Jake was caught off guard when his manager sent a quick email: “Just a heads up — you’re presenting the quarterly report tomorrow.”
“Oh no! I wasn’t ready!” Jake muttered, pacing nervously in his cubicle.
His coworker Mia smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you get your act together.”
Jake stayed late, practicing slides and memorizing figures. But when his boss popped in unexpectedly, Jake’s nerves almost got the better of him.
“Take a deep breath,” Mia whispered. “You’ve got this.”
By the time Jake stepped on stage, he was calm and confident.
After the presentation, his manager said, “Nice job! I knew you could rise to the occasion.”
Jake grinned. “Thanks! Just wish I’d gotten more of a heads up.”
Idioms Used in the Story
1. Heads up
Meaning: A warning or notice about something that’s going to happen.
Examples:
- Thanks for the heads up about the meeting.
- Give me a heads up if you’re going to be late.
2. Get your act together
Meaning: To organize yourself and start working effectively.
Examples:
- You need to get your act together before the deadline.
- After a rough start, he finally got his act together.
3. Get the better of someone
Meaning: To overpower someone emotionally or mentally.
Examples:
- Nervousness got the better of her during the exam.
- Don’t let anger get the better of you.
4. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: To perform well in a challenging situation.
Examples:
- She rose to the occasion during the crisis.
- The team rose to the occasion and won the match.
5. Caught off guard
Meaning: Surprised by something unexpected.
Examples:
- I was caught off guard by his sudden visit.
- The announcement caught everyone off guard.