A Closer Look: Lesson 10 · Street Talk 1 Vocabulary List

to concentrate closely on a particular matter

"Zero in on the main problem quickly."

"The detective was able to zero in on the real suspect after carefully analyzing all of the evidence at the crime scene."

since the earliest stage or point in time

"He knew from day one."

"She was confident since day one, never doubting her abilities."

to examine a thing or person very quickly

"He gave me a once-over."

"The security guard gave me a quick once-over before letting me enter the exclusive nightclub downtown."

nearly identical, especially in looks or behavior

"They are like two peas in a pod."

"The twin sisters are like two peas in a pod and even their own mother sometimes confuses them."

a tough and forceful way of questioning someone in order to make them reveal information or admit to something, often using harsh methods

"Mom gave me the third degree."

"My parents gave me the third degree when I came home late asking where I had been and with whom."

toss out; get rid of

"Let's deep-six this old chair."

"After the meeting, they decided to deep-six the entire project because it was no longer profitable."

used to say that both options or situations are equal and that none is better or worse than the other

"It's six of one."

"Whether you choose the blue shirt or the red shirt, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other."

in a situation that involves difficulty, particularly one that is worse compared to that of others

"I am behind the eight ball."

"After losing his job he found himself behind the eight ball with no savings and many bills to pay."

tremendously excited about something

"He was on cloud nine."

"When she heard that she had passed the exam she was on cloud nine all week."

dressed up in a very attractive or fashionable way

"She was dressed to the nines."

"The guests arrived at the gala dressed to the nines in fancy gowns and expensive tuxedos."

***a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions

"It is a catch-22 situation."

"The catch 22 situation meant that she needed experience to get the job but she needed the job to gain experience."

used to describe a sudden departure or a hasty retreat

"He shouted twenty-three skidoo."

"The jazz age slang twenty three skidoo was popular in the 1920s meaning to leave quickly."

a short, light nap or brief sleep taken to rest and regain energy

"He catches forty winks on the sofa after lunch."

"He caught forty winks on the sofa before getting ready for his night shift."

used to say that the chances of something happening or being true are very slim

"I would never in a million years."

"She would not in a billion years agree to work for such a low salary at that company."

having no measurable or otherwise determinable value

"The chance is zero."

"The zero tolerance policy for bullying meant that any student caught harassing others would be expelled immediately."

a person who tries hard to let others know that they always do the right thing and behave well

"My sister is such a goody two shoes."

"My sister is such a goody two shoes that she has never broken a single rule in her life."