0201-0400 Flashcards
out of sync
If two movements or actions areout of sync, they are not coordinated and are not taking place at the same time or at the same speed. The traffic lights are out of sync and causing a lot of confusion.
back to square one
To say that someone isback to square onemeans that they have not succeeded in what they were trying to do, so they have to start again. When the plans were refused, it was ‘back to square one’ for the architect.
on the tip oftongue
To say that a word or answer ison the tip of your tongue,means that you’re sure you know it but have difficulty finding it. What’s that actor’s name? I know it … it’s on the tip of my tongue!
grass roots
The termgrass rootsrefers to the ordinary people who form the main body of an organisation.
jump for joy
When peoplejump for joy, they express their happiness through excited movements and gestures. The player jumped for joy when he scored the winning goal.
worth one’s salt
Someone who deserves respect because they do their job well is a person who isworth their salt. Any inspector worth their salt would have checked the papers carefully.
might is right
This saying expresses the belief that being the most powerful person or country gives you the right to do whatever you want. There are many leaders today who believe that might is right.
like twopeasin a pod
To say that two people are liketwo peas in a podmeans that they are very similar in appearance. It wasn’t difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod.
middle of the road (MOR)
This term refers to anything moderate, unadventurous or inoffensive that avoids extremes and appeals to the majority of people. He’s a successful middle-of-the-road entertainer. My mother wouldn’t miss a show!
big picture
If you talk about thebig picture, you refer to the overall situation, or the project as a whole rather than the details. While each aspect is important, try not to forget the big picture.
money laundering
When peoplelaunder money,they manage to conceal the source of illegally-obtained money so that it is believed to be legitimate. Certain countries have been accused of facilitating money laundering.
no picnic
A situation or activity that isno picnicis difficult or problematic. Raising teenagers nowadays is no picnic believe me!
up to thehilt
When someone does something(up) to the hilt,they do it completely, fully or to the maximum degree. He was involved in the conspiracy to the hilt.
give or take (quantity)
This term is used when expressing an amount or estimate that is not exactly right. It means ‘plus or minus’, ‘more or less’, or ‘approximately’. The nearest town is about 100 miles away, give or take a few miles.
keep posted
If someone asks you tokeep them posted,they want you to keep them informed about a situation. Our agent promised to keep us posted on developments in the negotiations.
crying shame
If something is acrying shame, it is very sad or unfortunate. It’s a crying shame that some families cannot afford lunch for their children.
hot off the press
If a news article, for example, ishot off the press, it has just been published and contains the most recent information on the subject. I just got it hot off the press; another bank has gone bankrupt.
knock down with afeather
To say ‘you could have knocked me down with a feather’emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised. When I heard the name of the winner, you could have knocked me down with a feather!
burn themidnightoil
A person whoburns the midnight oilstays up very late at night in order to finish a piece of work. Tony is working hard for his exams. He’s been burning the midnight oil all week.
in mint condition
Something that isin mint conditionis in such perfect condition that it looks new or as good as new. The car is 10 years old but according to Tom it’s in mint condition.
off colour
If you areoff colour, you look or feel ill. What’s the matter with Tom? He looks a bit off colour today.
one horse town
A place referred to as aone horse townis a small, boring town where nothing much ever happens. I wish my grandparents didn’t live in that one-horse town. It’s such a boring place!
under your ownsteam
If you go somewhereunder your own steam,you do so without any help from others. No need to pick us up. We’ll get there under our own steam.
stir up a hornet’s nest
If youstir up a hornet’s nest,you do something which causes a commotion and provokes criticism and anger. His letter to the Board stirred up a real hornet’s nest.
a rip-off
To say that something isa rip-offmeans that it costs much more than it should. $10 for an orange juice? That’s a rip-off!
chip on your shoulder
If someone has achip on their shoulder, the feel resentful because they feel they are being treated unfairly, especially because of their background, their sex or their colour. He’s got a chip on his shoulder because he’s from a working-class family.
a picture is worth a thousand words
This expression means that a picture can give just as much information as a large amount of descriptive text. Look at the picture of the crash! A picture is worth a thousand words isn’t it?
