Common Expressions Flashcards
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To be determined
Burned Out
Doing an activity too many times can become stressful. When you do, you feel “burned out” with the activity. It makes you feel tired and bored. You feel anxious and depressed because you don’t want to do the activity anymore.
To be stoked
When people feel excited and energetic about doing an activity, they look forward to it. People are happy and creative when they do an activity that is fun and challenging. They feel “stoked” about the activity
In the cards
Likely to happen in the future
Sometimes, you want to know the future before it happens. You might go to a fortune teller to learn about the future. The fortune teller can try to divine your future by reading tarot cards. When you talk about the future, you can talk about things being “in the cards” or “not in the cards.” This means that it is or isn’t likely to happen in the future.
Ducks in a Row
Some people are always organized and ready to act. They “have their ducks in a row.” Other people are disorganized. They need to “get their ducks in a row” and become ready for action.
Absence Makes the Heart
Being away from someone will make you appreciate them
When people leave, you miss them. You remember how much you love them. Sometimes, being apart makes you love this person more. So, people say, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
The Whole Package
All parts of a person; everything all together
Certain people have many admirable qualities. It is common to say these people are the “whole package.”
Wing It
Improvise; do something without planning
Sometimes people don’t have time to prepare, but they must do something important. They can use the idiom “wing it” to talk about doing something without preparation.
On the Fence
When you are undecided
When someone has a difficult time making a decision, it is common to say they are “on the fence.” Usually, a person is “on the fence” when deciding between two or more possibilities. This idiom is represented by a fence because it marks a point of separation. Either side of the fence symbolizes a decision. So, if you are on the fence, you cannot decide which side you want to be on.
Get Down to Business
To be committed to a task and began working on it seriously
When someone has an important task to complete, they “get down to business”. A person who “gets down to business” is determined to start their activity and continue it.
Butterflies inYour Stomach
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
In a difficult position with equally undesirable options
Imagine being stuck between two rocks. This situation is uncomfortable and difficult. The idiom “between a rock and a hard place” describes being stuck between two difficult alternatives. Any choice in this situation will be unpleasant.
Ace in the Hole
Guardar a melhor carta
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Don’t talk about old arguments or disagreements
Some people will never agree on specific topics or ideas. Usually, it’s best for them not to talk about these topics. When people agree not to talk about contentious topics, they agree to “let sleeping dogs lie.”
Go Bad
To spoil or to rot
You can’t keep many foods for a long time. You need to eat them, or they begin to spoil. They start to “go bad.” You don’t want to eat something that “went bad.” It would taste bad.
