by Marco Tempest
a Swiss magician who lives in New York City.  He is known for his multimedia magic and use of interactive technology and computer graphics in his presentations.  He stars in the eight part television series “The Virtual Magician,” which has been broadcast in over 50 countries.

Preview the vocabulary below, and then do the exercise by first reading a single question and then listening for the answer.  When you hear the answer, pause the video and answer the question.  Then read the next question and do the same thing.

Vocabulary:

illusion:  something that is not real
data:  information
cyber:  using technology
symbols:  pictures that represent things
interpreted:  understood
lunar:  of the moon
tide:  the level of the ocean
coincidence:  two things that are the same for no reason
total:  add together
mischief:  playful action
pogo stick:  a toy that jumps you up and down
exaggeration:  saying that something is better than it really is
evil:  very bad
supernatural:  not natural
odds:  chances that something will happen
© 2014 Ambien Malecot

by John Denver

an American singer-songwriter and actor who was among the most beloved entertainers of his time.  He wrote over 200 songs in his career.  This song is from his 1971 album  entitled Poems, Prayers and Promises.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I’d give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Vocabulary:

lovely:  pretty, beautiful
high:  happy
tale:  story
while:  time

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approximate:  near but not exact
The approximate time is 3:00.
I don’t know exactly, but the approximate distance is 800 kilometers.

bulky:  very large and hard to carry
That piano is too bulky to move by yourself.
A bulky package arrived just before her birthday.

capable:  able to do something
I don’t believe he’s capable of murder.
She’s a capable mother of three.

eventual:  happening slowly
The eventual result of his smoking habit was lung cancer.
His carelessness with money caused his eventual bankruptcy.

fortunate:  lucky
It was fortunate that you were there to help her.
We all felt fortunate to meet the President.

humid:   with water vapor in the air
It’s not a good idea to exercise in hot, humid weather.
It feels very humid after a storm.

intelligent:  smart, quick to understand
Your dog is pretty intelligent.
She is highly intelligent, but not a genius.

jealous:  wanting what someone else has
He was jealous of his brother’s wealth.
She was jealous of his relationship with his sister.

loyal:  always ready to support (someone), faithful
He is a loyal friend whom I’ve known for years.
Dogs have been man’s loyal companions for thousands of years.

nude:  without any clothes on, naked
She stood in the doorway completely nude.
At some beaches in the world, you can go nude.

particular:  one and only, not general
They have a particular interest in old movies.
There’s a particular way she likes to brush her hair.

raw:  uncooked
The children love to eat raw carrots.
He tries to eat as much raw food as possible.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

 

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

 

Conjunctions are words that are used to connect things.  They are used to connect 2 or more nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs as well as independent clauses, adjective clauses,  adverb clauses, noun clauses, prepositional phrases,  infinitive phrases, and gerund phrases.  

The most common conjunctions are and, but, or and so.  We’ll look at these four first.  The more advanced conjunctions are  for, yet and nor, which we’ll look at later.

Let’s start with and, the most common conjunction, to see how it connects things.  Sometimes both can be used with and but only with 2 single words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

And connects:

2 independent clauses:

She likes living in her own apartment, and she enjoys the freedom.
Note:  There’s a comma between the 2 clauses when there’s a subject (she) after and.
However, if there’s no subject after and, then there’s no comma.
She likes living in her own apartment and enjoys the freedom.

2 or more nouns:

John and his sister both have red hair.
He plays basketball, soccer, hockey and tennis.
(Note:  There’s a comma ( , ) after each noun, but there’s no comma before and.)

2 or more verbs:

She eats and talks at the same time.
All he does is watch TV, play video games and sleep.

2 or more adjectives:

She is both hardworking and creative.
He’s tall, thin and fast.

2 or more adverbs:

She works quickly and efficiently.
He went into battle boldly, swiftly and forcefully.

2 or more adjective clauses:

She is a girl whose parents are rich and whose trust fund is large.
He only buys things that are unique and have value.

