Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
saving grace

简体
saving grace
可取之处

Date: Feb 07 2013

Themes: Music

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“My only saving grace is that I actually collect things that nobody else is interested in.”

- Musician Phil Collins on why he’s not worried about anyone stealing objects from his collections. (New York Times)

“我唯一的可取之处是,我确实能从无人感兴趣的事物中汲取所需。”

— 歌手兼音乐人菲尔·柯林斯 (Phil Collins) 谈论他为什么不担心别人从他的专辑中偷师。

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

one thing that keeps a situation from becoming negative

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Though the United States is home to many religions, and the government and government institutions are not religious, a number of English idioms have their origins in Christianity. Saving grace is one of them. In a religious sense, “grace” has to do with approval from a divine figure. Receiving grace from the divine means being forgiven and blessed.

A saving grace, then, is the thing that allows you to end up on the positive side of a situation. Maybe you’re terrible at most aspects of soccer, but you’re a terrific runner. Your ability as a runner is your saving grace. It’s what allows you to receive approval from your team. And that’s something like being blessed by a divine figure.

In this lesson’s quote, musician Phil Collins is discussing his many collections. He has many objects in his house that could possibly be appealing to thieves. His saving grace, the thing that keeps him on the positive side of the situation, is that nobody else cares about the objects he collects.

Think about an activity or a situation where you have been on the border between succeeding or failing, or between positive and negative. What was your saving grace?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

“I can’t believe I have an English exam tomorrow. My one saving grace is that I read the book in high school.”

“He’s so annoying, but his saving grace is that he has a really nice car.”

“My job is so boring. The only saving grace is that I get eight weeks of vacation each year.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

birsencan good part of someone.
by birsencan
Manu4 A special quality of our personality
by Manu4
Ahshan merit,adventage!
by Ahshan
a redeeming quality
by bellaboo2422

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

laptop786

laptop786

India

there is a flaw in my english grammar  but my saving grace is that now i have very good english learning website so i think its better once and for all!

08:03 AM Mar 15 2013 |

Fiary

Fiary

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

In my idea saving grace is nothing related to one’s destiny or fate but to the way s/he thinks about her/his life .if you think you are lucky in your life although you are an avrage person  it’s your saving grace .

03:53 PM Feb 11 2013 |

Hollly

Hollly

Russian Federation

My family is my saving grace.

01:45 PM Feb 08 2013 |

S&W

S&W

China

my saving grace is no matter what happened i can keep in happy

01:06 AM Feb 08 2013 |

mauroyamaguchi

Japan

I’m so bad at English. My saving grace is that I’m a kind of persistent person.

12:17 AM Feb 08 2013 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

In the university, our studies are all in English. Actually, most students see it as a big problem. But not for me. My saving grace is that I like the language and I always studied it seriously at school and also, I’ve been knowing Ebaby for a long time :)..

11:27 PM Feb 07 2013 |

tiagosociais

Brazil

Well, my only saving grace is that I can be happy in any situation

10:30 PM Feb 07 2013 |

knuschu

knuschu

Germany

Years ago I fell from a high crane, my saving grace was, that I was connected to a bungee rope.

06:29 PM Feb 07 2013 |

Moriza

Moriza

Ukraine

I have some saving graces that help to change my mood or situation from bad into good.The most helpful is reading English and getting a message or sms from my friends.

03:43 PM Feb 07 2013 |

Mahtab.bp

Mahtab.bp

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

When I’m unhappy or confused ,I try to make something new or doing a new work , I think its my saving grace in hard times! :)

03:23 PM Feb 07 2013 |

ale_serrat

ale_serrat

Brazil

My saving grace is my optimism and my faith, because even when the problems come I try staying strong and helping people around me.

03:15 PM Feb 07 2013 |

Ya Nina

Kazakhstan

In the summer a small helpless kitten fell off the roof under our car. His mother run through the roof. Unfortunately, when we could to return the kitten on the roof, his mother already left. So we couldn’t leave him on the roof because he could fell down again. Also we couldn’t leave him under foot because many dogs run up to us. Therefore we had to take him with us and stayed him to live in our family. As a result our family became for the cat a saving grace. I wish everybody that all of us met in their life such saving grace. Because all of us need the hope in the life. Need a miracle.

02:58 PM Feb 07 2013 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

My saving grace is that whenever I am in trouble  ,somehow ,from unexpected ways help come to rescue or help me .I know  for sure that  my faith in God  is my saving grace.

Olga_Alina

Germany

I guess, my saving grace is I’am really good organizied and can laughing about myself. So the life is not that comlicated.

Al-issawi

Al-issawi

Iraq

The God is so generous with all human beings, so any individual has his/her grace, if someone is not rich he might be granted a bright mind..etc, my saving grace is well known by friends around so, I am not going to tell it, just I would like to say thanks God for giving me so many graces  

02:01 PM Feb 07 2013 |

✰Nikki✰

✰Nikki✰

United States

Life is serious, yet we are the spectators to look on it in amusement.
That’s why humor is my only saving grace 😀

Irene Forever

Ukraine

As far as I understood “saving grace”  means  a redeeming quality that makes up for something not so good. I’m not so good-looking, but my personality is my saving grace. It was just an example. Show me a woman who can call herself not good-looking.:)))


 


It’s just a picture, I liked.:)

Wielomian

Wielomian

Poland

When you finish marathon and you are exhausted, your saving grace is positive thinking and determination. 

06:14 AM Feb 07 2013 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

i do like the subject. i do like to be living under saving grace.

04:50 AM Feb 07 2013 |

Tracy_green

China

This is so important for me, I think.


I saometimes get anxious about things easily.


This tells me to look at the bright sides. 


People always have their saving graces. 

04:07 AM Feb 07 2013 |

Likes (23):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast