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English idioms (without example) > 1401-1600 > Flashcards

1401-1600 Flashcards

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1
Q

all the rage

A

When something isall the rage, it has become very popular or trendy.

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2
Q

be-all and end-all

A

To say that something is not thebe-all and end-allmeans that it is not what matters most or what is most essential.

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3
Q

necessary evil

A

If you say that something is anecessary evil,you don’t like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted.

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4
Q

in thetwinkling of an eye

A

This expression means ‘very fast’ or ‘instantaneously’.

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5
Q

hang on for dear life

A

If youhang (or hold) on for dear life,you grip something firmly so as not to fall.

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6
Q

spanner in the works

A

If someone or somethingthrows a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event.

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7
Q

zero tolerance

A

If an activity or a certain type of behaviour is givenzero tolerance, it will not be accepted, not even once.

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8
Q

crank into gear

A

When a person or activity cranks (or gets) into gear, they start to work or become effective.

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9
Q

leaps and bounds

A

If you do somethingin leaps and bounds,you make rapid or spectacular progress or growth.

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10
Q

toss up

A

When there are two options or possibilities to choose from, and both are equally good, the choice between the two is called atoss-up(like tossing a coin).

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11
Q

best of bothworlds

A

If a person has thebest of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things.

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12
Q

keep under wraps

A

If something iskept under wraps,it is held secret and not revealed to anyone.

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13
Q

wash onesdirtylinen in public

A

Towash one’s dirty linen in publicmeans to talk about unpleasant personal matters in the presence of others.

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14
Q

nothing doing

A

This term means that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed.

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15
Q

fit of pique

A

Someone who reacts by showing their resentment or annoyance when their pride has been wounded, or they feel insulted, is said to have afit of pique.

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16
Q

get on in years

A

Someone who isgetting on in yearsis growing old.

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17
Q

rake in themoney

A

If yourake in the money,you make money in large quantities.

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18
Q

keen as mustard

A

If someone isas keen as mustard, they are very eager, enthusiastic or motivated.

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19
Q

pick up the pieces

A

After a disastrous event, if youpick up the piecesyou do what you can to get the situation back to normal again.

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20
Q

sell like hot cakes

A

Things thatsell like hot cakessell quickly or in large quantities.

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21
Q

get the jitters

A

If youget (orhave) the jitters,especially before an important event, you become very nervous or anxious and begin to shake.

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22
Q

cream rises to the top

A

Someone or something exceptionally good will eventually attract attention or stand out from the rest, just ascream rises to the topin coffee or tea.

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23
Q

blow the whistle

A

If you report an illegal or socially-harmful activity to the authorities, and give information about those responsible for it, youblow the whistleor you are awhistle-blower.

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24
Q

time-honoured practice

A

A custom that is universally respected, or a traditional way of doing something, is calleda time-honoured practice.

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25
Q

brains behind something

A

Someone who isthe brains behinda project or action is the person thought to have planned and organised everything.

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26
Q

saving grace

A

A person who hasa saving gracehas a quality that prevents them from being totally bad.

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27
Q

on therack

A

If you are in a stressful situation, having to answer a lot of questions or wait for a decision, you areon the rack.

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28
Q

be my guest

A

This expression is used to give someone permission to do something.

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29
Q

bated breath

A

If you wait for something with bated breath, you are both anxious and excited about an imminent event.

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30
Q

on the wagon

A

Someone who ison the wagonis no longer drinking alcohol.

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31
Q

come out in the wash

A

This expression is used to tell someone not to worry about a mistake or problem because it won’t have any serious effect and everything will work out all right.

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32
Q

stumbling block

A

A problem or obstacle that prevents you from achieving something isa stumbling block.

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33
Q

beyond one’s wildest dreams

A

If something isbeyond your wildest dreams, it is better than you imagined or hoped for.

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34
Q

on thehomestretch

A

To say that you areon the home stretchmeans that you are approaching the end of something such as a task, a race or a journey.

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35
Q

mean business

A

If someonemeans business,they are serious about what they announce.

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36
Q

half a mind

A

If you havehalf a mindto do something, you are thinking seriously about it but have not yet reached a decision.

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37
Q

have theworldby its tail

A

Someone whohas the world by its tailis very successful and has many opportunities to choose from.

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38
Q

feet of clay

A

If someone who is admired is found to have a weakness, fault or defect of character, they are said to havefeet of clay.

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39
Q

mydogsare barking

A

When a person says that theirdogs are barkingthey mean that their feet are hurting.

