Lesson 21 IDIOMS英文釋義

• slip one's mind:??be forgotten
• EXAMPLE: Sorry I didn't send out that memo last Friday. To be honest with you, it?slipped my mind.
• NOTE: Notice that the subject is "it" in the expression "it slipped my mind," making this the passive voice. It's like this unknown "it" is responsible for the fact that you forgot to do something. In contrast, "I forgot" is the active voice. You are taking more responsibility (and possibly more blame) when you say, "I forgot."
• stressed out:?under severe strain; very anxious; very nervous
• EXAMPLE: After hearing a rumor that there were going to be layoffs at her company, Barbara was really?stressed out.
• I don't know whether I'm coming or going:?I'm so busy, I can barely think clearly; I'm not focused; I'm distracted
• EXAMPLE: I accidentally sent an e-mail complaining about my boss to the boss himself!?I don't whether I'm coming or going?today.
• crunch time:?a short period when there's high pressure to achieve a result
• EXAMPLE: It's?crunch time?for stem cell researchers in Korea. New government regulations may soon make their work illegal.
• (to) settle down:?to calm down; to become quiet
• EXAMPLE: The mall is very busy in November and December, but after the holidays, things?settle down.
• wiped out:?very tired; exhausted
• EXAMPLE: Ken traveled to Russia, India, and China all in one week. No wonder he's?wiped out!
• (to) have a lot on one's plate:?to have a lot to do; to have too much to do; to have too much to cope with
• EXAMPLE: Carlos turned down the project, explaining that he already?had a lot on his plate.
• NOTE: There is also the variation: to have too much on one's plate.
• (to) keep one's head above water:?to survive; to get by; to survive financial difficulties
• EXAMPLE: Thanks to this new contract, we'll be able to?keep our head above water?for another six months.
• (to) scale back one's hours:?to reduce the number of hours one works
• EXAMPLE: When Christine had a baby, she decided to?scale back her hours?and just work part-time.
• SYNONYM: to cut back one's hours
• hang in there:?be patient; don't get discouraged
• EXAMPLE: Your company lost a million dollars last quarter??Hang in there. You'll do better next quarter.
• (to) keep one's nose to the grindstone:?to focus on one's work; to focus on working hard
• EXAMPLE: Unfortunately, I can't come to happy hour tonight. I need to?keep my nose to the grindstone?and finish a proposal I'm working on.
• ORIGIN: A grindstone is a stone disk used for sharpening tools or grinding grain. To work the grindstone, you need to bend over it with your nose close to the stone.
• (the) 80/20 rule:?the principle that 80 percent of results are achieved through just 20 percent of activities
• EXAMPLE: By applying?the 80/20 rule, Marcy was able to reduce the number of tasks she does during the work day.