cut and dried: predictable, known beforehand; boring Examples of CUT AND DRIED For those who have never been seriously ill, treatment often seems cut and dried. In conversation, the director concedes that the issue is not so cut-and-dried.

used to: formerly did, had the habit of Examples of USED TO We used to go to the county fair every year when we were kids. I used to dream about becoming an astronaut and going into space.

to stand a chance: to have the possibility of accomplishing something Examples of TO STAND A CHANCE With coast guard teams using the Stiletto, smugglers seem not to stand a chance. Poor little child doesn’t stand a chance at a good life, being with such losers.

to get over: to recover from an illness; to accept a loss or sorrow Examples of GET OVER “We just need to get over this wall,” said the prisoner who was leading the escape. The sick man hoped to get over his illness quickly.

narrow-minded: not willing to accept the ideas of others Examples of NARROW-MINDED – You should be ashamed of yourself for being so narrow minded and short sighted.– But I think it is rather narrow minded to assume that they are without feeling.

to keep up with: to maintain the same speed or rate as Examples of TO KEEP UP WITH Olivia tirelessly worked her garden because she wanted her yard to keep up with her neighbors’. The inexperienced runner wasn’t able to keep up with the champions, even though he tried really hard.