Summary
Highlights
This video is part 132 of the American Idioms series, presenting five new idioms from 656 to 660. Viewers are encouraged to guess the meaning of each idiom before the answer and an additional example are provided.
The idiom "hold on for dear life" means to persevere or hold on to something during a desperate or challenging situation. An example given is a company reducing costs to survive a recession. Another example illustrates the literal meaning of holding on tightly during a strong wind.
To "stand in the way of something" means to be an obstacle to someone's or something's progress. The speaker uses the example of city regulations hindering downtown development and a union's stubbornness preventing an agreement with management.
"Stuff one's face" means to eat a lot of food, usually very quickly. This idiom is illustrated with the example of eating turkey on Thanksgiving and consuming pizza, chicken wings, and ice cream while watching football.
To "throw a wrench in the works" means to disrupt, foil, or cause problems for a plan. Examples include a snowstorm preventing a visit and a CEO's sudden resignation disrupting the sale of a company.
Being "on the war path" signifies being extremely angry, wanting to go to war. This is demonstrated by a boss who was furious after deadlines were missed and a person who was angry after repeatedly taking a new car back to the dealership for the same problem.