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English idioms (without example) > 0401-0600 > Flashcards

0401-0600 Flashcards

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1
Q

stick to your guns

A

If youstick to your guns,you show determination when faced with opposition.

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2
Q

take wind out ofsails

A

If someone or somethingtakes the wind out of your sails,they make you feel less confident by doing or saying something that you do not expect.

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3
Q

licence to print money

A

An officially authorized activity which enables people to make a lot of money without much effort is calleda licence to print money.

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4
Q

likely story

A

This expression is used to say that you do not believe what has just been said.

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5
Q

not only pebble on beach

A

To say that someone isnot the only pebble on the beachmeans that they are not the only person worth considering.

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6
Q

front runner

A

In a contest, race or election, thefront runneris the person who is most likely to succeed or win.

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7
Q

bad hair day

A

Originating as a humorous comment about one’s hair being unmanageable, this term had broadened to mean ‘a day when everything seems to go wrong’.

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8
Q

keep yourearto the ground

A

If you keep your ear to the ground, you make sure that you are aware of all that is happening and being said.

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9
Q

put one’s feet up

A

When you put your feet up, you sit down and relax.

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10
Q

heart of stone

A

Someone who has aheart of stoneis a cold person who shows others no understanding, sympathy or pity.

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11
Q

armchair traveller

A

Someone who reads books or watches TV programmes about other places and countries, but doesn’t actually travel anywhere, is called anarmchair traveller.

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12
Q

on a sticky wicket

A

If you find yourselfon a sticky wicket,you are in a situation that is difficult to deal with.

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13
Q

thrilled to bits

A

Someone who isthrilled to bitsis extremely pleased about something.

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14
Q

catch 22

A

Acatch 22situation refers to a frustrating situation where you cannot do one thing without doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first.

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15
Q

back the wrong horse

A

If youback or bet on the wrong horse, for example the loser in a contest, match or election, you support the wrong person.

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16
Q

sell your soul

A

This is a humorous way of saying that you would be willing to do something morally or legally wrong to obtain what you want.

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17
Q

look/feel like amilliondollars

A

If youlook or feel like a million dollars, you look or feel extremely good.

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18
Q

words of one syllable

A

If you explain something in words of one syllable, you use very simple language.

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19
Q

go out the window

A

If a quality, principle or opportunitygoes out the window,it disappears, is lost or abandoned.

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20
Q

toy with the idea

A

If you consider something without giving it serious thought, youtoy with the idea.

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21
Q

step out of line

A

If youstep out of line,you do something unacceptable or break the rules.

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22
Q

flag of convenience

A

If a ship, boat or yacht sails under aflag of convenience, it is registered in a foreign country in order to avoid regulations and taxes, and reduce operating costs.

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23
Q

hot on the trail

A

If you arehot on the trailof someone or something, you are very close to finding them.

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24
Q

turkeys voting for Christmas

A

This expression is used to say that a particular option is unlikely to be chosen because it would not be in the interest of the people concerned.

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25
Q

lock horns

A

If youlock hornswith somebody, you argue or fight with them about something.

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26
Q

class act

A

To say that someone, for example an athlete or entertainer, is aclass actmeans that they are very good at what they do.

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27
Q

riding high

A

Someone who isriding highis enjoying a period of success or popularity.

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28
Q

fly by the seat of your pants

A

If you fly by the seat of your pants,you do something without any knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed.

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29
Q

get the better of

A

If someone or somethinggets the better of you,it defeats you.

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30
Q

street-smart / streetwise

A

A person who isstreet-smartorstreetwisehas enough experience and knowledge about life in the city to be able to deal with difficult or dangerous situations.

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31
Q

do someone’sdirtywork

A

Todo somebody’s dirty workmeans to do the unpleasant or difficult work that another person does not want to do.

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32
Q

economical with the truth

A

To say that a person iseconomical with the truthmeans that, without actually lying, they omit important facts or give incomplete information.

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33
Q

it’s a small world

A

People use this expression when they are surprised to meet someone familiar in unexpected places.

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34
Q

vent your spleen

A

When you ventyour spleen,you release or express all your anger about something.

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35
Q

asking for trouble

A

Someone who isasking for troubleis behaving so stupidly that he/she is likely to have problems.

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36
Q

regain one’s composure

A

If youregain your composure,you calm down and control your emotions again after a stressful or upsetting event.

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37
Q

is thePopeCatholic?

A

This is a sarcastic way of answering a question in the affirmative when the answer is obviously ‘yes’.

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38
Q

now you’re talking!

