PE 8/13 The Arenal Volcano

* spitting image of something: someone or something that looks exactly like someone or something else

ex> My niece is always being photographed by strangers because she’s the spitting image of Emma Stone.

Note> The term “spitting image” is a shortening of the original “spit and image,” which means that you are both the stuff that your parents are made of (the spit) and you look like them, too (the image).

* spring chicken: a very young person or thing

ex> My grandmother is no spring chicken, but she can swim faster than I can.

ex> This car is no spring chicken, so I don’t think it will last much longer.

Note> This phrase is almost always used in the negative, “no spring chicken.”

* play with fire: to do something dangerous or to act recklessly

ex> Fred should’ve known he was playing with fire to ask Tammy about her ex-boyfriend.

* cause a commotion: to do something that causes a widespread emotional reaction

ex> The Mutant Turnips’ second album caused a commotion when it first came out.

* dormant: temporarily inactive or slowed down

ex> These plants are dormant through the winter, but produce beautiful blooms all spring.

* obliterate: to destroy completely

ex> There are many simple things we can do to ensure that the rainforests are not obliterated.

ex> These figures make it clear that many diseases have been obliterated by improved hygiene.

* ease off: “ease off” and “ease up” means the same thing: to become lesser. You can also use “let up,” which has the same meaning, especially when talking about the weather.

ex> I’m still hopeful that the rain will ease off soon.