1001-1200 Flashcards
old chestnut
A story, joke or an idea that has been repeated so often that it has lost its novelty is referred to as an ‘old chestnut’. The story about his boat capsizing has become an old chestnut!
time is ticking away
The expression’time is ticking away’can be used when you see the minutes or seconds going by as the clock ticks, especially when you are waiting anxiously for something to happen. We need to intervene before it’s too late. Time’s ticking away.
slipped my mind
If something hasslipped your mind,you have forgotten about it. Oh dear! It slipped my mind that the shops were closed today!
first and foremost
This expression is used to state what you consider to be more important than anything else. First and foremost I want to thank our hosts for their wonderful reception.
dumb as an oyster
Someone who is asdumb as an oyster will never reveal something told in confidence or betray a secret. Sophie will never repeat what you tell her. She’s as dumb as an oyster.
loose cannon
Someone who is referred to asa loose cannoncannot be completely trusted because of unpredictable and irresponsible behaviour which can cause trouble. Keep an eye on Jamie. He tends to turn into a loose cannon when he has a few drinks.
pay dividends
If something you dopays dividends,it brings advantages or rewards at a later date. The time he spent learning English paid dividends when he started looking for a job.
go through theroof
If someonegoes through the roof,they become very angry. His father nearly went through the roof when Paul damaged his new car.
sink your teeth into
If yousink your teeth into something,you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job.
have a ball
If youhave a ballyou enjoy yourself immensely. The party was great. We had a ball.
give a run for money
If yougive someone a run for their money, you present strong competition in circumstances where the other person expects to win easily. We didn’t win the match but we gave the other team a run for their money.
open the kimono
If a person or organisationopens the kimono,they reveal something previously hidden. It’s time to open the kimono and explain that we cannot meet the deadline.
upper crust
This term refers to the higher levels of society, the upper class or the aristocracy. William hides his working-class background and pretends to be from the upper crust.
vim and vigour
If you are full ofvim and vigour,you have lots of vitality, energy and enthusiasm. After a relaxing holiday, my parents came back full of vim and vigour.
butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth
If you say that someone looks as ifbutter wouldn’t melt in their mouth,you mean that they look completely innocent, but that they are capable of doing unpleasant things. The boy who stole the purse looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
bitten by the bug
If you develop a sudden interest or enthusiasm for something, you arebitten by the bug. My dad decided to take up golf and was immediately bitten by the bug.
get the sack
If someonegets the sack, they lose their job, usually because they have done something wrong. Charlie got the sack when his boss caught him stealing.
take a fancy
If youtake a fancyto someone or something, you develop a fondness for them or begin to like them. I think Paul has taken a fancy to the new intern!
put through theirpaces
If youputsomeone or somethingthrough their paces, you test their ability to do something by making them perform certain actions. During the presentation, the machine was put through its paces.
no-brainer
A decision or choice that requires little or no thought, because the best option is so obvious, is called ano-brainer. The choice was between a cash refund or having the amount credited to my account - it was a no-brainer. I took the cash!
golden parachute
Agolden parachuteis a clause in an executive’s employment contract stating that the executive will receive certain large benefits if their employment is terminated.
in the heat of the moment
If you say or do somethingin the heat of the moment, you say or do it without pausing to think, at a time when you are experiencing unusually strong emotions such as anger, excitement, etc. I was so angry that in the heat of the moment I said things that I later regretted.
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
A person who isbright-eyed and bushy-tailedis very enthusiastic and full of energy. Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and worked with us all day.
brown as a berry
To say that someone is asbrown as a berrymeans that they are very tanned. Judy came back from her holiday as brown as a berry.
burn the candle at both ends
If youburn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up early. Scott looks exhausted - I’ll bet he’s been burning the candle at both ends lately.
sail close to the wind
If yousail close to the wind,you do something dangerous or act just within the limits of what is legal or acceptable. He seems to invest his money well although he often sails close to the wind.
clock in/out
When youclock inorout, you record the time you arrive or leave your job by punching a time clock to show the number of hours you have worked. I’m going to clock out early today. I’ve got a dental appointment.
