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Category: idioms

  • In the Driver’s Seat

    🗓️ Idiom: In the Driver’s Seat (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To be in control of a situation, project, or team.
    • To be in a position of power or responsibility.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Since the promotion, Jenna has been in the driver’s seat on all major decisions.
    • After the merger, it was clear that the larger company was in the driver’s seat.
    • As project manager, you’ll be in the driver’s seat for the product launch.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Once she took over the team, she was clearly __________.

    Answer

    in the driver’s seat

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “in the driver’s seat”:

    A) To avoid responsibility
    B) To travel frequently
    C) To be in control or in charge

    Answer

    C) To be in control or in charge

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “He is the one making all the important calls on the project.” → Change the sentence using: in the driver’s seat

    Answer

    He’s in the one in the driver’s seat on the project.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    👉 Management and Leadership Idioms
    👉 Full Idioms List

  • Run a Tight Ship

    🗓️ Idiom: Run a Tight Ship (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To manage an organization, project, or team in a highly disciplined, efficient, and organized way.
    • To maintain strict control to ensure everything runs smoothly.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The new manager runs a tight ship. Everyone knows their responsibilities and deadlines.
    • If you want results, you’ll need to run a tighter ship.
    • She’s known for running a tight ship, and her department always performs well.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The team is very productive because their supervisor __________.

    Answer

    runs a tight ship

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “run a tight ship”:

    A) To provide flexible working hours
    B) To lead with strict organization and control
    C) To hire new team members

    Answer

    B) To lead with strict organization and control

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She’s a very organized and efficient leader who doesn’t tolerate sloppiness.” → Change the sentence using: run a tight ship

    Answer

    She runs a tight ship.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    👉 Management and Leadership Idioms
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  • Keep the Ship Afloat

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep the Ship Afloat (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To manage a business, project, or team in a way that prevents failure, especially during difficult or uncertain times.
    • To maintain stability and prevent collapse.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • With sales down, her main goal is to keep the ship afloat until the market improves.
    • They cut unnecessary expenses just to keep the ship afloat.
    • It’s not about growth right now—it’s about keeping the ship afloat.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    During the crisis, the company focused all efforts on __________.

    Answer

    keeping the ship afloat

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “keep the ship afloat”:

    A) To redesign a business strategy
    B) To prevent a business or project from failing
    C) To hire more staff

    Answer

    B) To prevent a business or project from failing

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “They worked hard to make sure the company didn’t go bankrupt.” → Change the sentence using: keep the ship afloat

    Answer

    They worked hard to keep the ship afloat.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    👉 Management and Leadership Idioms
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  • Lead by Example

    🗓️ Idiom: Lead by Example (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To show others how to behave or act by doing it yourself first.
    • To demonstrate the standard you expect from others through your own actions.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Great managers don’t just give instructions. They lead by example.
    • If you want the team to be punctual, you need to lead by example.
    • She led by example by staying calm and focused during the crisis.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The most respected leaders don’t just give orders, they __________.

    Answer

    lead by example

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “lead by example”:

    A) To follow the crowd
    B) To set a standard through your own behavior
    C) To manage from a distance

    Answer

    B) To set a standard through your own behavior

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “He always demonstrates the behavior he expects from his employees.” → Change the sentence using: lead by example

    Answer

    He always leads by example.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    👉 Management and Leadership Idioms
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  • Call the Shots

    🗓️ Idiom: Call the Shots (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To be in charge or make the important decisions.
    • To have control or authority in a situation or organization.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • In this department, it’s the team leader who calls the shots.
    • Once she was promoted to manager, she started calling the shots.
    • You need to speak with the director. He’s the one calling the shots.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Although it’s a team project, it’s clear that Emma is the one who __________.

    Answer

    calls the shots

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “call the shots”:

    A) To give someone bad news
    B) To control or make key decisions
    C) To avoid taking responsibility

    Answer

    B) To control or make key decisions

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

    “She is the one making all the important decisions for the team.” → Change the sentence using: call the shots

    Answer

    She’s the one calling the shots for the team.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    👉 Management and Leadership Idioms
    👉 Full Idioms List

  • Go Down Like a Lead Balloon

    🗓️ Idiom: Go Down Like a Lead Balloon (Id)

    💬 Meaning

    • Be completely unsuccessful or badly received.
    • Fail to attract interest, approval, or laughter.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • His attempt at a joke went down like a lead balloon during the meeting.
    • The idea went down like a lead balloon with the board of directors.
    • Her new slogan went down like a lead balloon, so they quickly dropped it.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom likely originated in the mid-1900s. A lead balloon would be far too heavy to float, so it would fall immediately. The phrase humorously suggests that something—like a joke or idea—fails completely, just like a balloon made of lead would fail to fly.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The campaign message ___________ and had no impact on voters.

