1401-1600 Flashcards
all the rage
When something isáall the rage, it has become very popular or trendy. Twittering text messages is all the rage these days, both among individuals and companies.
be-all and end-all
To say that something is not theábe-all and end-allámeans that it is not what matters most or what is most essential. Good schools are not the be-all and end-all of educating a child.á
necessary evil
If you say that something is aánecessary evil,áyou don’t like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted. Vaccinations are a necessary evil if you want to travel.
in theátwinkling of an eye
This expression means ‘very fast’ or ‘instantaneously’. Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye.
hang on for dear life
If youáhang (or hold) on for dear life,áyou grip something firmly so as not to fall. Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she hung on for dear life!
spanner in the works
If someone or somethingáthrows a spanner (or a wrench) in the works,they do something that causes problems and prevents the success of a plan or event. The two companies were keen to sign the agreement before anything happened to throw a spanner in the works.
zero tolerance
If an activity or a certain type of behaviour is givenázero tolerance, it will not be accepted, not even once. The authorities have announced zero tolerance for smoking in public buildings.
crank into gear
When a person or activity cranks (or gets) into gear, they start to work or become effective. Immediately after the announcement, a group of protesters cranked into gear.
leaps and bounds
If you do somethingáin leaps and bounds,áyou make rapid or spectacular progress or growth. The number of subscribers to the newsletter has grown in leaps and bounds.
toss up
When there are two options or possibilities to choose from, and both are equally good, the choice between the two is called aátoss-upá(like tossing a coin). Both boxers are in excellent condition. It’s a toss-up which of them will win.
best of botháworlds
If a person has theábest of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things. We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the beach.á We have the best of both worlds.
keep under wraps
If something isákept under wraps,áit is held secret and not revealed to anyone. The plan was kept under wraps until the contract as officially signed.
wash onesádirtyálinen in public
Toáwash one’s dirty linen in publicámeans to talk about unpleasant personal matters in the presence of others. ‘Argue in private.á Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.’ was my grandmother’s advice.
nothing doing
This term means that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed. Work on Sunday?á Nothing doing!
fit of pique
Someone who reacts by showing their resentment or annoyance when their pride has been wounded, or they feel insulted, is said to have aáfit of pique. She left the table in a fit of pique.
get on in years
Someone who iságetting on in yearsáis growing old. My grandmother is getting on in years. She needs help nowadays.
rake in theámoney
If youárake in the money,áyou make money in large quantities. Bob’s business is so successful, he’s raking in the money.
keen as mustard
If someone isáas keen as mustard, they are very eager, enthusiastic or motivated. We should ask Emily to join the team.á She’s as keen as mustard.
pick up the pieces
After a disastrous event, if youápick up the piecesáyou do what you can to get the situation back to normal again. After fire destroyed their house, it took them a long time to pick up the pieces.
sell like hot cakes
Things thatásell like hot cakesásell quickly or in large quantities. Her books always sell like hot cakes.
get the jitters
If youáget (oráhave) the jitters,áespecially before an important event, you become very nervous or anxious and begin to shake. Some people get the jitters when they have to make a speech.
cream rises to the top
Someone or something exceptionally good will eventually attract attention or stand out from the rest, just asácream rises to the topáin coffee or tea. I knew you’d succeed.á As the saying goes: ‘cream rises to the top’!
blow the whistle
If you report an illegal or socially-harmful activity to the authorities, and give information about those responsible for it, youáblow the whistleáor you are aáwhistle-blower. He refused to blow the whistle on his boss for fear of losing his job.
time-honoured practice
A custom that is universally respected, or a traditional way of doing something, is calledáa time-honoured practice. Guests were greeted according to a time-honored practice.
brains behind something
Someone who isáthe brains behindáa project or action is the person thought to have planned and organised everything. The police have arrested a man believed to be the brains behind the bank robbery.
saving grace
A person who hasáa saving graceáhas a quality that prevents them from being totally bad. She’s a horrible person but she has one saving grace, her kindness to animals.
on theárack
If you are in a stressful situation, having to answer a lot of questions or wait for a decision, you areáon the rack. The suspect was put on the rack by the police but he did not confess to anything.
