介绍:
(RIGHT) UP SOMEONE'S ALLEY
David thought the job opening was right up his alley.
If you like games and comics, the comic convention in Beijing is right up your alley.
Because Jim is so good at snooker, we thought 9-ball pool would be right up his alley as well.
MEANING:
Matching a person's interests or abilities well.
If something is right up your alley, it suits you perfectly.
[SAME AS 'RIGHT UP SOMEONE'S STREET']
[If something is ideal for you, it is right up your street.]
ETYMOLOGY:
The alley or street is used as a metaphor for someone that someone is familiar or comfortable with, because the implication is that the alley or street in question is the one that you travel along regularly.
COOL ONE'S JETS
I told Thomas to cool his jets after he had a big argument with his boss.
After David found out his girlfriend had been unfaithful, I told him to cool his jets and we'd talk about it in the morning.
The team was furious when they lost the championship game but their coach told them to cool their jets and focus on next year.
MEANING:
To become less excited, intense, or active; to exercise self-restraint.
(USA) If someone is angry or unsettled, telling them to cool their jets means they should calm down.
Similar to calm down, chill, chill out, cool off, or settle down.
ETYMOLOGY:
Heat causes substances to expand and particles to move faster.
Heat is thus a word used to convey images of energy or excitement.
I'm assuming jet in this context refers to an aircraft fueled by a jet engine.
Jet engines will get very hot, and is thus used as a metaphor for someone who is acting very excited or intense.
JET:
1. pressurized stream of fluid: a thin concentrated stream of liquid, air, or gas that is forced under pressure from a small nozzle or opening
2. hole through which fluid is forced: a small nozzle or opening for letting out a stream of liquid, air, or gas
3. aircraft: an aircraft powered by jet engines
AT A CROSSROADS
David was a crossroads when he graduated from college. He needed to figure out what career he wanted to pursue.
Jim and his wife were a crossroads in their marriage about whether to have children.
Jeff was at a crossroads in his career, decided whether to quit his job or not.
MEANING:
If you're at a crossroads, you are a point where an important decision or choice has to be made.
A place where you've got to make a decision about something.
ETYMOLOGY:
? plural form of crossroad
? A place where one road crosses another; an intersection of two or more roads.
? (thus, by analogy) A decision point; a turning point or opportunity to change direction, course, or goal.
A crossroad can have 4 different directions you can take. The different roads you can take are a metaphor for an important decision, because each road leads in a completely different direction.
