0401-0600 Flashcards
stick to your guns
If youstick to your guns,you show determination when faced with opposition.
take wind out ofsails
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.
licence to print money
An officially authorized activity which enables people to make a lot of money without much effort is calleda licence to print money.
likely story
This expression is used to say that you do not believe what has just been said.
not only pebble on beach
To say that someone isnot the only pebble on the beachmeans that they are not the only person worth considering.
front runner
In a contest, race or election, thefront runneris the person who is most likely to succeed or win.
bad hair day
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’.
keep yourearto the ground
If you keep your ear to the ground, you make sure that you are aware of all that is happening and being said.
put one’s feet up
When you put your feet up, you sit down and relax.
heart of stone
Someone who has aheart of stoneis a cold person who shows others no understanding, sympathy or pity.
armchair traveller
Someone who reads books or watches TV programmes about other places and countries, but doesn’t actually travel anywhere, is called anarmchair traveller.
on a sticky wicket
If you find yourselfon a sticky wicket,you are in a situation that is difficult to deal with.
thrilled to bits
Someone who isthrilled to bitsis extremely pleased about something.
catch 22
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.
back the wrong horse
If youback or bet on the wrong horse, for example the loser in a contest, match or election, you support the wrong person.
sell your soul
This is a humorous way of saying that you would be willing to do something morally or legally wrong to obtain what you want.
look/feel like amilliondollars
If youlook or feel like a million dollars, you look or feel extremely good.
words of one syllable
If you explain something in words of one syllable, you use very simple language.
go out the window
If a quality, principle or opportunitygoes out the window,it disappears, is lost or abandoned.
toy with the idea
If you consider something without giving it serious thought, youtoy with the idea.
step out of line
If youstep out of line,you do something unacceptable or break the rules.
flag of convenience
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.
hot on the trail
If you arehot on the trailof someone or something, you are very close to finding them.
turkeys voting for Christmas
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.
lock horns
If youlock hornswith somebody, you argue or fight with them about something.
class act
To say that someone, for example an athlete or entertainer, is aclass actmeans that they are very good at what they do.
riding high
Someone who isriding highis enjoying a period of success or popularity.
fly by the seat of your pants
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.
get the better of
If someone or somethinggets the better of you,it defeats you.
street-smart / streetwise
A person who isstreet-smartorstreetwisehas enough experience and knowledge about life in the city to be able to deal with difficult or dangerous situations.
do someone’sdirtywork
Todo somebody’s dirty workmeans to do the unpleasant or difficult work that another person does not want to do.
economical with the truth
To say that a person iseconomical with the truthmeans that, without actually lying, they omit important facts or give incomplete information.
it’s a small world
People use this expression when they are surprised to meet someone familiar in unexpected places.
vent your spleen
When you ventyour spleen,you release or express all your anger about something.
asking for trouble
Someone who isasking for troubleis behaving so stupidly that he/she is likely to have problems.
regain one’s composure
If youregain your composure,you calm down and control your emotions again after a stressful or upsetting event.
is thePopeCatholic?
This is a sarcastic way of answering a question in the affirmative when the answer is obviously ‘yes’.
now you’re talking!
This expression is used to show encouragement or agreement with something that has just been said, for example a good idea.
deep pockets
A person or organisation who hasdeep pocketshas a lot of money.
turn up like a bad penny
If someoneturns up like a bad penny,they appear at a place or event where they are not welcome or not wanted.
run out ofsteam
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.
of your ownfreewill
If you do somethingof your own free will, you do it voluntarily, without any pressure from others.
swelled/swollen head
Someone who has aswelledorswollen headhas become proud or conceited, usually because of a recent success.
out of whack
If something isout of whack,it is not working properly or is not in good order.
my way or highway
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.
otherfishto fry
If you haveother fish to fry, you have more important things to do.
game not worth the candle
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.
easy does it!
