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English idioms (without example) > 1201-1400 > Flashcards

1201-1400 Flashcards

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1
Q

kill two birds with one stone

A

If youkill two birds with one stone, you succeed in doing two things at the same time.

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2
Q

cut someone some slack

A

If you relax a rule, treat a person less severely or allow someone to do something which is normally not permitted, youcut them some slack.

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3
Q

sponge off someone

A

If yousponge off someone,you live at the expense of another person, accepting their hospitality without sharing the costs or doing something in return.

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4
Q

it’s beyond me

A

To say ‘it’s beyond me’ means that it is impossible for you to understand.

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5
Q

things are looking up

A

To say thatthings are looking upmeans that the situation is improving and you feel more positive about the future.

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6
Q

strike (it) lucky

A

When someonestrikes it lucky, they run into good luck.

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7
Q

sweat of your brow

A

If you earn or achieve somethingby the sweat of your brow,you do it through hard work and no help.

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8
Q

run round in circles

A

People whorun round in circleshave difficulty in achieving something because of lack of organisation.

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9
Q

put a spanner in the works

A

Toput a spanner in the works(orthrow a (monkey) wrench) means to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned.

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10
Q

stand in good stead

A

To say that a skill, an ability or previous experience willstand you in good steadmeans that it will be beneficial to you in the future.

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11
Q

(as)slyas a fox

A

Someone who isas sly as a foxis cunning and clever at getting what they want, especially by deceiving or tricking people.

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12
Q

eat your words

A

If youeat your words, you have to admit that what you said before was wrong.

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13
Q

fall by the wayside

A

If a plan or projectfalls by the wayside, it remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it.

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14
Q

significant other

A

The term’significant other’ refers to a person, such as a spouse, partner or lover, with whom you have a long-term relationship.

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15
Q

sincetimeimmemorial

A

If something has existedsince time immemorial,it has been there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time without it.

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16
Q

mind your Ps and Qs

A

If you tell someone tomind their Ps and Qs, you are advising them to be careful about how they behave and what they say.

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17
Q

bring someone to heel

A

If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, youbring them to heel.

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18
Q

go out of your way

A

If yougo out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something.

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19
Q

duty bound

A

If you areduty boundto do something, you are required to do it as part of your obligations.

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20
Q

(not) miss a trick

A

If a person nevermisses a trick, they are very alert and aware of everything that is happening around them.

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21
Q

till thecowscome home

A

To say that a person could do somethingtill the cows come homemeans that they could do it for a ong time.

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22
Q

do nothing by halves

A

When a person does everything they are engaged in completely and thoroughly, they are said todo nothing by halves.

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23
Q

that’s the last straw!

A

This expression means that this is the latest unpleasant event and that you cannot tolerate the situation any longer.

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24
Q

take the bull by the horns

A

To takethe bull by the hornsmeans that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem.

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25
Q

badegg

A

To refer to someone as a bad egg means that they cannot trusted.

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26
Q

jump on the bandwagon

A

If a person or organisationjumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.

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27
Q

money to burn

A

People who havemoney to burnhave so much money that they can spend it on anything they want.

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28
Q

one over the eight

A

If a person has had oneover the eight,they are slightly drunk.

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29
Q

ring out the old year and ring in the new

A

This expression means to announce and celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

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30
Q

frog in one’s throat

A

A person who hasa frog in their throathas difficulty in speaking clearly because they have a cough or a sore throat.

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31
Q

get the axe

A

If someonegets the axe, they lose their job.

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32
Q

nothing to write home about

A

To say that something isnothing to write home aboutmeans that it is not of great interest or importance.

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33
Q

at alowebb

A

A person or organisationat a low ebbis not as strong or successful as usual.

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34
Q

spitting in the wind

A

If you spend time trying to do something that is impossible to achieve, you are said to bespitting in the wind.

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35
Q

overstep the mark

A

If youoverstep the mark,you go too far and upset someone by saying something or behaving in a way that is unacceptable.

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36
Q

false move

A

In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make afalse move, you do something which may have unpleasant consequences.

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37
Q

(you can’t)teachan old dog new tricks

A

This expression means that someone who is used to doing things in a certain way will find it difficult to change their habits.

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38
Q

run with thehare

A

If yourun with the hare and hunt with the hounds,you want to stay on friendly terms with both sides in a quarrel.

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39
Q

ins and outs

A

The term’ins and outs’of a situation means all the details or facts.

