Summary
Highlights
This video is part 130 of the American Idioms series, presenting five idioms (646-650). Viewers are encouraged to guess the meaning of each idiom before the answer and additional examples are provided.
To 'double down on something' means to significantly increase or strengthen effort towards a goal. It can be used positively, like increasing a successful advertising budget, or negatively, like stubbornly sticking to failed policies.
A 'surefire way' refers to a course of action that is certain to produce a successful or expected result. For example, renovating a kitchen is a surefire way to boost a home's value, or day trading can be a surefire way to lose money.
To keep 'stride for stride' means to maintain the same level of progress, skill, or success as someone else. An example is a small company matching larger competitors due to experienced employees, or a student studying hard to keep up with smart classmates.
To 'strike a nerve' means to evoke a strong emotional reaction from someone. This can happen when a newspaper reports a significant increase in crime, causing concern among residents, or a documentary film raising awareness and emotional impact on audiences.
To do something 'without batting an eye' means to react to a situation without showing any surprise, concern, or emotion. This could be a mayor continuing a speech despite crowd interruptions or a corrupt stockbroker lying to clients without hesitation.