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40
Q

take the words out of someone’s mouth

A

If you say exactly what someone else was going to say, youtake the words out of their mouth.

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41
Q

show ofhands

A

Ashow of handsis a method of voting where people give their opinion by raising a hand.

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42
Q

cast-iron stomach

A

If you can eat all sorts of food and drink what you like, without any indigestion, discomfort or bad effects, it is said that you have acast-iron stomach.

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43
Q

let bygones be bygones

A

If youlet bygones be bygones,you decide to forget about past disagreements.

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44
Q

light years ahead

A

If someone or something islight years ahead, they are far more advanced in terms of development or progress.

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45
Q

busman’s holiday

A

Abusman’s holidayis when you spend your spare time or your holidays doing the same sort of activity as you do in your job.

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46
Q

fair and square

A

If something is obtained or wonfair and square, it is done in an honest and open manner, the rules are respected and there is no cheating or lying.

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47
Q

like ahouseon fire

A

Two people who get onlike a house on firehave similar interests and quickly become good friends.

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48
Q

free lunch

A

The expression’there’s no such thing as a free lunch’means that nothing is free.

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49
Q

hand it to someone

A

If youhand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they deserve credit or praise for their achievements.

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50
Q

chase rainbows

A

Someone who ischasing rainbowsis trying to get something they will never obtain.

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51
Q

life and soul of the party

A

Thelife and soul of the partyis the most lively and amusing person present at an event.

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52
Q

hit the ground running

A

If someonehits the ground running, they are ready and eager to start immediately on a new activity.

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53
Q

let the cat out of the bag

A

If youlet the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often unintentionally.

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54
Q

lead up garden path

A

If someoneleads you up the garden path, they deceive you by making you believe something which is not true.

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55
Q

hard up

A

If you arehard up, you have very little money.

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56
Q

put your heart into

A

If youput your heart (and soul) into something, you are very enthusiastic and invest a lot of energy and hard work in it.

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57
Q

come rain or shine

A

If a person does somethingcome rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances.

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58
Q

give the game away

A

If yougive the game away, you reveal a secret or a plan, often unintentionally.

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59
Q

sleep like a log

A

If yousleep like a log,you sleep deeply or soundly.

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60
Q

scare the daylights out of

A

If somethingscares the (living) daylightsout of you, it terrifies you.

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61
Q

take a dim view of

A

If youtake a dim view ofsomething, you disapprove of it.

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62
Q

up and about

A

If someone isup and about,they are out of bed or have recovered after an illness.

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63
Q

hive of activity

A

A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone is very busy, is calleda hive of activity.

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64
Q

my way or thehighway

A

It you say to someone’it’s my way or the highway’, you are telling that person that either they accept what you propose or they leave the project.

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65
Q

try someone’s patience

A

If you find it difficult to be patient with someone because of their irritating attitude or behaviour, you can say that they aretrying your patience.

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66
Q

in trouble with the law

A

If someone isin trouble with the law,they are being questioned by the police in connection with something illegal or criminal.

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67
Q

have an ace up your sleeve

A

If youhave an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.

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68
Q

doggie bag

A

A bag provided by a restaurant so that you can take the leftover food home with you is called adoggie(ordoggy)bag.

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69
Q

tech savvy

A

People who aretech savvyhave sufficient technical knowledge and skills to be comfortable using computers and other electronic devices.

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70
Q

crux of the matter

A

The main point or the most vital element of a discussion or argument is calledthe crux of the matter.

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71
Q

stir-crazy

A

If a persongoes stir-crazy, they become very agitated or nervous because they have been confined to a place for too long.

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72
Q

getwindof

A

If you get wind of something, you hear about something you were unaware of, usually a private or secret matter.

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73
Q

send a shiver down your spine

A

If somethingsends a shiver down your spine,it makes you feel anxious, nervous or excited.

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74
Q

play secondfiddle

A

If youplay second fiddleto someone, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.

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75
Q

nurse/bear agrudge

A

If younurse/bear a grudgeagainst someone, you have a feeling of resentment or ill-will towards them.

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76
Q

hold good

A

If something such as a statement, saying or theoryholds good, it continues to be true, valid or applicable.

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77
Q

join the club!

A

By saying to somebody’join the club!’, you express sympathy for an unpleasant experience that you have had too.

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78
Q

play for time

A

If youplay for time,you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage.

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79
Q

off the top of your head

A

To say somethingoff the top of your headmeans that you are giving an immediate reaction, and not a carefully considered opinion, so it might not be correct.

