Allen Career Institute
As promised, we are back with our 2nd volume of common idioms where we will be covering a few more phrases; help you understand their meaning and usage.
So without much ado, let’s get started:
- Make a long story short
You can use this phrase when you want to simply tell the end or major point of a story or incident without giving all the mentioned details. The phrase can even be written as ‘to cut a long story short’.
Example: To make a long story short, he still lives with his parents but they don’t share the same rapport as before.
- Miss the boat
This idiom can be used to describe situations where one fails to take advantage of a chance by not taking the required action quickly enough. It’s like missing on a good opportunity owing to a lack of strong decision making.
Example: I still feel you should have sold this house last year, you missed the boat.
- No pain, no gain
You can use this idiom when you have to say that only hard work can help achieve something strongly desired. It can even mean that there is no reward without a little suffering.
Example: I know it will be hard for me to lose weight as I’m a foodie but then; no pain, no gain.
- Pull someone’s leg
This phrase is mostly used when you tease someone, joke around, fool or trick humorously and harmlessly.
Example: Anil has the habit of making fun of his sister’s cooking skills. But I know he is just pulling her legs; he loves the food cooked by her.
- The best of both worlds
You use this idiom to define a situation where you get to enjoy the benefit of two very dissimilar types of advantage at the same time.
Example: I got to stay in a five-star hotel paying the price of three-star; this discount has given me the best of both worlds.
- Burn bridges
You can use this idiom to define or describe situations wherein your acts make it difficult for you to return to the state you were in before.
Example: I think you should be way more patient and polite with her, I’m sure you don’t desire to burn your bridges with her.
- Come rain or shine
This idiom lets you describe a situation that always happens or someone who does something always, no matter what the conditions or circumstances are.
Example: She never misses her morning exercise routine, come rain or shine.
- Under the weather
Being under the weather means not feeling well, you can use this idiom if you have to tell someone that you or someone else is not in the best of health.
Example: Rohit will not be attending the party, he is under the weather.
- Your guess is as good as mine
You can use this idiom when you have the same knowledge about any situation or some important matter as the other person in concern.
Example: I don’t know much about the personal turmoil they are facing; your guess is as good as mine.
Keep practicing these phrases and cast a spell with your flawless conversation!
