2016-10-12 Idioms: party idioms, connotations

Greg Malivuk
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Lesson 1 “At the Party”
Handout p. 1-2 - With a partner, use the pictures and sentences to figure out the meanings of the idioms.
1 get a grip = get control of your emotions
  (“get ahold of yourself” has the same meaning)
2 having a blast = having a great time
  (“a blast” can mean “a great time” in other phrases, too: “That party was such a blast!”)
3 What’s up with him? = What’s wrong with him? What’s going on with him? What’s happening with him?
4 rug = hairpiece (fake hair, a wig, for men, which looks fake)
5 putting me on = kidding me (“pulling my leg” has the same meaning)
	(put someone on = kidding with someone; put something on = wear something)
6 Get a load of that dress. = Look at that dress. (we would say it if there is something surprising or strange about the dress)
7 He’s a hunk. = He’s a muscular (and attractive) man.
8 No way! = That’s impossible!
9 Get off my case! = Stop nagging me! (nag = criticize repeatedly)
10 I can’t stand her. = I can’t tolerate her. (I can’t be here when she’s in the room. It makes me too unhappy.)
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p. 10 - From memory, decide if the expressions make sense or don’t make sense in these short conversations.
1 Yes, makes sense.
2 Yes (If you’re upset, the other person tells you that you need to get control of your emotions.)
3 No, doesn’t make sense. (A muscular hunk wouldn’t be thin.)
4 No
5 Yes
6 Yes
7 No
8 Yes
9 No
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A: I can’t stand Harriet.
B: Me neither. / I can’t either. (negative sentence, agreement with “neither” or “either”)

A: I hate Harriet.
B: Me too. / I do too. (affirmative sentence, agreement with “too”)
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connotation: additional meaning a word has (for example whether it’s positive or negative), beyond the basic dictionary idea
For example, “slim” sounds more attractive than “thin”, and “thin” sounds more attractive than “skinny”, even if they’re all about the same person. “Chubby” is cuter than “fat”, and “voluptuous” (for a woman) could be about the same person if I think she’s beautiful.