Phrases & Expressions

To provide a way of reaching or achieving something, such as a better job or new experiences.

• Free public libraries can be a gateway to knowledge and culture for children from poorer families.
• Volunteering abroad can be a gateway to a career in international development.

To be something that the law says people or organisations must do.

• In many countries, wearing a seatbelt in the back of a car is a legal requirement.
• Before opening a café, check whether food hygiene training is a legal requirement for your staff.

To be impossible for a person to understand or explain.

• Why the ancient city was suddenly abandoned is still a mystery to historians.
• The instructions were so badly written that the whole assembly process was a mystery to me.

To want everything done perfectly and be unhappy with any small mistake.

• Because she is a perfectionist, she often rewrites her essays three or four times before submitting them.
• Being a perfectionist can be a strength at work, but it can also make you miss deadlines.

To be extremely difficult, unpleasant or annoying to deal with.

• Finding affordable accommodation near the university is a real nightmare in September.
• Driving in the city centre during rush hour is a real nightmare, so I always take the metro.

To be a sign that a wider or more serious problem exists in a situation.

• Teachers say that bad behaviour in class is often a symptom of problems at home.
• Long queues at food banks are a symptom of the rapidly rising cost of living.

To work well with other people as part of a group, rather than only for your own success.

• Employers value graduates who are team players and can share ideas openly with their colleagues.
• Although Selin is very talented, her manager says she needs to be more of a team player.

To be extremely suitable for a particular job, role or situation.

• With her background in both law and IT, she is an ideal fit for the new data protection role.
• The quiet village was an ideal fit for a writer looking to escape city life.

To be in a situation where something bad could easily happen to you.

• Children from low-income families are more at risk of leaving school without any qualifications.
• If you smoke and rarely exercise, you are at risk of developing serious heart problems later in life.

To be officially forbidden by a court to drive for a period of time.

• Under the proposed rules, drivers caught using a phone at the wheel twice would be banned from driving for six months.
• The company director was banned from driving for two years after being caught speeding several times.