2 adverb clauses:

They brush their teeth after they eat breakfast and before they go to bed.
When I’m lonely and thinking about home, I phone my parents.

2 noun clauses:

What she said and what I heard were two different things.
He planned where they were going and what they would do.

2 or more prepositional phrases:

They’re giving away free samples in the mall and on the street.
He looked under the bed, in the closet and on top of the dresser.

2 infinitive phrases:

To understand the lecture and to take good notes, she had to concentrate.
To stay up all night and study for the test, he had to drink several energy drinks.

2 gerund phrases:

Two of my favorite activities are staying up late and watching old movies.
Playing in all the games and scoring the most points was the highlight of her year.

You can even connect 2 things that aren’t alike:

He did the job discretely and with finesse.
The man was strong and in a bad mood.

But connects things that are opposite or that don’t usually go together.  When the second thing is negative, put but not.

But connects:

2 independent clauses:

I’m going to Chicago, but I don’t know anybody there.
She likes acting but also wants to direct.
(Note:  no comma before but because the subject she has been dropped in the second independent clause.)

2 nouns:

They like the beach but not the water.
She knows a lot about literature but not poetry.

2 verbs:

I swim but don’t dive.
She‘s here but doesn’t want to talk to you.

2 adjectives:

He’s strong but not athletic.
The food was cold but delicious.

2 adverbs:

They did the job quickly but well.
She worked slowly but surely.

2 adjective clauses:

He’s a man who has lots of acquaintances but who has no real friends.
She’s a person whose salary is high but whose work is easy.

2 adverb clauses:

Robert stayed home not because he felt a little sick but because he had a test.
She came down to the kitchen before she brushed her teeth but not before she put on her makeup.

2 noun clauses:

She told him what she had planned but not how she was going to do it.
He told me why he was leaving but not where he was going.

2 prepositional phrases:

We checked in all the classrooms but not in the library.
We work from Monday to Thursday but not on Friday or the weekend.

2 infinitive phrases:

He went outside not to get some fresh air, but to have a cigarette.
I’m studying English not primarily to get into university but to be able to speak to my friends.

2 gerund phrases:

Going to bed early but not falling asleep has been his problem for years.
We like having parties but not cleaning up afterwards.

2 different things:

I write but not very well.
I swim but only in swimming pools.

Or connects choices or possibilities.  It is often used with either, whether, or if, which are put before the first choice or possibility.

Or connects:

2 independent clauses:

I want ice cream for dessert, or maybe I’ll have some pie.
She is either going to tell the truth, or she’ll continue to lie.

2 nouns:

His friend is either a teacher or a social worker.  I forget.
Roses or carnations would be an appropriate gift.

2 verbs:

Whether she passes or fails is her choice.
I couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious.

2 adjectives:

She can’t decide whether she’s angry or amused.
They’re either stupid or naive.

2 adverbs:

He picked the numbers skillfully or, as my brother says, luckily.
She writes beautifully or terribly, depending on how she feels.

2 adjective clauses:

That’s the city either where he was born or where he went to school.  I forget.
That’s the sort of news that either makes you very hopeful or that makes you sad.

2 adverb clauses:

I lost my wallet either when I was in his office or when I was in the cab coming home.
He got the job either because he was the best qualified or because he was related to the boss.

2 noun clauses:

What he said or what he meant to say is that he’s sorry.
Where she lives or who she sees is none of your business.

2 prepositional phrases:

I left the keys either on the mantle or on the hall table.
We can drive on the road or off the road in this truck.

2 infinitive phrases:

Did you take this job to get rich or to help other people?
To be patient or to be proactive is the choice you now have.

2 gerund phrases:

Their options were doing nothing or trying to solve the problem.
Going out for dinner or making dinner at home are our choices.

2 different things:

She is lying either for a good reason or because she’s afraid.
He doesn’t read for the information or to be entertained.

