Now English 24 - 15

• Blessing in disguise


  A good thing that seemed bad at first
• Optimistic people try to see problems as blessings in disguise
• Not having a car is a blessing in disguise
• She gets a lot more exercise now
• Beat around the bush

  To speak in a roundabout way
• Don't beat around the bush, come straight to the point
• Why do you always beat around the bush while speaking
• Better late than never


  To arrive late than not to come at all
• We know the many difficulties there are but it is better late than never
• It's been a long time coming but better late than never
• Bite the bullet


  To get something over with because it is inevitable
• He hates going to the dentist but he'll just have to bite the bullet
• I have to learn to bite the bullet and face my fears of flying
• Cutting corners


  Doing something poorly to save time or money
• The new system can never be speeded up without cutting corners
• Do you really think cutting Corners is the best way to go this time
• Make a long story short


  Indicate that you are providing just the basic facts
• I had a wonderful time during the summer to cut a long story short
• He ended up as managing director
• No pain no gain


  You have to work for what you want
• He ran 20 miles yesterday as part of his training for the marathon
• The saying no pain no gain is the key to success and inspires me to work harder
• So far so good

  Things have been successful up to now
• I don't know what it will look like when I'm done but so far so good
• She joined the new job last month and it's going well
• Blessing in disguise


  A good thing that seemed bad at first
• Optimistic people try to see problems as blessings in disguise
• The Last Straw


  The last in a series of unpleasant events
• Not having a car is a blessing in disguise
• She gets a lot more exercise now
• He'd broken his promise again and it was the last straw
• The last straw in their relationship was when he physically abused her
• Beat around the bush


  To speak in a roundabout way
• To make matters worse


  To make the situation even more unpleasant
• Don't beat around the bush, come straight to the point
• Why do you always beat around the bush while speaking
• To make matters worse my mother then lost her keys
• To make matters worse the weather had become stormy
• Better late than never


  To arrive late than not to come at all
• Under the weather


  When you feel slightly unwell or in Low Spirits