11/22/08

Around the house (Everyday Idioms)

 

 

Everyday Idioms 3

1. keep house
related form : housekeeper (noun)

Usage Note: Housekeeper refers to a special person who is hired to keep house.

  • to do the needed chores around the house

    Example:
  • In modern societies, husbands and wives share in keeping house.
  • The Amantes hired a housekeeper to do most of the household chores.

    2. Clean up
  • to arrange neatly , to put in order.
    also: pick up , tidy up, straighten up.
    Grammar / Usage Notes: The idioms are separable. They are used for the general cleaning of homes, rooms , closets , work areas , and so on.
    Example:
  • Mrs. Potter told her son to clean up his room before going outside.
  • Didn't I tell you to pick your things up right away?
  • The Richards tidied up the house before their guests arrived.
  • Look at the mess in your closet! Straighten it up right now.

    3. put back           
  • to return to the proper place
    also: put away

    Usage Note: These idioms are separable . They are usually used to refer to specific items in a house or room.

    Examples:
  • You're supposed to put the dictionary back on the shelf after you've used it.
  • We put away the Christmas decorations until next year.

    4.
    fix the meal
  • to prepare the meal.
    also: fix breakfast , fix lunch , fix supper, fix dinner.
    Examples:
  • Jack fixed the meal Saturday night because his wife was sick.
  • Some busy people don't have time to fix breakfast in the morning.
  • We decided to go to a restaurant instead of fixing dinner.

    5. do the dishes
  • wash the dishes.
    Examples:
  • Older children are often responsible for doing the dishes at night.
  • The Nelsons decided to do the dishes in the morning because it was so late.

    6. take out
  • to remove unwanted items from the home
    Grammar/Usage Notes: This idiom is separable. It is often used with the objects garbage and trash.
    Examples:
  • Could you please take out the garbage for me?
  • It's time to take the trash out. It's beginning to smell.

    7. odds and ends
  • various tasks that need to be done

    Examples:
  • This weekend I stayed home and did some odds  and ends around the house.
  • Mrs. Aston drove into town because she had a few odds and ends to do.

    8. garage sale
    also: yard sale
  • a special sale held in front of a house for the purpose of selling household items that are no longer needed.

    Examples:
  • I put an ad in the newspaper for the garage sale we're having this weekend.
  • Some people make money by going to yard sales, by buying items cheaply.

    9. clean out
  • to clean by removing unnecessary items.

    Usage Notes: This idiom is separable. It is often used when an enclosed place such as a garage or other storage area needs cleaning after a long period of time.

    Examples:
  • The Wilsons cleaned out their garage to prepare for a yard sale.
  • There are so many old things stored in our  closets that we should clean them out soon.

    10. fix up
  • to repair, to fix.
    Grammar / Usage Notes: This idiom is separable. It generally refers to making improvements in appearance.

    Examples:

    • We needed to fix up the front of the house before my parents visited.
    • The Garrets like to buy older homes, fix them up, and then sell them for a profit.
  • 4 comments:

    Anonymous said...

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    Sana

    Anonymous said...

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    Hussain

    Anonymous said...

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