11 ĐẾN 20 Flashcards
off the cuff
without preparation (used of people or their actions)
in tatters
torn to pieces; shreds (can be used figuratively)
in the offing
In the near future, likely to happen
on cloud nine
extremely happy
at odds
in conflict or at variance
on the blink
(of a machine) not working properly; out of order
beyond the pale
outside the bounds of acceptable behavior
in aid of (sth)
the reason for something
in the saddle
in a position of control or responsibility
at first glance
when seen or considered briefly and for the first time
over the hill
old and past one’s prime
on the hop
unprepared (used of people, NOT objects)
off the peg
clothing that is ready made
in deep water
to be in trouble
under the weather
not feeling well
nail a lie
to prove that something really is a lie
pluck up the courage
make an effort to be brave
cry over spilt milk
waste time feeling upset about something bad that has happened and cannot be changed
read between the lines
understand the hidden meaning
poke fun at sb
make fun of sb
burn the candle at both ends
to do more than one ought to: to overextend oneself
lead sb astray
to encourage someone to do bad or illegal things that they would not normally do
cast/shed (new) light on
to reveal something new about something
work to rule
situation in which workers slow processes by performing tasks exactly to specifications or according to job or task descriptions
spare no pains to do sth
spend as much time, money or effort as is necessary
hit the bottle
to start to drink too much alcohol
reap a considerable harvest
to gain significant rewards, benefits, or results from one’s efforts, actions, or investments
split the difference
to divide the difference evenly (with someone else)
stew in one’s own juice
to suffer the consequences of one’s own actions
fan the flames of sth
to make a dangerous or unpleasant mood or situation worse
keep one’s chin up
to remain joyful in a tough situation
have a change of heart
change your opinion about something
grease one’s palm
give a bribe or a tip for extra help
set one’s face against sth
resist strongly
put one’s nose out of joint
upset or offend sb by getting sth they wanted
lie through one’s teeth
tell an outright lie without remorse
not turn a hair
to not show any emotion when you are told something bad or when something bad happens
pay lip-service to
to say that you agree with something but do nothing to support it
have one’s back to the wall
to be in a hopeless situation from which there is no escape
have a leg to stand on
to be able to prove or support what you say
give sb the cold shoulder
to deliberately ignore someone in an unfriendly way
have a bone to pick with sb
to want to talk to sb about sth annoying they have done
get it in the neck
to be punished or severely criticized for something that you have done
more (to sb/sth) than meets the eye
more (to sb/sth) than there appears to be at first
stick out like a sore thumb
to be very obvious
a freak of nature
a most unusual creature or form
all/every walk(s) of life
all social, economic, and ethnic groups
a bed of roses
an easy and happy existence
a hive of activity
a place where everyone is very busy
a slip of the tongue
a mistake you make when speaking, such as using the wrong word
a can of worms
a situation which causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it
a horse of a different colour
a completely different matter/topic
the apple of discord
anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy
a quirk of fate
a strange and unexpected event
a load of cobblers
nonsense, rubbish
a spot of bother
a slight problem
variety is the spice of life
used for saying that different experiences and situations make life enjoyable or interesting
a ward of court
a person, typically a minor, who is placed under the protection of a court due to concerns about their well-being or legal status
neck of the woods
a surrounding or nearby region
sleight of hand
cleverly executed trick or deception (magic); skill and dexterity
cast aspersions on
to criticize or make damaging remarks or judgments about someone or something
bend sb’s ear
to talk to sb for a long time about a problem or to ask them to help you.
come in handy
be useful for a certain purpose
follow suit
to do the same thing as someone else
stand one’s ground
to not change one’s opinion or position
bring the house down
give a very successful or amusing speech, performance, etc.