    Answer

    went down like a lead balloon

    2. Choose the best meaning of “go down like a lead balloon”:
    a) Be very successful
    b) Fail badly or be rejected
    c) Float smoothly

    Answer

    b) Fail badly or be rejected

    3. Change the sentence using “go down like a lead balloon”:
    “Her comment didn’t go over well with the team.”

    Answer

    Her comment went down like a lead balloon.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Fall Flat

    🗓️ Idiom: Fall Flat (PHV)

    💬 Meaning

    • Fail to have the intended effect.
    • Be unsuccessful, especially when trying to impress or entertain.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • His joke fell flat during the presentation, and no one laughed.
    • The product launch fell flat because the audience wasn’t excited.
    • Her sales pitch fell flat, and the client decided not to invest.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the theatre world. A performance or joke that “falls flat” fails to get a reaction—like a note that is off-key or a performance that lands with no energy. It suggests something that doesn’t rise or succeed as planned.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The speaker’s attempt at humor ____________, and the room stayed silent.

    Answer

    fell flat

    2. Choose the best meaning of “fall flat”:
    a) Succeed greatly
    b) Fail to impress
    c) Create strong emotions

    Answer

    b) Fail to impress

    3. Change the sentence using “fall flat”:
    “The manager’s speech didn’t excite the team at all.”

    Answer

    The manager’s speech fell flat.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Break New Ground

    🗓️ Idiom: Break New Ground (PhV)

    💬 Meaning

    • Do something innovative or original.
    • Start a new project, idea, or method that has not been done before.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The company broke new ground with its eco-friendly packaging design.
    • Her research breaks new ground in cancer treatment.
    • We’re breaking new ground by entering international markets for the first time.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom comes from farming and construction. To “break ground” means to dig or plough land for the first time to build or grow something. Over time, it came to describe starting any new or innovative effort.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The startup aims to ____________ with its AI-powered customer service tools.

    Answer

    break new ground

    2. Choose the best meaning of “break new ground”:
    a) Repeat a known process
    b) Begin something original
    c) End a project early

    Answer

    b) Begin something original

    3. Change the sentence using “break new ground”:
    “The team started a completely new kind of project in digital marketing.”

    Answer

    The team broke new ground in digital marketing.

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  • Keep It Under Wraps

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep It Under Wraps (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Keep something secret or hidden.
    • Avoid sharing information with others until the right time.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • They’re launching a new product, but they’re keeping it under wraps for now.
    • Please keep this under wraps until the official announcement next week.
    • She kept her promotion under wraps until the team meeting.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom likely comes from the practice of covering things with cloth wraps to hide or protect them. It has been used since the 1930s, especially in entertainment and politics, to describe keeping plans or news secret.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    They asked everyone to ____________ the changes until the project was approved.

    Answer

    keep under wraps

    2. Choose the best meaning of “keep it under wraps”:
    a) Celebrate with others
    b) Keep it a secret
    c) Share the news widely

    Answer

    b) Keep it a secret

    3. Change the sentence using “keep it under wraps”:
    “He didn’t tell anyone about his new job until the contract was signed.”

    Answer

    He kept his new job under wraps until the contract was signed.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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  • Off The Cuff

    🗓️ Idiom: Off the Cuff (adv)

    💬 Meaning

    • Said or done without preparation.
    • Spoken spontaneously, without notes or a script.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • He delivered his remarks off the cuff, but they were still clear and persuasive.
    • The CEO answered a tough question off the cuff and impressed everyone.
    • I wasn’t expecting to speak, so my comments were completely off the cuff.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the early 1900s when speakers would quickly jot notes on their shirt cuffs. Saying something “off the cuff” came to mean speaking without full preparation—just from quick thoughts or memory.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    I didn’t prepare a speech, so I had to speak ____________.

    Answer

    off the cuff

    2. Choose the best meaning of “off the cuff”:
    a) With strong emotion
    b) From a written script
    c) Without preparation

    Answer

    c) Without preparation

    3. Change the sentence using “off the cuff”:
    “She spoke without preparing, but still made a strong point.”

    Answer

    She spoke off the cuff but still made a strong point.

    ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

    📚 Learning Resources

    👉 Presentations and Speeches Idioms
    👉 Business English Idioms List

    👥 Support Spaces

    👉 Student Space
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    ⭐️ Extras

    📫 Get a Daily Idiom
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