On one's own

Example #1

Natasha: Hey, Jackie! Thank you so much for sending me the e-mail regarding the next Summer trip! I wish I could join you guys, but I am actually going on a trip.

Jackie: Oh, no! That's a bummer! Sorry you will not join us. Well, where are you going?

Natasha: I am going to Denmark.

Jackie: WOW! That sounds great! Who are you going with?

Natasha: Nobody! 

Jackie: Wait... Nobody? What do you mean?

Natasha: I am going on my own! Just me! 

Jackie: Are you sure you want to go on your own? Isn't that dangerous?

Natasha: No! I love traveling on my own! Don't worry. Next time you guys plan a trip, I will join you. Thank you again!

Jackie: You are welcome! If you change your mind, let me know!

Example #2

Hi Katherine,

I am so glad to hear you are coming to Los Angeles! You asked me on your e-mail if you could stay with me. Of course you can stay with me!

I live in a studio on my own. It's small, but you can sleep on the air mattress if you don't mind.

It will be so much fun to have you here! I have a business trip from 07/10 to 07/13, so I am sorry you will be on your own those days.

When I get back, we can go on a day trip to San Diego if you want!

Can't wait to see you!

Love,

Lynn

On one's own MEANING: by oneself, alone, unaccompanied

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To sit on the fence

Definition: Avoid making a decision or choice

Henry: Hi Vinicius! Have you decided what class you want to take next session?
Vinicius: No I'm still sitting on the fence.
Henry: Which class are you on the fence about?
Vinicius: I will either take Advanced Conversation or Level 7, but I'm trying to figure out which one would be better for me.

In this conversation, Vinicius has to decide between which two classes to take. Since he can't decide or is undecided we say that he is sitting on the fence.

Fillipe: What happened yesterday at the business meeting?
Yuka: Janice and Robert got into a large argument about how best to complete the project.
Fillipe: So did you voice your opinion?
Fillipe: Smart thinking.
Yuka: Oh I sat on the fence for this one

In this conversation, Yuka thought it best not to take sides in an argument and remain neutral so she sat on the fence.

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Off-the-Cuff

Context #1 – Students in class at university

Vickey: I’m so confused after Professor Johnson’s lecture today. Did you understand any of it?

Mac: Not at all! He just makes a bunch of off-the-cuff remarks and thinks it is a lecture. I doubt he even knows what he is talking about.

Vickey: I agree. He doesn’t seem prepared at all and then he changes his mind in the middle of class.

Mac: Yes, he shouldn’t just speak off-the-cuff every day. He needs to prepare for his lectures.

Context #2 – Two friends talking about a person they saw on TV

Sierra:  Did you see Bob on TV last night?

Peter:  Yes, I saw him being interviewed on the 10:00 News.  He was amazing!

Sierra: Did you know that he was speaking off-the-cuff? He didn’t prepare his answers at all.

Peter: Wow! Really? I wish I could give off-the-cuff answers like that. He really sounded good.

Sierra: Well, he is really talented when it comes to public speaking. He is a quick learner.

Meaning: “Off-the-cuff” means unprepared or spontaneous and can be used as both an adjective and adverb. In Context 1, the students are talking about a professor who makes off-the-cuff remarks (used as an adjective), which make his lectures confusing. They both agree that the professor shouldn’t speak off-the-cuff (used as an adverb). In context 2, the friends think that Bob’s off-the-cuff answers in the interview on TV were very good. 

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Eye-popping

Idiom: Eye-popping; used as an adjective

Context #1:

Taylor: Did you see the new Christopher Nolan movie?
Jake: Yeah. You?
Taylor: Yeah, and while I didn't really care for the story, the cinematography was eye-popping! I was not expecting it to look that amazing.
Jake: Yeah, I was blown away by how beautiful it was.

Meaning: The expression "eye-popping" means that something is visually shocking or surprising. In the above example, Taylor uses "eye-popping" to say that something was surprisingly beautiful. It can also be used in a number of other ways, such as when someone wears a particularly revealing outfit, as in the next example:

Context #2:

The actress wore an especially eye-popping outfit to the awards show after party. She was wearing a very short shirt and a blouse that was rather low-cut. A few critics called it a scandal, but others said she looked gorgeous.

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Shoot the Breeze!!

Context #1: 

Mark: Hey Rob! How was your date last night with Mary? 

Rob: Hi Mark. It was OK. I'm not sure we're a good match.

Mark: Why not?

Rob: Well, we met for coffee and only spent about 30 minutes together before she left. We were pretty uncomfortable, just shooting the breeze. She didn't really tell me anything about herself which is disappointing because I really wanted to get to know her. From what you said, she seemed really interesting. But this was not the case yesterday.

Mark: Oh man! That's too bad. Will you have another date with her?

Rob: I don't know. She said she would text me, but I'm not sure if she will!

Context #2

Tom: Hey Bill! How was your date with Jane yesterday?

Bill: Oh it was great! She is really easy to talk to. I really like her.

Tom: That's great!

Bill: Yeah, we had a great time. We went for coffee and spent at least 2 hours just shooting the breeze. We're going to get together next week, too!

Explanation:

To shoot the breeze is to spend time chatting casually about nothing in particular and with no purpose.

In context #1, Rob wanted to have deep conversation and get to know Mary, but they only had casual, light conversation. 

In context #2, Bill and Jane spent hours shooting the breeze  and enjoyed their time together.

This expression is often used with -ing form 

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