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Free Spirit English / December 13, 2019

71. (On the) Spur of the Moment – Learn English Idioms with Videos

Some people like to plan events and activities far in advance. They really hate surprises! Others prefer to throw caution to the wind and make plans on the spur of the moment. How about you? Do you always try to plan ahead or do you regularly act on a whim?

Check out Dara’s latest video below for more on today’s Everyday Idiom.

Learn English - Everyday Idioms #71. (On the) Spur of the Moment

Transcript

Now, a spur is the metal star on a cowboy boot. Cowboys used to use this to make their horses do something, like go or stop.

We use the phrase spur of the moment when the moment spurs us to do something. That is, when we do something on impulse, without thinking, or without planning in advance.

Let’s look at a few example sentences, shall we?

  • Anna felt a sudden wave of affection for Pete. On the spur of the moment, she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
  • Jo was unhappy with her life in Texas. One day, on the spur of the moment, she decided to change everything. She bought a ticket to Paris and started a new life!
  • I went to the electronics store to buy some earphones, but while I was there, I bought a TV that was on sale. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision!

So, there we are. Have you ever done anything on the spur of the moment? Let us know in the comments section below.

Practice

Read the questions below and try to use today’s idiom in your answers.

  • Have you ever bought something on sale unexpectedly? What did you buy?
  • Can you remember a time when a friend asked you to go out to a party at the last minute? What did you do?
  • Did you ever have to take a trip on short notice without planning it in advance?

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If you’re ready for some deep learning, check out our online course Essential English Idioms.

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Filed Under: Everyday Idioms, Videos

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