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Category: idioms

  • Go the Full Nine Yards

    🗓️ Idiom: Go the Full Nine Yards (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Make a full effort or do everything possible to achieve something.
    • Go all the way to complete a task, often to impress or help someone.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The sales team went the full nine yards to win the client’s trust.
    • Our customer service agent went the full nine yards to solve the issue.
    • They always go the full nine yards when preparing product demonstrations.

    🏛️ Origin

    The exact origin is debated, but one theory comes from World War II. Some machine gun belts were 27 feet (nine yards) long, so using the entire belt in battle meant giving it your all. Over time, the phrase came to mean doing everything possible.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Our support staff will __________ to make sure every customer is happy.

    Answer

    go the full nine yards

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does it mean to “go the full nine yards”?
    a) Work quickly
    b) Do the minimum
    c) Do everything possible

    Answer

    c) Do everything possible

    3. Change the sentence using “go the full nine yards”:
    “The assistant did everything to make the customer feel welcome.”

    Answer

    The assistant went the full nine yards to make the customer feel welcome.

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  • Put the Customer First

    🗓️ Idiom: Put the Customer First (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Focus on the customer’s needs and satisfaction before anything else.
    • Make decisions that prioritize the customer’s experience.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Good businesses always put the customer first, even if it means extra work.
    • We redesigned our return policy to put the customer first.
    • The manager reminded the staff to put the customer first during busy hours.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from customer service and business practices that emphasise customer satisfaction as the key to success. It became common in the late 20th century as companies began adopting “customer-first” philosophies to improve loyalty and reputation.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Our company’s policy is to always __________, no matter the situation.

    Answer

    put the customer first

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does it mean to “put the customer first”?
    a) Focus only on profits
    b) Make the customer’s needs the top priority
    c) Offer the cheapest products

    Answer

    b) Make the customer’s needs the top priority

    3. Change the sentence using “put the customer first”:
    “The company changed its opening hours to suit customer needs.”

    Answer

    The company changed its opening hours to put the customer first.

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  • Roll Out the Red Carpet

    🗓️ Idiom: Roll Out the Red Carpet (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To give someone special treatment
    • To welcome someone with great care and attention

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • We roll out the red carpet for our best customers by offering them special deals and free upgrades.
    • The company rolled out the red carpet for the potential client to win the contract.
    • Our customer service team always rolls out the red carpet when handling VIP customers.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the tradition of laying a red carpet for important guests. It started in ancient Greece and became popular in the 20th century with film premieres and political events, symbolising honour and special treatment.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The team ____________________ for the company’s biggest customer.

    Answer

    rolled out the red carpet

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “roll out the red carpet”:
    A) Give someone a difficult task
    B) Treat someone with extra care and respect
    C) Ask someone to leave quickly

    Answer

    B) Treat someone with extra care and respect

    3. Change the sentence using “roll out the red carpet”:
    “The manager gave the new customer very special treatment.”

    Answer

    The manager rolled out the red carpet for the new customer.

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  • Go Above and Beyond

    🗓️ Idiom: Go Above and Beyond (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To do more than what is expected
    • To make an extra effort to help or succeed

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Our support team always goes above and beyond to solve customer problems.
    • She went above and beyond by delivering the order herself on a holiday.
    • To keep loyal clients, you sometimes need to go above and beyond.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of going beyond a set boundary or expectation. It was first used in military and service contexts to praise people who gave extra effort or did more than their duty.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The sales rep ____________________ to win the client’s trust and close the deal.

    Answer

    went above and beyond

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “go above and beyond”:
    A) Leave the company quickly
    B) Do more than what is expected
    C) Follow basic rules

    Answer

    B) Do more than what is expected

    3. Change the sentence using “go above and beyond”:
    “He helped the customer more than he had to.”

    Answer

    He went above and beyond to help the customer.

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  • Be a Pain in the Neck

    🗓️ Idiom: Be a Pain in the Neck (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To be very annoying or difficult
    • To cause problems or frustration

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Some customers are polite, but others can really be a pain in the neck.
    • The new payment system is a pain in the neck for both staff and clients.
    • It’s a pain in the neck when orders keep getting delayed.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom compares something annoying or troublesome to actual neck pain, which is difficult to ignore and makes life uncomfortable. It became popular in the 20th century as a polite version of a stronger phrase, “pain in the ass.”

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Chasing unpaid invoices every week is ____________________.

    Answer

    a pain in the neck

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “a pain in the neck”:
    A) A helpful person
    B) A serious medical condition
    C) Something or someone annoying or difficult

    Answer

    C) Something or someone annoying or difficult

    3. Change the sentence using “a pain in the neck”:
    “Filing complaints manually is very annoying for the team.”

    Answer

    Filing complaints manually is a pain in the neck for the team.

