Summary
Highlights
This is the 68th video in the American idiom series, presenting five new idioms from 336 to 340. Viewers are encouraged to pause the video to guess the meaning of each idiom before the answer and an additional example are provided.
The idiom 'to cut corners' means to do something in the easiest and shortest way, often resulting in lower quality. An example is given about a company cutting corners on new product development to meet a deadline, leading to quality issues. Another example highlights a car company that cut corners, making their new models unsafe.
'To be down in the dumps' signifies feeling sad or depressed about something. The host provides an example of a son feeling sad after failing exams. Another example talks about Stephanie being sad after moving to a new place but eventually finding happiness by making new friends.
A 'necessary evil' refers to something unpleasant that must be accepted to achieve a particular result. Getting a college education is presented as an example of a 'necessary evil' for some people to achieve a better life. Another example discusses how some people view big government as a 'necessary evil' for a stable nation.
The idiom 'to call the shots' means to be in charge of what is happening or to be in total control. The video uses the example of a director on a movie set who 'calls the shots.' Another example illustrates how some parents prefer to 'call the shots' regarding their child's school curriculum.
'To keep on top of something' means to stay informed about it. The first example mentions a company that keeps on top of new fashion trends through extensive research. The second example describes the difficulty of keeping on top of emails when busy at work.
The video concludes by thanking viewers for watching, encouraging them to subscribe, like, and share, and hinting at more idiom lessons to come, using one of the idioms learned, 'don't be down in the dumps'.