LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐
procrastinate
[ proh-'kras-tuh-neyt ]
verb
He procrastinates until it is too late to do anything at all.
hinder
[ 'hin-der ]
verb
These drugs are quite toxic and hinder the body's ability to fight off infection.
recurring
[ ri-'kur-ing ]
adjective
This is a constantly recurring problem which we must deal with.
accumulate
[ uh-'kyoo-myuh-leyt ]
verb
It was his ambition to accumulate a million dollars before he turned thirty.
orphanage
[ 'awr-fuh-nij ]
noun
He donated 1,000 dollars towards an orphanage.
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
A. at one's wits' end
- to be so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what to do next
Dialogue
Melly
Alex
I understand how you feel. We're both at our wits' end, but let's brainstorm together and see if we can come up with a fresh approach
Melly
You're right. It's frustrating, but teamwork might just be the key to finding a solution.
B. tie up a few loose ends
- deal with the last few things that need to be done before something is completed
Dialogue
Alex
Are you ready to finalize the deal on that new account?
John
We've sorted out all the major details. We just need to ensure that both parties have a clear understanding of delivery times and volume discounts, but we're pretty much done.
Alex
Excellent. Let's tie up a few loose ends and then proceed to get the deal signed.
C. grin and bear it
- accept a bad situation without complaining
Dialogue
Sally
What could be even worse than a four-hour delayed flight?
Melly
A delayed flight isn't an ideal situation but there's nothing we can do but to grin and bear it. Why don't we pass the time finalizing our itinerary?
Sally
That sounds like a good plan. Let's make the most of it and get our itinerary sorted.
D. dug one's self into a hole
- have one's self caused a problem that will be dfficult to escape from
Dialogue
Alex
Man, I've really dug myself into a hole by procrastinating on this paper until the last minute.
Cindy
I thought you had finished it last week. If I had known, I wouldn't have invited you to that three-day camp.
Alex
No, this has been a recurring issue for me. I seriously need to be more time-conscious. Otherwise, I'll definitely have to face the music.
E. spread oneself too thin
- trying to do many things at the same time, with the result that one can't give any of them attention they needed
Dialogue
Sally
Do you have any plans for this weekend? I'm thinking of volunteering at the orphanage. Would you like to join me?
Alexa
I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't. I have a lot on my plate right now. I just started two part-time jobs and I also have club activities to attend.
Sally
It's great that you're getting involved in various activities, but be careful not to spread yourself too thin.
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
Part I
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct idiomatic expression.
at one's wits' end | tie up a few loose ends |
spread oneself too thin | dig oneself into a hole |
grin and bear it |
-
The event was a success, but we still need to , like returning the rented equipment and finalizing the financial report.
-
After hours of troubleshooting, I was trying to fix the technical issue with the computer.
-
Trying to juggle a full-time job, family commitments, and social engagements, she realized she had and needed to prioritize and delegate.
-
My general manager keeps on breathing down my neck but it's better to than risk chances at future promotions.
-
By neglecting to save money and accumulating debt, she that was difficult to climb out of.
Part II
Direction: Listen as your mentor reads the statements twice. Then, repeat after your mentor.
-
🔊
-
🔊
-
🔊
Part III
Direction: Paraphrase the following sentences. Make sure to paraphrase the underlined idiomatic expressions.
-
The project is almost complete, but we still have to tie up a few loose ends like organizing the project documentation and conducting a final meeting.
.
-
After trying multiple solutions without success, she found herself at her wits' end, unsure of how to solve the complex problem.
.
This project is turning into a real nightmare. I've tried everything, but nothing seems to work.