LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐
jeopardize
[ 'jep-er-dahyz ]
verb
He would never do anything to jeopardize his career.
confrontational
[ kon-fruhn-'tey-shuh-nl ]
adjective
In an attempt to improve his image, Stevens has decided to be less confrontational.
dismissive
[ dis-'mis-iv ]
adjective
He's so dismissive of anybody else's suggestions.
compromise
[ 'kom-pruh-mahyz ]
verb
We would never compromise the safety of our passengers.
give someone a piece of one's mind
phrase
Boy, the boss really gave me a piece of his mind after that awful meeting.
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
Direction: Read and understand the different idiomatic expressions below.
A. take the flak
- if you take the flak, you get the blame for something
Dialogue
Cindy
John
I understand, Cindy. It’s tough being the point of contact. How about we address the team together, so it doesn’t fall on you alone?
Cindy
Thanks, John. That sounds like a fair approach, and it might help in clarifying the reasons behind the new policy.
B. have an attitude problem
- used to mean that someone behaves somewhat arrogantly or disrespectfully
Dialogue
Anna
John
I apologize if I've come across that way. I've been under a lot of stress lately, but I’ll definitely work on improving my interactions with the team.
Anna
I appreciate your openness, John. We can look into ways to manage the workload and stress better to improve the team’s overall working environment.
C. stoop to one's level
- to lower your moral standards by doing something that is unpleasant, dishonest, or unfair
Dialogue
Sally
Cindy, I can't believe how rudely Jane spoke to me today! I'm so tempted to give her a piece of my mind.
Cindy
Sally, I know it's tough, but let's not stoop to her level. We should maintain our professionalism and handle conflicts maturely.
Sally
You're right, Cindy. Responding with anger won’t solve anything. Thanks for reminding me.
D. betray one's trust
- to do something very bad and hurtful to someone that causes a loss of respect.
Dialogue
Anna
I just found out that Derek shared our confidential conversation with others. I feel like he really betrayed my trust.
Sally
I'm really sorry to hear that, Emily. Trust is hard to rebuild once it’s broken. Have you considered talking to Derek about how you feel?
Anna
Yes, I plan to. It’s important that he understands the impact of his actions and hopefully, it doesn’t happen again in the future.
E. cloud one's judgment
- to cause someone to be unable to think clearly
Dialogue
John
I think the recent success of our project has started to cloud Jake's judgment. He's taking on way more risks than before.
Cindy
It's true, sometimes success can make us overconfident. We should talk to him about balancing optimism with a dose of reality.
John
Agreed. We can't let short-term wins jeopardize our long-term goals.
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
Part I
Direction: Choose the appropriate expressions to complete each of the sentences.
take the flak | have an attitude problem |
stoop to one's level | betray one's trust |
cloud one's judgment |
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Allowing personal biases to influence professional decisions can and lead to unfair outcomes.
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The captain of the football team often has to for the team's overall performance, whether good or bad.
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When confidential information from the meeting was leaked, it not only of the team but also compromised the project.
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The coach pulled Mia aside, suggesting that her dismissive comments might give others the impression she .
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Just because someone is being rude, doesn’t mean you should and respond with rudeness.
Part II
Direction: Listen as your mentor reads the statements twice. Then, repeat after your mentor.
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Part III
Direction: Paraphrase the following sentences. Make sure to paraphrase the underlined idiomatic expressions.
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It's important not to stoop to their level and engage in petty arguments, maintaining your dignity and composure instead.
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When she used the confidential information against me, it felt like she had completely betrayed my trust.
Hey John, it seems like the new policy isn’t popular among the team, and I’ve had to take the flak for it even though it wasn’t solely my decision.