whistle in the dark
If youwhistle in the dark,you try to hide your fear and pretend to be brave in a scary or dangerous situation. Bob looks confident but he’s just whistling in the dark; he knows he’s going to lose his job.
whitelie
If youtell a white lie,you say something which is not true in order to protect someone or to avoid hurting their feelings. Some parents prefer to tell their children a white lie rather than announce bad news.
stubborn as a mule
If someone isas stubborn as a mule,they are very obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason or change their mind. His friends advised him to accept the offer, but you know Larry - he’s as stubborn as a mule!
beat around the bush
This expression is used to tell someone to say what they have to say, clearly and directly, even if it is unpleasant. Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me what has been decided!
bring nothing to the table
If you participate in negotiations andbring nothing to the table, you have nothing of interest to offer the other side. We’ll never reach an agreement if we don’t all bring something to the table.
the bubble has burst
To say thatthe bubble has burstmeans that the success of an idea, a product or a situation has suddenly stopped. The video game was a phenomenal success but the bubble has burst.
on the level
If you say that someone ison the level,you are referring to an honest and truthful person. Tell me straight - is he on the level or not?
give awideberth
If you give someone or somethinga wide berth,you stay at a prudent distance from them in order to avoid unwanted consequences. The only way to avoid traffic jams is to give the town centre a wide berth.
more byaccidentthan by design
Something that happensmore by accident than (by) designis done without deliberate intention. I became an interpreter more by accident than design; nobody else could speak the language of the refugees.
(in) dire straits
If a person or organisation isin dire straits, they are in a very difficult situation. The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire straits.
just desserts
When someonegets their just desserts, they are rewarded or punished according to what they deserve. Liz got her just desserts when she was excluded from the committee. She is totally unreliable.
xerox subsidy
This term refers to the habit of using the photocopier at work for personal use. A certain percentage of photocopies are in fact xerox subsidies.
(same) oldstory
A common occurrence, or something that happens regularly or always in the same way, is called anold storyor thesame old story. It’s always the same old story: we do all the work and the boss takes all the credit!
water under the bridge
If something difficult or unpleasant took place in the past but is no longer important, it is referred to aswater under the bridge. They had a serious disagreement in the past, but that’s water under the bridge today.
gather dust
An idea, plan or project whichis gathering dustis in fact stagnating or has not attracted attention for some time. Just before the elections, the outgoing mayor produced plans for a new bridge which had been gathering dust for several years.
blue in the face
If you do something until you areblue in the face, you try unsuccessfully to do something for a very long time. I explained the situation until I was blue in the face but she wouldn’t change her mind.
goose pimples
If you havegoose pimples, you are cold or so afraid that your skin is temporarily raised into little lumps. I was so scared that I had goose pimples all through the film!
once in a blue moon
If something occursonce in a blue moon, it happens very rarely. Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each other once in a blue moon.
play your cards right
If youplay your cards right,you do all that is necessary to succeed or to obtain what you want. If we play our cards right, we’ll get the contract.
sink one’s differences
If people or organisationssink their differences,they decide to forget their disagreements. We must sink our differences and build a peaceful community.
at this stage of the game
This expression refers to the current point reached in a process, activity or developing situation. At this stage of the game I think any further intervention would be unwise. Let’s wait and see how things develop.
partner in crime
A person who helps you to plan something dishonest or unlawful is called yourpartner in crime. (This expression can be used jokingly as in the example below.) Sam was my partner in crime. He hid my son’s bicycle until his birthday.
devil take the hindmost
This expression means that you should think of yourself and not worry about other people. When the boat capsized it was a case of ‘the devil take the hindmost’, but luckily they all survived.
stretch the truth
When youstretch the truth,you exaggerate the facts or say things that are not exactly true. Some candidates are tempted to stretch the truth about their skills or work experience.
that figures!