So connects a reason and a result. 

So only connects:

2 independent clauses:

The weather report is for rain, so we’ll have to cancel the picnic.
Everyone arrived before 8:00, so the meeting started on time.

(The first clause is the reason and the second clause is the result.  You can also join these clauses with because.)

We’ll have to cancel the picnic because the weather report is for rain.
The meeting started on time because everyone arrived before 8:00.

Here is an exercise for these 4 conjunctions:

Now, let’s look at the last 3 conjunctions:  for, yet and nor.  They are more advanced connectors and not as often used as the first 4.

For connects results and reasons.  It is used just like ‘because’, but it always has a comma before it.  It is always used in the middle of the sentence, not at the beginning.

For only connects:

2 independent clauses:

I stayed away, for I was told that I wasn’t welcome.
He brought her flowers, for it was their anniversary that day.
[The first clause is the result; the second clause is the reason.]

You can also say:

He brought her flowers because it was their anniversary that day.
Because it was their anniversary that day, he brought her flowers.

BUT never start a sentence with for.

Yet connects things that are opposite or that don’t usually go together.  It is used just like ‘but‘, and can connect many things.  Just like but, yet is sometimes used with not (yet not, yet he didn’t…)  However, don’t confuse yet not with not yet, which means not at this time but later. 

Yet connects:

2 independent clauses:

We’ve been working all morning, yet we’re no closer to being done. 
She comes to class everyday yet doesn’t do well on the tests.
[Note:  no comma before yet because the subject she has been dropped in the second independent clause.]

2 verbs:

He studies yet continues to get poor marks.
They went to bed, yet they didn’t fall asleep for yours.

2 adjectives:

We’re tired yet anxious to finish this project.
The sofa was modern yet comfortable.

2 adverbs:

He works quickly yet carefully.
They seem excited yet afraid to get started.

2 adjective clauses:

It’s the kind of present that looks expensive yet that doesn’t cost too much.
That’s the city where I lived, yet not where I went to school.

2 adverb clauses:

He kissed her when he got home yet not when she left in the morning.
He could watch TV after he came home yet not until he had finished his homework.

2 noun clauses:

What she said yet not what she meant was the topic of conversation.
He could eat what he wanted yet not when he wanted to.

2 prepositional phrases:

There was fire damage on the ceiling yet not on the walls.
He put the date on the calendar yet not in his smart phone where he usually puts such things.

2 infinitive phrases:

To work all day yet to accomplish very little was frustrating.
They were allowed to speak to him yet not to look directly at him.

2 gerund phrases: 

Studying for hours yet not passing the mid-term made him frustrated.
She prefers going to bed late yet getting up early the next day.

2 different things:

He likes drinking his coffee black yet with plenty of sugar.
She was in a good mood yet not ready to listen to him.

Nor connects things that are negative.  It is often used with neither.  With two independent clauses nor requires the following verb to be inverted, just like a question.  Also, nor is not followed by other negative words like not or never.  With single words, nouns, verbs, etc., nor must be used with neither, which goes before the first of the two things connected.

Nor connects:

2 independent clauses:

I don’t like spaghetti, nor do I like lasagna.
[I don’t like spaghetti, and I don’t like lasagna.]
Note: do I like is the inverted and positive form of I (don’t) like.

She doesn’t waste her money, nor does she waste her time.
[She doesn’t waste money, and she doesn’t waste time.]
Note: does she waste is the inverted and positive form of she (doesn’t) wait.

2 nouns:

Neither John nor his brother knew about the wedding.
He chose neither the Toyota nor the Nissan.

2 verbs:

She neither smokes nor drinks alcohol.
We neither need nor want your assistance.

2 adjectives:

They’re neither rich nor poor.
I’m neither angry nor disappointed that you dropped out of school.

2  adverbs:

He fixed the sink neither quickly nor correctly.
She studied neither hard nor long for the final exam.

