Learn English with Jeffrey: September 2025

Friday, 12 September 2025

on the ball

(idiom)

= to be alert, sharp, and efficient

Examples

Mark impressed everyone with how quickly he adapted to the job. He’s definitely on the ball.

My new secretary is really on the ball; he really knows what I need.

The customer service representative was definitely on the ball, resolving my problems immediately.

Reference

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-the-ball

Here are more examples of using "on the ball":

She’s always on the ball during meetings, providing insightful ideas and solutions.

The teacher is very on the ball, noticing when students need extra help.

If you want to succeed in this fast-paced environment, you need to be on the ball.

The project manager is on the ball, ensuring that deadlines are met without sacrificing quality.

Some synonyms for "on the ball":

Alert

Sharp

Aware

Attentive

Quick-witted

Efficient

Competent

Proactive

Diligent

Responsive

English Odyssey

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jeffrey.cytc.en_odyssey

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Adjectives of Comparison

Adjectives of comparison are used to compare two or more things. They can be divided into two categories: comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives.

1. Comparative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between two entities. They typically end in "-er" or use "more" before the adjective.

Examples:

I have a big cat, but hers is bigger.

('Bigger' is a comparative adjective, comparing two cats.)

She is beautiful, but her sister is more beautiful than she is.

('More beautiful' compares two people.)

Watermelons are tastier than oranges.

('Tastier' compares the taste of two fruits.)

We were tired, but we ran faster than we did last week.

('Faster' compares two time periods.)

Your job is better than mine.

('Better' compares two jobs.)

2. Superlative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to show that something is the best or the most among three or more entities. They typically end in "-est" or use "most" before the adjective.

Examples:

She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

('The most beautiful' indicates she surpasses all others in beauty.)

Leonardo is the most handsome man in the world.

('The most handsome' suggests he is the best in a global context.)

The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest.

('The highest' shows that Mount Everest exceeds all others in height.)

Where is the best place to live in London?

('The best' indicates the top choice among living locations.)

Bill Gates is still the richest man in the world.

('The richest' signifies he has more wealth than anyone else.)

Conclusion

Understanding comparative and superlative adjectives helps in expressing differences and rankings effectively. Use them to enrich your descriptions and comparisons in writing and speech!

https://jeffreywckin.github.io/008-Adjectives-of-Comparison.html

sacred cow

= a belief, custom, or practice that is considered beyond criticism or questioning (a disapproving connotation)

In this 100-year-old company, some practices and policies have become sacred cows, even though they are outdated.

Some political policies are considered sacred cows, making it difficult for lawmakers to propose necessary reforms.

In the tech industry, outdated programming languages can become sacred cows, hindering innovation and adaptation to new technologies.

In advertising, some traditional methods like print media have become sacred cows, even as digital marketing proves more effective.

Some synonyms for "sacred cow":

Untouchable

Taboo

Irreproachable

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Thursday, 11 September 2025

move up in the world

= to achieve a better financial position or a higher social status compared to one's previous situation

飛黃騰達;

After years of hard work, Paul finally moved up in the world and became the professor of the electronic engineering department.

經過多年的努力工作，Paul 終於飛黃騰達，成為電子工程系的教授。

Winning the lottery last week allowed Peter to move up in the world, buying a new house and a new supercar.

上週中獎讓Peter飛黃騰達，購買了新房子和一輛新超跑。

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go for it

= to encourages someone to pursue their goals or take a risk

= 鼓勵某人追求目標或承擔風險;

You can win the game; go for it!

你能贏；加油!

Life is short—if you have a dream, go for it!

人生苦短－如果你有夢想，就去追逐它！

You've trained hard for this marathon; go for it!

你已經為這場馬拉松努力訓練；努力去跑吧!

If you believe in your idea, go for it and pitch it to the investors.

如果你相信你的想法，就去嘗試，並向投資者推銷它。

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make a clean sweep

= to achieve a total or overwhelming victory, often by winning all available positions, awards, or matches

My favorite football team made a clean sweep in the competitions, winning every match without conceding any goals to their opponents.

After a thorough review, the committee made a clean sweep of outdated policies, implementing new guidelines to improve efficiency.

In the election, the candidate made a clean sweep, winning all the districts and securing a landslide victory.

The detective made a clean sweep in the investigation, solving every case assigned to him within a month.

