2201-2400 Flashcards
wool-gathering
A person who iswool-gatheringis daydreaming and not concentrating on what his happening; their thoughts are elsewhere. Justin spent the whole afternoon wool-gathering. He must be in love!
cutting edge
This expression refers to the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something. The company is at the cutting edge of aeronautics.
plan B
Plan Bis an alternative solution to be adopted if one’s original plan does not succeed. The idea is to get a caterer to provide the food. If that’s too expensive, plan B is to organise a buffet with the help of friends.
pass muster
If someone or somethingpasses muster,they are considered to be satisfactory or acceptable. The interview went well. I hope I’ll pass muster.
backhanded compliment
A remark that appears to express admiration but could also be interpreted as an insult is called abackhanded compliment. He said my presentation was “surprisingly clear”. How’s that for a backhanded compliment!
go through the motions
If someonegoes through the motions, they do something because they have to, but without enthusiasm. After his wife died, he tried to continue life as before, but he just went through the motions.
fraught with danger
An activity or situation that is fraught with dangeris full of risks or serious difficulties. His journey across the mountains was fraught with danger.
stew in your own juice
If you let someonestew in their own juice,you leave them to worry about the consequences of their own actions. Ricky spent last night in prison for starting a fight - let him just stew in his own juice!
catch somebody’s eye
If someonecatches you eye, you find them attractive. The pretty girl near the door caught his eye.
live beyond means
If someonelives beyond their means,they spend more money than they earn or can afford. The cost of living was so much higher in New York that he was soon living beyond his means.
use one’s noodle
If youuse your noodle,you use your brain or your common sense. How did I figure that out? I just used my noodle!
look a sight
If a personlooks a sight,their appearance is awful, unsuitable or very untidy. She looks a sight in that dress!
put two and two together
Toput two and two together means to reach the right conclusion based on the information you have. When she saw Jill and Ben holding hands, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together!
penny for your thoughts
This phrase is used to ask someone what they are thinking about. You look pensive. A penny for your thoughts.
make yourearsburn
If somethingmakes your ears burn,you are embarrassed by what you hear, especially if the conversation is about you. The comments I overheard made my ears burn.
kick yourself
If you feel likekicking yourself,you are angry with yourself for something you have or have not done. I could have kicked myself for forgetting Emily’s birthday.
done and dusted
When a project, task or activity isdone and dusted, it is completely finished or ready. I’ve nearly finished preparing the presentation. When it’s all done and dusted I’ll be able to relax.
go out the window
If a quality, principle or opportunitygoes out the window,it disappears, is lost or is abandoned. When the plant closed down, all hopes of finding a job went out the window.
break a leg!
This is a humorous way of wishing someone good luck, especially among stage performers. So tonight’s the opening night? Break a leg!
shopping therapy
This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you feel better. A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored teenagers.
make hackles rise
If someone or somethingmakes your hackles rise,they make you angry. Her constant criticism really makes my hackles rise!
better late than never
When someone does something late, this remark means that it is better to do it late than not do it at all. Do you know what time it is? You promised you’d come early to help me - but better late than never I suppose!
fast talker
A person who speaks quickly and easily but cannot always be trusted is called afast talker. The salesman was a fast talker who persuaded the old lady to buy a new washing machine.
take in your stride
When, in a difficult situation, youtake things in your stride, you deal with the situation calmly and without any special effort. When the take-over was announced, Tom stayed calm and took it in his stride.
snowed under
Someone who issnowed underhas so many things to do, usually work, that they unable to cope with it all. With the ‘flu epidemic, doctors and nurses are completely snowed under.
think better of it
If youthink better ofsomething, you decide not to do something that you intended to do. I wanted to go shopping, but when I saw the crowded car park I thought better of it.
dumbing down
If something, such as a television programme or a film production, isdumbed down,it is deliberately made less intelligent or less demanding in order to attract a larger audience. Some TV channels are dumbing down their programmes in an attempt to increase their audience ratings.
raring to go
If someone israring to go, they are very eager and enthusiastic about the idea of doing something. The kids can’t wait to go camping. They’re raring to go!
in the doldrums
To say that a person, a business or the economy in general isin the doldrumsmeans that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new is happening. Despite the recent measures, the economy is in the doldrums.
get the jitters
If yougetorhave the jitters, especially before an important event, you become very nervous or anxious and begin to shake. Some people get the jitters when they have to make a speech.
moot point
A subject which gives rise to argument or debate is called amoot point. Whether Bach composed it himself or not is a moot point among musicians.
pretty as a picture
Someone who is (as) pretty as a picture is very attractive or appealing in appearance. The young bride looked (as) pretty as a picture in her beautiful dress.
goodwallsmake good neighbours
This expression means that respecting one another’s privacy helps create a good relationship between neighbours. We try not to disturb the people next door. Good walls make good neighbours.
keep your shirt on!