Note:  2 adjective clauses cannot be connected with nor.

2 adverb clauses:

She doesn’t hug him when he leaves nor when he gets home.
He doesn’t brush his teeth after he eats nor before he goes to bed.

2 noun clauses:

He wouldn’t tell us what she said nor where she went.
She didn’t know where she was nor what time it was.

2 prepositional phrases:

His backpack wasn’t by the front door nor on the front porch.
She didn’t play sports in the fall nor in the winter.

2 infinitive phrases:

We didn’t want to get you too excited nor to frighten you.
Management didn’t want a gym for their own use nor for the use of the staff.

2 gerund phrases: 

She doesn’t like writing letters nor sending emails.
Neither apologizing to her nor sending her flowers had any effect.

2 different things:

She wouldn’t tell me her phone number nor where she lived.
His essay was neither well written nor in the correct format.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

Conversation:

Sahar:  Natalia, do you have a minute?

Natalia:  Sure.  What’s on your mind?

Sahar:  I found out that Hossein hasn’t been on the level with me.

Natalia:  What do you mean?  Are you getting cold feet about marrying him?

Sahar:  No it’s not that.  I love him, but the other day I found some photos of him with a strange woman, and I’ve been a basket case ever since.

Natalia:  Well you knew he had been around the block before you two got together.  It was probably a photo of an old girlfriend.

Sahar:  I don’t think so.  We had a heart to heart last week, and I was completely above board with him about all my old boylfriends.  The only old girlfriend he told me about was a blond, but the woman in the photo was a brunette.

Natalia:  Although there’s a fine line between not telling the whole truth and lying, maybe he didn’t want to come clean all at once.  I’d give him some time if I were you.

Sahar:  Okay.  I hope you’re right.  It would be a crying shame if the wedding were called off.

Vocabulary:

got together:  became a couple
a blond:  a woman with blond hair
brunette:  a woman with brown hair
all at once:  immediately
called off:  cancelled

Idioms:

• have a minute                         have time to have a short talk.
• on one’s mind                         being thought about
• on the level                                telling the truth
• cold feet                                      doubt about something you planned
• the other day                           a day not too long ago
• a basket case                            a person who is overly nervous or upset
• been around the block        have had many experiences
• have a heart to heart            have an emotional conversation
• above board                              totally honest, legally done
• a fine line                                   not much of a difference
• come clean                                 be totally truthful
• a crying shame                        too bad, a sad event

Notes:

Have a minute can also be have a second.

The opposite of above board is under the table when talking about something being illegal.

a basket case and in bad shape have the same meaning.

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

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abundant:  a lot, in great quantity
Canada has an abundant supply of fresh water.
At this time of year the river is abundant with salmon.

alike:  similar, with few differences
She thinks that all politicians are alike.
All those cars look alike to me.

bright:  filled with light
The room was big and bright with floor to ceiling windows.
You’ll need your sunglasses because it’s very bright outside.

casual:  informal
On the weekends they like to wear casual clothes.
This is a casual company where everyone uses first names.

definite:  clearly defined, known for sure
It’s definite that Professor Wight is leaving at the end of this term.
I need a definite answer by tomorrow morning.

energetic:  full of energy, lively
For a person in her eighties, she seems very energetic.
I don’t want to go for a walk.  I’m not feeling very energetic.

external:  on the outside
This medicine says it’s for external use only.
This computer has an external hard drive.

feminine: of a female quality, like a woman
Her deep voice is not very feminine.
When she puts on a dress, it makes her feel more feminine.

internal:  on the inside
He was rushed to the hospital with internal bleeding.
In that family there’s a lot of internal fighting.

logical:  the result of good thinking
That seems like a logical solution to our problem.
Her logical mind told her that he was no good for her.

masculine:  of a male quality, like a man
He looks much more masculine with that beard.
There are many masculine qualities other than strength.

vacant:  empty, with nothing inside
That building has been vacant for years.
The community started a vegetable garden in the vacant lot.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

 

Use these flashcards to help you study.

