One swallow does not make a summer

 Context #1

Jay: I can’t believe mom bought us a trip to Hawaii. Maybe she’ll get us a car too.

Saul: Calm down Jay. One swallow does not make a summer. Remember that mom has money limitations. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Jay: You don’t think mom would do that for us? 

Saul: Be realistic. Just because mom got a new job, doesn’t mean she can afford everything.

Context #2

Peter: I got into college in NY. I’m not worried anymore. I’m sure all the other colleges will accept me too.

Sonia: One swallow does not make a summer buddy. Every school has different standards and rules. Let’s not get too confident about what schools will accept you yet. You should wait before making a decision.

Peter: But this was the most difficult school to get into. How can the other schools not accept me?

Sonia: Sometimes school departments make a difference. It’s not necessarily the entire university that makes that decision. 

Meaning: The expression "one swallow does not make a summer" means that just because one good thing happened, you cannot expect every other thing that will happen to be good. For example, some people think that if something good happens at the beginning of a trip, it’s a sign that everything else will go well. In reality, that is not true. In the first example, Jay thinks that because the mother bought them a trip, surely she will also buy them a car, but there’s no evidence to prove this. It’s just a feeling. In the second example, Peter thinks every college he applied to will accept him because he got into the most difficult one. However, that’s just his belief, not a fact. He is not aware that most universities have differences in acceptance policies and that the standards of each department in that college vary. 

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Cut (somebody) some slack

Context #1

Andrew: Last week’s assignment was due two days ago. Why haven’t you finished it yet?

Mia: Andrew, you know I’ve been having some personal problems. Please cut me some slack.

Andrew: There are no exceptions. If I cut you some slack, then everyone will want me to cut some slack for them. 

Mia: You’re so inflexible. I wish you would be more understanding.

Andrew: I would cut you some slack if you didn’t have a habit of turning assignments in late.

Context #2

Jeff: I’ve reported a student for using his phone during class time.

Michelle: Why can’t you cut the student some slack? Maybe the student had a legitimate emergency.

Jeff: He was checking facebook. How would the student benefit from me cutting him some slack?

Michelle: I guess there’s no excuse. You never cut anyone some slack sometimes though?

Jeff: Students get more than enough warnings before being reported. This student doesn’t deserve any slack. He does this daily.

Meaning: The expression "cut somebody some slack" means to give someone permission to do something not normally allowed or to be less strict about something (e.g. a policy or rule). In this example, Mia was upset that Andrew didn’t allow for additional time to finish her assignment. However, Andrew is unwilling to be more flexible because Mia has had a habit of turning things in late. So he is less willing to cut Mia some slack. In the second example, the teacher was upset that the student was focusing on his phone everyday and had been warned about the rules previously. The teacher didn’t think giving the student any more chances (cutting any slack) was of benefit to him or the student.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To pound the pavement; used as a verb

Context #1

Leo: How's the job hunting going?

Janice: Not so great. I've been pounding the pavement all week, I've emailed out over 40 resumes, and I still haven't gotten an interview!

Leo: Sorry to hear that. But you'll find something.

Janice: I know. That's why I'm on my way to pound the pavement some more.

Leo: That's the spirit! Keep it up!

Meaning: The expression "to pound the pavement" means to walk through the streets looking for something, usually a job. But while the idiom means to walk through the streets, it doesn't always mean that someone is literally walking around; in the example above, Janice says she has sent over 40 resumes over email, suggesting she isn't literally walking around.  Less commonly, the expression can be used for non-job related activities, although in these cases, it usually means they literally walked around, as in the next example:

Context #2

The candidate's volunteers pounded the pavement, trying to reach out to their community. Due to their efforts, 1000 people joined the candidate's rally the following Saturday.

Meaning: In this example, the volunteers probably did literally walk through the streets, discussing their preferred political candidate with others.

http://languagesystems.edu/

By the skin of (one's) teeth; used as an adverb

Context #1

Laurie: Hey Alfonso! Wait, why are you all sweaty?

Alfonso: I almost missed the bus.