A

This expression is used to show encouragement or agreement with something that has just been said, for example a good idea.

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39
Q

deep pockets

A

A person or organisation who hasdeep pocketshas a lot of money.

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40
Q

turn up like a bad penny

A

If someoneturns up like a bad penny,they appear at a place or event where they are not welcome or not wanted.

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41
Q

run out ofsteam

A

If you say that a person, a process or an organised event isrunning out of steam,you mean that there is a loss of impetus, energy or enthusiasm.

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42
Q

of your ownfreewill

A

If you do somethingof your own free will, you do it voluntarily, without any pressure from others.

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43
Q

swelled/swollen head

A

Someone who has aswelledorswollen headhas become proud or conceited, usually because of a recent success.

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44
Q

out of whack

A

If something isout of whack,it is not working properly or is not in good order.

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45
Q

my way or highway

A

If you say to someone’it’s my way or the highway’,you are telling them that either they accept to do as you say or they leave the project.

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46
Q

otherfishto fry

A

If you haveother fish to fry, you have more important things to do.

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47
Q

game not worth the candle

A

To say thatthe game(or the cake)is not worth the candlemeans that the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.

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48
Q

easy does it!

A

You can ‘easy does it!’ when you want something to be done slowly and carefully.

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49
Q

on the QT

A

Something that is done on the QT is done quietly or discreetly.

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50
Q

vested interest

A

If you have avested interestedin a situation or event, you expect to benefit or gain an advantage from it.

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51
Q

sink or swim

A

If someone has tosink or swim, they have to do something alone, and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.

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52
Q

before you know it

A

If something takes place so suddenly that you don’t have time to become aware of it, it happensbefore you know itorbefore you know where you are.

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53
Q

doubting Thomas

A

A ‘doubting Thomas’ is a person who will not believe something without proof, or without seeing it for themselves.

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54
Q

dance attendance

A

If youdance attendanceon somebody, you are constantly available for that person and attend to their wishes.

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55
Q

just off the boat

A

A person who isjust off the boatis naive and lacks experience.

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56
Q

over the top (OTT)

A

Something which isover the topis totally excessive or not suitable for the occasion.

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57
Q

horses for courses

A

This expression means that because horses race better on a course that suits them, it is important to match people with suitable jobs or tasks.

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58
Q

jack of all trades

A

Ajack of all tradesis a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.

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59
Q

snake in the grass

A

Someone who pretends to be your friend while actually betraying you isa snake in the grass.

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60
Q

take afancyto

A

If youtake a fancyto someone or something, you develop a fondness for them or begin to like them.

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61
Q

shoulder surfing

A

The practice of looking over somebody’s shoulder when they are using a computer, cash dispenser or other electronic device, in order to obtain personal information (identification, account number, password, etc.

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62
Q

come to blows

A

If two or more peoplecome to blows, they start to fight.

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63
Q

go to great lengths (or pains)

A

When trying to achieve something, if yougo to great lengthsorgreat pains, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed.

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64
Q

pull your weight

A

To say that somebodypulls their weight means that they do their fair share of the work.

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65
Q

(can’t)makean omelette without …

A

This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing some unpleasant effects.

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66
Q

all hell broke loose

A

If you say thatall hell broke loose, you mean that there was a sudden angry or noisy reaction to something.

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67
Q

sittingduck

A

Asitting duckis an easy target, a person who is easy to deceive.

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68
Q

keep thewolffrom the door

A

Tokeep the wolf from the dooryou need to have enough money to buy food and other basic essentials in order to survive.

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69
Q

taste of one’s own medicine

A

If you give someonea taste of their own medicine, you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.

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70
Q

run out of steam

A

If you say that a person, a process or an organised event isrunning out of steam,you mean that there is a loss of impetus, energy or enthusiasm.

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71
Q

grit your teeth

A

When you are determined to do something in spite of the difficulties involved, yougrit your teeth.

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72
Q

tear one’s hair out

A

If someone istearing their hair out,they are extremely agitated or distressed about something.

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73
Q

binge drinking

A

This term refers to heavy drinking where large quantities of alcohol are consumed in a short space of time, often among young people in rowdy groups.

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74
Q

live to tell the tale

A

Someone wholives to tell the talesurvives a terrible experience.

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75
Q

going concern

A

A business or activity that is dynamic and successful is agoing concern.

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76
Q

close to home

A

If a remark or comment isclose to home, it is so true, or it affects you so directly, that you feel uncomfortable.

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77
Q

cut both ways

A

Something thatcuts both wayshas both a positive and a negative effect at the same time.