You can ‘easy does it!’ when you want something to be done slowly and carefully.
on the QT
Something that is done on the QT is done quietly or discreetly.
vested interest
If you have avested interestedin a situation or event, you expect to benefit or gain an advantage from it.
sink or swim
If someone has tosink or swim, they have to do something alone, and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
before you know it
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.
doubting Thomas
A ‘doubting Thomas’ is a person who will not believe something without proof, or without seeing it for themselves.
dance attendance
If youdance attendanceon somebody, you are constantly available for that person and attend to their wishes.
just off the boat
A person who isjust off the boatis naive and lacks experience.
over the top (OTT)
Something which isover the topis totally excessive or not suitable for the occasion.
horses for courses
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.
jack of all trades
Ajack of all tradesis a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.
snake in the grass
Someone who pretends to be your friend while actually betraying you isa snake in the grass.
take afancyto
If youtake a fancyto someone or something, you develop a fondness for them or begin to like them.
shoulder surfing
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.
come to blows
If two or more peoplecome to blows, they start to fight.
go to great lengths (or pains)
When trying to achieve something, if yougo to great lengthsorgreat pains, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed.
pull your weight
To say that somebodypulls their weight means that they do their fair share of the work.
(can’t)makean omelette without …
This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing some unpleasant effects.
all hell broke loose
If you say thatall hell broke loose, you mean that there was a sudden angry or noisy reaction to something.
sittingduck
Asitting duckis an easy target, a person who is easy to deceive.
keep thewolffrom the door
Tokeep the wolf from the dooryou need to have enough money to buy food and other basic essentials in order to survive.
taste of one’s own medicine
If you give someonea taste of their own medicine, you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.
run out of steam
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.
grit your teeth
When you are determined to do something in spite of the difficulties involved, yougrit your teeth.
tear one’s hair out
If someone istearing their hair out,they are extremely agitated or distressed about something.
binge drinking
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.
live to tell the tale
Someone wholives to tell the talesurvives a terrible experience.
going concern
A business or activity that is dynamic and successful is agoing concern.
close to home
If a remark or comment isclose to home, it is so true, or it affects you so directly, that you feel uncomfortable.
cut both ways
Something thatcuts both wayshas both a positive and a negative effect at the same time.
all brawn and no brain
Someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent is said to beall brawn and no brain.
fall flat
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.
sour grapes
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.
tickled pink
If you aretickled pink,you are very pleased about something.
if it ain’t broke don’t fix it
This expression means that if a system or method works well, you shouldn’t change it.
it’s anyone’s call
This expression is used when the result of a contest or election is difficult to predict.
butterflies in your stomach
If you havebutterflies in your stomach, you are feeling very nervous.
kowtow to someone
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.
fromragsto riches
If a persongoes from rags to riches, they start off being very poor and become very rich and successful.
my foot!
This expression is used to show that you do not believe something that has just been said.
break every rule in the book
If you behave in a completely unacceptable way, youbreak every rule in the book.
lend oneself to
If youlend yourself to something, you approve of it or become associated with it.
fur coat and no knickers
A person who tries to appear distinguished but has no real class is referred to as’fur coat and no knickers’.
forty winks
If youhave forty winks, you have a short sleep or rest, generally during the day.
embarrassment of riches
When there is much more of something than necessary, and it is difficult to make a choice, you have anembarrassment of riches.
over and done with
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.
had one’s chips
To say that someonehas had their chipsmeans that they have completely failed in what they set out to achieve.
whys and wherefores
To talk about thewhys and whereforesmeans to discuss the reasons.
not letgrassgrow under your feet
If someone doesnot let the grass grow under their feet,they do not delay in getting something done.
(all)handson deck
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.
itchy feet
A person who hasitchy feetis someone who finds it difficult to stay in one place and likes to travel and discover new places.
get a second bite of the cherry
This expression means that you get a second opportunity to do or try something.
wishful thinking
Wishful thinkingmeans believing that something that you want to happen is really happening or will happen, even though it is neither true nor likely.
make hair stand on end
If you are absolutely terrified of something, itmakes your hair stand on end.
infomania
If you are constantly checking and responding to email and text messages, you may be the victim of a recent addiction calledinfomania.
whole new ball game
To refer to something as awhole new ball gamemeans that it is a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances.
