PRACTICAL ENGLISH

  "Behind bars" Meaning The idiom 'behind bars'  means in jail or prison. If you say that someone is behind bars, you mean that they are in prison. This idiom is often used as the phrase ‘put someone behind bars.’ Related words:  in jail or prison , incarcerate, imprison, lock up Origin The idiom “ behind bars ” has been in use since the early 18th century. The word “bars” in this idiom refers to the iron bars conventionally used to confine convicted criminals in jails, prisons, or cells. Example Sentences He has spent most of his life behind bars. If you keep hanging around with the wrong crowd, you’ll end up behind bars. Until the court hearing, they will remain behind bars. Fisher was behind bars last night, charged with attempted murder. Nearly 5,000 people a year are put behind bars over motoring penalties. I heard Mike's uncle is behind bars again. I wonder what he did this time! Sir, I'm afraid your son has been put behind bars on a charge of...

  "Around the clock" Meaning If something happens or is done around the clock or round the clock , it is done all day and all night without stopping. Synonyms: 24 hours, 24/7  Example Sentences The emergency telephone lines operate around the clock. Online stores are open around the clock. They’re working around the clock to get their project done. He worked around the clock as an employee relations manager. He studied around the clock for his TOEIC exam. People who do very important jobs sometimes have to work around the clock. Because they worked virtually around the clock , he sometimes dialed her at crazy hours, ringing her at 2 a.m. to ask what she was doing. She was an around the clock caretaker for a man with severe cerebral palsy. For grieving parents, the loss of a child is an around the clock , unrelenting, inescapable horror show. Several dozen hospitals around the country have violence prevention programs, but most are not staffed around the clock. Rescue servi...

  Meaning If you climb up the ladder or climb the ladder , you become more and more successful or important. When we climb the ladder in our job to reach a higher level, we are climbing the ladder of success. When we speak of a ladder this way, it represents a series of steps or stages that leads to a higher or better position. As you climb the ladder, you become more powerful and more successful. Example Dialogue A: Hey, how are you? I haven’t heard from you in such a long time! B: I’ve been good! I’ve been taking a lot of online classes. So, I just finished a business degree. A:  Good for you! I’ve been spending too much time at home watching Netflix. B: Well, that can be fun too. But I have some career goals that I need to meet by the end of the year. A:  You are way more ambitious than me. I’m not really interested in climbing any career ladders. B: You’re on your own. I have older parents to take care of. So, for me climbing a few more rungs on the ladder means mo...

  If you have ever heard the term ‘diamond in the rough’ during an English conversation, you may have wondered what it means. We will look into the meaning of this term and where it came from as well as how it can be used in our every day conversations. Meaning When someone refers to someone or something as a diamond in the rough they are saying that that person or thing has great potential in what they do and with a little work could be something really great. It could also mean a person who is generally of good character but lacks manners, education, or style. Origin The   term ‘diamond in the rough’ actually refers to a literal diamond, when it is first taken from the ground, it is not in the final, polished state that it will be when it is finished. But in its natural state, it is still extremely beautiful and amazing. Example Dialogs Conversation 1  Colleague 1:  Well, we've seen over twenty candidates for the position. Any thoughts?  Colleague ...

  "It's on the tip of my tongue" Meaning If something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you are sure you know it such as a word, an answer, or a name, but that you cannot remember it at the moment. Often, when you have a word on the tip of your tongue, you can remember what letter it starts with, or what sound it ends Example Dialogs Scene 1: Two friends are talking ... Friend 1: What was the name of that mystery movie we saw last year? I can't quite remember the name.  Friend 2: Oh yeah.  It was a really good movie.  The name is on the tip of my tongue.  Friend 1: It was a strange name.  Give me a minute and I think I can recall it. Scene 2: Two colleagues are talking ... Colleague 1: Do you remember the name of that software we saw demonstrated at last year's trade show?  Colleague 2:  The one that was supposed to amalgamate all customer service help tickets?  Colleague 1:  Yes, that one. What was th...