(no) quick fix
To say that there is noquick fixto a problem means that there is no simple solution. There is no quick fix for unemployment; major reforms are necessary.
come what may
If you declare that you will do somethingcome what may, you are saying that you will do it whatever the consequences may be. Come what may, I’m going to tell my mother-in-law what I think of her!
ball and chain
This term refers to a burden or problem that ties you down and prevents you from doing what you want. It can also refer to one’s spouse. Our holiday home has become a ball and chain - it’s too much work!
keep finger on pulse
If youkeep a finger on the pulse, you are constantly aware of the most recent events or developments. A successful investor keeps his finger on the pulse of international business.
close (/dumb) as an oyster
Someone who is asclose( or ‘dumb’)as an oysterwill never reveal something told in confidence, or betray a secret. Sophie will never repeat what you tell her. She’s as close as an oyster.
give someone theslip
If yougive somebody the slip,you manage to hide or get away from the person who is following you. The police were on his trail, but he managed to give them the slip.
put the kibosh on
If you do something to prevent a plan or activity from happening or developing, youput the kibosh on it. The bank’s refusal to grant him a loan put the kibosh on Jack’s project.
vicious circle
When the solution to a problem creates another problem similar to the original, or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is calleda vicious circle. I borrowed money to reimburse Paul. Now I’ve got to reimburse the bank, with interest. It’s a vicious circle.
ram down someone’s throat
If youram something down someone’s throat, you force them to accept something against their will. I encourage him to learn English but I can’t ram it down his throat.
head in the clouds
If youhave your head in the clouds, you are so absorbed by your thoughts that you are not paying attention to what is happening around you. He doesn’t listen to the teacher - he’s got his head in the clouds all the time!
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
If yourun with the hare and hunt with the hounds,you want to stay on friendly terms with both sides in a quarrel. Bob always wants to keep everyone happy, but he can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds this time - the issue is too important.
yellow bellied
A person who isyellow-belliedis cowardly, or not at all brave. The bus was full of yellow-bellied passengers who disappeared when the driver was attacked by two youths.
allmouthand no trousers
This is said of someone who talks a lot about doing something but never actually does it. He keeps saying he’s going to resign and travel around the world, but he’s all mouth and no trousers.
seered
If someonesees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed. Discrimination of any kind makes me see red.
playgooseberry
If youplay gooseberry, you join or accompany two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone. They invited me to join them but I didn’t want to play gooseberry.
much ado about nothing
When peoplemake much ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important. There was a meeting to discuss the name for the new playground. “Much ado about nothing” said my Dad!
jump the gun
If youjump the gun, you do something too soon or take premature action based on incomplete information. He ordered a new car before the job was confirmed - now that’s jumping the gun!
perish the thought
This expression is used when the speaker really hopes that something will not happen. If I lost my job, perish the thought, I don’t know how we’d survive.
law onto themselves
If someone isa law onto themselves, they do things their own way and ignore what is generally considered as acceptable. They’re against discipline and allow their children complete freedom - they’re a law onto themselves.
ready and waiting
Something or someone that isready and waitingis prepared and available for a particular task or occasion. There was a vast amount of food ready and waiting for the guests.
on somebody’s tail
If you areon somebody’s tail, you are following them closely. The suspect hasn’t been arrested yet, but the police are on his tail.
build bridges
If a personbuilds bridgesbetween opposing groups, they help them to cooperate and understand each other better. A mediator is trying to build bridges between the local community and the owners of the new plant.
wet blanket
A person who isa wet blanketis so boring or unenthusiastic that they prevent others from enjoying themselves. Come on! Relax ! Don’t be such a wet blanket!
bigfishin a small pond
This term refers to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organisation. He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond.
(not) mince words
Someone who doesnot mince their wordsexpresses their opinions, ideas or thoughts very clearly, even if they offend others by doing so. Come on John! Tell us what you really think - and don’t mince your words.
keep the lid on
If youkeep the lid on something,you hide it or control it to prevent people from finding out about it. The company tried to keep a lid on the negotiations but word got out to the press.
fly in the ointment
Afly in the ointmentrefers to something that prevents a situation from being completely satisfactory. Tony’s poor English was a fly in the ointment when he applied for the job.
touch wood / knock on wood
This humorous expression, based on superstition, is used to avoid bad luck, often while touching something made of wood. The order will be confirmed shortly - touch wood!
hang up one’s boots
When a sports playerhangs up their boots, they stop playing and retire. (This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general.) Dad says he’s going to hang up his boots at the end of the year.
cut one’s losses
If you end or withdraw from something that is already failing, in order to reduce the loss of money, time or effort invested in it, youcut your losses. The project is heading for failure. Let’s cut our losses before it’s too late.
