Phrases & Expressions

To prepare for an activity or event, or to get someone ready for it.

• The team is gearing up for the final match next week.
• Shops are gearing up for the busy holiday season.

A decision on whether a project or action can proceed or must be stopped.

• The committee will make a go/no-go decision next week.
• We need a go/no-go decision before investing more money.

A Japanese phrase meaning 'eat until you are eighty percent full'.

• Remember hara hachi bu before finishing your meal.
• Practicing hara hachi bu helps prevent overeating.

In air traffic control, to stop and wait before a runway or another given point.

• The controller told the pilot to hold short of runway 27.
• We were told to hold short of the runway while another aircraft landed.

To be present for someone and support that person without judging or trying to fix things.

• I will hold space for you while you talk.
• The therapist held space for her client's grief.

A small, simple and often hidden restaurant, shop or office.

• It's just a hole in the wall, but the food is amazing.
• Their first office was a hole in the wall above a shoe shop.

To check a VOR station's identity by listening to its Morse code signal.

• Always ident the VOR before using it for navigation.
• The pilot will ident the VOR using Morse code.

Used to say that people in a group, especially autistic people, are all different from each other.

• They say if you've met one autistic person, you've met one.
• Remember, if you've met one, you've met one.

At heights above the transition altitude, where height is given as a flight level based on standard pressure.

• We are now in the flight levels.
• The aircraft climbed into the flight levels.

To fly a course that will intersect a specific radial of a VOR station.

• We need to intercept radial 180.
• The pilot will intercept the radial after passing the station.