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Category: idioms

  • Wind Down

    🗓️ Idiom: Wind Down (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Gradually relax or reduce activity after something is finished
    • To bring something to a gentle or gradual close

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After the conference, we took a few days to wind down.
    • The meeting began to wind down after all key topics were covered.
    • Let’s wind down with a casual team lunch.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom “wind down” comes from the operation of a device like a clock or a toy that runs by a spring. When the spring is “wound up,” the device runs, and as it “winds down,” it gradually slows and stops.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    After such a busy week, it’s important to take some time to __________.

    Answer

    wind down


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “wind down”:

    A) Start something new
    B) Relax or reduce activity
    C) Rush to meet a deadline

    Answer

    B) Relax or reduce activity


    3. Rewrite the sentence using “wind down”:

    “Let’s relax a bit after the presentation.”

    Answer

    Let’s wind down after the presentation.

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  • Wrap Things Up

    🗓️ Idiom: Wrap (something) Up (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Finish or complete something
    • Bring a task, activity, or discussion to a close

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • “Let’s wrap this meeting up so we can head to lunch.”
    • “We should wrap this task up by 5 p.m. to stay on schedule.”
    • “The manager asked them to wrap everything up and submit the report.”

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom “wrap things up” comes from wrapping a package or an object to prepare it for completion or delivery. Finishing something like a presentation is, “wrapping up”.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    It’s getting late, time to ________ the meeting ______.

    Answer

    wrap the meeting up


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “wrap things up”:

    A) Begin a conversation
    B) Conclude an activity
    C) Take a break

    Answer

    B) Conclude an activity


    3. Rewrite the sentence using “wrap _____ up:

    “Let’s finish our discussion soon.”

    Answer

    Let’s wrap our discussion up soon.

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  • Draw to a Close

    🗓️ Idiom: Draw to a Close (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Come to an end gradually
    • Used when an event, meeting, or period of time is nearing its conclusion

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • “As the meeting drew to a close, the team reviewed next steps.”
    • “The event is drawing to a close, so please take your seats for the final announcement.”
    • “As the year draws to a close, we begin planning for the next.”

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom “draw to a close” comes from an older meaning of “draw,” which is to pull or extend something gradually. Think of something being slowly pulled towards its end.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    Let’s summarize the key points as the session __________.

    Answer

    draws to a close


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “draw to a close”:

    A) To delay something
    B) To begin a new activity
    C) To come to an end

    Answer

    C) To come to an end


    3. Rewrite the sentence using “Draw to a close”.:

    “The project is almost finished.”

    Answer

    The project is drawing to a close.

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  • Get on Board With

    🗓️ Idiom: Get on Board With (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Agree with or support a plan, idea, or change
    • Become involved with something once you’ve accepted it

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • “The team finally got on board with the new strategy.”
    • “We need everyone to get on board with the changes before we launch.”
    • “She wasn’t sure at first, but now she’s on board with the project.”

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of getting on a ship or train — when you “get on board,” you join the journey. In business, it means joining a project or agreeing with an idea, like being part of a team moving in the same direction.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    We need the whole department to __________ the new system before next week.

    Answer

    get on board with


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “get on board with”:

    A) To oppose an idea
    B) To support or agree with something
    C) To travel together

    Answer

    B) To support or agree with something


    3.Change the sentence using “Get on Board With”:

    “The client accepted the proposal and wants to join us.”

    Answer

    The client got on board with the proposal and wants to join us.

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  • Circle Back

    🗓️ Idiom: Circle Back (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To return to a topic or task later.
    • To follow up on something that was discussed earlier.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Let’s circle back to this point after we hear everyone’s ideas.
    • I’ll circle back with you tomorrow once I get an update from the client.
    • She said she would circle back on the budget question next week.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom uses the image of making a circle — coming back to a place or idea. In business, it means returning to a topic later, often after more information or action is needed.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    We don’t have the figures yet, so let’s __________ to this item tomorrow.

    Answer

    circle back

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “circle back”:

    A) To leave a meeting early
    B) To return to a topic later
    C) To avoid making a decision

    Answer

    B) To return to a topic later

    3. Change the sentence using “circle back”:

    “We can talk about the marketing plan again after lunch.”

