Phrases & Expressions

To do something at a speed or intensity that you can maintain without becoming too tired.

• Pace yourself during the marathon.
• Don't try to do everything at once; pace yourself.

A very annoying or troublesome person or thing.

• Yesterday I had to stay home all day waiting for the repairman — what a pain in the neck!
• Alice wants me to drive her to the airport early tomorrow morning — that's going to be a pain in the neck.

To die, said in a gentle way.

• My grandfather passed away last year.
• She passed away peacefully.

To go or travel through a place, often without stopping for long.

• We're just passing through.
• The train passes through the city.

To succeed in a test, exam, or challenge very easily and with excellent results.

• She passed the exam with flying colors.
• The team passed the project review with flying colors.

To suffer the negative consequences of something you have done.

• He made a bad decision and had to pay the price.
• If you break the rules, you will pay the price.

To repeatedly criticize, annoy, or treat someone unfairly.

• Stop picking on me!
• They picked on the new kid.

To notice something that is not obvious or that someone has said indirectly.

• She picked up on the hint.
• Did you pick up on that?

Used to tell someone to choose between options that are all unpleasant.

• You can clean the kitchen or the bathroom, so pick your poison.
• The early train is crowded and the late one is slow, so pick your poison.

To treat one person or group better than others in an unfair way.

• Our teacher never plays favorites with her students.
• Don't play favorites with your kids.