1801-2000 Flashcards
blessing in disguise
This expression refers to something that is unpleasant at first but later turns out to have advantages. Missing the plane was a blessing in disguise - that’s how he met his wife. She was a hostess on the next flight!
toing and froing
Someone who istoing and froingis either repeatedly going from one place to another and coming back, or is constantly changing their mind about something. After months of toing and froing, a compromise was reached between the two parties.
dead cert
Something that is certain to happen or be achieved is adead cert. After such praise, his appointment as captain of the team is a dead cert.
slip of thetongue
Aslip of the tongueis a small spoken error or mistake. Did I say ‘blow down’? - Sorry, I meant ‘slow down’. that was a slip of the tongue!
dog’s breakfast
To describe something as adog’s breakfastmeans that it is a complete mess. The new secretary made a dog’s breakfast out of the filing system.
run a mile
Someone who is anxious to avoid somethingruns a mile. She said she’d run a mile if she saw reporters in the area.
drink like a fish
A person whodrinks like a fishis one who drinks a lot. I’m nervous if Ben drives when we go out because he drinks like a fish!
green with envy
Someone who isgreen with envyis a person who is very envious. Dave will be green with envy when he sees Simon’s new sports car!
come in handy
To say that something maycome in handymeans that it may be useful some time or other. Don’t throw away those old shelves; they may come in handy one day.
cork something up
If youcork upyour feelings or emotions, you fail to show or express them. It would be better if she showed her grief and didn’t cork up her feelings.
set you back
The sum of money somethingsets you backis the amount it costs you. Changing the heating system will set us back about $5000.
put afingeron something
If you are able to identify or understand something such as the cause of a problem or the solution to it, youput your finger on it. The atmosphere at the meeting was strange, but Marie couldn’t put a finger on the cause of it.
keepeyespeeled
Tokeep one’s eyes peeledmeans to watch out very carefully for something. I mislaid my wedding ring at home, so I asked my children to keep their eyes peeled.
let thecatout of the bag
If youlet the cat out of the bag, you reveal a secret, generally not intentionally. When the child told her grandmother about the plans for her birthday, she let the cat out of the bag.
armchair critic
Anarmchair critic is someone who gives advice based on theory rather than practice. That guy is such an armchair critic - no experience but plenty of advice.
dive in headfirst
If you begin something enthusiastically, without thinking about the possible consequences, youdive in headfirst. Tony accepted the project without realizing the time it would take; he always dives in headfirst!
look out for n°1
If you take care of yourself first, and look after your own interests rather than those of other people, youlook out for number one. Andy’s father told him that looking out for number one should be his first priority.
take yourcouragein both hands
If youtake your courage in both hands, you make yourself do something very brave. When I saw the child in the burning house, I took my courage in both hands and ran inside.
throw caution to the wind
If youthrow caution to the wind, you start taking risks and stop worrying about the danger involved. I decided to throw caution to the wind and invest in my best friend’s new company.
reach for the moon
If youreach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it is difficult. His parents were hardworking people who encouraged their children to reach for the moon.
out of character
If you do something that isout of character,it is unlike your usual behaviour or not what is expected from you. The way she panicked was out of character for such a normally calm person.
piece of cake
To refer to something asa piece of cakemeans that you consider it to be very easy. The English test was a piece of cake!
wear heart on sleeve
If youwear your heart on your sleeve,you allow others to see your emotions or feelings. You could see that she was hurt - she wears her heart on her sleeve!
sterner stuff
If someone is made ofsterner stuff, they have a strong character and are better able to deal with difficulties than others. I was surprised to see him so upset. I thought he was made of sterner stuff.
smallpotatoes
Something that issmall potatoesis considered to be unimportant or insignificant. Her first publication was considered small potatoes but her new book has lead to a change of opinion.
get thehangof
When youget the hang ofan activity, you now know how to do it correctly. The apprentice found the task difficult at first but he soon got the hang of it.
onpins and needles
If you areonpins and needles, you are very anxious or nervous about what is going to happen. Scott was on pins and needles while he waited for the result of the exam.
mintcondition
Something that isin mint conditionis in such perfect condition that it looks new or as good as new. The car is 10 years old but according to Tom it’s in mint condition.
walk a tightrope
If a person iswalking a tightrope,they are in a difficult or delicate situation where they must act carefully. The management is walking a tightrope in their efforts both to keep the costs down and satisfy the trade unions.
everydoghas its day
This expression means that everyone can be successful at something at some time in their life. I didn’t win this time, but I’ll be lucky one day. Every dog has its day.
kill with kindness
When you are excessive in your efforts to be helpful or generous, you can harm someone, orkill them with kindness. The children are overweight, but their grandmother continues to give them chocolates and cookies - she’ll kill them with kindness!
face only a mother could love
This is a humorous way of saying that someone is ugly or unattractive. The poor guy has a face only a mother could love.
holier-than-thou
The attitude of people who consider themselves to be more virtuous or morally superior to others can be called’holier-than-thou’. I can’t stand the holier-than-thou attitude of some political candidates.
swishing (party)
Swishingis the name given to a recent fashion phenomenon - a party organised to swap second hand clothes. Everyone takes along clothes they no longer wear and people can then choose the ones they want.
lick into shape
If you make an effort to put someone or something into satisfactory condition or appearance, youlick them into shape. I’ve got to lick this place into shape before my in-laws arrive.
wise up to
If youwise uporget wise tosomething, you become fully aware of the facts and are no longer fooled. When Mike finally wised up to the methods being used, he resigned from the company.
see red
If someonesees red, they suddenly become very angry or annoyed. Discrimination of any kind makes me see red.
face themusic
If you have toface the music,you have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions. He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music!
labour of love
A task that is done for your own pleasure and satisfaction and not for reward or profit is called alabour of love. Preparing Christmas dinner for the family is what my mother calls a labour of love.
like thecatthat ate the canary
If, after an achievement or success, a person seems very self-satisfied or pleased with themselves, you can say that theylook like the cat that ate the canary. When the boss complimented him on his work, Steve looked like the cat that ate the canary.
too much like hard work
An activity or task that requires too much effort istoo much like hard work. It’s so hot today, there’s no way I’m going to do any cooking. That’s too much like hard work!
your money’s worth
If you getyour money’s worth,you receive good value for the amount of money you spend. We bought a travel pass to use the public transport system and we really got our money’s worth.
wing it
Towing itmeans to improvise or to deal with a situation without preparation. She didn’t expect to be interviewed so she just had to wing it.
fight shy
If youfight shyof something, such as a task, a problem or a duty, you want to avoid doing it or you are unwilling to confront it. He had money problems for years but he fought shy of asking his children for help.
in two shakes of a lamb’s tail
To do somethingin two shakes of a lamb’s tailmeans to do it very quickly. Wait for me. I’ll be ready in two shakes (of a lamb’s tail).
(not) take no for an answer
Someone who willnot take no for an answeris very insistent in the way they make their request or offer and is unwilling to accept a refusal. My grandmother insisted that we stay for dinner and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
on second thoughts
On second thoughts’means that after giving the matter more thought, you have changed your mind. My idea was to move to an apartment, but on second thoughts, I’d rather have a garden.
pigs might fly
The expression’pigs might fly’expresses disbelief, or the idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely. My grandmother buying a computer? … Yeah! … and pigs might fly!
beat/flog a dead horse
To say that someone isbeating a dead horsemeans that they are wasting time and effort trying to do or achieve something that is impossible. Mark is beating a dead horse trying to get his money reimbursed. The company has gone bankrupt!
until hell freezes over
If you tell someone that they can do somethinguntil hell freezes over,you mean that they can do it forever but they won’t obtain what they want. You can ask until hell freezes over; I will not allow you to go bungee-jumping!
bolt from the blue
To refer to something as abolt from the bluemeans that it happened totally unexpectedly. The chairman’s resignation came as a bolt from the blue.
ugly as sin
This expression is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very unattractive. Have you seen the new neighbour’s dog? It’s as ugly as sin!
dust bunnies
Dust bunniesare clumps of dust, usually found on the floor, in corners or under furniture, in places where the housework is not done regularly. The house hadn’t been cleaned in weeks. There were dust bunnies everywhere.
shake like a leaf
If youshake like a leaf,you tremble with fear or nervousness. At the beginning of the interview the candidate was shaking like a leaf.
run rings/circles around
If you show much more skill or ability than your opponent, you run rings (or circles) around them. In a quiz show on TV yesterday, a teenage girl ran rings around the other contestants.
get the picture
A person whogets the pictureunderstands what is being explained or described. The alarm went off and people started running everywhere - you get the picture I’m sure!
down in the mouth
When someone isdown in the mouth, they look unhappy, discouraged or depressed. You look a bit down in the mouth. What’s the matter?
see eye to eye
If yousee eye to eyewith somebody, you agree with them. I’m glad we see eye to eye on the choice of colour scheme.
cat nap
If you have a short sleep during the day, you have acat nap. My dad often has a cat nap on a Sunday afternoon.
have your cake and eat it
To say that someone wants tohave their cake and eat itmeans that they want the advantages of two alternative situations when only one is possible. Jack enjoys his comfort but is always complaining about the cost of things. He can’t have his cake and eat it.
cry one’s eyes out
If youcry your eyes out,you cry a lot and for a long time. My son cried his eyes out when he discovered his bike had been stolen.
hell-bent on something
If you arehell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly determined to do it, even if it is dangerous or stupid. Although he is still weak, he’s hell-bent on playing the match.
false pretences
If you obtain somethingunder false pretences, you deceive others by lying about your identity, qualifications, financial or social position, in order to get what you want. The journalist obtained the interview under false pretences.
take it on the chin
When youtake it on the chin,you are brave and accept adversity, criticism or defeat without complaining. When his contract was not renewed, Mark took it on the chin.
weather the storm
If youweather the storm, you succeed in surviving a difficult period or situation. Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm better than most.
there’s nothing to it
If you say thatthere’s nothing to it,you mean that something is very simple or easy to do. I’ll show you how to make pancakes. There’s nothing to it!
salt of the earth
To describe someone asthe salt of the earthmeans that they are kind, honest and reliable. Mrs. Brown is the salt of the earth, always ready to give a helping hand.
fall into one’s lap
If something goodfalls into your lap, it happens to you without any effort on your part. She’s not making much effort to find work. Does she think a job is going to fall into her lap?
let sleepingdogslie
If you tell someone tolet sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems. Look - they’ve settled their differences. It’s time to let sleeping dogs lie.
have the makings of
A person whohas the makings of somethinghas qualities and potential that could be developed. The teacher says Sarah has the makings of an excellent journalist.
cook somebody’s goose
Tocook somebody’s goosemeans to spoil that person’s chances of success. When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he realized his goose was cooked!
lick/smack your lips
A person who islicking (orsmacking) their lipsis showing that they are excited about something and are eager for it to happen. He was licking his lips at the idea of the money he was going to make.
come to the crunch
To talk about what to do if or when a situationcomes to the crunchmeans when it becomes critical and a decision has to be made. I’m running out of money. If it comes to the crunch, I’ll sell my car.
putmoneywhere mouth is
If youput your money where your mouth is,not only do you express your interest, you give financial support to causes that you believe in. If people are really interested in helping the underprivileged, they should put their money where their mouth is.
get off the ground
If youget something off the ground,you put it into operation after having organised it. After a lot of hard work, we finally got the campaign off the ground.
one too many
Someone who has hadone too manyhas drunk too much alcohol. I think Tony’s had one too many - he’s talking rubbish.
ring a bell
If somethingrings a bell,it sounds familiar, but you don’t remember the exact details. John Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don’t remember him.
in twominds
If you arein two mindsabout something, you have difficulty deciding what to do. I’m in two minds about whether or not to accept the offer.
dead to the world
A person who isdead to the worldis fast asleep. Don’t worry. You won’t disturb him. He’s dead to the world!
spitting image
If one person isthe spitting imageof another, they look exactly like each other. Sarah is the spitting image of her mother.
