Phrase Flashcards
Little did I know that years later I would be offer Mary Poppins
little did I know’ means “I don’t have any idea at all (about something).” or “totally unaware of something.”
Yes, it does sort of contain the idea that he didn’t know at all about something.
But this expression is used in a particular context. It is used to remark on the fact that a person committed some action while entirely unaware of what was going to happen next, or what he was getting himself into.
The “little” that the person knows really implies that they could not anticipate the outcome or the consequences.
“Little did he know, when he started his journey, how difficult it was going to be.”
“When he asked the beautiful woman for directions, little did he know that this simple question was going to connect him with the love of his life.”
“Little did he know that he was about to embark on the most thrilling experience of his life.”
“Little did I know that John was going to become such a great employee.”
Leave in droves
droves
(droʊvz )
PLURAL NOUN [usually in NOUN]
If you say that people are going somewhere or doing something in droves, you are emphasizing that there is a very large number of them.
[emphasis]
Scientists are leaving the country in droves.
Droves of youngsters were strolling along the quays and packing the cafés.
[Also + of]
As ever
PHRASE
You say as ever in order to indicate that something or someone’s behaviour is not unusual because it is like that all the time or very often.
As ever, the meals are primarily fish-based.
He was by himself, alone, as ever.
Give or take
give or take
possibly a little more or less than the amount or time mentioned:
It’ll be ready at 6:00, give or take a few minutes.
It cost £200, give or take .
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
approximately
All three guitarists are accomplished layers and their enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air.
someone or something that is new and different and makes everything seem more exciting:
Angela’s so cheerful and lively - she’s like a breath of fresh air when she visits.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
New
afresh
The last band was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise boring night of music.
Every cloud has a silver lining
PROVERB
every difficult or sad situation has a comforting or more hopeful aspect, even though this may not be immediately apparent.
“after the fire two years ago few could see the silver lining”
So to speak
That is to say
Guard of honour
A recent highlight was walking a COVID 19 survivor off the ward to a guard of honour after 10 weeks in hospital
guard of honour
noun [ C usually singular ] UK (US guard of honor)
UK /ˌɡɑːd əv ˈɒn.ər/ US /ˌɡɑːrd əv ˈɑː.nɚ/
a group of people, usually soldiers, who are arranged in a row at a special occasion such as a marriage ceremony or an official visit, to honour someone very important
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Ceremonies
A spring in your step
a spring in your step
If you walk with or have a spring in your step, you walk energetically in a way that shows you are feeling happy and confident:
There’s been a definite spring in his step ever since he met Joanna.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Energetic and lively
There’s no airs and graces around here. Nobody judges you.
airs and graces
false ways of behaving that are intended to make other people feel that you are important and belong to a high social class:
He was always putting on airs and graces.
She’s got no reason to give herself airs and graces.
He was a country boy; She was from a city. She has the world at her feet while he didn’t have two dimes.
have the world at your feet
to be extremely successful and admired by a large number of people:
Five years after her debut, the diminutive star of the Royal Ballet has the world at her feet.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Successful (things or people)
have no money, or very little money.
“You must bite the hair of dog that but you yesterday,” the waiter blurted out at me.
An alcoholic beverage consumed as a hangover rememdy. The phrase comes from the expression “hair of the dog that bit you”, meaning that the best cure for what ails you is to have some more of it. In ancient times it was literally used to say that if a dog were to bite you, putting the dog’s hair into the wound would heal it.
