⭐ Speak like a native lesson No #45/✨ 💯✨

Status quo: Meaning: The existing state of affairs or the current situation, particularly when referring to social, political, or organizational contexts. Explanation: The term "status quo" describes the present condition or arrangement of things, often implying a preference for maintaining things as they are without significant changes or disruptions. Examples: a) The committee decided to maintain the status quo and not implement any new policies until further research had been conducted. b) The government's decision to maintain the status quo on taxation caused disappointment among the citizens who were hoping for reforms.

Have it up to here with someone: Meaning: To reach the point of not being able to endure someone or something any longer. Explanation: This phrase implies that one has become extremely frustrated or irritated with a person or situation and cannot tolerate it any further. Example 1: Sarah has had it up to here with her noisy neighbors. She can't concentrate on her work because of their constant loud music. Example 2: After weeks of delays and excuses, John had it up to here with his unreliable contractor and decided to hire someone else to complete the job.

Get under one's skin: Meaning: To annoy or irritate someone intensely. Explanation: This expression refers to something or someone that bothers or irritates someone deeply, getting on their nerves or causing them discomfort. Example 1: The constant whistling of her colleague gets under Jane's skin and makes it difficult for her to focus on her work. Example 2: Criticism about his appearance always gets under Mark's skin, as he is very self-conscious about his weight.

In the true sense of the word: Meaning: Totally; utterly; in every possible way. Explanation: This phrase emphasizes that something is being described in the most accurate or literal way, without any exceptions or deviations. Example 1: Sarah is a vegetarian in the true sense of the word. She avoids all animal products, including eggs and dairy. Example 2: The movie was a disaster in the true sense of the word. It had terrible acting, a weak plot, and bad special effects.

Boss someone around: Meaning: To tell someone what to do, give orders. Explanation: This phrase describes the act of exerting authority over someone, usually in a commanding or demanding manner, instructing them on how to behave or what tasks to perform. Example 1: The new supervisor enjoys bossing her subordinates around and rarely considers their opinions or ideas. Example 2: Mark's older brother always bossed him around when they were kids, telling him what games to play and how to behave.

Put someone on the spot: Meaning: To cause someone embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them to answer a difficult question or make an important decision. Explanation: This expression refers to a situation where someone is placed in an uncomfortable or challenging position, often in front of others, where they have to respond or make a choice immediately. Example 1: During the meeting, the manager put John on the spot by asking him to present his project proposal without any prior notice.

Stand to reason: Meaning: To be logical or rational. Explanation: This expression indicates that something is reasonable or makes sense based on common sense or rational thinking. Example 1: It stands to reason that if you study hard for an exam, you are more likely to perform well. Example 2: With the heavy rain outside, it stands to reason that the soccer match will be postponed.

Shoot oneself in the foot: Meaning: To foolishly harm one's own cause or interests by taking actions that have negative consequences. Explanation: This phrase is used figuratively to describe a situation where someone unintentionally sabotages themselves or makes a mistake that harms their own position, goals, or reputation. Examples: a) John was doing well in his job, but he shot himself in the foot by constantly arriving late and missing important meetings. b) The politician's controversial remarks during the interview ended up damaging her campaign. She really shot herself in the foot with that one.

Smooth things over: Meaning: To make a situation better or more pleasant by resolving conflicts, calming tensions, or reconciling differences. Explanation: This expression is used when someone takes actions to resolve problems or disagreements in order to restore harmony or ease any tensions that exist. Examples: a) After their argument, Sarah and Tom decided to meet and talk it out in order to smooth things over and restore their friendship. b) The manager called a team meeting to address the issues that had arisen and to find a way to smooth things over among the employees.