bad egg
Someone who is abad eggis an untrustworthy person often involved in trouble whose company should be avoided. I don’t want my son to be friends with Bobby Smith. Bobby’s a bad egg.
why keep a dog and bark yourself
This expression means that if someone or something can do a task for you, there’s no reason to do it yourself. My grandmother has an electric mixer but she continues to make her cakes by hand. Why keep a dog and bark yourself?
get someone’s goat
Something thatget someone’s goatannoys or irritates them. People who keep pushing when you’re standing in line really gets my goat!
your wish is my command
This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks. Breakfast in bed? Your wish is my command!
basket case
A person whose agitated mental state leaves them helpless or unable to cope with things is called abasket case. Jenny will turn into a basket case if this stressful situation continues.
shelf life
If something such as food, drink or medicine has a particularshelf life, it must be used or sold before the end of that period of time. Dairy products has quite a short shelf life.
out of the question
Something which isout of the questionis impossible and is therefore not worth discussing. Buying a new car is out of the question - we simply can’t afford it.
make the cut
If youmake the cut,you reach a required standard or succeed in passing from one round of a competition to another. After intensive training, Sarah made the cut and joined the team.
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. I try to avoid Jane, but wherever I go she’s turns up like a bad penny!
no-brainer
A decision or choice that requires little or no thought, because the best option is so obvious, is called ano-brainer. The choice was between a cash refund or having the amount credited to my account - it was a no-brainer! I took the cash!
ego trip
If you do something primarily to draw attention to yourself and feel important or superior to others, you areon an ego trip. His speech about creating an association to help the underprivileged was one long ego trip.
signed, sealed, and delivered
When an agreement, contract or treaty issigned, sealed and delivered, all the legal documents are in order. It is hoped that the agreement will be signed, sealed and delivered before the end of the week.
in fits and starts
If you do somethingin fits and starts, you do it in an irregular manner, often stopping and starting again. You’ll never make progress in English if you work in fits and starts.
weigh your words
Ifyouweigh your words,you choose your words carefully in order to express exactly what you mean and avoid any misunderstanding. At the press conference he spoke very clearly, weighing his words.
bundle of nerves
If you describe someone as abundle of nerves, you mean that they are very nervous, tense or worried. My son is doing his driving test today. Needless to say he’s a bundle of nerves!
make a pig of
If youmake a pig of yourself, you eat and drink too much. Watch what you eat - don’t make a pig of yourself!
two-time someone
If one persontwo-timesanother, they cheat on their partner by having a romantic relationship with another person at the same time. Sally left Harry when she discovered he was two-timing her.
of all people
To use the term’of all people’emphasizes that the person you mention, more than anyone else, is the one you would expect to do something. As an artist, you, of all people, should support the new art gallery.
upset the applecart
If youupset(or overturn)the applecart, you spoil a satisfactory plan or situation. I hope Julie doesn’t attend the meeting; she could upset the applecart.
cook the books
A person whocooks the booksis one who changes the facts or figures in the financial accounts, often in order to steal money. The actor discovered after a while that his agent was cooking the books.
walk oneggshells
If youwalk on eggshellswith someone, you are careful not to hurt or offend them. She’s so sensitive, you have to walk on eggshells with her all the time.
let somethingride
When you decide to do nothing about a particular situation and allow it to remain as it is, youlet it ride. Bill didn’t like the way his wife spoke to the operator, but he let it ride to avoid another quarrel.
free as a bird
If someone is asfree as a bird, they are completely free to do as they please. My dad’s very happy - he’s as free as a bird since he retired.
keep up appearances
A person whokeeps up appearancesmaintains an outward show of prosperity or well-being in order to hide their difficulties from others. He continued to keep up appearances even when business was bad.
even steven
Two or more people who areeven stevensare equal to each other. None of them has more than the others; none is owed anything or has anything due. The two boys shared equally the money they made delivering pizzas so now they’re even stevens.
stink to high heaven
If something has a very strong unpleasant smell, itstinks to high heaven. Take off those socks - they stink to high heaven!
