Zack Files Books 10, 12, 13

I screamed and banged my head against the wall. 

Spencer and Dad looked like I'd gone bananas.

go bananas
to become very angry or excited

If I married you, 

people would say I was robbing the cradle."

rob the cradle
AmE to have a sexual relationship with someone who is a lot younger than you - used humorously

"No, Zack," said Dad. He could tell I was hurt. 

"I'm starting to like it. It's beginning to

grow on me, you know? I'm liking it more already."

    grow on [grow on sb] phr v
    if something grows on you, you gradually like it more and more
　    I hated his music at first, but it grows on you.

My editor at Wool World gave me her number. 

He said two bachelors like us need somebody to do a little

straightening up around here, and maybe cook us a meal or two. 

    straighten up ----    to make something tidy
　Mum told me to straighten my room.

go/fall into a trance
　She went into a deep hypnotic trance.
a state in which you are thinking about something so much that you do not notice what is happening around you

A thin wisp of green smoke curled out of the top of the egg.

"put him in the bathtub. Otherwise his skin will get flaky and peel.

Something that is flaky breaks easily into small thin pieces or tends to come off in small thin pieces.
...a small patch of red, flaky skin.
2 [ADJ]
If you describe an idea, argument, or person as flaky, you mean that they are rather eccentric and unreliable. (INFORMAL)

"Zack, you be quiet or you're going to have a time-out!"

Sports. A brief cessation of play at the request of a sports team or an official for rest, consultation, or making substitutions.
A short break from work or play.
A corrective measure or punishment for young children in which they are separated from others for a brief period. The place, especially a chair, used for such a measure or punishment.

"Or else you're evicted!"

to tell someone legally that they must leave the house they are living in

perky /p'ɜː^rki/ (perkier perkiest)
If someone is perky, they are cheerful and lively.

double up phr v
also double over
to suddenly bend over at the waist because you are laughing so much or are in pain
　Emilio doubled over, grabbing his leg.
be doubled up/over with laughter/pain etc
　Both the girls were doubled up with laughter.

Everybody was pumped to see her.

We both thought my grandma was being a little cuckoo.

cuckoo    informal   crazy or silly

　     You're completely cuckoo!

     
a little peppier
      pep·py (pěpē)
          adj. Informal pep·i·er, pep·i·est
          Full of or characterized by energy and high spirits; lively.
zit  n. Slang
        A pimple.
        Grandma Leah has two zits on her chins.
push (the edge of) the envelope

to move beyond the limit of what has usually been done or was the accepted standard 

TV shows are really pushing the envelope by showing so much sex and violence.