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Reader's question:  

The 40-sometimes found themselves in an embarrassing situation as a consequences of rapid changes in all aspects of society.

Could you explain "40-sometimes"?

My comments:

40-somethings, not 40-sometimes.

40-somethings refer to people who are more than 40 years of age, i.e. 41, 42 all the way to 49.

This expression is usually used together with similar expressions describing other age groups. For example, people who are between 30 and 40 are described as 30-somethings whereas by the same token people between 20 and 30 are 20-somethings.

Among embarrassing situations facing a 40-something are, for instance, dwindling promotion prospects, divorce, hair loss, flagging libido and diminishing self-confidence.

All of which suggest that they did not take good care of themselves while they were in their 20s and 30s. In other words it is entirely their own fault and have got only themselves to blame – today's 20-somethings can be forgiven for not taking pity of any of them.

Today's 20-somethings can at the same learn a lesson - and keep plodding in an all-round healthy way so that when you are 40 one day, you can proudly declare:

Life begins at 40.

Or re-begins, if you prefer. It is a new beginning at any rate, as every day is – if you're able to see the newness that's in there.

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Red flag

Foregone conclusion

Call balls and strikes

Stare in the face

Cyber Monday

With a grain of salt

Drive home

Out of nowhere

Shove it under the carpet

the sky is the limit

hit it off

get my rib in my heart

With bells on

No harm, no foul

Pick up the slack

length and breadth of

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Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文僅代表作者本人觀點，與本網立場無關。歡迎大家討論學術問題，尊重他人，禁止人身攻擊和發布一切違反國家現行法律法規的內容。

Zhang Xin（張欣） has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: [email protected], or raise a question for potential use in a future column.