Category: idioms

Kill two birds with one stone – Idiom

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More example sentences from the web:

  • President Obama is hoping to kill two birds with one stone by using green energy to create jobs and cut pollution. 
  • Getting rid of the bugs, you can do two – kill two birds with one stone. You’ve got a lantern and some bug zappers.
  • I knew I needed to visit him, and figured I could kill two birds with one stone since I received the notice for the reunion around the same time.

A labour of love – IDIOM

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Example sentences from the web:

  • He loved his garden and maintained it with great care. It was a real labour of love and it was a pleasure watching him work in the garden.
  • To establish a field site and balance research with family life was a labor of love: my wife, Claudia Valeggia, a biological anthropologist as well, was beginning her field research on the reproductive ecology of the Toba-Qom indigenous communities of northern Argentina. Source

Made in Colorado

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By Laura Keeney, The Denver Post, 12 April 2015

THE KINKS LYRICS

“Labour Of Love”

Marriage is a two-headed transplant,
Sometimes that’s how it seems.
When the sex wears off it’s all give and take,
And it’s good-bye to all your dreams.
One head wants to go to a movie
While the other wants to stay at home,
And just like a two-headed transplant
You get the feeling that you’re never alone.

Mr. and Mrs. Horrible are an example of what I say.
They used to be so in love, now they fight so much
That they’ve frightened all their friends away.
They never get visits from neighbors,
They’ve alienated everyone.
And what started off as all cuddles and kisses
Has finally become

A labour of love, labour of love.
The torment, the worry and woe,
Love’s full of fears, bruises and tears,
That’s the way that a true love grows.
It’s a labour of love, labour of love.
It’s a struggle, without a doubt,
But if they keep on trying, screaming and crying,
Somehow they’re gonna work it all out.

It turned into a two-headed transplant,
But it started off as “Here Comes the Bride.”
But cut off one of the heads and you’ll soon find out
That the other just couldn’t survive.
Because they couldn’t stand to be separated
They’re still each other’s to have and hold.
And anyone who thinks the transplant is easy
Really ought to be told

It’s a labour of love, labour of love.
The torments, the worries and whoas,
The battles, the fights, the bruises and bites,
That’s the way that a true love grows.

They took the vows, for better or worse,
And they had it blessed by heaven above,
But what started so brightly as a tender romance
Turned into a labour of love.
Turned into a labour of love.

To prick up one’s ears – IDIOM

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More example sentences from the web:

  • Keep your ears pricked, and let me know what people say about the deal.
  • When I said earlier that our present systems of export refunds cannot be made proof against fraud, you on the Commission ought really to have pricked up your ears, if you are really serious about protecting the tax revenues that we raise in the Member States.
  • Prick up your ears! I have an announcement to make!

A great deal of something – IDIOM

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“A great deal of something” – Example sentences from the web:

How to Succeed at Science—and at Life

[…] What advice would you give would-be scientists today?

It’s been a long time since anybody’s tried to marginalize me around a gender issue, but I am sensitive to the fact that for young women it’s not always easy still. And so I take a great deal of pleasure in trying to be supportive and encouraging, particularly when I think young women—and young men too, frankly—have a hard time seeing that they can become successful scientists and have a family life as well. […]
National Geographic, published May 15, 2015

Exploring the Roots of Grayson Perry and His Varied Artwork

[…] Charles Saumarez Smith, secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the 247-year-old artist-run institution to which Mr Perry was elected in 2011, said he viewed Mr Perry “more as a graphic artist than as a potter,” describing him as “a first-rate printmaker of extraordinary invention and imagination, with a great deal of intelligent social commentary.” […]
By Farah Nayeri, The New York Times, published June 3, 2015

Introduction to Marketing

[…] Generally, in good economic times, there is a great deal of demand, but this introduces a fear of possible inflation. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve will then try to prevent the economy from “overheating.” This is usually done by raising interest rates. This makes businesses less willing to invest, and as a result, people tend to make less money. During a recession, unemployment tends to rise, causing consumers to spend less. This may result in a “bad circle,” with more people losing their jobs due to lowered demands. Some businesses, however, may take this opportunity to invest in growth now that things can be bought more cheaply. […]
By Lars Perner, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing , Department of Marketing , Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California , Los Angeles

 

 

Throw in the towel – English idiom

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Example sentences from the web:

  • She’s not a quitter, she won’t throw in the towel.
  • You threw in the towel a long time ago.
  • In the matter that put us in opposition to China, the European Union threw in the towel by agreeing to reassess the import quotas.
  • Every time something didn’t work, we just threw in the towel and said, “Let’s forget it.” Right?
  • You think about throwing in the towel, retiring.

Click here if you are curious and you want to know the origin of this idiom:
Origin of “throw in the towel”.

throwing the towel example fun

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Tie the knot – English idiom

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Example sentences from the web:

  • A: When do you plan to tie the knot?
    B: Let me find a boyfriend first!
  • So when are you two going to tie the knot?
  • The girl I’m going to marry lives in Mauritius and she’ll have her own ideas about where she wants to tie the knot.

If you are curious about the origin of this idiom, check this: Tie the knot – Origin

“Tie the knot” in the news:

Just married! Ciara and Russell Wilson share first picture after fairy tale wedding in British castle with guests including Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Rowland 

Ciara and Russell Wilson are officially married.

The happy couple tied the knot in front of their closest friends and family – including Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Rowland – on Wednesday at a fairy tale castle in Cheshire. 

The bride wore a custom Roberto Cavalli gown as she exchanged vows with the Seattle Seahawks player at the UK’s stunning Peckforton Castle in front of their celeb pals. 

Source: Mail Online

Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett set to tie the knot

Source: Sporting News

 

“To rain on someone’s parade” – English idiom

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Meaning => to disappoint or discourage someone.

 

Examples:

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  • “Listen, I hate to rain on the fun parade but has anyone heard from the National Committee?”
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Don’t Rain On My Parade – Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl)

 

Don’t tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life’s candy and the sun’s
A ball of butter
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade
Don’t tell me not to fly
I’ve simply got to

If someone takes a spill
It’s me and not you
Who told you you’re allowed
To rain on my parade!
I’ll march my band out
I’ll beat my drum
And if I’m fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn’t fake it

Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it!
But whether I’m the rose
Of sheer perfection
Or freckle on the nose
Of life’s complexion
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye
I gotta fly once
I gotta try once
Only can die once, right, sir?

Ooh, life is juicy
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir!
Get ready for me, love
Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march
My heart’s a drummer
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade!

I’m gonna live and live now
Get what I want, I know how
One roll for the whole shebang
One throw, that bell will go clang
Eye on the target, and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and bam
Hey, Mister Arnstein, here I am!

I’ll march my band out
I’m beating my drum
And if I’m fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn’t fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it

Get ready for me, love
‘Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march
My heart’s a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade!

Click here if you want to know the origin of this idiom: Know Your Phrase