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English idioms (without example) > 0601-0800 > Flashcards

0601-0800 Flashcards

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1
Q

on one’s uppers

A

Someone who ison their uppershas very little money or not enough to cover their needs.

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2
Q

trial and error

A

Attempting to achieve a satisfactory result by testing and eliminating various methods until the best one is found is calledtrial and error.

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3
Q

take as read

A

Something that does not need to be discussed because it is already understood or agreed upon can betaken as read.

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4
Q

go along for the ride

A

If you join a group of people you find interesting, without wanting to take an active part in their action, yougo along for the ride.

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5
Q

shedlight

A

If youshed lighton something, you help to explain it or make it easier to understand; It was hoped that the testimony of the witnesses would shed light on the circumstances of the accident.

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6
Q

make apigof yourself

A

If youmake a pig of yourself,you eat and drink too much.

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7
Q

under (close)scrutiny

A

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

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8
Q

monkey business

A

An activity which is organised in a deceitful or dishonest way is calledmonkey business.

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9
Q

grey matter (US: gray)

A

Grey matter refers to the brain, or the grey colour of brain tissue.

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10
Q

come up in theworld

A

A person who hascome up in the worldis richer than before and has a higher social status.

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11
Q

walk of life

A

A person’s profession or position in society is known as theirwalk of life.

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12
Q

money spinner

A

If an activity is amoney spinner, it is a very successful way of making money.

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13
Q

take cover

A

When someonetakes cover,they hide from a danger, or bad weather, in a place where they find protection.

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14
Q

wind/wound up

A

If someone is so excited that they talk non-stop, they arewound up.

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15
Q

get down to brass tacks

A

When peopleget down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the essential aspects of a problem or situation.

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16
Q

lock, stock and barrel

A

Lock, stock and barrelmeans ‘everything’.

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17
Q

more by accident than (by) design

A

Something which happensmore by accident than (by) designis done without deliberate intention.

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18
Q

make inroads

A

If someone or somethingmakes inroads, for example in a new field or area, they advance successfully or make progress.

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19
Q

on cloud nine

A

A person who ison cloud nineis very happy because something wonderful has happened.

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20
Q

take therap

A

If youtake the rapfor something, you accept blame or punishment for it, even if you have not done it.

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21
Q

gooffthe deep end

A

If a persongoes off the deep end, they become so angry or upset that they cannot control their emotions.

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22
Q

save one’s skin/neck

A

If you manage to escape from serious danger or trouble, yousave your skin (or neck).

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23
Q

cash in your chips

A

If youcash in your chips, you sell something, especially shares, either because you need the money or because you think the value is going to fall.

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24
Q

hard and fast

A

Something which ishard and fastis inflexible or cannot be altered.

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25
Q

paid peanuts

A

Ifyou arepaid peanuts,you have a very low salary.

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26
Q

in the balance

A

If something isin the balance, the situation is uncertain and it is not clear what is going to happen.

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27
Q

off the cuff

A

If you speakoff the cuff,you say something without any previous thought or preparation.

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28
Q

ride coattails

A

If you use your connections with someone successful in order to achieve fame or success for yourself, without any personal effort, youride their coattails.

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29
Q

ambulance chaser

A

A lawyer who finds work by persuading people injured in accidents to claim money from the person who caused the accident is called an’ambulance chaser’.

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30
Q

yourguess is as good as mine

A

When talking to another person,’your guess is as good as mine’means that neither of you knows the answer.

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31
Q

throughthickand thin

A

If someone does somethingthrough thick and thin,they do it in spite of all the difficulties and problems.

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32
Q

cross to bear

A

A person who has across to bear have a serious problem or heavy responsibility that they must accept because they cannot change it.

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33
Q

press home

A

If youpress something home, you insist on a point in a discussion or argument.

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34
Q

before your very eyes

A

If someone does something before your very eyes, they do it in front of you, without attempting to hide what they are doing.

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35
Q

at sixes and sevens

A

If someone isat sixes and sevens,they are in a state of confusion or not very well organised.

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36
Q

piece of the action

A

When someone wantsa piece of the action, they want to participate in what other people are doing and benefit from it.

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37
Q

over dead body

A

This expression is used by someone who absolutely refuses to allow someone to do something.

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38
Q

strike rightnote

A

VALUE!

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39
Q

have someone in yourpocket

A

If you have influence or power over someone, youhave them in your pocket.

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40
Q

get afoothold

A

If youget a footholdsomewhere, you secure a position for yourself in a business, profession or organisation.

