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If someone declines professional ethics, it means that his/her behaviour (in a workplace) becomes less moral without having ethical principles.

"I was really surprised when I saw our boss eating a sandwich during the meeting. He definitely declines professional ethics!"

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If a situation gets out of hand, it is difficult or impossible to control.

The party started well, but things quickly got out of hand when people started doing shots of tequila!

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If something turns sour, it stops being pleasant and working properly.

"The relationship between my boss and I turned sour when I asked for a pay rise".

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If you give someone the cold shoulder, you treat someone in an unfriendly way; often excluding them or making them feel unwelcome.

After I got the promotion, my work colleagues started giving me the cold shoulder.

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If you keep your ear to the ground, you try and find out the most recent developments in a particular situation.

A: I really want to move up in the company. Do you know if there are any new positions opening in your department?

B: Sorry, I haven't heard of anything recently, but I'll keep my ear to the ground and let you know if something comes up.

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If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice something bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it.

„She seemed to turn a blind eye to her friend’s drug addiction for years.“

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If you point the finger at someone or something, you blame them.

Prince Harry pointed the finger at the media for the breakdown of his relationship with his brother William.

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If someone looks up to you it means, that they respect and admire you

« The kids really look up to their coach »

I really look up to Sadio Mané, because of his personality and his work ethic in sports.

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If someone takes you on, it means that he/she starts to employ you.

She was taken on as a laboratory assistant.

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If someone captures a striking image, it means that this image is interesting and unusual enough to attract attention.

"I captured a striking image which has been awarded by a critic"

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If you keep yourself to yourself you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people.

"Shrek before he met Donkey was anti-social and territorial. In fact, he kept himself to himself"

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If someone is defined as a bubbly person, it means that is always cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic.

"I really admire his personality! He's so bubbly and, as a result, always surrounded by friends".

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If someone tries to apply to a slew of companies, it means that is trying to apply for a large number, or several of them.

"I sent my CV to a slew of companies. I hope they will hire me!".

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If someone name-drops a contact, it means he/she talks about famous people that he/she has met, often pretending that he/she knows them better than he/she really does, in order to appear more important and special.

The company likes to name-drop famous clients, including the US and Russian presidents.

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If someone catches your eye, it means that he/she gets your attention.

Mr.President, I was trying to catch your eye just now, but you didn't see me.

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If someone looks down on you it means that they despise you as a person.

« I wasn’t successful, so they looked down on me. »

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If someone takes the opportunity to stand out, it means that is noticeable and well considered because of something he/she has done.

"A few moths ago, I took the opportunity to stand out when I did an ambitious project to the company I work for".

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If I cover up my nerves, I try to hide the fact, that I am nervous and try to calm down.

„She is getting ready for her job interview and trying to cover up her nerves by making breathing exercises.“

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Put (somebody) down means criticise someone, especially when other people are around.

Example:  “They’re not really your friends if they put you down. A friend should be kind and supportive.”

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If you give a generic answer, you generalize your answer and say what everyone else would say.

„He gave us a generic answer in his job interview. He didn‘t stand out and we can‘t remember him.“

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A situation where you show others your confidence in yourself and your abilities.

Example: “You shouldn’t feel so insecure about yourself. During the pitch you must project your self-confidence to others.”

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If you connect the dots, you bring all the information you have (about sth/sb) together.

„In my job interview, I connected all the dots and was clear about what I was telling him/her.“

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Something that is slack is not strict or effective enough.

"The teacher gave me a book for my research, but some pages are missing! It's a bit slack, isn't it?"

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To give short and clear presentation, expressing what needs to be said without unnecessary words.

"You have only 5 minutes for your presentation, so give us a concise pitch"

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To have a relationship with a lot of problem.

"Odette and Derek at the beginning of The Swam Princess had a rocky relationship. Everything changed when they became adults and get married."

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If two people get on like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become friends very quickly.

