Posted by Hey guys!
Everybody knows the importance of learning some phrasal verbs, 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 post, you learn some phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions to communicate in a more natural way when speaking English in a foreign country.
* weigh sth up – consider the good and bad aspects of sth before reaching a decision about it.
I’m weighing up my options before I decide to apply for the job.
* lose sight of sth – stop considering sth; forget about sth.
I’m worried that we’re losing sight of our original objectives.
* gut feeling / reaction – a feeling that sth is right, even if you cannot explain why.
I have a gut feeling that the relationship won’t last.
* rush into sth – do sth without thinking about it first.
Let’s not rush into signing this contract before reading it carefully first.
* have a mind of your own – have your own opinions and make your own decisions without being influenced by others.
He is such a young guy but already has a mind of his own.
* have or lack the courage of your convictions – be / not be brave enough to do what you feel is right.
The governor was presented with a bribe to help the corporation avoid regulation, and she accepted it because she lacked the courage of her convictions.
* step in – become involved in a difficult situation to help or make it stop.
When the leading actress broke her leg, Isabel stepped in and took over.
* be a toss-up – a person who doesn’t now which of two things to choose.
It’s a toss-up between going to Canada or Australia.
* sit on the fence – not able to decide sth.
You can’t sit on the fence any longer – you have to decide whose side you’re on.
* be the lesser of two evils – the less unpleasant of two unpleasant choices.
Allowing a criminal to go free is perhaps the lesser of two evils if the alternative is imprisoning an innocent person.
* be in two minds about sth – be unable to decide about sth / about doing sth.
I was in two minds about whether or not to come this morning.
* give sth a miss – decide not to do sth that you usually do.
We decided to give school a miss today!
I hope you learned some new phrasal verbs and idioms today, see you next time!
Source: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs – Advanced / Ruth Gairns and Stuart Redman – Oxford
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