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41
Q

all skin and bone

A

If someone isall skin and bone, they are very thin or too thin.

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42
Q

never mind

A

When you’never mind’to someone, you are telling them not to worry, that it is not important.

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43
Q

accidentally on purpose

A

If you do something intentionally, but pretend it was an accident, you do itaccidentally on purpose.

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44
Q

on the breadline

A

People who liveon the breadlinehave a very low income or barely enough money to survive.

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45
Q

in leaps and bounds

A

If you do somethingin leaps and bounds,you make rapid or spectacular progress or growth.

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46
Q

uphill battle

A

A person faced withan uphill battlehas to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances.

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47
Q

nine-day wonder

A

An event which isa nine-day wondercauses interest, surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn’t last.

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48
Q

in strict confidence

A

If you say somethingin strict confidence,you tell it as a secret not to be revealed.

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49
Q

dog-eat-dog

A

This expression refers to intense competition and rivalry in pursuit of one’s own interests, with no concern for morality.

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50
Q

after the fact

A

If something is doneafter the fact, it done too late, after something has actually happened, especially a crime or an accident.

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51
Q

(be) spot on

A

If something isspot on,it is exactly right.

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52
Q

ready todrop

A

Someone who isready to dropis nearly too exhausted to stay standing.

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53
Q

vanish into thin air

A

If somethingvanishes into thin air, it disappears completely in a mysterious way.

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54
Q

(not) get awordin edgeways

A

During a discussion, if youcan’t get a word in edgeways,you can’t say something because the others are talking so much.

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55
Q

gift of the gab

A

To say that somebody has thegift of the gabmeans that they are able to speak confidently and easily.

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56
Q

few and far between

A

Items, places or events which arefew and far betweenare rarely found or do not happen very often.

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57
Q

that’s the way the cookie crumbles

A

VALUE!

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58
Q

sneak preview/peek

A

A sneak preview (or sneak peek) is a special viewing of a film or art production given to a select audience before being shown to the general public.

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59
Q

unvarnished truth

A

If you present someone with plain facts, without trying to embellish or soften the reality, you give them theunvarnished truth.

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60
Q

dimview

A

If youtake a dim viewof something, you do not approve of it.

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61
Q

vote with one’s feet

A

If youvote with your feet,your show your dislike or disapproval of something by leaving.

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62
Q

wash yourhandsof

A

If youwash your hands ofa problem or situation, you refuse to deal with it any longer.

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63
Q

sleeping/silent partner

A

This term refers to a person who invests in a business without taking an active part in its management, and whose association with the enterprise is not public knowledge.

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64
Q

come to a head

A

If a problem or difficult situationcomes to a head, it reaches a point where action has to be taken.

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65
Q

off the record

A

If you say somethingoff the record,you do not want anyone to repeat it publicly.

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66
Q

allfingers and thumbs

A

If you areall fingers and thumbs,you are awkward and clumsy and do things incorrectly.

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67
Q

make a go of

A

When youmake a go of something, you succeed in your enterprise or produce good results.

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68
Q

rob the cradle

A

If yourob the cradle,you have a romantic relationship with someone who is much younger than yourself.

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69
Q

industrial strength

A

This is a humorous way of referring to something which is very strong, powerful or concentrated.

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70
Q

what goes round comes round

A

This expression means that if you do something bad, something bad will happen to you eventually.

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71
Q

wait for the cat to jump

A

If youwait for the cat to jump, or tosee which way the cat jumps,you delay taking action until you see how events will turn out.

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72
Q

money doesn’t grow on trees

A

To say thatmoney doesn’t grow on treesmeans that it is not plentiful or easily obtained.

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73
Q

lash out

A

If youlash outat somebody, you attack them, usually verbally.

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74
Q

learn the ropes

A

If youlearn the ropes,you learn how to do a particular job correctly.

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75
Q

on cue

A

If something happenson cue, it happens at exactly the appropriate or expected moment.

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76
Q

touch/knock onwood

A

This humorous expression, based on superstition, is used to avoid bad luck, often while touching something made of wood.

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77
Q

toot your own horn

A

If youtoot your own horn,you like to boast about your abilities and achievements.

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78
Q

snail mail

A

This term refers to the standard system of mail delivery, or postal service, considered very slow compared to electronic mail.

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79
Q

think better of

A

If youthink better ofsomething, you decide not to do what you intended doing.

