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Influence & Involvement - Having an Effect

Discover how English idioms like "take a toll on" and "strike a note" relate to having an effect in English.

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English idioms related to Influence & Involvement
to [leave] a (sour|bad) taste in {one's} [mouth]

to leave a lasting negative effect on someone

Ex: I think we all felt he'd been treated very unfairly and it left a bad taste in our mouths. 
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to [take] {sth} on the chin

to experience a lot of problems, setbacks, damages, etc., as a result of something

Ex: After losing the championship match, the team took it on the chin but remained determined to come back stronger next season. 
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to [take] a toll on {sb/sth}

to have a severe negative effect on someone or something, in a way that lasts for a long time

Ex: The stress of the demanding job was taking a toll on her health, leading to exhaustion and frequent illnesses. 
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to [do] good
to do good
[phrase]

to perform actions or engage in behavior that is beneficial, helpful, or morally upright, often with the intention of making a positive impact on others or the world

Ex: She volunteers at the local shelter to do good and help those in need. 
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to [turn] {one's} head

to have an influence on how someone behaves, particularly by making them seem too important or proud

Ex: The praise and recognition turned his head, leading him to adopt an attitude of superiority and self-importance. 
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to [have] a part (to play|) in {sth}

to be an important factor in something

Ex: As a team leader, she has a part in making crucial decisions that affect the project's outcome. 
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to [cut] both ways

(of a process or action) to have two opposite effects, particularly a good and a bad one

Ex: His decision to reduce expenses cut both ways; it saved money but also resulted in staff layoffs. 
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(bad|rotten) apple
bad apple
[phrase]

a person who causes trouble for others in a group and has a bad influence on them

Ex: Unfortunately, one bad apple in the team's leadership led to a decline in the group's overall morale and productivity. 
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vicious (circle|cycle)

a situation where one problem brings about another and that only worsens the original problem

Ex: His chronic procrastination created a vicious circle, as missed deadlines led to stress, and stress further hindered his ability to meet deadlines. 
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to [have] a horse in (the|this|that) race

to have any personal gains in a particular situation

Ex: Being a private institution we're not tied to any state funding, so we don't have a horse in that race. 
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to [course] through {one's} (veins|blood)

to feel or experience something intensely, particularly an emotion or sensation

Ex: The spirit of adventure courses through his veins, and he's always seeking new experiences. 
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to [leave] {one's} mark

to have a powerful and lasting effect on someone or something

Ex: Years of war have left their mark on these pretty islands. 
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ripple effect

an action or series of things that cause several other events to happen one after another

Ex: His act of kindness is creating a ripple effect, inspiring others to pay it forward. 
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to [strike] a note

to behave in a way that expresses a particular attitude or feeling

Ex: At the end of her speech, she struck a note of warning about the risks involved in the project. 
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to [make] inroads (into|on) {sth}

to have a significant impact or influence on something

Ex: By the 1950s, television had made great inroads into the territory of the news magazines. 
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to [cut] (no|little|much) ice with {sb}

to fail to have an influence or effect, particularly in changing someone's opinion about something opinion or decision

Ex: He won the Nobel Peace Prize, but this cut little ice at home. 
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exception that proves the rule

rare or unusual cases that confirm the validity or effectiveness of a commonly accepted general principle or practice

Ex: The fact that we rarely have traffic jams on this road is the exception that proves the rule of efficient traffic management. 
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a stroke of {sth}

a brief or sudden instance or occurrence of something particular, whether positive or negative

Ex: Her ingenious idea was a stroke of genius, revolutionizing the way we approach the problem. 
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to [do] a job on {sb/sth}

to harm or negatively affect someone or something

Ex: The harsh criticism in the media really did a job on the actor's confidence. 
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to [break] the spell

to end the influence or control that someone or something has over another person

Ex: After years of therapy, she finally managed to break the spell her traumatic past had cast over her. 
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to [make] history

to do something important that will be remembered for a long time

Ex: The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming helped to make history in the field of medicine. 
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