Lesson Two -- Idioms at School

Hit the books	study
Wet blanket	someone or something that dampens enthusiasm or “spoils the party”
Burn the midnight oil	study or work late into the night
Pull someone’s leg	try to fool someone
For the birds	not worth anything; worthless
Horse around	play around, playing
Foaming at the mouth	very angry (a reference to being a mad person)
Boggles the mind	to shock or surprise one
Screw loose	to be crazy
Top of the class	literally, the best in the class (school, merchandise—a car can be the top of its class, and so on)
Beat it into someone’s head	learn something through repetitive memorization
Drive someone up a wall	annoy someone greatly
By the skin of one’s teeth	just barely (the skin have no teeth, so see the “joke”?)
Cat got your tongue?	are you unable to speak? Will you not speak?
On the tip of one’s tongue	I’m trying to remember something, and it’s coming, but it’s not there yet. I can’t get it out. It can also mean I decide not to say something at the last minute: It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her mother the truth, but then she decided that least said, soonest mended.
Small talk	general conversation of little importance. Used to pass the time.
Get one’s feet wet	to get started
Play it by ear	to see what happens and make a decision as things go on.
Get off someone’s back	to stop bothering or pressuring someone
Keep your fingers crossed	wishing someone or hoping for good luck
Blow a gasket	explosively lose one’s temper, like a car’s engine blowing
Toe the line	do what one is supposed to do. Conform to a rule or standard.

Matt: Hey, Albin, Samantha and I were going to go to the movies after school? Want to come?

Samantha: Don’t be a wet blanket. You can go to the movies with us and then burn the midnight oil later.

Matt: Samantha, he’s pulling our legs. He’s not really going to study! That’s for the birds!

Albin: No, really, dude, I don’t have time to horse around. When my dad saw my biology and math grades, he was foaming at the mouth!

Matt: What? Do you have a screw loose? How can your grades be bad? You were at the top of the class last year.

Albin: I don’t know what happened, dude. This year, I try to beat it into my head, but nothing happens. It’s driving me up a wall.

Matt: If it were me, I could understand. I’m always getting through math by the skin of my teeth.

Samantha: Hm, I bet I know what your problem is, Albin, but I’m not saying!

Samantha: Matt, you know what I mean. Or should I say, who, I mean, don’t you?

Albin: (blushing) I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I don’t have time for this small talk. I have to get my feet wet when it comes to good study habits.

Matt: Well, think about coming to the movies with us. You can play it by ear. We’re not leaving till 4:00.

Albin: I don’t know, dude. I’ve really got to get my parents off my back.

Samantha: I understand. My folks blow a gasket if I don’t toe the line at school. But I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Maybe you’ll come.