Expressions Using “Another" | (Intermediate) | Page 2
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Some idiomatic expressions using “another” or “other” have very specific meanings. These should be learned as idiomatic expressions.
Let’s examine some common expressions using “another” first. They can be useful in everyday conversations. Some may also be used in writing.
List of Expressions in This lesson
On Page 1
On Page 2 (this page)
have another thing (think) coming
live to fight another day
be (living) on another planet
one after another
one man’s meat is another man’s poison
(it’s) one thing after the other
one way or another
that’s another story
On Page 3
at each other’s throats
every other (day, week, Monday)
have one’s mind on other things
(it goes) in one ear and out the other
none other than
something or other
the other (night, day)
the other way around
this and that
this, that, and the other
”have another thing coming”
If you think someone has unreasonable expectations or if think someone may need to rethink their plans (because they are just plain wrong), you can say, “you have another thing coming.
(Note. Originally, the expressions was “if you think X, you have another think coming. Over time, people misheard it as “thing,” so the expression changed. “Thing” is more common, but you can either one interchangeably.)
Example sentences
If you think I’m going to let you do whatever you want, you have another think coming.
If John thinks he’ll get away with what he did, he has another think coming.
”live to fight another day”
When you suffer a loss or things don’t go your way, you can accept the outcome because you believe there will other opportunities in the future for you to succeed. You can then say, “I live to fight another day.”
Example sentences
Although Jack lost the contract, he remained optimistic as he could live to fight another day.
Things haven’t turned out the way we expected. The best we can do is learn from our mistakes and live to fight another day.
Mart Production | Pexels
”(be) on another planet” or “be living on another planet”
When you’re acting strangely or distracted, people say you’re on another planet.
They also say you’re on another planet if you are not aware of what is going on or perhaps you are not being realistic or practical.
Example sentences
The instructor kept giving strange examples that no one could quite understand. It’s as though he was on another planet the whole class. (He was acting strangely.)
Did you really think your boss was going to give you such a huge raise? You must be living on another planet. (You were being unrealistic.)
”one after another”
When something happens “one after another,” it happens consecutively without interruption.
You can use it with a nouns such as “ask one question after another,” “tell one bad joke after another,” or “fail one test after another.”
Example sentences
The presentation was so boring that people started leaving one after another.
He kept asking one question after another until the instructor told him to stop and wait until the end of the lecture.
Pavel Danilyuk | Pexels
”one man’s meat is another man’s poison”
This idiom means that what is good for one person may be bad for another. This means that things are not always good for everyone. Some people may be happy about a situation while others are unhappy about it.
Example sentences
Some people thrive living in big cities while others are overwhelmed. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
I love spicy food, but my friend hates it. For sure, one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
”(it’s) one thing after the other”
When many things keep going wrong one after the other, you can complain by saying, “It’s one thing after another.”
Example sentences
I had a stressful day at work today. It was one thing after another. (many things went wrong in succession)
My car broke down, my child broke a tooth, and now my husband is sick. It’s been one thing after another this week.
”one way or another”
Sometimes you are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish something. You know you will get it done “one way or another,” no matter what it takes.
Example sentences
I have no idea how to do this, but I’ll figure it out one way or another.
We are running out of time to finish the project, but we are determined to finish it by the deadline one way or another.
”that’s another story”
When you mention or start talking about an entirely different conversation topic, people may say, “that’s another story.” That also means they think your topic is not relevant to the conversation.
Example dialog
— I agree that Senator Ecks is an effective politician and has good policies, but his family life is a mess.
— That’s a different story. As long as he’s doing his job, I don’t care about all the gossip in social media.
August de Richelieu | Pexels
Up Next: Expressions using “Other”
Continue the lesson to learn expressions using “other.”
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