Mastering Common American Idioms - Second Edition

Author: E. Elín Elmaquis
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-05-01
Features: Ana: David, do you remember how we felt when we arrived by air some months ago?
David: I certainly do, Ana! I recall how tired out and confused we were!
Ana: Yes, but very excited, too.
David: That we were! We had marvelous visions of life in the United States, didn’t we? Remember how we always discussed our dreams of making out well?
Ana: Yes, I do, David. We had really counted on moving ahead quickly, but it’s just not that easy, is it?
David: That’s for sure. For new arrivals like us, there are plenty of difficulties to get through.
Ana: Like getting used to the culture and having to correct our broken English!
David: And so many times of feeling mixed up about which way to turn.
Ana: Patience and hard work have been our answers, David. And little by little, we are succeeding.
Definitions by air: in an airplane, by airplane, via airplane (plane)
They went to Washington, D.C. by air.
They traveled in an airplane.
tired out: very fatigued, exhausted, over tired
He was tired out from his trip to the mountains.
He was exhausted.
to make out: to do, to manage, to handle affairs, to be successful
She is making out well in the United States.
She is doing well.
to count on: to expect to, to anticipate, to rely on
We counted on being there by noon.
We expected to be there by noon.
to move ahead: to work toward a goal, to do well, to proceed, to succeed
He tried to move ahead at the company.
He tried to get a better position.
to get through: to survive, to endure, to tolerate
It’s not easy to get through the northern winter.
It’s not easy to endure it.