Speak Mango - Daily English Conversation

Today's Expressions

Learn useful English expressions easily and fun.

to throw a wrench in the works

to cause an unexpected problem · to disrupt a plan

What's the situation?

Picture this: everything's going smoothly with a project, you're high-fiving everyone, and then BAM! 💥 Someone introduces a new variable that totally messes up the timeline or budget. That's when you say, 'Well, that just threw a wrench in the works!'

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back to square one

starting over from the beginning · having to restart after a setback

What's the situation?

Imagine your team has worked tirelessly on a project for months, only for the client to suddenly change their mind about the core concept. 😱 All that effort? Poof! Now you have to go `back to square one` and redesign everything. This expression perfectly captures that 'start-over' feeling after a major setback.

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Can't win 'em all

You can't always succeed · sometimes you lose · things don't always go your way

What's the situation?

Ever had those days where nothing seems to go right, or you just miss out on something cool? 🤷‍♀️ This phrase is your go-to for shrugging off minor disappointments or acknowledging that perfection isn't always attainable. It's like saying, 'Oh well, that's life!'

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to be disheartened

to feel discouraged · to lose hope or enthusiasm

What's the situation?

Feeling a bit bummed because things didn't go your way, even after you poured your heart into it? 😔 That's exactly when you'd say you're 'disheartened'! It's like finding out your favorite band cancelled their concert or getting a 'sorry, not this time' email after a big interview. Not world-ending, but definitely a mood killer!

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hit a snag

encounter an unexpected problem · run into a difficulty

What's the situation?

This expression is perfect for when you're working on a project or task and suddenly, something goes wrong that you didn't anticipate. 🚧 It's like you're smoothly sailing, then BAM! A hidden rock! 😱 It's not a disaster, just an unexpected bump in the road.