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80
Q

make a mint

A

If someonemakes a mint,they make a large amount of money.

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81
Q

go off the rails

A

If someonegoes off the rails, they go out of control and begin to behave in a manner that is unacceptable to society.

82
Q

fat chance

A

The expressionfat chanceis used to indicate that something is not very likely to happen.

83
Q

money burns a hole in your pocket

A

To say thatmoney burns a hole in somebody’s pocketmeans that they are eager to spend it quickly or extravagantly.

84
Q

deaf ear

A

If youturn a deaf earto something, you refuse to listen.

85
Q

come with the territory

A

To say that somethingcomes with the territorymeans that it has to be accepted as part of a job or responsibility, even if it is unpleasant.

86
Q

golden rule

A

The most important rule or principle to be remembered when doing something is called thegolden rule.

87
Q

catch redhanded

A

If a person iscaught red-handed, they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal.

88
Q

not for all theworld

A

If you say that you wouldnotto somethingfor (all) the world,you mean that you never do it, no matter what you were offered.

89
Q

sign own death warrant

A

If you do something that causes your own downfall, or prevents you from being successful, yousign your own death warrant.

90
Q

over the moon

A

If you areover the moon,you are absolutely delighted.

91
Q

safe side

A

If you do something to beon the safe side,you do it as a precaution, to avoid any risks.

92
Q

hold one’s own

A

If you canhold your own, you are well able to defend yourself when under attack.

93
Q

put on the long finger

A

If you putsomething on the long finger,you postpone it indefinitely.

94
Q

call itquits

A

When people temporarily stop doing something or put an end to an activity, theycall it quits.

95
Q

millstone around neck

A

Something described as amillstone around your neckrefers to a problem or responsibility that becomes a burden and a source of worry.

96
Q

ride roughshod over

A

If youride roughshod over something, you behave in a harsh or thoughtless manner, or you treat a situation with contempt.

97
Q

put/lay one’s cards on the table

A

If youput your cards on the table, you speak honestly and openly about your feelings and intentions.

98
Q

carve out a niche

A

A person or company whocarves out a nicheconcentrates on a particular segment of the market, to which they supply a product or service, and develop their expertise in that area.

99
Q

drive up the wall

A

If somebody or somethingdrives you up the wall,they do something that greatly annoys or irritates you.

100
Q

change the face of

A

When an innovation, discovery or eventchanges the face of something,it alters it completely or in a major way.

101
Q

fly in the face of

A

If an action or statementflies in the face ofsomething, it is completely opposite to what is usual or expected.

102
Q

clip someone’s wings

A

If youclip someone’s wings, you do something to restrict their freedom.

103
Q

pushing up the daisies

A

To say that someone ispushing up the daisiesmeans that they are dead.

104
Q

call it a day

A

To sey’let’s call it a day’is a way of suggesting that it is time to stop doing something, usually because of tiredness.

105
Q

month of Sundays

A

This expression is an amusing way of referring to a very long period of time.

106
Q

take two to tango

A

You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument cannot be the fault of one person alone.

107
Q

bemurder

A

If somethingis murder,it is very difficult or uncomfortable.

108
Q

cross someone’s path

A

If you meet somebody, usually unexpectedly or by chance, youcross their path.

109
Q

hold your horses

A

If you tell someone tohold their horses, you think they are doing something too fast and should slow down and not rush into further action.

110
Q

in thepinkof health

A

If you arein the pink of health, you are in excellent physical condition.

111
Q

on allfours

A

If you areon all fours, you are down on your hands and knees.

112
Q

parting shot

A

Aparting shotis a final remark, often incisive or disparaging, made just as one is leaving.

113
Q

eleventh hour

A

If something happensat the eleventh hour, it happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.

114
Q

rather you than me

A

This expression is used to express sympathy with someone who has to do something unpleasant or difficult, and you would not like to be in their situation.

115
Q

stop the rot

A

When you prevent a situation from deteriorating, especially in business or politics, youstop the rot.

116
Q

drum into someone’s head

A

If you teach something to someone through constant repetition, youdrum it into their head.

117
Q

hit and run accident

A

When the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle without stopping to provide help, identification or insurance, and fails to report the accident to the police, the collision is called ahit-and-run accident.

118
Q

(fight) tooth and nail

A

If youfight tooth and nailfor something, you fight with all your energy.

119
Q

keep in proportion

A

If you react to a situation in a sensible way, without exaggerating the importance or seriousness of the facts, youkeep things in proportion.

