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Eng CSS - Idioms > 1980s > Flashcards

1980s Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

The thin end of the wedge

A

An event or action that is the beginning of something more serious and unpleasant

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2
Q

Flash in the pan

A

A sudden success that lasts only a short time and is not likely to be repeated

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3
Q

To keep at

A

Persevere or persist at doing something

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4
Q

Keep at something

A

To continue to do or work on something

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5
Q

At one’s beck and call

A

Ready to comply with any wish or command

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6
Q

Go against the grain

A

To be or do something different from what is normal or natural

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7
Q

Grist to the mill

A

Something that is useful to someone for a particular purpose

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8
Q

Upset the Apple cart

A

Spoil carefully laid plans, arrangements

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9
Q

Hoist on one’s petard

A

To be hurt or to have problems as a result of your plan to hurt others

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10
Q

Live off the fat of the land

A

The best or richest of anything

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11
Q

To have your cake and eat it too

A

Have the advantages of something without its disadvantages

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12
Q

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

A

To have two choices that are equally unpleasant

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13
Q

In hot water

A

To be in trouble

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14
Q

On the carpet

A

To be in trouble with someone in authority

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15
Q

It never rains but it pours

A

When one has bad things happened to you, other bad things follow soon after

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16
Q

A miss is as good as a mile

A

Coming close to success but failing is no better than failing by a lot

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17
Q

To give oneself airs

A

Assume a haughty manner, pretend to be better than one is

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18
Q

To have the courage of one’s convictions

A

Behave according to one’s belief

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19
Q

Out of sight, out of mind

A

It is used to say someone will quickly be forgotten when they are no longer with you

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20
Q

To come to a dead end

A

A passage that has no exit

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21
Q

To turn a deaf ear

A

Refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request

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22
Q

Every cloud has a silver lining

A

Every sad or difficult situation has a positive or hopeful side

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23
Q

Blow hot and cold

A

To change your opinion about something often

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24
Q

To let the cat out of the bag

A

Reveal the secret carelessly or by mistake

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25
Q

To put the cart before the horse

A

Reverse the proper order of things or events

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26
Q

Be in the same boat

A

To be in the same difficult situation

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27
Q

Swan song

A

A final accomplishment or performance, one’s last work

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28
Q

To look a gift horse in the mouth

A

Be critical or suspicious of something received at no cost

29
Q

Have an axe to grind

A

Have a private reason for doing or being involved in something

30
Q

To wash one’s dirty line in public

A

Discuss one’s personal affairs in public

31
Q

To pocket an insult

A

To receive an affront without open resentment or without seeking redress

32
Q

To take to one’s heels

A

Run away

33
Q

To win laurels

A

Honour and praise given to someone because of something that they achieved

34
Q

At large

A

Not captured

35
Q

By and by

A

After a while, soon

36
Q

The lion’s share

A

The largest part of something

37
Q

In black and white

A

In writing

38
Q

To bring to book

A

To punish somebody for doing something wrong

39
Q

To read between the lines

A

Perceive or detect a hidden meaning

40
Q

To stick to one’s guns

A

Hold fast to a statement, opinion, course of action

41
Q

To be under a cloud

A

If somebody is under a cloud, other people think that they have done something wrong and are suspicious of them

42
Q

By fits and starts / in fits and starts

A

Frequently starting and stopping again

43
Q

To back out

A

Withdraw

44
Q

To keep out of something

A

To not become involved with something

45
Q

Bang into something

A

To crash into or hit something by mistake

46
Q

To smell a rat

A

To suspect that something is wrong about a situation

47
Q

To burn one’s fingers

A

To suffer as a result of doing something without realising the possible bad results

48
Q

Null and void

A

Cancelled, invalid

49
Q

To catch up with someone

A

To find and arrest someone who has committed a crime after searching for them or chasing them

50
Q

To stand up for someone / something

A

To defend someone or something that is being criticised or attacked

51
Q

Slip through

A

To fail to be noticed

52
Q

To narrow down

A

To reduce the number of possibilities or choices

53
Q

As cool as a cucumber

A

Very calm and controlled especially in a difficult situation

54
Q

Have your cake and eat it too

A

To have all the benefits of a situation while having no disadvantages

55
Q

In a pickle

A

In a difficult or unpleasant situation

56
Q

Takes the cake

A

To be the worst, most shocking, or most annoying example of something

57
Q

Sell like hot cakes

A

To sell quickly

58
Q

As flat as a pancake

A

Completely flat

59
Q

Take something with a pinch of salt

A

To be careful about believing that something is completely true

60
Q

Like two peas in a pod

A

Very similar especially in appearance

61
Q

Account for

A

To be the cause of

62
Q

Carry weight / carry authority or conviction

A

Exert influence, authority, or persuasion

63
Q

To fall back on something

A

To have something to use when you are in difficulty

64
Q

To be taken aback

A

To be surprised or shocked

65
Q

A wild goose chase

A

A search for something that is impossible for you to find

66
Q

By leaps and bounds

A

Very quickly

67
Q

As cool as a cucumber

A

Very calm and controlled especially in a difficult situation

68
Q

To burn midnight oil

A

To study or work until late at night

Eng CSS - Idioms (5 decks)

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