LESSON 8: TED FORMS A ROCK BAND

Ted plans to become a successful musician. First, he needs Susan to loans him money for a new guitar. Susan suggests that Ted bake cookies to earn the money.

Susan: You’re in good spirits today, Ted.

Ted: I’ve got great news, Mon

Susan: What is it?

Ted: Amber and I are going to start a rock bank!

Susan: Good for you!

Ted: Mon, 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 not 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 a lot of money.

Susan: That sounds like a pipe dream. Aren’t high school rock 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.

• Donald Trump is a famous American millionaire who made his money in real estate. Ivana is his ex-wife.
• Eric Clapton is a very popular guitarist.

IDIOMS:

(To) beat around the bush- to talk around the subject; to avoid getting to the point

Ex1: Kara beat around the bush for an hour, then finally told us she needs a ride to Kennedy Airport.

Ex2: If you want something to tell me. Don’t beat around the bush!

Dime a dozen – so plentiful as to be nothing special; common

Ex1: reality TV shows are dime a dozen these days.

Ex2: There are so many Starbucks coffee shops in Manhattan, they’re 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!

Ex1: You won $1,000 on the TV game show Jeopardy? Good for you!

Ex2: You passed your math test? Good for you!

Hard times – a time of difficulty

Ex1: Since his wife left him for her dentist, Dan has been going through hard times.

Ex2: Nancy’s family is going through hard times. Her father just lost his job.

(to be) in good spirits – happy, in a good mood

Ex1: after she won the tennis tournament, Elizabeth was in good spirits.

Ex2: Sam was in good spirits after receiving his Christmas bonus.

Made of money – very rich

Ex1: My neighbor is re-modeling his house to look like Versailles. He doesn’t have good taste, but he certainly is made of money.

Ex2: Max should be willing to loan you $10,000 to start your new business. He’s made of money.

(to) make a splash – to win popularity quickly

(synonym: to be a hit)

Ex1: Nicole’s beautiful cousin Cecilia from Santo Domingo really made a splash at high school dance.

Ex2: Those new jeans really made a splash. All the kids are wearing them.

(to) pay someone back – to repay a loan or debt

Ex1: Nicole paid her friends back the $10 she borrowed.

Ex2: You can borrowed $50, but don’t forget to pay me back!

Pipe dream – an unrealistic hope

Ex1: Susan would like to move to New Zealand and write romance novels, but she knows that’s just a pipe dream.

Ex2: 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)

Ex1: Bob shelled out $5,000 for Nicole’s piano lessons before she decided she’d rather play the flute.

Ex2: 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

Ex1: The plays “the Producers” really took New York by storm.

Ex2: 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.

Ex1: By the time we got to the theatre, the new Harry Porter movie was already sold out. Oh, well, that’s the breaks!

Ex2: Your classes 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.