* fledgling: young, new, and
inexperienced
ex>
Despite their early mistakes, the fledgling company has begun to release
some very competitive products.
* baptism by fire: a difficult and
challenging first experience at something
ex>
Being promoted to department head without warning was a baptism by fire.
Note>
Baptism by fire has its roots in
battle terminology, describing a soldier’s first time in battle. This phrase is
used when the best way for someone to be trained is for that person to
experience the actual situations rather than to just study those situations
(jobs like police officers, firemen, or military personnel).
* way off base: wrong; unrealistic
ex>
Even though they were way off base, those early guesses made later more
accurate theories possible.
* lovey-dovey: excessively affectionate
ex>
Some cultures are uncomfortable with couples being lovey-dovey in
public.
* get off one’s high horse: be more
humble; stop behaving in superior manner
ex>
When your uncle gets off his high horse, he’ll realize that he’s no
better than anyone else.
* reticent: uncommunicative; restrained
ex>
A lot of people think my dad is unpleasant, but he’s just a reticent
person.
* take one so
long: (누가) 무엇을 하는 데 오래 걸리다
One
form of this expression, What took you so
long?, is used both literally and sarcastically. In its literal sense, it
means, “Why did it take so much time for you to do that?” The sarcastic version
means, “Wow! That was fast!”
ex>
I was wondering what took you so long. Is everything okay now?
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