Christmas comes but once a year
This expression means that Christmas is a time of celebration that only happens once a year, and that we should mark the occasion by being generous to others, especially the less fontunate.
answer for something
If someone has toanswer for something, they have to accept responsibility for their actions. He will have to answer for his dishonesty.
do a disappearing act
If someonedoes a disappearing act, they simply vanish, especially if they have done something wrong or dishonest. Just before the police arrived, the suspect did a disappearing act.
string someone along
If youstring someone along,you deliberately mislead them about your intentions. Bob finally realized that Mary had just been stringing him along; she had no intention of marrying him.
a plum job
A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is calleda plum job. Ideally he’d like to find himself a plum job in New York.
botch up/ make a botch of
If you spoil something, or make a mess of it, by doing a job badly or incorrectly, youmake a botch of itor youbotch it up. Danny tried to assemble the new desk, but he made a botch of it.
slippery as an eel
To say that someone is asslippery as an eelmeans that they are difficult to catch and they manage to avoid answering questions. The man was as slippery as an eel. He was arrested for theft several times but was never convicted.
in a class of one’s own
If someone isin a class of their own, they are unequalled and considered better than anyone else of their kind. As a singer, Maria Callas was in a class of her own.
think on your feet
A person whothinks on their feetis capable of adjusting rapidly to new developments and making quick decisions, Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading a case.
in the interim
Something that happensin the interimtakes place during a period of time between two events. I won’t have the apartment until next month. In the interim I’m staying at a local hotel.
miss theboat
If youmiss the boat, you fail to take advantage of an opportunity because you don’t act quickly enough. I managed to get my order through before the end of the special offer - but I nearly missed the boat!
ignorance is bliss
This means that if you don’t know about a problem or unpleasant fact, you won’t worry about it. I didn’t know our neighbour was an escaped prisoner until the police arrived - ignorance is bliss!
eat, sleep and breathe something
If youeat, sleep and breathesomething, you are so enthusiastic and passionate about it that you think about it constantly. He’s an enthusiastic golfer; he eats, sleeps and breathes it!
freeze someone out
If you deliberately isolate someone or prevent them from participating in a social or business activity by treating them unfairly or harshly, youfreeze them out. Pablo was treated unfairly. He was frozen out of the project by the rest of the team.
in a quandary
If you arein a quandary,you find it difficult to decide what to do. The job offered is less interesting but better paid. I’m in a quandary about what to do.
argue the toss
If youargue the toss, you dispute a decision or choice which has already been made. The final choice was made yesterday, so don’t argue the toss now!
wear many hats
Someone whowears many hatshas to do many different types of tasks or play a variety of roles. Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible and accept to wear many hats.
I wasn’t born yesterday
This expression is used to indicate that you are not as foolish or as easily deceived as some people seem to think. Stop inventing silly excuses. I wasn’t born yesterday you know!
have ahangover
Tohave a hangover means to suffer from the unpleasant after-effects of drinking too much alcohol. Many young people have a hangover after a party or celebration.
new to this game
To say that you arenew to this gamemeans that you have never been involved in this sort of activity before. I want to join Facebook but I don’t know how to start. I’m new to this game.
put it mildly
If youput it mildly,you express your opinion or reaction in a controlled way, without exaggeration. She’s 3 years old and already able to read. That’s promising, to put it mildly!
out of the picture
To say that a person or group isout of the picturemeans that they have been eliminated in a contest or tournament. We were beaten in the semi-finals, so that’s us out of the picture!
shape of things to come
If something, such as a trend or fashion, is theshape of things to come,it is a sign of what is likely to be used or enjoyed by many people in the future. Do you think speed-dating is the shape of things to come?
get wise to something
If youget wise to something, you learn something that you were not aware of before. He finally got wise to the fact that children were stealing apples from his garden.
fixed in your ways
People who arefixed in their waysdo not want to change their normal way of doing things. My grandparents are very fixed in their ways and dislike any changes.
beat one’s brain out
If someonebeats their brains out, they try very hard to understand something or solve a problem. My grandmother beats her brains out every evening trying to do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.
earmark something
If youearmark something, you assign it to a particular person or reserve it for a specific use. A certain number of chairs were earmarked for the conference room.
put that in your pipe and smoke it
This expressions means that you have to accept what the speaker says, whether you like it or not. I’m not going to buy you a scooter, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!
highways and byways
If you travelthe highways and byways,you take large and small roads to visit every part of the country. He travelled the highways and byways looking for traces of his ancestors.
business is business
This is a way of saying that in financial and commercial matters, friendship or personal feelings should not be allowed to have any influence. I’ll hire your brother only if he is the best candidate. I’m sorry but business is business!
tied to apron strings
If one person istied to another’s apron strings,they remain dependent at an age when they should be independent. All his decisions are influenced by his mother. He’s still tied to her apron strings.
