Phrases & Expressions

Special treatment given to an important guest to make them feel welcome and valued.

• Visiting scientists received the red-carpet treatment, including a private tour of the new laboratory.
• Loyal customers often get the red-carpet treatment, with free upgrades and priority service.

Used to say that something terrible suddenly happened and everything seemed to collapse.

• When the factory closed and both parents lost their jobs, the roof fell in on the whole family.
• The team was top of the league in January, but then the roof fell in and they lost six games in a row.

Powerful forces that are bringing important social or political changes.

• The new director promised to bring the winds of change to a company that had not modernised in decades.
• Many older employees felt threatened by the winds of change brought about by automation.

In an unofficial or secret way, often avoiding the normal rules.

• Students who fail the entrance exam should not be able to get onto the course through the back door.
• The company introduced the new charges through the back door, hiding them in the small print of customers' contracts.

For an extremely long time, usually without getting any result.

• If you let him, my grandfather will tell stories about his army days till the cows come home.
• Instead of holding meetings till the cows come home, the committee should simply make a decision and act on it.

As much or for as long as you want.

• During the summer holidays, the children could read and play outside to their heart's content.
• The hotel has a huge breakfast buffet, so guests can eat to their heart's content.

To stop being pleasant or successful and become unfriendly or unpleasant.

• Their business partnership turned sour when one of them was accused of taking money from the company.
• Relations between the two countries turned sour after a dispute over fishing rights.

To make you worry about something continuously.

• If something is weighing on your mind, talking to a friend or a counsellor can really help.
• Worries about money can weigh on students' minds and make it harder for them to concentrate.

Completely honest and morally good (often used ironically).

• The company likes to present itself as whiter than white, but its factories tell a different story.
• Nobody in the team is whiter than white; we have all made mistakes at some point.

A short period of time when there is a good chance to do something.

• Students have a short window of opportunity to change courses during the first two weeks of term.
• The new trade agreement offers a window of opportunity for small businesses to export their products.