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78
Q

all brawn and no brain

A

Someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent is said to beall brawn and no brain.

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79
Q

fall flat

A

If a joke, a story or a form of entertainmentfalls flat, it does not amuse people, or fails to have the effect that was intended.

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80
Q

sour grapes

A

To say that someone’s attitude is’sour grapes’means that they are trying to make others believe that something they cannot have is of no importance.

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81
Q

tickled pink

A

If you aretickled pink,you are very pleased about something.

82
Q

if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

A

This expression means that if a system or method works well, you shouldn’t change it.

83
Q

it’s anyone’s call

A

This expression is used when the result of a contest or election is difficult to predict.

84
Q

butterflies in your stomach

A

If you havebutterflies in your stomach, you are feeling very nervous.

85
Q

kowtow to someone

A

If you are very respectful and submissive, giving way to the wishes of a person or organisation in authority in order to please them, youkowtow to them.

86
Q

fromragsto riches

A

If a persongoes from rags to riches, they start off being very poor and become very rich and successful.

87
Q

my foot!

A

This expression is used to show that you do not believe something that has just been said.

88
Q

break every rule in the book

A

If you behave in a completely unacceptable way, youbreak every rule in the book.

89
Q

lend oneself to

A

If youlend yourself to something, you approve of it or become associated with it.

90
Q

fur coat and no knickers

A

A person who tries to appear distinguished but has no real class is referred to as’fur coat and no knickers’.

91
Q

forty winks

A

If youhave forty winks, you have a short sleep or rest, generally during the day.

92
Q

embarrassment of riches

A

When there is much more of something than necessary, and it is difficult to make a choice, you have anembarrassment of riches.

93
Q

over and done with

A

If something difficult or unpleasant isover and done with, it has now been successfully accomplished, so you don’t have to worry about it any longer.

94
Q

had one’s chips

A

To say that someonehas had their chipsmeans that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve.

95
Q

whys and wherefores

A

To talk about thewhys and whereforesmeans to discuss the reasons.

96
Q

not letgrassgrow under your feet

A

If someone doesnot let the grass grow under their feet,they do not delay in getting something done.

97
Q

(all)handson deck

A

When there is a need forall hands on deck, everyone must help, especially if there’s a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time.

98
Q

itchy feet

A

A person who hasitchy feetis someone who finds it difficult to stay in one place and likes to travel and discover new places.

99
Q

get a second bite of the cherry

A

This expression means that you get a second opportunity to do or try something.

100
Q

wishful thinking

A

Wishful thinkingmeans believing that something that you want to happen is really happening or will happen, even though it is neither true nor likely.

101
Q

make hair stand on end

A

If you are absolutely terrified of something, itmakes your hair stand on end.

102
Q

infomania

A

If you are constantly checking and responding to email and text messages, you may be the victim of a recent addiction calledinfomania.

103
Q

whole new ball game

A

To refer to something as awhole new ball gamemeans that it is a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances.

104
Q

regain one’s feet

A

If youregain your feet,you stand up again after stumbling or falling.

105
Q

by the skin of one’s teeth

A

If you manage to do somethingby the skin of your teeth,you succeed in doing it but you almost fail.

106
Q

keep options open

A

When youkeep your options open, you postpone making a decision so that you can choose among several possible courses of action.

107
Q

say a mouthful

A

Ifyou make an important or lengthy remark, yousay a mouthful.

108
Q

knock down with feather

A

To say ‘you could have knocked me down with a feather’emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised.

109
Q

sauce for the goose

A

The saying’what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’means that what is appropriate for one person should also be appropriate for the other person concerned.

110
Q

slap on the wrist

A

If you get aslap on the wrist, you receive mild punishment, or you are reprimanded for something you have done.

111
Q

play truant

A

A young person whoplays truantstays away from school without permission or excuse.

112
Q

(not) give ahoot

A

To say that you don’t or couldn’tgive a hootmeans that you don’t care at all about something.

113
Q

flog ahorse

A

To say that someone isflogging(orbeating) a dead horsemeans that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is impossible.

114
Q

only to be expected

A

If an event or outcome isonly to be expected, it is most likely to happen.

115
Q

time after time

A

If you do somethingtime after time, you do it repeatedly or on many occasions.

116
Q

a taste of one’s own medicine

A

If you give someonea taste of their own medicine,you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.

117
Q

thing of the past

A

Something which no longer exists or is rarely used today is athing of the past.

