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Quiz 🎲|Every day, one new expression.|

Today's Expressions

Learn useful English expressions easily and fun.

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to hold back your feelings

to hide or suppress your emotions · to not express what you truly feel

What's the situation?

Ever been in a situation where you're super annoyed but have to keep a calm face? 😬 Or maybe you're heartbroken but need to stay strong for someone else? This expression is perfect for those moments when you choose to hide what you're truly feeling, even when your emotions are bubbling inside! 🎭

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to keep a tight rein on one's emotions

to control one's feelings very strictly · to prevent oneself from showing strong emotions

What's the situation?

Ever been in a situation where you're absolutely fuming inside, but you need to keep a poker face? 😠 Or maybe you're at a serious event and suddenly feel like bursting into tears, but you *really* can't? This expression is your go-to for describing that super intense self-control!

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on top of it

in control of a situation · managing things well

What's the situation?

Feeling like a superhero handling all your tasks with ease? 🦸‍♀️ This expression is for those moments when you've got everything under control, whether it's your work deadlines, personal projects, or even just keeping your house tidy. It means you're not just doing things, you're *on top of them*!

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to be in the driver's seat

to be in control · to be in charge of a situation

What's the situation?

This expression is perfect when you want to emphasize that someone (or yourself!) has full control or authority over a project, decision, or situation. It's often used when talking about leadership, responsibility, or strategic advantage.

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put a cap on something

to set a limit or maximum on something

What's the situation?

This expression is super useful when you need to talk about setting a maximum limit, like on expenses, headcount, or project scope. 💸 It's a professional yet clear way to say 'no more than this' to keep things under control.

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to hold it in

to suppress emotions or feelings · to keep something (like anger or sadness) from showing

What's the situation?

You know those moments when you're boiling with frustration or on the verge of tears, but you just can't show it? 😅 Like when your boss says something totally absurd, or a friend cancels plans last minute, and you have to keep a poker face. That's exactly when you "to hold it in"! It’s about keeping those real feelings locked away, out of sight. 🤫

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to get carried away

to become overly enthusiastic or emotional · to do more than intended

What's the situation?

Have you ever started shopping for one tiny thing and ended up with a cart full of goodies? 🛒 That's exactly when you 'get carried away'! This expression is perfect for describing when you become so excited or engrossed in an activity that you do more than you originally planned, often resulting in spending too much or overdoing it. It's a fun way to admit you lost a little control!

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put a lid on something

to stop something from growing or continuing · to control a situation

What's the situation?

Imagine a tricky situation at work, like costs spiraling out of control or rumors spreading like wildfire. 🔥 This expression is your go-to when you need to urgently stop something negative from getting worse! It’s like putting a lid on a boiling pot to keep it from overflowing. 🍲

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to let your emotions get the best of you

to lose control of your feelings · to allow your feelings to overwhelm you

What's the situation?

Ever been in a situation where your feelings just took over, and you reacted in a way you regretted later? 😅 This expression is perfect for describing those moments when your emotions become too strong to manage, making you act out of character. It could be intense anger, overwhelming sadness, or even extreme excitement! 🎉😭

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to choke back tears

to try very hard not to cry · to suppress tears

What's the situation?

This expression is perfect when someone is trying really hard not to cry, perhaps in a public setting or during a serious conversation where they want to maintain composure. 🤫 It shows a strong effort to hide intense emotions. You might see this in movies where a character gets emotional but tries to stay strong!

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to keep a lid on it

control one's emotions · keep feelings hidden

What's the situation?

Ever felt like you're about to explode with frustration or excitement, but you absolutely CAN'T? 🤯 Maybe you're in a serious meeting, or trying not to spoil a surprise. This idiom is your go-to when you need to prevent strong feelings from showing. Imagine a boiling pot; you put a lid on it to stop it from overflowing. That's exactly what you're doing with your emotions!

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lose it

to lose one's temper · to become very angry or upset

What's the situation?

Ever felt like you're about to snap because of something super annoying? 😤 This expression is perfect for those moments when you're at your breaking point and feel like you're about to lose all self-control and just burst! It describes a sudden, intense outburst of anger or frustration. 🔥

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bite your lip

to prevent oneself from saying something · to suppress an emotion (eg, laughter, anger, sadness)

What's the situation?

Ever been in a situation where you REALLY wanted to say something snarky, or burst out laughing, but you absolutely couldn't? 🤐 That's when you 'bite your lip'! It's all about trying to hold back words or strong emotions to maintain composure.

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keep your cool

to stay calm · to remain composed

What's the situation?

Ever been in a situation where everything feels like it's going wrong, but you manage to stay completely unfazed? 🧘‍♀️ Or maybe you've had to deal with someone super annoying and just elegantly ignored their nonsense? This expression is your secret weapon for those moments! It's about being the calm eye in the storm, the zen master of your emotions. 🌪️✨

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Get a grip

Calm down · regain control of your emotions

What's the situation?

Ever been so overwhelmed you feel like you're about to lose it? 🤯 'Get a grip' is your go-to phrase when you or someone else needs to snap out of an emotional spiral and think clearly. It's like saying, 'Hey, pull yourself together!'

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