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Category: idioms

  • Play by Your Own Rules

    🗓️ Idiom: Play by Your Own Rules (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Act without following official rules or expectations
    • Create your own standards instead of respecting formal procedures

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The regulator warned that the company was playing by its own rules and ignoring compliance standards.
    • If each department plays by its own rules, we’ll never meet legal requirements.
    • The CEO was criticized for playing by his own rules and bypassing reporting protocols.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the world of games and sports, where “rules” are clearly defined. If someone plays by their own rules, they ignore those shared standards. In business, it means acting without following accepted laws or procedures.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The audit revealed that the company was __________ instead of following national regulations.

    Answer

    playing by its own rules


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “playing by your own rules”:

    A) Following the industry code of ethics
    B) Making decisions without regard for official rules
    C) Seeking legal advice for every action

    Answer

    B) Making decisions without regard for official rules


    3. Change the sentence using “playing by your own rules”:
    “The manager ignored the compliance process and did things his own way.”

    Answer

    The manager was playing by his own rules.

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  • Fly Under the Radar

    🗓️ Idiom: Fly Under the Radar (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Do something quietly to avoid attention, especially from authorities or management.
    • Not be noticed while carrying out an action.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The company was flying under the radar to avoid fines for unregistered operations.
    • Some employees flew under the radar by skipping compliance training without being caught.
    • The illegal dumping went unnoticed for months because it was flying under the radar.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from military aviation. Planes would fly low to avoid being detected by radar systems. Over time, “flying under the radar” came to mean doing something secretly or without being noticed.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    The company was __________ for years before the regulators found out.

    Answer

    flying under the radar


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “flying under the radar”:

    A) Operating with strong leadership
    B) Taking a high-risk legal approach
    C) Avoiding attention or detection

    Answer

    C) Avoiding attention or detection


    3. Change the sentence using “flying under the radar”:
    “The company avoided inspections by keeping its activities quiet and unnoticed.”

    Answer

    The company avoided inspections by flying under the radar.

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  • A Nightmare

    🗓️ Idiom: A Nightmare (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A very difficult, stressful, or unpleasant situation.
    • Something that causes serious problems or frustration.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The new tax regulations are a nightmare for small business owners.
    • Auditing our international branches without local support turned into a nightmare.
    • Trying to meet both EU and US compliance standards was a logistical nightmare.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the original meaning of a nightmare: a bad dream. Over time, the word has also come to describe real-life situations that feel as distressing or uncontrollable as a bad dream.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    Managing all the new data privacy requirements has been __________ for our compliance team.

    Answer

    a nightmare

    2. Multiple choice:
    Which situation best fits the idiom “a nightmare”?
    A) A fun holiday
    B) A smooth product launch
    C) A failed audit due to missing records

    Answer

    C) A failed audit due to missing records

    3. Change the sentence using “a nightmare”:
    “The process of updating all our legal documents was very stressful and full of problems.”

    Answer

    The process of updating all our legal documents was a nightmare.

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  • A Headache

    🗓️ Idiom: A Headache (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • A problem or situation that causes stress or difficulty
    • Something that requires extra time and effort to deal with

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The new tax regulations are a real headache for our accounting team.
    • Managing international compliance laws can be a constant headache for global companies.
    • Preparing for the government inspection gave the entire department a headache.

    🏛️ Origin

    The idiom “a headache” comes from the literal meaning—a pain in the head—used to describe something that causes mental stress or frustration. It became popular in the 20th century to describe annoying or difficult problems.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    All these new compliance requirements are giving us __________.

    Answer

    a headache


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “a headache”:

    A) A simple task
    B) A fun activity
    C) A stressful or difficult problem

    Answer

    C) A stressful or difficult problem


    3. Rewrite the sentence using “a headache”:

    “These constant rule changes are really difficult to manage.”

    Answer

    These constant rule changes are a real headache.

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  • A Pain in the Neck

    🗓️ Idiom: A Pain in the Neck (n)

    💬 Meaning

    • Something or someone that causes annoyance or difficulty.
    • A task, rule, or person that makes work harder or more frustrating.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • All the extra forms we have to fill out are a real pain in the neck.
    • Dealing with constant audits can be a pain in the neck for small business owners.
    • That new compliance system is such a pain in the neck—no one knows how to use it properly.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of physical pain in the neck being irritating and hard to ignore. It began appearing in English in the early 1900s as a more polite version of “a pain in the butt.” It’s now commonly used to describe people or things that are annoying or difficult.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    That monthly compliance report is such __________. It always takes hours to complete.

    Answer

    a pain in the neck


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “a pain in the neck”:

    A) Something very rewarding
    B) Something annoying or difficult
    C) A serious medical issue

    Answer

    B) Something annoying or difficult


    3. Change the sentence using “a pain in the neck”:

    “Following those outdated procedures is very annoying.”

    Answer

    Following those outdated procedures is a pain in the neck.

