Thanksgiving was one week ago today. Have you eaten all your leftovers yet? What about your cold turkey?

Meaning: To suddenly, totally stop a bad habit, usually referring to an addiction, usually expressed as “quit something cold turkey.”

Examples:

I quit smoking cold turkey ten years ago and I haven’t had a cigarette since.

Some say the best way to quit drinking alcohol is cold turkey, but some say you need to drink less and less or else you’ll get very sick.

That’s it! No more Facebook! I’m quitting cold turkey!

Pop Quiz:

Which is a good example of quitting cold turkey?

A.  To decide to maybe quit drinking beer sometime in the future.

B.  To drink fewer and fewer cans of beer a week until you reach zero.

C.  To totally stop drinking beer right now.

To see the correct answer, click on “Read More”:

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Do you know the meanings of a bun in the oven and the apple of someone’s eye have nothing to do with the actual foods? Please watch the video and find the meanings! Who knows? You might want to use the idioms someday.

Catch-22 is not only a book title but also an idiom we use for some difficult situations. Let’s learn the meaning, origin, and examples of the idiom by watching the following short videos. Have you even been in a catch-22 situation?

This cartoon shows what homebodies might like to do.

Idiom of the Week has returned!

Meaning: Someone who likes to stay home; someone who doesn’t like to go out or travel.

Examples:

On a typical Friday night you can find me watching a movie on Netflix. I’m a homebody.

They say opposites attract, and in my situation that’s true. My husband is very social but I’m more of a homebody.

The coronavirus has made homebodies of us all!

Pop Quiz:

Which of the following would a homebody prefer not to do?

A. Go out to a movie and then afterwards eat at a restaurant.

B. Make dinner and then stream a movie.

C. Lie on the sofa and read a book all evening.

To see the correct answer, click on “Read More”:

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In honor of the Year of the Rat…

Meaning: To be suspicious of someone or something.

Examples:

The students were very, very quiet when their teacher entered the room, and so the teacher smelled a rat.

“I smell a rat,” said the police detective after talking to the criminal.

After seeing that the email came from a strange address, I smelled a rat and didn’t open it.

Pop Quiz:

You might smell a rat if…

A.  your boss pays you on time.

B.  a stranger calls you asking for your address and social security number.

C.  a cashier gives you the correct change.

Click on “Read More” to see the correct answer:

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