"Harry and Ron share a compartment on the Hogwarts Express and get on like a house on fire."

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an event that puts pressure on something, sometimes causes damage.

"Stephen Hawking's motor neuron disease puts a great strain on the relationship with his wife Jane"

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If you take a dislike to someone or something, you decide that you do not like them.

"Harry took an instant dislike to Draco Malfoy because he was so arrogant."

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If people get on like a house of fire,they become friends very quickly.

The class got on like a house of fire.

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If someone or something gets on your nerves, you are annoyed by it or someone.

The neighbors loud music is really getting on my nerves.

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If you show leadership skills, you help others learn and offer advice and inspiration.

Michael showed great leadership skills yesterday.

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If you keep in touch with someone, you continue to communicate with them.
If you keep in touch with something, you know what is happening in a particular area/topic.

„Teachers keep in touch with their students via email.“
„My mom tries to keep in touch with current news by reading the online newspapers.“

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To explain the result in a very clear way with details.

"You should be always clear and detailed, so when the interviewer will ask you about your experiences, spell out the result."

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When someone goes over the answers, it means they check their answers again to be sure of what they wrote.

Let's go over the two answers you got wrong to see what you can learn from it.

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To have a proven track record are all the things that a person has done in the past, which shows how good they are at doing their job, dealing with problems.

He has a proven track record as an incredibly successful business man.

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These are opportunities that allow a person to achieve their professional goals and career progression.

Example: “If you have a degree you have more chances of getting a better paid job and more opportunities for future growth.”

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When you head up a project, you lead or you are in charge of the project meaning you set the tone.

He was approached to head up Nikes' investment banking business.

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To fit the bill means to be what is needed in a specific situation such as a job position.

Example: “I really liked her, she seems to be the ideal person for this job as she has the right fit.”

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If someone gains an insight into something, he/she gains an accurate and deep understanding of it.

"I hope that this talk has given you an insight into your future career."

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We talk about the saleability of a property when we evaluate how easy it is to sell.

"The saleability of my house has improved since I contacted a real estate agent."

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If something is a means to an end, it means that is not valued or interesting in itself, but is useful in achieving something else.

"I didn't like working in an office, but I saw it as a means to an end."

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I you have a rollercoaster ride of a time, it means a constant "up and down"  of emotions over a period of time. Or good times alternating with difficult times

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My law studies were extremely difficult and therefore a rollercoaster ride of a time.

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If someone jot down sth., it means that they make a quick note.

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I began to jot down an idea for a project.
I didn't jot down the names.

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If you're stick at sth., it means that you keep doing what you are doing and don't give up right away.

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You have to stick at it and work through bit by bit to get to the end.

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You don’t let something that happened/ or a situation affect/ influence you any more.

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You can rise above this depressing situation and you will be okay.

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If people describe you as a would-be rockstar, you try to pretend you're someone you're not. (same meaning as "wannabe")

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She was a would-be singer and songwriter, but she has no talent at all.

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A dreary office makes you feel depressed: not bright or interesting. (The weather can also be dreary (cloudy and grey))

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"Life`s hard, working 9-5 in a dreary office..."

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If you want to break out of the daily grind, you're trying to escape the "rat race"

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"Our holidays here in Spain are so relaxing and a great diversion. I really want to break out of the daily grind."

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If you can make the written words come alive, you're able to describe sth.  (on paper) so precise/accurate that it feels extremely real.

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"Your book was extremely fascinating and exciting. I had the feeling you made the written word come alive."

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If someone or something is instrumental in a process, plan, or system, that person or thing is one of the most important influences in causing it to happen.

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She was instrumental in making abortion legal and accessible for women.

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If you have an outcome in mind, you know the result or effect of an action, situation or event.

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If you want to write a book, it`s helpful when you already have an outcome in mind.

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If something is very much in demand, it means, that it is very popular at the moment and a lot of people want it.

„Airpods are very much in demand at the moment.“

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If something is put into perspective, we are able to see the true value of something.

