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.