Learning English Conversations The English We Speak: On their toes
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Dec 9, 2025 Explore the lively idiom 'keep someone on their toes,' emphasizing staying alert and ready. Discover its literal meaning rooted in the image of standing on toes. Enjoy personal anecdotes about varying workweeks that maintain alertness. Gain insights through relatable examples in classrooms, restaurants, and during roadworks. Dive into a related phrase, 'be on the ball,' highlighting quick understanding and reaction. Join the fun as the hosts recap the idiom and its uses, leaving you entertained and informed!
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Meaning Of Keep Someone On Their Toes
- "Keep someone on their toes" means making someone stay alert and ready for anything unexpected.
- Being on your toes is like standing slightly tense and prepared to move or react quickly.
Everyday Examples Of Staying Alert
- The hosts give short examples: a science teacher asking quick questions, a chef changing menus weekly, and frequent roadworks.
- Each example illustrates situations that kept people alert and attentive.
Use 'Be On The Ball' For Personal Alertness
- The phrase focuses on one person causing another to remain ready for surprises.
- To describe someone's own quick understanding or reaction, use 'be on the ball' instead.