Some synonyms for "make a clean sweep":

Achieve a total victory

Sweep the board

Dominate

Claim all prizes

Overwhelm the competition

Finish with a clean slate

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Wednesday, 10 September 2025

kick the can down the road

= to postpone or defer a decision or action, especially when it involves dealing with a difficult problem

The government kept kicking the can down the road regarding the financial deficit, hoping it would improve in a few years.

She kept kicking the can down the road with her debt, thinking she could manage it later, but it only grew larger.

The management decided to kick the can down the road on the project deadline, believing that more time would lead to better results.

Many countries have been kicking the can down the road when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, failing to make significant commitments.

Some synonyms for "kick the can down the road":

Postpone

Defer

Delay

Shift responsibility

Avoid action

Sidestep

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Asking for Help

Could you help me, please?

Would you mind helping me?

Could you lend me a hand?

I’m struggling with this task. Can you help?

Do you have a moment to assist me?

I would appreciate your help with this matter.

#English

Tuesday, 9 September 2025

ditto

= to indicate that something is the same as what has already been stated

Jeffrey: I like that car!

Mark: Ditto!

Jeffrey: I think we should go for Italian food.

Susan: Ditto! I love pasta.

Jeffrey:I really enjoyed the concert last night.

Mark: Ditto! It was amazing.

Some synonyms for "ditto":

Likewise

Also

As well

In the same way

Equally

Too

Same here

Me too

Agree

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How to Break the Ice with Someone New

What hobbies do you enjoy?

Have you traveled anywhere recently?

Do you like to cook?

Have you read any good books or seen any great movies lately?

What kind of music do you enjoy?

What do you like to do in your free time?

What's your favorite way to spend a weekend?

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

#English

Monday, 8 September 2025

menial work

= jobs that require little to no skill or training

These jobs are often considered low-status and may involve repetitive, tedious, or manual labor.

瑣碎的工作; 乏味的的工作;

She did a lot of menial work in the past, such as washing dishes, taking out the garbage, and cleaning floors.

她過去做了很多瑣碎工作，例如洗碗、倒垃圾和打掃地板。

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get to grips with something

= to understand a situation, especially when it's complex or challenging, and to start working on solving the associated problems.

了解情況，尤其是在情況複雜或具有挑戰性時，並著手解決相關問題; 掌握某事;

The software team is still trying to get to grips with the changes in the data usage policy requirements.

軟體團隊仍在努力適應其數據使用政策要求的變化。

After moving to a new city, it took her a while to get to grips with the public transportation system.

搬到新城市後，她花了一段時間才熟悉其大眾運輸系統。

As the new regulations come into effect, the company is working to get to grips with the compliance requirements.

隨著新規生效，公司正努力掌握合規要求。

It can be challenging for new employees to get to grips with the company culture.

對於新員工來說，理解公司的文化可能會很具挑戰性。

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Paying a restaurant bill

1. Asking for the Bill

Excuse me, could I have the bill, please?

Can we get the check, please?

2. Paying the Bill

Here is cash for the bill.

I’d like to pay by card.

Keep the change, please. (if you want to give a tip)

3. Splitting the bill with friends

Can we split the bill?

Shall we go Dutch?

#English

Friday, 5 September 2025

dwindle

(verb)

= to gradually decrease in size

Examples

The chances of winning began to dwindle after our star player got injured.

The natural gas supplies began to dwindle as the winter went on.

A dwindling population in Japan leads to many problems.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwindle

Here are more examples of using "dwindle":

As the sun set, the light began to dwindle, casting long shadows across the field.

His enthusiasm for the project started to dwindle when he faced numerous obstacles.

The funds for the charity event began to dwindle, prompting organizers to seek additional donations.

Interest in the old technology has dwindled as newer innovations take center stage.

Some synonyms for "dwindle":

Decrease

Diminish

Wane

Shrink

Lessen

Fade

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Ordering food in a restaurant:

1. Waiting for the Menu

Could I please have a menu?

2. Getting the Waiter's Attention

Can I place my order?

Can I order a drink?

3. Placing Your Order

I would like to order (the grilled chicken), please.

I’d like a glass of water, please.

I would like a cup of coffee, please.

Can I have a latte with almond milk?

Can I get it with extra sugar?

What do you recommend?

Can you tell me more about this dish?

#English

Quote of the Day

It's a full time job believing in yourself. No days off.

#Quote

Thursday, 4 September 2025

horde

= a large group of people

一大群（人）；

A horde of shoppers rushed to the shopping center to grab the bargains.

一大群購物者急匆匆地衝向購物中心，想要搶購便宜貨。

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set in stone

= something is fixed, unchangeable, or permanent

= 固定不變、不可改變或永久不變;

The treaty was signed, but its terms were not set in stone and were later renegotiated.

