Phrases & Expressions

To attend a meeting or class to watch, without taking part.

• Can I sit in on your lecture?
• New staff often sit in on meetings during their first week.

To stay until the end of an event, even if it is boring or unpleasant.

• We had to sit through a long presentation.
• She sat through the entire play.

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 force someone or something out of a hiding place using smoke.

• The police tried to smoke them out of the building.
• We had to smoke out the pests from the attic.

Pretending that something you wanted but could not get is not worth having.

• He says he doesn't want the job, but it's just sour grapes.
• Her criticism of the award sounded like sour grapes.

To set the transponder to code 7600 to show a radio communication failure.

• The pilot squawked 7600 after losing radio contact.
• If your radio fails, squawk 7600 and follow the published procedure.

The fundamental skills and techniques needed to fly an aircraft.

• New pilots must master stick-and-rudder skills before learning automation.
• Flying requires more than just stick and rudder.

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.

To copy someone's good behaviour or methods because you admire that person.

• You should take a leaf out of her book and start saving money.
• He needs to take a leaf out of his brother's book and be more organized.

Used to say that something unfortunate has happened and there is nothing you can do about it.

• I studied for weeks but still failed the test. That's the way the cookie crumbles.
• He wanted to go to the party, but he got sick. That's the way the cookie crumbles.