If you tell somebody tokeep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down. Keep your shirt on Bob. Just give your version of the story!
gut feeling
Ifyou have a gut feelingabout something, you have a strong intuition that you cannot explain, but you’re sure that you are right. As I read the story, I had the gut feeling that the postman was lying … and I was right!
big fish in a small pond
This term refers to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organisation. He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond.
in words of one syllable
If you explain somethingin words of one syllable,you use very simple language. Not so fast! Say that again in words of one syllable.
look the picture of health
Tolook the picture of healthmeans to look extremely healthy. Nice to see you again Mr. Brown. I must say you look the picture of health.
a storm in a teacup
To refer to something asa storm in a teacupmeans that people are making a lot of unnecessary fuss or getting excited about something unimportant. They were arguing about who should go to the supermarket, but it was just a storm in a teacup.
head start
If you have ahead start, you have an advantage that enables you to make progress more quickly and have a greater chance of success. Bringing detailed maps of the area gave us a head start over the others in the treasure hunt.
chicken out
If youchicken outof something, you decide not to do something because you are afraid. He decided to join a karate class, but chickened out at the last minute.
on thespurof the moment
If you do somethingon the spur of the moment,you do it as soon as you think of it, spontaneously, without any planning. He decided on the spur of the moment to buy flowers for his wife.
break theice
A person whobreaks the iceis someone who does or says something to make people relax in an uncomfortable situation. He started by telling a joke to break the ice.
backseat driver
A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver is called abackseat driver. I can’t stand backseat drivers like my mother-in-law!
bottomline
If you use the termbottom linein an explanation or discussion , you refer to the most essential point or the conclusion reached. The bottom line is that part of the manufacturing will be outsourced.
bite the hand that feeds you
If youbite the hand that feeds you, you are unfriendly or do harm to someone who is kind to you. If you say bad things about the person who gives you a job, you bite the hand that feeds you.
blind alley
If you go up ablind alley, you follow an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results. The suspect’s ‘revelations’ lead the police up a blind alley.
put in a good word
If youput in a good wordfor someone, you say positive things in support of that person in order to help them. If you apply for the job, I’ll put in a good word for you.
get theshowon the road
If you manage to put a plan or idea into action, youget the show on the road. OK, we’ve got all we need, so let’s get the show on the road.
come out of the woodwork
When things, or people,come out of the woodwork, they appear or emerge unexpectedly, as if from nowhere, and usually in large numbers. As soon as we added the swimming pool, our children had ‘friends’ coming out of the woodwork!
shopping spree
If you go ona shopping spree, you enjoy a lively outing, usually with much spending of money. Liza is planning to go on a shopping spree as soon as she gets her bonus.
identity theft
The crime of using another person’s personal information (name, credit card number, etc.) without his/her knowledge, to set up and use bank accounts and credit facilities is known asidentity theft.
before the ink is dry
If people reach an agreement, and then change their minds immediately afterwards, the change occurs’before the ink is dry’. You can never tell when he’s serious. He’s capable of changing his mind before the ink is dry!
cross your mind
If an idea or thoughtcrosses your mind, you suddenly think of it. It just crossed my mind that the shops are closed today.
steal the show
A person whosteals the showgets more attention or praise than the other participants. The Japanese competitor stole the show at the Olympic games.
all along
If something has existed or been somewhereall along, it has been there all the time, from the beginning. I had been looking for my keys for some time before I realized they had been in my pocket all along.
glutton for punishment
If you say that someone isa glutton for punishment, you express your surprise that they continue to do something which they find unpleasant or difficult. You get seasick but you’re going to travel by boat - you’re a glutton for punishment!
above and beyond the call ofduty
If a person does something which isover and above the call of duty, they show a greater degree of courage or effort than is usually required or expected in their job. The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went above and beyond the call of duty.
top dog
To say that a person, group or country istop dogmeans that they are better or more powerful than others. She’s top dog in cosmetics today.
get off my back!
