IDIOM CONNECTION

lesson 35

Persuade Idioms and Filming a Movie

Introduction

Would you like to act in a movie? Why or why not?

Reading

They are planning to film a movie near my house. They need many extra actors as well as the regular actors. I want to sell the director on the idea of using me in the movie. I have some acting experience and I think that I can talk him into giving me an acting part. Usually, I can sweet-talk people into doing what I want. I will work very hard to win him over but it may not be possible to bring him around to my idea. He may decide to go with another actor who has more experience. There are union rules as well, about who can act in a movie and who cannot. This may make it even more difficult to get a part.

Reading Questions

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

1. What do they need as well as regular actors?

2. What does this person want to sell the director on?

3. What does he want to talk the director into doing?

4. Can he usually sweet-talk people into doing what he wants?

5. Will he work hard to win the director over?

6. Does he think that he will be able to bring the director around?

7. Who may the director decide to go with?

8. Are there union rules as well about who can act in a movie?

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. as well as something
a)   next to something
b)   in addition to something
c)   after something

2. to sell someone on something
a)   to convince someone that something is good
b)   to sell someone something
c)   to try and sell something

3. to talk someone into doing something
a)   to persuade someone to do something
b)   to force someone to do something
c)   to ask someone to do something

4. Sweet can mean pleasing or agreeable. What would to sweet-talk someone into doing something mean?
a)   to praise someone in order to get what you want from him or her
b)   to talk to someone for a very long time
c)   to make an effort to help someone

5. to win someone over
a)   to win something from someone
b)   to convince someone to agree with you
c)   to win a prize

6. Around can mean in another or in an opposite direction. To turn around means to turn to the opposite direction. Bring means to cause someone or something to come toward the speaker. What does to bring someone around mean when you are talking about someone's opinion?
a)   to change someone's opinion about something
b)   to tell someone something
c)   to help someone

7. to go with someone or something
a)   to talk to someone rudely
b)   to choose one person or thing rather than another
c)   to plan to do something

8. as well
a)   also
b)   because
c)   soon

Your score is: ___  out of 8


True or False

Choose whether each statement is true or false:

1. The man will go to a restaurant as well as a movie. He will go to both a restaurant and a movie.
a)   True
b)   False

2. The girl will try to sell her mother on the idea of going on a holiday. The mother definitely wants to go on a holiday.
a)   True
b)   False

3. I talked my friend into going to a movie with me. He will not go to the movie with me.
a)   True
b)   False

4. The girl can sweet-talk her mother into anything. The mother spoils the girl.
a)   True
b)   False

5. The company president must try to win over the managers. The managers agree with him.
a)   True
b)   False

6. The city government cannot bring around the union to sign the new contract. They have some disagreements regarding the contract.
a)   True
b)   False

7. After the job interviews were over, the company decided to go with the first candidate. They decided to hire the first candidate.
a)  True
b)  False

8. At the restaurant, the woman ordered a salad and some fruit as well. She also ordered some fruit.
a)  True
b)  False

Your score is: ___  out of 8


Grammar Focus

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

1. I bought some toothpaste ______________ a toothbrush.
a)   as well in
b)   as well for
c)   as well as

2. The government wants _______________ the new tax.
a)   to sell the citizens for
b)   to sell the citizens on
c)   to sell the citizens in

3. I can never ______________________ a horror movie.
a)   talk my friend into going to
b)   talk my friend in going to
c)   talk my friend for going to

4. I plan __________________ lending me his car.
a)   to sweet-talk my friend for
b)   to sweet-talk my friend in
c)   to sweet-talk my friend into

5. I _______________ my friend to my idea about going to the game.
a)   won over
b)   won under
c)   won by

6. The manager tried to _____________________ to agree with his idea.
a)   bring up the employees
b)   bring over the employees
c)   bring around the employees

7. I plan to ____________ a small car rather than a big car when I rent a car.
a)  go with
b)  go up
c)  go to

8. I ordered a salad at the restaurant. I decided ______________________ .
a)  to order soup so well
b)  to order soup as well
c)  to order soup for well

Your score is: ___  out of 8




Discussion Questions

Answer the following questions using the idioms from this section:

1. Do you speak another language as well as English?

2. Do you sometimes eat fish as well as meat at the same meal?

3. Have you ever tried to sell someone on a crazy plan?

4. Has a friend ever sold you on a crazy idea?

5. Did you ever try to talk someone into doing something stupid?

6. Do you know someone who you can talk into doing almost anything?

7. Do you sometimes try to sweet-talk people into doing what you want?

8. Can people easily sweet-talk you into doing what they want?

9. Can your friends easily win you over to their opinions?

10. Do you know someone who you can never win over to your opinion?

11. Is it easy to bring your friends around to your point of view?

12. Do you know anyone who you can never bring around to your way of thinking?

13. If you had to hire someone with experience or someone with new ideas who would you go with?

14. Do you usually go with light colors or dark colors when you buy clothes?

15. Do you like reading books? Do you like reading comics as well?

16. Do you drink a lot of coffee? Do you drink a lot of tea as well?

Role Play

Student A: They are planning to film a movie in your area. You want to talk the director into giving you a part. You are trying very hard to win him over to your idea.

Student B: You are the movie director. You agree to listen to this person but you will probably go with someone else for the part.

lesson 35