Advanced everyday english: Advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions - Collins Steven 2011

Lesson Three. To console, consolation
Chapter Nine

Examples:

✵ / tried to console her, but she was clearly shattered by the sad news.

✵ We were consoled by the fact that somehow we had managed to stave off defeat for so long... and we did get a consolation goal.

✵ For me it was no consolation for the loss of my job that an increased redundancy pay was a viable option.

Gilt reaction (Immediate reaction/response based on instinct rather than careful consideration)

Examples:

✵ My gut reaction was to resent his accusations, and I had a real go at him. Later, when I realised he had in fact put in a good word for me with my manager, I regretted not having given the matter more thought.

✵ His outburst of anger was just a gut reaction, but when he had calmed down, he decided that it was better not to make a big song and dance about it. It was the first time his teenage son had come home paralytic.

Blip (An unexpected and temporary change from the normal situation)

Examples:

✵ It looks like we’re strapped for cash this month. I hope it’s just a blip and that business picks up in the next quarter.

✵ Book sales have gone through the roof this August. It could just be a summer blip, so let’s not get too carried away before embarking on a second edition.

Banter (Chat, informal witty conversation amongst friends)

Examples:

✵ // used to enjoy the banter with the guys after the game, but now, in my old age, I’m becoming rather apathetic about socialising.

✵ The banter in the office is excellent, although Graham’s poor grammar does grate on me.

To ad-lib, ad-libbed (To make something up on the spot, to speak in public without preparation, improvised)

Examples:

✵ My gut reaction was that I should ad-lib the speech rather than linger too long over making notes.

✵ It was quite clear that most of the banter on the TV show was ad-libbed. I’m always amazed at how much funny material they can come up with on the spot

Hopeful (Optimistic—note that “I’m hopeful of passing my exams” is not the same as “I hope I pass my exams”. “To be hopeful” expresses a feeling of optimism, whereas “to hope” is simply to desire)

Examples:

✵ I’m not very hopeful of being able to console her; her view of the future is somewhat blurred by recent events.

✵ Overall, he’s quite hopeful of being able to deal with the allegations laid before him.

To tar people with the same brush (To claim a group of people have the same faults—used when a majority of good characters are associated with one or a few bad characters, just because they are of the same race, age, gender, class etc)

Examples:

✵ These two boys, who clearly have some very unpleasant traits in their personalities, have been mingling with some very dodgy characters indeed. But it would be quite wrong to tar the whole class with the same brush.

✵ Tarring all immigrants to this country with the same brush is ludicrous, and will only serve to alienate them further from the society in which they now live.

To be prone to (To have a tendency towards a certain type of negative behaviour, to be likely to suffer from)

Examples:

✵ He is rather prone to outbursts of bad temper. This is a flaw in his character which he inherited from his mother.

✵ In her youth she was prone to getting ear infections. This was deemed by her pathetic doctor to be the cause of her current fatigue problems. And doctors wonder why we constantly whinge about them!

To endear oneself to someone, endearing (To make oneself popular, [endearing] likeable)

Examples:

✵ The Prime Minister didn’t endear himself to the medical profession when he complained that far too many doctors displayed an apathetic attitude towards their patients...and were raking it in.

✵ She has many endearing qualities, one of which is the ability not to dwell for too long on negative aspects of her life, unlike her pessimistic mother. They are like chalk and cheese.

Not to have a leg to stand on (To have no defence at all to an alleged crime or accusation)

Examples:

✵ He is quite hopeful of being found not guilty, but most of us think he hasn’t a leg to stand on and should change his plea.

✵ My gut reaction is that you should back down. It’s good that you’ve now got it out of your system, but if it ends up in court, you won’t have a leg to stand on.

“He is quite hopeful of being found not guilty, but most of us think he hasn’t a leg to stand on and should change his plea.”