條約已簽署，但其條款並非一成不變，後來經過重新談判。

The project timeline is flexible and not set in stone, allowing for adjustments as needed.

專案時程靈活，並非一成不變，可依需求進行調整。

While the guidelines for the course are established, they are not set in stone and may evolve based on student feedback.

雖然課程指導方針已經確定，但並非一成不變，可能會根據學生的回饋進行調整。

The script is a draft and not set in stone; revisions will be made after the first round of feedback.

腳本目前為草稿，並非一成不變；第一輪回饋後將進行修改。

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

Some useful phrases you can use to ask for directions in English:

I'm looking for [place name]. Can you tell me how to get there?

Could you please give me directions to [place name]?

Could you point me to [place name]?

What’s the best way to get to [place name]?

How long will it take to get to [place name]?

Do I need to take a bus or a train to get there?

Can I walk there from here?

#English

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

dice with death

= to engage in actions that are extremely risky and could potentially lead to serious harm or death

Climbing the tallest mountain in the world in winter was just dicing with death, but it was satisfying once completed.

The stuntman was dicing with death as he performed dangerous tricks on a motorcycle.

Going skydiving without proper training is definitely dicing with death.

Riding a motorcycle without proper gear is just dicing with death.

Some synonyms and phrases that convey a similar meaning to "dicing with death":

Playing with fire

Flirting with danger

Taking a reckless risk

Walking a tightrope

Engaging in high-risk behavior

Skating on thin ice

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Alternatives for "Good Night":

Goodnight!

Sleep well!

Sweet dreams!

Rest well!

Have a peaceful night!

Nighty night!

Until tomorrow!

Catch some Z's!

Sleep tight!

Drift off into dreamland!

#English

Alternatives for "Good Morning":

Morning!

Rise and shine!

Top of the morning to you!

Wishing you a great day ahead!

Hello and good day!

Hey there, sunshine!

Wakey, wakey!

Rise and shine, sleepyhead!

#English

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

woe

= great sorrow

Susan expressed her woe to her friends when she learned that her mother was seriously ill.

After the storm, the townspeople gathered to share their tales of woe and destruction.

She felt a deep sense of woe after hearing about her friend's misfortunes.

Some synonyms for "woe":

Sorrow

Grief

Misery

Despair

Distress

Regret

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Some polite alternatives to say "I agree with you":

I see eye to eye with you on this.

I’m on the same page as you.

I fully support your view.

I couldn’t agree more.

I believe you’re absolutely right.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

Your insights resonate with me.

#English

Some polite alternatives to say "I don't agree with you":

I see your point, but I have a different perspective.

That's an interesting viewpoint, but I respectfully disagree.

I appreciate your opinion, but I have a contrasting view.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts; however, I have a different opinion.

I can appreciate your perspective, but my view differs."

You've raised some valid points, though I see things a bit differently.

That's a valid opinion, but I have another angle to consider.

I respect your thoughts, but I have a different take on this matter.

#English

Monday, 1 September 2025

Some polite ways to say "no" or refuse to do something:

I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.

Thank you for thinking of me, but I won’t be able to participate.

I’m honored, but I have to pass this time.

I really appreciate it, but I have other commitments.

That sounds interesting, but I’m afraid I can’t.

I wish I could help, but I have to focus on other priorities.

I’m sorry, but I’m unable to take that on right now.

#English

heart and soul

= (adverb) completely

= (noun) all of someone's effort, passion, and dedication into something

全心全意地；

Kate loves her children heart and soul.

Kate全心全意地愛著她的孩子。

The team worked with heart and soul to complete all the work on time.

團隊全心全意地工作，並按時完成所有工作。

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

kiosk

= a small booth that sells various items, such as newspapers, refreshments, tickets, and more

= 一個小攤位，出售各種商品，如報紙、飲料、票券等。

I borrowed a Wi-Fi egg from a kiosk at the airport.

我在機場的攤位借了一個Wi-Fi蛋。

We set up a kiosk to sell drinks during the match.

我們在比賽期間設置了一個攤位來販賣飲料。

At the train station, there is a ticket kiosk where you can buy passes and check schedules.

在火車站有一個票務自助機，你可以在那裡購買通行證和查詢時刻表。

The university set up a kiosk on campus to promote upcoming events and activities.

大學在校園內設置了一個攤位，以宣傳即將舉行的活動。

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS