English expression
Stick to your guns
Meaning
Continue with your beliefs or plan even when others disagree.
In a sentence
I stuck to my guns and chose the course that suited my goals.
THE IDIOM COLLECTION
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THE EXPRESSION COLLECTION
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English expression
Stand your ground
Meaning
Maintain your position or opinion despite pressure to give in.
In a sentence
I stood my ground and explained why the deadline needed to change.
English expression
Split hairs
Meaning
Argue over very small or unimportant distinctions.
In a sentence
We’re splitting hairs over the shade of grey when the layout still needs fixing.
English expression
Stick out like a sore thumb
Meaning
Be very noticeable because you are different from everything or everyone around you.
In a sentence
The bright plastic chair stuck out like a sore thumb among the old wooden furniture.
English expression
So far, so good
Meaning
Things have gone satisfactorily up to now.
In a sentence
We have installed the software and opened the first file—so far, so good.
English expression
Smell a rat
Meaning
Suspect that something is wrong, dishonest or not as it seems.
In a sentence
I smelled a rat when the seller refused to show any photos of the actual bicycle.
English expression
It’s a small world
Meaning
Said when you discover a surprising connection between people or places.
In a sentence
You worked with my aunt in another city? It’s a small world!
English expression
A skeleton in the cupboard
Meaning
An embarrassing secret that someone wants to keep hidden.
In a sentence
The novel’s main character fears that a skeleton in the cupboard will be revealed.
English expression
Sit pretty
Meaning
Be in a comfortable or advantageous situation.
In a sentence
With the hall booked and all the tickets sold, the club was sitting pretty.
English expression
Shake a leg
Meaning
Hurry up or act more quickly.
In a sentence
Shake a leg, everyone—the bus will be here in five minutes.
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