Session 2 Flashcards
big ask
Something that is a lot to request or require from someone, often due to difficulty or inconvenience.
jump ship
to leave a failing situation/group
When the company started failing, many employees decided to jump ship and look for new job opportunities.
come rain or shine
to persevere through all conditions
I will pick you up from the airport come rain or shine.
The wedding ceremony will take place outdoors, come rain or shine.
go down in flames
to fail spectacularly
I knew I shouldn’t have started a political argument with my in-laws, but I couldn’t help myself. The conversation went down in flames.
ruffle feathers
to upset beliefs or values
Her blunt comments ruffled some feathers in the company meeting.
The new employee unknowingly ruffled feathers by taking the last donut in the break room.
give your head a shake
A command or suggestion to think clearly or reconsider something, often used as a rebuke.
You think that plan will work? Give your head a shake!
He needs to give his head a shake if he believes he can do that without practice.
set one’s teeth on edge
used to describe something very annoying
I can’t help it, but this guy sets my teeth on edge. Just look at the way he walks!
Do you have something that sets your teeth on edge? For example, I can’t concentrate when I hear a fly buzzing.
talk shop
to talk about work outside of work
I’m here to relax. Let’s not talk shop.
This guy always talks nothing but shop. That’s why we don’t invite him often.
have someone pegged
to understand someone well
When it comes to politics, he has the candidate’s true intentions pegged.
After meeting her, I had her personality pegged within minutes.
go over someone’s head
to seek higher help without permission
When my boss refused to approve my vacation request, I had no choice but to go over his head and speak to his supervisor.
Whenever I have a problem with the landlord, I try to resolve it with him directly first, but if he doesn’t listen, then I’ll have to go over his head and complain to the property management company.
throw someone a bone
to assist slightly
I know you’re struggling with this project, so I’m going to throw you a bone and give you an extra day to complete it.”
Could you please throw me a bone and share some of your notes from last week’s lecture?”
fall on one’s sword
to take the blame
When the team failed the project, the manager decided to fall on his sword and take full responsibility for the mistake.
The politician decided to fall on his sword and resign from his position after a scandalous affair was exposed.
at/in the back of one’s mind
lurking thought in subconscious
Even though I’m enjoying this vacation, the thought of work is always at the back of my mind.
She knew she needed to start saving money, but it was always in the back of her mind to treat herself to something nice.
to do someone a solid
to perform a favor
Hey man, can you do me a solid and pick up my kids from school?
I owe him big time, he did me a solid by covering my shift at work.
gravy train
easy success
He got lucky and landed the job on the gravy train, with a six figure salary and generous benefits.
Working for the government often means being on the gravy train, with job security and a comfortable pension plan.
“paint the town red”
is figurative. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the phrase means “to enjoy oneself flamboyantly” or “to go on a boisterous or exuberant spree.”
I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it
to not worry about a problem until it actually happens
I’m not thinking about it at the moment. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Don’t worry about it. Let him do what he does best and I’m sure he’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it.
ball and a chain
a burdensome responsibility or obligation
She feels like her job is a ball and chain, keeping her from pursuing her real passions.
Someone who minds their p’s and q’s”
is known for acting on their best behavior
stand to reason
to be clear or logical
It stands to reason that I won’t help them after what they did to me.
put someone on the spot
to challenge with question
During the job interview, the interviewer put me on the spot by asking me about my weaknesses.
Donkey’s years”
is an English idiom. It means “a very long time.”
Chinese whispers’
Inaccurately transmitted gossip. ‘refers to a sequence of repetitions of a story, each one differing slightly from the original, so that the final telling bears only a scant resemblance to the original.
hit close to home
to be uncomfortably personal
When the teacher criticized my writing skills, it hit close to home because I’ve always struggled with grammar.
The movie’s portrayal of a toxic mother-daughter relationship hit close to home for me and many in the audience.
how the sausage is made
behind-the-scenes process
You don’t want to know how the sausage is made with this project. It’s messy and complicated.
I’ve seen the behind-the-scenes at the factory where they make hot dogs. Trust me, you don’t want to know how the sausage is made.
think on your feet
to make a quick decision or give an answer quickly.
In fast-paced business environments, you need to think on your feet.
She was able to think on her feet and provide a solution immediately.
soundbite
brief, impactful phrase used in media
During political campaigns, candidates often rely on soundbites to convey their message in a concise and memorable way.
The journalist captured a soundbite from the CEO on the new product launch that made headlines.
pull/bring out the big guns
to use influential resources
We’ve tried everything to win this case, now it’s time to pull out the big guns and hire the best lawyer in town.
Our sales numbers are dropping rapidly, we need to bring out the big guns and launch a new marketing campaign.
play into (someone’s) hands
to unwittingly assist someone’s agenda
By constantly complaining about his work, he played into his boss’s hands and was fired.
The group’s aggressive tactics only played into the hands of their opponents who had been expecting it.
“The cow jumped over the moon.”
While it’s not a common idiom in everyday speech, the phrase can be used humorously to suggest something improbable or fantastical. If someone says, “That’s as likely as a cow jumping over the moon,” they mean it’s extremely unlikely to happen.
sth takes the cake
to be the most remarkable or foolish in a series of events.
I’ve heard some excuses, but that one takes the cake.
Of all her achievements, this one takes the cake.
sea change
signigicant shift or transformation
Deciding to switch our cloud provider was a sea change for us. We had to rethink our approach in many areas.
I bought new clothes and went to therapy. This happened to be a sea change for me.
any way you slice it
to be same, regardless
Any way you slice it, our team will still win the championship.
Any way you slice it, this project is going to take a lot of time and effort.
sleep on sth
To postpone making a decision until one has had time to think about it.
Let’s sleep on it and make the decision tomorrow.
I need to sleep on this offer before I give you an answer.
the best thing since sliced bread
something amazing
I can’t imagine how could we live without smartphones. They are the best thing since sliced bread.
‘What do you think about our new standing desks?’ ‘I think they are the best thing since sliced bread! I just love them!’
leave someone hanging
keep someone waiting for your answer or decision
They promised to respond within a week! I can’t believe they left me hanging.
If you leave them hanging, they could withdraw the offer.
dunk on
to make fun of or ridicule someone
I can’t believe she dunked on me in front of the whole class.
He tried to argue with me, but I quickly dunked on him with facts.
