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at first
→ in the beginning
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole didn't like Don Quixote at first, but after 200 pages she started to get into it.
EXAMPLE 2: Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed at first. The important thing is that you keep on trying!
(to) get the hang of (something)
→ to learn how to do something; to acquire an effective technique
EXAMPLE 1: Billy had trouble learning how to ride a bike, but after a few months he finally got the hang of it.
EXAMPLE 2: When I went snowboarding for the first time, I kept falling down. But after a while, I got the hang of it.
(to) give (someone) a ring
→ to telephone someone
EXAMPLE 1: Give me a ring tomorrow so we can discuss plans for this weekend.
EXAMPLE 2: If you're free on Saturday, give me a ring and we can go to the movies.
SYNONYM: to give (someone) a buzz [slang]
in any case
→ whatever the fact is; certainly
EXAMPLE 1: We can either go to the new Star Wars movie or see a play tonight. In any case, you'll need to be at my house by six o'clock.
EXAMPLE 2: You'll probably be too tired on Sunday to come over. In any case, give me a call in the morning to discuss.
in person
→ personally; in one's physical presence
EXAMPLE 1: Tim hoped that he and Svetlana would get along as well in person as they did over the Internet.
EXAMPLE 2: After hearing so much about Donna's boyfriend, I'm looking forward to meeting him in person.
(to) keep posted
→ to provide up-to-date information
EXAMPLE 1: Keep me posted about your plans for the summer. If you're going to be at your cottage on the lake, I'd love to come visit.
EXAMPLE 2: Good luck selling your house and keep me posted! I'd love to know how much you get for it.
(to) learn the ropes
→ to learn the basics
EXAMPLE 1: Mark learned the ropes of the restaurant business by working as a cook at Outback Steakhouse.
EXAMPLE 2: David worked at a big law firm for 10 years where he learned the ropes. Now he runs his own law firm.
pain in the neck
→ an annoyance
EXAMPLE 1: Yesterday I had to stay home all day and wait for the repairman. What a pain in the neck!
EXAMPLE 2: Alice wants me to drive her to the airport early tomorrow morning. That's going to be a pain in the neck!
piece of cake
→ very easy
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole finished her physics test in just 25 minutes. It was a piece of cake.
EXAMPLE 2: The driving test is a piece of cake. Don't worry about it.
SYNONYM: easy as pie. You should have no trouble passing the driving test. It's as easy as pie.
(to) round up
→ to gather people together
EXAMPLE 1: The town rounded up 200 volunteers to search for the hiker, who was lost in the woods of Yosemite National Park.
EXAMPLE 2: Let's round up some volunteers to help bake cookies and pies for the bake sale.
second nature
→ a behavior that has been practiced for so long, it seems to have been there always
EXAMPLE 1: Karen has been arguing with her husband every day for the past 20 years, so by now it's just second nature.
EXAMPLE 2: With practice, riding a unicycle becomes second nature.
to tell you the truth
→ to speak openly; to admit
EXAMPLE 1: To tell you the truth, Ted isn't a very good student.
EXAMPLE 2: To tell you the truth, I didn't even want to attend Katie's wedding. But I knew she'd be offended if I didn't go.
your guess is as good as mine
→ I don't know; I don't know any more than you do
EXAMPLE 1: Will we ever find intelligent life on other planets? Your guess is as good as mine.
EXAMPLE 2: Will Ted graduate on time? Your guess is as good as mine!
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