Learning from BBC – the English we speak

Food for thought

when you say ‘food for thought’ you mean serious ideas or topics for us to think about.

No great shakes

no great shakes is an expression that means it’s not very good. It also means ‘ordinary’

To take the rough with the smooth

‘to take the rough with the smooth’ which means you have to accept the bad things in a situation as well as the good things. In other words, you can’t have everything. 

e.g Being an airline pilot is very fulfilling but it can be challenging too, especially the lack of sleep – but I guess I have to take the rough with the smooth! 

Hard-nosed = practical, determined and tough-minded.

I am a hard-nosed person.

To have a soft spot for (sth/sby)

= have the feeling of really like sth/sby.

To make a song and dance (about something)

= make lots of unnecessary fuss about it – basically, to overreact.

A shock to the system

= experiencing ‘a sudden and unpleasant change‘

it’s my first day back at work and it’s been a shock to the system.

After such a long and hot summer, this cold weather has come as a shock to the system.

To Curry favour with (sby)

= trying to get someone (the boss) to like you or even give you something. Something like a promotion. 

Today, I am coming to curry favour with you to give me the green light to next stage of interview.