PE 7/10 Affordable Fashions for Women

* fetching: attractive

ex> They live in a fetching little yellow house on a tree-lined street in Pasadena.

* come up/away empty-handed: to return with nothing

ex> We went to several garage sales hoping to find a sewing machine, but came away empty-handed.

* clout: influence or power; a physical hit

ex> Jim’s friends advised him not to run for president because he lacked political clout.

* go whole hog: to do everything possible; be extravagant

ex> I went whole hog and bought every accessory they had for my camera.

Note> This is likely a folk term from the practice of livestock and butchery; “whole hog” refers to letting no portion of the animal carcass go to waste. For example, skin is tanned for leather, sweetbreads are harvested, and commonly cast off pieces such as hooves are pickled.

* break the bank: to spend all one’s money

ex> I do like this neighborhood, but buying this house broke the bank.

Note> This idiom has its origins in casino gambling as a reference to occasions when the casino bank does not have the cash to cover winning bets. In common usage, the phrase is often used as a way of saying that a service or product is too expensive.

* retail therapy: shopping to make oneself feel better

ex> There are very few personal problems my sister can’t solve with retail therapy.

* leap out: This past participle of “leap” can be “leaped” or “leapt,” just as “dreamed” and “dreamt” are both acceptable forms. The expression “leap out” can be used literally or figuratively. A dog could leap out at you from a yard, or a car could leap out at you from a magazine!

ex> Wow! These are great colors you’ve chosen! I love the way the letters leap out at you.