Advanced everyday english: Advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions - Collins Steven 2011
Lesson Three. To sulk
Chapter Two
Examples:
✵ Even though the whole thing blew over ages ago, he is still sulking about it.
✵ I know there’s a lot at stake, but if you sulk every time a deal doesn’t come off, you’re bound to miss out on the next opportunity that comes along.
✵ She’s having a sulk because her request to take an extra day off was turned down.
A stumbling block (An obstacle, something which/someone who prevents progress—note that “to stumble” means to trip, to walk unsteadily; see third example below)
Examples:
✵ You’ll get on in this company if you know how to go about avoiding the stumbling blocks.
✵ I don’t know why she takes it out on her mother. I put all her unhappiness down to her father, who has been the main stumbling block in her life.
✵ I stumbled as I got up; that wine must have gone straight to my head.
To come to light (To be revealed, to become clear to everyone—note the expression “in the light of”, which means considering, in view of. It is often used when one makes a decision based on information which has recently become known, or something which is happening at the time. The article “the” is often dropped)
Examples:
✵ When this latest piece of evidence came to light, he had no choice but to own up. It is quite apparent that he had not complied with the task that was set him.
✵ It has just come to light that this supposedly easy-going, laid-back guy is a lethal killer. Even the police didn’t believe he had it in him to commit such horrendous crimes.
✵ /n (the) light of recent events, the management has decided to call off the Christmas festivities for this year. We apologise if this has put anyone out, and we promise to keep you posted if there is any change of plan.
To lay on (To provide a service —often relating to food or transport, to put on-see Practical Everyday English, page 172, meaning vi)
Examples:
✵ These meetings tend to be rather drawn-out; mind you, they always lay on a wonderful dinner.
✵ The Rolling Stones concert drew in so many people that they had to lay on three extra trains.
To warrant
i. (To guarantee)
Example:
✵ The document your own lawyer prepared clearly warrants that if there are any stumbling blocks, it’s up to you to sort them out.
ii. (To call for-see “uncalled for”, Practical Everyday English, page 107-to make something necessary, i.e. an action)
Examples:
✵ Everyone thought that his guilt was a foregone conclusion, but, as it turned out, the evidence they had to go on didn’t warrant his arrest.
✵ It’s no good just sitting there and sulking; the situation is so serious as to warrant a relentless investigation.
To write off
i. (To accept that a debt/loss is never going to be repaid/recovered)
Examples:
✵ I can’t get over how we managed to break even, considering how many debts we had to write off.
✵ During the slump we had to write off the fortune we had laid out to many of our borrowers who had not managed to come through the recession.
ii. (To accept that an idea or plan has to be scrapped—see Practical Everyday English, page 130)
Example:
✵ The layout of the building we had envisaged had to be written off because it didn’t comply with local planning regulations.
iii. (To decide that someone/something is not worth considering or has little value, to disregard someone)
Examples:
✵ At school he was written off as a “no-hoper”. However, in later years, and much to his credit, he managed to shrug off this negative description and stand out as a brilliant journalist.
✵ Football commentator:
I wouldn’t write him off just yet. He might be getting on a bit but he can still baffle defenders with his clever tricks.
iv. (To write a letter with a view to getting some information, goods, application forms etc.)
Example:
✵ It sounds like the person who is taken on is going to be the dogsbody of the office; but you might as well write off for an application form.
v. (To damage a motor vehicle beyond repair—note the noun “write-off”)
Examples:
✵ Father to son:
Now that you’ve written off two of the family’s cars, you’ll have to put up with the hardship of using public transport.
✵ She got off with a broken wrist, but the car was a complete write-off.
A wimp (A person who is physically or emotionally weak/lacking in confidence/always afraid) Colloquial
Examples:
✵ Off the record, the Prime Minister owned up to being a bit of a wimp.
✵ A: I think we’re going to be outnumbered by women at this meeting tomorrow. I’m really scared.
B: Don’t be such a wimp! I’m sure we’ll cope.
The final/last straw (a negative event, possibly minor, which comes after a series of many other negative events, and which then leads to action being taken; the situation can no longer be tolerated)
Examples:
✵ When the secret “goings-on” of the Managing Director came to light, that was the final straw; I had to give in my notice.
✵ At the time, I felt his inappropriate behaviour was the last straw, but fortunately it has all blown over now and, I’m delighted to say, our relationship has really got going again.
A: “I think, we’re going to be outnumbered by women at this meeting tomorrow. I’m really scared”.
B: “Don’t be such a wimp! I’m sure we’ll cope.”
(see page 28)
To weigh up
i. (To balance/To consider all aspects of a situation before coming to a decision)
Examples:
✵ Having weighed everything up, we thought we’d be better off keeping a low profile.
✵ What you have to weigh up in your mind is whether it’s worth going along with them for the time being on this one issue, or nipping the whole thing in the bud now, before you get down to business.
ii. (To assess someone so that one can have a good idea of what type of opposition the person is likely to be)
Examples:
✵ We should try to weigh them up beforehand, just to see precisely what we are letting ourselves in for. Let’s hope their cockiness is unwarranted.
✵ Before the boxing match got under way, the two fighters carefully weighed each other up, but the bigger guy wrote his opponent off as being a wimp.