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If you are within your rights, it means that you are morally or legally allowed to get, have or
do something. Basically, you are being reasonable to claim for something so you should do it.
By rights
This common expression means that if the situation was fair or just. So, a synonym of this
would be fairness or justice. Therefore, we can use by rights a lot to show someone that you
are being reasonable, and that the situation should be fairer.
In the right
In a situation where someone has acted in a way which is morally or legally correct then they
are “in the right”. This expression is usually used in situations where there is an argument or
disagreement and you want to show which person has acted correctly.
As right as rain
When someone is “as right as rain”, it means that they are feeling healthy or well again. We
often use this expression to tell someone that if they follow your advice or if they do
something positive for their health then they will recover from feeling bad.
Right on time
This idiomatic expression is commonly used to express that someone has arrived or
something has happened exactly at the time required or agreed on. We use this a lot in
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everyday English, especially at work when there are deadlines.
Expressions in context
In the last part of today’s episode I am going to give you some example sentences to put them
into context.
Expression Example
The right way round I think you have put that shirt on the wrong way round.
To serve someone right John stole money from the company and got fired. Serves
him right for being so dishonest.
To be right under your nose I have been looking for my stapler all day and it was right
under my nose.
To make all the right noises Brian made all the right noises and in the end he got the
promotion, even though he wasn’t the best candidate.
To be within your rights The company is well within its rights to claim
compensation for the damaged inventory.
By rights By rights, we should receive a bonus for all the extra
hours we have done.
In the right John made the accounting mistake and tried to blame in on
Mary, who was completely in the right.
As right as rain Look, once you have had a holiday you should feel less
stressed and you will be right as rain.
Right on time I was right on time to the meeting yesterday, for the first
time in a month.
To buy/own the rights The company owns the rights to this catalogue of songs
and we plan on profiting from them for the next 10 years.
Bird's-eye View
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Bird's-eye view refers to a viewpoint from which one can see a wide area. This
idiom is often used figuratively to mean that someone can see a situation from
a wider perspective.
His bird's-eye view of the market will help us beat our competitors.
The hotel provides a lovely bird's-eye view over the bay.
I think you just need to cry your eyes out to get it all out of your system.
Maria's crying her eyes out. I wonder what happened?
Eagle Eye
Someone with an eagle eye has the ability to see important details and notice
mistakes.
Show it to the editor. She has an eagle eye and will catch any mistake.
Luckily, Tom's eagle eye saw the discounted sweater I was looking for.
Ever since Janet got the lead role in the high school play, she's got stars in her eyes.
Just because you are handsome doesn't mean you need to get stars in your eyes.
The teacher was giving me the eye during the test. I guess he thought I might cheat.
Don't give me the eye! You're the one who caused this mess.
My mom had eyes in the back of her head. I never got away with anything.
Do you have eyes in the back of your head? How did you notice that?
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If you are in the public eye, you are in a position where the public can observe
your actions, so be very careful!
You need to keep your eye on the ball, no matter how long it takes, to succeed.
His ability to keep his eye on the ball assured his eventual success.
FIll in the gaps with a word to complete these sentences with expressions
using eye:
1. Our boss has an ______ eye because he catches mistakes that others
miss.
2. Let's take a ______ view of this situation to make sure we don't miss
anything.
3. It's surprising how many young people get ______ in their eyes and move
to Hollywood to start a career.
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4. I ordered this cake, but it's too much. I'm afraid I have eyes that are
bigger than my ______.
5. My daughter is the ______ of my eye.
6. I think you hit the ______ when you made that investment. Today, you
are a millionaire!
7. She gave her daughter $500 without ______ an eye because she trusts
her to spend it wisely.
8. Would you please stop giving me the ______! You're making me nervous!
9. I got a ______ eye when I fell last week.
10. Politicians are always in the ______ eye
lightning never strikes A lucky or unusual event is unlikely to occur again in the same way.
twice in the same place
Between a Rock and a To face a difficult situation and remain in a tight spot one after another,
Hard Place Or face some difficulty in making the right decision that would deliver
no harm
not a hair out of place The appearance, condition, presence of a subject which is ideal, almost
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perfect
in the right place at the At a location where something good is about to happen at just the time
right time of its occurrence; lucky; fortunate; able to obtain a benefit due to
circumstances, rather than due to merit.
all over the place Everywhere, especially chaotically or in such a way as to make a mess.
between a rock and a Having the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a
hard place predicament or quandary.
everything seemed to fall after all that effort, it seemed to be made in the shade
right into place.
fall into place To assume a clear and complete form when separate elements come
together; to be realised.
Heart's in the Right Place To have a kind heart and good intentions even in an unpleasant situation
in the wrong place at the Describing actions or activities that the speaker considers inappropriate,
wrong time misdirected, or unlikely to yield good results.
out of place Not in the proper situation or arrangement, or inappropriate for the
circumstances.
out of place She comes in out of the storm with not a hair out of place.
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place of business A place where business is conducted, such as an office or a single shop
in a franchise.
qui va à la chasse perd Qui quitte sa place doit s'attendre à la retrouver occupée à son retour.
sa place
wrong place at the wrong Noun form of in the wrong place at the wrong time.
time
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