Jake had been working on his startup idea for months. When the day of the big investor pitch finally came, he was all set — slides polished, suit ironed, and his speech memorized. But just before going on stage, his laptop crashed out of the blue.

Panic set in.

“I guess this is my moment to think on my feet,” he whispered to himself.

Instead of giving up, he walked on stage and presented without slides. He told his story with passion, made the crowd laugh, and even got a standing ovation.

After the pitch, one of the investors came up and said, “Jake, that was a breath of fresh air. So many people rely on slides — you brought life to your pitch.”

Jake smiled. “It wasn’t my plan, but sometimes you’ve gotta roll with the punches.”

And that’s how Jake’s startup got fully funded — no slides, no visuals, just guts and grit.

Idioms Used in the Story

1. All set

Meaning: Ready/prepared.

Examples:

I’m all set for the trip.

She was all set to start her new job.

2. Out of the blue

Meaning: Unexpectedly, without warning.

Examples:

He called me out of the blue.

The storm came out of the blue.

3. Think on your feet

Meaning: React quickly and effectively.

Examples:

You need to think on your feet in job interviews.

She handled the situation by thinking on her feet.

4. A breath of fresh air

Meaning: Something new, different, and refreshing.

Examples:

Her ideas were a breath of fresh air.

That movie was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual stuff.

5. Roll with the punches

Meaning: Adapt to difficult situations.

Examples:

Life gets tough, but you have to roll with the punches.

He lost his job but rolled with the punches and started freelancing.