Cohesive Devices - Exercise

 

Let something sink in

Meaning: This is an idiomatic expression used to politely decline an offer or express the rejection of something. It implies gratitude for the offer but makes it clear that the person is not interested or doesn't want to accept. It is a way of refusing something without being outright rude.

Example from the movie:

No, no! You do not get to do this. You think the art division is a third-rate department.
It is.
But you do not get to wipe out a year of my work.
That’s literally what I’m doing, so take a seat and let it sink in.

Some more examples:

After hearing the news of her promotion, she sat quietly to let the exciting reality of her success sink in.

The professor concluded the lecture with a thought-provoking statement, urging the students to take a moment and let the profound ideas sink in.

Winning the championship was a dream come true for the team, and they gathered in silence to let the enormity of their achievement sink in.

As the artist unveiled the masterpiece, the audience stood in awe, taking a few moments to let the beauty of the artwork sink in.

Learning about the sudden loss of a dear friend was difficult, and it took some time for the reality of the situation to sink in for those who knew and loved them.


Nick

Meaning:

Meaning: (verb) To steal or take something, often with the implication of doing so discreetly or without being caught.

Example from the movie:

You don’t know what I’ll ask.
I do.
You don’t.
You want Cyrus to nick the gold.
Well, I wouldn’t have used the word “nick,” but…

Some more examples:

I heard someone tried to nick the cookies from the kitchen last night, but they got caught in the act.

The kids thought it would be a prank to nick a few flowers from the neighbor's garden, not realizing how upset it would make them.

He decided to nick a pen from the office thinking no one would notice, but it turned out to be the boss's favorite pen.

You wouldn't believe it, but someone managed to nick my umbrella when I left it in the hallway for just a minute.

They planned to nick some old furniture from the abandoned house down the street, thinking no one would care about it anyway.


Tacky

Meaning: Tacky is used to describe something that is considered tasteless, cheap, gaudy, or lacking in style.

Example from the movie:

You know, it is pretty funny that the thing that got you busted was an NFT. A little tacky.
Sometimes, you gotta roll with the times. And stop, we didn’t steal anything.


Some more examples:

The neon-colored plastic furniture in the room looked tacky and out of place.

A tacky publicity stunt.

The party decorations were so tacky, with bright clashing colors and glitter everywhere, that it was hard to take the celebration seriously.

The hotel room had a tacky vibe, with outdated furniture and overly patterned wallpaper that made the entire space feel gaudy.

Wearing socks with sandals is often considered tacky by fashion enthusiasts, as it clashes with traditional style norms.

The advertisement for the new product seemed tacky, relying on exaggerated claims and flashy graphics rather than highlighting its genuine features.

Why do we choose to learn these phrases in the context of a movie? Wouldn't it be sufficient to learn them directly? The answer is, if you watch the movie first and then learn these phrases, there's a higher likelihood that the words will stay in your memory. It's a two-fold advantage. You get to enjoy the movie, and simultaneously, you pick up language skills. Don't you think so? {alertInfo}

Roll with the times

Meaning: To adapt to or embrace contemporary trends and changes.

Example from the movie:

You know, it is pretty funny that the thing that got you busted was an NFT. A little tacky.
Sometimes, you gotta roll with the times. And stop, we didn’t steal anything.

Some more examples:

In order to stay relevant, businesses need to roll with the times by incorporating the latest technologies into their operations.

In the ever-evolving tech industry, successful companies are those that can adapt and roll with the times, embracing new innovations and trends.

As a musician, it's essential to roll with the times, exploring different genres and incorporating modern sounds to stay relevant in the dynamic music industry.

To thrive in the fast-paced world of fashion, designers must roll with the times, constantly updating their collections to reflect current trends and consumer preferences.

In the workplace, employees who can effectively roll with the times by learning new skills and adapting to changes are often the most valuable assets to a company.

The education system needs to roll with the times, integrating technology and modern teaching methods to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.



Hard pass

Meaning: The expression "hard pass" is a colloquial phrase used to firmly decline or reject something. It indicates a strong and unequivocal decision against participating in or accepting a particular offer, proposal, or situation.

Example from the movie:
You know him?
By reputation, yeah.
There’s some people you steal from, and there’s some people that you don’t steal from.
Lars Jorgensen kills both.
It’s a hard pass for me.

Some more examples:

Person 1: "Do you want to try bungee jumping off that cliff?"
Person 2: "No way, that's a hard pass for me. I'm afraid of heights."

Manager: "We're looking for volunteers to work on the weekend."
Employee: "I appreciate the offer, but it's a hard pass. I've got family plans."

Friend: "Hey, want to join our last-minute road trip tomorrow?"
Response: "As tempting as it sounds, I have work commitments, so it's a hard pass this time."

Teammate: "We're going to do an intense workout session. Interested?"
Reply: "I've had a long day, so it's a hard pass on the gym today."

Colleague: "Want to invest in this risky business venture with me?"
Answer: "I've heard about the risks involved, so it's a hard pass. I prefer safer investments."


Hang someone out to dry

Meaning: The phrase "hang someone out to dry" is an idiomatic expression that means to abandon or leave someone in a difficult or challenging situation without support or protection. It implies that the person is being left alone to deal with the consequences of a situation, often without assistance.

Example from the movie:

What’s your role in the operation?
This is my role. I make you the offer, that’s it.
No, no. If we’re signing up for this, then so are you.
Look, I know how these things work. If Interpol’s involved, that means as soon as things hit the fan that we’re left hung out to dry. But if you’re with us, then they can’t do that.

Some more examples:

After the scandal broke, the CEO was quick to distance himself from the company's wrongdoing, effectively hanging the employees out to dry.

During the crisis, the political leaders decided to hang the spokesperson out to dry by not providing any clear guidance or support.

The team worked hard on the project, but when it failed, the manager chose to hang them out to dry rather than taking responsibility for the decisions made.

In a tough business negotiation, one partner may threaten to reveal damaging information about the other, essentially hanging them out to dry if an agreement is not reached.

After the heist went wrong, the mastermind decided to hang his accomplices out to dry, leaving them to face the authorities alone.


Head/run for the nearest exit

Meaning: To depart or disengage from some situation, arrangement, obligation, etc.

Example from the movie:

When you’re beat, what do you do?
Accept defeat gracefully?
AKA you go to jail or…
[group] Look for the nearest exit.
That’s right! This is it. So we do it, we do it well, and we get out.

Some more examples:

All the controversy surrounding the company has prompted many of its financial partners to head for the exit.

As rumors of layoffs spread through the office, employees began to look for the nearest exit, fearing job insecurity.

In the midst of the political controversy, several high-ranking officials discreetly looked for the nearest exit to distance themselves from the scandal.

As the economic downturn hit the market, companies faced with financial struggles saw their executives looking for the nearest exit, hoping to salvage their careers.

With the project facing unexpected challenges, key team members started to look for the exit, exploring other career opportunities.

When the leadership changes resulted in a shift in company culture, some employees began to look for the nearest exit to find a workplace more aligned with their values.

Learn more conversational idioms and phrases from the movie Lift (2024)