120
Q

easy as pie

A

Something that is(as) easy as pieis very easy to do.

121
Q

flash in the pan

A

If you refer to somebody’s success as aflash in the pan, you mean that it is not likely to be repeated.

122
Q

use one’s noodle

A

If youuse your noodle,you use your brain or your common sense.

123
Q

best of both worlds

A

If a person has thebest of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things.

124
Q

case in point

A

This term refers to an example which serves to illustrate, support or prove a point which is currently under discussion.

125
Q

fall on deaf ears

A

If something you sayfalls on deaf ears, it is either ignored or attracts no attention.

126
Q

train of thought

A

A sequence of connected ideas is calleda train of thought.

127
Q

clear the air

A

If you decide toclear the air, you try to remove the causes of fear, worry or suspicion by talking about the problem openly.

128
Q

get cold feet

A

If youget cold feetabout something, you begin to hesitate about doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not.

129
Q

matter of time

A

If you say that it isonlyorjust a matter of timebefore (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will inevitably take place, although you do not know when.

130
Q

keep your back covered

A

If you do something in case a problem arises later for which you might be blamed, youkeep your back covered.

131
Q

sea legs

A

A person whohas sea legsis used to walking on a moving ship, or has the ability to adjust to a new situation.

132
Q

go the extra mile

A

If yougo the extra mile,you do more than what is expected of you.

133
Q

heart of the matter

A

The most important part or aspect of a situation is called theheart of the matter.

134
Q

live in clover

A

Someone wholives in cloverhas enough money to lead a very comfortable life.

135
Q

plug something

A

If you promote something by talking about it favourably, for example during a radio or TV interview, youplug it.

136
Q

make it snappy

A

If someone tells you tomake it snappy,they are asking you very sharply to hurry up or be quick about something.

137
Q

horse sense

A

Someone who hashorse senseis a practical thinker who has the ability to make sensible decisions.

138
Q

silver lining

A

Asilver lining refers to the good or pleasant side-effects of an unpleasant situation.

139
Q

take the biscuit

A

This expression refers to something very irritating or annoying.

140
Q

five o’clock shadow

A

This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man who hasn’t shaved for at least a day.

141
Q

make a point of

A

If youmake a point ofdoing something, you make an effort to do what you think is the right thing to do.

142
Q

rough diamond

A

A person who is good-natured but lacks polished manners and/or education is said to bea rough diamond.

143
Q

notsleepa wink not get a wink of sleep

A

If someonedoesn’t get a wink of sleep, they don’t sleep a all.

144
Q

wrapped up in cotton wool

A

Someone who iswrapped up in cotton woolis over-protected from dangers and risks.

145
Q

leave well alone

A

If youleave well alone, you decide not to interfere with or change something that is acceptable or adequate.

146
Q

tide over

A

Ifyou tide someone over,you support them through a difficult period for a certain length of time.

147
Q

pour your heart out

A

If youpour your heart outto someone, you express your feelings freely.

148
Q

sticky fingers

A

Someone who hassticky fingershas a tendency to steal.

149
Q

dressed up tonines

A

To describe someone asdressed up to the ninesmeans that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.

150
Q

makes your blood run cold

A

If somethingmakes your blood run cold, it shocks or scares you a lot.

151
Q

pour cold water on

A

If youpour cold water on someone’s plans, opinions or ideas, you discourage them by showing little enthusiasm or expression your misgivings.

152
Q

at all costs

A

If you are determined to obtain or achieve somethingat all costs, you want it regardless of the expense, effort or sacrifice involved.

153
Q

make blood boil

A

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

154
Q

prod into (doing)

A

If youprod someone into doing something, you make a hesitant person do something that they are reluctant to do.

155
Q

fight tooth and nail

A

If youfight tooth and nailfor something, you fight with energy and determination.

156
Q

penny drops

A

When a person has difficulty understanding or realizing something, and thenthe penny drops,they finally understand.

157
Q

fit for purpose

A

Something that is suitable for a particular function and is fully operational is said to befit for purpose.

158
Q

harebrained idea

A

Aharebrained ideais an idea or suggestion that is considered to be silly, foolish or totally impractical.

159
Q

name is mud

A

To say that a person’sname is mudmeans that they have acquired a bad reputation because of something they have done or said.

160
Q

brain drain

A

The departure of highly qualified people (scientists, engineers, etc.

161
Q

kick the bucket

A

Tokick the bucketis a lighthearted way of talking about death.

