Duty Idioms

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hold the fort

Meaning: To take temporary responsibility while someone else is absent.

Example: She stayed late to hold the fort while her manager attended an off-site meeting. Read more ➺


pull your weight

Meaning: To contribute equally so others are not forced to compensate for you.

Example: The team will succeed only if you pull your weight. Read more ➺


live up to

Meaning: To meet expectations or be as good as people hoped.

Example: The new movie didn't live up to the excitement created by the trailers. Read more ➺


graveyard shift

Meaning: A late-night work period, typically covering midnight to early morning.

Example: She took the graveyard shift at the hospital so she could attend classes during the day. Read more ➺


hold the scales even

Meaning: To maintain fairness or impartiality in judgment or decision-making.

Example: She strove to hold the scales even when mediating the dispute between her colleagues. Read more ➺


French leave

Meaning: leaving a place or event without informing anyone or seeking permission.

Example: After the boring lecture started, he took French leave and went to a coffee shop instead. Read more ➺


off the chain

Meaning: extremely good and exciting.

Example: I traveled across the American continent, and it was off the chain. Read more ➺


pass the baton

Meaning: give responsibility for something important to another person.

Example: After a successful decade as CEO, he chose to pass the baton and retire. Read more ➺


pass the buck

Meaning: passing blame to another person

Example: That particular supervisor tends to pass the buck of all light duties to newly hired interns. Read more ➺


get the sack (boot, axe)

Meaning: be dismissed from the job

Example: If you can't do your job properly, you're going to get the sack. Read more ➺


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