118
Q

stickler for the rules

A

Someone who isa stickler for the rulesis a disciplinarian who demands strict observance of the rules or procedures.

119
Q

not getting anywhere

A

If you arenot getting anywhere,you are making no progress at all.

120
Q

paper tiger

A

This term refers to a person, organisation or country that is less powerful or threatening than they appear to be.

121
Q

two can play at that game

A

You say this to tell someone that you can behave towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have behaved towards you.

122
Q

in/through thewars

A

If a person or thing has beenin (or through) the wars,they show signs of rough treatment, injury or damage.

123
Q

look before you leap

A

This is something you say when advising someone to think carefully about the possible problems before doing something.

124
Q

put a damper on

A

If someone or somethingputs a damper ona situation or event, they do something to make it less successful or enjoyable.

125
Q

that make my blood boil!

A

If somethingmakes your blood boil,it makes you really angry.

126
Q

put best foot forward

A

If someoneputs their best foot forward,they do something as fast as they can.

127
Q

just the ticket

A

If something isjust the ticket, it is exactly right, or just what you need.

128
Q

wear thetrousers

A

The partner whowears the trousers(orpants) is the one who makes the important decisions.

129
Q

jump out of one’s skin

A

If youjump out of your skin,you are extremely surprised or shocked.

130
Q

change of heart

A

If someone has achange of heart, they change their attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.

131
Q

samewavelength

A

If you areon the same wavelengthas someone else, you feel or think the same way about something.

132
Q

live from hand to mouth

A

If youlive from hand to mouth, you don’t have any money to save because whatever you earn is spent on food and other essentials.

133
Q

wooden spoon

A

The person who finishes last in a race or competition receives an imaginary prize called thewooden spoon.

134
Q

hedge your bets

A

If youhedge your bets,you choose two or more courses of action in order to reduce the risk of loss or error.

135
Q

senior moment

A

A momentary lapse of memory, especially in older people, or an absent-minded action such as putting the cereals in the refrigerator, is humorously referred to ashaving a senior moment.

136
Q

knock sense into

A

When youknock sense into somebody, you use strong words or methods in order to get that person to stop behaving stupidly.

137
Q

set the alarm bells ringing / alarm bells start to ring

A

If somethingsets the alarm bells ringing, it makes you begin to worry, because it shows that there may be a problem.

138
Q

can’t see thewoodfor the trees

A

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.

139
Q

first base

A

When youget to (or reach) first base, you make progress or begin to have success with someone or something.

140
Q

land of the living

A

This is a humorous way of saying that someone is still alive.

141
Q

paint the townred

A

If youpaint the town red,you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.

142
Q

get/give the low-down

A

If yougetorgive the low-down, you get or give complete information or facts about something.

143
Q

take offline

A

If you suggest that a subject betaken offline(during a meeting for example), you consider that it is a separate issue and should be discussed at another time.

144
Q

above board

A

If a situation or business is described asabove board, it is open, honest and legal.

145
Q

chalk and cheese

A

Two people who are likechalk and cheeseare completely different from each other.

146
Q

pound the pavement

A

Someone whopounds the pavementwalks the streets or goes from company to company, usually in search of employment.

147
Q

born with silver spoon in your mouth

A

To say that someone isborn with a silver spoon in their mouthmeans that their family is very rich and privileged.

148
Q

make up for lost time

A

If youmake up for lost time,you increase your efforts or work harder to complete something or meet a deadline.

149
Q

race against time

A

When someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain time.

150
Q

take matters into your own hands

A

If youtake matters into your hands, you take action yourself rather than waiting for others to intervene.

151
Q

give the slip

A

If yougive the slipto somebody who is following you, you manage to hide or get away from them.

152
Q

bounce off the walls

A

Someone who is very excited about something, or full of nervous energy, is said to bebouncing off the walls.

153
Q

different strokes for different folks

A

Each individual has their own tastes and requirements.

154
Q

fling oneself into

A

If youfling yourself intoan activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

155
Q

mixed blessing

A

Something pleasant which also has disadvantages is called amixed blessing.

156
Q

under close scrutiny

A

Someone or something that isunder (close) scrutinyis being watched or examined carefully.

157
Q

saddled with debt

A

If you aresaddled with debt,the amount of money that you owe is a financial burden.

158
Q

tar baby

A

This term refers to a sticky situation or problem for which it is virtually impossible to find a solution.

159
Q

it’s no use crying over spilt milk

A

It is useless to complain or have regrets about something that is done and cannot be changed.

160
Q

lay down the law

A

Someone wholays down the lawtells people very forcefully and firmly what to do.

