Idioms – Priorities and Decisions

Hey, guys!

Everybody knows the importance of learning some idioms and colloquial expressions, especially when you live in a foreign country. We always learn a lot of them by communicating with native speakers or watching movies and series. In this section, you learn some idioms and expressions to communicate in a more natural way when speaking English in a foreign country.

Here are a few Idioms related to the topic Priorities and Decisions.

* The bottom line – the crucial fact (o ponto principal)

The bottom line is that the great majority of our kids is not fit.

* Cross that bridge when you come to it – deal with the problem when it actually happens (lidar com o problema quando ele aparecer, quando for a hora certa)

Let’s talk about this problem later, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

* Cut to the chase – get to the point (ir direto ao assunto)

Let’s cut to the chase, I don’t have time to waste.

* The icing on the cake – when something that is already good gets even better (a cereja no bolo)

To play for the national team is the ultimate experience. To be in a winning team is the icing on the cake.

* In two minds – to be undecided, not able to reach a decision (estar dividido entre duas opiniões)

She was in two minds about traveling or not on her vacation.

* Make a mountain out of a molehill – to talk or complain about a small unimportant problem as if it’s important or seriour (fazer tempestade em copo d’água)

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – it’s really not a big deal.

* On the back burner – when you decide to leave something for later (deixar em segundo plano)

It wasn’t April 15th yet, so I put the taxes on the back burner.

* Play it by ear – to deal with things as they happen, improvise (improvisar)

What will we do tomorrow? I don’t know let’s play it by ear.

 * Sit on the fence – to be undecided (ficar em cima do muro)

Which one do you prefer? You can’t sit on the fence, tell me please!

* Split hairs – to focus on trivial things (procurar pelo em ovo, chifre em cabeça de cavalo)

Her husband was always a loyal man, I think she is splitting hairs. 

* Stick to the guns – when you don’t change your beliefs (seguir suas convicções)

Once you have decided what is and isn’t acceptable, stick to your guns despite your child’s protests.

 * Take a back seat – to allow other people to have the power (deixar o comando)

I was happy to take a back seat and give someone else the opportunity to manage the project.

* The tip of the iceberg – a small part of a very large problem (a ponta do iceberg)

We get about 2,000 complaints every year and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

* Up in the air – when something has not been decided or arranged yet (no ar, incerto)

At the moment, the fate of the building is still up in the air. We don’t know if it’s going to be demolished.

 I hope you learned some new idioms today, see you next time!