0001-0200 Flashcards
zero in on something
If youzero in onsomething, you focus all your attention on that particular thing. The boss immediately zeroed in on the sales figures.
dying for something
If you aredying for something, you have a strong desire for it!. I’m dying for a cup of tea!
cut it/cut things fine
If youcut it/cut things fine, you leave barely enough time to do something. You’re counting just an hour between the airport and the train station - isn’t that cutting things a bit fine?
sow wild oats
A person, usually a man, whosows their wild oatsgoes through a period of carefree pleasure-seeking while they are young. He was advised to sow his wild oats before he got married.
open-and-shut case
Anopen-and-shut caseis one where the facts are so clear that the matter can be dealt with or solved easily. He was caught driving the stolen car. It’s an open-and-shut case.
even a worm will turn
This expression means that even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation. Don’t treat him so severely. He never protests, but even a worm will turn!
scream blue murder
People whoscream blue murdershout or complain very loudly as if something very serious has happened. The crowd started screaming blue murder when the football match was interrupted.
leave no stone unturned
If you try everything possible in order to achieve or to find something, youleave no stone unturned. The management left no stone unturned in their efforts to find a solution to the crisis.
for the birds
If you think something isfor the birds, you consider it to be uninteresting, useless or not to be taken seriously. As far as I’m concerned, his theory is for the birds.
night owl
Someone who is lively and active at night and goes to bed very late is callednight owl. I work better in the evenings than in the morning. My friends say I’m a night owl.
darkhorse
If you refer to someone asa dark horseyou mean that they are secretive or that little is known about them. I can’t say I know my neighbour. He’s a bit of a dark horse.
oldest trick in the book
A well-known and much-used trick, which is still effective today, is called theoldest trick in the book. He made a noise to attract my attention while his accomplice stole my wallet - the oldest trick in the book!
all hisgeeseare swans
This expression refers to someone who constantly exaggerates the importance or the qualities of somebody or something. Don’t let him impress you. He always exaggerates. All his geese are swans.
horns of a dilemma
If you areon the horns of a dilemma, you are faced with a choice between two equally unpleasant options. I’m on the horns of a dilemma; I have to choose between a boring job with a good salary or a more interesting job with a lower salary.
bear fruit
If somethingbears fruit, it produces positive or successful results. After years of hard work, his research finally began to bear fruit.
run-of-the-mill
If something is described asrun-of-the-mill,there is nothing special or outstanding about it; it is just ordinary or average. The story wasn’t very interesting - just a run-of-the-mill romance with a happy ending.
spit in someone’s eye
If youspit in someone’s eye,you treat that person with disrespect or contempt. Your father raised you as best he could. Don’t start spitting in his eye.
not a patch on
If something or someone isnot a patch onan other, they are not nearly as good. His second conference wasn’t a patch on the first one.
make an ass of yourself
If you behave so stupidly that you appear ridiculous, youmake an ass of yourself. Tom made an ass of himself by singing a love song outside Laura’s door!
nowhere to be found
If something isnowhere to be found,even after a thorough search, it is impossible to find it. We looked everywhere for the cat but it was nowhere to be found.
(don’t) rock the boat
If you tell someonenot to rock the boat, you are asking them to do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a stable situation. After the recent riots, it was decided not to rock the boat by introducing strict measures.
open/reopen old wounds
If youopen or reopen old woundsyou revive memories of an unpleasant event, situation or dispute that took place in the past. He carefully avoided the subject so as not to open old wounds.
feel on top of world
If youfeel on top of the world, you feel wonderful or ecstatic about something. I’ve been feeling on top of the world since I got the results - I’m qualified!
quick as a dog can lick a dish
If you do something surprisingly fast, you do itas quick as a dog can lick a dish. He packed his bag as quick as a dog can lick a dish.
hair of the dog
Using as a remedy a small amount of what made you ill, for example a drop of alcohol when recovering from drinking too much, is called’a hair of the dog that bit you’. Here, have a drop of this. It’s a hair of the dog that bit you!
dead loss
Someone or something described as adead lossis absolutely useless or a complete failure. When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss.
throw a spanner in the works
If someone or somethingthrows a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event. The two companies were keen to sign the agreement before anything happened to throw a spanner in the works.
better still/worse still
This expression is used to emphasize that although something is good, bad, etc., something else makes it even better, worse, etc. Not only did he get a great offer, but better still, a house and car come with the job.
