Lesson 17: English Idioms from

Science and Technology

Introductory Quiz
Guess the correct meaning of each idiom from the context. It's OK if you get a lot of
answers incorrect - the important part is to do your best in trying to figure it out!

Question 1

After working throughout the weekend, I took Monday and Tuesday off to recharge
my batteries.

If you "recharge your batteries," you...

A plan for your next major project

B rest and relax to get your strength back
C take care of things around the house

Question 2

Hannah and I are on the same wavelength, so collaborating with her on the project
was easy and fun.

If you are "on the same wavelength" as another person, it means both of you...

A have similar or compatible views

B live a short distance from each other
C organize your time effectively

Question 3

Our English teacher started the semester with a lot of extra creative activities, but
towards the end she seemed to run out of steam and just gave lessons straight from
the book.

To "run out of steam" is to...

A change strategy and methods

B have no additional resources available
C lose momentum and energy

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Question 4

Somehow we got our wires crossed, because I had the meeting scheduled for the
14th and she had it on the 19th in her calendar.

If two people "get their wires crossed," it means they...

A are in conflict
B are not good at planning
C have a miscommunication

Question 5

To configure your new cell phone, you just put in the chip and follow the instructions on
the screen. It's not rocket science.

If something is "not rocket science," it means it is...

A not dangerous
B something you do every day
C very easy

Question 6

I bought my daughter an iPad for her birthday. She thinks it's the greatest thing
since sliced bread; she spends hours playing with it.

Describing something as "the greatest thing since sliced bread" means it is...

A healthy
B simple
C wonderful

Question 7

We're really looking for a more basic computer program; this one has too many bells
and whistles that our employees will never use.

"Bells and whistles" are...

A extra features that are not essential

B possibilities for making a mistake
C special visual and sound effects

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Question 8

My brother blew a gasket when he found out that his best friend had cheated him out
of $5000.

If someone "blows a gasket," it means the person...

A explodes in anger
B fails to pay his bills
C gets revenge

Question 9

Now that we've finished our budget projections for next year, I'd like to switch gears
and talk about employee morale.

If you "switch gears," it means you...

A change to a different activity or topic

B emphasize an important point in a discussion
C surprise people with an unusual idea

Question 10

The number of our company's customers has more than doubled since the same time
last year. Our sales team is definitely firing on all cylinders.

"Firing on all cylinders" means...

A increasing the number of people involved in an activity

B using many different strategies to accomplish something
C working as powerfully and effectively as possible

Question 11

Look at that guy wearing shorts and sandals in the middle of winter! Either he doesn't
feel the cold, or else he has a screw loose.

If someone "has a screw loose," it means they...

A are crazy
B are poor
C enjoy pain

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Question 12

I found the movie really confusing the first time I saw it, but when I watched it again I
had a light bulb moment.

A "light bulb moment" is a moment of...

A curiosity about a story

B laughter and happiness
C sudden understanding or inspiration

Video Explanation
#1 - recharge your batteries = rest and relax to get your strength back

Batteries are sources of power and energy. Some batteries are

rechargeable - meaning that after the energy is gone, you can add
more energy and use the battery again.

The idiom "recharge your batteries" is used when you have very
little energy, so you do something to increase your energy level
again - usually rest and relaxation.

#2 - on the same wavelength = have similar or compatible views

In physics, the wavelength is the

distance between two identical points
of a wave, as you can see in the
diagram. If two waves have the same
wavelength, they help amplify each
other.

So if two people are “on the same

wavelength,” it means that they have
similar views, thoughts, and feelings, and they work well together.

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#3 - run out of steam = lose momentum and energy

This idiom comes from steam engines, which are often used to
power trains. If the system has no more steam it will lose
momentum, slow down, and eventually stop - so the expression
"run out of steam" can be used to describe any process that loses
energy and slows down.

#4 - get your wires crossed = have a miscommunication

Wires are used to transmit energy in electrical components. If

some of the wires are crossed (mixed up), then the component
will not function correctly. Therefore, the idiom "get your wires
crossed" is used to describe a miscommunication or
misunderstanding between people.

#5 - it's not rocket science = it's very easy

Working with rockets is considered a very complex and very technical.

So if you say that something is NOT rocket science, it means it's very
easy and very simple. Be careful - this expression is often used
sarcastically, when you are making fun of someone for their inability to
do an easy task.

#6 - the greatest thing since sliced bread = wonderful

The invention of sliced bread (which was already cut, for

convenience) was advertised as a really big advance in
technology. So if you want to emphasize and exaggerate how
wonderful and amazing something is, you can say it's "the
greatest thing since sliced bread."

