Dialogues with Idioms

Cat in a Tree

New Idioms are “Back to the wall” and “Eat crow.” The Grammar focuses on Adverbials.

Trevor: “My cat is in a tree.”
Damian: “What’s he doing up there?”
Trevor: “Chasing a squirrel, but it’s dumb.”
Damian: “He won’t catch him up there.”
Trevor: “I know. Now he has his back to the wall.”
Damian: “You mean, he can’t jump down.”
Trevor: “Exactly. And the squirrel is gone.”
Damian: “Are you going to call the fire department?”
Trevor: “Of course not. That’s only in the movies.”
Damian: “It’s real easy to go up, not so easy to come down.”
Trevor: “Yep, he’s out of his depth on this one.”
Damian: “How embarrassing. He has to eat crow.”
Trevor: “No, my cat never admits his mistakes.”

VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS

Has his back to the wall means he’s trapped in a bad situation in which his choices are limited. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Real easy is colloquial and ungrammatical, but means very easy.
Come down can be an idiom but here just means to descend. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Out of his depth is a swimming metaphor which means he doesn’t have the skill to deal with his situation. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Eat crow means to admit he is wrong and show total humility. See online Idioms Dictionary.

INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE

A new Idiom is “Steer clear of.” The Grammar focuses on Adverbials.

Sam: “Look at the leopard in the tree.”
Grady: “He looks pretty relaxed.”
Sam: “I guess he’s not hunting now.”
Grady: “They’re nocturnal animals and they mostly hunt at night.”
Sam: “Maybe he already dragged his dinner into the tree. Maybe he’s finished eating.”
Grady: “Why do they do that?”
Sam: “Leopards are loners and they steer clear of violence in the trees. Hyenas and wild dogs can’t climb, so leopards can relax more easily than on the ground.”
Grady: “Can’t lions climb trees?”
Sam: “Yes, but they are much heavier, so it’s not easy for them. But leopards are safe and comfortable in the trees.”

VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS

Steer clear of means to avoid someone or something. See online Idioms Dictionary.

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