 

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

by The Calling

an American rock band from Los Angeles, California.  This song, written and composed by Alex Band and Aaron Kamin, is from the group’s second album in 2004 titled Two.

 

Is there love, tonight
When everyone’s dreaming of a better life
In this world divided by fear
We’ve got to believe that there’s a reason we’re here
Yeah, there’s a reason we’re here, oh, yeah

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

See the truth all around
Our faith can be broken
And our hands can be bound
Oh, but open our hearts and fill up the emptiness
With nothing to stop us, is it not worth the risk?
Yeah, is it not worth the risk? No, yeah

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn’t matter
‘Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

We can’t go on
Thinking it’s wrong
To speak our minds
I’ve got to let out what’s inside

Is there love, tonight
When everyone’s dreaming
Well, can we get it right?
Yeah, can we get it right?

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn’t matter
‘Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

Oh, yeah, let’s make the best out of our lives
Oh, yeah, let’s make the best out of our lives

 

Vocabulary:

’cause:  because
worth:  have value for
moments:  short times
make the best out of :  do as well as possible with
faith:  belief
bound:  tied up
risk:  danger of failing
shattered:  broken into small pieces
matter:  be important
speak our minds:  say what we think
get it right:  do the right thing

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

To express necessity (something must be done) or obligation (someone must do something), you can use must, have to, have got to, need, or had better.  Let’s look at these one at a time.

Must is a modal and is always followed by a verb in the simple form.  The simple form is the infinitive without the ‘to’, for example: be, do, go, have.

Examples:
I must remember to pick up my aunt at the airport this Friday.
Must you always chew with your mouth open?

In the negative mustn’t (must not) and must never mean it is important that you don’t do it.  It’s against the law, against the rules or against what you think is right.

Examples:
You mustn’t park your car here.
You must never lie to your mother.

Have to is another modal, and it is used the same way as must.  There is no difference in meaning.  Like must, have to is followed by a verb in the simple form.

Examples:
Everyone has to be here on time tomorrow morning.
Everyone must be here on time tomorrow morning.

We have to set up the room for a meeting.
We must set up the room for a meeting.

However don’t have to does not mean the same thing as must not.  Don’t have to means that it is allowed but not necessary.  There is no rule against it.

Examples:
You have a car, so you don’t have to take the bus anymore.
[You can take the bus if you want to, but it’s not necessary.]
[You cannot say: ‘You have a car, so you mustn’t take the bus anymore’ because it’s still allowed, and you can take the bus if you want to.]

You mustn’t forget to renew your driver’s license.
[It is necessary that you don’t forget.]
[It makes no sense to say:  You don’t have to forget to renew your driver’s license. because you have no choice.  You must remember.]

NOTE:  English speakers also use can’t the same as mustn’t.

Examples:
She can’t talk to me like that.  It’s disrespectful.
I’m sorry.  You can’t skateboard in this park.  It’s against the law.

Another difference between must and have to is that must is never used in the past.  You must only use had to.

Examples:
The whole family had to go to the hospital after the accident.
She had to speak to him before he left the city.

The last difference between must and have to is that must can never be used with another modal, but have to can.

Examples:
We may have to leave early today.
She will have to call me as soon as she arrives.
I would have to ask her where she was last night.

Have got to is just another way to say have to.  It is mostly used in it’s contracted form ‘ve got to or ‘s got to.  It is always followed by a verb in the simple form.

Examples:
I’ve got to tell you that’s the best meal I’ve had in a long time.
She’s got to start spending more time on her studies.
We’ve got to get up really early tomorrow morning.

Have got to is only used in the present or future but never in the past.  In the past use had to only.

Example:
I’ve got to go now.
I’ve got to go there tomorrow.
I had to go there last weekend.

Need is another verb you can use for necessity.  It can be used in different tenses but is always followed by the infinitive.

