smooth sailing 0

These three micro-dictations all contain the expression ‘smooth sailing’. Complete each exercise, and then try to guess the meaning/usage of the expression from the context.

Dictation #1

Accent: Scotland

Medium

hasn’t been , but overall it’s year for and is .

Easy

It hasn’t been smooth , but overall it’s a good year for the and the future is looking .

the future looks/is bright (for sth) is a nice way of communicating your optimism about the future (in general, or about something specific). e.g. With returns at an all time high, the future is looking bright for green tech investors.

Dictation #2

Accent: North America

Difficult

, .

Medium

accounts our funding, be .

Easy

the accounts department our funding, should be sailing.

Dictation #3

Accent: England (RP)

Difficult

, .

Medium

It wasn’t , but what that we deal over .

Easy

It wasn’t always smooth , but what is that we the deal over the .

About the sentence

…the bottom line is that we got the deal over the line…

If you get something over the line, then you have achieved a positive or successful outcome. Using this phrase can communicate the idea that achieving the outcome was a challenge and you probably came close to failure. e.g. Most of my colleagues didn’t think we would ever finish the report, but we got it over the line in the end.

We saw the expression the bottom line earlier in the course. Do you remember it?

smooth sailing: meaning and explanation

Smooth sailing = without any problems or unexpected difficulties. If you predict a process to be ‘smooth sailing’, then you are expecting it to be straightforward or easily achievable. e.g. The main challenge for us is to get our EU license application approved. Once we have that, it should be smooth sailing.

One situation in which to use this idiom is when you have achieved a positive outcome and are looking back at the journey or process and acknowledging that it was challenging at times, e.g. it wasn’t always smooth sailing. This usage can be seen in the first and third micro-dictations.

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come naturally 2

This micro-listening exercise contains the expression to come naturally to someone. Have a go at the listening exercise, then learn about the meaning and usage of this expression.

Micro-listening

Accent: North America

Source: Hidden Brain, Creatures of Habit. This episode is all about developing positive habits and dealing with negative habits. In this section, the speaker is talking about her experience of getting into the habit of running every day.

Difficult

, , .

Medium

I , I was a committed years, I 6 in the was very with me that didn't I really .

Easy

I started , I was a committed runner many years, I running at 6 in the and that was very to start off with for me that didn't naturally and I really dreaded .

About the sentence

…and that was very hard to start off with…

to start off with = in the beginning, to begin with. e.g. To start off with I didn’t get on with my new boss at all, but the more I got to know her the more I appreciated her management style.

…I really dreaded that…

to dread something = to be extremely frightened or worried about something. e.g. We’re moving house next month and I’m absolutely dreading it – I have a feeling it’s going to be a nightmare.

come naturally: meaning and explanation

If you find something easy and you can do it without much effort or concentration then you can say that it comes naturally to you.

For example, if you are a good writer and find it easy and enjoyable to do, then you can say that writing comes naturally to you.

This expression can be used to say that a new skill or ability was easy to learn, or that you became good at it quickly.

e.g. Sarah has only been playing tennis for a few months but she’s already better than most other players at the club. Tennis obviously comes naturally to her.

We often use this expression in the negative to say that something is not easy for us to do, that we have to make a lot of effort to do it, or that we had to work hard to be able to do it.

For example, some people find public speaking very stressful and challenging. They can do it, but it is a difficult experience which probably requires a lot of effort and preparation. For them, speaking in public doesn’t come naturally.

Other people seem completely relaxed and in their element when public speaking, and doing it is easy. Public speaking comes naturally to them.

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

Is there anything that comes naturally to you?
What doesn’t come naturally to you?
Have you ever developed a new skill or learned something new very easily? What was it?

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above board 0

above board: meaning and explanation

If something is above board then it is honest, fair, and not attempting to hide anything or cheat anyone. e.g. Most banks operate above board, but it is still important to be careful when taking out a loan.

If you say that everything is above board then you are saying that everything is done in an honest, open way, and nothing is hidden.

Imagine you are checking whether a service, business or website is honest before making a large purchase – if you are satisfied, you could use this idiom. e.g. We’ve had a close look and as far as we can see everything seems to be above board.

A useful way to get a clearer understanding of idioms, and also to make it easier to memorise them, is to research their origins. These are often quite interesting and memorable, and can help to make the meaning of the idiom more concrete and logical. The origin of above board is poker and other card games. If you are playing above board, then you are holding your cards above the table – you are not hiding them under the table. This means that no one will suspect you of cheating or playing dishonestly.

Have a go at this dictation exercise to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Dictation #1

Accent: England (RP)

Difficult

Medium

If you at our you’ll is .

Easy

If you a look at our accounts you’ll see that is above .

About the sentence

…If you take a look at our accounts…

to take a look at something is an alternative (and slightly more informal) synonym for to look at something or to have a look at something. It is often used when inviting someone to look at or inspect something. e.g. Can you take a look at my phone and see if you can fix it?

Discussion questions

Write your answers to these questions in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you with some feedback:

In your country, is business generally done ‘above board’ or do people try to conceal things?
Can you remember a time when you thought everything seemed to be above board, and it turned out that you were wrong?

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Business English, Idioms

smooth sailing 0

Dictation #1

Accent: Scotland

Dictation #2

Accent: North America

Dictation #3

Accent: England (RP)

smooth sailing: meaning and explanation

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Micro-listening

Accent: North America

come naturally: meaning and explanation

Discussion questions

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above board: meaning and explanation

Dictation #1

Accent: England (RP)

Discussion questions

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singing your praises: meaning and explanation

Dictation #1

Accent: North America

Discussion questions

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