ESL Podcast 730 - Waiting For Exam Results
foregone conclusion - expected result; a result that is certain to happen
The team from Eden Prairie has won the championship every year for 10 years, so I feel that this year's competition is a foregone conclusion.
to fail - to be unsuccessful in an exam, test, or interview; to not achieve an acceptable level; to not receive an acceptable score or rating
Orlando failed his driver's license exam for the third time.
bull - nonsense; something said or written that is stupid or untrue
What your teacher said about girls not being good at basketball is bull!
to pass - to receive an acceptable score on an exam or test; to reach an acceptable level
If James wants to study biology in college, he has to first pass his science classes in high school.
on tenterhooks - being in suspense about what will happen in the future and feeling nervous and concerned
Gina's doctor tested her for cancer so she's on tenterhooks until she gets the results.
to psych (oneself) out - to prepare oneself mentally for a future event, usually one that one expects to be difficult or unpleasant
Javier is psyching himself out for a month-long visit from his father-in-law.
to ace (something) - to excel at something; to pass an exam, test, interview or other evaluation with an excellent score or result
When I walked out of the classroom, I felt that I had aced the test, but then I began to doubt myself.
toss up - a situation in which all of the possibilities are equally likely to happen; for all options to be equally appealing
There are dark clouds in the sky, but it's a toss up whether it'll rain today.
to biff (something) - to receive a very low score or rating on a exam, test, interview, or other evaluation
Monique gave a presentation at work and biffed it. She forgot what she was going to say and looked very nervous the entire time.
to pass with flying colors - to receive a high score on an exam, test, or other evaluation
We all knew that Kara would pass the exam for her electrician's license with flying colors.
administration - opportunity to take a test or exam; the giving of a test or exam
If you miss next week's administration of the college entrance test, you'll need to wait another six months to take it.
to bomb (something) - to receive a very low score or rating on a exam, test, interview, or other evaluation; to clearly fail
Last time I took this test I bombed, but I've studied hard and don't plan to fail it again.
to squeak by by the skin of (one's) teeth - to barely pass an exam, test, or other evaluation; to have a passing score or rating that is not considered good or high
Kili squeaked by by the skin of her teeth when she made the school's swim team.
to be game - to be willing to do or to try something; to be willing to do or try something that may require some risk or courage
Are you game to take sky-diving lessons with us next weekend?
there's no sense - there is no reason to; it is useless to
We've worked all night to finish this project and it's already 6:30 a.m. There's no sense going home now to return in an hour and a half for a new workday.