Mixed Feelings

Idiom: mixed feelings; used as a noun

First Example:

Harry: Did you hear about the policy new change?

Victoria: Yeah.

Harry: You don't sound happy about it.

Victoria: Well, I have mixed feelings. I mean, I can see how it'll make the experience better for our clients, so that's good.

Harry: Right.

Victoria: But it's going to make our jobs harder, and the company isn't going to be getting more money for our time from our clients. So sure, it's great for the clients, but I have enough work to do already.

Meaning: The expression "mixed feelings" means a reaction that is both positive and negative. In the above example, Victoria says she has "mixed feelings" about a policy change at work because it's better for the clients, but it's worse for the employees. Also, note that Victoria uses the expression after the verb "have;" "have mixed feelings" is probably the most common form when using this expression, but it's not the only one.

Second Example:

Dan: The Oscars were crazy this year!

Robin: I know! I watched that ending with so many mixed feelings.

Dan: What do you mean?

Robin: Well, I wanted Moonlight to win, but they said La La Land won, which didn't surprise me. But then they took it away from them! I was happy for the Moonlight people but sad at the same time for the La La Land people!

Dan: Yeah, that was a roller coaster of emotions.

         

Meaning: Note that Robin doesn't use the verb "have", instead saying she did something  "with mixed feelings". This is probably the second most common way of using this idiom.

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Cut the mustard

Context #1

John: Who are you going to choose for the front desk staff position?

Wick: I’m not sure yet. Both candidates are smart, but neither can cut the mustard.

John: You have to pick one of them though, right?

Wick: Not if they can’t meet our standards.

Context #2

Paulie: I’m not worried about next week’s competition at all.

Adrian: Why? You should never underestimate the abilities of an opponent.

Paulie: I know someone who’s been watching that team, and they say that their skills will never cut the mustard versus our team.

Adrian: Well if they can’t meet the expectations of the competition, they’re going to have a difficult time with our team.

Meaning: The expression "Cut the mustard" means to measure up to the standard or meet the expectation of something. (Usually this involves a set of skills, qualifications, and experiences).

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To go overboard

Idiom: To go overboard – to be very enthusiastic; to do or say too much because a person is too enthusiastic about something; to do something in an extreme or excessive way.

Context #1 – Two friends are talking at a party

Tina: Did you see Maria? I mean, I know this is supposed to be a dressy party, but my goodness!

Sherri: I know! She really went overboard with all her makeup. No one wears that much makeup, not even models for a photoshoot!

Tina: True. She has so much makeup on, she doesn’t even look like herself!

Context #2 – Two roommates are talking

Susan:  Wow! Look at all this food! I thought we were inviting just Jim from next door, not the whole apartment complex!!!

Paul: Yes, I know. Do you think I went a little overboard?

Susan: A little? Paul, we have enough food to feed everyone in the neighborhood for the next week!

Paul: Sorry. Maybe we can take the extra food to a homeless shelter.

Susan: That sounds like a plan.

Paul:  Next time, I won’t go overboard!

Meaning: To go overboard means to do or say too much because of being overly enthusiastic about something. In the first dialogue, Maria put too much makeup on for the party. Even though it is a dress party, she should not have put on so much makeup. In the second context, Paul cooked too much food for the one guest they were having over to dinner. 

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Sick

Context #1:

Tom: Have you seen the new Star Wars movie yet?
Jim: Yeah, I saw it last night. It was so sick!
Tom: I know! I think it is the best one yet.

Context #2:

Sara: On Saturday we went to the street skateboarding championships, and it was so cool!
Kim: I bet! I can't believe so of the tricks that they can do now.
Sara: I know! We saw some really sick tricks.

Meaning: "sick" is an idiom/slang word that is used to describe something that is really cool.

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Cream of the crop

Context #1:

Joe: Have you decided who you're going to hire for the open position in the accounting department?

Sam: Well, I interviewed about 8 people and now I'm down to the cream of the crop. There are 2 people I am still considering, and need to make my final decision by Friday.

Context #2:

Christa: Do you know what you're going to cook for Valentine's Day dinner this year? 

Sally: Well, I had about 5 different recipes I was thinking about, and I've narrowed it down to just 2 of my recipes that are really the cream of the crop.

Meaning: "cream of the crop" is an expression that means "the best of the best."  It is used to describe the very best things out of a group of things that are all pretty good.

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Be in the same boat

Context #1

Ana: Hello, Andrew! Where are you going?
Andrew: I am going to the mayor to ask him to take necessary steps against environmental pollution.
Ana: You're right. Environmental pollution has become a great problem in our lives.
Andrew: Even though the environment helps us to exist, we don’t bother to take care of it. We are polluting it indiscriminately and we're all in the same boat. People are not aware of it. They throw their waste here and there.
Ana: Cars and factories are polluting the environment through their toxic chemicals.
Andrew: That's why I decided to take action! We should take care of our environment. It’s true that we cannot stop pollution. But we can lessen it. Would you like to join me?
Ana: For sure! Let's do it!

