Phrases & Expressions

You are in a position to take advantage of all opportunities in life.

• You're young — the world is your oyster.
• With your talent, the world is your oyster.

A difficulty or burden that is too great or unreasonable, often used in legal contexts.

• Requiring a wheelchair ramp would cause undue hardship for the small business.
• The court found that the proposed changes would impose undue hardship on the defendant.

A pump powered by electricity, often used as a backup or primary system.

• The electric pump provides backup fuel pressure.
• We need to test the electric pump.

Instruction given to passengers to sit down and slide out of an aircraft during an emergency evacuation.

• The flight attendant shouted, 'Sit and slide!'
• Follow the commands: sit and slide quickly.

A situation where it is impossible to know which of two things caused the other.

• We can't hire staff until we get funding, but we can't get funding without staff. It's a chicken-and-egg situation.
• Is it the economy causing unemployment, or unemployment causing the bad economy? It's a chicken-and-egg situation.

Used to indicate that wheel chocks are in place, securing the vehicle.

• The ground crew called 'chocks in' as soon as the aircraft stopped.
• The aircraft is safe; chocks in.

Used to indicate that wheel chocks have been removed, allowing movement.

• Chocks out, and we can start taxiing.
• Confirm chocks out before applying power.

Six universal principles identified by psychologist Robert Cialdini that influence human behavior.

• Understanding Cialdini principles helps in negotiation.
• The sales team studied Cialdini principles.

A key Montessori principle: letting the child choose their own activities and pace.

• The teacher's role is to observe and follow the child.
• In a Montessori classroom, adults try to follow the child.

Said when an aircraft's landing gear has been lowered and locked.

• The pilot announced, 'Gear down, three green'.
• Confirm gear down before final approach.