1 Flashcards
Break the ice
To initiate conversation in a social setting.
Bite the bullet
to accept a negative aspect of a situation in order to proceed
(Ex. After some reflection, he decided to bite the bullet.)
Let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret
Piece of cake
Something very easy to do
Spill the beans
To disclose confidential information
Under the weather
To feel sick
(Ex. I’m feeling under the weather)
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night
Kick the bucket
To die
Break a leg
Means to wish someone good luck (especially used among actors). (Ex. We told her to break a leg before she went out on stage for her first performance.)
cross that bridge when we get there
to not worry about a problem until it happens
(We’ll cross that bridge when we get there)
Dime a dozen
Something that is very common
(Ex. These red poppies are a dime a dozen)
Let someone off the hook
relieved of a duty, burden, responsibility, or pressure
(Ex. He decided to let her off the hook)
Missed the boat
to fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action
(Ex. I missed the boat)
once in a blue moon
to do something very barely
(Ex. I go out for walks once in a blue moon)
once in a blue moon
to do something very barely
(Ex. I go out for walks once in a blue moon)
pull yourself together
to calm down
(Ex. Pull yourself together man)
rubbed me the wrong way
to irritate or bother
(Ex. She seriously rubbed me the wrong way)
Speak of the devil
to comment on the fact that someone you were talking about just appeared
(Ex. There he is, speak of the devil.)
Storm in a teacup
to make a fuss over an unimportant matter
(Ex. Their fight was a storm in a teacup.)
The best of both worlds
to receive benefits or advantages from two situations (and no disadvantages)
(Ex. Well, she’s got the best of both worlds.(
wrap my mind/head around
To understand or accept something
(Ex. I’m sorry but I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it.)
You can say that again
to express agreement with something that was just said
(Ex. Wow, you can say that again.)
back to the drawing board
To start over in planning a project or idea
(Ex. I’m going back to the drawing board.)
bent out of shape
to be upset
(Ex. Why are you so bent out of shape?)
Beat around the bush
to delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant
(Ex. Don’t beat around the bush.)
Blessing in disguise
aseeming misfortune that turns out to be for the best
(Ex. Getting fired turned out to be a blessing in disguise.)
Call it a night
go to bed
(Ex. I’m going to call it a night.)
Chip on their shoulder
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove
(Ex. He’s got a chip on his shoulder.)
Cut me some slack
to treat someone in a less critical way
(Ex. Would you cut me some slack?)
Get out of hand
to get out of control
( Ex. She let things get out of hand.)
Jump the gun
to act or begin too soon or without due caution
(Ex. Don’t jump the gun.)
The straw that broke the camel’s back
the last in a series of bad or annoying things which makes someone run out of patience
(Ex. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.)
Store the pot
people arguing