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#7 - bells and whistles = extra features that are not essential

This idiom probably comes from music – but it is usually applied to

technology. Bells and whistles are "extra" instruments, not the main
instruments in an orchestra. If a car, computer, camera, etc. has a lot of
bells and whistles, it has extra features that are "cool" but not essential to
the basic function.

#8 - blow a gasket = explode in anger

A gasket is a mechanical part that helps control and

contain pressure. The word "blow" can also mean
"explode" - if there is too much pressure, the gasket can
explode. So if a person explodes in anger, he or she is
said to "blow a gasket."

Other idioms with the same meaning are: blow a fuse,

blow your top, and blow your lid.

#9 - switch gears = change to a different activity or topic

The word "switch" means "change" - and gears are the different
configurations in a car, motorcycle, or bicycle. So if you switch gears,
you change to a different activity or topic of conversation - often one
that is not related to the previous activity / topic.

#10 - firing on all cylinders

= working as powerfully and effectively as possible

The word "cylinders" refers to parts of a car engine. If all the

cylinders are functioning correctly, then the engine will have
maximum power. So the idiom "firing on all cylinders"
means "functioning at maximum capacity."

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#11 - has a screw loose = is crazy

A screw is a small part of a machine, but if the screw is loose, then the
machine won't function properly. If you say a person "has a screw loose,"
you are saying that their mind isn't working properly - that they are
crazy.

#12 - a light bulb moment = sudden understanding or inspiration

When you suddenly understand something or when you get a

great idea, it feels like a light bulb has turned on in your head - so
these moments of inspiration are called "light bulb moments."

You've finished Lesson 17!

Take the practice quiz and try the writing exercises - and log in tomorrow for Lesson 18.

Practice Quiz
Question 1

We spent the entire day at the park; by the late afternoon the kids had
______________ and wanted to go home.

A gotten their wires crossed

B switched gears
C run out of steam

Question 2

I had been trying to think of a solution to the problem for days - and then I
_______________ in the shower!

A had a screw loose

B had a light bulb moment
C had bells and whistles

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Question 3

Wait a minute - I just sent you my revisions to the text, but now you've e-mailed me a
new and different version. I think we've _______________.

A gotten our wires crossed

B gotten on the same wavelength
C gotten rocket science

Question 4

I broke up with my last boyfriend because we just weren't _______________ when it

came to our goals and dreams in life.

A firing on all cylinders

B on the same wavelength
C the greatest thing since sliced bread

Question 5

Sorry, I'm not in the mood to go to a nightclub. I'd rather stay home and
_________________.

A blow a gasket
B run out of steam
C recharge my batteries

Question 6

The soccer team played reasonably well, but their defense made a few major mistakes
that cost them the game, so they clearly weren't ________________.

A getting their wires crossed

B firing on all cylinders
C switching gears

Question 7

If you don't get good results from studying grammar rules, you should ___________
and try a different learning method.

A have a loose screw

B recharge your batteries
C switch gears

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Question 8

I've had back problems for years, but I recently bought a new office chair specially
designed to correct your posture. ______________________ - I can now sit at the
computer and work pain-free.

A it's the greatest thing since sliced bread

B it's not rocket science
C it was a light bulb moment

Question 9

My husband loves to take pictures, so for his birthday I got him a new camera with all
the _______________.

A bells and whistles

B same wavelength
C greatest things since sliced bread

Question 10

I called the airline to try to change my flight, and I've been on hold for the past 45
minutes. If they don't answer soon, I'm going to _______________.

A blow a gasket
B switch gears
C run out of steam

Answers
1) C

2) B

3) A

4) B

5) C

6) B

7) C

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8) A

9) A

10) A

Speaking / Writing Exercises

1. What do you like to do in order to recharge your batteries after a long day or
week?

2. Who is someone with whom you are on the same wavelength? What views or
qualities do you share?

3. Describe the last time you got your wires crossed with a friend or coworker.

4. Have you ever blown a gasket?

5. When was the last time you had a light bulb moment?

If you want correction / feedback, you can either e-mail me your writing at
help@espressoenglish.net or leave me a voice mail message:
www.speakpipe.com/espressoenglish

Image Sources:

Ramesh NG
Bryan Derksen / Eptalon
Ben Salter from Wales
Kmashaye5220
Thornard
Winkelbohrer from Schweiz
Erwin94
Salvatore Vuono, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

www.espressoenglish.net
© Shayna Oliveira 2012
skladchik.in