So, When I told Rooster to lay down, he didn’t know what I wanted laid down. Laid is the past tense of lay lay is the past tense of lie. ![]() Here’s where the word choices get tricky. Now let’s change tenses to talk about what Rooster did. Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.Īnna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Maybe I’ll send her a card.Īnd that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. And then he may never talk to you again.Ī: You’re right. If you meddle again, you could really make things worse for Jess. But it’s really hard to not do something.ī: Think of it this way. But if you call her, it will only stir up more trouble!Ī: I guess you’re right. Jess’s boss most likely has forgotten your comment. You need to let sleeping dogs lie.ī: In this case … it is. I want to fix it.ī: That will not fix anything. Now, I feel like I should call his boss and apologize.Ī: But I made a mistake. That is a big no-no! You should never interfere in someone’s work-life!Ī: I know. So, at a work gathering recently, I told his boss that she made a mistake…Ī: … and that she should give him the promotion.ī: Oh boy. Now, let’s listen in on two friends as they use some of these expressions.Ī: Hey, do you have a minute? I really need to talk to someone.Ī: My co-worker Jess is really mad at me.Ī: Well, he didn’t get a promotion. For example, if your friend has a bad habit and you choose to ignore it - you are turning a blind eye to their bad habit. Sometimes turning a blind eye, though, is helpful. For example, when teachers turn a blind eye to bullying in the classroom, really bad things can happen. If you turn a blind eye to something you stand by and let it happen. In this case, you also choose to do nothing. Usually it is something bad that someone else has done. ![]() This is when you choose to ignore something. Now, turning a blind eye to something is different. To let something unfold means to permit it to happen naturally. When we “let nature take its course” we do not interfere. There are other expressions that have a similar meaning. Sometimes it is best to “leave well enough alone” and to not “ stir up trouble” – in some cases, more trouble. ![]() Sometimes taking action can make things worse. “To let sleeping dogs lie” means to do nothing in a situation. But the first one we will talk about is this: to let sleeping dogs lie. So, we ignore a situation and act as if the problem does not exist.Īnd of course, we have an expression just for that! Actually, we have a couple. Sometimes we just don’t want to deal with it – whatever “it” is. In some cases, it can be a good idea to give a problem or a difficult situation time and space. Sometimes the best way to deal with a problem is to face it head on. And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
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