PE 2/10 Handling Patient Information

* bang-up job: an excellent or successful piece of work

ex> Sue did such a bang-up job on the Miller account that she received a bonus.

* ample: enough or more than enough; large

ex> I know we preserved ample fruit last summer, so there must be some more downstairs somewhere.

* down to the wire: incomplete or not settled until the last possible moment

ex> Why do all my work projects always go down to the wire?

Note> American racetracks in the latter part of the nineteenth century had a wire strung across the track above the finishing line to help stewards decide nose had got across the line first. So, a race that was undecided until the very last moment was said to go down to the wire.

* change tack: to try a different way of doing something

ex> Gloria isn’t answering my emails, so I’ll change tack and try calling her.

Note> the phrase is derived from the nautical term to tack. When ships tack, they change course relative to the direction of the wind – zig-zagging against the wind to move forward.

* straight from the horse’s mouth: from the original source, or from one that is dependable and authoritative

ex> I got it straight from the horse’s mouth that these old windows are finally going to be replaced.

* incisive: clear, direct, accurate

ex> The defendant was surprised by the lawyer’s incisive question, and was momentarily speechless.

* adhere to: ~을 준수하다, 고수하다

To adhere literally means “to stick” or “to cling,” and is the root of the word adhesive. The verb is used literally to describe one object sticking to another, and figuratively to describe a person or group following rules.

ex> Their contact was dissolved because the parties weren’t adhering to its terms.