Imagine you have a large box of mixed papers or a huge folder of emails, and you need to find one specific piece of information. When you carefully examine a large amount of material to find something specific or separate what is useful from what is not, you sift through it. This phrasal verb is…
Imagine two friends arguing about a topic. When you finally choose one person’s opinion as correct, supporting them over the other, you side with them. This phrasal verb is extremely common and useful for discussing arguments, disagreements, and alliances in daily conversations. What Does “Side With” Mean? The phrasal verb “side with” means to support…
Imagine a factory that stops all work and closes its doors forever, or a computer that suddenly turns off. When something stops operating or functioning, we say it shut down. This is a versatile phrasal verb used in many contexts, from machines and businesses to people’s emotions and arguments. What Does “Shut Down” Mean? The…
Imagine meeting someone who always acts nice and agreeable, but then faces a difficult situation and suddenly becomes selfish or mean. When a person reveals their real, often hidden, nature or intentions, we say they show their true colors. This idiom is very useful for discussing personality, character, and honesty in people. What Does “Show…
Imagine a young student who quickly learns new concepts, or a new business idea that starts making small profits right away. When something or someone demonstrates qualities that suggest they will be successful or perform well in the future, we say they show promise. This phrase is often used when discussing potential, talent, or early…
Imagine a person who just bought a new phone or won a prize, and now they keep talking about it just to get attention. When someone tries too hard to impress others by displaying their abilities or possessions, we say they show off. This common phrasal verb is useful for describing people who boast or…
Imagine a family where one person takes responsibility for all the difficult tasks and problems. When someone accepts a heavy responsibility or difficult duty, we say they shoulder the burden. This strong idiom is very useful when discussing responsibility, stress, or leadership roles in daily life. What Does “Shoulder the Burden” Mean? The idiom “shoulder…
Think about a time when you made a big decision, like choosing a career or buying a house. These decisions have results that last for years, not just days. When we talk about something that will happen or matter over a long, indefinite future period, we call it the long run. This phrase is useful…
Have you ever started a new habit, knowing you would only do it for a few weeks? Or perhaps you made a temporary plan for a busy time? When we talk about something that will last for a limited or brief period, we call it the short run. This phrase is useful for making temporary…
Have you ever looked for money in your wallet only to find you don’t have enough? Maybe you need to finish a project but don’t have enough time? When you don’t have enough of something, we say you are short on it. This phrasal verb is extremely useful for talking about lacking time, money, supplies,…
Imagine a wall or a building that is starting to fall down. Before it collapses, workers must put wooden supports against it. This action is called shoring up the structure. In English, when we say we shore up something, it means we are providing support or strength to prevent failure, collapse, or damage. This is…
Have you ever seen a play or concert where a bright light is focused on one person or object? That light makes that thing the most important thing to see. In English, when we say we shine a spotlight on something, it means we are drawing special attention to it. This idiom is helpful when…
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