This expression is used to say that something seems logical or is as expected. “We’ll have to get a bigger car when the baby arrives.” “That figures!”
out of earshot
When someone isout of earshot, they are too far away to hear or to be heard. They waited until Tess was out of earshot before discussing her surprise birthday party.
lost ball in high weeds
Someone who is totally confused, and doesn’t know what they are doing or how to do it, isa lost ball in high weeds. The new intern in a lost ball in high weeds - he has no idea now to begin the task he’s been given.
step on the gas
If someone tells you tostep on the gas,they are encouraging you to accelerate or hurry up in order to get something done quickly. We’d better step on the gas and get these figures printed. The meeting starts in half an hour.
crest of a wave
If you areon the crest of a wave, you are very successful in what you are doing. Our company is going from success to success. We’re on the crest of a wave right now.
turn a deaf ear
If youturn a deaf earto something, you refuse to listen. Sam turned a deaf ear to his wife’s advice and went off in the rain without an umbrella.
speak of the devil!
This is said to refer to a person who appears just when his/her name is mentioned. Speak of the devil! We were just talking about your invitation.
knock your socks off
If something amazes you, or impresses you greatly, itknocks your socks off. The magnitude of the project will knock the socks off everyone in the office.
nine times out of ten
When something happensnine times out of ten,it is what usually happens. The public transport system is very bad. Trains arrive late nine times out of ten.
take a nosedive
If somethingtakes a nosedive,it drops or decreases in value very rapidly. The stock market took a nosedive when the property market began to weaken.
in arut
If you arein a rut,you have a monotonous and boring way of life. If you feel you’re in a rut, why don’t you look for a new job?
(get) comeuppance
When someonegets their comeuppance, they receive the treatment they deserve (usually punishment or retribution) for their behaviour or actions. Any pupils found bullying the newcomers will soon get their comeuppance.
wear the trousers
The partner in a couple whowears the trousers is the one who makes all the important decisions. The salesman hesitated before the couple. It was difficult to see who wore the trousers.
jump in the deep end
When youjump in (or arethrown in) at the deep end,you do something without any help or preparation, in an area where you have little or no experience. He got a job as a salesman, for which he had no training, so he just had to jump in at the deep end.
one’s number is up
To say thatone’s number is upmeans that either a person is in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time has come when they will die. The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!
take the rap
If youtake the rap,you accept blame or punishment for something, even if you are not responsible. The whole class had to the take the rap for the disorder.
leave the door open
If youleave the door open, you behave in such a way as to allow the possibility of further action. Both parties left the door open for further negotiations.
fine-tooth comb
To go over something with afine-tooth combmeans to examine it closely and thoroughly so as not to miss any details. The police are examining the scene of the crime with a fine-tooth comb.
strike the right note
If youstrikeorhit the right note,you say or do something suitable or appropriate. He struck the right note with his future mother-in-law when he gave her a book on gardening - her favourite hobby!
grin from ear to ear
If somebodygrins from ear to ear, they look vey satisfied and happy. When we saw Paul grinning from ear to ear, we knew he had passed the exam.
corridors of power
This term refers to the higher levels of government or administration where important decisions are made. The matter is the subject of much discussion in the corridors of power at the present time.
much ado about nothing
If people makemuch ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important. A discussion took place about the colour of the receptionist’s shoes - much ado about nothing!
fingeron the pulse
If youkeep your finger on the pulse, you are constantly aware of the most recent events or developments. A successful investor keeps his finger on the pulse of international business.
not cut out for something
If you arenot cut out for something, you are not the sort of person to succeed or be happy in a particular activity. I started studying medicine but I quickly realized I wasn’t cut out for it.
different kettle of fish
To describe a person, thing or situation as adifferent kettle of fishmeans that it is completely different from what was previously mentioned. You may have good business relations, but living in that country is a different kettle of fish.
why buy a cow when you can get milk for free
This refers to not paying for something that you can obtain for free. (Sometimes refers to a decision not to marry when you can have the benefits of marriage without any commitment.) Rent is high so Bobby is still living with his parents. He says : why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?
once in a bluemoon
Something that happensonce in a blue moonhappens rarely or hardly ever. She doesn’t contact us very often. We hear from her once in a blue moon!
in stitches
When people arein stitches,they are laughing a lot. The story was so funny, everyone was in stitches.
easy aspie
If something iseasy as pie, it is very easy to do. “How did the English test go?” “No problem - it was easy as pie.”
