Page 20 - Speak English Like an American

(to) keep one’s chin up — to stay positive
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EXAMPLE |: Even when he was unemployed and homeless, Bill managed
to keep his chin up.
EXAMPLE 2: Keep your chin up! You'll find your lost dog soon.

last resort — if there are no other alternatives left; the last
solution for getting out of a difficulty

EXAMPLE 1: David was locked out of his house. He knew that as a last
resort, he could always break a window.
EXampLe 2: I don’t like taking medicine. I’ll only take it as a last resort.

(to) live from hand to mouth — to barely have enough
money to survive
EXAMPLE 1: Jenny was earning $5 an hour working at the store. She was
really living from hand to mouth.
EXAMPLE 2: George is really poor. He lives from hand to mouth.

(to) look on the bright side — to be optimistic; to think
about the positive part or aspect of a situation
Example |: Leo was upset that his soccer game was canceled. His mother
said, “Look on the bright side, now you can stay home and watch TV.”
EXAMPLE 2: You lost your job? Look on the bright side, now you’ll
have more free time!

(to) make ends meet — to manage one’s money so as to have
enough to live on; to be okay financially
ExampLe |: Kimberly wasn’t able to make ends meet so she had to ask
her parents to pay her rent.
EXAMPLE 2: If you can’t make ends meet, you’ll need to start spending less.

(to) make up one’s mind — see Lesson |

out of work — unemployed; not working
ExampLe |: Gary was out of work for a year before finding a new job.
EXAMPLE 2: Bob is out of work. Do you know anybody who might want
to hire him?

right-hand man — the most helpful assistant or employee
ExampLe 1: Juan’s right-hand man helps him make all of his decisions.
ExampLe 2: When Jack Thompson retired as president of his company,
his right-hand man took over.

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