Tag: branch out
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Step down
Word of the Day: Step down If you pay attention to Japanese politics or even accidentally catch part of one news program once a month, you will see someone stepping down. Stepping down is a term that describes resigning or giving up a position of authority or responsibility. It is a decision made for various…
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Follow the crowd
Phrase: Follow the crowd In today’s increasingly polarized society, it is becoming more and more difficult for people to think independently. It is hard to have a different opinion from the majority and be true to yourself. However, just because being different or original presents a challenge, that doesn’t mean you have to follow the…
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Typecast
Word of the Day: Typecast For some actors, being typecast is a guarantee of work for their entire career. For others, it is the death knell for their future acting prospects. Typecasting an actor means always giving them the same type of role to play because they do it so well or are physically suited…
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Mixed metaphor
WotD: Mixed metaphor So, you are an English learner, and you find it challenging to keep idioms, expressions and phrases straight. Well, you are not the only one to mix metaphors. Native speakers unintentionally do it all the time. You see, we have a mixed metaphor when someone uses two or more incompatible metaphors together.…
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Free rein
WotD: Free rein Have you ever felt that you’d like to have free rein at the office? I had often felt restricted by school rules, customs or norms when I worked as an instructor for large eikaiwa or as an ALT in Japan. I longed for the days when I would branch out on my…
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Branch out
WotD: Branch out The secret to many businesses’ success is that they specialize in a particular product or service and have found a niche for it. What do they do if that niche is no longer profitable or not as lucrative as they would like it to be? They branch out or begin to do…
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Have your say
Phrase: Have your say In a democracy, people need to have their say in the decision-making process or on some critical issue. That means everyone must have an opportunity to give their opinion on whatever matter is at hand. Before you can do that, you must first have an opinion to begin with. While teaching…
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Off the beaten track
Phrase: Off the beaten track When we get off the beaten track, we take a way that few people travel. The path is rough, and it’s not easy to move forward. That is a literal description of the phrase. A beaten or well-travelled track is one that people use regularly. Therefore, it is relatively smooth and…
