Sophie, thanks for talking me into coming to the haka festival. I usually skip things
like this – you know, dance and opera and cultural stuff.
* take
someone into: to convince someone to do something they might not otherwise
do
ex> The salesman talked me into
buying extra insurance coverage for my car.
The way they painted their faces is
really intimidating. That would definitely strike
fear into their enemies.
* strike
fear into: to severely scare someone
ex> The sheer size of the boxer struck
fear into most of his opponents.
If this is the way they start a battle,
there isn't much chance in catching the enemy unawares.
I guess they relied on sheer terror!
* catch
someone unawares / be caught unawares: to be surprised
= be caught off guard; be taken by
surprise; be caught totally unprepared
ex> The pitcher was caught
unawares when the next batter was a midget.
The book I read about the dance genre
said that women used to sneak into the war haka. They really stirred up a hornet’s nest when that
happened.
* stir
up a hornet’s nest: to cause a lot of trouble
ex> You really stirred up a hornet’s
nest with your comments about her weight!
Note> When people use the term “hornet’s
nest” as an idiom, they are generally referring to the consequences of creating
controversy or changing the status quo.
That sounds like a cock and bull story. How can a dance make you infertile?
* a
cock and bull story: an unbelievable and sometimes elaborate lie
ex> The myth of Big Foot is a cock
and bull story made up by a couple of guys over a beer.
1. When I was young, my sisters talked me into wearing wigs to church.
답글삭제2. The mere sight of a clown struck fear into the man and left him speechless.
3. The guards were caught unawares by the escaping prisoners.
4. The gossiping woman likes to stir up a hornet’s nest whenever she could.
5. My father often told a cock and bull story about his days as a lifeguard.