regain one’s feet
If youregain your feet,you stand up again after stumbling or falling.
by the skin of one’s teeth
If you manage to do somethingby the skin of your teeth,you succeed in doing it but you almost fail.
keep options open
When youkeep your options open, you postpone making a decision so that you can choose among several possible courses of action.
say a mouthful
Ifyou make an important or lengthy remark, yousay a mouthful.
knock down with feather
To say ‘you could have knocked me down with a feather’emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised.
sauce for the goose
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.
slap on the wrist
If you get aslap on the wrist, you receive mild punishment, or you are reprimanded for something you have done.
play truant
A young person whoplays truantstays away from school without permission or excuse.
(not) give ahoot
To say that you don’t or couldn’tgive a hootmeans that you don’t care at all about something.
flog ahorse
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.
only to be expected
If an event or outcome isonly to be expected, it is most likely to happen.
time after time
If you do somethingtime after time, you do it repeatedly or on many occasions.
a taste of one’s own medicine
If you give someonea taste of their own medicine,you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.
thing of the past
Something which no longer exists or is rarely used today is athing of the past.
stickler for the rules
Someone who isa stickler for the rulesis a disciplinarian who demands strict observance of the rules or procedures.
not getting anywhere
If you arenot getting anywhere,you are making no progress at all.
paper tiger
This term refers to a person, organisation or country that is less powerful or threatening than they appear to be.
two can play at that game
You say this to tell someone that you can behave towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have behaved towards you.
in/through thewars
If a person or thing has beenin (or through) the wars,they show signs of rough treatment, injury or damage.
look before you leap
This is something you say when advising someone to think carefully about the possible problems before doing something.
put a damper on
If someone or somethingputs a damper ona situation or event, they do something to make it less successful or enjoyable.
that make my blood boil!
If somethingmakes your blood boil,it makes you really angry.
put best foot forward
If someoneputs their best foot forward,they do something as fast as they can.
just the ticket
If something isjust the ticket, it is exactly right, or just what you need.
wear thetrousers
The partner whowears the trousers(orpants) is the one who makes the important decisions.
jump out of one’s skin
If youjump out of your skin,you are extremely surprised or shocked.
change of heart
If someone has achange of heart, they change their attitude or feelings, especially towards greater friendliness or cooperation.
samewavelength
If you areon the same wavelengthas someone else, you feel or think the same way about something.
live from hand to mouth
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.
wooden spoon
The person who finishes last in a race or competition receives an imaginary prize called thewooden spoon.
hedge your bets
If youhedge your bets,you choose two or more courses of action in order to reduce the risk of loss or error.
senior moment
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.
knock sense into
When youknock sense into somebody, you use strong words or methods in order to get that person to stop behaving stupidly.
set the alarm bells ringing / alarm bells start to ring
If somethingsets the alarm bells ringing, it makes you begin to worry, because it shows that there may be a problem.
can’t see thewoodfor 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.
first base
When youget to (or reach) first base, you make progress or begin to have success with someone or something.
land of the living
This is a humorous way of saying that someone is still alive.
paint the townred
If youpaint the town red,you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
get/give the low-down
If yougetorgive the low-down, you get or give complete information or facts about something.
take offline
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.
above board
If a situation or business is described asabove board, it is open, honest and legal.
chalk and cheese
Two people who are likechalk and cheeseare completely different from each other.
pound the pavement
Someone whopounds the pavementwalks the streets or goes from company to company, usually in search of employment.
born with silver spoon in your mouth
To say that someone isborn with a silver spoon in their mouthmeans that their family is very rich and privileged.
make up for lost time
If youmake up for lost time,you increase your efforts or work harder to complete something or meet a deadline.
race against time
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.
take matters into your own hands
If youtake matters into your hands, you take action yourself rather than waiting for others to intervene.
give the slip
If yougive the slipto somebody who is following you, you manage to hide or get away from them.
bounce off the walls
Someone who is very excited about something, or full of nervous energy, is said to bebouncing off the walls.
different strokes for different folks
Each individual has their own tastes and requirements.
fling oneself into
If youfling yourself intoan activity, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
mixed blessing
Something pleasant which also has disadvantages is called amixed blessing.
