To Tune Up
Example 1:
Paul: I can’t wait to go to Las Vegas next weekend! I really need to get out of town.
George: Are you going to fly or drive to Las Vegas?
Paul: Oh, I’m going to drive because it’s too expensive to fly.
George: Well, that’s a long drive and you have an old car. Are you sure you’ll be OK?
Paul: Yes, I’m sure. I’m going to have my cousin, who is a mechanic, tune it up before I go.
George: That’s good to know.
Example 2:
Cheryl: Wow! I can’t believe that Michelle is playing in the King City Symphony Orchestra! I had no idea she was so advanced in playing the flute.
Tim: I know. I’m so excited to see this concert. I can hear the orchestra tuning up behind the curtain!
Cheryl: Michelle was really worried about getting here on time so that she could tune up before the concert.
Tim: Well, she was here an hour early so I think she is OK. Oh, listen! They are about to start!
Meaning:
To tune up means to make small adjustments in order to improve performance. In the first example, Paul has to tune up his car before he drives to Las Vegas. This means that he needs to
adjust the engine to run more efficiently. In the second example, the orchestra needs to tune up before performing a concert. This means that the musicians in the orchestra are bringing their instruments into tune or top condition for the concert. This idiom can be found in the LSI text Speaking Transitions. This book is used at LSI schools in the level 4 Listening/Speaking
classes. For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.co