idioms
Idioms & Natural Expressions
Fixed expressions and idiomatic language to sound more natural and precise.
30 minC1c1idiomswildlife-conservation-rewildingconservationrewildingenvironment
Lesson objectives
- Use idiomatic language connected to wildlife conservation & rewilding more naturally.
- Distinguish neutral, formal and contemporary expressions.
- Recognise when an expression improves fluency without sounding forced.
Idioms & expressions — Wildlife Conservation & Rewilding
To tip the scales · neutral
neutralMeaning:To be the deciding factor in a situation.
Significado:Inclinar la balanza.
Example:The recent increase in habitat corridors could finally tip the scales in favour of local biodiversity.
A drop in the ocean · neutral
neutralMeaning:A very small amount compared to what is needed.
Significado:Una gota en el océano.
Example:While planting a few trees is noble, without systemic change, it remains just a drop in the ocean.
To leave no stone unturned · neutral
neutralMeaning:To try every possible way to achieve something.
Significado:No dejar piedra sin mover.
Example:Conservationists are leaving no stone unturned to prevent the extinction of the mountain lynx.
To be at a crossroads · formal
formalMeaning:To be at a point where a crucial decision must be made.
Significado:Estar en una encrucijada.
Example:With global temperatures rising, the rewilding movement is at a critical crossroads.
To stem the tide · formal
formalMeaning:To stop something bad from increasing or continuing.
Significado:Frenar la marea / detener la tendencia.
Example:New legislation is essential to stem the tide of illegal poaching in protected zones.
To take root · neutral
neutralMeaning:To become established or accepted.
Significado:Echar raíces / consolidarse.
Example:The idea of urban rewilding has finally started to take root in modern city planning.
To be in the crosshairs · neutral
neutralMeaning:To be the target of attention or criticism.
Significado:Estar en el punto de mira.
Example:Large-scale agricultural corporations are increasingly in the crosshairs of environmental activists.
To greenwash the narrative · neutral
neutralMeaning:To manipulate information to make an organization appear more environmentally friendly than it is (2023-2026 usage).
Significado:Maquillar la realidad con ecologismo / Greenwashing.
Example:The tech giant's new initiative is merely an attempt to greenwash the narrative regarding their carbon footprint.
To hit a tipping point · neutral
neutralMeaning:To reach a stage where a significant and often irreversible change occurs (current affairs usage).
Significado:Alcanzar un punto de inflexión.
Example:Ecologists warn that we are rapidly approaching a tipping point in ocean acidification.
To be climate-locked · neutral
neutralMeaning:To be trapped in a situation where current economic or social structures prevent environmental progress (2024-2026 usage).
Significado:Estar atrapado en un sistema/modelo climático.
Example:Many developing nations feel climate-locked by the economic policies of the Global North.