When Americans compare things they sometimes use the phrase “apples to apples” which means you are comparing two similar things. Conversely, if you are not comparing two things then we say “apples to oranges“. Look at this dialog:

• A (person who lives in Yokohama, Japan): Yokohama is expensive to live in.
• B (person who lives in Tokyo, Japan): What are you comparing it with?
• A: Well I just moved from New York.
• B: Well you are not really making an apples to apples comparison.

Popularity: 49%

Phrases including “in my shoes” are used to express the “same” feeling. You use it to show that A = B. Look at these examples: 

• What would you do if you were in my shoes? もし君が私の立場にあるとしたら、どうしますか？
• You can also say, “Put yourself in my position.”　前述と一緒です。

Popularity: 52%

We often use it in a response using one of the 5W1H’s. Like,

• Who is John?
• It is who I am going with. (It = John)

• What is Kamadoko?
• It is where I am going to. (It = Kamadoko)

• Why are leaving at 3 pm tomorrow?
• Because it is when I have to go. (It = 3 pm)

• Why do you have to talk to the boss?
• It is what I have to do. (It = talk the boss)

• Which is the correct one?
• It is which ever one you want. (It = the correct one)

• How come you do it this way?
• It is how you have to do it. (It = this way)

Here is another example:

• If you know how to lose, you can win.

Popularity: 67%

The expression “dragging your feet” means doing something slowly. For example, a co-worker who is not working at the same speed as you is considered to be “dragging their feet“. If the boss saw this, the boss might say “Stop dragging your feet and get to work!”

Popularity: 50%

When you are proficient at doing something you can use the expression “I am in the swing of things.” to explain to someone else that you can do it well.  For example, you just started a job 2 months ago and the first month was training. Your co-worker comes up to you and says,

• co-worker: So how is your job going?
• You: I finally got into the swing of things.

Popularity: 48%