161
Q

on one’s last legs

A

If you areon your last legs, you are in a very weak condition or about to die.

162
Q

dial it back

A

If youdial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or tone it down.

163
Q

not have a clue

A

If youdon’t have a clueabout something, you don’t know anything about it.

164
Q

ontopof the world

A

If you feelon top of the world,you are extremely happy because everything is going well for you.

165
Q

sorepoint

A

Asore pointis a subject to be avoided because it causes anger or embarrassment.

166
Q

left to own devises

A

If you leavesomeone to their own devices, you leave them to look after themselves, with any help or supervision.

167
Q

ostrich strategy/policy

A

Someone who adopts anostrich strategy or policychooses to ignore or evade an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.

168
Q

proper ‘do’

A

This expression refers to a social event with formal clothes and top-class catering, organised to celebrate something.

169
Q

good as gold

A

A child who isas good as goldis obedient and well-behaved.

170
Q

smack dab in themiddle

A

If something issmack dab in the middle,it is right in the centre.

171
Q

read the riot act

A

If you declare with force and authority that something must stop, and announce the consequences if it happens again, youread the riot act.

172
Q

in oneearand out the other

A

To say that informationgoes in one ear and comes out the othermeans that it is immediately forgotten or ignored.

173
Q

tug at the heartstrings

A

Something or someone whotugs at the heartstringscauses others to feel a great deal of pity or sadness.

174
Q

shotgun approach

A

If you usea shotgun approach,you cover a wide range in a non-selective, haphazard and inefficient manner.

175
Q

tongue in cheek

A

If you describe a remark as’tongue in cheek’ you mean that it is not meant to be taken seriously; it is meant to be funny or ironic.

176
Q

chip off the old block

A

A person who is achip off the old blockresembles one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour.

177
Q

dressed to kill

A

When someone, especially a woman, isdressed to kill, they are wearing very fashionable or glamorous clothes intended to attract attention.

178
Q

rap on the knuckles

A

If someone gets arap on/across the knuckles,they are punished or reprimanded, but not very severely, as a reminder not to do something again.

179
Q

(go to)hellin a handcart

A

If someone or something isgoing to hell in a handcart,their condition is poor and continues to deteriorate.

180
Q

live the life of riley

A

A person wholives the life of Rileyhas a comfortable and enjoyable life, without having to make much effort.

181
Q

in theeyeof the storm

A

A person or organisation who isin the eye of the stormis deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people.

182
Q

twenty-four-seven

A

This term refers to something which is available or happens twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

183
Q

rule the roost

A

If yourule the roost,you are the most important and powerful person in a group or community.

184
Q

take to the cleaners

A

If someone istaken to the cleaners,they lose a lot of money in an unfair way, usually by being robbed or cheated.

185
Q

hold all the aces

A

A person whoholds all the acesis in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else.

186
Q

eat out of house and home

A

This is a humorous way of saying that someone is eating large quantities of your food.

187
Q

live on the breadline

A

People wholive on the breadlinehave a very low income or barely enough money to survive.

188
Q

theworldis your oyster

A

This expression means that you are free and able to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities that life has to offer.

189
Q

walking papers

A

If you are given yourwalking papers,your contract or a relationship has ended.

190
Q

beyond redemption

A

If something isbeyond redemption, it is in such a poor state that there is no hope of improvement or recovery.

191
Q

set in one’s ways

A

A person who isset in their waysis unable or unwilling to change their ideas, habits or methods, often because they are old.

192
Q

clean bill of health

A

If a person has aclean bill of health, they have a report or certificate declaring that their health is satisfactory.

193
Q

in thelurch

A

Someone who is leftin the lurchis left in a difficult or embarrassing situation.

194
Q

turn on the waterworks

A

If someoneturns on the waterworks,they start to cry, especially to obtain something.

195
Q

take under your wing

A

If you offer guidance and protection to someone younger or less experienced, youtake them under your wing.

196
Q

cross your mind

A

If an idea or thoughtcrosses your mind,you suddenly think of it.

197
Q

live in an ivory tower

A

A person wholives in an ivory towerhas a lifestyle that preserves them from the problems and difficulties experienced by others.

198
Q

cherry pick

A

When youcherry pick,you choose something with great care and select only the best.

199
Q

as useful as achocolateteapot

A

Something which is of no practical use at all is aboutas useful as a chocolate teapot.

200
Q

five finger discount

A

If somebody gets afive-finger discount, they take something without paying.

English idioms (without example) (15 decks)

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