Duality & Contrast Vocabulary Set in Qualities: Full and Detailed List

The 'Duality & Contrast' vocabulary set in 'Qualities' is carefully selected from standard international textbook sources, helping you master vocabulary in a short time. Comprehensive compilation of definitions, illustrative examples, and standard pronunciation...

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clergymen's sons always turn out badly

/ˈklɜːrdʒimənz sʌnz ˈɔːlweɪz tɜːrn aʊt ˈbædli/

Example:

He was arrested for shoplifting, proving the old saying that clergymen's sons always turn out badly.

doctors make the worst patients

/ˈdɑːktərz meɪk ðə wɜːrst ˈpeɪʃənts/

Example:

My father is a surgeon but refuses to follow his own recovery plan; I guess doctors make the worst patients.

every light has its shadow

/ˈev.ri laɪt hæz ɪts ˈʃæd.oʊ/

Example:

He won the lottery, but his family started fighting over the money; every light has its shadow.

every white has its black, and every sweet its sour

/ˈɛvri waɪt hæz ɪts blæk, ænd ˈɛvri swit ɪts ˈsaʊər/

Example:

He loves his new high-paying job, but the long hours are exhausting; truly, every white has its black, and every sweet its sour.

extremes meet

/ɪkˈstriːmz miːt/

Example:

In politics, extremes meet; the far left and the far right often share similar authoritarian tendencies.

there is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous

/ðɛr ɪz ˈoʊnli wʌn stɛp frʌm ðə səˈblaɪm tu ðə rɪˈdɪkjələs/

Example:

The movie's ending was so over-the-top that it proved there is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.

honey is sweet, but the bee stings

/ˈhʌn.i ɪz swiːt, bʌt ðə biː stɪŋz/

Example:

He loves his high-paying job but hates the long hours; well, honey is sweet, but the bee stings.

one cannot love and be wise

/wʌn ˈkæn.ɑːt lʌv ænd biː waɪz/

Example:

He gave up his entire career to move across the world for her; I guess one cannot love and be wise.

opposites often tend to attract

/ˈɑː.pə.zɪts ˈɔːf.ən tend tuː əˈtrækt/

Example:

He is very quiet while she is outgoing, but opposites often tend to attract.

the road to hell is paved with good intentions

/ðə roʊd tuː hɛl ɪz peɪvd wɪð ɡʊd ɪnˈtɛn.ʃənz/

Example:

He meant well when he tried to fix the plumbing himself, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot

/ðə ˈʃuːˌmeɪkərz sʌn ˈɔːlweɪz ɡoʊz ˈberfʊt/

Example:

The IT consultant's own computer is broken; the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot.

the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak

/ðə ˈspɪrɪt ɪz ˈwɪlɪŋ bʌt ðə fleʃ ɪz wiːk/

Example:

I'd love to go for a run with you, but the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

there is no joy without alloy

/ðɛr ɪz noʊ dʒɔɪ wɪˈðaʊt ˈæˌlɔɪ/

Example:

He won the lottery but lost his ticket; truly, there is no joy without alloy.

wanton kittens make sober cats

/ˈwɑntən ˈkɪtənz meɪk ˈsoʊbər kæts/

Example:

Don't worry too much about his rebellious phase; wanton kittens make sober cats.

for where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel

/fɔːr wɛr ɡɑːd bɪlt ə tʃɜːrtʃ, ðɛr ðə ˈdɛvəl wʊd ˈɔːlsoʊ bɪld ə ˈtʃæpəl/

Example:

The new community center brought many benefits, but also attracted some trouble, proving that for where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel.

God sends meat and the devil sends cooks

/ɡɑːd sendz miːt ænd ðə ˈdev.əl sendz kʊks/

Example:

The ingredients were top-quality, but the chef ruined the dish; truly, God sends meat and the devil sends cooks.

fire is a good servant but a bad master

/ˈfaɪər ɪz ə ɡʊd ˈsɜːrvənt bʌt ə bæd ˈmæstər/

Example:

Remember that fire is a good servant but a bad master; always keep an eye on the stove.

go abroad and you will hear news of home

/ɡoʊ əˈbrɔːd ænd juː wɪl hɪr nuːz əv hoʊm/

Example:

I never realized how much people valued our local traditions until I moved to Europe; as they say, go abroad and you will hear news of home.

one man's loss is another man's gain

/wʌn mænz lɔːs ɪz əˈnʌðər mænz ɡeɪn/

Example:

When the rival company went bankrupt, we hired their best staff; one man's loss is another man's gain.

the cobbler's wife is the worst shod

/ðə ˈkɑːb.lɚz waɪf ɪz ðə wɝːst ʃɑːd/

Example:

The IT consultant's own home computer is broken; I guess the cobbler's wife is the worst shod.

everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die

/ˈɛvriˌwʌn wɑnts tu ɡoʊ tu ˈhɛvən, bʌt ˈnoʊˌbɑdi wɑnts tu daɪ/

Example:

He wants a promotion but won't work overtime; everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

the weakness of the enemy makes our strength

/ðə ˈwiknəs əv ðə ˈɛnəmi meɪks ˈaʊər strɛŋkθ/

Example:

In strategic planning, we must remember that the weakness of the enemy makes our strength.

every rose has its thorn

/ˈev.ri roʊz hæz ɪts θɔːrn/

Example:

The new job pays well, but the long commute is a reminder that every rose has its thorn.