cool one’s heels
If you are left tocool your heels,someone keeps you waiting. After rushing to be on time for my appointment, I was left to cool my heels in the waiting room for an hour.
out of the blue
If something happensout of the blue, it happens very unexpectedly. I had nearly given up hope when out of the blue I was offered a job.
pleased/proud as punch
Someone who is aspleased or as proud as punchis delighted or feels very satisfied about something. Danny was as proud as punch when he won the tennis match.
the apple of your eye
A person, usually a child, who isthe apple of your eyeis one for whom you have great affection. My grandson is the apple of my eye.
can’tfightthe city hall
This expression means that it is useless to try to win a battle against a politician, establishment or bureaucracy ingeneral. Brian decided it was a waste of energy trying to obtain a tax refund - you can’t fight the city hall.
fromsoupto nuts
If you do somethingfrom soup to nuts,you do it all the way through, from the beginning to the end (like from the first to the last course of a meal). She told us the whole story, from soup to nuts.
a kickback
This expression refers to money paid illegally for favourable treatment. The property developers were accused of giving kickbacks to the local authorities.
get into theswingof things
When youget into the swing of something, you become involved in it or get used to it and begin to enjoy it. It’ll be more fun when you get into the swing of things.
play games with someone
If you are not completely honest, or behave in a way that is insincere, evasive or intentionally misleading, you areplaying games with someone. Look, stop playing games with us. Just tell us if you’re interested in the project or not.
wouldn’t be caught dead/seen dead
If someone says that theywouldn’t be caught or seen deadin a particular place or doing something, they mean that they would be too ashamed or embarrassed. My seven-year-old son thinks he’s a big boy; he wouldn’t be caught dead holding my hand in front of his friends!
afraid of one’s own shadow
A person who isafraid of his/her own shadowis very nervous or easily frightened. I’ve never seen anyone so easily scared. She’s afraid of her own shadow!
smart alec
Asmart alecis an annoying self-assertive person who tries to show off how clever they are. Some smart alec interrupted the game claiming that the answers were incorrect!
middle of the road (MOR)
This term refers to anything moderate, unadventurous or inoffensive that avoids extremes and appeals to the majority of people. He’s a successful middle-of-the-road entertainer. My mother wouldn’t miss a show!
off colour
If you areoff colour,you look or feel ill. What’s the matter with you Tom? You look a bit off colour today.
tread water
If you aretreading water,your situation remains stationary in spite of your efforts, with no sign of any progress. I’ve been treading water for the past year hoping to find a better job.
hop, skip and jump
To say that a thing or place is onlya hop, skip and a jumpaway from another means that they are very close to each other. The school’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from our new house.
snug as a bug in a rug
This is a humorous way of saying that you are warm and comfortable. Wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa, Sophie looked as snug as a bug in a rug.
face the music
If you have toface the music,you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions. He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music.
also-ran
This term refers to an unsuccessful competitor whose performance is so much poorer than the winner’s that it appears insignificant. He entered the contest hoping that he wouldn’t end up as an ‘also-ran’.
ball is in your court
If theball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act next. We gave the manager a list of complaints, so the ball is in his court now.
in fullswing
When an event getsinto full swing,it is at its busiest or liveliest time. When we got back to the office, the Christmas party was in full swing.
that’s the way the ball bounces
Things don’t always work out as planned, and there’s nothing we can do about it - that’s life. He didn’t get the prize he expected, but never mind - that’s the way the ball bounces.
cash cow
A product or service which is a regular source of income for a company is called acash cow. His latest invention turned out to be a real cash cow.
a doddle
If a task or activity isa doddle, it is very easy to do or perform. “How did it go?” “No problem, it was a doddle.”
step into someone’s shoes
If youstep into someone’s shoes,you take over a job or position held by someone else before you. William has been trained to step into his father’s shoes when he retires.
crash course
If you do acrash course,you do an intensive training course in order to obtain quick results. Before going to Tokyo, he did a crash course in Japanese.
child’s play
If something is referred to aschild’s play, it is considered to be simple or easy to do. Using this new computer is child’s play compared to the old one.
crystal clear
A statement or expression that is easy to understand or has an obvious meaning iscrystal clearor asclear as crystal. There was no need to repeat the instructions. They were crystal clear.
against the clock
If you do somethingagainst the clock,you are rushed and have very little time to do it. They are working against the clock to have the presentation ready for Monday.
bet your bottom dollar
If youbet your bottom dollaron something, you are absolutely certain of it. Jack is very punctual. You can bet your bottom dollar he’ll be here at 9 o’clock on the dot.
spell trouble
If somethingspells trouble, it signifies possible problems in the future. The prolonged cold weather spells trouble for this year’s harvest.