162
Q

like a deer/rabbit caught in the headlights

A

When you are so surprised that you are momentarily confused or unable to react quickly, you arelike a deer (or a rabbit) caught in the headlights.

163
Q

look the part

A

If youlook the part, your appearance makes you ideally suited for a particular job or role.

164
Q

bee in one’s bonnet

A

Someone who has abee in their bonnethas an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts.

165
Q

all systems go

A

When everything is ready for an activity or event to begin, you can say thatall systems go.

166
Q

white as a ghost

A

A person who isas white as a ghostlooks very pale and frightened.

167
Q

cream of the crop

A

This expression refers to the best people or things in a particular group.

168
Q

blockbuster

A

Something that is outstanding, impressive or particularly successful, such as a film or a book ,is called ablockbuster.

169
Q

risk life and limb

A

If yourisk life and limb,you are in danger of death or serious injury.

170
Q

footloose and fancy free

A

A person who isfootloose and fancy freehas few responsibilities or commitments of any kind and feels free to do as they please.

171
Q

not forloveor money

A

If you say that you cannot or will not do something for love or money, you mean that you will not do it under any circumstances.

172
Q

point of no return

A

When you reach thepoint of no return, you must continue what you have started, because you have gone so far that it is impossible to go back.

173
Q

put in a goodword

A

If youput in a good wordfor someone, you say positive things in support of that person in order to help them.

174
Q

carry the can

A

If youcarry the canfor another person, you accept blame or take responsibility for something that goes wrong, even if it is not your fault or only partly.

175
Q

learn the hard way

A

If youlearn the hard way, you learn through your own experience, good and bad, rather than from the advice or guidance of others.

176
Q

ripple effect

A

When an action has an effect on something, which in turn effects something else, it is said to havea ripple effect.

177
Q

(caught with) pants down

A

If you arecaught with your pants down, you are caught doing something bad or forbidden.

178
Q

heart sinks

A

If yourheart sinks, you feel very unhappy and despondent.

179
Q

go belly up

A

If a business or projectgoes belly up, it is unsuccessful or goes bankrupt.

180
Q

rake in the money

A

If yourake in the money,you make money in large quantities.

181
Q

on the safe side

A

If you do something to beon the safe side,you do it as a precaution, to avoid any risks.

182
Q

it’s asteal!

A

If you find something that you want for a very low price, much lower than what it is worth, you can say ‘it’s a steal!’.

183
Q

herding cats

A

This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation which involves people who all want to act independently.

184
Q

drive a hard bargain

A

A person whodrives a hard bargainalways makes sure they gain advantage in a business deal.

185
Q

take a back seat

A

If youtake a back seatyou choose to have a less important function and become less involved in something.

186
Q

run riot

A

If peoplerun riot,the behave in a frenzied, uncontrolled manner, running around in all directions.

187
Q

claw one’s way back

A

In a situation which has deteriorated, if youclaw your way back, you gradually regain your former position through determination, energy and hard work.

188
Q

cross the Rubicon

A

If youcross the Rubicon, you make an irreversible decision or commit to a course of action that cannot be changed.

189
Q

gotoutof business

A

If a shop, firm or enterprisegoes out of business, it closes down or goes bankrupt.

190
Q

get your skates on

A

If you tell someone toget their skates on, you want them to hurry up.

191
Q

heat is on

A

To say that theheat is onmeans that you are under a lot of pressure to get something done, usually within a time limit.

192
Q

skating on thin ice

A

If you areskating on thin ice,you are doing or saying something risky, or something that could cause trouble.

193
Q

on theuptake

A

Someone who is quick or slowon the uptakeis quick or slow to understand what is meant.

194
Q

passing fancy

A

If you have apassing fancyfor something, you become fond of it for a short time.

195
Q

bitter pill to swallow

A

Something very unpleasant or difficult to accept is abitter pill to swallow.

196
Q

make yourself scarce

A

If youmake yourself scarce, you leave a place in order to avoid an embarrassing situation.

197
Q

price oneself out of the market

A

If youprice yourself out of the market, you charge such a high price for your goods or services that nobody wants to buy them.

198
Q

on hand

A

I something, such as supplies or people, areon hand, they are present or readily available.

199
Q

dead set against

A

If you aredead set againstsomething, you are strongly opposed to it.

200
Q

lights on but no one home

A

This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is lacking intelligence or sanity, or to someone who is simply preoccupied and not paying attention.

English idioms (without example) (15 decks)

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