LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐
forte
[ 'fawr-tey ]
noun
Economics is clearly not his forte.
tension
[ 'ten-shuhn ]
noun
The tension between the two countries is likely to remain.
reconcile
[ 'rek-uhn-sahyl
verb
All efforts to reconcile her with her husband were in vain.
foster
[ 'faw-ste ]
verb
The captain did his best to foster a sense of unity among the new recruits.
get one's hopes up
phrase
I don't want to get your hopes up or anything, but there's a chance we might be hiring for a position in your field of expertise.
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
A. in the air
- everyone could feel it
Dialogue
Anna
Ken
Actually, I've been aware of that for quite some time. I've always sensed the tension in the air during our meetings.
Anna
I didn't realize you were so perceptive. Well, regardless, I hope they can resolve their dispute and reconcile with each other.
B. up in the air
- undecided
Dialogue
Alex
I heard about the company hosting a sports event this year. Any updates on that?
Ken
Well, the marketing team has been working on a plan, but everything is still up in the air at the moment. So it's best not to get your hopes up just yet.
Alex
That's disappointing. I thought they had already finalized the plan earlier this year.
Ken
Yes, they did, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the company had to prioritize other matters recently.
C. clear the air
- make bad feelings between people disappear
Dialogue
Mike
I've noticed some tension between you and John. Is there something going on?
Alexa
You're right, things have been strained between us. I've been contemplating having a conversation to address our issues and clear the air. It's important to find a way to resolve the conflict and restore a positive working relations.
Mike
I hope the conversation goes well and you both can find a way to move forward.
D. in the dark
- not informed about things that might be useful to know
Dialogue
Sally
Have you heard anything about the changes on the project's deadline?
Mike
No, I'm completely in the dark about it. I haven't received any updates or information regarding the new timeline.
Sally
It's frustrating when we're not kept informed about important work-related changes.
E. in one's element
- happy or relaxed in the situation because you are good at the things it involves
Dialogue
Mike
Look at Sarah on the stage, delivering her speech with so much confidence!
Alexa
Oh, definitely! She's truly in her element when she's speaking in front of an audience.
Mike
It's amazing how she shines and captures everyone's attention. Public speaking is really her forte.
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
Part I
Direction: Choose the appropriate idioms to complete each of the sentences.
in the air | up in the air |
clear the air | in the dark |
in one's element |
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The sudden reorganization took everyone by surprise, leaving most employees about their new roles and responsibilities.
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With the sudden change in leadership, there's a sense of uncertainty regarding the company's direction.
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It's important to have open and honest conversations to and foster better communication among team members.
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John is a great chef, and when he's in the kitchen, he's , creating delicious dishes with ease.
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The decision about whether to relocate the office is still , as the management is considering various options.
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 to have open and honest conversations to resolve conflicts and clear the air in order to maintain a healthy work environment.
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The pianist was truly in her element during the performance, captivating the audience with her exceptional skills.
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Throughout my entire time here at the company, I've never witnessed Angela getting angry. I had no idea there was a conflict brewing between her and Alison.