be my guest
This expression is used to give someone permission to do something. If you’d like to use the phone, be my guest.á
bated breath
If you wait for something with bated breath, you are both anxious and excited about an imminent event. We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.á
on the wagon
Someone who isáon the wagonáis no longer drinking alcohol. No wine for me please - I’m on the wagon.
come out in the wash
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. Yes, he was furious when it happened, but don’t worry - it’ll all come out in the wash.
stumbling block
A problem or obstacle that prevents you from achieving something isáa stumbling block. My father adapted quite well but the language was always a stumbling block for my mother.
beyond one’s wildest dreams
If something isábeyond your wildest dreams, it is better than you imagined or hoped for. The research team received a grant from the government that was beyond their wildest dreams.
oná theáhomeástretch
To say that you areáon the home stretchámeans that you are approaching the end of something such as a task, a race or a journey. Don’t give up - we’re on the home stretch now.
mean business
If someoneámeans business,áthey are serious about what they announce. The boss says that in future any missing material will be reported to the police, and he looks as though he means business.
half a mind
If you haveáhalf a mindáto do something, you are thinking seriously about it but have not yet reached a decision. I’ve half a mind to start up my own business but first I need some advice.
have theáworldáby its tail
Someone whoáhas the world by its tailáis very successful and has many opportunities to choose from. Due to her intelligence and hard work, she now has the world by its tail.
feet of clay
If someone who is admired is found to have a weakness, fault or defect of character, they are said to haveáfeet of clay. No one is perfect.á Many successful people have feet of clay.
myádogsáare barking
When a person says that theirádogs are barkingáthey mean that their feet are hurting. I’ve been shopping all day. My dogs are barking!
take the words out of someone’s mouth
If you say exactly what someone else was going to say, youátake the words out of their mouth. I entirely agree with you.á You took the words out of my mouth.
show ofáhands
Aáshow of handsáis a method of voting where people give their opinion by raising a hand. How many people agree?á Could we have a show of hands please?
cast-iron stomach
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 aácast-iron stomach. I don’t know how you can eat that spicy food.á You must have a cast-iron stomach.
let bygones be bygones
If youálet bygones be bygones,áyou decide to forget about past disagreements. When Charlie’s son was born, he decided to let bygones be bygones and contacted his parents.
light years ahead
If someone or something isálight years ahead, they are far more advanced in terms of development or progress. We’ve got to invest more in research - our competitors are light years ahead!
busman’s holiday
Aábusman’s holidayáis when you spend your spare time or your holidays doing the same sort of activity as you do in your job. My husband is a chef, so for him time off with the family is often a busman’s holiday!
fair and square
If something is obtained or wonáfair and square, it is done in an honest and open manner, the rules are respected and there is no cheating or lying. Gavin won the competition fair and square - there was no doubt about the result.
like aáhouseáon fire
Two people who get onálike a house on fireáhave similar interests and quickly become good friends. As soon as Sarah met her brother’s girlfriend, they got on like aá house on fire.
free lunch
The expressioná’there’s no such thing as a free lunch’ámeans that nothing is free. If somebody helps you, they always expect some form of payment in return. If you accept his offer, he’ll be forever asking you for favours. There’s no such thing as a free lunch!
hand it to someone
Ifá youáhand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they deserve credit or praise for their achievements. You’ve got to hand it to Sophie. She may be a snob, but her presentations are always excellent.
chase rainbows
Someone who isáchasing rainbowsáis trying to get something they will never obtain. She’s trying to get into Oxford, but I think she’s chasing rainbows.
life and soul of the party
Theálife and soul of the partyáis the most lively and amusing person present at an event. I’m so glad we invited Emily. She was the life and soul of the party.
hit the ground running
If someoneáhits the ground running, they are ready and eager to start immediately on a new activity. He intends to hit the ground running when he starts his new job.
let the cat out of the bag
If youálet the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, often unintentionally. When the child told her grandmother about the plans for her birthday, she let the cat out of the bag.á It was supposed to be a secret!