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80
Q

lipstick on a pig

A

This expression means that trying to ‘dress up’ something unappealing or ugly, in a vain attempt to make it look better, is like puttinglipstick on a pig.

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81
Q

social butterfly

A

A person who has a lot of friends and acquaintances and likes to flit from one social event to another is called asocial butterfly.

82
Q

elephant in the room

A

A problem that no one wants to discuss, but is so obvious that it cannot be ignored, is calledan elephant in the room.

83
Q

there’ll be the devil to pay

A

This is a way of announcing that there will be trouble if something happens.

84
Q

coast is clear

A

To say thatthe coast is clearmeans that there is no danger in sight or that nobody can see you.

85
Q

get the picture

A

A person whogets the pictureunderstands what is being explained or described.

86
Q

no fixed abode

A

A person ofno fixed abodehas nowhere permanent to live.

87
Q

Pyrrhic victory

A

A victory that is obtained at a tremendous cost, or causes such a great loss that it is not worth winning, is called aPyrrhic victory.

88
Q

take a turn for the worse

A

If a person who is illtakes a turn for the worse,their illness becomes more serious.

89
Q

(at) top of one’slungs

A

If you shoutat the top of your lungs, you shout as loudly as you possibly can.

90
Q

tie the knot

A

When two peopletie the knot, they get married.

91
Q

credibility gap

A

The extent of disbelief, of the difference between what you are asked to believe and what you are able to believe, is called acredibility gap.

92
Q

variety is the spice of life

A

This expression means that life is more interesting when you try to do different things.

93
Q

price you have to pay

A

Theprice you have to payis what you have to endure in return for something you gain or achieve.

94
Q

dribs and drabs

A

If something comes indribs and drabs,it arrives little by little, in small amounts or numbers.

95
Q

too many chiefs,not enough Indians

A

This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work.

96
Q

get your priorities right/straight

A

If you put things in the right order of importance, youget your priorities right.

97
Q

in keeping with

A

If something isin keeping with, for example, a style or tradition, it is suitable or appropriate in a particular situation.

98
Q

eyes like a hawk

A

If you’ve got eyes like a hawk, you have good eyesight and notice every detail.

99
Q

feeding frenzy

A

A situation in which a lot of people attack, pursue or compete with each other in an excited or frantic way, because they all want to obtain something, is called afeeding frenzy.

100
Q

it will never fly

A

To say that somethingwill never flymeans that it will not be successful.

101
Q

bite the dust

A

The expression’bite’ or’hit the dust’is a humorous way of referring to death.

102
Q

a lot on yourplate

A

If someonehas a lot on their plate,they are extremely busy or have several problems to handle at the same time.

103
Q

give rough edge oftongue

A

If yougive the (rough) edge of your tongue, you scold someone severely or speak to them very aggressively or rudely.

104
Q

open the floodgates

A

If someone or somethingopens the floodgates, they release something that had previously been held under control.

105
Q

on the fence

A

When faced with a choice, a person who ison the fencehas not yet reached a decision.

106
Q

off someone’s Christmas list

A

This expression means that you are no longer on friendly terms with someone.

107
Q

blow a gasket

A

When a furious personblows a gasket, they explode with anger.

108
Q

spin a yarn

A

If youspin a yarn,you tell a story, usually a long improbable one, with distorted truths.

109
Q

shoot yourself in the foot

A

If youshoot yourself in the footyou do or say something which is against your own interests.

110
Q

harp on

A

If youharp on (about) something, you tire others by talking continuously and tediously about it.

111
Q

put in the picture

A

If you give somebody all the information necessary to enable them to fully understand a situation, youput them in the picture.

112
Q

get your knickers in a twist

A

If youget your knickers in a twist,you are angry, nervous or upset faced with a difficult situation.

113
Q

lastlegs

A

If someone or something ison its last legs, they are in a very weak condition or about to stop working or die.

114
Q

shop till you drop

A

If youshop till you drop,you go shopping for a very long time, until you are exhausted.

115
Q

talk nineteen to the dozen

A

If someonetalks nineteen to the dozen,they speak very quickly.

116
Q

safety in numbers

A

This expression means that being part of a group makes people feel more secure and more confident when taking action.

117
Q

roll with the punches

A

When someone has toroll with the punches,they have to deal with a difficult situation by being flexible.

118
Q

stiff upperlip

A

If a personkeeps a stiff upper lip,they contain their emotion and do not let other people see their feelings.

119
Q

feed someone a line

A

If youfeed someone a line, you tell them something that may not be quite true, often as an excuse.

