Phrases & Expressions

To dance with energy and enjoyment, especially to lively music.

• The band started playing, and everyone tripped the light fantastic.
• They loved to trip the light fantastic at parties.

To refuse to listen to or pay attention to something.

• He turned a deaf ear to all the advice he received.
• She turned a deaf ear to his complaints.

An ATC instruction to turn right until the aircraft is flying on the given heading.

• The controller told us to turn right heading zero nine zero.
• Turn right heading two seven zero and expect vectors for the approach.

To give evidence in court against your partners in a crime, usually to get a lighter punishment.

• He decided to turn state's evidence.
• They offered him a lighter sentence if he would turn state's evidence.

Problems or risks that are not known to exist.

• We must plan for unknown unknowns.
• The project faced many unknown unknowns.

A pointless or hopeless pursuit; a futile search for something unattainable.

• It turned out to be a wild goose chase.
• Looking for that lost key was a wild goose chase.

The TCAS message, repeated by pilots to ATC, saying that a traffic conflict is over.

• When TCAS announced clear of conflict, the crew returned to their altitude.
• Clear of conflict, returning to flight level three five zero.

To make an aircraft descend more quickly or more steeply.

• The controller asked the pilot to increase descent to reach the new level sooner.
• We need to increase descent to stay below the clouds.

A cabin crew command in an emergency evacuation telling passengers not to take any belongings.

• The cabin crew shouted, "Leave everything! Get out!"
• In an emergency, leave everything and evacuate.

To no longer benefit from an initial advantage or external support, relying fully on one's own capabilities.

• After the initial mentorship ended, she was truly out of ground effect in her new role.
• The startup felt out of ground effect once the seed funding was fully spent.