2001-2200 Flashcards
of no avail
Something which isof no availis not at all helpful or useful. The coffee machine wouldn’t work, and the instruction leaflet was of no avail.
talk shop
If youtalk shop,you talk about your work or business in a social situation with someone you work with, and make the conversation boring for the others present. I never go out with my colleagues because we inevitably end up talking shop.
go torackand ruin
If somethinggoes to rack and ruin,it deteriorates or falls into serious decline until it reaches a state of complete destruction. When the factory closed down, the building was to left to go to rack and ruin.
thin on the top
If someone, usually a man, isthin on the top, they are losing their hair or going bald. Dad’s gone a bit thin on the top in the last few years.
stand on ceremony
When peoplestand on ceremony,they behave in a very formal way. We’d be delighted to come and see you but please don’t stand on ceremony.
come to grief
If someone or somethingcomes to grief, they either have an accident, are destroyed or end in failure. Their plans for a golf course came to grief when it was decided to build a motorway.
take one’s life into one’s hands
To say that someone istaking their life in their handsmeans that they are taking the risk of being killed. If you drive home on this icy road, you’ll be taking your life in your hands.
hold on for dear life
If youhold (orhang) on for dear life,you grip something firmly so as not to fall. Andy took his mother on the back of his motorbike where she held on for dear life!
play possum
When someoneplays possum, they pretend to be dead or asleep in order to avoid something they don’t want to do. Sarah’s not asleep. She’s just playing possum because she doesn’t want to come swimming.
keep head above water
To keepone’s head above watermeans to try to survive by staying out of debt, for example a small business. Business has been slow, but we’ve managed to keep our head above water.
safe bet
To say that something isa safe betmeans that it is very likely to happen. It’s a safe bet that you’ll get a good job if you graduate from one of the top universities.
watch like a hawk
If youwatch someone like a hawk,you keep your eyes on them or watch them very carefully. Sarah watches the children like a hawk when she takes them swimming.
help a lame dog
If youhelp a lame dog over a stile,you help someone who is in difficulty or trouble. You can trust him - he’s always ready to help a lame dog over a stile.
cheesed off
If someone ischeesed offwith something, they are annoyed, bored or frustrated. Jenny is absolutely cheesed off with her job.
make mincemeat of
If youmake mincemeat ofsomeone or something, you completely and utterly defeat or destroy them. A good lawyer would make mincemeat of your rival’s accusations.
cap in hand
If you do somethingcap in hand, you ask for something in a very respectful manner. They went to the teacher, cap in hand, and asked for more time to complete their project.
good riddance!
This expression is used to express relief at becoming free of an unpleasant or unwanted person or thing. Our horrible neighbour has moved house, and all I can say is ‘good riddance’!
hot potato
Ahot potato isa very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to deal with. The new Prime Minister hasn’t been confronted with any hot potatoes yet.
wildgoosechase
If someone is sent on awild goose chase, they waste their time looking for something that there is little chance of finding. They tried to find out who sent the anonymous complaint, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase.
pillar to post
If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goesfrom pillar to post,they move constantly from place to place. When the factory closed down, Benny moved from pillar to post in search of a new job.
fall on one’ssword
If youfall on your sword, you accept the consequences of an unsuccessful or wrong action. The organiser of the referendum resigned when the poor results were announced. It was said that he’ fell on his sword’.
on thelevel
If you say that someone is on the level, you are referring to a truthful or honest person. Tell me straight : Is he on the level or not?
heavens open
When theheavens open, it suddenly starts to rain heavily. As soon as the race started, the heavens opened and the runners were soaked.
hit the spot
If somethinghits the spot,it is exactly what is needed or wanted. On such a hot day, a cool drink would really hit the spot!
all told
All toldmeans the final number, when everything has been counted. The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 2543.
feel the pinch
When someonefeels the pinch, they begin to suffer from a lack of money. With the drop in tourism, hotels and restaurants are beginning to feel the pinch.
