have all the advantages

Unfortunately, Tom holds all the aces right now. You'll have to do what he
says.
I'm holding all the aces so I can do whatever I want.
Know all the angles

Definition: be very clever about something

Jack knows all the angles. Be careful!

The salesman knew all the angles, and by the end of our talk I had bought a
new computer!

Not all there

Definition: not intelligent, not completely focused on an activity

I'm afraid Peter is not all there. He needs some help badly.
Unfortunately, I was not all there and lost the final match.

Of all the nerve!

Definition: expression of anger at someone's behavior

Of all the nerve! Did you see how that woman treated me?
Of all the nerve! She took me seat!

Once and for all

Definition: finally (usually putting an end to something)

I'm going to stop his behavior once and for all!

Let's get this over once and for all.

Pull out all the stops

Definition: make every possible effort to do something

He pulled out all the stops on the exam.

We're going to pull out all the stops on our presentation.

You can't win them all.

Definition: expression of acceptance after a loss or disappointment

Well, you can't win them all. Let's go home.

You did your best. You can't win them all
Idioms and Expressions - Get
From Kenneth Beare,
Your Guide to English as 2nd Language.
Stay up to date!

The following idioms and expressions use the verb 'get'. Each idiom or
expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding
of these common idiomatic expressions with 'get'.

Get someone's drift

Definition: understand what someone has said

Do you get his drift?

I don't get his drift. Does he think I should quit?

Get a bang / kick out of someone or something

Definition: enjoy someone or something greatly

I really get a bang out of Tom!

She got a kick out of the new video game.

Get a life!

Definition: Don't worry about such stupid, or petty things

Come on. Get a life! Go out and have some fun.

I wish Janet would get a life. She's always complaining about nothing.

Get a load off one's feet

Definition: sit down, relax

Come on get a load off your feet.

Come over here and get a load off your feet.

Get a load off one's mind

Definition: stop worrying about something

I'm glad he got the job.

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I'm sure he's got a load off his mind.

That news gets a load off my mind.

Get a load of someone or something

Definition: take notice of someone or something

Get a load of that boy over there!

Get a load of this book. It's excellent!

Get a toehold

Definition: To begin a relationship with a person or company

I got a toehold at Smiths and Sons.

He's trying to get a toehold with Jason.

Get away!

Definition: I don't believe you

He didn't say that! Get away!

No, get away! That's can't be true.

To get down on someone

Definition: criticize someone

Don't get so down on Janet.

My boss is getting down on me.

Get down to doing something

Definition: begin to do something seriously

Let's get down to business.

I got down to doing the report yesterday afternoon.

Get face

Definition: be taken seriously

He's really beginning to get face in that company.

I wish I could get face.
To get in someone's face

Definition: to annoy or provoke someone

Why don't you get in his face!

Tim really got in the coach's face.

To get in on the act

Definition: become a part of something interesting

I really wish I could get in on the act.

Would you like to get in on the act at work?

Get into something

Definition: enjoy greatly

He's really getting into that new CD by Japlin.

I got into the movie last night.

Get it

Definition: understand

Do you get it?

He got it and began having success.

Get lost!

Definition: go away

Come on, get lost!

I wish Tom would get lost.

Get off on something

Definition: enjoy greatly

He's really getting off on jazz these days.

Do you get off on cult movies?

Get one's act together

Definition: become organized about something

I wish Mary would get her act together.

Yes, I got my act together and found a new job.

Get one's lumps

Definition: receive punishment

She got her lumps for disobeying her parents.

I shouldn't have done that. Now I'm getting my lumps.

Get one's nose out of joint

Definition: become upset about something

He got his nose out of joint about the new employee.

Don't get your nose out of joint. It's not that bad!

Get one's teeth into something

Definition: do something with a lot of dedication

I'm getting my teeth into the new project at work.

I think you are going to get your teeth into this book.

Get on someone's case

Definition: to criticize someone about a problem

Stop getting on my case about homework.

My boss is getting on my case about the project.

Get out of my face!

Definition: stop bothering me

Get out of my face! I'm going to do it!

She told him to get out of her face.

Get real!

Definition: start acting realistically

Get real about her.

Forget it. Get real.

Get someone's goat.

Definition: bother someone

She's getting his goat recently.

Tom is really getting my goat.

Get some shut-eye

Definition: go to sleep
I need to go home and get some shut-eye.
He looks like he needs to get some shut-eye.