all the better for (something)
If you areall the better for something, you benefit from it or feel much better as a result of it. You’ll be all the better for a good night’s rest.
ride it out ride out the storm
If you manage to survive a dangerous or very unpleasant situation, like a ship sailing through a storm, youride it out. His business was hit by the recession but he managed to ride it out.
struck dumb
If someone isstruck dumb,they are unable to speak because they are so surprised, shocked or frightened by something. The accused was struck dumb when the verdict was announced.
pot luck
If youtake pot luck,you accept whatever is available without knowing what it will be like. We were so hungry we decided to take pot luck and stopped at the first restaurant we saw.
fishing for compliments
When someone is obviously waiting for you to say something nice, they arefishing for compliments. I know why she invited us to her new house - she’s just fishing for compliments.
lose track of time
When you give all your attention to something and become so engrossed in it that you don’t realize what time it is, youlose track of time. Whenever I start surfing on the web, I lose track of time.
come apart at theseams
To say that someone iscoming apart at the seamsmeans that they are extremely upset or under severe mental stress. Bob has had so many problems lately, he’s coming apart at the seams.
can’t make omelette without breaking eggs
This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing some unpleasant effects. Some people will lose their jobs after the merger, but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
make a comeback
When someonemakes a comeback,they succeed in returning to their former successful career. After devoting several years to her children, she made a comeback on Broadway.
cause a stir
If somethingcauses a stir, it creates an atmosphere of excitement or great interest. The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village.
cost an arm and a leg
If somethingcosts an arm and a leg, it is very expensive. The house cost us an arm and a leg, but we have no regrets.
in thesameboat
If two or more people arein the same boat, they are in the same unpleasant or difficult situation. When the factory closed down, the workers all found themselves in the same boat.
up/down one’s alley
If something is(right) up or down your alley,it is exactly the sort of thing that will suit your tastes or abilities. Alex loves reading, so a job in a bookshop is right up his alley.
cover a multitude of sins
If somethingcoversorhides a multitude of sins, it prevents others from seeing the less pleasant reality. Loose-fitting clothes can cover a multitude of sins!
with one’seyesopen
If you do somethingwith your eyes open, you are fully aware of what you are doing. I took on the job with my eyes wide open so I’m not complaining.
plenty of otherfish
To say this means that there are many other people just as good as the person mentioned. The candidate we selected refused the job? Never mind - there are (plenty of) other fish in the sea!
darken someone’s door
If youdarken somebody’s door,you come as an unwanted or unwelcome visitor. Just get out of here and never darken my door again!
last word
Something described asthe last wordis the most recent or most fashionable in its category. Steve’s new computer is the last word in technology.
siphon off
If someonesiphons something off, they transfer something from one place to another, often illegally. It was discovered that he had siphoned off money from the business into an account in a tax haven.
glass ceiling
This term refers to a discriminatory barrier perceived by women and minorities that prevents them from rising to positions of power or responsibility. Claire knew she would never break the glass ceiling and rise to a senior management position.
groan inwardly
If yougroaninwardly,you feel like expressing despair, disapproval or distress, but you remain silent. On his return, when Pete saw the pile of files on his desk, he groaned inwardly.
roll up one’s sleeves
When youroll up your sleeves,you get ready for hard work. The house was in a mess after the party so we had to roll up our sleeves and start cleaning.
that’s the way the cookie crumbles
To say’that’s the way the cookie crumbles’means that is the way things are and nothing can be done about it - that’s life!
come/get to thepoint
If youcomeorget the point, you reach or concentrate on the essential part or the heart of the matter. We don’t need a long explanation Barry. Just get to the point!
bend therules
If a personbends the rules,they change the rules in order to help somebody. “An hour is an hour” said the car park attendant who refused to bend the rules.
on the lookout
If you areon the lookoutfor something, you are constantly watchful and attentive so as not to miss it. Being a collector, he’s always on the lookout for interesting items.
short fuse
When someonehas a short fuse, they are likely to become angry easily or quickly. Be careful how you explain the situation. The boss has a short fuse these days!
fast track something
If you decide tofast track something, such as a task or project, you give it high priority so that the objective is reached as quickly as possible. In view of the number of homeless, it was decided to fast track the construction of low-cost housing.
blood, sweat and tears
A project or action which involvesblood,sweat and tearsrequires a lot of effort and hard work. His success wasn’t due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way.
