Context Clues 1
When my friend and I were walking on the sidewalk we moved to the right to not obstruct the path of the bike coming towards us.
obstruct = to block or hinder from passage
Caught between a rock and a hard place
My friend took some candy from another girl at school. I want to tell my teacher because it is the right thing to do but I do not want to upset my friend. I am caught between a rock and a hard place.
When it is difficulty to choose between two alternatives or possible scenarios
I am waiting for the storm to abate before I go outside. Right now, it is too intense to go out in.
abate = to decrease in force or intensity
Drastic times call for drastic measures
After the town flooded from all the rainfall, the government decided to evacuate the town and relocate the people to a new area. Drastic times call for drastic measures.
In an extreme situation, when you are extremely desperate you may need to take extreme measures.
The teachers erratic schedule has a bad effect on the students, there is no consistency so they never know what to expect each day.
erratic = characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity
To cut corners
The restaurant decided to cut corners by buying in their bread instead of making it
When something is done badly in order to save money
I made this totally random and impulsive stop on the way home from work to buy a puppy.
impulsive = acting momentarily; prone to act on impulse
Hit the hay
I was very tired from cleaning all day so I decided to hit the hay
To go to bed or to prepare for sleep
flourish = to thrive, grow luxuriantly; to achieve success; prosper
Beat around the bush
I asked my brother where he put my new jumper. He kept beating around the bush instead of telling me where he left it.
To speak vaguely in order to avoid talking about an unpleasant topic, or to stall and waste time
The members of that family are noted for their longevity, they live into their 90's and some up to 100!
longevity = a long duration of individual life
Every cloud as a silver lining
Although he had lost his job he thought every cloud has a silver lining because now he could spend more time with his family
To stay positive in difficult times, every negative situation may result in a positive outcome