Laurie: What? You're always on time!

Alfonso: Normally, but I forgot to change my clocks after the time change and only realized when I looked at my phone, which updated automatically. I ran to the bus stop, and it was already there, and I barely caught it by the skin of my teeth.

Laurie: Good thing! This bus only runs once an hour!

Meaning: The expression "by the skin of (one's) teeth" means "just barely". This idiom is used when something was extremely close, as in the above example, where Alfonso nearly missed the bus.  In addition to just barely doing something on time, "by the skin of (one's) teeth" can also be used to show how close a competition was, as in the next example:

Context #2

Beatriz: Did you watch the basketball game last night?

Drew: Yeah. I'm so glad our team won, but that finale was intense!

Beatriz: I know! It really came down to the final seconds, but they pulled it off by the skin of their teeth.

Drew: That last shot was amazing!

Meaning: In this example, the basketball team that Beatriz and Drew were rooting for won a game, but in an extremely close match.

                                          

 http://languagesystems.edu/

To shoot from the hip

Context #1

Dana: Karen, I need to buy a new shirt for my company dinner tomorrow night. I think I'm going to buy one of these two. What do you think? Which one?

Karen: Well, the red one with the yellow sleeves is interesting - and bright. It really catches the eye! But the white and blue shirt will probably look better with your skirt. I'm just not sure I like the pink buttons. Hmmm, I don't know. Let's ask Roger.

Dana: Roger, what do you think of these two shirts? Which one would you buy if you were me?

Roger: Neither. They are both ugly.

Karen: Wow. He really shoots from the hip.

Context #2

Dear Professor Andersen,

I wanted to write you to ask if our group could submit our project again. Joseph and I did a lot of research and planning. Fred, on the other hand, did very little work. Fred knew this, so he promised Joseph and I he would read and organize all of our work and put it all together. I guess he decided to shoot from the hip because none of our research was included - and he didn't do any. Joseph and I are very worried about our grade.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jane

Meaning: To say or do something without thinking carefully about it. This can be used in a positive or negative way. When this idiom is used, it can mean a person is direct and honest (positive) or careless and thoughtless (negative).

http://languagesystems.edu/

To miss the boat

Context #1

Dear Mrs.Goldberg,

I would like to express my interest in interviewing for the front desk position at Goldbergs and Associates. 

Would it be possible for us to meet this week?

Sincerely,

John Snowish

___________________________________________

Dear Mr. Snowish,

Thank you for your interest in our company.

Unfortunately this position has already been taken. 

I am sorry you missed the boat, but we will keep your resume and contact you when a similar position becomes available.

Best regards,

Mrs. Goldberg

___________________________________________

Context #2

Hey Cassie, 

How is everything in LA?

It's good to be back in Russia, but I miss you guys so, so, so much!

How is everything with you and the girls? How is Devin? Does he miss me at all? Do you think he likes me?

Seriously, I even told him I liked him and he never asked me out!

I'm telling you, if he says he likes me now, I am just going to tell him he missed the boat! It's too late. I don't even like him anymore...

Anyway, I hope all is well with you! 

Miss you!

Natasha

Meaning: to be too late to join an event or trend, or to late for an opportunity.

http://languagesystems.edu/

To snake something

Context #1

Tom: Hey, what happened to my french fries? I go to the restroom and I come back to find them almost gone?

Chris: Yeah, when you left I saw John snake a handful of them. He just laughed and walked away.

Context #2

Carol: You're never going to believe what happened yesterday. I was at the mall waiting for this car that was backing out because I wanted the parking space.  I had my turn signal on so everyone would know that I was waiting for that space. Then, right before I could pull into the space, this other car quickly pulled in and snaked the parking spot that I had been waiting for.

Barbara: No way! That's crazy!  

Meaning: "To snake something" means "To steal" or "To take something wrongly."  

It is an idiom that has an origin in surfing culture. When a surfer is waiting for a wave and he/she is in the proper position to take the wave but another surfer "steals" the wave, they say that the other surfer "snaked the wave." 

http://languagesystems.edu/