(by the)lookof things
This expression is used to express an opinion based on what you actually see. I glanced into the kitchen and by the look of things dinner will be late!
till the cows come home
If you say’till the cows come home’you mean for a long time or forever. You can ask till the cows come home but I’m not buying you a scooter!
back of beyond
An isolated place located far from any town is said to be in the back of beyond. It took us hours to find Jack’s house. He lives in the back of beyond.
sow seeds of suspicion
If someone’s behaviour, or something they say,sows the seeds of suspicion, it leads people to suspect that they are guilty. The fact that the boy spent a lot of money after the burglary sowed the seeds of suspicion in the neigbours’ minds.
go for a song
If somethinggoes for a song,it is sold at an unexpectedly low price. I was able to buy the car simply because it was going for a song.
break the back of the beast
If someonebreaks the back of the beast, they succeed in overcoming a major difficulty. After hours of effort, the technicians finally broke the back of the beast and turned the electricity back on again.
refresh someone’s memory
If yourefresh someone’s memory,you remind them of facts they seem to have forgotten. Let me refresh your memory - you’ve already missed three classes this term.
on the cards (US :inthe cards)
Something which ison the cardsis planned and likely to happen. A coalition between the two parties is still on the cards.
otherside of the coin
When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a situation, you refer tothe other side of the coin. The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools.
mixed feelings
When you havemixed feelingsabout something, you react to it with conflicting emotions; you are happy and unhappy at the same time. I had mixed feelings about leaving the company. I was excited about my new job but sad to be leaving my colleagues.
get away withmurder
Someone whogets away with murdercan do something unacceptable without being punished or criticized. Some parents let their kids get away with murder.
let ride
When you decide to do nothing about a particular situation and allow it to remain as it is, youlet it ride. Bill didn’t like the way his wife spoke to the operator, but he let it ride because he didn’t want another quarrel.
save your bacon
If yousave someone’s bacon,you rescue them from a dangerous or difficult situation. When Paul was a student, finding a room in return for dog-sitting really saved his bacon!
wild goose chase
If someone is sent on awild goose chase, they waste their time looking for something that there is little chance of finding. They tried to find out who sent the anonymous complaint, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase.
grey existence
To have agrey existencemeans to lead a dull, monotonous life. I feel sad for the old lady. She seems to have such a grey existence.
pedal to metal
When youput the pedal to the metal,you accelerate or make something go faster. If we put the pedal to the metal we could get this finished in time.
pull strings
If someonepulls strings,they use influential friends in order to obtain an advantage. David found a job easily - his father just pulled a few strings.
whole caboodle whole kit and caboodle
This expression means ‘everything’. They provided everything we needed, tables, chairs, cutlery … the whole caboodle.
gravy train
If someone ison the gravy train,they have found an easy way to make money, one that requires little effort and is without risk. Since the village has become fashionable, he charges for every photograph taken of his house - he’s on a gravy train!
out of sorts
If someone isout of sorts,they are upset and irritable or not feeling well. The baby is out of sorts today. Perhaps he’s cutting a tooth.
call theshots
If youcall the shots,you are in command of the situation and make all the important decisions. Ask Julie - she’s the one who calls the shots around here.
facts speak for themselves
When the facts of a situation are so clear that no further explanation or extra details are necessary, thefacts speak for themselves. No need to tell you that the situation is disastrous. The facts speak for themselves.
keep at arm’s length
If youkeep someone at arm’s length, you do not allow yourself to become too friendly with them. It’s not easy to become friends with Sophie; she tends to keep everyone at arm’s length.
red carpet
Toroll out the red carpetmeans to give special treatment to an important or honoured visitor. The management is going to roll out the red carpet for the visit of the Nobel prize winner.
lowprofile
A person who keepsa low profiletries not to attract public attention. The investor is a discreet man who keeps a low profile.
take with a grain of salt
To say that certain information should betaken with a grain of saltmeans that you doubt its accuracy. I hear the tuition fees are going to be reduced, but that should be taken with a grain of salt.
