Similes with As - As Soft as Butter

Meaning – easily pressured or persuaded.

Ø     The boys always go to their grandmother when they want something as they know that she’s as soft as butter.

Ø     Despite being the manager, Diana always gets bullied by her subordinates. She’s as soft as butter.

Verbal Idioms - Bend Over Backwards

Meaning – to try very hard to help someone

Ø      Mr Lee is always bending over backwards to help his family and friends. It’s no wonder everyone is so fond of him.

Ø      We have promised to help Kent. However, he can’t expect us to bend  over backwards to help him. 

Words From The Same Family - Finances v Financial

Finances (noun) – the management of money

Ø     The company’s finances are in a mess. I think it’s high time you seek   (= get) professional advice.

Ø     It’s a relief to know that our finances are being taken care of.

Financial (adj) – relating to money or how it is managed.

Ø     We are hoping to get financial support for our latest project.

Ø     Small medium enterprises (SMEs) definitely need more financial assistance from the government.

Ø     Let’s hope the new management can steer the company through this  financial crisis.

Homonyms - Scare (As a Noun and Verb)

1.   (verb) – to make someone feel frightened.

Ø     She’s a strong and brave woman. It’s no wonder she doesn’t scare easily.

Ø     Speaking in front of a big crowd scares me to death (= makes me really nervous and worried).

2.   (noun) – a feeling of fear or worry.

Ø     I got/had a scare (= I was really worried) when I saw the credit card statement this morning.

Ø     Daniel gave us such a scare (= frightened us) when he suddenly collapsed in the office.

3.   (noun) – an incident when a subject receives a lot of public attention.

Ø     Security at the airport has been really tight following news of the bomb scare.

  

Idioms with Prepositions - At a Standstill

Meaning – not moving at all (often used to refer to traffic)

Ø      Traffic on the highway was at a standstill for hours due to a heavy  thunderstorm that flooded many parts of the city.

Ø      Traffic was at a standstill by the time I was done at the office. So, I  decided to have dinner at a nearby café while waiting for the traffic to  ease.

Phrasal Verbs - Be Behind

1. late or delayed

Ø      I’m sorry I can’t have dinner with you tonight. I’m a little behind   with my work at the moment.

2. to be the cause of

Ø      John couldn’t help but wonder what was behind his colleague’s sudden friendliness.

3. to support someone completely in whatever they are doing

Ø      I’m truly blessed to have family and friends who have always been  behind me in everything I do.

Homonyms - Dent (As a Noun and Verb)

1.   (noun) – a mark in the surface of sth, usually caused by pressure or by being hit.

Ø     The accident this morning left a huge dent on the right side of Jenny’s car.

Ø     Tim doesn’t plan to get the dent fixed till he sells his car.

2.   (verb)

Ø     William unintentionally dented the right side of the passenger door when he was playing football with his friends.

3.   (verb) – to feel less confident or proud

Ø     Ben’s confidence was badly dented when he learnt he was the only one who didn’t receive a raise.

Ø     The gloomy weather wasn’t enough to dent Annie’s mood as she got ready for work.

Idioms with Prepositions - Round the Clock

Meaning – happening or done all day and night.

Ø      Due to his fragile condition, Sam requires round the clock care in  hospital.

Ø      The firemen have been working round the clock to put out the fire.

Verbal Idioms - Bear The (Full) Brunt Of

Meaning – suffer the main consequence of something unpleasant.

Ø     Small companies are feeling/bearing the (full) brunt of the economic  slowdown.

Ø     As James is the biggest shareholder in the company, he’ll have to bear  the (full) brunt of the loss.