* 17 Particular Conversational Matters (p.8 of 9)
17.47 When you stress that success depends on each member of a team
You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. Listen A “You help me and I’ll help you.” <“You share valuable information with me, and I’ll return favors to you. You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”>
One hand washes the other. Listen A “You help me and I help you.” <“Look how quickly we work. I gather fruit, and you juice them. One hand washes the other.”>
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Listen A “The weakest member of a group determines its success.” <“I don’t think Bob can contribute to our mission. The other members of our team don’t want his involvement either. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”>
17.48 When you stress that people and things are different
It takes all kinds to make a world. Listen A “It is normal that different kinds of people surround us.” <“In Los Angeles, one can see people of various races and ethnic backgrounds.” – “Los Angeles is a very multicultural place, like our planet in general. It takes all kinds to make a world.”>
Variety is the spice of life. Listen A “Different experiences make life interesting.” <“I will always remember our dinner at the French restaurant. I adore Italian cuisine, too. This time I suggest that we go to a Chinese place. Variety is the spice of life.”>
One man's meat is another man's poison. Listen A “What one person likes may be disliked by another person.” <“I know that you can’t stand this sitcom. I like to watch it sometimes, though.” – “I have no problem with that. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”>
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Listen A “What one person considers worthless may be considered valuable by another person.” <“Why do you keep this old vase on your dining table? It is chipped and cracked.” – “This old vase reminds me of my youth. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”>
Tastes differ. Listen A “Different people have different tastes.” <“I don’t understand why you recreated a rustic environment in your house. We live in the era of technical progress.” – “I was raised in the country. Modern architecture and furniture don’t appeal to me. Tastes differ.”>
There is no accounting for taste. Listen A “There is no responsibility or explanation for likes and dislikes.” <“Many people are crazy about this new actor. I don’t find him exceptionally good.” – “Me neither. Yet, people like him. There’s no accounting for taste.>
17.49 When you stress that what a person receives depends on what they give
As a man sows, so shall he reap. Listen A “A person receives according to what he does.” <“You can’t treat your old friends as if they are nothing. You don’t have anybody else to rely upon. As a man sows, so shall he reap.”>
What goes around, comes around. Listen A “What your actions create will return to you.” <“He has been neglecting the needs of his brothers for years. Now he is in trouble, and nobody is coming to rescue. What goes around, comes around.”>
Tit for tat. Listen A “This for that. Repayment of injury with injury.” <“He hit me in the chest. What a smashing blow! So I kicked him in the stomach. Tit for tat.”>
17.50 When you highlight a connection between cause and effect
One thing leads to another. Listen <“I got sick, and lost my job. One thing leads to another.”>
As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. Listen A “The beginning of a process determines its ending.” <“His mother told him to study when he was a young boy. Now, he is an accomplished scientist. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”>
April showers bring May flowers. Listen A “An unpleasant event may produce pleasant consequences.” <“The nastier the rains our garden receives, the more fragrant blooms it brings forth. April showers bring May flowers.”>
There’s no smoke without fire. Listen A “Any rumor is caused by some fact.” <“I heard that a prominent politician is involved in this scandal. I think there’s some truth to it. There’s no smoke without fire.”>
17.51 When you stress the naturalness of what is going on
Life is life. Listen A “Life manifests itself in natural ways.” <“I regret your loss. But please don’t let it get you down. Life is life.”>
That's that. Listen A “This is the way it is, and there is nothing that could be added to this.” <“The polar caps are melting because the average annual temperature is rising. That’s that, although we can argue about the cause of this phenomenon.”>
East is East, West is West. Listen A “It’s only natural that East and West have their particular characteristics.” <“You don’t need to expect people in India to follow European traditions. East is East, West is West.”>
Boys will be boys. Listen A “It’s only natural that boys and men exhibit their characteristic behavior.” <“What did you expect they would do? Of course they bought a 6-pack of beer and drank it. Boys will be boys.”>
17.52 When you want to stop or prevent some action
I’ll put a stop to that. Listen A “I’ll end this undesirable activity.” <“Two kids are fighting in the backyard. Do something about it! – “I’ll put a stop to that.”>
That's enough! Listen A “That’s the limit! Don’t do it anymore.” <“I can bring you more boxes.” – “Please don’t. That’s enough! I don’t have space anymore.”>
That's enough for now. Listen A “Stop temporarily. Don’t do it for a while.” <“Would you like more wine?” – “No, thank you. That’s enough for now.”>
