1201-1400 Flashcards
kill two birds with one stone
If youkill two birds with one stone, you succeed in doing two things at the same time. By studying on the train on the way home, Claire kills two birds with one stone.
cut someone some slack
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. Our parents are very strict; I wish they’d cut us some slack now and then.
sponge off someone
If yousponge off someone,you live at the expense of another person, accepting their hospitality without sharing the costs or doing something in return. Amy has been sponging off her grandparents for the past two months. She neither shares the expenses nor helps in the house.
it’s beyond me
To say ‘it’s beyond me’ means that it is impossible for you to understand. It’s beyond me why Mary wants to marry John.
things are looking up
To say thatthings are looking upmeans that the situation is improving and you feel more positive about the future. Andy has got two job interviews next week so things are looking up.
strike (it) lucky
When someonestrikes it lucky, they run into good luck. We had a sunny week in Scotland - we struck it lucky!
sweat of your brow
If you earn or achieve somethingby the sweat of your brow,you do it through hard work and no help. I got a comfortable lifestyle by the sweat of my brow - I owe it to nobody but myself!
run round in circles
People whorun round in circleshave difficulty in achieving something because of lack of organisation. Running round in circles will get us nowhere - we need to set up a plan.
put a spanner in the works
Toput a spanner in the works(orthrow a (monkey) wrench) means to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned. A new motorway was planned but a group of ecologists managed to put a spanner in the works.
stand in good stead
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. Being able to speak another language will stand you in good stead when looking for a job.
(as)slyas a fox
Someone who isas sly as a foxis cunning and clever at getting what they want, especially by deceiving or tricking people. Be wary of that insurance salesman. He’s known to be as sly as a fox.
eat your words
If youeat your words, you have to admit that what you said before was wrong. After predicting disastrous results, he had to eat his words when he saw the success of the new product.
fall by the wayside
If a plan or projectfalls by the wayside, it remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it. Local residents protested so strongly that plans for a new motorway fell by the wayside.
significant other
The term’significant other’ refers to a person, such as a spouse, partner or lover, with whom you have a long-term relationship. Harry says he makes no decisions without consulting his significant other.
sincetimeimmemorial
If something has existedsince time immemorial,it has been there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time without it. I don’t know when that bridge was built. It’s been there since time immemorial.
mind your Ps and Qs
If you tell someone tomind their Ps and Qs, you are advising them to be careful about how they behave and what they say. Politeness is very important to my grandparents, so mind your Ps and Qs.
bring someone to heel
If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, youbring them to heel. The boy had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel.
go out of your way
If yougo out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something. Aunt Betty went out of her way to make us feel comfortable.
duty bound
If you areduty boundto do something, you are required to do it as part of your obligations. Teachers are duty bound to report a pupil’s absence from school.
(not) miss a trick
If a person nevermisses a trick, they are very alert and aware of everything that is happening around them. The old lady next door will know if Bill is there or not - she never misses a trick!
till thecowscome home
To say that a person could do somethingtill the cows come homemeans that they could do it for a ong time. You can ask me till the cows come home but I’m not buying you a scooter!
do nothing by halves
When a person does everything they are engaged in completely and thoroughly, they are said todo nothing by halves. When she cooks, it’s a four-course meal - she does nothing by halves!
that’s the last straw!
This expression means that this is the latest unpleasant event and that you cannot tolerate the situation any longer. After an extremely tiring day, when Joe saw the the traffic jam he said : that’s the last straw!
take the bull by the horns
To takethe bull by the hornsmeans that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem. When the argument turned into a fight, the bar owner took the bull by the horns and called the police.
badegg
To refer to someone as a bad egg means that they cannot trusted. I don’t my son to be friends with Bobby Smith. Bobby’s a bad egg!
jump on the bandwagon
If a person or organisationjumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable. When organic food became fashionable, certain stores were quick to jump on the bandwagon and promote it.
money to burn
People who havemoney to burnhave so much money that they can spend it on anything they want. A leather jacket is no problem for Sarah. She’s got money to burn!
one over the eight
If a person has had oneover the eight,they are slightly drunk. Don’t listen to him! Can’t you see he’s had one over the eight!
ring out the old year and ring in the new
This expression means to announce and celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next.
frog in one’s throat
A person who hasa frog in their throathas difficulty in speaking clearly because they have a cough or a sore throat. Teaching was difficult today. I had a frog in my throat all morning.
get the axe
If someonegets the axe, they lose their job. When a company is restructured, the senior staff are often the first to get the axe.
nothing to write home about
To say that something isnothing to write home aboutmeans that it is not of great interest or importance. Okay, she’s written a couple of books, but nothing to write home about.
at alowebb
A person or organisationat a low ebbis not as strong or successful as usual. The recent political crisis has left the country at a low ebb.
spitting in the wind
If you spend time trying to do something that is impossible to achieve, you are said to bespitting in the wind. You’ll never make him change his mind. You’re just spitting in the wind.
overstep the mark
If youoverstep the mark,you go too far and upset someone by saying something or behaving in a way that is unacceptable. Jenny is angry with her son. He overstepped the mark when he called his grandfather an ‘old fool’.
false move
In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make afalse move, you do something which may have unpleasant consequences. He is under close surveillance. If he makes one false move he’ll be arrested.