    Answer

    We can circle back to the marketing plan after lunch.

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  • Go Back to the Drawing Board

    🗓️ Idiom: Back to the Drawing Board (adv)

    💬 Meaning

    • To start planning something again after a failure.
    • To go back to the beginning because the first idea didn’t work.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Our proposal was rejected, so it’s back to the drawing board”.
    • The design didn’t meet the client’s needs—we need to go back to the drawing board.
    • After the software crash, the team went back to the drawing board to find a better solution.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the world of design and engineering. If a plan failed, the person had to go back to their drawing board and start again. Today, it’s used in business when something doesn’t work and needs a new plan.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The marketing idea didn’t work, so it’s __________.

    Answer

    back to the drawing board

    2. Choose the correct meaning of “back to the drawing board”:

    A) To stop all work
    B) To return to planning after failure
    C) To skip a task

    Answer

    B) To return to planning after failure

    3. Rewrite the sentence using “Go back to the drawing board”:

    “We need to make a new plan because the old one failed.”

    Answer

    We need to go back to the drawing board because the old plan failed.

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  • Touch Upon

    🗓️ Idiom: Touch Upon

    💬 Meaning

    • Mention or briefly talk about a subject.
    • Give a short explanation or idea about something.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • In the meeting, she touched upon the budget concerns.
    • The report touches upon the main issues we face.
    • He touched upon several ideas during his presentation.

    🏛️ Origin

    This phrase comes from the idea of lightly touching something without focusing deeply. It means to mention a topic briefly.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The manager ________ the challenges in the project during the call.

    Answer

    touched upon

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “touch upon” mean?
    a) Discuss something deeply
    b) Briefly mention a subject
    c) Ignore a topic

    Answer

    b) Briefly mention a subject

    3. Rewrite the sentence:
    “He mentioned the budget issues during the meeting.”

    Answer

    He touched upon the budget issues during the meeting.

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  • Iron Out the Details

    🗓️ Idiom: Iron Out the Details

    💬 Meaning

    • Solve small problems or questions carefully.
    • Working through all the details to make something perfect.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • We need to iron out the details before signing the contract.
    • The team met to iron out the details of the project plan.
    • Let’s iron out the details so there are no mistakes later.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from ironing clothes to remove wrinkles and make them smooth. It means fixing small problems so everything works well.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    We should ________ before the presentation tomorrow.

    Answer

    iron out the details

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “iron out the details” mean?
    a) Create new problems
    b) Solve small problems carefully
    c) Ignore the plan

    Answer

    b) Solve small problems carefully

    3. Rewrite the sentence:
    “We need to fix all small problems before starting.”

    Answer

    We need to iron out the details before starting.

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  • Dot The i’s and Cross The t’s

    🗓️ Idiom: Dot the i’s and Cross the t’s

    💬 Meaning

    • Pay attention to every small detail
    • Making sure everything is done perfectly and carefully

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Before sending the contract, we need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.
    • The editor always dots the i’s and crosses the t’s in every article.
    • Make sure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s in your report to avoid mistakes.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from writing and printing. The letters “i” and “t” need small marks: a dot on the i and a cross on the t. It means paying attention to small but important details.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    We should ________ before submitting the final version.

    Answer

    dot the i’s and cross the t’s

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” mean?
    a) Write quickly
    b) Pay attention to small details
    c) Ignore minor mistakes

    Answer

    b) Pay attention to small details

    3. Rewrite the sentence:
    “It is important to check every detail carefully.”

    Answer

    It is important to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

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  • Stay on Track

    🗓️ Idiom: Stay on Track (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To continue doing what you planned or intended.
    • Not getting distracted or losing focus.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • We need to stay on track to finish the project on time.
    • The meeting helped us stay on track with our goals.
    • It is important to stay on track when working on a difficult task.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of trains staying on their rails or tracks. If a train stays on track, it moves forward correctly without problems. It is used to mean keeping focus and following a plan.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    We must ________ to finish the report by Friday.

    Answer

    stay on track

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “stay on track” mean?
    a) Get distracted
    b) Continue following a plan
    c) Change plans suddenly

    Answer

    b) Continue following a plan

    3. Rewrite the sentence:
    “It is important to keep focused during the project.”

    Answer

    It is important to stay on track during the project.

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