To downsize
to describe cutting a number of jobs and making employees redundant.
some people have started applying the term to their own situations.
Examples
The growth of online sales in the UK has forced many retail businesses to downsize. Some of them have reduced their number of outlets in the high street.
Now that I am going to university, my parents have decided to downsize. They are selling the house, moving to a flat and using some of the money to travel the world.
Stab in the back
to betray someone.
Examples
A lot of young people think you have to stab people in the back to get ahead in business, but you don’t.
She told me she was in love with me, but then she stabbed me in the back and went out with Dave.
I wouldn’t trust Laura if I were you. She’s nice to your face, but then she stabs you in the back.
Full-on
it was very intense.
Some people are a bit full-on. A bit extreme. Not relaxing.
Work can also be full-on when it’s busy.
Examples
Man
Have a good holiday?
Woman
To be honest, not really. We were up at 6am every day to get as much sightseeing done as possible and didn’t get to bed till midnight. It was so full-on. I feel like I need another holiday.
I really don’t like children’s parties. All those excited, screaming kids. It’s too full-on.
London’s too full-on. I need to move to the countryside.
Wow factor
anything or anyone that is surprisingly good or impressive.
Examples
He’s just bought a new Italian sports car – it’s really got the wow factor.
We’re going to completely re-decorate the restaurant so there’s more of a wow factor when you walk in.
Your CV looks OK. Your work experience is solid, but there’s no real wow factor that will impress employers.
Game changer
something that is so new and different, it changes the rules of the game.
It could be technology or a person with new ideas, or a new direction in music or fashion. Any new innovation that changes the current situation.
Examples
The Beatles’ album Sergeant Pepper was a real game changer – it transformed pop music forever.
Our company needs a game changer – someone who can come in and rethink the way we do everything.
Last year my boss said we could all work from home whenever we needed to. It’s been a real game changer in the way we work.
Out for the count
they were so tired from all the exercise that they fell asleep immediately their heads touched the pillows.
This expression comes from the sport of boxing and describes a boxer who has been knocked unconscious who can’t stand up within a count of ten seconds. The boxer is said to be “out for the count” and loses the match.
Examples
Jack had so much to drink last night that when he got home he was out for the count.
There was some trouble outside my house last night but I didn’t hear it: I was so tired I was out for the count.
Mind-blowing
when something is so incredible, so surprising that we stop and wonder about how amazing it is, we can say it’s mind-blowing, or that it blew our minds, as though our brains have broken down because they are so overwhelmed.
Examples
The latest tablet computer has an incredible camera and loads of other mind-blowing features.
One of the most mind-blowing things about the universe is the distance between the planets.
The battle scenes in the film were amazing. They just blew my mind.
To be on the ball
you are alert and quick to react to things.
‘to keep your eye on the ball’ which has a very similar meaning.
Examples
The interviewer raised tough questions but Ma Yun was on the ball.
Financial management is not a job that everyone can do. You have to keep your eye on the ball at all times.
To keep a lid on it
keep it secret – or keep it quiet about it.
keep something strongly under control.
Examples
We need to keep a lid on the company merger – if the newspapers get to hear about this, our share price will drop.
Our baby is due in November but keep a lid on the news – we haven’t told our parents yet.
Please – keep a lid on your emotions – otherwise the waiter is going to ask us to leave!
To take a shot / stab in the dark
you don’t really know the truth and you are just guessing.
Examples
It might be a stab in the dark but I think my football team is in a good place to win the league this season.
I don’t know how many people came to see the show, but I’ll take a stab in the dark and say about 300.
John thought we could sell our old car for £500 – but really he was taking a stab in the dark!
A wild card
he is unpredictable, so we’re not sure how he’s going to behave in the future.
Examples
We’re taking a gamble, she’s a wild card, but let’s hope she delivers what she promises.
Jack is too much of a wild card to get a place on our team.
The wild card in this competition is Chelsea: nobody really knows which way the score will go.
Put a sock in it!
‘be quiet’! It’s an impolite way of saying ‘stop talking’!
keep the noise down.
Examples
Put a sock in it! We’re trying to do some work here!
Oh, put a sock in it! I’ve already said I’m going to do the washing-up later.
My Dad was telling me how I should work harder at school so I told him to ‘put a sock in it!’
Chill pill
to calm down and relax.
Examples
Stop shouting at the referee and take a chill pill.
She was getting so stressed about what her boss said to her that I told her to just take a chill pill – everything would be fine.
My wife’s working so hard, she needs to take a chill pill, otherwise she’ll make herself ill.
Done and dusted
something has been completed successfully, there’s no more work to be done on it.
Examples
The dispute between me and the council about my parking ticket has been resolved. It’s done and dusted.
After two months of hard work, the project is finally done and dusted.
About this logo design… as far as I’m concerned, it’s done and dusted.
To go around the houses
you don’t have to waste time saying lots of unimportant things before you actually say what you want to say.
Examples
Don’t go around the houses; just tell me straight, what have you done?
He went all around the houses talking about the match but all I wanted to know was who won?
I didn’t know how to tell him he’d failed his exams so I went all around the houses before I let him know.
All over the place
someone is disorganised and confused – they are all over the place.
things are left in many places in an untidy way – your things are all over the place!
Examples
Don’t expect Simon to help you with your report. He’s all over the place right now - he can’t even finish his own work.
What a windy day. My hair’s all over the place!
To sleep on it
they’re going to spend some time thinking about something before making a final decision.
Examples
We couldn’t decide which car to buy so we decided to sleep on it - we didn’t want to buy the wrong one!
Thanks for your job offer but I need some time to think about it. Let me sleep on it and I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.
He told me he’d have to sleep on it before he could agree to my request for a pay rise.
My mind’s gone blank
suddenly you’ve completely forgotten what you were about to do or say.
Examples
I didn’t do well in the job interview. When they asked me why I wanted to work there my mind went blank. I wasn’t sure why I’d applied for that particular job at all!
Alan failed the exam. He studied hard but when he got into the classroom to take it he was so nervous that his mind went blank. But he is a good student so his teacher might give him a second chance.
A close shave
describes a dangerous or unpleasant situation that has only just been avoided. It almost happened… but it didn’t.
Examples
We ran to catch the train - it was a close shave but we just managed to get on.
I had a close shave when a fast car just missed me as I was crossing the road.
It was close shave but I don’t think my mum saw us smoking.
A sticky situation
a difficult, awkward or sensitive situation.
Examples
I’m in a sticky situation: I said I’d go to the cinema with Pete but I’ve also promised to go for a drink with John.
It was a sticky situation - neither side would agree on who caused the accident.
We’re in a sticky situation - we’ve got to catch the train but we haven’t got enough money to buy a ticket.