If you tell someone toget offyour back, you are annoyed and ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you. Get off my back Liz! You’ve been making comments about my work all day!
gloves are off
This expression is used when there are signs that a fight is about to start. The two candidates are out of their seats. The gloves are off!
all things to all people
If you areall things to all people, you please or satisfy everyone. She’s exhausted tying to be a good wife, a good mother and a good teacher, but she can’t be all things to all people.
(no) spring chicken
To say that someone isno spring chickenmeans that they are quite old or well past their youth. “How old is the owner?” “I don’t know, but she’s no spring chicken!”
it never rains but it pours
This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse. First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!
buckle down
If youbuckle down, you apply yourself with determination to hard work and give it hour full attention. If you want to pass your exams, you’ll have to buckle down and do some serious work.
save your breath
If you tell someone tosave their breath, you are telling them not to waste their time speaking because their words will have no effect. I’ve already given him the same advice and he won’t listen, so you might as well save your breath.
take adimview
If youtake a dim viewof something, you dislike or disapprove of it. My previous boss took a dim view of wearing casual clothes to work.
high and dry
If you areleft high and dry,you find yourself in a difficult situation without help or resources. When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry with two kids to raise.
go/put through themill
If yougo(orare put)through the mill,you experience a very difficult period, or are exposed to rough treatment. When I was an intern, I was put through the mill. Nothing went unnoticed.
at loggerheads
If you areat loggerheadswith a person or organisation, you disagree very strongly with them. The management and the trade unions are at loggerheads over the decision to close down the plant.
heart misses a beat
If yourheart misses (orskips) a beat, you have sudden feeling of fear or excitement. When the lights suddenly went out, my heart missed a beat.
simplicity itself
Something that issimplicity itselfis extremely easy to do. Using the tool is simplicity itself; just turn it on and the instructions appear.
take stock of the situation
If youtake stock of a situationyou assess all the aspects in order to form an opinion. He took time to take stock of the situation before making a suggestion.
lick and promise
If you give somethinga lick and a promise,you make a quick attempt to clean it, with the intention of doing it more thoroughly later. She gave the kitchen a lick and a promise before she ran to catch the bus.
get a rise out of
If you make someone react angrily by jokingly saying something that you know will irritate them, youget a rise out of them. He gets a rise out of his daughter by asking her about her latest diet.
dead as a doornail
This expression is used to stress that a person or thing is very definitely dead. They’ve started fighting again, so the peace agreement is now as dead as a doornail.
on the up and up
A person who ison the up and upis becoming increasingly successful. The architect has been on the up and up since he designed a building in Dubai.
pick up steam
If a project or processpicks up steam,it starts to develop or become more active. The campaign started slowly but picked up steam after Christmas.
keep wolf from door
Tokeep the wolf from the dooryou need to have enough money to buy food and other basic essentials in order to survive. My grandparents earned barely enough money to keep the wolf from the door.
make no bones about
If youmake no bones about something, you don’t hesitate to say what you think in a frank and open way. I made no bones about it. I told him his offer was unacceptable.
there wasn’t a soul
To say thatthere wasn’t a soulmeans that there was nobody. We thought the museum would be crowded but there wasn’t a soul.
hustle and bustle
This term refers to busy energetic activity in an atmosphere of general excitement. I prefer to live in the country. I hate the hustle and bustle of city life.
hitch one’s wagon to a star
Someone whohitches their wagon to a starhas great ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal. At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become famous.
too many chiefs, not enough indians
This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work. The business wasn’t successful. There were too many chiefs and not enough indians.
like something thecat dragged in
If you compare a person or thing tosomething the cat dragged in,you think they they look dirty, untidy or generally unappealing. My teenage son often looks like something the cat dragged in.
writing on the wall
This refers to a situation where there are signs showing that a problem is going to occur. We all knew Larry was going to lose his job, but he refused to see the writing on the wall.
beat a hasty retreat
Someone whobeats a (hasty) retreatruns away or goes back hurriedly to avoid a dangerous or difficult situation. The thief beat a hasty retreat as soon as he saw the security officer.
eat thefrog/eat thatfrog!