stick one’sneckout
If a personsticks their neck out,they draw attention to themselves by saying or doing something that others are afraid to do. Julie stuck her neck out and said that the sales target would be impossible to reach without extra staff.
edge of one’s seat
Someone who ison the edge of their seatis very interested in something and finds it both extremely exciting and nerve-wracking. Look at Bob! He’s on the edge of his seat watching that rugby match!
knock/takewindout ofsails
If someone or somethingknocksortakes the wind out of your sails,they make you feel less confident by doing or saying something that you do not expect. The manager’s rejection of our marketing strategy really took the wind out of our sails.
straight as a ramrod
Someone who is(as) straight as a ramrodis a person who keeps a straight back and looks very serious. When my grandfather invited us for dinner, he used to sit straight as a ramrod at the head of the table.
collect dust
If something iscollecting dust, it hasn’t been touched or used for a long period of time. My dad doesn’t play golf any more. His clubs are collecting dust now.
bite someone’s head off
If youbite someone’s head off, you criticize them strongly (and perhaps unfairly). I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my head off for not doing my share of the work!
never say die
You can say’never say die’ to encourage someone to persevere in their efforts and not give up or abandon their project. Keep going - it’s too soon to give up. Never say die!
wouldn’t be caught dead
If someone says that theywouldn’t be seen or caught deadin a particular place or doing something, they mean that they would be too ashamed or embarrassed. My seven-year-old son thinks he’s a big boy. He wouldn’t be caught dead holding my hand.
sign of the times
This expression refers to something that shows the nature of today’s society. The rising level of violence is a sign of the times.
meet halfway
If youmeet someone half way, you accept to make a compromise and give them part of what they are trying to obtain. We can’t agree to all your conditions but we could perhaps agree to meet half-way.
blow out of proportion
If you exaggerate the importance of something, youblow it out of proportion. The importance of the event was blown out of proportion by the media.
jury is still out
To say thatthe jury is still outmeans that something is under consideration but no decision has been reached yet. The jury is still out as concerns the location of the new station.
fall at first hurdle
If youfall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome the first difficulty encountered. Scott fell at the first hurdle. He didn’t study enough and failed his first exam.
hit the dust
The expressionhit the dustis a humorous way of referring to death. You can have my computer when I hit the dust!
get the message
When youget the message,you understand what someone is trying to tell you even if it is not stated clearly. Next time he asks you to replace him, tell him you’ve got an important appointment - he’ll get the message.
put shoulder to wheel
If youput your shoulder to the wheel,you start putting a lot of effort into a difficult task. We’ll have to put our shoulders to the wheel to deliver the goods on time.
strike home
When somebody’s comments or remarksstrike home,they make you fully understand the situation. The seriousness of his injuries struck home as he listened to the surgeon.
bend the truth
If youbend the truth, you say something that is not entirely true. Ok, I bent the truth a bit. I told him it was my natural colour, but I didn’t say that my hairdresser helped me to keep it natural!
give the run-around
If someonegives you the run-around, they deliberately give you confusing information or evasive answers. I’m trying to contact the manager, but every time I call the firm I’m given the run-around.
rack one’s brains
If yourack your brains,you try very hard to think of something or to remember something. Christmas is always a hassle for me. I have to rack my brains every year to find ideas for presents.
megaphone diplomacy
If the media, through press releases, interviews and announcements, is instrumental in facilitating dialogue between two or more countries, this is calledmegaphone diplomacy.
hard time
If you give someone ahard time, you annoy them or make things difficult for them. Susan says the pupils in her new school are giving her a hard time.
elbow room
If you need someelbow room, you need more space to move. We shared a small office where neither of us had enough elbow room.
pass the buck
If you say that someone ispassing the buck,you are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and letting others deal with it instead. Whenever a customer comes to complain, she always finds a way of looking busy - a great way of passing the buck!
full of piss and vinegar
People who arefull of piss and vinegarare very lively, boisterous or full of youthful vitality. I had to look after a group of kids full of piss and vinegar.
behind bars
Someone who isbehind barsis in prison. If you hang around with that gang, you’ll find yourself behind bars in no time!
go pear-shaped
If a plan or projectgoes pear-shaped, it either goes wrong or it produces an undesirable result. Jane organised a treasure hunt in the park for the kids but it all went pear-shaped and everyone was disappointed.
likecatand dog
Two people who fight or arguelike cat and dogfrequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other. They fight like cat and dog but they’re still together after 30 years.
