Target language
a fact or situation that is the reason for something bad happening / someone who has done something wrong
culprit of
to choose not to take part in something or to withdraw from something that you were expected or allowed to join.
Synonyms: withdraw from, decline to participate in, back out of, step away from
to opt out of
completely; totally; to an extreme or absolute degree — often used to intensify adjectives, especially negative ones (but can be used positively too)
Synonyms: completely, totally, entirely, absolutely, thoroughly
utterly
used to say that something has a very strong chance or high probability of happening.
to feel forced or obliged to do something — either because of external pressure (rules, expectations, circumstances) or a strong inner urge.
be compelled to
to behave as if a problem is not important or does not worry you
put on a brave face
to rethink and adjust what’s most important to you — usually because your circumstances, goals, or values have changed. It implies realigning your focus so your actions match what truly matters.
recalibrate your priorities
not at all; absolutely not — used to strongly and clearly deny something or emphasize a total lack of feeling, doubt, or effect.
not in the slightest
This is an inversion structure used to emphasize that two surprising, impressive, or significant things happened — often making the statement sound more formal, dramatic, or persuasive.
Not only did it ..., but it also
used to express that something is very likely or certain to happen — often because it’s logical, expected, or inevitable.
is bound to be
to be at a low point — physically, emotionally, or in terms of energy, confidence, success, or motivation. It suggests a period of weakness, exhaustion, or discouragement.
at a low ebb
to start doing something slowly and carefully, making small, manageable progress rather than trying to achieve everything at once
take baby steps
used to emphasize the size, degree, or amount of something — often something impressive, surprising, or extreme.
sheer
used to emphasize that the second thing is even less likely or possible than the first thing mentioned. It often means “not to mention” or “still less.”
let alone
to not be as good, successful, or impressive as expected; to disappoint or fail to meet hopes or standards
fell short of my expectations
used to strongly emphasize that something is exactly or fully as extreme, intense, or remarkable as the word or phrase that follows. It often conveys admiration, shock, or disbelief — usually in a very positive sense, though it can be negative too.
is nothing short of
to feel nervous, confused, or embarrassed, especially because you’re under pressure, rushed, or caught off guard.
Synonyms: agitated, rattled, unsettled, thrown off, flurried
flustered
a small or slight amount of something; used to soften what’s being said or make it sound more casual or friendly.
Adverbial phrase meaning “slightly” or “a little.”
a wee bit
used to emphasize that one action happened immediately after another — often giving the sentence a dramatic, formal, or literary tone.
no sooner had I ... than
used to emphasize that something didn’t happen before a particular time or event — it only happened after that point.
Adds focus or dramatic emphasis to when something finally happened.
Very common in formal and narrative contexts.
to appeal to someone, interest them, or seem attractive or enjoyable to them — often in a casual, personal way.
strike my fancy
to suddenly stop being in a negative or unproductive mental or emotional state (such as sadness, daydreaming, panic, or apathy) and return to a more normal or active state of mind.
snap out of it
(especially in American English) completely or absolutely — often used to emphasize something blunt or extreme.
flat-out
used to say that something should have been done already and must be done now — it emphasizes that the action is overdue.
This structure is called a cleft sentence with “what” — it’s used to emphasize the action or highlight something specific.
What we all do is ... / What I think is ...