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better off
→ in a more fortunate position
EXAMPLE 1: We're better off leaving for France on Thursday evening, so we can spend the entire weekend there.
EXAMPLE 2: If you're interested in studying languages, you'd be better off attending Northwestern University than the University of Chicago.
NOTE: This expression is often used with conditional tense (would), especially when you're giving advice: "you would be better off doing something" or "you'd be better off doing something."
(to) buy out
→ to purchase an entire business or someone's share of a business
EXAMPLE 1: Microsoft bought out Adam's company for $12 million.
EXAMPLE 2: Harriett and Jane sell homemade snack chips. They hope one day a big company will buy out their business.
cup of tea
→ the type of person or thing that one generally likes
EXAMPLE 1: Hockey isn't Alan's cup of tea. He prefers soccer.
EXAMPLE 2: I know Joy is nice, but she's simply not my cup of tea.
NOTE: This expression is almost always used in the negative. She's not my cup of tea.
dragon lady
→ a nasty woman who misuses her power
EXAMPLE 1: Beth is a real dragon lady. She's always screaming at her employees and blaming them for her mistakes. I hope she gets fired!
EXAMPLE 2: Liz was nasty to you? I'm not surprised. She's a dragon lady.
SYNONYMS: bitch [slang]; shrew
(to) get it
→ to understand
EXAMPLE 1: I invited 40 people to my Thanksgiving dinner, but only 10 people came. I don't get it!
EXAMPLE 2: Don't you get it? Your company is about to go out of business!
it looks like
→ it's likely that
EXAMPLE 1: It looks like I'll be able to get out of work early today, so let's plan on meeting downtown at 4:30.
EXAMPLE 2: It looks like it's going to rain, so we'd better just cancel the picnic now.
no laughing matter
→ nothing to joke about; something serious
EXAMPLE 1: When the tornado came into town, it was no laughing matter.
EXAMPLE 2: Jim might have been fooling around when he hit John, but he really hurt him. It was no laughing matter.
nothing to do with (someone or something)
→ not have any relationship with someone; to not get involved with something
EXAMPLE 1: After I found out that Nora shoplifted some lipstick from the drugstore, I wanted nothing to do with her.
EXAMPLE 2: Larry asked Nick if he wanted to help him plan a robbery. Nick told Larry that he wanted nothing to do with it.
rolling in dough
→ very rich
EXAMPLE 1: Susan and Bob don't need to work anymore. They're rolling in dough.
EXAMPLE 2: Adam will be able to retire young. He's rolling in dough.
NOTE: This is a play on words. "Dough" means "money" as well as what is used to make cookies, breads, and pastries. The dough (cookies) made by Bob and Susan brought them lots of dough (money).
SYNONYMS: rolling in it; rolling in money; loaded
(to) sell like hotcakes
→ to sell fast; to be a popular item
EXAMPLE 1: Those new Fubu blue jeans are selling like hotcakes. All the girls love them.
EXAMPLE 2: Stephen King's new novel is selling like hotcakes.
(to) strike it rich
→ to attain sudden financial success
EXAMPLE 1: Chad struck it rich with the winning lottery ticket.
EXAMPLE 2: Craig hopes to strike it rich so he can quit his job and open a winery in California.
that's the way the cookie crumbles
→ that's the way things go sometimes and there's nothing you can do about it
EXAMPLE 1: You lost your job? That's the way the cookie crumbles.
EXAMPLE 2: Somebody drank your last can of Pepsi? Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
What's the matter?
→ What's the problem?
EXAMPLE 1: What's the matter, Bob? You don't look very happy.
EXAMPLE 2: Oscar looks very pale. What's the matter with him?
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