to end up (do ing smthg )

1. to end up (doingsmthg) To do something you hadn’t planned on doing It took us awhile to make a decision, but we ended up watching a movie last night. We originally planned on going home, but we ended up going to a restaurant after the movie. Tell a partner about a time you planned to do one thing, but ended up doing something different.

2. to bend over backwards(to do something or for someone) To try very hard (almost too hard) He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied. Tell a partner about a time you bent over backwards for someone. How did you feel?

3. to rule X out / to rule out X To decide against or eliminate something /someone The police ruled that suspect out as the possible bank robber because he had an alibi. We ruled out going to the coast this weekend because it’s supposed to rain. If you were a manager and had 50 applicants for the same job, how would you rule people out?

4. in a way to a certain extent, a little, somewhat I often miss my parents, but in a way, I’m glad we live so far apart. In a way, I’m glad they canceled the party. Now I can go to bed early.

5. to stick with (something) to continue doing something even though it’s challenging; to not quit The boy has stuck with his music lessons even though he’s very busy with other activities. Tell a partner about a time you’ve stuck with something even though it was difficult. How did you feel?

6. sbdyis fixed in his/her ways not willing or wanting to change his/her normal ways; stubborn People usually become fixed in their ways because they are comfortable and happy doing things one way, or are just lazy. I tried many different things when I was young, but now that I’m older, I’m more fixed in my ways. Do you know someone who is fixed in his/her ways?

7. (time) sharp at exactly that time The show starts at 8:00 sharp. If we’re late, they won’t let us in.

8. to fill in for sbdy to do someone’s work while they are away Megan filled in for me when I had to go to jury duty. Have you ever asked someone to fill in for you? or Have you ever filled in for someone else?

9. to pull one’s own weight • to do one’s share of the work * It’s often used negatively to say that someone isn’t making enough effort as part of a team. • Don’t rely on others to get your work done. You need to pull your own weight. • Have you ever worked in a group where a group member didn’t pull his/her own weight?

10. (to) face the music • to admit that there's a problem; to deal with an unpleasant situation realistically • Example: Enron executives finally had to face the music and admit that they were involved in some illegal activities.

11. (to) have a lot on one’s plate Def’n: to have a lot to do; to have too much to do; to have too much to cope with • Carlos turned down the project, explaining that he already had a lot on his plate We also say “too much on one’s plate” • Barbara needs to learn to say no. She already has too much on her plate. • Do you have a lot on your plate these days?

12. (to) keep smthg under wraps Def’n: to keep something secret; to not let anybody know about a new project or plan • I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about the project I'm working on. My boss told me to keep it under wraps. • The studio is keeping details of the new movie under wraps until its release in May. • What is something you’ve had to keep under wraps?

13. (to) learn the ropes Def’n: To learn something new; to learn the basics • It takes a while to learn the ropes at a new job. • Mark learned the ropes of the restaurant business by working as a cook at Outback Steakhouse. • How long do you think it takes to learn the ropes at a new job?

14. up in the air not yet determined; uncertain Example 1: It might rain later, so our plans for the picnic are up in the air.Example 2: Our trip to Russia is up in the air. We aren't sure we'll get our visas in time.

15. to fall through when plan doesn’t happen or is canceled; when plans fail Example: Our plans to travel to Russia fellthrough because we didn’t get our visas in time. Have you had an experience when your plans were up in the air and then fell through at the last minute?

16. to catch off guardto be/get caught off guard • Def’n – (active) to surprise someone who isn’t prepared (passive) to be surprised; when someone asks you something that you’re not prepared for • The President is usually very smooth when answering the press’s questions, but today a reporter’s question caught him off guardand he stumbled over his answer. • The army was caught off guard by the enemy’s surprise attack. When were you caught off guard or when did you catch somebody else off guard?

17. Which idiom would you use in these situations? • To have a lot on one’s plate • To learn the ropes • To fill in for somebody • To pull your own weight Carl is sick again today! That means I have to _____________________ again. I’m not happy about that because I already ______________________. Carl misses a lot of work. I feel like he doesn’t _____________________. fill in for him have a lot on my plate pull his own weight

18. Which idiom would you use in these situations? • up in the air • to rule out something • end up • fall through • stick with something Hi, John! What did you and George decide to do this weekend? Well, our plans are still _________________. We _____________ going to the Coast. It’s supposed to rain there. I think you should ______________ your original plan, and come to the Rose Festival with me. Yeah. We might _______________ doing that. ruled out up in the air stick with end up