We learned a new idiom “A Blessing in Disguise” last week. To see some examples of when to use it, let’s watch the videos.
Tag: idioms
Idiom of the Week: “Benefit of the Doubt”
Meaning: To give someone the benefit of the doubt is to choose to not be disappointed or upset when they may have made a mistake because you have some trust in them.
Examples:
My daughter is usually so good with studying that I gave her the benefit of the doubt when I saw her watching TV all night, and I knew she had a math test the next day.
Last night the food wasn’t good at my favorite restaurant, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and go back again because the chef probably had just one bad night.
He didn’t have any professional experience but he said he was an excellent barber, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and let him cut my hair because my friend knew him.
Pop Quiz:
Which student should get the benefit of the doubt?
Student A and Student B have the same problem – both are often late to class. Student A has arrived several times in gym clothes and carrying a gym bag. Student B has talked with the teacher about her lateness, explaining that she has to drop off her son right before class, but she seems to be trying to avoid be being late. The teacher needs to select one student to be cancelled first.
Read More to see the answer.
Read More »Cutting Corners Revisted
We learned a new idiom “Cutting Corners” a few days ago. Do you know where the idiom comes from?
: : : Where did the phrase “Cutting Corners” come from?
: : It’s a metaphor from driving – not necessarily motor driving, because it also applies to horse-drawn carriages. When you come to a sharp turn in the road, instead of going all the way to the corner and then turning, you can go diagonally across, and “cut the corner off”. This saves time, but entails a risk of clipping the curb and overturning, or being involved in a pile-up with another vehicle. Thus “to cut corners” means to discard normal safe practice in order to get fast results.
from The Phrase Finder
Let’s watch the video clip to review the meaning and the origin, and look at more example sentences.
Idiom of the Week: “Cutting Corners”
Meaning:
Cutting corners is to take the fastest way to finish something in order to do less work, however the result is also lesser.
Examples:
Copying other students’ homework is just cutting corners – you may fool the teacher but you won’t learn.
The big assignment was due Thursday morning and Wednesday he hadn’t started, so he cut corners to finish.
Cutting corners will only get you so far – eventually you will be passed over by those who work harder.
Pop Quiz:
True or False? When you cut corners, you…
1. Work as hard as you can
2. Leave out details
3. Finish quickly
4. Do the best job possible
5. Will always succeed
Read More to see the answers.
Read More »Rain or Shine Revisited
Feel the 80’s vibes! Here’s a song using our latest idiom of the week – the lyrics are both in the video and below:
Rain or Shine
by Five Star
You’re my knight in shining armour
Chase the devil and the dragons away
From manana to manana
Do I am love you, yes I do do
Storm or sun
You’re the only one and this is how I feel
Rain or shine, you’ll always be
One in a million, my fantasy come true
Rain or shine, it’s you and me
Cut me a heart on a tree and say, it’s for ever not a year and a day
Robin Hood and Major Tom
All the super heroes rolled into one
Kiss away my sad and lonelies
Do I am love you, yes I do do
Silk and steel
That’s the way you feel, and how I love you now
Rain or shine, you’ll always be
One in a million, my fantasy come true
Rain or shine, it’s you and me
Cut me a heart on a tree and say, it’s for ever, not a year and a day
How I love you still
How I love you now
How I love you now
Rain or shine, you’ll always be
One in a million, my fantasy come true
Rain or shine, it’s you and me
Cut me a heart on a tree and say from me to you
Rain
Shine
Rain
Shine
Rain or shine, you’ll always be
One in a million, my fantasy come true
Rain or shine, it’s you and me
Rain or shine
Fantasy comes true
Rain or shine
Rain or shine
Fantasy comes true
Idiom of the Week: “Rain or Shine”
Meaning: Whether it rains or other bad conditions make it difficult, someone definitely does something or something definitely happens.
Examples:
She goes jogging every morning, rain or shine.
Rain or shine, we will depart this Thursday morning.
This is a rain or shine event.
Pop Quiz:
Ben: It’s stormy outside. Do you think they canceled the party?
Jerry: I heard it’s a rain or shine party.
Ben: ___________________________________________________
A: Oh, it is canceled because it is raining now.
B: They will still have the party.
C: They will give us a rain check.
To see the correct answer, click on “Read more”
Read More »Idiom of the Week: “Straight From the Horse’s Mouth”
Meaning: To be said directly by the person or people who have knowledge about something. It is often used by a person talking about another person.
Examples:
1. I won’t believe it until I hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
2. The news came straight from the horse’s mouth, so we all listened.
3. The rumor proved to be true when it finally came straight from the horse’s mouth.
Pop Quiz:
*Bill and Sam are teammates on a soccer team.
Bill: John told me there is no practice today.
Sam: No, there is practice today! I just talked to Mr. Anderson.
Bill: Ah, straight from the horse’s mouth, I knew John was wrong.
Mr. Anderson is probably:
A. Bill and Sam’s coach
B. Bill and Sam’s teammate
C. Bill and Sam’s parent
To see the correct answer, click on “Read more”
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