Enough is enough! Listen A “The limit is the limit! It’s over the top!” <“Hey, guys! You’ve been extremely noisy all the morning. Enough is enough!”>
Don’t even think about it. Listen A “Do not even think about doing it.” <The criminal reached for his gun, but the cop said firmly, “Don’t even think about it.”>
17.53 When there is no choice
You don’t have a choice. Listen <“There’s only one way out of this situation. You don’t have a choice.”>
You can’t pick and choose. Listen A “You can’t be too selective.” <“Sometimes you have to take what you are given. You can’t pick and chose.”>
Take it or leave it. Listen A “You can take either this one or none.” <“We have made our final offer. We are not negotiating any more. Take it or leave it.”>
Like it or lump it. Listen A “You’ve got to accept this situation even though you don’t like it because there is no other choice.” <“I don’t like to live in this town.” – “Our home is here. Our jobs are here. Like it or lump it.”>
17.54 When you forgot a word or name
You know what I'm talking about. Listen <“They are building a new road around that lake north of the town. You know what I’m talking about.”>
You know what I mean. Listen <“To make butter, you need to beat and shake milk vigorously. You know what I mean. You need to churn milk.”>
What's his name. Listen <“Last Sunday I bumped into the former schoolteacher of our children. What’s his name. Mr. Swenson. He moved out of state a few years ago.”>
What's his face. Listen <“This is a brochure from the real estate agent who helped us purchase this house many years ago. What’s his face. Currently he specializes in commercial real estate.”>
17.55 When you stress the importance of rules and regulations
Just follow the rules. Listen <“You want to be a good driver, don’t you? Then, just follow the rules.”>
Rules are meant to be followed, not broken. Listen <“You already got two speeding tickets this year. That’s not good. Rules are meant to be followed, not broken.”>
Do what you're told, or suffer the consequences. Listen <“You’re in the army. That means you ought to follow orders and rules. Do what you’re told, or suffer the consequences.”>
Do as you're told, or else. Listen A “Do what you are told, or suffer the consequences.” <“Our new teacher is very strict. Listen to him, and do as you’re told, or else.”>
That’ll teach you a lesson. Listen A “You did not follow the rules, so you got justly punished.” <“A cop gave me a parking ticket.” – “That’ll teach you a lesson. Be observant when you drive.”>
Be religious about doing it. Listen A “Be faithfully meticulous when you are doing it.” <“If you want to get high credit, you’ve got to pay your bills on time. Be religious about doing it.”>
Go by the book. Listen A “Strictly follow formal rules.” <“This is a government contract. All expenses are under scrutiny. Go by the book.”>
You must go through proper channels. Listen A “You must comply with the relevant bureaucratic procedures.” (Sometimes used with the) <“I know, it will take forever. But there is no other way. You must go through proper channels.”>
That's how we do it here. Listen <“Yes, the thief tried to steal from you. But you can’t take the law into your own hands. You have to call the police. That’s how we do it here.”>
You can’t fight City Hall. Listen A “You have to comply with a bureaucracy.” (Here you may be impersonal and mean one) <“You wanted to expedite the introduction of some changes into the State tax code. What’s the result of your efforts?” – “I lost the battle completely. Nobody wanted to listen to me. You can’t fight City Hall.”>
17.56 When you stress the importance of order
There is a place and a time for everything. Listen A “You have to do everything appropriately in a certain place at a certain time.” <“You don’t need to be dressed formally at the beach. At the same time, you should put on a suit and tie for a formal dinner. There is a place and a time for everything.”>
All in due time. Listen A “Everything will happen at a proper time.” <“The inauguration is scheduled for the next month, but we haven’t received our invitations yet.” – “All in due time. You just wait.”>
Everything has its season. Listen A “Everything is appropriate at a certain period of time.” <“It’s a pity that the Senator has to step down. According to the law of the State, a person can serve as Senator for two terms only.” – “Everything has its season. The Senator will continue to be active in politics.”>
First things first. Listen A “Most important things should be done first.” <“I know you want to ask me a number of questions.” – “Yes, Mr. Secretary, I do. First things first. What is the chief result of your negotiations?”>
Don't count your chickens before they’re hatched. Listen (Sometimes used with before they hatch) A “Don’t plan on using something before it has happened.” <“First, you have to graduate from your college. Only after that you can get a good job and make decent money. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.”>
Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. Listen A “Let’s deal with a problem when it is real.” <“Aren’t you concerned that our project can run out of money before completion?” – “Right now, adequate funding is guaranteed by the government. Let’s cross the bridge when we come to it.”>
Don't put the cart before the horse. Listen A “Don’t confuse the order of things.” <“First, put together a good proposal. Second, convince some venture capitalist to fund your project. And only then spend your time on technicalities and petty issues. Don’t put the cart before the horse.”>
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