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Learning Idioms in Context: Leticia’s Jobs

Here is a story about a lady who has a different job each day. You’ll find idiom definitions, example sentences, conversations, and a short quiz after reading the story.

On Monday morning, Leticia’s mother sent her off to work in their nearby garden. Leticia was under the weather that day, but she still obeyed her mother. Leticia watered all the plants and did the task with a smile. As she crossed a path to the other side of the garden, she dropped the bucket.

When she told her about it, Leticia’s mother shook her head. “Be careful next time,” she advised. “You should learn how to hold a bucket properly. You should practice today and remember that tomorrow when you go again in our garden.”

On Tuesday morning, Leticia’s mother sent her off to work in a nearby grocery store. Leticia did her job well, so the grocery owner gave her a bonus for that day. Leticia remembered her mother’s words, went to the mall to reward herself. On her way home, she realized that she had spent all her money.

When she told her, Leticia’s mother shook her head. “Be wise next time,” she advised. “You should learn how to spend your money wisely, get your act together, and save some for your future.” 

On Wednesday morning, Leticia’s mother sent her off to work in a park to offer volunteer work. Leticia did her job well, and the park manager gave her a beautiful white rabbit. Leticia remembered her mother’s words, so she decided to go home immediately without spending too much. But on her way home, the rabbit was frightened, jumped from Leticia’s basket into a nearby house, and never had the chance to find it. 

When she told her, Leticia’s mother shook her head. “Be quick next time,” she advised. “You should learn how to move fast and run after things quickly. Never try to get bent out of shape if you cannot get what you want.”

On Thursday morning, Leticia’s mother sent her off to work in a bakery. Leticia did her job well, so the owner gave her a dog. Leticia remembered her mother’s words, so she decided not to get the dog because she was afraid that she might not have caught it when it will suddenly run.

When she told her, Leticia’s mother shook her head. “Be grateful next time,” she said. “You should learn how to recognize the significance of rearing a dog. I believe that having a dog gives you the best of both worlds. it can be your cuddly companion at the same time bring health benefits to you.”

On Friday morning, Leticia’s mother sent her off to the nearby garden again. Leticia was under the weather again, so it was evident that cutting corners was her strategy. Leticia watered the plants inefficiently. A few minutes later, she thought that some plants might die soon because of what she did. With this, she went back and watered all plants again. But as she crossed a path to the other side of the garden, she saw a cookbook, kept it, and went home. Leticia remembered all her mother’s words, and she got back home without dropping the book.

When she told her, Leticia’s mother didn’t shake her head. She hugged and kissed her daughter and said, “You don’t need to go to work anymore, and you don’t need to remember many things. Read this cookbook and stay with me.”

After a month of preparation, she became an excellent cook for her mom. Leticia’s knowledge paved the way to establishing a small restaurant. Leticia has remembered all her mother’s advised. A few years passed, her restaurant became one of the most famous restaurants in their area. 

Cutting corners

Meaning  
  • to skip some specific steps or processes to make something easier to finish and this can harm the output
Example Sentences

Stop cutting corners when completing a project as it has to be undertaken efficiently, whatever the cost.

Leila secretly finishes her task too quickly by cutting corners, and this causes some problems in her output.

A: The accounting team was suspended due to some discrepancy issues found. 

B: Yes, the team is under investigation. When the director finds out that they are cutting corners, I am sure they will be fired. 

Get your act together

Meaning
  • to work more efficiently or organize yourself and work well with defined goals
Example sentences

You must get your act together if you wanted to be the next leader of the research team. 

The department head warned him to get his act together because he had a constant poor performance.

A: I heard our senior analyst had a hard time completing his weekly reports on time.

B: Yes, that is correct. Our manager warned him to get his act together. Hopefully, he can change for the better.

Under the weather

Meaning
  • someone feels sick
Example Sentences

My daughter did not go to school yesterday because she was feeling under the weather. 

After a long walk, Dana was feeling under the weather for the next few days.

A: I did not see Michael the whole day. What do you think has happened? 

B: Michael has attended a whole night party, so now he is under the weather

Bent out of shape

Meaning 
  • someone that is angry or annoyed
Example Sentences

You should talk to Jacky and apologize to her before she gets bent out of shape.

Carol has no right to bent out of shape to her sister as she intentionally harms her.

A: Our Math teacher has given us a very difficult quiz. 

B: I think she did that because she was bent out of shape. Most of us were not paying attention during our Math class a few weeks ago. 

The best of both worlds

Meaning
  • a situation wherein you can benefit desirable traits of two different things
Example Sentences

Mae believes that residing in a university dorm offers her the best of both worlds: a place where she can both study and meet new friends. 

