Heartland English School – Word of the Day

Theme: bird words

noun: birdbrain (adjective: birdbrained)

Meaning: an annoyingly stupid and shallow person

Example: Birdbrained people will eagerly adopt every trendy diet that comes along.

Example: Shelly enjoys acting like a birdbrain, but she actually knows about everything that’s happening.

Theme: bird words

idiom: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Meaning: It’s better to have the certainty of a small thing than the possibility of something greater which may come to nothing.

Example: You probably shouldn’t quit your job unless you know you’re going to get a better one. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Example: I might have received a better offer when selling my house, but I decided to take the one I had. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Theme: bird words

Idiom: kill two birds with one stone

Meaning: to achieve two goals with one action or at the same time

Example: I killed two birds with one stone and picked the kids up on the way to the supermarket.

Example: I read the newspaper while sipping my morning cup of tea, killing two birds with one stone.

Theme: bird words

Saying: The early bird catches/gets the worm.

Meaning: Someone will have an advantage if they do something immediately or before anyone else does it.

Example: The spring courses get filled very early. If you want to enroll, you should remember that the early bird catches the worm.

Example: My assignment is due next week, but I’m going to start today because the early bird gets the worm.

Theme: bird words

phrase: for the birds

Meaning: Meaning: foolish or unimportant

Example: Driving is for the birds when you live in a big city.

Example: Example: Some students think homework is for the birds, but they usually get low test scores.

Theme: Colours!

Word: a white lie [count. noun]

Meaning: a harmless or small lie, especially told in order to avoid hurting someone’s feelings

Example: Parents often tell white lies to their children.

Example: Susan’s new haircut looked kind of weird, but her coworkers told her white lies about how nice it looked.

Theme: Colours!

Word: gray area [adj+noun]

Meaning: a situation or field that doesn’t fit into a particular category or set of rules (so it is difficult for people to know exactly how to deal with it)

Example: The laws on this subject are a little bit of a gray area.

Example: Right now, whether or not countries can own areas in outer space is a legal gray area.

Theme: Colours!

Word: [be] tickled pink

Meaning: to feel delighted

Example: She was tickled pink when the singer gave her her autograph.

Theme: Colours!

Word: feel blue

Meaning: to be sad and/or depressed

Example: After the breakup, Dave was feeling blue for a few months.

Example: I think I‘ve been feeling blue lately because of the bad weather.

Theme: Colours!

Word: see red

Meaning: to become very angry

Example: The revealed corruption in the government is making voters see red.

Example: After getting a drink spilled all over him, Dave was seeing red.