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  • By the Letter of the Law

    🗓️ Idiom: By the Letter of the Law (adv)

    💬 Meaning

    • Following the written law or rules, even if it seems strict.
    • Acting in a way that is legally correct.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • The auditor followed everything by the letter of the law, even when it slowed the project down.
    • He wasn’t breaking any rules by the letter of the law, but his actions still felt dishonest.
    • Regulators expect financial institutions to act by the letter of the law to avoid compliance issues.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from legal and biblical language, where “the letter” means the exact wording of a law or rule. It contrasts with “the spirit of the law,” which refers to the intended meaning or purpose.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    The company followed the policy strictly, exactly __________________.

    Answer

    by the letter of the law

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “by the letter of the law” mean?
    a) Breaking the law openly
    b) Ignoring the rules when necessary
    c) Following the exact written rules

    Answer

    c) Following the exact written rules

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom “by the letter of the law”:
    The inspector made sure the company followed the exact rules without exceptions.

    Answer

    The inspector made sure the company acted by the letter of the law.

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  • Play by the Rules

    🗓️ Idiom: Play by the Rules (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Follow the rules or laws of a situation
    • Act in a fair or legal way, especially in business or official matters

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • In this industry, if you don’t play by the rules, you risk losing your license.
    • The new manager insists that everyone plays by the rules — no exceptions.
    • When working with government contracts, we must always play by the rules to avoid fines.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom comes from the idea of games or sports, where all players must follow the rules to keep things fair. Over time, it began to be used in business, law, and other formal settings to describe honest or legal behavior.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:
    To avoid trouble with the tax office, our company always __________.

    Answer

    plays by the rules

    2. Multiple choice:
    What does “play by the rules” mean?
    a) Break the law to succeed
    b) Follow the proper procedures
    c) Make your own rules
    d) Ignore official instructions

    Answer

    b) Follow the proper procedures

    3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom “play by the rules”:
    The business follows all the legal and ethical guidelines.

    Answer

    The business plays by the rules.

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  • Keep Your Nose Clean

    🗓️ Idiom: Keep your nose clean (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • Avoid getting into trouble, especially with the law or company rules.
    • Behave in a way that is honest and doesn’t attract negative attention.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • In a heavily regulated industry like finance, it’s essential to keep your nose clean.
    • Since the compliance training, all employees have been warned to keep their noses clean.
    • He kept his nose clean during the audit to avoid any issues with the regulatory board.

    🏛️ Origin

    This idiom likely comes from the early 20th century. “Keeping your nose clean” was slang for staying out of trouble, especially avoiding fights or crime. It may come from the idea that someone who avoids dirty situations keeps a “clean” nose—meaning a clean record.

    📝 Practice Exercises (HTML)

    1. Fill in the blank:

    In a regulated company, it’s important to __________ to avoid fines or penalties.

    Answer

    keep your nose clean


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “keep your nose clean”:

    A) Be curious about everything
    B) Stay out of trouble
    C) Have a clean face

    Answer

    B) Stay out of trouble


    3. Change the sentence using “keep your nose clean”:

    “He made sure to follow every rule during the compliance check.”

    Answer

    He made sure to keep his nose clean during the compliance check.

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  • Stay on the Straight and Narrow

    🗓️ Idiom: Stay on the Straight and Narrow (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To behave honestly and follow the rules.
    • To stay on the right path without making mistakes.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • After his warning, he promised to stay on the straight and narrow.
    • The company wants all employees to stay on the straight and narrow with expenses.
    • It’s hard to stay on the straight and narrow when there is so much temptation.

    🏛️ Origin

    This phrase likely comes from the Bible, where “straight and narrow” refers to a narrow path that leads to heaven, symbolising good and honest behaviour.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    After the scandal, the CEO vowed to __________ in all business dealings.

    Answer

    stay on the straight and narrow


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “stay on the straight and narrow”:

    A) To take a shortcut
    B) To behave honestly and follow rules
    C) To walk a difficult path

    Answer

    B) To behave honestly and follow rules


    3. Change the sentence using “be on the straight and narrow”:

    “He promised to act honestly and not break any laws.”

    Answer

    He promised to stay on the straight and narrow.

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  • Toe the Line

    🗓️ Idiom: Toe the Line (v)

    💬 Meaning

    • To follow the rules or do what you are told.
    • To behave according to expectations or standards.

    🧠 Example Sentences

    • Employees must toe the line or risk losing their jobs.
    • The new manager expects everyone to toe the line during meetings.
    • Sometimes it’s hard to toe the line when you disagree with company policy.

    🏛️ Origin

    This phrase comes from the military and school settings where soldiers or students would literally place their toes on a line and stand in order. It became a way to say following rules exactly.

    📝 Practice Exercises

    1. Fill in the blank:

    All staff are expected to __________ when it comes to safety procedures.

    Answer

    toe the line


    2. Choose the correct meaning of “toe the line”:

    A) Cross a boundary
    B) Follow rules or orders
    C) Stand on one foot

    Answer

    B) Follow rules or orders


    3. Change the sentence using “toe the line”:

    “If you want to keep your job, you have to obey company rules.”

    Answer

    If you want to keep your job, you have to toe the line.

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