give a hard time
If yougive someone a hard time, you annoy them or make things difficult for them. Susan says the pupils in her new school are giving her a hard time.
give benefit of doubt
If yougive someone the benefit of doubt, you choose to believe that they are innocent, honest or telling the truth because there is no evidence to the contrary. Although he found it hard to believe Tom’s explanation, the teacher decided to give him the benefit of doubt.
cut to the quick
If youcut someone to the quick, you hurt their feelings or offend them deeply. Alan was cut to the quick when Joe expressed doubt about his sincerity.
tearhairout
If someone istearing their hair out, they are extremely agitated or distressed about something. I’ve been tearing my hair out all morning trying to find the error.
withbellson
If you go somewherewith bells on, you are delighted and eager to go there. Of course I’ll be there - with bells on!
truth will out
This expression means that despite efforts to conceal the facts, the truth cannot be hidden forever. I don’t know if the police gave the full details, but inevitably truth will out.
hit the hay (or sack)
When youhit the hay (orhit the sack), you go to bed. The boys were so exhausted that they hit the hay as soon as they reached the campsite.
keep your ear to the ground
If youkeep your ear to the ground,you make sure that you are aware of all that is happening and being said. We don’t know what has been decided, but Jack is keeping his ear to the ground!
bury head in sand
If youbury your head in the sand, you refuse to face the unpleasant reality by pretending that the situation doesn’t exist. It’s no good burying your head in the sand. We’ve got a problem on our hands.
bend over backwards
If youbend over backwards, you try very hard to do something, especially to please somebody. The manager bent over backwards to try to make Jack stay, but Jack wouldn’t change his mind.
got it made
Someone who hasgot it madeis so happy and successful in life that they have no worries. With a happy family life, a new house and a super job, Sam’s got it made.
rubber hits the road
The moment when you put a theory into practice, or actually apply what you have learned, is whenthe rubber hits the road. The plan sounds good. I’d like to be there when the rubber hits the road.
head and shoulders above
To say that one person ishead and shoulders abovethe others means that they are much better than the rest of them. The award winner was head and shoulders above the others.
eat out of someone’s hand
If youeat out of somebody’s hand, you are eager to please and will accept to do anything that person asks. She is so persuasive that she has people eating out of her hand in no time.
fly on the wall
A person who watches a situation without being noticed is called afly on the wall. I’d like to be a fly on the wall when the management discusses my project.
friends in high places
If you know important or influential people in business or government, you havefriends in high places. He wouldn’t have succeeded without help from friends in high places.
take araincheck
To say that youtake a rain checkmeans that you cannot accept an invitation or offer now, but you will be happy to accept it later. Do you mind if I take a rain check on that lunch invitation? I’m going to be away all week.
no dice
If someone asks you for something and you reply’no dice!’,you mean that it is impossible or it can’t be done. “Can you lend me your car?” “Sorry, no dice!”
play by the rules
If youplay by the rules, you behave in a fair and honest way with people. You can trust him, don’t worry. He always plays by the rules.
crywolf
Tocry wolfis to call for help when you are not really in danger. As a result, nobody believes you when you really need help. There’s Mary screaming again! Does she really need help or is she just crying wolf again?
(not a) wink of sleep
If someonedoesn’t get a wink of sleep, they don’t sleep a all. It was so noisy in the hotel, I didn’t get a wink of sleep.
cat’s lick
Acat’s lickmeans a very quick wash. A cat’s lick was all he had time for before rushing off to catch the bus.
over the moon
If you areover the moonabout something, you are very happy about it. When she heard the results of the exam, Caroline was over the moon!
cool as a cucumber
A person who is ascool as a cucumberis not anxious, but relaxed and non-emotional. The bride’s mother stayed as cool as a cucumber all through the ceremony.
that takes the biscuit!
This expression refers to something very annoying or irritating. After waiting for an hour, we were told there no seats left. That took the biscuit!
cross that bridge when we come to it
This is another way of saying ‘we will deal with that problem when it occurs and not worry about it before’. “What will happen if we can’t repay the loan?” “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
happy as a flea
If someone is (as)happy as a flea in a doghouse, they are very happy and contented. Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is as happy as a flea in a doghouse!
right up your alley
If something isright up your alley,it is the sort of thing you like or have knowledge about. You like cooking do you? This book will be right up your alley.