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40
Q

two left feet

A

If you havetwo left feet,you are clumsy or awkward in your movements.

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41
Q

five finger discount

A

If somebody gets afive-finger discount, they take something without paying; in other words, they steal.

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42
Q

you can’t judge a book by its cover

A

This expression means that you should not form an opinion about something from its appearance only.

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43
Q

pull the rug

A

If youpull the rug from under someone’s feet,you suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support.

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44
Q

get akickout of

A

If youget a kick out of something,you feel enjoyment or excitement from something.

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45
Q

nothing ventured, nothing gained

A

This expression means that you cannot expect to achieve anything if you risk nothing.

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46
Q

on the map

A

If a place becomes well-known, it is puton the map.

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47
Q

square meal

A

When people talk abouta square meal,they mean a substantial and satisfying meal.

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48
Q

live on the edge

A

If youlive on the edge, your lifestyle involves dangerous or risky activities.

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49
Q

lie in

A

If youlie in,you stay in bed after the normal time for getting up.

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50
Q

know your own mind

A

If youknow your own mind,you know what you want or like, and are capable of making a decision.

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51
Q

lie through teeth

A

If youlie through your teeth,you lie openly and brazenly, knowing that what you are saying is completely false.

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52
Q

off themark

A

If something isoff the mark, it is incorrect or inaccurate.

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53
Q

makehaywhile the sun shines

A

This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.

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54
Q

small dog, tall weeds

A

This expression is used to refer to someone who does not have the ability or the resources necessary to perform a task.

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55
Q

mutton dressed as lamb

A

This expression refers to a middle-aged woman who tries to look younger by dressing in clothes designed for younger people.

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56
Q

slice/share of the cake

A

When people feel entitled to a share of the profits or benefits, they want a (larger)slice of the cake.

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57
Q

proud as a peacock

A

A person who is asproud as a peacockis extremely proud.

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58
Q

two-faced

A

Someone who istwo-facedis deceitful or insincere; they will say one thing to your face and something else when you are not there.

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59
Q

fifth wheel

A

This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless.

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60
Q

flying start

A

If somethinggets off to a flying start, it is immediately successful.

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61
Q

put one’s foot down

A

Toput one’s foot downmeans to exert authority to prevent something from happening.

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62
Q

drop names

A

When you drop names, you mention the names of famous people you know or have met in order to impress others.

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63
Q

run a taut ship

A

When a group or organisation is run in a well-ordered and disciplined manner, the person in chargeruns a taut (ortight)ship.

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64
Q

havepins and needles

A

Tohavepins and needlesis to have a tingling sensation in a part of the body, for example an arm or a leg, when it has been in the same position for a long time.

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65
Q

jump out of skin

A

If youjump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked.

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66
Q

want head on a platter

A

If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be punished, youwant their head on a platter.

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67
Q

pop the question

A

When you ask someone to marry, youpop the question.

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68
Q

full of the joys of spring

A

If you arefull of the joys of spring,you are happy, enthusiastic and full of energy.

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69
Q

lay it on the line

A

If you speak frankly and make something very clear, youlay it on the line.

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70
Q

at a pinch

A

To say that something could be doneat a pinchmeans that it would be possible to do it if absolutely necessary.

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71
Q

a storm is brewing

A

If you say thata storm is brewing, you mean that the atmosphere indicates that there is going to be trouble, probably with outbursts of anger or emotion.

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72
Q

between the devil and the deep blue sea

A

If you arebetween the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a situation where there are to equally unpleasant alternatives.

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73
Q

bone to pick with someone

A

If you have abone to pickwith someone, you are annoyed with them and want to talk to them about it.

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74
Q

let yourhairdown

A

If you suggest that someone shouldlet their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves.

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75
Q

blow your top

A

If youblow your top, you suddenly become very angry.

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76
Q

hollow victory

A

A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems worthless or without significance for the winner, is called ahollow victory.

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77
Q

yourwishis my command

A

This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks.

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78
Q

know the score

A

When youknow the score,you are well-informed about a situation and know what to expect.

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79
Q

paint the town red

A

If youpaint the town red,you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.

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80
Q

fit to be tied

A

Someone who isfit to be tiedis extremely irritated, upset or angry.

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81
Q

in thered

A

If a person or organisation isin the red,they owe money or have a negative account.

82
Q

come out of thewoodwork

A

When things, or people,come out of the woodwork, they appear or emerge unexpectedly, as if from nowhere, and usually in large numbers.

