Phrases & Expressions

To always look extremely neat, tidy and well groomed.

• Our head teacher never had a hair out of place, even on the hottest days of the year.
• TV presenters never seem to have a hair out of place, thanks to their team of stylists.

To keep becoming more successful after an important change or decision.

• Moving to a smaller town was the best decision we ever made, and we have never looked back.
• After switching from law to teaching, Mehmet never looked back and is now head of his department.

Used to say that a room or other place is extremely small.

• My first student room was so small that there was no room to swing a cat.
• The kitchen looks nice in the photos, but in reality there's no room to swing a cat.

To quite like something or be willing to do it.

• Although she prefers working alone, she is not averse to sharing ideas with colleagues when a project requires it.
• Many people say they are not averse to paying slightly higher taxes if the money goes to public hospitals.

Fairly similar to something; used to say that two things are quite alike.

• The proposed tax reforms are not dissimilar to those introduced by the previous government.
• The taste of this tropical fruit is not dissimilar to mango, though it is slightly more sour.

Causing a certain amount of public disagreement or argument.

• The decision to raise tuition fees was not without controversy, and students protested for several weeks.
• The use of artificial intelligence to mark school exams has not been without controversy.

(of clothes) bought ready-made in standard sizes rather than made for one person.

• He is so tall that he can rarely buy trousers off the peg.
• She couldn't afford a tailor, so she bought a suit off the peg.

To formally tell someone that you are sorry that a person close to them has died.

• The head teacher offered her condolences to the family on behalf of the whole school.
• I would like to offer my condolences on the death of your father; he was a wonderful teacher.

Because the police believe that someone may be guilty of a particular crime.

• Three men were arrested on suspicion of smuggling stolen artworks out of the country.
• A bank employee has been questioned on suspicion of stealing money from customers' accounts.

Using a false reason in order to hide your real purpose for doing something.

• The scammer got into the elderly man's flat on the pretext of checking the gas meter.
• Some governments restrict internet access on the pretext of protecting national security.