„Today‘s news have put things around the British Government into perspective.“

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If someone struggles to get to grips, it means that he/her is having a problem with facing up to and dealing with a task.

„I love working with young children, but sometimes I am struggling to get to grips with their behaviour.“

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If someone has a (nice) change of pace, it means that he/her is starting a new, different activity to what he/her was doing before.

„My mom left her previous job, because she needed a change of pace.“

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To appeal or attract someone.

"The idea of becoming a student at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry of Hogwarts has always appealed to me, but I've never received the acceptance letter. I'm still waiting."

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If something is or isn‘t the way someone wants to go, it means that he either is going to do exactly what she/he wants or she/he isn‘t.

„Even if I work in gastronomy at the moment, it is not the way I want to go.“

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Hoping that something may be possible, although it is not likely.

"I applied for the job on the off-chance that they might like me, but I didn't seriously expect to get it."

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To get a lucky opportunity quickly.

" When one of my favorite company called me for schedule a job interview, I jumped at the chance and I accepted immediately."

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To isolate yourself from someone or something else.

"Into the Wild revolves around Christopher McCandless' life, aka Alexandre Supertramp, who decide to seal himself off from the world going to Alaska."

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to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried.

"A glass of wine in the evening helps me to unwind after work."

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Doom and gloom is a a general feeling of pessimism.

The newspapers are always full of doom and gloom these days.

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An eye opener for something can be startling, surprising, or enlightening.

Living in another country can be a real eye opener for the diffrent cultures that exist around the world.

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A valid concept is the main extent to which a concept, conclusion or measurement is well-founded and likely corresponds accurately to the real world.

My passport is valid for another two years.

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If something gets nasty it gets unpleasant, offensive, or repugnant.

If you get stung by a jelly fish it gets nasty.

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Mulling over sth means to spend time thinking carefully about a plan or proposal.

I need a few days to mull things over before I decide.

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Spelling the end means the end of something such as a period of time, an event, a book, or a film is the last part of it or the final point in it.

Did this mistake spell the end of his football career?

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An eye-opener is, an event or situation that proves to be unexpectedly enlightening.

For those who maintain an illusion of tight control, the book will be an eye-opener.

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If you shine a light on something you examine something more closely or explain it to make it clearer

Can some one shine a light on what has just been said? I didn’t get it.

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A cost effective proposition is a scheme or plan that prioritizes in saving money

NASA has made a cost effective proposition to improve space travel.

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A grand gesture is a great physical effort and/or a sacrifice of time, money or pride.

Gifting his friend a holiday trip was a grand gesture.

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If something is seemingly innocuous it seems unharmful even though it is.

A splinter can seemingly be innocuous until it gets infected.

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If something turns out differently, it is not the expected result.

Her birthday party turned out different than I thought.

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A conservation initiative is a plan for dealing ich the protection of the environment.

The UK government introduced a conservation initiative for a more sustainable Britain.

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It may represent the difficulty of being able to release ourselves from some kind of thoughts or emotions.

Example: “When I have an exam, it’s hard to shake the sense of nervousness”

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It can represent a long or difficult situation that becomes quite boring and tiring.

Example: “I love going to Brazil although the plane journeys are punishingly monotonous”

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Led to means the result or the consequence of something.

Example: I’m very happy to have taken an English course. This led to more opportunities for my future growth.

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A relationship that remains for a long time.

Example: “They remained friends through the difficult times between them”

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A situation where you solve a disagreement.

Example: “My sister and I used to have big arguments but in the end we always made up”

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If you talk about someone behind their back, you gossip / talk about them when they are not there.

After getting together, Ron and Hermione started talking behind Harry's back more frequently, especially in "The Deathly Hallows".

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If someone turns his/her back on you, it means that he/she is ignoring you or prefers not being involved in something.

"I turned my back on my best friend when I discovered that he betrayed me with my girlfriend".