83
Q

deliver the goods

A

If a persondelivers the goods, they do what is expected of them or what they have promised to.

84
Q

fat cat

A

To refer to a rich and powerful person as afat catmeans that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power.

85
Q

in someone’sshoes

A

To talk about beingin someone’s shoesmeans to imagine how you would react if you were in a similar situation.

86
Q

wipe that smile off

A

This expression is often used by parents or people in authority to indicate that the situation is not amusing at all.

87
Q

waiting game

A

A person whoplays a waiting gamedelays taking any action or making any decision because they prefer to wait and see how things develop, usually in the hope that this will put them in a stronger position.

88
Q

(not) touch with a ten-foot pole

A

If you decidenot to touch something with a ten-foot pole,you prefer to stay far away from it.

89
Q

make short work of

A

If you makeshort work ofsomething, you do it or finish it quickly.

90
Q

invinoveritas

A

This expression, which in Latin means ‘in wine there is truth’, is a way of saying that wine makes people less inhibited and leads them to speak more freely and reveal their true feelings.

91
Q

set the records straight

A

If youset the records straight, you provide facts or an explanation to correct a mistake or misunderstanding.

92
Q

blamestorming

A

A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who or what is to blame for a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called’blamestorming’.

93
Q

blue-eyed boy

A

Ablue-eyed boyis someone’s favourite.

94
Q

bide your time

A

If youbide your time, you wait for a good opportunity to do something.

95
Q

paddle one’s own canoe

A

If youpaddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone.

96
Q

green light

A

If yougive or get the green light, you give or get a signal or authorization to do something.

97
Q

all brawn and no brain

A

Someone who is physically very strong but not very intelligent is said to beall brawn and no brain.

98
Q

err on the side of caution

A

When uncertain about what to do, if youerr on the side of cautionyou do more than what is adequate rather than take any risks.

99
Q

ready to drop

A

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

100
Q

takestockof a situation

A

If youtake stock of a situationyou assess all the aspects in order to form an opinion.

101
Q

infullswing

A

When something, such as an event, getsinto full swing, it is at its busiest or liveliest time.

102
Q

anyone’s call

A

This expression is used when the result of a contest or election is difficult to predict.

103
Q

donkey’s years

A

If someone has been doing something fordonkey’s years, they have been doing it for a very long time.

104
Q

take wind out ofsails

A

If someone or somethingtakes the wind out of your sails,they make you feel less confident by doing or saying something that you do not expect.

105
Q

have your work cut out

A

If you have to face a difficult task or a challenging situation, youhave your work cut outfor you.

106
Q

heavy hand

A

Dealing with or treating people with aheavy handmeans acting with discipline and severity, with little or no sensitivity.

107
Q

when the going gets tough, the tough get going

A

When faced with a difficult or dangerous situation, andthe going gets tough, strong people take action to solve the problem.

108
Q

window on the world

A

When something provides an opportunity to observe and learn about people and life in other countries, it is calleda window on the world.

109
Q

before your veryeyes

A

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

110
Q

strike/hit a raw nerve

A

If something you saystrikes or hits a raw nerve,it upsets someone because they are very sensitive about the subject.

111
Q

larger than life

A

A person who islarger than lifeattracts special attention because they are very impressive or unusually remarkable in their appearance, behaviour or personality.

112
Q

wet blanket

A

To refer to someone as awet blanketmeans that they spoil other people’s fun, or make an event less enjoyable than it could have been.

113
Q

up to no good

A

When someone is up to no good, they are doing or planning something bad or wrong.

114
Q

(buy) alemon

A

If you buy something, especially a car, that is defective, unsatisfactory, constantly gives problems or stops running after a short time, youbuy a lemon.

115
Q

go for asong

A

If somethinggoes for a song,it is sold at an unexpectedly low price.

116
Q

donkey work

A

This expression is used to describe the unpleasant, repetitive or boring parts of a job.

117
Q

keep your nose to thegrindstone

A

A person whokeeps their nose to the grindstoneis someone who concentrates on working hard at his/her job, or studies.

118
Q

on the house

A

Something which ison the houseis offered free of charge, usually in a bar or restaurant.

119
Q

one in theeye

A

If an event or development is an unexpected disappointment or defeat for someone, you can say that it is one in the eye for that person.

120
Q

speak out of turn

A

If someonespeaks out of turn,either they intervene at the wrong moment or they say something tactless or inappropriate.

121
Q

prey on your mind

A

If somethingpreys on your mind, it troubles you so much that you keep thinking about it.