(no) skin off one’s nose
To use this expression means that you don’t care if something happens. It’s no skin off my nose if he doesn’t accept the invitation - I don’t care one way or another.
clinch a deal
In a business relationship, if youclinch a deal, you reach agreement on a proposal or offer. Paul’s final argument enabled us to clinch the deal.
gooverboard
If yougo overboard, you are over-enthusiastic about something and do too much or behave in an excessive way. We need to prepare the dining room for Christmas, but don’t go overboard with the decorations!
load/weight off your mind
If something takesa load off your mind, it brings great relief because a problem has been solved. When the company closed down, finding a new job took a load off Tom’s mind.
best of one’s ability
When someone does somethingto the best of their ability, they do it as well as they possibly can. I felt nervous all through the interview, but I replied to the questions the best of my ability.
business before pleasure
This expression means that it is considered preferable to finish one’s work before going to relax and enjoy oneself. I’d love to have lunch with you but I’ve got a report to finish - business before pleasure I’m afraid!
free ride
Someone whogets a free ridebenefits from a collective activity without participating in it. Only those who share the work can share the benefits - nobody gets a free ride!
give the coldshoulder
Togive someone the cold shouldermeans to deliberately ignore them. After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder.
hold the reins
The person whoholds the reinsis someone who is in complete control of a company, firm or organisation. He’s been holding the reins for over 20 years and intends to continue for as long as possible.
stab in the back
If someonestabs you in the back, they betray you by doing something harmful to you when you thought you could trust them. His best friend stabbed him in the back by voting against him.
tongue-lashing
When you scold someone severely, you give them atongue-lashing. The teacher gave Jeremy a tongue-lashing when arrived late for school.
thick as thieves
To say that two people areas thick as thievesmeans that they are very close friends who are very loyal to each other. Chris always takes Danny’s side. They’re as thick as thieves.
flight of fancy
To refer to an idea or plan as aflight of fancymeans that it is very imaginative but not at all practical or sensible. He often has good ideas but his latest proposal is just a flight of fancy!
all thumbs
If you areall (finger and) thumbs,you are awkward and clumsy and do things incorrectly. Would you mind wrapping this for me? I’m all (fingers and) thumbs.
bywordof mouth
Information passed on through conversation is transmittedby word of mouth. No announcement was necessary - the news had already spread by word of mouth.
cut and dried
If you refer to a situation, problem or solution ascut and dried,you mean that it is clear and straightforward with no likely complications. When the new manager arrived, he didn’t find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected.
second nature
If something you do issecond natureto you, it is something that you do easily or automatically because you have done it so often or for so long. Skiing is second nature to Harry. He grew up in a ski resort.
(in) bad shape
A person who isin bad shapeis in poor physical condition. I really am in bad shape. I must do more exercise.
chips are down
This expression refers to people’s behavior in a difficult or dangerous situation when action must be taken. It’s when the chips are down that Jack is at his best.
beef something up
If youbeef something up, you improve it by making it stronger or more substantial. You’d better beef up your arguments if you want to defend your case.
skin a cat
The expression’there’s more than one way to skin a cat’means that there are many different ways of achieving something. How about trying a different method? There’s more than one way to skin a cat you know!
full as a tick
If someone is (as)full as a tick,they have eaten or drunk too much. The little boy ate biscuits and drank lemonade until he was as full as a tick.
keep under your hat
Tokeep something under one’s hatmeans to keep a secret. My boss has promised me a promotion, but it’s not official yet, so keep it under your hat.
laugh all the way to the bank
A person who makes a lot of money easily, especially through someone else’s stupidity, is said tolaugh all the way to the bank. If we fail to renew the contract, our competitors will be laughing all the way to the bank.
themindboggles
The expression’the mind boggles’is used as a reaction to something that you find amazing or difficult to understand. She crossed the Atlantic alone - can you imagine? - the mind boggles!
on the bottle
A person who drinks alcohol often and regularly ison the bottle. John went on the bottle when he lost his job.
prepare the ground
When youprepare the ground,you try to make it easier for a future event or action to happen or be accepted. The two foreign ministers prepared the ground for negotiations.
badger someone
If youbadger someoneinto doing something, you persistently nag or pester them until you obtain what you want. Sophie badgered her parents into buying her a new computer.
