Phrases & Expressions

The amount of a substance determines if it is harmful.

• Remember, the dose makes the poison.
• Even water can be toxic; the dose makes the poison.

A pilot's illusion of being level when actually banked.

• Beware of the leans when flying in clouds.
• The pilot corrected for the leans.

To dance with energy and enjoyment, especially to lively music.

• The band started playing, and everyone tripped the light fantastic.
• They loved to trip the light fantastic at parties.

To refuse to listen to or pay attention to something.

• He turned a deaf ear to all the advice he received.
• She turned a deaf ear to his complaints.

To give evidence in court against your partners in a crime, usually to get a lighter punishment.

• He decided to turn state's evidence.
• They offered him a lighter sentence if he would turn state's evidence.

Problems or risks that are not known to exist.

• We must plan for unknown unknowns.
• The project faced many unknown unknowns.

A pointless or hopeless pursuit; a futile search for something unattainable.

• It turned out to be a wild goose chase.
• Looking for that lost key was a wild goose chase.

To no longer benefit from an initial advantage or external support, relying fully on one's own capabilities.

• After the initial mentorship ended, she was truly out of ground effect in her new role.
• The startup felt out of ground effect once the seed funding was fully spent.

An old-fashioned and slightly humorous way to say a woman is pregnant.

• She's in the family way again.
• He announced his wife was in the family way.

The late-night and early-morning hours, when people normally sleep, used about overnight work or flying.

• Cargo pilots often fly the back of the clock.
• Working the back of the clock increases the risk of fatigue.