This expression is used to encourage someone do the most difficult or most unpleasant task of the day first, before anything else, rather than avoiding or postponing it. In that way nothing worse can happen all day. Original expression: If you have to eat a frog, dont look at it for too long.
fall off the back of a lorry
Goods that havefallen off the back of a lorryare stolen goods. Judging by the price of that camera, it must have fallen off the back of a lorry!
hot under the collar
If you gethot under the collar,you feel annoyed, indignant or embarrassed. If anyone criticizes his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot under the collar.
make a monkey out of
If you humiliate someone by making them appear ridiculous or foolish, youmake a monkey(out) of that person. That’s enough teasing. Don’t make a monkey out of him.
on the QT
If something is doneon the QT, it is done quietly or discreetly. They got married on the QT last summer and told nobody.
walk on eggshells
If youwalk on eggshellswith someone, you are careful not to hurt or offend them. She’s so sensitive, you have to walk on eggshells with her all the time.
spiral out of control
When difficulties or costsspiral out of control,they get worse or increase continuously, creating a situation that becomes difficult to manage. Some items were expensive but we were careful not to let the costs spiral out of control.
long row to hoe
A difficult task, assignment or undertaking that will take a long time isa long row to hoe. Getting through medical school is going to be a long row to hoe.
runs in the family
This refers to a physical or moral characteristic that is common to many members of a family. Black hair and blue eyes - the combination runs in the family.
blood out of a stone
This expression refers to something that is very difficult to obtain. Negotiating a reduction from that company is like getting blood from a stone!
polish off
If youpolish something off,you finish it quickly or easily. Susan thought there was too much food but the boys polished it off in no time.
silver surfer
Asilver surferis an elderly person who uses the internet. After just a few questions my grandmother was ready to join the silver surfers.
if you can’t stand the heat
The expression’if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’means that if you feel there is too much pressure, you can leave. Amid the growing tension the organiser declared : “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”
hair’s breadth
If you avoid or miss somethingby a hair’s breadth, you only just manage to escape from a danger. A slate fell off the roof and missed the child by a hair’s breadth.
spare-part surgery
Spare-part surgeryrefers to surgery in which a diseased or non-functioning organ is replaced with a transplanted or artificial organ.
sticking point
Asticking pointis a controversial issue that causes an interruption or blocks progress in discussions or negotiations. The choice of distributor was a sticking point in the negotiations.
(not) do justice to
Something that does not show the true value of someone or something does notdo justice tothem/it. The photograph doesn’t do her justice; she’s much prettier than that.
take down apeg
If youtake someone down a peg,you make that person realize that they are not as important as they think they are. He was too proud. Somebody had to take him down a peg.
light bulb moment
Alight bulb momentis when you have asudden moment of inspiration, comprehension or realization. Harry had a light-bulb moment when he finally realized what was blocking the mechanism.
rough and ready
Something which is rough and readyis adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined. The accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!
sight for sore eyes
This expression refers to a person or thing that you are happy to see. Sam! You’re a sight for sore eyes! I haven’t seen you in a long time!
touch base
If youtouch basewith someone, you make contact or renew communication with them. I’ll try to touch base with you next week in London.
fresh as a daisy
Someone who is(as) fresh as a daisyis lively and attractive, in a clean and fresh way. I met Molly the other day. She looked as fresh as a daisy.
hide multitude of sins
If somethinghides (or covers) a multitude of sins, it prevents people from seeing the less pleasant reality. Loose-fitting clothes can cover a multitude of sins!
find one’s feet
To say that someone in a new position isfinding their feetmeans that they are learning what to do and gaining self-confidence. Our new trainee is beginning to find his feet.
scarce as hen’s teeth
To say that something isas scarce as hen’s teethemphasizes that it is extremely rare, to the point of non-existence. Take enough supplies. Water is as scarce as hen’s teeth where you’re going!
can’t makeomelette
This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing some unpleasant effects. Some people will lose their jobs after the merger but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
put a damper on
If someone or somethingputs a damperon a situation or event, they make it less successful or enjoyable. The party was going great until the neighbour’s complaints put a damper on it.
sting someone for
If yousting someonefor an amount of money, you make them pay for something, usually in a deceitful manner. Not only was the lunch boring but I was stung for $25!
take the bloom off something
If an incident or eventtakes the bloom off something,it spoils it or makes it less enjoyable. Their noisy argument in the middle of the party took the bloom off the atmosphere.
hand in glove
Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to behand in glove. After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee.
fait accompli
This French expression refers to something that has been done and cannot be changed. He used his savings to buy a motorbike and then presented his parents with a fait accompli.
half the battle
This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed to achieve something. We’ve already obtained a loan for the project - that’s half the battle!
clap eyes on
If youclap eyes onsomeone or something, you actually see them. I’ve heard of him but I’ve never clapped eyes on him.
