Grammar : Idioms about animals
【明報專訊】Pat : MoMo, how was my singing performance last night?
MoMo : Your singing was wonderful! I had a whale of a time throughout the whole concert with my parents!
Pat : That's great...do you know, I had butterflies in my stomach before the producer cued me in!
MoMo : I can imagine that situation. How do you overcome such fear?
Pat : Well, it's not easy. The thing I do is visualize a successful performance. I imagine myself singing flawlessly and the audience cheering. It boosts my confidence and reduces anxiety.
MoMo : That's a great technique! I'll keep that in mind if I ever have to perform in front of a crowd.
Pat : Definitely give it a try! Remember, everyone gets nervous sometimes, even the most experienced performers. It's about channeling that energy into a powerful and passionate performance.
■English highway
Idioms are commonly used in writing and daily conversations because they add color and tone to the English language. They also help us express our feelings and thoughts in a more vivid and expressive way. Here are several idioms related to animals:
A whale of a time
˙Used to describe a great or extremely enjoyable experience.
˙When someone has a whale of a time, it means they had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Elephant in the room
˙Used to describe an obvious or sensitive issue that nobody wants to address or talk about.
˙Refers to a problem or topic that is difficult or uncomfortable but is being ignored or avoided in a conversation or situation.
E.g. The company's financial troubles were the elephant in the room at the board meeting.
Butterflies in your stomach
˙Refers to the feeling of nervousness or excitement in the pit of your stomach, often before a significant event or situation.
A dark horse
˙Refers to a person or thing that has hidden abilities, talents, or qualities that are not widely known or recognized.
˙Describes someone who unexpectedly achieves success or surpasses expectations, often coming from an unexpected or underestimated position.
E.g. No one expected John to win the marathon. He was a dark horse in the race.
■Gear up
(Answer on next text)
1. Before my job interview, I had _______________. But once I started answering the questions, I felt more confident.
2. We went to the amusement park and had a _______________ riding all the thrilling roller coasters.
3. Everyone knew about the unexpectedly bad business performance, but nobody wanted to address the _______________ during the staff meeting.
4. Mina was considered a _______________ in the singing competition. She surprised everyone with her incredible vocal skills and ended up winning.
■Glossary
flawlessly (adv) 完美地
passionate (adj) 熱情的
sensitive (adj) 敏感的
surpass (v) 超出
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[Smarties' Power English 第414期]