122
Q

null and void

A

Something which isnull and voidhas no legal force or is invalid.

123
Q

strictly business

A

An appointment or event that is entirely devoted to business, with no leisure or relaxation, is calledstrictly business.

124
Q

get to the bottom of

A

If youget to the bottom ofa problem or mystery, you solve it by finding out the true cause of it.

125
Q

laugh off

A

When you laugh about something that has upset or hurt you, to make it seem less important or to try to show that you do not care, youlaugh it off.

126
Q

one track mind

A

Ifyou havea one-track mind,you have a tendency to think about only one subject.

127
Q

snap decision

A

A quick decision based on an impulse, without taking time to weigh the consequences, is calleda snap decision.

128
Q

balancing act

A

When you try to satisfy two or more people or groups who have different needs, and keep everyone happy, you perform abalancing act.

129
Q

bury the hatchet

A

When people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again, theybury the hatchet.

130
Q

non sequitur

A

This Latin term refers to a statement which does not seem to be a logical follow-up to the previous statement or argument.

131
Q

what makes someone tick

A

When you try to understand what motivates someone or makes them behave the way they do, you want to knowwhat makes them tick.

132
Q

call it quits

A

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

133
Q

fish in troubled waters

A

If youfish in troubled waters, you try to gain advantages for yourself from a disturbed state of affairs.

134
Q

call the shots/ the tune

A

The person whocalls the shotsorthe tuneis the one who makes all the important decisions and is in control of the situation.

135
Q

guilty pleasure

A

Enjoying something which is not generally held in high regard, while at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is called aguilty pleasure.

136
Q

beggars can’t be choosers

A

This expression means that you should not reject an offer if it is the only possibility you have.

137
Q

hale and hearty

A

Someone, especially an old person, who ishale and heartyis in excellent health.

138
Q

take steps

A

If youtake steps,you start a course of action in order to accomplish something.

139
Q

out to lunch

A

To say that someone isout to lunchmeans that they seem to be either unaware of what’s going on around them, or unable to understand what is happening.

140
Q

move up in the world

A

A person whomoves up in the worldbecomes more important in society or successful in their career.

141
Q

feed the kitty

A

If youfeed the kitty, you contribute to a collection of money called a ‘kitty’ in order to help a good cause.

142
Q

school of hard knocks

A

Someone who goes throughthe school of hard knockslearns through the positive and negative experiences of life rather than through a formal classroom education.

143
Q

feather in one’s cap

A

To describe someone’s achievement as afeather in their capmeans that it is something they can be proud of.

144
Q

oldheadon young shoulders

A

This expression refers to a child or young person who thinks and expresses themselves like an older more-experienced person.

145
Q

run the gamut of

A

If yourun the gamut ofsomething, you cover the entire range of what is possible.

146
Q

back on yourfeet

A

If you areback on your feet, after an illness or an accident, you are physically healthy again.

147
Q

flog a dead horse

A

To say that someone isflogging a dead horsemeans that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is not possible.

148
Q

back into shape

A

To get yourselfback into shape, you need to take some exercise in order to become fit and healthy again.

149
Q

mind over matter

A

The mental power to influence one’s body and overcome physical difficulties is said to be a question ofmind over matter.

150
Q

bag of bones

A

To say that someone is abag of bonesmeans that they are extremely thin.

151
Q

mad as a hatter

A

To say that someone isas mad as a hattermeans that they are very strange or insane.

152
Q

deep pockets

A

A person or organisation who has a lot of money hasdeep pockets.

153
Q

take it easy

A

When you relax, or do things at a comfortable pace, youtake it easy.

154
Q

one step ahead

A

When you areone step aheadof someone else, you achieve something faster than they do, or you have a slight advantage over them.

155
Q

hands tied

A

If a person has theirhands tied,something such as an agreement or a rule is preventing them from doing what they would like to do.

156
Q

think the sun rises and sets on someone

A

If you consider someone to be the most wonderful person in the world, youthink the sun rises and sets onthem.

157
Q

go down well

A

If an idea or proposalgoes down well, it is well accepted.

158
Q

fool’s errand

A

If you go ona fool’s errand, you try to do something which is useless, unnecessary or has no chance of success.

159
Q

farm something out

A

If something, such as work, isfarmed out, it is sent away to be done by others.

160
Q

be that as it may

A

This expression means that what the speaker says may be true but it will not change the situation.