120
Q

pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered

A

You should be satisfied when you have enough; if you are too greedy, like a hog, you risk losing everything.

121
Q

starter marriage

A

Astarter marriageis a short-lived first marriage that ends in divorce with no kids, no property and no regrets.

122
Q

enough said

A

This expression is used to indicate that you completely understand the situation and you do not need any further details.

123
Q

full of hot air

A

Someone who isfull of hot airis full of nonsense and talks a lot without saying anything worthwhile.

124
Q

cheap shot

A

A cruel, unfair or unwarranted comment or verbal attack is called acheap shot.

125
Q

in the offing

A

Something that isin the offingis likely to appear or happen soon.

126
Q

land on your feet

A

If youland on your feet,you make a quick recovery after a difficulty such as a business failure, an illness, a loss, etc.

127
Q

once bitten twice shy

A

This is said by someone who has had an unpleasant experience which has made them more cautious.

128
Q

stool pigeon

A

A person who acts as an informer, especially one who gives information to the police or the authorities, is called astool pigeon.

129
Q

stem the tide

A

If youstem the tide(of events), you stop the development of something bad or undesirable.

130
Q

no picnic

A

An activity or task that isno picnicis unpleasant or difficult.

131
Q

fair hearing

A

When accused of wrongdoing, if someone gets afair hearing, they get an opportunity to present evidence or give their side of the story, usually in court.

132
Q

stick on one’s throat

A

If somethingsticks in your throat(orcraw), it is very difficult to accept and makes you angry or resentful.

133
Q

fishing expedition

A

If someone is on afishing expedition, they are trying to obtain information in any way possible.

134
Q

overshoot the mark

A

If you make a mistake as a result of misjudging something (situation, distance, amount, etc.

135
Q

go hand in hand

A

If two or more thingsgo hand in hand, they are associated or often happen at the same time.

136
Q

throw dust in someone’s eyes

A

If youthrow dust in someone’s eyes, you prevent them from seeing the truth by misleading them.

137
Q

hit the panic button

A

When youhit or press the panic button, you raise the alarm too quickly or react too hastily in a difficult or stressful situation.

138
Q

makelightwork

A

If a personmakes light workof something, they do it very easily or with little effort.

139
Q

get a raw deal

A

If you say that someonegot a raw deal, you think they were treated unfairly or badly.

140
Q

walk and chew gum

A

If you canwalk and chew gum(at the same time), you are able to do more than one thing at a time.

141
Q

wonders will never cease

A

This saying is used to express pleasure or surprise at something.

142
Q

go overboard

A

If yougo overboard, you are over-enthusiastic about something and do too much or behave in an excessive way.

143
Q

fall into place

A

When different elements fall into place, they fit well together or become organised so that progress can be achieved in a satisfactory manner.

144
Q

alter ego

A

The termalter ego, which in Latin means ‘other self’, refers to a very close and trusted friend who is very like yourself.

145
Q

off the cuff

A

If you speakoff the cuff,you say something without any previous thought or preparation.

146
Q

much of a muchness

A

This expression means ‘very similar’ or ‘almost alike’.

147
Q

eager beaver

A

The termeager beaverrefers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.

148
Q

with flying colours

A

To achieve somethingwith flying coloursmeans to do it very successfully.

149
Q

can’t hold a candle to

A

If one personcan’t hold a candleto another, they are much less competent or do not perform as well as the other.

150
Q

wouldn’t be caught dead

A

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.

151
Q

mouse potato

A

This term refers to a person who spends a lot of time in front of the computer.

152
Q

bare one’s soul

A

If youbare you soul(or heart) to someone, you reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings to them.

153
Q

calculated risk

A

Acalculated riskis a risk taken with full knowledge of the dangers involved.

154
Q

have a brush with

A

When youhave a brush withsomething, such as the law, you encounter or experience it briefly.

155
Q

a stitherum

A

Someone who is (all)in a stitherumis excited, agitated or confused about something.

156
Q

straight as an arrow

A

Someone who isas straight as an arrowis a morally upright person who is extremely honest.

157
Q

rue the day

A

If yourue the dayyou did something, you bitterly regret what you did that day.

158
Q

no two ways about it

A

To say that there areno two ways about somethingmeans that there is only one suitable ay of dealing with something.

159
Q

(not) turn a hair

A

If someonedoes not turn a hair,they show no emotion in circumstances where a reaction is expected.

160
Q

at stake

A

Someone who has a lotat stakeis in a risky situation, with a lot to be won or lost.

