Phrases & Expressions

A key Montessori principle: letting the child choose their own activities and pace.

• The teacher's role is to observe and follow the child.
• In a Montessori classroom, adults try to follow the child.

To organize all your tasks, plans, or affairs in a neat and orderly way before starting something important.

• We need to get our ducks in a row before the meeting.
• She spent the weekend getting her ducks in a row for the new project.

In a frantic, disorganized, or panicked manner, without clear direction.

• Ken was late for work and couldn't find his car keys — he was running around the apartment like a chicken with its head cut off.
• Patricia ran around the school looking for her lost backpack like a chicken with its head cut off.

To find fault with a gift or something received for free.

• They gave us a free ticket, so don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
• She complained about the colour, but you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

To start from a person's current level, situation or needs instead of expecting more.

• When you work with beginners, you have to meet them where they are.
• Many patients feel scared, so our nurses try to meet them where they are.

A possession that is expensive to maintain but has little or no practical use.

• The old mansion turned out to be a white elephant.
• This expensive equipment is never used; it is just a white elephant.

To improve the quality of life, not just its length.

• The goal is to add life to years, not just years to life.
• Hobbies can add life to your years.

To increase the number of years a person lives.

• This new medicine may add years to life.
• Healthy habits can add years to your life.

The minimum time a pilot must wait between drinking alcohol and flying an aircraft.

• The rule is eight hours bottle to throttle.
• Always respect the bottle to throttle time.

To release gas from the digestive system through the anus.

• It is considered rude to break wind in public.
• He accidentally broke wind during the meeting.