Examples:
If I need to contact you, what’s your number?
I needed to make her understand.
She has needed to visit her parents every year since they got married..

Had better is a little stronger than the others because it implies that something bad will happen if the person does not do it.  It is only used in the present or future and is followed by a verb in the simple form.  Sometimes the bad result is stated after or, but it’s often dropped because it’s not necessary to say.

Examples:
He’d better remember to buy her something nice for her birthday, or she’ll never speak to him again.
She had better be on time for her interview, or there’s no way she’ll get the job.
You’d better wash your hands after touching that fish.  [or you’ll get food poisoning.]
It’s after midnight.  We’d better turn down the music.  [or someone may call the police.]

Study this page again, and when you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

 

sung by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston

two American superstars in the music world.  This song was written by Stephen Schwart for the 1998 DreamWorks musical animated feature The Prince of Egypt.

Many nights we pray with no proof anyone could hear
In our heart’s a hopeful song we barely understood
Now we are not afraid although we know there’s much to fear
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

Oh yes, there can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracle you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear when prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds, too swiftly flown away
And now I’m standing here, my heart’s so full I can’t explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I’d say

There can be miracles when you believe (when you believe)
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve (you can achieve)
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

They don’t always happen when you ask and
And it’s easy to give in to your fear
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice says love is very near

There can be miracles (miracles)
When you believe (when you believe)
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill (hard to kill)
Who knows what miracles you can achieve (you can achieve)
When you believe, somehow you will (somehow, somehow, somehow)
Somehow you will, you will when you believe

You will when you believe
You will when you believe
Just believe
You will, you will
Just believe
You will, when you believe

 

Vocabulary:

pray:  talk to God
proof:  something that says that something else is true
barely:  hardly, only a little
miracles:  good results that come as if by magic
frail:  weak
achieve:  do, make real
somehow:  in some unknown way
prayer:  words to God
in vain:  useless
swiftly:  quickly
seeking faith:  looking for the ability to believe
give in:  stop fighting
blinded:  unable to see or know anything
way:  journey
rain:  problems in your life
resilient:   lasting, still there

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

Conversation:

David:  I just got a job in the bookstore, and now I’ve got a head start on saving for next term.

Grace:  What a lucky break.  I’m so happy for you.

David:  Thanks.  I’m rather proud of myself.  When I heard about the job opening, I didn’t drag my feet.  I got right over there and filled out an application.

Grace:  I don’t have time for a  job.  I have a full plate with six courses this term, and I can tell you it’s no bed of roses.

David:  It sure isn’t.  When I got the call this morning that I had the job it was music to my ears.  When tuition went up last term, my parents went through the roof.  They are trying to save for my younger sister’s education, too, so this job fits the bill.

Grace:  So far I’m okay with my scholarship, but if worse comes to worst and my marks aren’t good enough, I could lose it.

David:  If that happened, you’d be in dire straits, and you’d have to make time for a job.

Grace:  Yes.  I’d have to start pulling my own weight.

David: Don’t worry about that now.  If things change I know you can go with the flow.

Vocabulary:

rather:  very
over there:  to that place
courses:  classes over a semester
call:  phone call
tuition:  money to pay for classes
term:  semester
scholarship:  free money that pays for your education

Idioms:

• a head start                              an earlier-than-normal start
• a lucky break                            a change in one’s luck for the better
• drag one’s feet                         take a long time to do something
• a full plate                                 a busy schedule, a lot to do
• no bed of roses                           not an easy time
• music to one’s ears                  good news
• go through the roof                get very upset
• fit the bill                                   be everything that’s needed
• if worse comes to worst          if the worst thing happens
• in dire straits                            in a very bad situation
• pull one’s own weight             work as hard as everyone else
• go with the flow                       easily change when the situation changes

Notes:

Pull one’s own weight can be shortened to pull one’s weight.

© 2014 Ambien Malecot