161
Q

(not) letgrassgrow under your feet

A

If someone doesnot let the grass grow under their feet,they do not delay in getting something done.

162
Q

on course

A

If you areon coursefor something, you are likely to achieve it.

163
Q

barefaced liar

A

Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is abarefaced liar.

164
Q

feather one’s nest

A

To say of someone that they arefeathering their nestmeans that they are taking advantage of their position in order to obtain money and enjoy have a comfortable life.

165
Q

drag one’s feet

A

If youdrag your feet,you delay a decision or participate without any real enthusiasm.

166
Q

split hairs

A

If yousplit hairs,you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or unimportant.

167
Q

up and running

A

If a business or a project isup and running, it has started and is fully operational.

168
Q

out on a limb

A

If yougo out on a limb,you do something risky or unsupported by others, which leaves you in a difficult position.

169
Q

add fuel to the flames

A

If youadd fuel to the flames, you do or say something that makes a difficult situation even worse.

170
Q

butter somebody up

A

When youbutter someone up,you flatter them or you are very nice to them, especially if you want to obtain something.

171
Q

at theoutside

A

When talking about the length of time or the amount of money necessary to do something,at the outsideindicates the highest estimate or the largest amount.

172
Q

walk atightrope

A

If a person iswalking a tightrope,they are in a difficult situation where they must act carefully.

173
Q

set in stone

A

When something isset in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed in any way.

174
Q

take a rain check

A

To say that youtake a rain checkmeans that you cannot accept an invitation or offer now, but you will be happy to accept it later.

175
Q

bricks and mortar bricks and clicks

A

An established trading company (office/shop) is referred to as a’brick-and-mortar’business.

176
Q

weak at the knees

A

Someone who isweak at the kneesis (temporarily) barely able to stand because of emotion, fear or illness.

177
Q

rats in the attic

A

If you say that someonehas rats in the attic,you mean that they are a bit mad or that their behaviour is eccentric.

178
Q

pie-eyed

A

Someone who ispie-eyedis completely drunk.

179
Q

separate sheep from goats

A

If youseparate the sheep from the goats,you examine a group of people and decide which are suitable and which are not.

180
Q

jazz something up

A

If youjazz something up,you add something to try to improve it or make it more stylish.

181
Q

at a snail’s pace

A

If something movesat a snail’s pace, it moves very slowly.

182
Q

take lying down

A

If youtake something lying down, you suffer as a result of an offensive act without reacting or protesting.

183
Q

neitherherenor there

A

Something which isneither here nor thereis considered to have no effect on the situation.

184
Q

go off with a bang

A

If something such as an event or performancegoes off with a bang, it is very successful.

185
Q

fall from grace

A

To say that someone hasfallen from gracemeans that they have done something wrong, immoral or unacceptable, and as a result have lost their good reputation.

186
Q

smell arat

A

To say ‘Ismell a rat’means that you suspect that something is wrong, or that someone is doing something dishonest or incorrect.

187
Q

apron strings

A

If one person istied to another’s apron strings, they remain dependent at an age when they should be independent.

188
Q

up in arms

A

If you areup in arms about something, you are very angry.

189
Q

play cat and mouse

A

Toplay cat and mousewith someone means to treat them alternately cruelly and kindly, so that they do not know what to expect.

190
Q

head on a platter

A

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

191
Q

shouting match

A

An argument or debate where people shout loudly at each other is calleda shouting match.

192
Q

quick off the mark

A

If someone isquick off the mark,they are quick to react to an event or take advantage of an opportunity.

193
Q

upper hand

A

If a person or organisationgainsorgets the upper hand, especially in a fight or competition, they take control over something.

194
Q

firing line

A

Someone who is in thefiring lineis in a position to be criticized because of their responsibilities or the position they hold.

195
Q

funny business

A

A business which is conducted in a deceitful, dishonest or unethical manner is calledfunny business.

196
Q

good turn

A

If youdo someone a good turn, you act in a helpful way.

197
Q

there’s one born every minute

A

This expression means that there are many people in the world who are stupid or easily fooled.

198
Q

that’s going too far!

A

If yougo too far,you do something that is considered extreme or unacceptable.

199
Q

make avirtueof necessity

A

If someone does something commendable, not deliberately but because they have no choice, and pretends to be doing it willingly and happily, theymake a virtue of necessity.

200
Q

prime of one’s life

A

Theprime of one’s lifeis the time in a person’s life when they are the most successful, or in their best physical condition.

English idioms (without example) (15 decks)

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