My sister gets the best of both worlds because she always overeats but doesn’t get fat! 

A: Hey, I have bought this bicycle for a very minimal amount. You will be surprised at its cost!

B: Don’t party yet! Most of the time, you can never have the best of both worlds when you buy an item that is so cheap, but the quality is not guaranteed. 

Quiz

1. Some businesses were used to __________________ and this led them to bankruptcy after a few years.

2. Simon was warned to _________________ if he wanted to stay long in his current company.

3. Jake was a bit ____________________. With this, he decided to rest instead of going to the movies with his friends.

4. My father gets ____________________ when we pronounce his name incorrectly.

5. Brian has ____________________ because he lives in a small village but only two miles away from the city.

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop

Famous Quote: It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop

This famous quote from Confucius signifies the importance of perseverance, patience, focus, and discipline. Perseverance is a vital virtue to develop in life because it is closely related to personal development. You will only improve by failing when you can learn from those experiences and move on. You should have enough perseverance or determination to continue and not give up. If you keep pushing towards your goal, one day, you will achieve it. No matter how long it takes or how huge the obstacles you face, don’t stop. You will get to where you want to be in life. Everyone faces difficulties along the way. Nothing in this life is easy, but that’s why you need to be determined to move on. 

Without perseverance, your growth and development as a person are severely limited, and this will reflect the amount of success you can achieve.

Hard work exceeds talent.

Many think that having talent or excellent training is a guarantee to achieve success. But a person with expertise and knowledge is of little use if he is not persistent. There is no doubt that hard work exceeds talent. No matter what your abilities, what matters is how you perform. In the end, what matters is the result. 

In line with the importance of perseverance, having the right actions to achieve success also matters. First, you must thoroughly understand your reasons to pursue your goal. When you know the reason behind your goal, you get the fuel that will keep you walking, even when people encourage you to quit. Second, you should have the right plan. All plans must be carried out. You are not to create a perfect plan, but of designing a plan that will lead you to success, regardless of the obstacles along the way. 

The life you have dreamed of is in your hands.

It is crucial that you clearly define what you want, focus all your efforts on that idea, and success is assured. Perseverance, a positive energy, allows you to maintain your concentration and assist you in recovering the situation when, for whatever circumstances, the path deviates from what you have set as a route to achieve your goals. When many unfavorable circumstances come along, it is reasonable that you lose your focus, enthusiasm. You can find yourself without the necessary strength to cover another stage of your path. This is where perseverance helps you. 

Perseverance is a force that will allow you to get back on track and recover the road where you had left it to continue moving forward. On the other hand, if you are not focused, then it will be impossible for you to put your effort into doing something since you will have nothing to persist. And if you are not persistent, even if you are focused on your objectives, you will lack the willpower, which is necessary to achieve it.

Combine perseverance and willpower.

All the people who have become successful in their lives have managed to combine perseverance and willpower. They used these combined values to support their intense desires to achieve the goals they have set in their lives. The vast majority of people are prone to throw their objectives and goals overboard to the minimum problem or obstacle that lies ahead and surrender quickly, giving up their dreams. Even so, there is a small group of people – those who end up achieving success – who do not give up and who face any failure they may have, get up, and continue in the race to fulfill their purposes.

Motivation increases effort and perseverance, but the fear of failure guarantees to not achieving desired results.

Act on your goal and stop talking. Start working, stop dreaming, roll up, and fight. That’s what counts. Therefore, speed does not matter on how you deal with things but never stop moving forward. Success is not a horse race; it is a race of patience, perseverance, focus, and discipline. Hence, it does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop!

About Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and popularly known as the “Teacher of All Teachers.” His teachings and philosophy are influential to the present. He lived in a time when wars and confusion reigned. However, he never gave up his efforts to find and proclaim a path towards overcoming difficulties through knowledge. His influence was so significant that he soon began to fill places, and even politicians and men of power used his philosophies. He dedicated much of his life to teaching and came to have more than three thousand disciples.

Learning Idioms in Context The Productive Life of James

Learning Idioms in Context: The Productive Life of James

Here is a story about a man who is a good leader with excellent time management. You’ll find idiom definitions, example sentences, conversations, and a short quiz after reading the story.

When he was in his teenage years, James was a shy boy living in a small apartment. He had many days of loneliness and failure. But after he experienced the beauty of being outspoken, James had changed to a man full of confidence. With this, he became the class president when he went to college and fulfilled the task with a heart. When a class project was too complicated and took a long time to finish, he realized the need to have a break to be more productive. With this, he decided to call it a day to have enough rest.

