| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| if the shoe fits, wear it |
if there is a lesson for you, learn it
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When I listen to you preach, I wonder if the shoe fits me.
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| if you can't cut it, you can't stay |
if you cannot do the work you will have to leave; shape up or ship out
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When I complained about long days, the foreman said, "If you can't cut it, you can't stay."
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| if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen |
if you do not like the pressure you can leave; if you can't cut it, you can't stay
|
In the boardroom someone had written on the flip chart If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!
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| if you're born to hang, you won't drown |
fate controls how we die; we do not control the time and cause of our death
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After rescuing the swimmer, he said to me, "If you're born to hang, you won't drown."
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| if you're not with us you're against us |
if you do not support us you are against us; can't have it both ways
|
War divides us into allies and enemies. If you're not with us, you're against us.
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| ignorance is bliss |
ignorant people have nothing to worry about
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The teacher said, "Ignorance is bliss - until you write exams."
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| in a bad way |
feeling sad or downhearted
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After the accident, Val was in a bad way. She was very depressed.
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| in a big way |
with a lot of style and expense
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Pam does things in a big way. She hired a band for her party.
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| in a big way |
very much, a lot
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My son likes to play computer games - in a big way!
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| in a bit |
in a minute, within a short time
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"Can we go?" asked the girl. "In a bit," her mother replied.
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