(not) hold water
If an explanation or argumentdoes not hold water, it does not stand up to critical examination and can be shown to be unfounded. The reasons given for the government’s new measures just do not hold water.
on the ball
If you areon the ball, you are aware of what is happening and are able to deal with things quickly and intelligently. We need someone who is really on the ball to head the fund-raising campaign.
square deal
A transaction that is fair and honest, or an equitable arrangement, is calleda square deal. We’ve used the same supplier for years and we always get a square deal.
take the plunge
If youtake the plunge,you finally decide to venture into something you really want to do, in the spite of the risks involved. Mark and Emily finally took the plunge and opened a guesthouse.
stick out a mile
If somethingsticks out a mile,it is very obvious or very easy to see. You can see she’s had a facelift - it sticks out a mile!
unmitigated disaster
Anunmitigated disasteris a complete failure or a total catastrophe. The organisation of the tournament was an unmitigated disaster!
let slip through fingers
If you let somethingslip through your fingers, such as a good opportunity, you fail to obtain it or keep it. He should have accepted the job when it was offered. He let the opportunity slip through his fingers.
on the fly
If you do somethingon the fly,you do it quickly, without thinking much about it, while doing something else. I’m so busy I usually have lunch on the fly.
couch potato
If you refer to someone as acouch potato, you criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television. Don’t be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV.
done thing
The correct way to behave in a particular social situation is called thedone thing. Wearing jeans to play golf is not the done thing.
fly-by-night
Afly-by-nightperson, business or venture is considered untrustworthy because they operate briefly and disappear overnight I bought it in one of those fly-by-night stores and now I can’t exchange it. The place has closed down.
bang one’s head against a brick wall
If youbang or knock your head against a brick wall, you continue vainly to try to achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful attempts. I’ve been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the internet to my grandmother!
hard of hearing
If someone ishard of hearing, they can’t hear very well. You’ll have to speak louder to Mr. Jones. He’s a bit hard of hearing.
shrinking violet
A person referred to asa shrinking violetis a timid or shy person. The witness was a shrinking violet who had difficulty expressing herself.
in the lurch
If something leaves youin the lurch, it leaves you in a difficult or embarrassing situation. When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch.
take pains
If youtake pains to do something,you try very hard or make a special effort to do it as well as possible. Great pains were taken to ensure the security of the athletes.
can’t see the wood for the trees
If someonecan’t see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can’t see the situation as a whole. The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn’t see the wood for the trees.
tight spot
Someone who isin a tight spotis in a very difficult situation. The recent strike has put the airline company in a tight spot.
devil makes hard work for idle hands
This expression means that people who do not have enough to do are often tempted to do something wrong. It’s not good for kids to have nothing to do at the week-end; the devil makes work for idle hands!
speak ill of someone
If youspeak ill of someone, you say bad or unkind things about them. He’s very loyal man who refuses to speak ill of his colleagues.
on the cusp
On the cusprefers to a point in time that marks a transition or the beginning of a change. Some people think the world is on the cusp of a new era.
take the bread out of somebody’s mouth
If youtake the bread out of somebody’s mouth, you take away their means of earning a living. The decision to ban street vendors took the bread out of the mouths of many people.
take down a peg
If youtake someone down a peg,you make that person realize that they are not as important as they think they are. He was too proud. Somebody had to take him down a peg.
smoke and mirrors
An attempt to conceal or distort the truth (like a magician) in order to confuse people is calledsmoke and mirrors. The outgoing president used smoke and mirrors to make the situation look better.
go spare
If yougo spareyou lose your temper completely. Lea’s dad would go spare if he knew how much she spent in London!
red light district
An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as thered light district. A photograph of the politician taken in a red-light district caused a scandal.
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
A person who isborn with a silver spoon in their mouthis born into a very rich family. She never has to worry about money; she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
let slip throughfingers
If you let somethingslip through your fingers, such as a good opportunity, you fail to obtain it or keep it. He should have accepted the job when it was offered. He let the opportunity slip through his fingers.
packed like sardines
If a group of people arepacked like sardines, they are pressed together tightly and uncomfortably because there is not enough space. The bus was very crowded - we were packed like sardines!
down to the wire
If something such as project or a match goesdown to the wire, the situation can change up until the last possible moment. There’s nothing as exciting as watching a game that goes down to the wire.
heart set on something
Someone who has theirheart set on somethingwants it very much. From an early age Tiger has his heart set on becoming a professional golfer.
put one’sfootdown
Toput one’s foot down means to exert authority to prevent something from happening. The child wanted to sleep on the sofa, but his father put his foot down and made him go to bed.
