Any port in a storm

Any port in a storm is an expression that needs a little explanation. A port is where ships can come in from the sea. So if you imagine being on a ship in a big storm, you can see that finding a port would be good. But we use this expression when we choose something simply because it's necessary. We wouldn't choose it under normal circumstances, only in an emergency, or when no other option is available. This expression is sometimes used humorously. Take a look at the examples and see if you can pick out the the one that the speaker intends to be funny.

You: I really need to use a bathroom.
Your friend: Uh, there really isn't any decent place to stop along here.
You: What about that gas station we just passed?
Your friend: Didn't that look kind of dirty?
You: At this point, it's any port in a storm.


Bob: Did I just see you dancing with James?
Alison: Well, yes.
Bob: Wow.
Alison: I know. But my feeling right now is, any port in a storm!

Like hell

Like hell is an expression which changes depending on how it's used.

If you use it after a verb, it works like an extreme adverb. A few examples:

When the crew saw the bear, they ran like hell. (They ran really fast)

"I closed the door on my finger this morning... It hurt like hell!" (It hurt a lot)

We tried like hell to prevent the highway expansion, but we failed in the end. (We tried really hard)

On the other had, if you use like hell alone, it's an exclamation which means "no way" or "absolutely not." Here we go:

You to your colleague: "Bob's going to tell our boss that we're not going to the offsite because we don't believe in offsites."

Bob to you and your colleague: "Like hell!" (No way, I would never do that.)

Though at the end of a sentence

When you hear or read though at the end of a sentence, it means however. It indicates that there's a contradiction or condition relating to what has already been said. Here are a few examples:

You: Did your mom like the restaurant?

Your friend: Well, I'm not sure. She didn't seem to like the menu, and she had a hard time deciding what to order.

You: Oh. That's too bad.

Your friend: She finished everything, though!

***

Dear Bob,

Thanks for sending the presentation. I think it looks good in general, and I like the images you've added. We shouldn't be overconfident, though. What would you think about getting Janice's opinion before we meet with the client?

***

Your boyfriend: It's going to rain.

You: Yeah, I know.

Your boyfriend: I still want to go the park, though. What about you?

***

P.S. A warm thank you to Pal, who suggested a post about this!

See you soon

This is a special post dedicated to readers in Spain.

"Hasta ahora" is a common expression here. Sometimes people translate this into "see you now" in English.

The truth is that I really like the expression "see you now." The other truth is that we don't really say it this way in English. We say "see you soon" or "see you in a few minutes" or even "see you in a few."

So, your English will sound more idiomatic if you start using these expressions when you would say "hasta ahora."

Un fuerte abrazo,

Val

The long and short of it

People use this expression to summarize, to give the conclusion to a story, situation, or dilemma. Usually a person will be telling a story or presenting a situation, and when the conclusion is near, he or she will say, "so the long and short of it is..."

Here are a few examples:

You: "How are the wedding plans going?"

Your colleague: "Not very well, actually."

You: "Really? What's happening?"

Your colleague: "Well, we made all the reservations almost a year ago, and paid deposits, and then yesterday we got a call from the hotel saying that they're in the middle of renovations, and the project isn't going as quickly as they expected, so the long and short of it is that they're offering us a part of the building but not the part we wanted and paid for."

You: "Oh no!"

***

In a business presentation: "As you can see from last quarter's results, we're losing market share to our two biggest competitors. The long and short of it is that they're outspending us in marketing in all media."

No-brainer

A no-brainer is a dilemma which appears to have an obvious answer. If you're trying to make a decision, and you explain the options to someone else, they may tell you that it's a no-brainer, meaning that you don't need to use your brain to decide because the right choice is obvious.

This is very subjective; what may be a no-brainer for your colleague may not be for you. Here are a few examples of how to use this noun:

You: What do you think? Should I apply for the product director position?
Your colleague: That's a no-brainer! You're perfect for it and it would be a big promotion for you.

***

Your friend: I thought choosing a new tablet was going to be a no-brainer, but there are more options than I realized.

***

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To not be cut out for something

If you're not cut out for something, it means that you don't have the ability or willingness to do it or be it.

For example, I'm not cut out to be a surgeon, or any kind of doctor. The sight of blood and needles makes me feel faint!

I'm also not cut out to be an engineer or a financial analyst, because my math skills aren't strong enough.

I'm not cut out for mountain climbing or skiing, because my knees are not good.

What about you? What aren't you cut out for?