under close scrutiny
Someone or something that isunder (close) scrutinyis being watched or examined carefully.
saddled with debt
If you aresaddled with debt,the amount of money that you owe is a financial burden.
tar baby
This term refers to a sticky situation or problem for which it is virtually impossible to find a solution.
it’s no use crying over spilt milk
It is useless to complain or have regrets about something that is done and cannot be changed.
lay down the law
Someone wholays down the lawtells people very forcefully and firmly what to do.
on one’s last legs
If you areon your last legs, you are in a very weak condition or about to die.
dial it back
If youdial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or tone it down.
not have a clue
If youdon’t have a clueabout something, you don’t know anything about it.
ontopof the world
If you feelon top of the world,you are extremely happy because everything is going well for you.
sorepoint
Asore pointis a subject to be avoided because it causes anger or embarrassment.
left to own devises
If you leavesomeone to their own devices, you leave them to look after themselves, with any help or supervision.
ostrich strategy/policy
Someone who adopts anostrich strategy or policychooses to ignore or evade an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.
proper ‘do’
This expression refers to a social event with formal clothes and top-class catering, organised to celebrate something.
good as gold
A child who isas good as goldis obedient and well-behaved.
smack dab in themiddle
If something issmack dab in the middle,it is right in the centre.
read the riot act
If you declare with force and authority that something must stop, and announce the consequences if it happens again, youread the riot act.
in oneearand out the other
To say that informationgoes in one ear and comes out the othermeans that it is immediately forgotten or ignored.
tug at the heartstrings
Something or someone whotugs at the heartstringscauses others to feel a great deal of pity or sadness.
shotgun approach
If you usea shotgun approach,you cover a wide range in a non-selective, haphazard and inefficient manner.
tongue in cheek
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.
chip off the old block
A person who is achip off the old blockresembles one of their parents in appearance, character or behaviour.
dressed to kill
When someone, especially a woman, isdressed to kill, they are wearing very fashionable or glamorous clothes intended to attract attention.
rap on the knuckles
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.
(go to)hellin a handcart
If someone or something isgoing to hell in a handcart,their condition is poor and continues to deteriorate.
live the life of riley
A person wholives the life of Rileyhas a comfortable and enjoyable life, without having to make much effort.
in theeyeof the storm
A person or organisation who isin the eye of the stormis deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people.
twenty-four-seven
This term refers to something which is available or happens twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
rule the roost
If yourule the roost,you are the most important and powerful person in a group or community.
take to the cleaners
If someone istaken to the cleaners,they lose a lot of money in an unfair way, usually by being robbed or cheated.
hold all the aces
A person whoholds all the acesis in a very strong position because they have more advantages than anyone else.
eat out of house and home
This is a humorous way of saying that someone is eating large quantities of your food.
live on the breadline
People wholive on the breadlinehave a very low income or barely enough money to survive.
theworldis your oyster
This expression means that you are free and able to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities that life has to offer.
walking papers
If you are given yourwalking papers,your contract or a relationship has ended.
beyond redemption
If something isbeyond redemption, it is in such a poor state that there is no hope of improvement or recovery.
set in one’s ways
A person who isset in their waysis unable or unwilling to change their ideas, habits or methods, often because they are old.
clean bill of health
If a person has aclean bill of health, they have a report or certificate declaring that their health is satisfactory.
in thelurch
Someone who is leftin the lurchis left in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
turn on the waterworks
If someoneturns on the waterworks,they start to cry, especially to obtain something.
take under your wing
If you offer guidance and protection to someone younger or less experienced, youtake them under your wing.
cross your mind
If an idea or thoughtcrosses your mind,you suddenly think of it.
live in an ivory tower
A person wholives in an ivory towerhas a lifestyle that preserves them from the problems and difficulties experienced by others.
cherry pick
When youcherry pick,you choose something with great care and select only the best.
as useful as achocolateteapot
Something which is of no practical use at all is aboutas useful as a chocolate teapot.
five finger discount
If somebody gets afive-finger discount, they take something without paying.
