IDIOM CONNECTION

Scold Idioms and a Bad Work Situation

Introduction

Do you know anyone who is always scolding other people?

Reading

I think that my supervisor has it in for me. He seems to dislike me and always takes me to task for very small things. This morning, he called me on the carpet for being one minute late. He jumped all over me when I arrived at work. He then began to chew me out for many other small things. I was surprised. I did not know what he was driving at. I am almost never late. I became angry and began to give him a piece of my mind. He was surprised at my reaction and he immediately backed off. I think that he should apologize but I know that he will not do that.
to scold someone - to criticize someone harshly and often angrily

Reading Questions

Answer the following questions. The answers can easily be found in the reading above.

1. Who has it in for this person?

2. What does the supervisor take her to task for?

3. What did the supervisor call her on the carpet for this morning?

4. When did the supervisor jump all over her?

5. What else did the supervisor begin to chew her out about?

6. Did she know what the supervisor was driving at?

7. Did she give the supervisor a piece of her mind?

8. Did the supervisor finally back off?

Making Connections and Idiom Meanings

Some of the idioms have another meaning or are connected to another meaning. Use this information to help you choose the correct meaning for each of the underlined idioms:

1. The supervisor has it in for the sales clerk.
a)   plans to promote
b)   does not like
c)   is very happy with

2. My friend took me to task for not returning his money.
a)   thanked me
b)   did not become irritated with me
c)   scolded me

3. In some offices the manager has a carpet on the floor while the workers have no carpet. When a worker gets called into the manager's office, often it is to be scolded for something. What do you think that to call someone on the carpet means in the following sentence?

The supervisor called the saleswoman on the carpet for her mistake.
a)   did not worry about the saleswoman and
b)   criticized the saleswoman for
c)   asked the saleswoman about

4. My friend jumped all over me when I arrived to meet her.
a)   hugged me
b)   looked at me
c)   scolded me severely

5. When you chew food your mouth sometimes moves a lot. When you are speaking angrily at someone your mouth could also move a lot. What do you think that to chew someone out means in the following sentence?

The teacher chewed out the girl after the class.
a)   talked to
b)   criticized
c)   searched for

6. The saleswoman was driving at something which I could not understand.
a)   intending to say
b)   looking at
c)   confused about

7. The woman on the street stopped and gave the child a piece of her mind.
a)   began to help the child
b)   became angry with the child
c)   talked quietly to the child

8. I was having an argument with my friend but I did not want to fight with him so I backed off.
a)   became angry
b)   retreated
c)   said that I was sorry

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Match the Sentences

Choose the answer that best matches each sentence:

Choose the idiom which correctly completes each sentence:

1. The apartment manager has it in for me.
a) The apartment manager does not like me.
b) The apartment manager seems to like me.

2. The teacher took the student to task for not doing his homework.
a) The teacher did not criticize the student.
b) The teacher criticized the student for not doing his homework.

3. The librarian called the student on the carpet for not returning the book.
a) The librarian scolded the student.
b) The librarian praised the student.

4. My friend jumped all over me when I forgot to bring his book.
a) My friend became angry and scolded me.
b) My friend was very happy with me.

5. The supervisor was chewing out the restaurant worker.
a) The supervisor was criticizing the restaurant worker.
b) The supervisor thinks that the worker is great.

6. My friend is driving at something but I do not understand what it is.
a) I understand what my friend wants to say.
b) I do not understand what my friend wants to say.

7. I gave my friend a piece of my mind.
a) I became angry and began yelling at my friend.
b) I was happy when I saw my friend.

8. I wanted to complain about my swimming instructor but I decided to back off.
a) I was angry but I decided not to do anything about my swimming instructor.
b) I decided to make a complaint about my swimming instructor.

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

Choose the word or expression that makes each of the following sentences correct:

1. My friend jumped ________________ over me when I was late for the movie.
a)   in
b)   all
c)   up

2. My supervisor took me _______________ task for taking a long lunch.
a)   for
b)   to
c)   in

3. The man was aggressive and angry but finally he backed ___________________.
a)   up
b)   off
c)   over

4. I gave the store clerk a piece _______________ my mind because of his mistake.
a)   in
b)   to
c)   of

5. I do not know what the announcer was driving ___________________.
a)   in
b)   up
c)   at

6. I think that my boss has it ________________ for me.
a)   over
b)   up
c)   in

7. I chewed ___________________ my friend for not returning my phone call.
a)  over
b)  up
c)  out

8. The manager called the employee ________________ the carpet for not working hard.
a)  on
b)  in
c)  up

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Do you think that anyone has it in for you?

2. Have you ever had it in for someone at school or work?

3. Did you ever take someone to task for something?

4. Has anyone ever taken you to task for something?

5. Do you know anyone who was called on the carpet for something?

6. Have you ever been called on the carpet for something?

7. Have you ever jumped all over someone about something?

8. Has one of your friends ever jumped all over you about something?

9. Did you chew out anyone recently?

10. Have you ever been chewed out by a teacher?

11. Do your friends always know what you are driving at?

12. Do you always know what your parents are driving at?

13. Who gave you a piece of his or her mind recently?

14. Have you given anyone a piece of your mind recently?

15. Have you backed off from anyone recently?

16. Has a friend ever backed off from a fight with you?

Role Play

Student A: Your friend did not return your book. You jumped all over him when you met him and you are continuing to chew him out.

Student B: You have many reasons and excuses why you did not return the book.

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