0601-0800 Flashcards
on one’s uppers
Someone who ison their uppershas very little money or not enough to cover their needs. Because he was clearly on his uppers when he was hired, he was given an advance in salary.
trial and error
Attempting to achieve a satisfactory result by testing and eliminating various methods until the best one is found is calledtrial and error. Some of the best cooks learn by trial and error.
take as read
Something that does not need to be discussed because it is already understood or agreed upon can betaken as read. We’re getting married in September and you take it as read that you are all invited.
go along for the ride
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. Not all the protesters were active in the movement - some just went along for the ride.
shedlight
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.
make apigof yourself
If youmake a pig of yourself,you eat and drink too much. Watch what you eat. Don’t make a pig of yourself!
under (close)scrutiny
Someone or something that isunder (close) scrutinyis being watched or examined carefully. The police are keeping the suspect under close scrutiny.
monkey business
An activity which is organised in a deceitful or dishonest way is calledmonkey business. The results announced seem suspicious - I think there’s some monkey business going on.
grey matter (US: gray)
Grey matter refers to the brain, or the grey colour of brain tissue. “Try using your grey matter and you might find the answer.” said the teacher.
come up in theworld
A person who hascome up in the worldis richer than before and has a higher social status. My old school friend has bought an apartment overlooking Central Park. She has certainly come up in the world.
walk of life
A person’s profession or position in society is known as theirwalk of life. There were people from all walks of life among the protesters.
money spinner
If an activity is amoney spinner, it is a very successful way of making money. Washing cars was quite a money spinner when I was a student.
take cover
When someonetakes cover,they hide from a danger, or bad weather, in a place where they find protection. As soon as the explosion was heard, people ran to take cover.
wind/wound up
If someone is so excited that they talk non-stop, they arewound up. Claire had so much to tell us after her trip that she was wound up.
get down to brass tacks
When peopleget down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the essential aspects of a problem or situation. The situation was so serious that after a few polite exchanges they quickly got down to brass tacks.
lock, stock and barrel
Lock, stock and barrelmeans ‘everything’. Maggie found the apartment empty. Dave had taken everything - lock, stock and barrel!
more by accident than (by) design
Something which 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.
make inroads
If someone or somethingmakes inroads, for example in a new field or area, they advance successfully or make progress. Foreign cars have made inroads into the European market.
on cloud nine
A person who ison cloud nineis very happy because something wonderful has happened. When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine.
take therap
If youtake the rapfor something, you accept blame or punishment for it, even if you have not done it. The whole class had to take the rap for the disorder.
gooffthe deep end
If a persongoes off the deep end, they become so angry or upset that they cannot control their emotions. Eva will go off the deep end if her kids leave the kitchen in a mess again.
save one’s skin/neck
If you manage to escape from serious danger or trouble, yousave your skin (or neck). He saved his skin by reversing off the bridge just before it collapsed.
cash in your chips
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. Andy cashed in his chips as soon as business started to slow down.
hard and fast
Something which ishard and fastis inflexible or cannot be altered. Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules related to English spelling.