161
Q

lose train of thought

A

If you forget what you were saying, for example after a disturbance or interruption, youlose your train of thought.

162
Q

it’s a small world

A

This expression is used by someone who is surprised to meet familiar people in unexpected places.

163
Q

let me bounce this off you

A

You can say this when you present an idea or plan to someone in order to test their reaction or obtain feedback.

164
Q

other things being equal

A

This expression refers to a probable situation if the conditions elsewhere remain unchanged or equal.

165
Q

under one’sbelt

A

If you have somethingunder your belt,you have acquired experience or have satisfactorily achieved something.

166
Q

feast your eyes on

A

If youfeast your eyeson something, you are delighted and gratified by what you see.

167
Q

go the wholehog

A

When yougo the whole hog, you do something thoroughly or completely.

168
Q

creative accounting

A

This term refers to the presentation of a company’s results in a way that, although generally legal, glosses over the problems and makes the results appear better than they are.

169
Q

idiot box

A

Some people consider television to lack educational value and refer to it as theidiot box.

170
Q

go all out

A

If yougo all outto achieve or obtain something, you make a great effort, using all possible strength and resources The candidate went all out to obtain the nomination.

171
Q

hold the fort

A

When youhold the fort,you look after a place or a business in the absence of the person who is normally in charge.

172
Q

wax lyrical

A

When youwax lyricalabout something, you speak enthusiastically about it in a poetic or sentimental way.

173
Q

under the weather

A

If you areunder the weather,you are not feeling very well.

174
Q

get hold of

A

If you obtain something, or manage to contact someone, you get hold of them.

175
Q

can’t stand the pace

A

If youcan’t stand the pace, you are unable to do things well when there is a lot of pressure.

176
Q

chapter and verse

A

This term refers to word-for-word details, or very specific facts, especially the exact place where the information can be found.

177
Q

have down pat

A

If you memorize or practise something until you know it perfectly or have it exactly right, youhave it down pat.

178
Q

over the hill

A

If a person isover the hill, they have reached an age when they can no longer perform as well as before.

179
Q

fat cat

A

To refer to a rich and powerful person as afat catmeans that you disapprove of the way they use their money or power.

180
Q

stand one’s ground

A

If youstand your groundyou maintain your position and refuse to yield or give way.

181
Q

pick holes

A

If someonepicks holesin something such as a plan, an idea or a proposal, they criticize it or try to find fault with it.

182
Q

neither here nor there

A

Something which isneither here nor thereis unimportant or irrelevant.

183
Q

food for thought

A

If something give youfood for thought, it makes you think seriously about a particular subject.

184
Q

skin someone alive

A

If you are angry and threaten toskin someone alive,you mean that you are going to punish them severely.

185
Q

blank cheque

A

If you give someone ablank cheque, you authorise them to do what they think is best in a difficult situation.

186
Q

cut one’s own throat

A

If youcut your own throat, you do something that will be the cause of your own failure or ruin your chances in the future.

187
Q

carrot and stick

A

If you use acarrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward and the threat of punishment to make someone work harder.

188
Q

think the world of

A

If youthink the world of someone,you like or admire them very much.

189
Q

pokerface

A

If you have apoker face, you show no emotion at all.

190
Q

pressed for time

A

If you arepressed for time, you have hardly enough time to do something, so you must hurry.

191
Q

put on your thinking cap

A

If you tell someone toput their thinking capon, you ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it.

192
Q

get something out of your system

A

This expression means that you get rid of a strong emotion or desire by expressing it openly or trying to fulfill it.

193
Q

collect one’s thoughts

A

If youcollect your thoughts, you try to think calmly and clearly in order to prepare yourself mentally for something.

194
Q

snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

A

If you manage to win something such as a match or a contest, when you are on the verge of losing, yousnatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

195
Q

olddogfor a hard road

A

This expression means that experience is invaluable when one is faced with a difficult task.

196
Q

come clean

A

Tocome cleanabout something means to tell the truth.

197
Q

plain sailing

A

An activity or task that isplain sailingis without difficulty or free from trouble.

198
Q

by alongchalk/shot

A

This expression means ‘not at all’ and is used to emphasize a statement, especially a negative one.

199
Q

bee’s knees

A

To say that someone/something is thebee’s kneesmeans that the speaker thinks they are exceptionally good.

200
Q

have an axe to grind

A

If youhave an axe to grind, you have personal reasons for becoming involved in something or adopting a particular attitude.

English idioms (without example) (15 decks)

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