After his busy day, James used to meditate, which helped him manage the stress a student’s life may bring. Of course, time management is vital as he gave a minute to do the planning for the whole week. As they say, waste not, want not. After years passed, James became a manager of a digital marketing company. He was known to cut some slack to his staff. He gave freedom to his staff and put no pressure on his work environment. Additionally, he used to wrap his head around the issue of team management, but he was able to face it.

James was very popular because of his outstanding work ethics. He was able to see eye to eye with all his staff about the goal of a specific task and finish it on schedule. This made him a good leader. He was able to listen to others to meet a common goal. These qualities made him victorious. While his life gave him some reasons to be sad, James believed that there were a lot more good reasons to be happy. 

Call it a day

Meaning
  • to stop, finish or give up like a day’s work or any regular activity and go back to home 
Example Sentences

The team realized that they were unable to complete the project, so they decided to call it a day.

Kara and Mia decided to call it a day and visited their friend’s house.

A: May we call it a day

B: I’m getting a little tired now. We still have a week left to do this.  

Cut somebody some slack

Meaning
  • to give someone more freedom or allow someone to relax and not put any pressure
Example Sentences

The manager cut some slack to the new staff.

Martha was cooking for the first time and told her friends to cut some slack as she was not an expert at all.

Father: I see that your grades don’t improve at all, and you still want to sign up for a swimming class? 

Son: Cut me some slack, Dad! I always obey you. Can you allow me to do something I want to do?

Wrap your head around something

Meaning
  •  to have a difficulty understanding something that can be very challenging or confusing
Example Sentences

John bought an expensive bracelet, but I could not wrap my head around her reason for getting it.  

I need the assistance of an accountant because I can no longer wrap my head around these tax forms. 

A: Hi, Emma. It’s been a few weeks that you are studying the data on file. What is going on?

B: Yes, this is not an easy job. It will take longer to wrap my head around this new policy.  

We see eye to eye

Meaning
  • to fully agree with someone or to have a similar view/opinion on something
Example Sentences

My parents and I are at peace now, as we see eye to eye about my decision to study abroad next year.

I’m so happy that we see eye to eye on what to watch on Netflix.

A: I heard you are getting married next year. What made you conclude that you will settle with Sara? 

B: We see eye to eye about almost everything— career, having children, and interest.

Waste not, want not

Meaning
  • to use something wisely and never waste anything so that you can use something when you are in need
Example Sentences

It is best to plan your weekly meals so that you can buy what you only need to prepare meals. Waste not, want not

You have to share this food with your friends because you cannot consume them before they expire. Next time you have to buy what you need. Waste not, want not.

A: My notebook has no enough pages for me to write my notes during our lecture.

B. That is because you did not write on both sides of your notebook’s pages. Next time, make sure to do that. Waste not, want not.

Quiz

1. The leader will ________________ too early because she needs to attend a meeting in the next few minutes.

2. Liza _________________ in her daughter’s study time.

3. I called my mom to assist me in cooking spaghetti as I can no longer _________________ these procedures in preparing it.

4. My girlfriend agreed to marry me as __________________ with many things.

5. Adam has the habit of planning his weekly to do’s. “__________________,” he said.

Idioms List

Idioms List

An idiom can be a phrase, saying, or a set of words that have a metaphorical definition. The use of idioms is accepted both in daily conversation as well as in a business setting.

Learning Idioms in Context: Lily’s Belief in Life

A blessing in disguise
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A little learning/knowledge is a dangerous thing
You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs
You can’t judge a book by its cover

Learning Idioms in Context: Robert’s Big Dream

A dime a dozen
A penny for your thoughts
A snowball effect
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar

Learning Idioms in Context: Gary’s Path To Success

Beat around the bush
When it rains, it pours
Well begun is half done
A snowball’s chance in hell
A stitch in time saves nine

Learning Idioms in Context: Todd’s Student Life

Bite the bullet
Break a leg
Weather the storm
A penny saved is a penny earned
A storm in a teacup

Learning Idioms in Context: The Productive Life of James

Call it a day
Cut somebody some slack
Wrap your head around something
We see eye to eye
Waste not, want not

Learning Idioms in Context: Leticia’s Jobs

Cutting corners
Get your act together
Under the weather
Bent out of shape
The best of both worlds

Learning Idioms in Context: A Mother’s Love

Hit the sack
It’s not rocket science
The last straw
A perfect storm
Miss the boat

Learning Idioms in Context: Making New Friends

Let someone off the hook
On the ball
Barking up the wrong tree
Cost an arm and a leg
Throw caution to the wind

Learning Idioms in Context: A Young Man Lived In A Village

Bite off more than you can chew
At the drop of a hat
On a wild goose chase
Rain on someone’s parade
Take a rain check

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