Meaning: The speaker said that everyone should make an effort towards protecting the environment, as everyone was in the same boat and climate changes have direct consequences for all.

Context #2

Tuesday Morning at Language Systems during the Placement Test...

Mona: Hello!! Nice to meet you!!
Pat: Hi!
Mona: Hmmm, Hello! I said nice to meet you...
Pat: Sorry, but this is my first time in the U.S., and I'm scared to speak English.
Mona: No problem! I'm scared too, but we're all in the same boat!
Pat: Thank you, my friend! I'm feeling better now!

Meaning: Mona is trying to make Pat feel better by explaining that they both don't have to be proficient in English right now since they will learn how to speak English at Language Systems. They're in the same situation.

*The idiom was first used by the ancient Greeks when speaking about the risks that all passengers in a small boat at sea had to face together. Now it is used to describe any unpleasant situation, not only if you are in a boat!

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Wish Upon a Star

Context #1 

Mother and 4-year-old son are talking

Mom: Did you like the movie, Pinocchio?

Johnny: Yes, I did. I especially like Jiminy Cricket! He’s funny!

Mom: Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Johnny: Mommy, you know that song that Jiminy Cricket sings in the movie? What does “wish upon a star” mean?

Mother: Well, when you look up in the sky at night and you see the first star, make a wish.  Then, your wish is supposed to come true. 

Johnny: So, when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true?

Mom: Well, let’s try it and find out!

Context #2 

A little girl is talking to her teacher at school

Samantha: I really wish that I get an A on this spelling test. It would make my grandpa so happy!

Teacher: Well, Samantha, you are 5 years old now and a big girl. If you studied, you will do just fine. Don’t worry.

Samantha: Do you know what I did last night?

Teacher: What?

Teacher: I decided to wish upon a star, the first star I saw, to be sure that I would get an A!

Meaning: To wish upon a star often refers to making a wish after seeing the first star in the sky at night. Many children believe that if you wish upon a star, your wish will come true.

"When You Wish upon a Star" is a song written for Walt Disney’s 1940 adaption of Pinocchio. The original version was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket. The song has since become the representative song of The Walt Disney Company.  It is also popular at Christmas time. Check out Jiminy Cricket performing this song in the film Pinocchio. See the link below: When You Wish Upon a Star

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Pull Christmas Crackers

Context #1 

Family sitting down for Christmas dinner

Dad: OK everyone. Let’s sit down to eat Christmas dinner!

Jason: Dad, can we pull the Christmas crackers now?

Dad: Sure, Jason! Go ahead.

Jason: Pulling Christmas cracker with his sister and it makes a “bang.”

Mother: Oh, look at those cute little toys. OK, Jason, now let your sister pull a Christmas cracker to see what she gets!

Context #2 

Two friends planning a Christmas party

Sami:  You know what? I have another idea for our Christmas party this year. Let’s have Christmas crackers!

Petra: What? I don’t know what that is.

Sami: Well, in Britain and some other English-speaking countries, people “pull Christmas crackers” during parties. The Christmas crackers contain little trinkets, toys, or even jokes on small pieces of paper.

Petra: That sounds interesting! Let’s do it.

Meaning: A Christmas Cracker is a cardboard paper tube, of brightly colored paper and twisted at both ends. They are usually given during Christmas dinner or at Christmas parties. They make a noise when pulled apart by two people and contain small presents like toys, trinkets, or even jokes on pieces of paper. Christmas crackers are part of Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Christmas crackers are not very common in the United States. 

Check out this video of people pulling Christmas cracker! https://youtu.be/ZAq6YzBBJBc

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Christmas came early

Context #1

"Christmas came early for Disney. Their latest film 'The Jungle Book', starring Neel Sethi, made $27 million dollars in its opening weekend."

When a happy surprise arrives before Christmas, like a hot new date, awesome gift or magical experience.

Context #2

Ralph: Oh, man! It's only 10:00 am and that loaf I dropped felt like fire!
Ted: Sounds like Christmas came early.

The expression "Christmas came early" originated in northern New Mexico. In this case, "Christmas" refers to the unique combination of both red chilli and green chilli on your breakfast burrito. The fiery blend has a unique chemical reaction that results in premature bowel movements that are tainted with the fire of the chile. Thus, when one has an excretion after consuming a Christmas breakfast burrito, Christmas is said to have come early.

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To slip (my, his, her) mind

Context #1:

Terrence dials a number on his cell phone. His friend, Will, answers.

Will: Hello?

Terrence: Will? Where are you?

Will: At home. What are you doing, Terrence?

Terrence: Waiting for you! We agreed to meet in Downtown, remember?

Will: I'm so sorry, Will. It totally slipped my mind. I'm on my way!

 

Context #2:

Linda and John arrive home to find dinner in the oven and ​it's ​burnt.

Linda: John, weren't you supposed to turn the oven off before we left?

John: I guess it slipped my mind.

Meaning: to forget. We use this idiom when we have a thought or intention and that thought or intention "slips away" before it becomes an action. 

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