(you can’t)teachan old dog new tricks
This expression means that someone who is used to doing things in a certain way will find it difficult to change their habits. Your grandfather will never use a smart phone. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
run with thehare
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.
ins and outs
The term’ins and outs’of a situation means all the details or facts. I know he was involved in a car accident, but I don’t know the ins and outs of his injuries.
two left feet
If you havetwo left feet,you are clumsy or awkward in your movements. I’m afraid I’m a bad dancer. I’ve got two left feet!
five finger discount
If somebody gets afive-finger discount, they take something without paying; in other words, they steal. “How could he afford that watch?” “Who knows - perhaps with a five-finger discount?”
you can’t judge a book by its cover
This expression means that you should not form an opinion about something from its appearance only. He leads a very simple life but in fact he’s an extremely rich man. - you can’t judge a book by its cover.
pull the rug
If youpull the rug from under someone’s feet,you suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support. When Andy’s mother stopped sending him money, she pulled the rug from under his feet and forced him to find a job.
get akickout of
If youget a kick out of something,you feel enjoyment or excitement from something. Tania is a bit strange - she gets a kick out of listening to other people’s phone messages.
nothing ventured, nothing gained
This expression means that you cannot expect to achieve anything if you risk nothing. He’s going to ask his boss for a promotion even though he has little chance of obtaining satisfaction - nothing ventured, nothing gained!
on the map
If a place becomes well-known, it is puton the map. The president’s visit really put the restaurant on the map.
square meal
When people talk abouta square meal,they mean a substantial and satisfying meal. I don’t need a fancy restaurant, just a place where I can get a square meal.
live on the edge
If youlive on the edge, your lifestyle involves dangerous or risky activities. Extreme sportsmen or gamblers are examples of people who live on the edge.
lie in
If youlie in,you stay in bed after the normal time for getting up. Great! Tomorrow I’m not on duty so I can lie in!
know your own mind
If youknow your own mind,you know what you want or like, and are capable of making a decision. Idon’t want to influence you. You’re old enough to know your own mind.
lie through teeth
If youlie through your teeth,you lie openly and brazenly, knowing that what you are saying is completely false. I saw him breaking the window. If he denies it, he’s lying through his teeth.
off themark
If something isoff the mark, it is incorrect or inaccurate. His estimation of the cost was completely off the mark.
makehaywhile the sun shines
This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last. Successful athletes are advised to make hay while the sun shines.
small dog, tall weeds
This expression is used to refer to someone who does not have the ability or the resources necessary to perform a task. It may be too difficult for the trainee - small dog, tall weeds!
mutton dressed as lamb
This expression refers to a middle-aged woman who tries to look younger by dressing in clothes designed for younger people. The style doesn’t suit her - it has a mutton-dressed-as-lamb effect on her!
slice/share of the cake
When people feel entitled to a share of the profits or benefits, they want a (larger)slice of the cake. Since profits are higher this year, the workers feel they deserve a bigger slice of the cake.
proud as a peacock
A person who is asproud as a peacockis extremely proud. When his son won first prize, Bill was as proud as a peacock.
two-faced
Someone who istwo-facedis deceitful or insincere; they will say one thing to your face and something else when you are not there. I don’t trust Billy. I find him two-faced.
fifth wheel
This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless. Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth wheel
flying start
If somethinggets off to a flying start, it is immediately successful. Sales of the book got off to a flying start and exceeded our expectations.
put one’s foot down
Toput one’s foot downmeans to exert authority to prevent something from happening. The child wanted to sleep on the sofa but his father put his foot down and sent him to bed.
drop names
When you drop names, you mention the names of famous people you know or have met in order to impress others. There goes Jack dropping names again. People will get tired of listening to him!
run a taut ship
When a group or organisation is run in a well-ordered and disciplined manner, the person in chargeruns a taut (ortight)ship. The director of the scout camp runs a taut ship.
havepins and needles
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. I lay curled up for so long that I had pins and needles in my legs.
jump out of skin
If youjump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked. Jane nearly jumped out of her skin when the horse put its head through the kitchen window!
want head on a platter
If someone makes you so angry that you want them to be punished, youwant their head on a platter. He was so angry when he read the article about his family that he wanted the journalist’s head on a platter.
pop the question
When you ask someone to marry, youpop the question. It was during a trip to Venice that he popped the question.
full of the joys of spring
If you arefull of the joys of spring,you are happy, enthusiastic and full of energy. Barbara is full of the joys of spring at the moment! Has she got a new boyfriend?
lay it on the line
If you speak frankly and make something very clear, youlay it on the line. The boss laid it on the line and told Jimmy that if he arrived late for work again he would lose his job.
at a pinch
To say that something could be doneat a pinchmeans that it would be possible to do it if absolutely necessary. The hall can seat 50 people comfortably, and a few more at a pinch.
a storm is brewing
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. As soon as we saw Pete’s face, we knew there was a storm brewing.
between the devil and the deep blue sea
If you arebetween the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a situation where there are to equally unpleasant alternatives. When the new product didn’t take off, the management was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea : develop a new marketing campaign or drop the product.
bone to pick with someone
If you have abone to pickwith someone, you are annoyed with them and want to talk to them about it. Mark wants to see the boss. He says he’s got a bone to pick with him.
let yourhairdown
If you suggest that someone shouldlet their hair down, you are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves. Come on! We’re not in the office now. You can let your hair down!
blow your top
If youblow your top, you suddenly become very angry. When my mother saw the state of the house after the party, she blew her top!
hollow victory
A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems worthless or without significance for the winner, is called ahollow victory. Won in the absence of the major ski champions, his gold medal was a hollow victory.
yourwishis 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!
know the score
When youknow the score,you are well-informed about a situation and know what to expect. If Laura damages the car, her dad won’t lend it to her again. She knows the score.
paint the town red
If youpaint the town red,you go out and enjoy a lively evening in bars, night-clubs, etc. To celebrate the victory, the team’s supporters painted the town red.
fit to be tied
Someone who isfit to be tiedis extremely irritated, upset or angry. Harry was fit to be tied when his dog dug up the flowers he had planted.
