Possibility & Impossibility Vocabulary Set in Situations & States: Full and Detailed List

The 'Possibility & Impossibility' vocabulary set in 'Situations & States' 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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you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

/ju kæn lid ə hɔrs tu ˈwɔtər, bʌt ju kænt meɪk hɪm drɪŋk/

Example:

I gave him all the study materials, but he still failed; you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

above black there is no color, and above salt there is no savor

/əˈbʌv blæk ðɛr ɪz noʊ ˈkʌlər, ænd əˈbʌv sɔlt ðɛr ɪz noʊ ˈseɪvər/

Example:

In terms of intensity, above black there is no color, and above salt there is no savor.

every man has a fool in his sleeve

/ˈev.ri mæn hæz ə fuːl ɪn hɪz sliːv/

Example:

Even the most brilliant scientist can make a silly error; every man has a fool in his sleeve.

fools may sometimes speak to the purpose

/fuːlz meɪ ˈsʌm.taɪmz spiːk tuː ðə ˈpɜːr.pəs/

Example:

I didn't expect much from his advice, but fools may sometimes speak to the purpose.

if things were to be done twice, all would be wise

/ɪf θɪŋz wɜːr tu bi dʌn twaɪs, ɔːl wʊd bi waɪz/

Example:

I should have invested in that company years ago, but if things were to be done twice, all would be wise.

what man has done, man can aspire to do

/wʌt mæn hæz dʌn, mæn kæn əˈspaɪər tu du/

Example:

Don't give up on your dreams; remember, what man has done, man can aspire to do.

lightning never strikes the same place twice

/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ ˈnev.ɚ straɪks ðə seɪm pleɪs twaɪs/

Example:

I know you're scared of another accident, but lightning never strikes the same place twice.

a ragged colt may make a good horse

/ə ˈræɡ.ɪd koʊlt meɪ meɪk ə ɡʊd hɔːrs/

Example:

He was a troublemaker in school, but look at him now; a ragged colt may make a good horse.

a stream cannot rise higher its source

/ə striːm ˈkæn.ɑːt raɪz ˈhaɪ.ər ɪts sɔːrs/

Example:

The quality of the final product was poor because the raw materials were cheap; as they say, a stream cannot rise higher than its source.

hares may pull dead lions by the beard

/hɛrz meɪ pʊl dɛd ˈlaɪənz baɪ ðə bɪrd/

Example:

Now that the dictator has been overthrown, everyone is criticizing him; truly, hares may pull dead lions by the beard.

the age of miracles is (long) past

/ði eɪdʒ əv ˈmɪr.ə.kəlz ɪz lɔŋ pæst/

Example:

Some people believe that the age of miracles is past and we must rely only on science.

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

/ɪf ɪt saʊndz tuː ɡʊd tuː biː truː, ɪt ˈprɑːbəbli ɪz/

Example:

The investment promised a 50% return in one week, but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

men may meet but mountains never

/mɛn meɪ miːt bʌt ˈmaʊntənz ˈnɛvər/

Example:

I never thought I'd see you again after twenty years, but men may meet but mountains never.

you cannot lose what you never had

/ju ˈkæn.ɑːt luːz wʌt ju ˈnev.ɚ hæd/

Example:

I'm sad I didn't get the job, but I guess you cannot lose what you never had.

you cannot serve two masters

/ju ˈkæn.ɑːt sɝːv tuː ˈmæs.tɚz/

Example:

He tried to work for both competing companies, but he soon realized that you cannot serve two masters.

you cannot get a quart into a pint pot

/ju ˈkæn.ɑːt ɡet ə kwɔːrt ˈɪn.tuː ə paɪnt pɑːt/

Example:

Trying to fit all this furniture into a studio apartment is like getting a quart into a pint pot.

you can't please everyone

/juː kænt pliːz ˈɛvriwʌn/

Example:

I tried to make a schedule that worked for the whole team, but you can't please everyone.

if wishes were horses, beggars would ride

/ɪf ˈwɪʃ.ɪz wɜːr ˈhɔːr.sɪz, ˈbeɡ.ərz wʊd raɪd/

Example:

I wish I could win the lottery and quit my job. Well, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

an empty sack cannot stand upright

/æn ˈɛmpti sæk ˈkænɑt stænd ˈʌpˌraɪt/

Example:

You should eat something before the exam; an empty sack cannot stand upright.