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  • Put Someone on Hold

    🗓️ Idiom: Put Someone on Hold (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To pause a phone conversation, often by using a button or switch
    • To delay someone’s request or issue while they wait

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The customer was frustrated after being put on hold for 20 minutes.
    • When I called to complain, they put me on hold without explaining why.
    • Many companies put you on hold before transferring you to the right department.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from telephone systems. To “put someone on hold” means to temporarily stop the call while the person waits, often with music playing. Over time, it also became a way to describe delays in customer service.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The agent asked me to wait and then ____________________.

    Answer

    put me on hold

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “put someone on hold”:
    A) To fire someone from their job
    B) To make someone wait on the phone
    C) To call someone back later

    Answer

    B) To make someone wait on the phone

    3. Change the sentence using “put someone on hold”:
    “The receptionist told me to wait while she checked the system.”

    Answer

    The receptionist put me on hold while she checked the system.

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  • Give Someone the Cold Shoulder

    🗓️ Idiom: Give Someone the Cold Shoulder (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To deliberately ignore someone
    • To show someone that they are not welcome or important

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After I asked for a refund, the staff gave me the cold shoulder.
    • The company gave long-time customers the cold shoulder by removing support.
    • If you give a client the cold shoulder, they may not return.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from old times in Britain, when hosts would serve cold meat—especially the shoulder part—to unwanted guests as a sign they should leave. Over time, it came to mean giving someone an unfriendly or distant response.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The customer felt upset because the staff ____________________.

    Answer

    gave her the cold shoulder

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “give someone the cold shoulder”:
    A) To offer someone a better deal
    B) To ignore someone on purpose
    C) To ask for help politely

    Answer

    B) To ignore someone on purpose

    3. Change the sentence using “give someone the cold shoulder”:
    “The support team did not respond or help the customer.”

    Answer

    The support team gave the customer the cold shoulder.

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  • Brush Someone Off

    🗓️ Idiom: Brush Someone Off (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To ignore someone or treat them as unimportant
    • To refuse to listen or respond, especially in a rude or quick way

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • When the customer asked a question, the salesperson just brushed her off.
    • He tried to explain the issue, but the support agent brushed him off.
    • If you brush off clients, they may go to a competitor.

    🏛️ Origin

    The phrase comes from the physical action of brushing dust or dirt off your clothes. In this idiom, it means dismissing a person as if they were not worth your time or attention. It has been used this way since the mid-1900s.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Instead of helping, the receptionist just ____________________.

    Answer

    brushed me off

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “brush someone off”:
    A) To welcome someone warmly
    B) To ignore or dismiss someone
    C) To clean something quickly

    Answer

    B) To ignore or dismiss someone

    3. Change the sentence using “brush someone off”:
    “The manager didn’t take my complaint seriously at all.”

    Answer

    The manager brushed me off.

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  • Give Someone the Runaround

    🗓️ Idiom: Give Someone the Runaround (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To avoid giving clear answers or help, often to delay or confuse someone
    • To pass a customer from one helper to another, then another without solving their problem

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • When I asked for a refund, the company gave me the runaround for weeks.
    • Customers will stop trusting you if you give them the runaround.
    • The client felt frustrated after being given the runaround by several departments.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom likely comes from the idea of making someone run around in circles rather than moving forward. It has been used in English since the 1800s to describe evasive or unhelpful behaviour.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The support team kept ____________________, and I still don’t have an answer.

    Answer

    giving me the runaround

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “give someone the runaround”:
    A) To solve their problem quickly
    B) To confuse or delay them on purpose
    C) To give them a full refund

    Answer

    B) To confuse or delay them on purpose

    3. Change the sentence using “give someone the runaround”:
    “The manager kept avoiding my questions instead of helping.”

    Answer

    The manager kept giving me the runaround instead of helping.

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  • A Must Have Item

    🗓️ Idiom: A Must-Have Item (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A product that is considered essential or very desirable
    • Something people feel they need to buy, often because it is trendy or popular

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The new smartwatch has become a must-have item for tech lovers.
    • For many customers, free delivery is a must-have item when shopping online.
    • The marketing team worked hard to make the product feel like a must-have item.

    🏛️ Origin

    This phrase became common in advertising and fashion in the late 20th century. It is used to describe products that are highly desirable and seen as essential by consumers, even if they are not truly necessary.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    This fitness tracker is being advertised as ____________________ for busy professionals.

    Answer

    a must-have item

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “a must-have item”:
    A) A product no one wants
    B) A product that is considered essential
    C) A product that is too expensive

    Answer

    B) A product that is considered essential

    3. Change the sentence using “a must-have item”:
    “Everyone is talking about the new noise-cancelling headphones.”

    Answer

    The new noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have item.

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