A small world

Context #1

Tom: So Sara, where are you from?
Sara: I'm from California.
Tom: Really? Me too! Where in California?
Sarah: I'm from San Diego. How about you?
Tom: I'm from San Diego too. Wow! It's a small world!

Context #2

Chris: You know that new girl in our class? Well, I just found out that we grew up in the same neighborhood. We went to the same elementary school 30 years ago!
Sam: Wow! That's amazing. What a small world!

Meaning: "a small world" is used to describe a situation where two people find out that they grew up together, live in the same apartment building, or have something truly amazing in common.

http://languagesystems.edu/ 

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.

http://languagesystems.edu/

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

                          

Context #1

Mother and Daughter are talking about her old toys

Melissa: Mommy, why are you wrapping those baby toys as Christmas presents? I’m much too big for those types of baby toys. I’m almost 8 years-old.

Mom: Well, Melissa, these presents are not for you. They are for needy families at Christmas who cannot afford to buy their babies toys and other Christmas presents.

Melissa: Really? Can I help you? I bet these toys will make those babies very happy!

Mom: Of course, you can help. Christmas comes but once a year, so we need to remember the less fortunate and do something to make their Christmas bright!

Context #2 

A children’s choir* is getting ready to sing in a hospital lobby

Choir Leader: OK, everyone, please stand together so that we can sing our first song, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Tabitha: I feel strange standing here in this hospital singing Christmas songs. Why are we here?

Samantha: And people might get mad at us for making noise!

Choir Leader: We are here in the hospital to cheer up the people who are not feeling well at Christmas time and cannot go home.

Tabitha: Oh, so they want to hear us?

Choir Leader: Of course! Christmas comes but once a year, so we should all do our best to be extra kind to people at Christmas. Your beautiful voices will cheer them up!

Explanation: The idea behind this saying is that since Christmas only happens once a year, we should treat it as a very special time by being extra good to others, especially children. Check out this 1936 cartoon with the title “Christmas Comes but Once a Year,” to see what “Professor Grampy” does to cheer up some sad orphans ** at Christmas. Click on the link below: Christmas Comes But Once a Year

*Choir: an organized group of singers (of all ages), typically one that takes part in church services or performs regularly in public.

**Orphan: Children who do not have a mother or father.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To blow it

Context #1 

Jim: So how did you do on your driving test yesterday?

Harry: Oh man, I totally blew it!

Jim: What happened?

Harry: I accidentally ran through a stop sign, so I failed it.

 

Context #2 

Kathy: I have that big job interview later today.

Sara: Good luck!

Kathy: Thanks, but I'm so nervous! I hope I don't blow it

Sara: Relax. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Meaning: "to blow it" is used when someone makes a mistake that leads to failure.

http://languagesystems.edu/