blow up in your face
When working on a plan or project, if it suddenly goes wrong or fails, itblows up in your face. The trip was difficult to organise, but it blew up in his face when the airline company went on strike.
gutter press
This term refers to newspapers that print a lot of sensational stories about people’s private lives. Of course the gutter press was quick to print a sensational version of the incident!
get on your high horse
If youget on your high horse,you start behaving in a haughty manner, as though you should be treated with more respect. He got on his high horse when he was asked to show his membership card.
under theweather
If you areunder the weather,you are not feeling very well. You look a bit under the weather. What’s the matter?
work like a charm
If something such as a product or methodworks like a charm,it functions very well or has the desired effect. I tried cleaning it with vinegar and it worked like a charm!
twist in the wind
If someone is left totwist in the wind, they are left to face a difficult situation without any assistance or support. He walked out of the press conference and left his agent twisting in the wind.
die is cast
To say that thedie is castmeans that an irrevocable decision has been made that will determine the future. I’ve handed in my resignation, so now the die is cast!
loose end
A person who isat a loose endhas some spare time, and feels quite bored by having nothing in particular to do. When the meeting was cancelled at the last minute, Julie unexpectedly found herself at a loose end.
been there, done that
The expression is used to indicate that the speaker is familiar with the situation mentioned. It can also refer to an attitude which reflects a certain boredom at the idea of repeating an experience that has lost its novelty. His suggestions produced a ‘been there, done that’ attitude which undermined his enthusiasm.
if the cap fits wear it
You can say’if the cap fits, wear it’to let someone know that the critical remark they have just heard applies to them. “Are you referring to me?” “If the cap fits, wear it!”
up-to-the-minute
Something that isup-to-the-minuteis the very latest or most recent version available. The internet is the best place to find up-to-the-minute news.
foul one’s own nest
If you act in a way that harms your own interests, your position or your reputation, youfoul your own nest. He fouled his own nest by wrongly accusing his boss.
life of riley
A person wholives the life of Rileyhas a comfortable and enjoyable life, without having to make much effort. He married a millionaire, and since then he’s been living the life of Riley!
in the dark
If someone is kept or leftin the darkabout something, they are not informed about it. The personnel was kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute.
throw a bone
If youthrow someone a bone,you say something kind or reward them in some way to make them feel good. The old man can’t help very much but Bill throws him a bone now and then to keep him happy.
knee-high to a grasshopper
This term refers to a very young or small child. Look how tall you are! Last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a grasshopper!
on the dole
A person who receives financial assistance from the government when they are unemployed ison the dole. Their father is on the dole so the family is living on a tight budget.
ahead of thepack
If a person or organisation isahead of the pack,they are better or more successful than their rivals. Our products will have to be more innovative if we are to stay ahead of the pack.
road rage
Aggressive driving habits sometimes resulting in violence against other drivers is calledroad rage. A number of accidents today are a direct result of road rage.
on the back burner
If you put a project or issueon the back burner, you decide to deal with it at a later date because you do not consider it to be that urgent or important. When Julie was offered a promotion she put her MBA plans on the back burner.
takes two to tango
You say this when you think that a difficult situation cannot be the fault of one person alone. We’ve heard Fred’s side of the story - but it takes two to tango!
take your courage in 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.
wind up in the wrong hands
If somethingwinds up in the wrong hands,it comes into the possession of someone undesirable, for example an opponent or a competitor. Put the plans away carefully. We don’t want them to wind up in the wrong hands.
have you gone out of your mind?
If you ask someone if theyhave gone out of their mind,you think they are crazy, foolish or insane. You’re going to ask for a 100% increase in salary? Have you gone out of your mind?
power behind the throne
Someone with no apparent authority who has great influence over the person officially in charge is said to bethepower behind the throne. It’s essential to be on good terms with his wife. Apparently she’s the power behind the throne.
juggle frogs
A person who isjuggling frogsis trying to deal with many different tasks at the tame time and finding the situation difficult. I’ve got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I’m juggling frogs!
one hand washes the other (and together they wash the face)
This expression means that when people cooperate and work well together, there is a better chance of a achieving results.
