IDIOM CONNECTION

Fighting Idioms and an Angry Customer

Introduction

Do you know any stores where the clerks are not polite and friendly?

Reading

The customer was in a bad mood. She entered the store and immediately began to create a stink about my customer service. She took issue with something that I had said. I do not remember exactly what it was. She wanted to pick a fight with somebody for no reason. I am sick of those types of customers. If I stand up to them, they complain to my manager. They are never happy and nothing that I say or do will make a difference in how they feel. In general, I like to deal with different types of people. It is only some customers that I dislike. They make my job much worse than it has to be. However, it will be up to me to decide if I want to continue with this job or not.

Reading Questions

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

1. Who began to create a stink?

2. What did the customer take issue with?

3. Why did she want to pick a fight with someone?

4. What is the sales clerk sick of?

5. What happens when the sales clerk stands up to these types of customers?

6. Will anything make a difference in how these customers feel?

7. In general, what does the sales clerk like?

8. What is it up to the sales clerk to do?

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 following idioms:

1. A Stink can sometimes mean a great deal of trouble. What does to create a stink mean?
a)   to dislike something
b)   to make trouble about something
c)   to discuss something

2. to take issue with someone
a)   to agree with someone
b)   to discuss an issue with someone
c)   to disagree with someone

3. to pick a fight with someone
a)   to like to fight
b)   to stop a fight with someone
c)   to start a fight with someone

4. to be sick of someone or something
a)   to be interested in something
b)   to dislike someone or something
c)   to like someone or something

5. to stand up to someone
a)   to be very frightened of someone and not speak
b)   to oppose someone boldly
c)   to begin to like someone

6. to make a difference
a)   to not cause a problem
b)   to not be important and not improve a situation
c)   to be important and improve a situation

7. in general
a)   usually
b)   almost never
c)   soon

8. to be up to someone to do something
a)   to not worry about something
b)   to be someone's responsibility to do something
c)   to not be someone's responsibility to do something

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Match the Sentences

Choose the best answer for each sentence:

1. The man began to create a stink in the supermarket.
a) He was in a very good mood.
b) He was in a bad mood and wanted to fight with someone.

2. The principal took issue with something that the teacher said.
a) The principal agreed with the teacher.
b) The principal did not agree with the teacher.

3. The little girl picked a fight with her friend.
a) The little girl started a fight.
b) The little girl stopped a fight.

4. The man is sick of his job.
a) The man likes his job.
b) The man does not like his job.

5. Our supervisor is not a nice person but nobody will stand up to him.
a) Nobody will disagree with him and oppose him.
b) Many people are willing to oppose him strongly.

6. Nothing that we did to try and help the boy made a difference.
a) We were able to help the boy easily.
b) We were not able to help the boy.

7. In general, the man does not like to drive at night.
a) The man is not happy to drive at night.
b) The man is happy to drive at night.

8. It is up to my friend to decide if he wants to go to the movie or not.
a) It will not be my friend's decision.
b) It is my friend's decision.

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

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

1. The man tried to _______________ fight with the other man.
a)   pick over a
b)   pick a
c)   pick for a

2. The girl said that she was ______________ practicing the piano.
a)   sick to
b)   sick up
c)   sick of

3. We worked hard but it did not __________________ .
a)   make the differences
b)   make differences
c)   make a difference

4. It is ________________ to fix the broken printer.
a)   up over me
b)   up for me
c)   up to me

5. _______________ , I am very happy with my job.
a)   To general
b)   In general
c)   For general

6. I did not want to __________________ about the bad restaurant service.
a)   create a stink
b)   create the stink
c)   create stinks

7. The little boy _________________ the big boy.
a)  stood up by
b)  stood up in
c)  stood up to

8. The man in the store ______________ something that the clerk said.
a)  took issues for
b)  took issues on
c)  took issue with

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Have you ever created a stink about something that you bought in a store?

2. Do you know anyone who will create a stink for a small reason?

3. Did you ever take issue with something that a friend said?

4. Did anyone take issue with something that you said recently?

5. Did anyone ever pick a fight with you when you were a child?

6. Have you ever tried to pick a fight with someone?

7. Are you sick of anything at the moment?

8. Do you get sick of things very easily?

9. Do you usually stand up to a person who wants to cause you problems?

10. Do you know anyone who will never stand up to a bully?

11. Have you ever made a difference in somebody's life?

12. Did someone ever make a difference in your life?

13. In general, what do you like to do on the weekend?

14. What kind of food do you like to eat in general?

15. Is it up to you if you study English or not?

16. Has it ever been up to you to solve a difficult computer problem?

Role Play

Student A: You are a customer in a department store. The clerk is very rude. Usually, you do not want to create a stink over issues like this but you are sick of that type of behavior. You feel that it is up to you to complain to the manager.

Student B: You are a manager in the store and you must talk to this angry customer.

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