Phrases & Expressions

Your teeth, especially when they are white and attractive (humorous).

• The actor showed off his pearly whites.
• She has beautiful pearly whites.

In a very favorable position, especially financially.

• After selling his company, he was sitting pretty for the rest of his life.
• With two goals in the first half, the team was sitting pretty.

To take time to appreciate the pleasant things in life.

• Don't work too hard; stop and smell the roses.
• It's important to stop and smell the roses sometimes.

Excellent, wonderful, or highly admirable.

• Her performance was the bee's knees.
• He thinks his new car is the bee's knees.

Used to accept that something bad has happened and cannot be changed.

• My flight was cancelled and I missed the wedding. Those are the breaks.
• He lost his job right before retirement. Those are the breaks.

To do something without preparation, hoping that things will work out.

• I didn't have time to prepare, so I just winged it.
• He decided to wing it during the interview.

Someone who thinks they are clever and makes annoying or sarcastic remarks.

• Don't be a wise guy; just answer the question.
• The clerk was a wise guy, making fun of my accent.

An improv technique where you accept a statement and add to it.

• In improv, we use the 'yes and' rule.
• Her response was a perfect 'yes and'.

A state of forgetfulness and reduced mental clarity often experienced during pregnancy.

• She blamed her baby brain for forgetting the keys.
• Pregnancy has given me baby brain.

To end a conflict or argument and become friends again.

• After years of not speaking, they decided to bury the hatchet.
• Let's bury the hatchet and move forward.