IDIOM CONNECTION

Banking Idioms

Introduction

1. What bank do you usually use?

2. What do you use the bank for?

Reading

We have just moved to a new city. We will live there for one year. Tomorrow, I must write a check for the rent for our new apartment. I also need to cash a check that I have in order to get some money for our living expenses. Furthermore, I want to regularly withdraw money from a cash machine. I would also like a line of credit for emergencies. I would like to open a bank account soon. I want an account with low service charges. I will use the check that I have to make a deposit to be certain that I have enough money in my bank account. I certainly do not want to bounce a check.
a check is a written order that asks a bank to pay the amount written on the check from funds in the bank

Reading Questions

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

1. What will he write a check for tomorrow?

2. Does he also need to cash a check?

3. Does he want to regularly withdraw money?

4. Does he want a line of credit?

5. Does he need to open the bank account soon?

6. Is he looking for an account with low service charges?

7. Will he make a deposit with his check?

8. Does he want to bounce a check?

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. to write a check
a)   to check to see if you need to transfer some money
b)   to make a check that will give money to someone else
c)   to write a note to check something

2. to cash a check
a)   to check to see if you have enough cash
b)   to exchange a check for money
c)   to get some cash from a bank

3. to withdraw money
a)   to take money from a bank account
b)   to put money into a bank account
c)   to check your bank account balance

4. a line of credit
a)   money that a bank will loan you if you need it
b)   money that you must pay back to a bank
c)   a statement about the money you want to borrow

5. to open a bank account
a)   to begin to use your bank account
b)   to apply to a bank to get an account to keep your money
c)   to decide to make a bank account

6. a service charge
a)   a charge for a service
b)   a credit card transaction
c)   a service that you do not need

7. to make a deposit
a)   to try to save much money
b)   to put money into a bank account
c)   to check if you have enough money

8. When you bounce a ball it comes back to you. What does to bounce a check mean?
a)   to not have enough money in your bank account after you write a check
b)   to write a check when you have much money in your account
c)   to fail to open a bank account

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Match the Sentences

Choose the best answer for each sentence:

1. The man recently wrote a check.
a)   He probably bought something recently.
b)   He has not had to pay for anything recently.
c)   He needs to be more careful with his money.

2. The woman must go to a bank to cash a check.
a)   Someone has given her a check.
b)   She has not received any checks recently.
c)   She needs to check her bank balance.

3. The man must withdraw some money from the bank.
a)   He probably does not need any money.
b)   He probably needs some money for something.
c)   He needs to borrow some money from a bank.

4. The small business has a line of credit for emergencies.
a)   They can easily get money if they need it.
b)   It will be difficult to get money if they need it.
c)   They will need to ask the bank to borrow money for an emergency.

5. The little boy wants to open a bank account.
a)   He is interested in learning about banking.
b)   He does not care about banking.
c)   He does not want a bank account.

6. The woman changed banks because of the high service charges.
a)   The woman does not want to pay these service charges.
b)   The woman does not care about these service charges.
c)   The service charges are the same at every bank.

7. The store owner must make a large deposit today.
a)  The store owner has much cash now.
b)  The store owner has almost no cash.
c)  The store owner needs cash to operate.

8. The man recently bounced a check by mistake.
a)  He may have been very embarrassed.
b)  He probably did not care much about this.
c)  He often does not have enough money.

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Grammar Focus

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

1. The parents had ____________________ for the school supplies.
a)   to written a check
b)   to write a check
c)   to writing a check

2. The man went to the bank yesterday _____________________.
a)   and cash a check
b)   for cash a check
c)   to cash a check

3. Yesterday, the woman ___________________ from a bank.
a)   withdrew some money
b)   withdraw some money
c)   will withdraw some money

4. The restaurant has _________________ in order to operate their business.
a)   a line in credit
b)   a line to credit
c)   a line of credit

5. The boy _______________ his first bank account when he was very young.
a)   opens
b)   opened
c)   will open

6. The _________________ at the bank are very high.
a)   service charges
b)   services charges
c)   service charged

7. We stopped at the bank _________________.
a)  to make deposits
b)  to make a deposit
c)  to make deposit

8. The man has no money and often ______________ .
a)  bounce a check
b)  bounce checks
c)  bounces checks

Your score is: ___ out of 8

Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Do you ever write a check when you want to pay for something?

2. What things do people usually write a check for?

3. Where can you go to cash a check?

4. Have you cashed a check recently?

5. How do you withdraw money from a bank?

6. Have you withdrawn money from a bank recently?

7. Do you know anyone who has a line of credit?

8. When do you think that someone would use a line of credit?

9. When did you first open a bank account?

10. Do you think that it is easy to open a bank account?

11. Do you pay any service charges on your bank account?

12. Do you have any bank accounts that have no service charges?

13. Do you often make a deposit in your bank account?

14. Does anyone sometimes make a deposit in your bank account?

15. Have you ever known someone who bounced a check?

16. Have you ever bounced a check?

Role Play

Student A: You are a customer at a bank. You want to open a new account. You are explaining to the bank teller what you want.

Student B: You are a bank teller who is talking to a customer who wants to open a bank account.

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