bite off more than you can chew
If youbite off more than you can chew, you try to do something that is too difficult for you, or more than you can manage. As soon as I started to translate the report, I realized that I had bitten off more than I could chew.
necessaryevil
If you say that something is anecessary evil,you don’t like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted. Vaccinations are a necessary evil if you want to travel.
throw/toss one’shat in the ring
If youthrow or toss your hat in the ring, you announce that you are going to enter a competition or take up a challenge. He finally threw his hat in the ring and announced that he was going to stand for election.
down at heel
A person who isdown-at-heelis someone whose appearance is untidy or neglected because of lack of money. The down-at-heel student I first met became a successful writer.
scrimp and save
If youscrimp and save,you spend as little as possible over a certain period of time in order to save money. The parents scrimped and saved for years so that their children could have a college education.
keep someone at arm’s length
If you keep someoneat arm’s length, you do not allow yourself to become friendly with them. It’s not easy to become friends with Sophie; she tends to keep everyone at arm’s length.
tough as old boots
If something, specially meat, is(as) tough as old boots, it is hard to cut and difficult to chew. (This can also refer to a person who is strong either physically or in character.) I was served a steak as tough as old boots.
window shopping
When people gowindow shopping,they look at things in shop windows, without actually purchasing anything. I haven’t been paid yet, so I can only go window shopping.
draw a blank
If you look for or try to remember something, anddraw a blank, you fail to find it. I nearly won the quiz; unfortunately I drew a blank at the last question!
nest egg
If you have anest egg,you have a reserve of money which you put aside for future needs. Our parents consider the money from the sale of their house as a nest egg for their old age.
can’t putnewwine in old bottles
This expression means that you should not try to combine new concepts or innovations with an old or long-established framework or system. You’ll never get that program to work on your father’s old computer. You can’t put new wine in old bottles!
devil is in the details
This expression refers to a task or a job which appears simple but is in fact more difficult to accomplish. Framing a picture looks easy but the devil is in the details.
get on like a house on fire
Two people who get onlike a house on firehave similar interests and quickly become good friends. As soon as Sarah met her brother’s girlfriend, they got on like a house on fire.
look on bright side
If youlook on the bright side, you view a mostly unpleasant situation in a positive and optimistic way and the see the favourable aspects. OK. You know nobody. But look on the bright side - you’ll make lots of new friends!
cramp someone’s style
If youcramp someone’s styleyou do something to prevent them from behaving freely, or performing to the best of their ability. I can’t paint with people watching me - it cramps my style!.
by thesame token
If you apply the same rule to different situations, you judge themby the same token, or in a similar way. Teenagers should be less rebellious, but by the same token, parents should be more understanding.
best foot forward
If you put yourbest foot forward, you do something as fast as you can. It’s a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward I should catch the next train.
swallow the bait
If youswallow the bait,you accept an offer made specially to persuade you to do something. When customers see a ‘special offer’ sign, they usually swallow the bait and purchase the product.
heart’s content
If you do somethingto your heart’s content, you do it as much and for as long as you want. When my parents are away, I can watch television to my heart’s content!
make light of
If youmake light ofsomething, you behave as though it is less serious than it really is. He won several awards for his work but he made light of it when the subject was mentioned.
useful as a chocolate teapot
Something which is of no practical use at all is aboutas useful as a chocolate teapot. When there are no roads, a car is about as useful as a chocolate teapot!
hang on by fingernails
When youhang on by the fingernails,you succeed in continuing to do something in a very difficult situation. The restaurant is losing more and more customers; the owner is just hanging on by his fingernails.
walk into lion’s den
If youwalk into the lion’s den,you find yourself in a difficult situation in which you have to face unfriendly or aggressive people. After the failure of the negotiations, he had to walk into the lion’s den and face the Press.
give a tongue-lashing
When you scold someone severely, yougive them a tongue-lashing. The teacher gave Jeremy a tongue-lashing when he arrived late for school for the third time.
movers and shakers
The termmovers and shakersrefers to people in power who take an active part in making things happen. Mover and shakers are assembling in Brussels for the summit.
method in madness
This expression means that someone’s behaviour is not as irrational as it seems. He’s efficient despite his strange way of working; there’s method in his madness!
fair-weather friend
Someone who acts as a friend when times are good, and is not there when you are in trouble, is called afair-weather friend. I thought I could count on Bill, but I’ve discovered he’s just a fair-weather friend.
