PE 9/9 Choosing the Right Words

* that’ll do it: it is finished; that’s good enough

ex> We just have to apply one more coat of paint and that’ll do it.

* booked solid: sold out; already reserved

ex> We had to find another venue because that nightclub was booked solid for weeks.

Note> In the past, reservations for travel, accommodations and restaurants were usually written by hand into a physical book. When a page was full and there were no blank spaces for new reservations, the page was “solid.”

* not miss a trick: to be aware of every detail; be thorough

ex> We have to plan her surprise party carefully because Elaine doesn’t miss a trick.

* Hold’er, Newt.: to stop because you’re about to do something foolish or premature

ex> Hold’er, Newt. You have to connect the hose before you turn the water on.

Note> This phrase originates from the rural southern US in the 1920’s and refers to the need to restrain a farm animal from going where it shouldn’t go. It was sometimes followed by, “She’s headin’ for the rhubarb!,” “She’s headin’ for the meadow!,” or “She’s headin’ for the timber!”

* boner: a stupid mistake

ex> Every once in a while I pull a boner, like forgetting to close the fridge door.

* gather: to assume

ex> I gather from the fifteen messages on my phone that you wanted to talk to me.

* I’m sold.: The expression I’m sold is sometimes followed with the preposition on, which is then followed by a phrase describing what the speaker is agreeing to. For example, one could say, “I’m sold on the idea of renting a cabin for three weeks.”

ex> I’m sold. Let’s go there right now. All this talk of food has made me hungry!