Register and diplomacy

Vocabulary in this set

Recognise informal expressions about patience, disclosure, and social tension.

1. hold your horses

   Phrase

   Advising someone to be patient and not rush into a decision or action.

   Before making a decision, let's hold our horses and gather all the necessary information.

2. spice things up

   Phrase

   Introducing new elements or changes to make a situation more interesting or engaging.

   To enhance the routine, the chef decided to spice things up by experimenting with exotic ingredients in the menu.

3. let the cat out of the bag

   Expression

   Accidentally or intentionally disclosing confidential information before it was supposed to be revealed.

   Trying to keep the surprise party a secret, John accidentally let the cat out of the bag by mentioning it to the birthday person.

4. cost a pretty penny

   Expression

   Describing something that is significantly costly or requires a substantial amount of money.

   Renovating the historic mansion would cost a pretty penny, but the results would be worth the investment.

5. give someone the cold shoulder

   Expression

   Deliberately treating someone with indifference or aloofness.

   After the argument, Jane decided to give her colleague the cold shoulder, avoiding any interaction in the office.

6. break a sweat

   Phrase

   Exerting physical effort or engaging in strenuous activity.

   To achieve fitness goals, it's necessary to break a sweat during each workout session.

7. cry over spilled milk

   Expression

   Worrying or lamenting about past mistakes or events that cannot be undone.

   Instead of crying over spilled milk, learn from the experience and focus on preventing similar mistakes in the future.

8. let sleeping dogs lie

   Expression

   Choosing not to revive or address past problems to maintain peace.

   It's best to let sleeping dogs lie and not reopen old disputes that could disrupt the harmony within the team.

9. throw someone under the bus

   Expression

   Blaming or sacrificing someone else to avoid personal consequences.

   In an attempt to avoid punishment, he tried to throw his colleague under the bus by shifting all the blame onto them.

10. spill the tea

    Phrase

    Revealing and discussing the latest news, especially related to gossip or rumors.

    During the break, they gathered to spill the tea about the recent events in the office and share their perspectives.