get back intoshape
To get yourselfback into shape,you need to take exercise in order to become fit and healthy again. She booked into gym classes, determined to get back into shape.
whale of a time
When people havea whale of a time,they enjoy themselves a lot. We had a whale of a time at the party last night.
thin end of the wedge
To refer to an event or action as thethin end of the wedgemeans that it is thought to be the beginning of something that will become more serious. According to the media, today’s outsourcing is just the thin end of the wedge.
wave a dead chicken
When faced with a serious problem, if you take steps that you know in advance will be futile, to show that you made an effort, youwave a dead chicken. The TV set was permanently damaged, but the technician decided to wave a dead chicken to satisfy the old lady before announcing the bad news.
golden handshake
Agolden handshakeis a generous sum of money given to a person when they leave a company or retire (sometimes given to encourage early retirement).
wish the ground would swallow you up
When you are so embarrassed by something that you would like to disappear, youwish the ground would swallow you up. When I realized I was reading the wrong report, I stood there in front of the group wishing the ground would swallow me up!
get your fingers burnt
If someonegets their fingers burnt,they suffer as a result of an unsuccessful action and are nervous about trying again. He got his fingers burnt so badly in the last elections that he decided to withdraw from politics.
clean as a whistle
Somethingas clean as a whistleis extremely clean. This can also mean that a person’s criminal record is clean. Bob spent the afternoon washing and shining his car until it was as clean as a whistle.
lame duck
A person or organisation in difficulty and unable to manage without help is calleda lame duck. Some banks have become lame ducks recently.
sitting pretty
Someone who issitting prettyis in a good or fortunate situation, especially compared to others who are not so lucky. He sold his shares at a good time so he’s now sitting pretty and enjoying life.
pick up the tab
If youpick up the tab, you pay the bill or pay the cost of something. There was a celebration lunch for the team and Bill picked up the tab.
on the fly
If you do somethingon the fly,you do it quickly, without thinking much about it, while doing something else. I’m so busy I usually have lunch on the fly.
soften the blow
When someone tries tosoften the blow,they do something to make an unpleasant event or action easier to accept. In spite of the extra payments given to soften the blow, the loss of their jobs was a catastrophe for the miners.
sticky fingers
Someone who hassticky fingershas a tendency to steal. Items have been disappearing from the stock recently. Do any of the employees have sticky fingers?
one-trackmind
Ifyou havea one-track mind,you have a tendency to think about only one subject. The boy has a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!
two’s company, three’s a crowd
This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer to be alone together rather than to have someone else with them. I’d rather not come to the cinema with you, thanks. Two’s company …!
last thing on one’s mind
If you say that something isthe last thing on your mind,you mean that it is not an important matter at all, especially when you have more serious problems to consider. I’m so busy that food is the last thing on my mind.
golden opportunity
Agolden opportunityis a favourable time or an excellent occasion which should not be missed. An internship in that company would be a golden opportunity for you - it might lead to a permanent job later.
face like thunder
If someone has aface like thunder, they look very angry. When Dad is really angry, he has a face like thunder!
get someone’s drift
If youget someone’s drift, you understand in a general way what they are trying to say. I didn’t understand every word but I got the drift.
know someone inside out
If youknow someone inside out, you know them very well. Sue and Anne have been friends since childhood. They know each other inside out.
next to nothing
The term’next to nothing’means a very small amount or almost nothing. My boots didn’t cost much. I bought them for next to nothing in the sales.
pregnant pause
Apregnant pauseis a moment of silence full of unexpressed meaning. There was a pregnant pause before the president answered the journalist’s question.
barefacedliar
Someone who lies easily, with a total lack of shame, is called abarefaced liar. That barefaced liar stole my watch and then said that he’d found it!
dry asdust
Something that is asdry as dustis very dry indeed. This expression can also refer to something dull and uninteresting. The ground was as dry as dust. / His speech was as dry as dust.
on thepig’sback
A person who ison the pig’s backis in a state of luck and everything is going well for them. Before the recession, Ireland was on the pig’s back, but the situation has changed greatly.
eagleeyes
Someone who haseagle eyessee or notices things more easily than others. Tony will help us find it - he’s got eagle eyes!
face value
If youtake something at its face value,you assume that it is genuinely what it appears to be. The car seems to be in good condition, but don’t take it at its face value; get a mechanic to check it out.
