TED FORMS A ROCK BAND

Ted plans to become a successful musician. First, he needs Susan to loan him money for a new guitar. (Period. Full stop. ;) ) Susan suggests that Ted bake cookies to earn the money.

Susan: You're in good spirits today, Ted.
Ted: I've got great news, Mom.
Susan: What is it?
Ted: Amber and I are going to start a rock band!
Susan: Good for you!
Ted: Mom, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I need to borrow $1,000 for a new guitar.
Susan: Ted, your father and I can't shell out that much. We aren't made of money.
Ted: You're not? I thought you were millionaires, like Donald
and Ivana Trump!
Susan: Ha ha. This is no time to be a wise guy!
Ted: I promise I'll pay you back.
Susan: How?
Ted: We're going to take the music world by storm and make lots of money.
Susan: That sounds like a pipe dream. Aren't high school rock bands a dime a dozen?
Ted: Yeah, but we're different. With my guitar playing and Amber's beautiful voice, we're sure to make a splash!
Susan: Well, we're going through hard times. You're going to have to work for that $1,000.
Ted: How?
Susan: You can bake cookies.
Ted: I bet Mrs. Clapton never made Eric bake cookies, but I guess those are the breaks.

IDIOMS - LESSON 8

(to) beat around the bush - to talk around the subject; to avoid getting to the point
EXAMPLE 1: Kara beat around the bush for an hour, then finally told us she needed a ride to Kennedy Airport.
EXAMPLE 2: If you want something, tell me. Don't beat around the bush!

dime a dozen - so plentiful as to be nothing special; common
EXAMPLE 1: Reality TV shows are a dime a dozen these days.
EXAMPLE 2: There are so many Starbucks coffee shops in Manhattan, they're a dime a dozen.
NOTE: This expression comes from the fact that a "dime" is worth only ten cents (very little value).

Good for you! - Good job! Well done!
EXAMPLE 1: You won $100,000 on the TV game show Jeopardy? Good for you!
EXAMPLE 2: You passed your math test? Good for you!

hard times - a time of difficulty
EXAMPLE 1: Since his wife left him for her dentist, Dan has been going through hard times.
EXAMPLE 2: Nancy's family is going through hard times. Her father just lost his job.

(to be) in good spirits - happy; in a good mood
EXAMPLE 1: After she won the tennis tournament, Elizabeth was in good spirits.
EXAMPLE 2: Sam was in good spirits after receiving his Christmas bonus.

made of money - very rich
EXAMPLE 1: My neighbor is re-modeling his house to look like Versailles. He doesn't have good taste, but he certainly is made of money.
EXAMPLE 2: Max should be willing to loan you $10,000 to start your new business. He's made of money.
SYNONYMS: loaded; rolling in dough; to have money to burn

(to) make a splash - to win popularity quickly
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole's beautiful cousin Cecilia from Santo Domingo really made a splash at the high school dance.
EXAMPLE 2: Those new jeans really made a splash. All the kids are
wearing them.
SYNONYM: to be a hit

(to) pay (someone) back - to repay a loan or debt
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole paid her friend back the $10 she borrowed.
EXAMPLE 2: You can borrow $50, but don't forget to pay me back!
NOTE: "Pay back" also means to "get revenge." Example: I know you're the one who stole my car, and one day I'll think of a way to pay you back!

pipe dream - an unrealistic hope
EXAMPLE 1: Susan would like to move to New Zealand and write romance novels, but she knows that's just a pipe dream.
EXAMPLE 2: You want to become a famous actor on Broadway? That sounds like a pipe dream.

(to) shell out - to pay (often more than one would like)
EXAMPLE 1: Bob shelled out $5,000 for Nicole's piano lessons before she decided she'd rather play the flute.
EXAMPLE 2: How much am I going to have to shell out to get two tickets to the Rolling Stones concert?

(to) take (something) by storm - to win popularity quickly
EXAMPLE 1: The play "The Producers" really took New York by storm.
EXAMPLE 2: That new restaurant really took Chicago by storm!

(that's or those are) the breaks - when something bad happens and you can't do anything about it
EXAMPLE 1: By the time we got to the theater, the new Harry Potter movie was already sold out. Oh well, that's the breaks!
EXAMPLE 2: Your glasses fell on a rock and broke while you were fishing? Those are the breaks!

wise guy [slang] - a smart aleck; one who makes a lot of sarcastic comments
EXAMPLE 1: When Mrs. Lee asked Joey what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, "An adult." She told him not to be such a wise guy.
EXAMPLE 2: That clerk in the video store is a real wise guy. He's always making nasty comments about the customers.
SYNONYMS: wise ass [rude], smart ass [rude]

PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Choose the best substitute for the phrase in bold:

1) I'm in good spirits today because I got a promotion at work.
a) happy
b) drunk
c) tired

2) Renting an apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan is difficult, unless you're made of money.
a) wealthy
b) strange
c) famous

3) My friend's daughter paints beautiful pictures. In a few years, she'll take the art world by storm.
a) something bad will happen and she'll lose her job
b) she'll draw an excellent painting of a storm
c) she'll become a very successful artist

4) Susan thinks that Ted's plan to become a famous rock star is a pipe dream.
a) something that is not likely to happen
b) Ted's biggest hope
c) something very realistic

5) If you're looking for a new suit, you shouldn't have a problem. Clothing shops in this town are a dime a dozen.
a) hard to find
b) everywhere
c) lousy

6) Ted performed at his high school dance. He knew he'd made a splash when all the girls started singing along.
a) done something wrong
b) made a very positive impression
c) created waves

7) Being a wise guy can be fun, but it might not make you popular with your teachers.
a) a very intelligent person
b) an obnoxious person who makes sarcastic comments
c) a person whom everybody admires

8) Nicole wants to attend Yale, but her parents don't want to shell out $100,000 for the tuition.

a) waste

b) save

c) pay