argue the toss
to disagree with a decision or statement
cramp sb’s style
to prevent someone from having a good time, especially by going somewhere with them
take liberties with sth
treat something freely, without strict faithfulness to the facts or to an original
carry weight
to be important
stand to reason
be a logical conclusion; obviously follow
strike a bargain
to reach an agreement on a price or negotiation (for something), make a deal
pour scorn on
to speak with contempt or mockery of; to criticize
pull oneself together
bring one’s feelings under control
(play) dirty tricks
dishonest activities intended to harm someone you are competing against
fly in the face of sth
to completely oppose what seems sensible or normal
lay sth (to) waste
to completely destroy something
bend the rules
do sth in a way that is not normally allowed; make exceptions
break the deadlock
to bring to an end a stalemate, impasse, or standstill
know the ropes
to be fully acquainted with the procedures
drop a brick / clanger
to unintentionally say sth rude, derogatory
get on sb’s wick
to annoy someone
get the wind up
become anxious and frightened about sth
go off the boil
lose skills at sth, become less good
go through the mill
to have a lot of problems or difficulties
go to the wall
to go bankrupt
hold the fort
to take care of things, take over briefly
kick the bucket
to pass away, to die
make hay while the sun shines
take advantage of favourable circumstances
scratch the surface
to deal with only a very small part of a subject or problem
blow one’s own trumpet
boast about one’s own talents and achievements
play second fiddle
to play a supporting or minor role in relation to someone else
bang the drum for sb
to speak eagerly in support of someone
strike a chord with sb
to evoke sympathy (or other emotions) in sb
lead sb a merry dance
cause sb a lot of trouble or worry
it takes two to tango
both people in an argument are responsible
strike the right chord
skillfully appeal to or arouse a particular emotion in others
ring a bell
sound familiar
to face the music for sth
to accept criticism or punishment for something you have done
for a song
very cheaply
dance to sb’s tune
to do what someone wants
as sound as a bell
in perfect condition
red-carpet
a very special welcome given to an important visitor
green with envy
very jealous
in the pink
in good health
once in a blue moon
on a very rare occasion
bleed sb white
to take away all sb’s money
(not) as black as one is painted
as evil or unpleasant as one is thought to be
grey matter
brains; intellect
off colour
slightly unwell
in the black
in a profitable condition financially; not owing any money
out of the blue
suddenly, unexpectedly
red-letter day
a very pleasantly memorable day
green about the gills
look ill and pale
do sth until one’s blue in the face
wasting your efforts doing sth because you will get no results
paint the town red
go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly
lend color to sth
to prove sth (usually accompanying)
whiter than white
completely honest and morally good
be tickled pink
to be very pleased
like a bolt from the blue
complete surprise
yellow-bellied
cowardly
see red
to become very angry
in a brown study
deeply absorbed in one’s own thoughts
every cloud has a silver lining
there is something good in every bad situation
grey area
a situation that is not clear or where the rules are not known
scream blue murder
to shout or to complain very loudly
give the green light to sth
give permission to proceed with sth
see pink elephants
to see things which are not really there because they are only in your imagination (used with a drunk person)
like a red rag to a bull
very likely to make someone angry or upset
look black
hopeless
see the colour of one’s money
to make certain that a person is going to pay for something
to hand sth on a silver platter
to allow someone to get something very easily, without having to work for it (also used with passive voice)
get the hang of sth
learn how to do sth
in two minds about sth
unable to make a decision
on the breadline
a line of people waiting for free food
curry favour with sb
to try to get sb to like or support you by praising or helping them a lot
put down roots in
begin to have a settled life in a particular place
on the nail
without any delay
come to pass
to happen, occur
get to grips with sth
begin to understand and deal with sth difficult
look daggers at
look angrily at someone
make heavy weather of sth
to exaggerate the difficulty of something to be done
(not) have the heart to
be willing to do or say sth unkind or unpleasant (usu negative)
down in the dumps
depressed, miserable
count one’s blessings
be grateful for what one has
wait on sb hand and foot
provide everything that sb needs or wants
have a finger in every pie
to be involved in a lot of different things
a babe in arms
a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position
a fly in the ointment
something small that spoils or lessens the enjoyment
a sting in the tail
an unpleasant feature at the end of an event or story
a straw in the wind
a sign of a possible future occurrence
birthday suit
to be naked
a millstone around one’s neck
sth that limits sb’s freedom
castle in the air
extravagant hopes and plans that will never be achieved
a spanner in the works
something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding
a bull in a china shop
someone who is very clumsy
a bolt from the blue
something unexpected or sudden
the icing on the cake
something that makes a good situation even better
a flash in the pan
promising at the start but then disappointing
a needle in a haystack
something hard or impossible to find
a feather in one’s cap
an achievement to be proud of
a dog in the manger
person who prevents others from using something he or she cannot use and does not need