virtue is its own reward
The knowledge that you have done the right thing, or that you have acted in a moral way, is sufficient reward and you should not expect more.
dice with death
If you put your life at risk by doing something very dangerous, youdice with death. Going mountain-climbing alone is dicing with death.
follow in someone’s footsteps
If youfollow in someone’s footsteps, for example a parent, you lead a similar life or do the same job. Lily followed in her her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.
beyond any reasonable doubt
This is a legal expression which means that something is certain. The court established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the man was innocent.
poker face
Someone who hasa poker facehas an expressionless face that shows no emotion or reaction at all. He sat with a poker face all through the show, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
spread one’s wings
When someonespreads their wings,they become independent, begin to use their abilities and develop their interests. There comes a time when young people must be encouraged to spread their wings.
let sleeping dogs lie
If you tell someone tolet sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems. Look, they’ve settled their differences. It’s time to let sleeping dogs lie.
all sizzle and no steak
Someone or something that turns out to be disappointing, after a promotional campaign or marketing operation which led us to expect something better, is calledall sizzle and no steak. Because of the electoral promises he made, which so far he has failed to keep, many people call the new president ‘all sizzle and no steak’.
lick someone’s boots
To say that one person islicking another’s bootsmeans that they are trying to please that person, often in order to obtain something. Sam is licking the manager’s boots in the hope of obtaining a pay rise.
honeymoon is over
To say that thehoneymoon is overmeans that the initial period of friendship and cooperation between people, groups or organisations has ended. He was elected only six months ago, but the honeymoon is already over.
put head on the block
If you put yourself in a dangerous situation where you risk losing your job or your reputation if things go wrong, youput your head on the block. Jenny asked me to recommend her son for the job, but I’m not putting my head on the block for someone I hardly know.
get in hair
If you aregetting in someone’s hair, you are annoying them so much that they can’t get on with what they are doing. I’d finish the report more quickly if my colleague wasn’t getting in my hair all the time.
ballpark figure
If someone gives aballpark figure, they give an approximate number or a rough estimate of the cost of something. I don’t know exactly how much it will cost, but a ballpark figure would be around $100 000.
take a load off one’s mind
If somethingtakes a load(orweight)off someone’s mind,it brings great relief because a problem has been solved. When the company closed down, finding a new job took a load off Tom’s mind.
not give a hoot!
To say that you don’t or couldn’tgive a hootmeans that you don’t care at all about something. She wears eccentric clothes but she couldn’t give a hoot about what others think.
in tatters
Something that is badly torn, in very poor condition or damaged beyond repair isin tatters. His reputation is in tatters after the latest scandal.
scare out of one’s wits
If somethingscares you out of your wits,it makes you very frightened or worried. The feeling that a house is haunted can scare people out of their wits.
bent out of shape
If you getbent out of shape, you become annoyed or upset about something that is usually not that important or cannot be avoided. Don’t get bent out of shape if you’re delayed. We’ll wait for you.
sound/smell fishy
If somethingsounds or smells fishy, you are suspicious about it. Do you believe what she said? Her story sounds fishy to me!
why buy acowwhen you can get milk for free?
This refers to not paying for something that you can obtain for free. (Sometimes refers to a decision not to marry when you can have the benefits of marriage without any commitment.) Rent is high so Bobby is still living with his parents. He says : why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?
come up in the world
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.
right as rain
If someone is(as) right as rain,they are in excellent health or condition. I called to see my grandmother thinking she was ill, but she was right as rain.
in the first place
Someone that is donein the first placeis done at the beginning, before anything else. Why didn’t you tell me in the first place that he was your boyfriend? It would have saved a lot of embarrassment.
get away with murder
Someone whogets away with murdercan do something unacceptable without being punished or criticized. She has no control over her kids. They get away with murder.
fire away
If you tell someone tofire away,you encourage them to begin to talk or ask questions. If you’ve got any questions, fire away!
drop someone a line
If youdrop someone a line, you write a letter to them. I always drop her a line to wish her a Merry Christmas.
of thefirstwater
Something that isof the first wateris of the finest or most exceptional quality (like being compared to a diamond). The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water.
get offscot-free
Someone whogets off scot-freeescapes the punishment they deserve. We were all punished except James who managed to get off scot-free!
red tape
The termred taperefers to official rules and bureaucratic paperwork that prevent things from being done quickly. If there wasn’t so much red tape, the company would be up and running already.
