stick out like a sore thumb
to be very noticeable in an unpleasant or awkward way
His bright orange jacket stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowd.
She felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb at the formal event.
march to the beat of their own drum
to act independently or behave in a unique way, not following others
He always dresses uniquely—he really marches to the beat of his own drum.
She chose an unconventional career path, marching to the beat of her own drum.
to suppress or hold back something, such as a feeling or action
She tried to stifle a laugh during the serious meeting.
The strict rules stifled his creativity.
the act or state of sticking together; unity among parts or people
Team cohesion improved after the retreat.
Good cohesion between paragraphs makes writing clearer.
encouraging or promoting the development of something, especially something positive
The school focuses on fostering creativity in students.
She’s passionate about fostering strong community relationships.
