Phrases & Expressions

To help explain something or make it clearer by providing new information.

• More research is needed to cast light on the long-term effects of screen time on young children.
• The old letters cast new light on the writer's early life.

To rain very heavily.

• Take an umbrella – it's been chucking it down all morning.
• It chucked it down during the match, but the fans stayed until the final whistle.

To take away future opportunities from someone.

• Posting offensive comments online can close doors for you when employers check your social media.
• Leaving school without any qualifications can close doors later in life.

To end your involvement with something, such as a period of your life, and move on.

• After the divorce, she sold the house and closed the door on that part of her life.
• The company has closed the door on its loss-making phone business and will now focus on laptops.

To be unable to make progress because something or someone is blocking you.

• Campaigners hoping to save the old library came up against a brick wall when the council refused to discuss the matter.
• We've come up against a brick wall with the planning application, so we may need to hire a lawyer.

To reduce the number of official rules and procedures that cause unnecessary delays.

• The new government promised to cut red tape so that small businesses could grow more easily.
• The hospital has cut red tape so that doctors spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients.

To choose the safer course of action, even if it turns out to be unnecessary.

• If you're not sure whether the chicken is cooked properly, err on the side of caution and put it back in the oven.
• When the storm warning was issued, the school decided to err on the side of caution and close for the day.

To start to develop in a satisfactory way as the different parts of a plan come together.

• After months of uncertainty, everything finally fell into place when she was offered a scholarship and a room in halls.
• Once the funding was approved, the other parts of the research project quickly began to fall into place.

To feel slightly unwell or not quite your normal self.

• Lack of sleep can leave students feeling out of sorts and unable to concentrate in morning lectures.
• She felt out of sorts all weekend, but by Monday morning she was back to normal.

To feel suddenly faint or as if you might collapse, usually because of a shock.

• When the doctor explained the test results, she felt the floor give way beneath her.
• As I stood up to give my speech, I suddenly felt the floor give way and had to grab the table.