Summary
Highlights
This is the 98th video in the American idiom series, presenting five new idioms from number 486 to 490. Viewers are encouraged to pause and guess the meanings before the answers and examples are provided.
The idiom 'at one's wit's end' means to be completely puzzled about something and not know what to do. An example given is a mayor at his wit's end about the homeless situation, and another about a parent struggling to help their son with math.
'To take something up a notch' means to increase the intensity or quality of something. Examples include a team needing to work harder to meet a deadline and someone increasing their workout intensity to see better results.
'A level playing field' refers to a situation that is balanced and fair for everyone. The video uses the example of a new law creating fair competition for small and large companies, and a new university entrance exam providing equal opportunity for all students.
The idiom 'to go sour' means to turn bad or unpleasant. Examples include a relationship turning bad after an argument over a property line and a business deal falling through because of a last-minute price increase.
'To fall back on something' means to depend on someone or something in times of need. The video illustrates this with someone regretting a friend having no family to rely on if they get sick, and another person depending on their savings if they lose their job.