It means to be judged unfairly or to have a bad reputation when it’s not true. steći lošu reputaciju; doći na loš glas Brussels sprouts often get a bad rap, but they are delicious when roasted. The new student got a bad rap on the first day, because of how he dressed, but later everyone found out he was a nice guy. Video games get a bad rap for being a waste of time, but some games help people learn.
It means to make a mistake or do something the wrong way. zabrljati, zeznuti I studied all week for the test but messed up the last question. I feel disappointed. He messed up the cake by adding salt instead of sugar. They messed up the hotel booking, so we didn’t have a room when we arrived.
It is something that is very scary, dangerous, or difficult, and requires strength or courage to do. nije za one sa slabim srcem Skydiving is not for the faint of heart! The horror movie was not for the faint of heart. Half the audience left the theater early. Running a marathon in the desert is not for the faint of heart.
It means to do many difficult or unnecessary things to get something or to be allowed to do something. Činiti sve što je potrebno kako bi zadovoljili zahtjeve ili potrebe druge osobe; prolaziti kroz razne prepreke You’re going to have to jump through a lot of hoops to get your visa approved. Expect to fill out lots of forms, show your bank records and wait for weeks. I’m not going to jump through hoops to get the job. They need to recognize my skills, experience and reputation! Getting a bank loan isn’t easy. They will make you jump through a lot of hoops.
It means to do something fully and without hesitation. ne suzdržavati se, ne obuzdavati se, ne ustručavati se He did not hold back his opinion and told his boss that the new plan would not work. When they played their last game of the season, the team did not hold back. Don’t hold back—go after what you want with confidence.
It means to use what is available instead of what is ideal. zadovoljiti se nečim There was no bread left, so she made do with crackers and cheese for lunch. Their tent was broken, so they made do with sleeping under the stars. The artist didn’t have fancy paints, so she made do with old crayons and colored pencils.
It means to get worse over time. ići nizbrdo; pokvariti se, pogoršati se, deteriorirati After the chef left, the restaurant’s food quality went downhill. His eyesight started going downhill after he turned 50. The company was very successful at first, but when the owner retired, everything went downhill.
It means to be treated unfairly or to receive less than others in a situation. izvući deblji kraj; nagrabusiti Everyone at work got a raise except for Marco, even though he had been there the longest. It was clear he got the short end of the stick. The twins were supposed to share house chores equally, but Lisa always ended up doing more than her brother. She was tired of getting the short end of the stick. The company gave free lunches to employees, but remote workers like Alex got nothing. He felt like he got the short end of the stick.
It means to continue believing that something good might happen, even when it seems unlikely. nadati se, vjerovati, ne gubiti nadu Even though the rescue team searched for days, the lost hikers’ <span class="sentence" aria-label="families still held out hope that they would be found alive.">families still held out hope that they would be found alive. <span class="sentence" aria-label="The scientist held out hope that one day, she would discover a cure for the disease.">The scientist held out hope that one day, she would discover a cure for the disease. <span class="sentence" aria-label="After months of job applications, Sam held out hope that he [...]
It means to treat a serious situation in a playful or humorous way. uzimati nešto olako, biti nekritičan The doctor told Mia she needed surgery, but she made light of it and joked about getting a long vacation. During the meeting, Mark made light of the budget problems, but his coworkers were very worried. The team was upset after losing the big game, but their coach made light of it, saying, “At least we got some good exercise!”
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