Blog

Learning Idioms in Context A Mother's Love

Learning Idioms in Context: A Mother’s Love

Paul Huber

Here is a short story about the love of a mother to her child. You’ll find idiom definitions, example sentences, conversations, and a short quiz after reading the story.

Sarah was sitting in her bed, thinking of her child Emma. Suddenly, Emma came in and asked, “Hi, mom. I am looking for you because I like to hug you first before I hit the sack tonight.” 

Sarah smiled, hugged her daughter and replied, “Thank you for being such a lovely and obedient child.”

“It’s not rocket science to be an obedient child,” Sarah insisted. “I think I should be the one thankful as you never had the last straw no matter a perfect storm comes in anytime. I admire you for that, mom.”

Sarah smiled and said, “Emma, I am your mother, and I should be there for you no matter what happens. I make sure that you grow with a sense of responsibility and never miss the boat.”

Sarah and Emma went to bed with a smile.

Hit the sack

Meaning
  • go to bed
Example Sentences

George always plans to hit the sack at nine o’clock in the evening.

Samuel thinks that he should better hit the sack as soon as his mother arrived.

A: You look so tired. You need to rest now.

B: Yes, I will. I am going to hit the sack after I finish my homework.

It’s not rocket science

Meaning
  • something that is not difficult to do
Example Sentences

Going to the meeting on time is not rocket science.

Cleaning your house regularly is not rocket science.

A: I can’t think of other words anymore. I guess you win again.

B: It’s only a simple crossword, my friend. It is not rocket science.

The last straw

Meaning
  • someone’s patience has run out
Example Sentences

People always wait for the last straw before they take action for their country.

Jerry is not going to wait for the last straw as he immediately reported his sister’s dishonesty to their mom.

A: I am sorry. I was not able to arrive on time.

B: You are always late, and this will be the last straw.

A perfect storm

Meaning
  • a combination of challenging situations or events
Example Sentences

It’s almost a perfect storm if you studied all night for the whole semester, and yet you still get a failing score in your exam.

The governor is under a perfect storm of allegations about his performance and tax evasion issues.

A: How are you today? I heard about your company’s plan filing for bankruptcy.

B: Yes, that is correct. This will be a perfect storm for us as we are not sure about our job’s stability.

Miss the boat

Meaning
  • to miss something or lose an opportunity due to being too slow
Example Sentences

Be sure that you will not miss the boat when you always pay attention to other things instead of studying for your exams.

Eden and her friends are always searching for better opportunities so that they will not miss the boat.

A: You are still jobless right now? What are your plans?

B: I am planning to enroll in some workshops to upgrade my knowledge and skills. I still believe I have not missed the boat.

Quiz

1. ______________ as early as you can so that you can wake up early tomorrow.

2. Learning how to cook rice is not _______________.

3. The neighborhood is noisy all night, so I need to report them as I am not going to wait for ________________.

4. My sister has always experienced ________________ in her work due to her poor time management skills.

5. Glenda always ________________ as she never prepares well in her job interview. 

It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.

Famous Quote: It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure

Paul Huber

Success can mean happiness, peace and perfection. No one can achieve it without going through failures. It sounds easy, but adopting this as a way of life is not simple. Failure has different effects on different personalities. For some, it is something that must be endured. These people consider that only enduring can prepare them for the next challenges of their lives. For others, failure is the end. It leaves them less capable, with less self-confidence, with less resources to handle themselves in life and much less, to face adversities or to re-initiate in any matter be it of the work, love, studies, etc. 

Failure is a part of success, and every failure is an opportunity to learn and correct.

Failure is an inevitable part of life.

People make mistakes continuously. This is an inevitable part of life, and every failure is an opportunity to learn and improve. Failure is a part of success, and every failure is an opportunity to learn and correct. It makes you wiser, stronger and more resilient as you can give yourself the chance to know more about the nature of what has happened. This can lead you to make the necessary adjustments to improve. The problem arises when you label it only in a negative way, but it can bring you conclusions that will serve as a lesson.

A failure may reveal that you lack to evaluate or that you used the wrong criteria or strategies in achieving your goal. It often happens that a failure for some is a success for others. And this means that the parameters of each other are different and not the result itself. When learning from your failures, it is necessary to stop blaming the world, circumstances or other people. You must reflect, as soon as possible, on your mistakes. Do not commit them again in the future, and through this, you gain experience.

Failure is a source of self-improvement.

Failure is a clear indicator that something isn’t right. It’s a feedback that conveys a message that what you have been doing does not work or does not give the result you expected. Sometimes, it is a matter of reviewing your objectives or a matter of modifying the method you have used to try to achieve your goals. One of the best ways of learning is trial and error. It will take time and much effort on your part, but it will be an excellent way to find the right method to achieve your desired results. 

Failure is a clear indicator that something isn’t right. It’s a feedback that conveys a message that what you have been doing does not work.

Your continuous improvement and analysis of your failures give you excellent background on how you can achieve your goals and provide you with valuable experience that will be of great use to face your new challenges. A failure contains pushing energy that can be managed through you. So take advantage of it and never take it negatively. Failure is a reason for you to think and keep going as your life go on. Accept failure and follow its path to success. When you have achieved success through it, the lessons are worth remembering and a guide to your future life endeavors. 

Bill Gates, the millionaire who learned from his failures

Bill Gates is the co-founder of the software company Microsoft, the developer of Windows, an operating system for personal computers that are most used in the world. Not everything in his life has been a success. He did not have a good start in the business world. He suffered to achieve recognition because his first business was a resounding failure.

In 1970, when he was studying in high school, he and his partner Paul Allen created Traf-O-Data, which was a computer program to automatically read raw data and that allowed to generate useful reports for engineers but nobody hired their services. After this failed business, both entrepreneurs learned to develop a software for computers that they didn’t have access to, and in 1975 they created a new company called Microsoft. What came next was a huge success that has placed him today as one of the richest men in the world.

Learning Idioms in Context: Leticia’s Jobs

Paul Huber

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

Paul Huber

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.