Lesson 22
Help and encouragement
- look the other way
If someone looks the other way, they deliberately ignore something bad that is happening when they should be trying to deal with it or stop it.
I NOTE I You usually use this expression to suggest that this is a bad thing to do.
Example: The government is fully aware of the problem but they just look the other way.
- meet someone halfway
If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their opinions or wishes, so that you can come to an agreement with them or have a better relationship with them.
Example: The opposition is willing to meet the president halfway on his latest plans for the economy.
- a pat on the back
If you give someone a pat on the back, you praise them for something they have done.
Example: The industry can give itself a little pat on the back for the positive moves it has made to help its own recovery.
I NOTE I You can also say pat someone on the back , or pat yourself on the back.
Example: I thought the editor would pat me on the back and say, ‘Well done!’ Instead he fired me. Today is a good day to pat yourself on the back for bravery and effort.
- put your heads together
If people put their heads together, they try to solve a problem together.
Example: If there’s a problem, we all just sit down, put our heads together and figure it out.
- sing someone’s praises
If you sing someone’s or something’s praises, you praise them in an enthusiastic way.
Example: Smith continued to sing Tony’s praises. ‘He’s so different, he’s so natural; he said.
- take someone under your wing
If you take someone under your wing, you start to look after them and make sure that they are well and have what they need.
Example: She took the youngster under her wing, gave her advice and helped her prepare for the tour.
- a tower of strength or a pillar of strength
If someone is a tower of strength or a pillar of strength during a difficult period in your life, they give you a lot of help or support.
Example: My eldest daughter was a tower of strength for me when I was sick.
Example: In her terrible sadness she has found Charles to be a pillar of strength.
- bend over backwards or bend over backward
If you bend over backwards or bend over backward, you try very hard to help or please someone, even though it causes you trouble.
Example: We bent over backwards to make them feel welcome and they didn’t thank us once.
- be there for someone
If you are there for someone, you are ready to listen to their problems and to help and support them.
[SPOKEN]
Example: Jimmy is a good friend – he’s always been there for me when I needed help or advice.
- give and take
If you talk about give and take, you mean the way in which two people or groups in a relationship accept that they cannot have everything that they want and that they must sometimes give the other person or group what they want.
Example: All good partnerships involve a bit of give and take.
- hold someone’s hand
If you hold someone’s hand in an unfamiliar or difficult situation, you help and support them.
Example: Tony will hold your hand through the sale, deal with offers and advise on any problems.
- in the same boat
If two or more people are in the same boat, they are in the same unpleasant or difficult situation.
Example: Don’t worry if you are going bald – 40 per cent of men under 35 are in the same boat.
- keep your chin up
If you keep your chin up, you stay cheerful in a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: Richards was keeping his chin up yesterday despite the continued setbacks.
- lend a hand or lend someone a hand
If you lend a hand or lend someone a hand, you help someone to do something.
Example: If I’d known you were having trouble, I could have lent a hand. Could you lend me a hand with these books, please?
Example: I used to give Mary a hand with the catering Need a hand with those?
Do you want a hand with the children?
Exercise 1
Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
- There is usually a fair amount of…………………and take in a trading relationship.
a )pat b ) give c ) hand
- They want to negotiate and we’re very willing to……….……them halfway.
a ) meet b )bend c ) hold
3.Hannah was happy to ………………a hand in practical ways if she could.
a ) pat b ) lend c ) take
4.For most of the afternoon, Mum had been…………. Jack’s praises.
- a) giving b ) putting c )singing
5.I want to be………………. for my kids because my dad wasn’t for me.
- a) there b) together c) over
6 . The government finds it easiest to……………. the other way regarding this issue.
a ) look b ) bend c keep
Exercise 2
Answer the questions.
1.If you take someone under your wing, do you ignore or help them?
2.If you keep your chin up, are you being cheerful or miserable?
3.If you give someone a pat on the back, should they be pleased or offended?
4.If you bend over backwards, are you ignoring someone or trying to help them?
5.If someone lends you a hand, are you being helpful, or are they being helpful to you?
6.If you hold someone’s hand in a difficult situation, do you need help or do you give help?