Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Eng CSS - Idioms > 2010s (till 2020) > Flashcards

2010s (till 2020) Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Make for

A

Cause of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Yeoman’s service

A

Efficient or useful help in need

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Discretion is the better part of valour

A

It is better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Out of the wood

A

Free from difficulties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Casting vote

A

The vote that gives one group a majority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Look Down on

A

Regard someone with a feeling of superiority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Iconoclast

A

A breaker or destroyer of images especially religious

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Swan song

A

Final achievement or public appearance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

To eat one’s words

A

To retract what one has said

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Dog in the manger

A

Person who stops other people from enjoying what he cannot enjoy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

A close shave

A

Narrow escape from danger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Freudian slip

A

Unintentionally error that seems to reveal subconscious feelings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

A Gordian knot

A

An exceedingly complicated problem or deadlock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

A cog in the machine

A

A small or insignificant member of a larger organisation or system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

A wet blanket

A

A dull or depressing person who spoils other people’s enjoyment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Wool gathering

A

Dreamy or inattentive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Under the harrow

A

In distress, upset or troubled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Cold comfort

A

Poor consolation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

A gold digger

A

A woman who associates with or marries a man chiefly for material gain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Walk with God

A

To live in obedience to God’s commands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

On thin ice

A

In a risky situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

The milk of human kindness

A

Kind behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

A rule of thumb

A

A practical method of doing something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

To wash one’s dirty linen in public

A

To discuss private affairs publicly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

To pay through the nose

A

To pay too much money on something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

To lose face

A

To look stupid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

To bring grist to the mill

A

Something that is useful to someone for a particular purpose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

To keep one’s fingers crossed

A

Hope that things will happen in a way you want them to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

With your tongue in your cheek

A

Speaking or writing in an insincere way

30
Q

A storm in a teacup

A

Great outrage or excitement about a trivial matter

31
Q

To talk through one’s hat

A

Talk foolishly without understanding what you’re talking about

32
Q

To let the grass grow under one’s feet

A

Waste time by delaying

33
Q

Itching palm

A

Avaricious

34
Q

The primrose path

A

An easy and pleasant life

35
Q

Break one’s fall

A

Interrupt a tumble

36
Q

Wash one’s hands of

A

Disclaim responsibility for

37
Q

To become reconcile to

A

To accept or be resigned to something not desired

38
Q

To militate against

A

To make it difficult for something to happen

39
Q

Smash hit

A

A song, play, etc that is very popular

40
Q

Murphy’s law

A

Humorous axiom stating that anything that can go wrong will go wrong

41
Q

Place in the sun

A

A dominant or favourable position

42
Q

Wooden spoon

A

An imaginary prize given to a person if they finish last in a competition

43
Q

Go bananas

A

To become extremely angry or excited

44
Q

Plough back

A

To put profits made back in the business

45
Q

Eager beaver

A

A hardworking and eager person

46
Q

Ring a bell

A

To arouse a response

47
Q

Be left holding a baby

A

Be left with an unwelcome responsibility

48
Q

Cap in hand

A

In a respectful, humble manner

49
Q

Show and tell

A

Display or exhibit to public

50
Q

Helter-skelter

A

In disorderly haste or confusion

51
Q

To the death

A

Until death

52
Q

Tilt at the windmills

A

Attacking imaginary enemies

53
Q

Het up

A

Angry and agitated

54
Q

The whole ball of wax

A

Everything

55
Q

It’s about time

A

It should have occurred long ago

56
Q

To cast pearls before swine

A

To present something of value to someone who can’t recognise it

57
Q

To step into someone’s shoes

A

To take over a job or some role from someone

58
Q

Stuff and nonsense

A

Rubbish, nonsense

59
Q

A wild goose chase

A

The fruitless pursuit of something

60
Q

To be ill at ease

A

Nervous and anxious

61
Q

Sit on the fence

A

To not make a decision or take a side when presented with two or more options or possibilities

62
Q

In a jiffy

A

In an instant

63
Q

To preen oneself

A

To pride oneself on achievement, personal quality

64
Q

To break the ice

A

To say or do something that relaxes everyone around

65
Q

Nip in the bud

A

To stop something before it has an opportunity to become established

66
Q

See eye to eye with

A

To agree with someone

67
Q

For good

A

Permanently

68
Q

Tamper with

A

To make changes to something without permission especially in order to damage it

69
Q

The small hours

A

The early hours of morning

70
Q

Keep up appearances

A

To hide the truth about a bad situation and pretend everything is alright

71
Q

Prima Facie

A

Based on what seems to be the truth when seen first or heard

Eng CSS - Idioms (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions