1601-1800 Flashcards
get your ducks in a row
If youget your ducks in a row,you get things well organised. We need to get our ducks in a row if we want our project to succeed.
think again
If you tell someone tothink again, you advise them to reconsider the situation and perhaps change their decision. Your apartment is well located; you should think again before selling it.
keep nose to the grindstone
A person whokeeps their nose to the grindstoneis someone who concentrates on working or studying hard. She was so determined to get into the college of her choice that she kept her nose to the grindstone all year.
in the twinkling of an eye
This expression means ‘very fast’ or ‘instantaneously’. Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye.
make mouth water
Food canmake your mouth waterwhen it looks and smells extremely good. That delicious smell from the kitchen is making my mouth water.
swallow your words
If youswallow your words,you admit that you were wrong. He said I’d never get the job, but he had to swallow his words when I was appointed.
murder something
If you say that you couldmurder something,such as food or drink, you mean that you want it very much. I’m so hot and thirsty I could murder a cool drink!
all downhill/ downhill all the way
If something isall downhillordownhill all the way, it is very easy to achieve considering the difficulties encountered beforehand. The hardest part for the burglars was turning off the alarm system. After that it was all downhill.
pass the buck
If you say that someone ispassing the buck,you are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting someone else to handle it. Sam takes the easy way out. Whenever a problem arises, he immediately passes the buck!
copper-bottomed
To describe something such as a plan, a contract or a financial arrangement ascopper-bottomedmeans that it is completely safe or reliable. He signed a coper-bottomed agreement with a distributor.
icing on the cake
If something is referred to asicing on the cake, it is an extra benefit that makes a good situation even better. Good news! I get the job … and the icing on the cake is that I get a company car too!
muddy the waters
If youmuddy the waters, you make something less clear by giving confusing information. I had difficulty understanding, and Alan’s explanation just muddied the waters!
second a motion
During a meeting, if yousecond a motion,you formally agree with a proposal. She seconded the motion to introduce flexible working hours.
set the stage
If youset the stage for an event or a development, you create conditions that allow it to happen. The agreement set the stage for their future working relationship.
shut the stable door when the horse has bolted
If youshut the stable door after the horse has bolted, you try to prevent something bad from happening when it is already too late. Jack decided to insure the contents of his apartment after it was burgled. Now that’s shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted!
get off the hook
If you do something wrong and manage toget off the hook,you avoid punishment or blame. Barry was questioned by the police but his lawyer managed to get him off the hook.
scrape the bottom of the barrel
If youscrape the bottom of the barrel,you use the worst or the least satisfactory ideas, things or people because you have no choice. When they started to recruit, they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel because the best people has already found jobs elsewhere.
stand on own two feet
If youstand on your own two feet,you are independent and need no help from anyone. When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two feet.
chance one’s arm
If youchance yourarm, you decide to do something even though there is little hope of success. Tony knew there was little hope of getting into Harvard but he decided to chance his arm anyway.
ace a test
If you obtain a very high score or an excellent result, youace a test or exam. Maria’s parents said she could go to the party if she aced her English test.
full of beans
A person who isfull of beansis lively, active and healthy. He may be getting old but he’s still full of beans.
in the doghouse
If you arein the doghouse, someone is angry with you because you have done something wrong. Mark is in the doghouse because he damaged his father’s car.
out of touch
Ifyou areout of touch, you no longer communicate with someone, or you are unaware of recent developments. I’ve been out of touch with Jenny since we left college.
beard the lion in his den
If you visit someone important in the place where they work, in order to challenge him/her or obtain something,you beard the lion in his den. If he continues to refuse my calls, I’ll have to beard the lion in his den.