keep a low profile
A person whokeeps a low profiletries not to attract public attention. The inventor is a discreet man who keeps a low profile.
teeth chattering
Ifyour teeth are chattering,you are extremely cold. Was I cold? My teeth were chattering!
dry (or dummy) run
If you organise a rehearsal, a trial exercise or a practice session of something, in realistic conditions, to see how well it will work before it is launched, you do adry run. Let’s do a dry run of the ceremony to make sure everything goes smoothly.
put therecordsstraight
If youput or set the records straight, you provide facts or an explanation to correct a mistake or misunderstanding. An interview on television enabled the actress to set the records straight about her health.
trade secret
This term refers to the secrecy of a company’s production methods but is often used teasingly. “Can you give me the recipe for your lemon meringue pie?” “ No way - that’s a trade secret!”
handbrake on a canoe
Is something isas much use as a handbrake on a canoe, it is completely useless or serves no purpose. With no electricity, a refrigerator would be as much use as a handbrake on a canoe.
show one’s true colours
When a personshows their true colours, their behaviour reveals their real nature, with their qualities and/or weaknesses. In times of crisis people show their true colours.
green fingers
To havegreen fingersmeans to be good at gardening. My dad was born with green fingers. He’s great with plants.
breaking and entering
This term refers to the fact of entering a building or home illegally by breaking open a window, door, etc. The two men were found guilty of breaking and entering.
dwell on something
If someonedwells on something, they think or talk about it all the time. My mother-in-law has health problems, but I wish she wouldn’t always dwell on the subject!
cry one’seyesout
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.
none the wiser
If you do not know more about something after hearing or reading an explanation, or if you fail to find information on the subject, you arenone the wiser. I tried to understand the voting system but I was none the wiser after reading the explanation.
raining cats and dogs
If it’sraining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily. We’ll have to cancel the picnic I’m afraid - it’s raining cats and dogs.
chance in a million
Achance in a millionis a very small chance, or no chance at all, that something will happen. There’s a chance in a million of finding the key I lost on the golf course.
turn over a new leaf
If a personturns over a new leaf,they decide to change their behaviour and lead a better life. When Ted left prison, he was determined to turn over a new leaf.
take agander
If youtake or have a gander at something, which is generally new or unusual, you have a look at it or go to check it out. Let’s take a gander at the new shopping centre. Sally says it’s fantastic.
rooted to the spot
If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you arerooted to the spot, you reaction is so strong that you are unable to move. Joe stood rooted to the spot as the plane landed on the water.
smalldog, tall weeds
This expression is used to refer to someone who does not have the ability or the resources necessary to perform a task. It may be too difficult for the trainee - small dog, tall weeds!
keep alidon
If youkeep the lid on something,you hide it or control it to prevent people from finding out about it. The company tried to keep a lid on the negotiations but word got out to the press.
hang in there
This expression is used to encourage someone to persevere and not give up in spite of the difficult circumstances. I know the atmosphere is very tense, but just hang in there and things will eventually calm down.
number cruncher
This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an accountant or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations. She’s a number cruncher who perfectly understands the organisation’s financial situation.
olive branch
If a person or organisation holds outan olive branchto another, they show that they want to end a disagreement and make peace. The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them.
spinach cinema
Films that are neither exciting nor interesting but are considered educational or uplifting, in the same way as certain foods are good for your health, are referred to asspinach cinema.
if push comes to shove
The expression’if push comes to shove’refers to what you will do if the situation becomes critical and you have to take action. There should be enough room for everyone, but if push comes to shove we can go to the hotel.
suss out
If yoususs out something,such as a problem or a situation, you examine it and manage to understand it. Ask Jack to explain - he’s got it all sussed out!
lose the plot
If a situation becomes so confusing that you are unable to understand what is happening or what you are supposed to do, youlose the plot. His instructions were so long and confusing that I just lost the plot!
broad strokes
If something is described or defined with/inbroad strokes, it is outlined in a very general way, without any details. In a few broad strokes he summed up the situation.