lead up garden path
If someoneáleads you up the garden path, they deceive you by making you believe something which is not true. I still haven’t got the promotion I was promised.á I think my boss is leading me up the garden path!
hard up
If you areáhard up, you have very little money. We were so hard up that we had to sleep in the car.
put your heart into
If youáput your heart (and soul) into something, you are very enthusiastic and invest a lot of energy and hard work in it. Paul was determined to make a success of the project.á He put his heart and soul into it.
come rain or shine
If a person does somethingácome rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances. He goes to the gym club every day, come rain or shine.
give the game away
If youágive the game away, you reveal a secret or a plan, often unintentionally. He hoped nobody in the hotel would recognize him, but an employee gave the game away.
sleep like a log
If youásleep like a log,áyou sleep deeply or soundly. After a day at the beach, I usually sleep like a log.
scare the daylights out of
If somethingáscares the (living) daylightsáout of you, it terrifies you. The sudden screaming scared the daylights out of me.
take a dim view of
If youátake a dim view ofásomething, you disapprove of it. When Harry and Sally decided to live together without getting married, their grandparents took a dim view of the situation.
up and about
If someone isáup and about,áthey are out of bed or have recovered after an illness. She was kept in hospital for a week but she’s up and about again.
hive of activity
A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone is very busy, is calledáa hive of activity. When I went to offer help, the kitchen was already a hive of activity.
my way or thehighway
It you say to someoneá’it’s my way or the highway’, you are telling that person that either they accept what you propose or they leave the project. You don’t have much choice when someone says ‘it’s my way or the highway’.
try someone’s patience
If you find it difficult to be patient with someone because of their irritating attitude or behaviour, you can say that they areátrying your patience. His constant interruptions began to try the teacher’s patience.
in trouble with the law
If someone isáin trouble with the law,áthey are being questioned by the police in connection with something illegal or criminal. The suspect has often been in trouble with the law.
have an ace up your sleeve
If youáhave an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage. I’m well prepared for the negotiations. I’ve got an ace up my sleeve.
doggie bag
A bag provided by a restaurant so that you can take the leftover food home with you is called aádoggieá(orádoggy)ábag. The portions were so big that I decided to ask for a doggie bag.
tech savvy
People who areátech savvyáhave sufficient technical knowledge and skills to be comfortable using computers and other electronic devices. Many students are more tech-savvy than their teachers.
crux of the matter
The main point or the most vital element of a discussion or argument is calledáthe crux of the matter. The crux of the matter is that he’s too old to live alone in that big house.
stir-crazy
If a personágoes stir-crazy, they become very agitated or nervous because they have been confined to a place for too long. After several days in quarantine, people were going stir-crazy.
getáwindáof
If you get wind of something, you hear about something you were unaware of, usually a private or secret matter. The chairman didn’t want the press to get wind of the takeover before the agreement was signed.
send a shiver down your spine
If somethingásends a shiver down your spine,áit makes you feel anxious, nervous or excited. The song always sends a shiver down my spine!
play secondáfiddle
If youáplay second fiddleáto someone, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position. John resented having to play second fiddle to the sales manager when the company was restructured.
nurse/bear aágrudge
If youánurse/bear a grudgeáagainst someone, you have a feeling of resentment or ill-will towards them. Ever since I got a promotion, Sam has been holding a grudge against me.
hold good
If something such as a statement, saying or theoryáholds good, it continues to be true, valid or applicable. The author’s version of the event still holds good.
join the club!
By saying to somebodyá’join the club!’, you express sympathy for an unpleasant experience that you have had too. “Oh no!á My wallet has been stolen.” “Join the club!”
play for time
If youáplay for time,áyou try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage. He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease.
off the top of your head
To say somethingáoff the top of your headámeans that you are giving an immediate reaction, and not a carefully considered opinion, so it might not be correct. “How much do you think it will cost?” “Off the top of my head I’d say around $1000.”
lipstick on a pig
This expression means that trying to ‘dress up’ something unappealing or ugly, in a vain attempt to make it look better, is like puttingálipstick on a pig. Flowers will not improve that ugly bridge; every one agrees that it’s lipstick on a pig.