Get the goods on someone

Definition: find out incriminating evidence against someone

Janet got the goods on him and they are getting divorced.
I can't wait to get the goods on Jack.

Get the lead out!

Definition: hurry up

Come on! Get the load out!

Let's get out of here. Get the lead out!

Get the message / picture

Definition: understand

So do you get the picture?

I don't think he gets the message.

Get the nod

Definition: be chosen

Peter got the nod for the job.

I think Mary should get the nod.

Get to someone

Definition: bother someone

Tom is really getting to Mary.

Motor scooter noise gets to me!

Get with it

Definition: hurry up

Get with it. We're late.

I wish Tom would get with it.
Extra materials

Choose the best answer to fill in the blank.

1. He's got _______ interesting stories.

a. any
b. some
c. a lot

2. I think the first painting was __________ than the other one.

a. better
b. gooder
c. goodder

3. I went to the butcher's _____ buy some bread.

a. for to
b. in order
c. to

4. This book is ______.

a. him
b. he's
c. his

5. We have our English lesson _____ Fridays.

a. in
b. at
c. on

6. Let's meet ___ four o'clock this afternoon.

a. on
b. at
c. in

7. My car was more expensive _____ his.

a. as
b. so
c. than

8. When _____________ to her?

a. you talked
b. talked you
c. did you talk

9. She _____ she wanted to come.

 a. told
b. said
c. meant

Indirect Speech

Indirect Speech (also referred to as 'reported speech') refers to a sentence

reporting what someone has said. It is almost always used in spoken English.

 If the reporting verb (i.e. said) is in the past, the reported clause will be in
a past form. This form is usually one step back into the past from the
original.

For example:

o He said the test was difficult.

o She said she watched TV every day.
o Jack said he came to school every day.
 If simple present, present perfect or the future is used in the reporting
verb (i.e. says) the tense is retained.

For example:

o He says the test is difficult.

o She has said that she watches TV every day.
o Jack will say that he comes to school every day.
 If reporting a general truth the present tense will be retained.

For example: The teacher said that phrasal verbs are very important.

Changing Pronouns and Time Signifiers

When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to

change the pronouns to match the subject of the sentence.

For example:

 She said, "I want to bring my children." BECOMES She said she wanted to
bring her children.
 Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show." BECOMES Jack said his
wife had gone with him to the show.

It is also important to change time words (signifiers) when referring to present,

past or future time to match the moment of speaking.

For example:

 She said, "I want to bring my children tomorrow." BECOMES She said she
wanted to bring her children the next day.
 Jack said, "My wife went with me to the show yesterday." BECOMES Jack
said his wife had gone with him to the show the day before.
Indirect Questions

When reporting questions, it is especially important to pay attention to sentence

order. When reporting yes/ no questions connect the reported question using 'if'.
When reporting questions using question words (why, where, when, etc.) use the
question word.

For example:

 She asked, "Do you want to come with me?" BECOMES She asked me if I
wanted to come with her.
 Dave asked, "Where did you go last weekend?" BECOMES Dave asked me
where I had gone the previous weekend.
 He asked, "Why are you studying English?" BECOMES She asked me why I
was studying English.

The following chart includes sentences changed from quoted speech to reported
speech using a past form. Pay special attention to sentences marked with "*".
Note Simple past, present perfect, and past perfect all change to past perfect in the
reported form.

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

He said, "I live in Paris." He said he lived in Paris.
He said, "I am cooking He said he was cooking
dinner." dinner.
He said, "I have visted He said he had visited
London twice." London twice.
He said, "I went to New He said he had gone to
York last week." New York the week before.
He said, "I had already He said he had already
eaten." eaten.
He said, "I am going to find He said he was going to
a new job." find a new job.
He said, "I will give Jack a He said he would give Jack
call." a call.
He said, "I have been He said he had been
working on that project for working on that project for
over two weeks." over two weeks.
He said, "I can come He said he could come that
tonight." night.
* He said, "I may buy a He said he might buy a
new car." new car.
* He said, "I might go to He said he might go to
Denver." Denver.
* He said, "I must give Ken He said he had to give Ken
a call." a call.
* He said, "I have to give He said he had to give Ken
Ken a call." a call.
 * He said, "I should see a He said he should see a
doctor" doctor.

Check your understanding with these quizzes: