02.07.2021 Flashcards
Meek and weak
Rash and brash
foot-in-mouth
Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless I opened my mouth and put my foot right in.
A barking dog seldom bites
A: “I’m really scared to tell Mr. White that I haven’t finished my project. You know how he yells.” B: “Yeah, but barking dogs seldom bite. He’ll get over it.”
a bit much
Unnecessarily excessive.
Julie’s mother thought that it was a bit much to expect the students to stay at school until 10 o’clock for theater practice.
a bridge too far
An act or plan whose ambition overreaches its capability, resulting in or potentially leading to difficulty or failure.
The multi-million-dollar purchase of the small startup proved a bridge too far for the social media company, as the added revenue couldn’t make up for the cost in the end.
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
proverb If one part of something is weak, it jeopardizes the integrity, quality, or effectiveness of the whole.
I need to make sure that everyone on our debate team is well-prepared, since a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and our security will not be effective if any of the checkpoints are not functioning.
A day late and a dollar short is another way to say too little too late. When a person is a day late and a dollar short, he has not only missed an opportunity due to tardiness, but also because he has not put forth enough effort.
All of which kind of makes American Airlines’ announcement sound a day late and a dollar short — or more precisely, a month late and 10 routes short of Delta’s offer. (The Motley Fool)
Always a day late and a dollar short, it looks like the Carolina Hurricanes are finally finding a rhythm. (Canes Country)
Honokaa’s softball team was a day late and a dollar short again Saturday, coming up on the wrong end of another slugfest. (The Hawaii Tribune-Herald)
a fool and his money are soon parted
a foolish person spends money carelessly and will soon be penniless.
a fool at 40 is a fool forever
proverb Someone who reaches middle age and continues to act foolishly is unlikely to start acting more maturely.
A: “He’s way too old to be spending his money so frivolously.” B: “I know. A fool at 40 is a fool forever.”
a fresh pair of eyes
Another person to examine or critique something. I need a fresh pair of eyes to look at my term paper because I always make a lot of spelling mistakes. I think we should get a fresh pair of eyes on this ad campaign before we finalize it.
leap in the dark
A chance that one takes despite being uncertain of the consequences or outcome. I don’t usually go on blind dates, but I took a leap in the dark and agreed to meet Sarah’s friend for dinner.
a lick and a promise
US : a quick and careless attempt to do something They gave the budget problems a lick and a promise and then moved on to the next issue.
2 British : the act of washing something quickly or carelessly He gave the car a lick and a promise.
light purse makes a heavy heart
- proverb Not having enough money can cause one to suffer a lot of stress, worry, and unhappiness. I know you can’t comprehend why there’s so much depression, anxiety, and anger in this part of the country, but that’s because you’ve never been forced to live in poverty. If you had, you’d understand that a light purse makes a heavy heart.
- proverb By extension, one should not spend their money frivolously or wastefully, lest it lead to one’s unhappiness. I know you’re excited to go to the casinos on your trip to Las Vegas, but be careful how you handle your money—a light purse makes for a heavy heart.
A-list celebrities
used for describing people who are the most famous:
A little bird told me
used for saying that you are not going to say who told you something
A little bird told me you’d got a new job.
