Phrase of the Week: I Can’t Stand It

“Can you use headphones if you’re going to listen to that? You know I can’t stand that song.” “My wife loves garlic, but I can’t stand it.” If you really don’t like something and can’t tolerate being around it, you...

Phrase of the Week: Get used to

“When you live near a busy road, you get used to the sound of cars and sirens.” “This class was really hard at first, but after I got used to it, it was kind of fun.” When something new and unfamiliar becomes familiar to you, you “get...

Phrase of the Week: Make Do

“I can’t afford a new dress for the party, so I’ll make do with the clothes I have.” “I didn’t have all my equipment, so I had to make do.” When we don’t really have everything we need to do something properly, sometimes...

Phrase of the Week: This Won’t Do

“Oh dear, your clothes are all dirty. This won’t do. Come get changed before the party.” “This won’t do. The milk has expired. I can’t cook with this.” When something has gone wrong or isn’t good enough, we say it “won’t do”. 「あら、服が汚れてしまっている。これではダメね。パーティーの前に着替えましょう。」...

Phrase of the Week: At Stake

“You can’t give up. Lives are at stake here!” “She must be very nervous. The outcome of the game is at stake!”   What is at stake, or the stakes, are what will be decided by the outcome of an event. If the stakes are high, the match, battle or other event is...