LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐
enticing
[ en-'tahy-sing ]
adjective
The offer was too enticing to refuse.
hinder
[ 'hin-der ]
verb
These drugs are quite toxic and hinder the body's ability to fight off infection.
afloat
[ uh-’floht ]
adjective
Many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat.
call in sick
phrase
Suffering from flu symptoms one day, she decided to call in sick.
blow someone off
phrase
I can't believe you blew off the exam today.
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
A. in a tight spot
- in a very difficult situation
Dialogue
Sally
Melly
I see. Do you need a hand? I have nothing else to do anyway.
Sally
Really? Thanks, Melly. You're such a lifesaver! I'll make it up to you.
B. the tip of the iceberg
- a small, visible part of a larger problem
Dialogue
Anna
I'm sorry to call you this early but I've got a bit of a situation here. There's water leaking from the ceiling. Do you know anyone who can help me with this?
Taka
Sure. I can call someone.
Anna
Thank you. I'm afraid this is just the tip of the iceberg. This apartment needed so many repairs. I should have thought twice before buying it.
C. a stumbling block
- something that causes problems and stops the progress
Dialogue
Alex
Have you always wanted to be a musician?
Melly
Not really, I initially wanted to become an engineer. My interest in music sparked when I turned 20. However, not being able to read music posed a stumbling block when I began learning the saxophone. Nevertheless, I was very persistent back then.
Alex
That's amazing. You're fortunate to have discovered your true passion.
D. caught between a rock and a hard place
- facing a choice of two bad options
Dialogue
Alex
I have just been offered the job of my dreams! The pay is very enticing and its part of my promotion. The only issue is that the job requires me to relocate to a different country, which means I have to leave my wife and kids behind.
John
Wow! That's really a great opportunity if you'd ask me. You should definitely seize it.
Alex
I can't make up my mind. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.
E. get to the bottom of
- try to discover the truth about something
Dialogue
Sally
Are you still working on your computer?
John
Yes. I'm not sure what's causing the problem, but I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. I can't afford to buy a new one at the moment.
Sally
I know someone who might be able to assist you. My brother has good technical knowledge and could potentially help you get to the bottom of it.
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
Part I
Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct idiomatic expression.
a stumbling block | in a tight spot |
caught between a rock and a hard place | tip of the iceberg |
get to the bottom of |
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He was . If he accepted the offer, he would have to work long hours with low pay, if he didn't, he would lose his livelihood.
-
The financial losses we experienced last quarter were just ; there are deeper underlying issues affecting our company's performance.
-
We have looked at both perspectives and now we are digging deeper into that situation because we want to it.
-
The team was - during the final minutes of the game, but they managed to score a last-minute goal and secure a draw.
-
Lack of funding proved to be for the startup, hindering its growth and expansion plans.
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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The complaints we received from customers are just the tip of the iceberg. There could be underlying issues with our product that we're yet to discover.
.
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We need to get to the bottom of the financial discrepancies in the company's records to ensure accountability and transparency.
.
I'm sorry for blowing you off tonight. We're in a tight spot because we need to get almost 70 orders out this evening and two people called in sick.