Expressions with "HIT" - part 2

. Actors who've HIT IT BIG usually see their names displayed on Broadway. Do you ever dream of HITTING IT BIG?

How familiar are you with this second set of expressions with the word "HIT"? (If you missed the first group, check out this blogpost from early June.) 

• HIT IT BIG                  HIT IT OFF
• HIT THE SACK          HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
• HIT THE HAY             HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

Take a look at this dialog and see if the expressions make sense, then try the matching exercise that follows.

A: You're not HITTING THE SACK yet, are you? It's still early.
B: I am, actually. Tomorrow's a big day. It's our opening day, and we need to HIT THE GROUND RUNNING if we want to compete with the other shops in the area.

A: Well, I have a feeling you guys will HIT IT BIG fast. You have a very good business model.

B: Thanks. We definitely believe in it. Tom and his team are working on the finishing touches of our website as we speak.

A: You two make a really good team. So you take care of the daily shop operations, and he handles the website?

B: That's right. We met about two years ago in business school, and we just HIT IT OFF. Our ideas just make sense to each other.

A: That's awesome. I hear you two have been working on the business plan for about a year and a half. I think it's easier to get along and find things in common with people and harder to actually work and collaborate on a business venture.

B: You HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD there. We definitely disagree on some things, but it helps when we have the same goals as far as what to offer customers.

A: Well, I wish you both the best. I guess I'm going to HIT THE HAY, too. I want to be your first customer in your new shop tomorrow.

B: Alright. Good night. See you in the morning.

A: Good night.

Now, try matching the following idioms with their meaning: Two of the idioms have the same definition. The answers are below.

1. HIT THE SACK _____                                          A. get along well from the start
2. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING _____                       B. be exactly right   
3. HIT IT BIG _____                                               C. go to bed  
4. HIT IT OFF _____                                               D. start with a lot of energy  
5. HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD _____           E. become very successful or famous
6. HIT THE HAY _____

ANSWERS: 1. C  2. D  3. E  4. A  5. B  6. C

Now that you are more familiar with these idioms, try filling in the blanks below. You'll find the answers after the exercise.

1. Most aspiring actors move to New York hoping to __________.
2. Apparently, Brad and Angelina just __________ while working on a movie together. Now they have many kids.
3. Most of his coworkers disagreed with what he said at the meeting, but the president thought he __________.
4. The kids __________ before 10 p.m. on a school night.
5. A lot of contestants __________ at the beginning of a competition but run out of steam very quickly.
6. Even though the judge thought the defendant __________ when he complained about the law, the judge still gave him the toughest sentence.
7. Jake and Tammy __________ at the party, but a week later they couldn't stand each other any longer.
8. Bill's a night owl. Even though he has to be at work very early, he can't __________ before 1 a.m.
9. The mayor's team __________ on his first day in office, and they've accomplished a lot in his first four years.
10. Some celebrities who __________ in the 90s are now living ordinary lives away from the spotlight.

ANSWERS: 1. HIT IT BIG  2. HIT IT OFF  3. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD  4. HIT THE SACK/HIT THE HAY  5. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING  6. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD  7. HIT IT OFF  8. HIT THE SACK/HIT THE HAY  9. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING  10. HIT IT BIG

So how did you do? If any of the idioms above are new to you, be sure to reread the dialog and the sentences several times to get a good handle on how to use them. If you'd like more practice, write your own sentences using these idioms and post them below, on NYLC's page on Facebook, or on Twitter and we'll let you know if you used the idioms correctly.

Oh, yeah! Don't forget to share this blogpost to friends and family. You can use the social-media buttons below. Thanks!


-- Joe Yu, ESL instructor