Susan decides to cheer up her husband. Bob loves her homemade cookies. Nicole suggests she start a cookie business.
Susan: Bob, I baked cookies for you.
Bob: That was so nice of you, dear. You’ve got a heart of gold!
Susan: Go ahead and pig out!
Bob: These are delicious!
Susan: I thought they might cheer you up. You’ve been in a bad mood lately.
Bob: I guess I have been a little on edge. But these cookies are just what the doctor ordered!
Nicole: Do I smell cookies?
Susan: Yes, Nicole. Help yourself.
Nicole: Yum-yum.* These are out of this world. You could go into business selling these!
Bob: You could call them Susan’s Scrumptious Cookies. You’d make a bundle.
Susan: Good thinking!
Nicole: Don’t forget to give me credit for the idea after you’re
rich and famous!
Susan: You know I always give credit where credit is due!
Idioms of the Lesson
(to) cheer someone up – to make someone happy
EXAMPLE 1: Susan called her friend in the hospital to cheer her up.
EXAMPLE 2: My father has been depressed for weeks now. I don’t know what to do to cheer him up.
NOTE: You can tell somebody to “Cheer up!” if they are feeling sad.
(to) give (someone) credit – to acknowledge someone’s contribution; to recognize a positive trait in someone
EXAMPLE 1: The scientist gave his assistant credit for the discovery.
EXAMPLE 2: I can’t believe you asked your boss for a raise when your company is doing so poorly. I must give you credit for your courage!
(to) give credit where credit is due – to give thanks or acknowledgement to the person who deserves it
EXAMPLE: I will be sure to thank you when I give my speech. I always give credit where credit is due.
(to) go into business – to start a business
EXAMPLE 1: Jeff decided to go into business selling baseball cards.
EXAMPLE 2: Eva went into business selling her homemade muffins.
good thinking – good idea; smart planning
EXAMPLE 1: I’m glad you brought an umbrella — that was good thinking!
EXAMPLE 2: You reserved our movie tickets over the Internet? Good thinking!
(to) have a heart of gold – to be very kind and giving
EXAMPLE 1: Alexander has a heart of gold and always thinks of others before himself.
EXAMPLE 2: You adopted five children from a Romanian orphanage?You’ve got a heart of gold!
Help yourself – serve yourself
EXAMPLE 1: “Help yourselves to cookies and coffee,” said Maria before the meeting started.
EXAMPLE 2: You don’t need to wait for me to offer you something. Please just help yourself to whatever you want.
NOTE: Pay attention to the reflexive form: Help yourself in singular, help
yourselves in plural.
(to be) in a bad mood – unhappy; depressed; irritable
EXAMPLE 1: After her boyfriend broke up with her, Nicole was in a bad mood for several days.
EXAMPLE 2: I don’t like to see you in a bad mood. How can I cheer you up?
just what the doctor ordered – exactly what was needed
EXAMPLE 1: Martin wanted a hot drink after spending the day skiing. A cup of hot cocoa was just what the doctor ordered.
EXAMPLE 2: Our trip to Florida was so relaxing. It was just what the doctor ordered!
(to) make a bundle – to make a lot of money
EXAMPLE 1: Bob’s friend Charles made a bundle in the stock market and retired at age 45.
EXAMPLE 2: Sara made a bundle selling her old fur coats on eBay, a website where you can buy and sell used things.
(to be) on edge – nervous; irritable
EXAMPLE 1: Whenever Susan feels on edge, she takes several deep breaths and starts to feel more relaxed.
EXAMPLE 2: Ever since his car accident, Neil has felt on edge.
out of this world – delicious
EXAMPLE 1: Mrs. Field’s oatmeal raisin cookies are out of this world!
EXAMPLE 2: Mmmm, I love your chicken soup. It’s out of this world!
(to) pig out [slang] – to eat greedily; to stuff oneself
EXAMPLE 1: Ted pigged out on hot dogs and hamburgers at the barbeque and then got a stomachache.
EXAMPLE 2: “Nicole, stop pigging out on cookies or you’ll never be able to eat your dinner!”
NOTE: Pay attention to the preposition “on” after the verb “to pig out.”
One can pig out on hot dogs, pig out on candy, pig out on ice cream.