Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1. When I told her to go home, she got angry and hung up on me.
- What does �hung up on me� mean?

2. If your daughter exceeds those limits, just come down hard on her.
- What does "come down hard on her� mean?

3. My best friend is throwing a New Year� Eve party this year.
- �throw� here means �celebrate� or �make�, right? And is it polite to say?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[CP]

1. She terminated the phone call. The earliest phones hung on the wall and had a large earpiece that was held to the ear and hung on a lever-type hook. One had to pick up the earpiece before speaking into the mouthpiece, and had to hang up the earpiece to terminate the call. We still use the expression -- as we still say dial when dial phones are practically extinct.

2. Means to impose heavy discipline. Opposite of going easy on. "She didn't mean to take drugs. Go easy on her, Mom!"

3. It is polite to say. To throw a party is to give a party. The host throws the party, and it's fine to use the expression. "I'm throwing a party / I'm having a party / I'm giving a party. Can you be there Saturday night?"
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