PE 8/26 The High Cost of a Popular Location

* run/rush off one’s feet: very busy

ex> Farmers are run off their feet this time of year, but can relax during winter.

Note> This hyperbolic expression alludes to running or hurrying so much that one falls down. The first dates from the mid-1800s; the second was first recorded as “rushed off one’s leg” in 1916.

* explode: to grow very quickly

ex> That band’s popularity exploded last year.

ex> Experts predict that sales of electric vehicles will explode in the coming months.

* slammed: struck hard; faced with a heavy workload

ex> I heard your company was slammed with orders after the trade show.

* be hit with: to be given something large and/or unwanted

ex> We were hit with a huge bill when our tree fell down on our neighbour’s fence.

* pony up: to pay money, especially to settle a bill

ex> Carl lost his bet to Roy, so he had to pony up for everyone’s dinner.

Note> “Pony up” is very much an American phrase and most people in the USA will know its meaning, whereas elsewhere in the English-speaking world the expression is rarely used. In the UK we are more likely to “stump up” and in Australia and New Zealand money is “fronted up.”

* come a long way: to improve very much

ex> My cello playing isn’t as good as I would like it to be yet, but I’ve come a long way.

ex> Maurice came a long way in only three months, so he’ll probably improve some more.

* bottom line: Even though “bottom line” originated from accounting terminology, it has come to mean “end result” or “conclusion” in a more general way. For example, you can say, “There are many reasons behind our decision, but the “bottom line” is that we’re not going there.

ex> Simon told me that the new milling machine was very expensive. – It was, but we’ve been able to make more money with it, so it actually improved our bottom line.