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Category: idioms

  • Throw Someone Under the Bus

    🗓️ Idiom: Throw Someone Under the Bus (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To betray or sacrifice a colleague or team member for personal gain.
    • To shift blame onto someone else to protect oneself.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • When the project failed, the supervisor threw her assistant under the bus to avoid responsibility.
    • He always takes credit when things go well but throws others under the bus when there’s a problem.
    • Don’t throw your teammates under the bus just to impress upper management.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    To save his reputation, he decided to __________ his colleague under the bus.

    Answer

    throw

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “throw someone under the bus”:

    A) To give someone a big opportunity
    B) To rely on a team member
    C) To betray or blame someone for your own benefit

    Answer

    C) To betray or blame someone for your own benefit

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She blamed her teammate so she wouldn’t get in trouble.” → Change the sentence using: throw someone under the bus

    Answer

    She threw her teammate under the bus so she wouldn’t get in trouble.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Sweep Something Under the Rug

    🗓️ Idiom: Sweep Something Under the Rug (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To hide or ignore an issue or problem instead of addressing it.
    • To avoid dealing with something unpleasant in the hope it will be forgotten.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The company tried to sweep the financial scandal under the rug.
    • Instead of discussing the team’s poor performance, the manager just swept it under the rug.
    • Don’t sweep it under the rug, let’s talk about the miscommunication and fix it.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    They decided to __________ the error under the rug instead of reporting it.

    Answer

    sweep

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “sweep things under the rug”:

    A) To clean up and take responsibility
    B) To ignore or hide a problem
    C) To resolve issues through discussion

    Answer

    B) To ignore or hide a problem

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “The manager didn’t want to face the mistake, so he ignored it.” → Change the sentence using: sweep under the rug

    Answer

    The manager swept the mistake under the rug.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Pass the Buck

    🗓️ Idiom: Pass the Buck (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To shift responsibility or blame to someone else instead of taking it yourself.
    • To avoid accountability by making someone else deal with a problem or task.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The manager tried to pass the buck when the project failed, blaming his team instead.
    • Good leaders take responsibility instead of passing the buck.
    • She always passes the buck when there’s extra work to be done.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Rather than admitting his mistake, he tried to __________ the buck.

    Answer

    pass

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “pass the buck”:

    A) Delegate fairly among team members
    B) Shift blame or responsibility to someone else
    C) Share credit for success with others

    Answer

    B) Shift blame or responsibility to someone else

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “He didn’t want to take the blame, so he blamed his assistant instead.” → Change the sentence using: pass the buck

    Answer

    He didn’t want to take the blame, so he passed the buck to his assistant.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Rule With an Iron Fist

    🗓️ Idiom: Rule with an Iron Fist (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To govern or manage in a strict, authoritarian, or harsh way.
    • To enforce rules rigidly and tolerate little or no opposition or flexibility.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The CEO ruled with an iron fist, making all major decisions without input from others.
    • Some leaders rule with an iron fist to maintain control, but it can lower morale.
    • He ruled the department with an iron fist and expected total obedience.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The director was known to __________ with an iron fist, rarely accepting feedback.

    Answer

    rule

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “rule with an iron fist”:

    A) Be a fair and balanced leader
    B) Lead with creativity and openness
    C) Lead with strict control and no tolerance for opposition

    Answer

    C) Lead with strict control and no tolerance for opposition

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She managed her team in a very controlling and harsh way.” → Change the sentence using: rule with an iron fist

    Answer

    She ruled her team with an iron fist.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Crack the Whip

    🗓️ Idiom: Crack the Whip (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To use your authority to push people to work harder or enforce discipline.
    • Often used when a manager becomes stricter to increase productivity or efficiency.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The boss had to crack the whip to get the team to meet the deadline.
    • When productivity dropped, she cracked the whip and tightened control over the project.
    • He usually has a laid-back style, but he’ll crack the whip if results aren’t delivered.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    After weeks of missed targets, the manager had no choice but to __________ the whip.

