caught me off guard
Definition: (idiom) Surprised me; happened when I wasn't expecting it.
Example: Her resignation letter caught me off guard — I had no idea she was unhappy.
stuck with me
Definition: (expression) Stayed in my memory; had a lasting impact on me.
Example: That documentary about the ocean really stuck with me long after it ended.
come to terms with
Definition: (idiom) To gradually accept a difficult situation.
Example: It took him years to come to terms with losing his childhood home.
wrap their heads around
Definition: (idiom) To understand or make sense of something confusing or difficult.
Example: Some students struggle to wrap their heads around how gravity actually works.
kept her at arm's length
Definition: (idiom) Kept someone at an emotional or physical distance; avoided getting close.
Example: After the breakup, he kept his old friends at arm's length for almost a year.
bottling up her feelings
Definition: (idiom) Suppressing or hiding emotions instead of expressing them.
Example: He'd been bottling up his feelings about work for months before he finally snapped.
set off
Definition: (phrasal verb) To cause something, such as an event or reaction, to begin.
Example: A small comment at dinner set off a huge family argument.
picked up on
Definition: (phrasal verb) To notice or become aware of something, often something subtle.
Example: The teacher quickly picked up on the tension between the two students.
goes to show
Definition: (expression) Used to point out that something proves or demonstrates a point.
Example: He passed the exam without studying much, which just goes to show how naturally talented he is.
risking life and limb
Definition: (idiom) Putting oneself in serious physical danger.
Example: The firefighters were risking life and limb to pull people from the burning building.
hit home
Definition: (idiom) To be fully understood or felt emotionally; to have a strong personal impact.
Example: The speech about climate change really hit home for the students.
gut punch
Definition: (idiom, informal) A sudden, emotionally painful shock or disappointment.
Example: Losing the championship in the final seconds was a real gut punch for the whole team.
dealing with them head-on
Definition: (expression) Facing a problem or challenge directly, without avoiding it.
Example: Instead of ignoring the issue, she decided on dealing with it head-on.
sums it up
Definition: (expression) Describes or expresses the main point of something concisely.
Example: His final sentence really sums up the whole argument of the essay.
look out for
Definition: (phrasal verb) To watch over and care about someone's wellbeing.
Example: Older siblings often look out for their younger brothers and sisters.