Tag: on the other hand
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Narrow-minded
WotD: Narrow-minded Narrow-minded people have a fixed mindset and are unwilling to consider new ideas or perspectives. It describes someone who often sticks to their beliefs, ignoring other possibilities even when their beliefs have been proven incorrect. Being narrow-minded can lead to misunderstandings and conflict because it prevents open communication and growth. The dangers of…
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Tempers flare
Idiom: Tempers flare There are two topics I tell my students never to discuss with native English speakers to avoid a situation in which tempers flare. The first is politics, and the second is religion. The idiom tempers flare means that people become outraged or lose their cool in a situation. It often describes moments…
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Deep state
WotD: Deep state OK, now we are going to take a walk into the world of American polarized politics and conspiracy theories. You may have heard the term deep state in recent years, but unless you live in the US, you may not understand what it means and how it’s used in the context of…
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Newbie
Word of the Day: Newbie No matter who you are, what you do, or how much experience you now have, you were once a newbie. Everyone starts from zero. A newbie is someone new to a particular activity, community, or environment. Newbies are often inexperienced or unfamiliar with the ins and outs of a specific…
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Love tap
Word of the Day: Love tap Have you ever heard of the term love tap? Love tap is used to describe a gentle or playful physical gesture, such as a light tap or pat. This term is not just about physical contact, but it’s a way to show affection, tease someone in a friendly manner,…
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Step aside
WotD: Step aside Knowing when to step aside and when to continue leading is a difficult decision that often separates good leaders from great ones. While having a strong sense of purpose and conviction is beneficial, leaders must also be humble enough to recognize when their time has come and when it is time to…
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Soul-searching
WotD: Soul-searching The current state of the world has put many of us in soul-searching mode. From the US election to the war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict, and the fact that if you are reading this, you have survived a global pandemic, we are all searching for answers and trying to make sense of…
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Like chalk and cheese
Simile: Like chalk and cheese The simile, like chalk and cheese, is an idiomatic expression indicating the vast differences between two things, just like living in Canada and Japan. Take, for example, my life journey. Splitting my time between Canada, the land of maple syrup, beaver tails, jigs dinner and pea soup, and Japan, the…
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A soft touch
WotD: A soft touch Do you ever feel like a soft touch? It can be frustrating to feel like people are continually getting whatever they want from you, but the good news is you can prevent it. A soft touch is someone easily influenced or taken advantage of. This can manifest in many ways, such…
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Look the other way
Phrase: Look the other way Looking the other way means a situation where people deliberately ignore something they know is wrong or unethical. It can refer to turning a blind eye to something happening or simply not acknowledging it. Of course, this leads us to wonder when it is acceptable to look the other way…