    Answer

    crack

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “crack the whip”:

    A) Take a break from work
    B) Enforce strict discipline or pressure
    C) Encourage teamwork through rewards

    Answer

    B) Enforce strict discipline or pressure

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “The manager started demanding more from the staff.” → Change the sentence using: crack the whip

    Answer

    The manager started cracking the whip.

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  • Let Someone Go

    🗓️ Idiom: Let Someone Go (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • A polite or indirect way to say someone has been fired or dismissed from a job.
    • Used in professional settings to soften the message of termination.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The company had to let several employees go due to budget cuts.
    • She was let go after repeatedly missing project deadlines.
    • They let him go, but offered a strong reference for future jobs.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Due to restructuring, the department had to __________ two team members.

    Answer

    let go

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “let someone go”:

    A) Allow someone to take a break
    B) Promote someone to a new position
    C) Politely fire or dismiss someone

    Answer

    C) Politely fire or dismiss someone

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “The manager fired two interns last week.” → Change the sentence using: let someone go

    Answer

    The manager let two interns go last week.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Show Someone the Door

    🗓️ Idiom: Show Someone the Door (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To formally or informally ask someone to leave a job, meeting, or place.
    • To dismiss or fire someone, often abruptly or without much explanation.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After the argument with the director, he was quickly shown the door.
    • The manager didn’t tolerate insubordination and showed him the door.
    • If you miss another deadline, they might show you the door.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    After the heated disagreement, the executive was __________.

    Answer

    shown the door

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “show someone the door”:

    A) Give someone a raise
    B) Ask someone to leave or fire them
    C) Invite someone in

    Answer

    B) Ask someone to leave or fire them

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They told the underperforming intern to leave.” → Change the sentence using: show someone the door

    Answer

    They showed the underperforming intern the door.

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  • Give Someone the Axe

    🗓️ Idiom: Give Someone the Axe (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To fire or dismiss someone from their job.
    • To remove someone from a position, often suddenly or forcefully.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After the restructuring, several managers were given the axe.
    • If performance doesn’t improve, the CEO might give the whole department the axe.
    • The new director didn’t hesitate to give underperforming staff the axe.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The company had to cut costs, so several employees were __________.

    Answer

    given the axe

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “give someone the axe”:

    A) To promote someone
    B) To fire someone
    C) To assign someone a new task

    Answer

    B) To fire someone

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They fired three employees last week.” → Change the sentence using: give someone the axe

    Answer

    They gave three employees the axe last week.

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  • Have Many Balls in the Air

    🗓️ Idiom: Have Many Balls in the Air (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To manage several tasks or projects at the same time.
    • To be involved in many different activities or responsibilities simultaneously.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • As department head, she always has many balls in the air and juggles them efficiently.
    • I’m managing two teams, launching a new product, and finalizing budgets. It’s definitely a case of having many balls in the air!
    • When you’re running your own business, having many balls in the air becomes the norm.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    He’s got so many responsibilities right now; it feels like he has __________.

    Answer

    many balls in the air

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “have many balls in the air”:

    A) To take a break from work
    B) To focus on one important task
    C) To handle several things at once

    Answer

    C) To handle several things at once

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She’s handling several major projects at the same time.” → Change the sentence using: have many balls in the air

    Answer

    She has many balls in the air right now.

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  • Take the Bull by the Horns

    🗓️ Idiom: Take the Bull by the Horns (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To deal with a difficult situation directly and with courage.
    • To take decisive action instead of avoiding a problem.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The team was falling behind, so she took the bull by the horns and restructured the entire process.
    • Instead of waiting for someone else to act, the CEO took the bull by the horns and addressed the conflict.
    • You need to take the bull by the horns and speak to your manager about the delays.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Rather than ignoring the low sales figures, he decided to __________ and improve their marketing strategies.

    Answer

    take the bull by the horns

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “take the bull by the horns”:

    A) Avoid responsibility
    B) Handle a problem with courage and action
    C) Delegate the hard work to others

    Answer

    B) Handle a problem with courage and action

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She confronted the issue with confidence instead of waiting.” → Change the sentence using: take the bull by the horns

    Answer

    She took the bull by the horns instead of waiting.

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