Learn to Fly 'By the Seat of your Pants'

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Learn to Fly 'By the Seat of your Pants'

Many children dream of flying a plane when they grow up, and being a pilot is often considered to be one of the coolest jobs in the world.

If you ever tried to do something difficult without knowing how you could say you're "flying by the seat of your pants." This expression comes from the early days of flying when planes didn't have much equipment to show the pilot where to go. It meant to fly a plane without the help of special equipment, such as a radio.

For example, if you had to take your friend to hospital but didn't know how to drive a car, you might say, "I can't believe we got here, I was really flying by the seat of my pants!"
If someone goes past the normal limits of something, usually to do something new or dangerous, you can say they are "pushing the envelope." This expression became known because of pilots that tested new planes. They would try to find out a plane's "flight envelope," which are its limits for things like how fast and high it can go.

So if you drove much faster than what was safe to get your friend to the hospital, they might say, "You were really pushing the envelope driving that fast."
If you think something will never happen, you can say it will happen "when pigs fly." This expression comes from the 1600s when people would sarcastically say "pigs might fly" if a person thought that something impossible might happen.

So if you offered to drive your friend home from the hospital when they're better, they might say, "I'll get back in a car with you when pigs fly!"
2020年7月9日
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Lee -Anne Cochrane

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Lee-Anne (Annie) De S - Cochrane, M.Ed.Test Preparation Specialist | Curriculum Designer | IELTS Expert. With over 19 years of dedicated experience in global education, I bridge the gap between language theory and real-world mastery. Holding a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on English and Biology, I leverage my background as an ex-IELTS examiner and my close partnerships with Cambridge and the British Council to provide students with an insider’s edge.I specialise in high-stakes test preparation, including IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, TOEIC, and the full suite of Cambridge exams (from Movers to FCE). Beyond testing, I offer bespoke coaching in Business and Medical English, as well as focused Grammar and Vocabulary sessions. My approach is rooted in Task-Based Learning—I believe we learn best through practice, experience, and meaningful communication. I pride myself on a teaching style that is relaxed, professional, and informative. I strive to create a comfortable space wher...
Flag
英語
globe
南アフリカ
time
234
使用できる言語:
英語
ネイティブ
Lee-Anne (Annie) De S - Cochrane, M.Ed.Test Preparation Specialist | Curriculum Designer | IELTS Expert. With over 19 years of dedicated experience in global education, I bridge the gap between language theory and real-world mastery. Holding a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on English and Biology, I leverage my background as an ex-IELTS examiner and my close partnerships with Cambridge and the British Council to provide students with an insider’s edge.I specialise in high-stakes test preparation, including IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, TOEIC, and the full suite of Cambridge exams (from Movers to FCE). Beyond testing, I offer bespoke coaching in Business and Medical English, as well as focused Grammar and Vocabulary sessions. My approach is rooted in Task-Based Learning—I believe we learn best through practice, experience, and meaningful communication. I pride myself on a teaching style that is relaxed, professional, and informative. I strive to create a comfortable space wher...
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