باد شدید

Strong Wind

look down on = despise; think you’re better than someone else, look down on

He was often looked down on for being different.

The scholar looked down on the farmer.

The rich man looked down on the beggar.

A: Why do those rich kids look down on Sarah?

B: Because Sarah’s family is poor and she wears old clothes.

look for

look for = try to find; search for; seek, look for

He’s looking for grass to eat.

What are you looking for?

Can you help me look for my glasses?

A: Can I help you?

B: Yes. I’m looking for the restroom.

look forward to

look forward to = anticipate; wait happily for, look forward to

He is looking forward to the game.

I am looking forward to my new job.

We are looking forward to leaving this town.

A: I’m looking forward to our vacation next month.

B: Me too. It’s going to be fun!

look like

look like = resemble; have the appearance of; take afterlook like

Sometimes, people look like their pets.

A tiger looks like a big cat.

That guy looks like my brother.

A: Can you see that cloud?!

B: Wow! It looks like an elephant!

look out

look out = be careful; take care; watch outlook out.

Look out!

You must look out for cars when you cross the street.

Look out! That rock is about to fall!

A: Look out! You almost stepped on my mouse.

B: Sorry. I didn’t see it.

look through

look through = search many things to find something, look through

She looked through the whole house until she found her spider.

I looked through the drawer for an eraser.

The woman looked through her purse for her car keys.

A: Did you find any mistakes when you looked through my essay?

B: Yes, I found a couple.

look up to

look up to = admire; respect, look up to

The boy really looks up to his older brother.

Jim looked up to his brave friend.

We all look up to our grandfather.

A: Why do you look up to Tim so much?

B: Because he is a brave, honest and humble person.

make friends with

make friends with = form a relationship with, make friends with

The monkey wants to make friends with the snakes.

I made friends with the new boy in school.

It can be hard to make new friends.

A: I’m going to go to a new school next year and I’ll miss my friends.

B: Don’t worry. You’ll make friends with people at your new school too!

make fun of

make fun of = make unkind of jokes about; tease; pull one’s leg; make a fool of, make fun of

Everyone made fun of him.

She made fun of my ugly shoes.

The other reindeer made fun of Rudolph’s red nose.

A: Ha-ha-ha! You can’t ski!

B: Don’t make fun of me! This is my first time skiing.

make oneself at home

make oneself at home = make oneself comfortable; relax, make oneself at home

He is making himself at home on the sofa.

Come in! Make yourself at home.

I made myself at home in my friend’s apartment.

A: Can I use one of your towels?

B: Sure! You can use anything you need. Make yourself at home.

make sense

make sense = have a clear meaning; be understandable, make sense

His words didn’t make sense.

It makes sense to stop smoking.

The sentence makes no sense.

A: Does that make sense?

B: No, it doesn’t. Maybe if you explain it again I’ll understand.

make the most of

make the most of = use to the greatest advantage, make the most of

He is making the most of his arm to build his house quickly.

She is making the most of a bad situation.

I only have ten dollars. I’ll have to make the most of it.

A: It’s too bad that you have to leave soon.

B: I know. Let’s just try to make the most of our time together.

make up

make up = invent; fabricate, make up

He often made up stories.

My grandfather makes up funny songs.

I didn’t want to tell the man my real name, so I made up a name.

A: You’ll be late for school. What will you tell the teacher?

B: I’ll make up an excuse.

make up for

make up for = compensate for, make up for

She started slowly, so she is trying to make up for lost time.

She had to work overtime to make up the days of work she missed.

He missed his daughter’s birthday, so he tried to make up for it with a big gift.

A: Why did you buy my lunch today?

B: I wanted to make up for being late last week.

make up one’s mind

make up one’s mind = decide; make a decision; resolve, make up one’s mind

He is trying to make up his mind.

You have to make up your mind!

I can’t make up my mind!

A: Is Jill going to study in America or Canada?

B: She made up her mind to study in Canada.

make up (with)

make up (with) = become friends again with; reconcile, make up (with)

After a big argument, they wanted to make up with each other.

I don’t think I can ever make up with him.

Newlyweds fight and make up often.

A: Why are you going to go to a movie with Tom? I thought you were angry at him.

B: I was angry at him, but we made up with each other. Now we’re good friends again!

make use of

make use of = utilize; take advantage of, make use of

Farmers make use of the land.

He made use of the wood and built a house.

Can you make use of some old chairs?

A: Is Ben making use of his math skills?

B: Yes he is. He works at a bank.

no problem

no problem = easy; no trouble; it doesn’t matter, no problem

He hopes that fixing the window will be no problem.

It should be no problem to find tickets for the game.

She said it was no problem to pick me up.

A: Thanks for the cookie!

B: No problem. I have a whole bag of them.

nothing but

nothing but = only; no more than; merely; just, nothing but

Robbers are nothing but bad.

That boy is nothing but trouble.

There was nothing but old cheese in the refrigerator.

A: Your car looks nice. Is it a good car?

B: No. I bought it two years ago and it has given me nothing but problems.

now and then

now and then = sometimes; occasionally; once in a while; at times; from time to time, now and then

Now and then the likes to sing.

He likes to watch a movie now and then.

Now and then there are concerts in the park.

A: Do you come to this restaurant often?

B: No. I only come here now and then.

Strong Wind

This is a story that comes from an Indian tribe that lived on the East Coast of Canada. Once, there was a man called Strong Wind who had a great power. He could make himself invisible and move silently. Everyone looked up to Strong Wind. When he went into an enemy’s camp, they would hear nothing but the wind. It was no problem for him to look through their camp and learn all their plans.

One day, Strong Wind made up his mind to choose a wife. Of course, it made sense that many women would want to marry a powerful man. He had to look out for women who only wanted power. Strong Wind decided to make use of his power to find the right woman. Only a woman with a pure heart would be able to see him.

Strong Wind lived with his sister near the sea. He told his sister, “Bring any woman who wants to be my wife to the beach in the evening. You can always see me when I am coming home. Ask the woman if she can see me. I will marry the first woman who sees me.”

Many women looked for Strong Wind, but they could never see him. Now and then some women would say, “Yes, I can see him!” Then the sister would ask, “What does he pull his sled with?” The women would try to make up an answer but they were never right.

The chief of the tribe had three daughters. They all looked forward to their chance to see Strong Wind. The youngest daughter was very kind and pretty. She made friends with many people. The two older daughters were jealous of their little sister and looked down on her. They made her wear rags. Then they made fun of her because she looked like a beggar. However, the youngest daughter tried to make the most of her situation. She never complained or hated her sisters even though they never tried to make up with her.

The older daughters went to try and become Strong Wind’s wife. They both failed. Then the youngest daughter tried. When the sister saw Strong Wind coming, she asked, “Can you see him?”

The young woman said, “Yes.”

“What does he pull his sled with?”

“He pulls his sled with a rainbow.”

This was the right answer! Strong Wind’s sister took the young woman home and gave her a beautiful new dress. Strong Wind’s sister told her to make herself at home in the tent. Strong Wind knew that she was the right woman. They were married the next day.

Later, Strong Wind wanted to make up for the bad things that the woman’s sisters had done. Strong Wind used his power to turn the two bad sisters into aspen trees. That is why today the leaves of aspen trees shake even in a little wind. They remember Strong Wind’s power and are afraid.