whatever floats your boat
Although you don’t quite agree with someone, it’s their choice and you think they should so whatever makes them happy. You’re going to spend your honeymoon in Alaska? Well, whatever floats your boat!
straightface
If youkeep a straight face, you look serious although you really want to laugh. Our teacher was dressed so strangely that it was hard to keep a straight face!
devil’s advocate
During a discussion or debate, if you playdevil’s advocate, you pretend to be against an idea or plan in order to determine the validity of the arguments in favour of it. She decided to play devil’s advocate just to see how strongly people felt about the project.
anotchabove
Something that isa notch abovesomething else is a little better in every way. His rendering of the song was a notch above the others.
tongue-tied
If you aretongue-tied,you have difficulty in expressing yourself because you are nervous or embarrassed. At the start of the interview I was completely tongue-tied!
in one’s own sweet time
If you do somethingin your own sweet time,you take as long as you please to do it in spite of the orders or wishes of others. Okay, I’ll do it - but in my own sweet time!
running battle
If two people or groups havea running battlewith each other, they argue or disagree about something over a long period of time. There’s been a running battle between the local authorities and the population over the school bus route.
wear thin
Something that iswearing thinis decreasing or losing its interest. You’ve used that excuse so many times, it’s beginning to wear thin - as in my patience!
not apatchon
If something or someone isnot a patch onan other, they are not nearly as good. His second conference wasn’t a patch on the first one.
get the message
If youget the message, you understand what someone is trying to tell you, even if it is expressed in actions or gestures rather than words. When Tony pointed to his watch, I got the message - it was time to leave for the airport.
theworks
Something that hasthe workscontains everything that is possible, or the full range of options. The first thing he did was order a new computer with the works.
fish out of water
If you feellike a fish out of water, you feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. As a non-golfer, I felt like a fish out of water at the clubhouse.
(not)lifta finger
Someone who doesnot lift a fingermakes no effort to help or provide assistance when it is needed. Many people saw the boy falling off his bike but not one of them lifted a finger.
headless chicken
If a person rushes aboutlike a headless chicken, they act in a disorderly way, without thinking or analyzing the situation carefully. As soon as the store opened, my mother started running around like a headless chicken, eager to find bargains.
go against the grain
If somethinggoes against the grain, it is difficult to accept because it is very different from what is considered normal or natural. Having to import apples in an apple-growing region really goes against the grain!
last resort
To say that you would so something asa last resortmeans that it is the last thing you would do if you were desperate and all other courses of action had failed. I still haven’t found a hotel for the night; I can always sleep in the car as a last resort!
spoon feed
If a person isspoon-fed,they are helped too much rather than encouraged to think by themselves or use their own initiative. Some teachers tend to spoon-feed their pupils.
beat/knock the (living) daylights
If a personbeats the (living) daylightsout of another, they hit them very hard and repeatedly. If I catch you stealing again I’ll beat the daylights out of you!
wound up
If someone is so excited that they talk non-stop, they arewound up. Claire had so much to tell us after her trip that she was wound up.
a cut above
Someone or something that is acut abovethe others is better or of higher quality. The articles in this magazine are a cut above the others.
about turn/about face
This term refers to a complete change of opinion or policy. The ambassador’s recent declarations indicate an about turn in foreign policy.
eyes in back of head
If someone haseyes in the back of their head, they are very observant and notice everything happening around them. You need eyes in the back of your head to look after young children.
the mindboggles
The expression ‘themind boggles’ is used as a reaction to something you find amazing or difficult to understand. She crossed the Atlantic alone - can you imagine? - the mind boggles!
hang out to dry
If you abandon someone who is in difficulty, without giving any assistance or support, youhang them out to dry. You’ll get no help from Jack. He’ll hang you out to dry if your plan fails.
sing a different tune
If somebodysings a different tune,they change their opinion about something, or their attitude towards something. He had no sympathy for people out of work until he lost his own job; now he’s singing a different tune.
reduce to tears
If your behaviour or attitude makes someone cry, youreduce them to tears. The teacher criticized her presentation so harshly that she was reduced to tears.
place in the sun
If you finda place in the sun,you reach a position which provides you with wealth and happiness, or whatever you have been hoping to obtain in life. She finally found a place in the sun with the triumph of her latest book.
lip service
If youpay lip serviceto an idea or cause, you give verbal support or approval, but fail to actually do anything. In spite of promising equal pay for women, the management is suspected of paying lip service to the promotion of women’s rights.
tongues are wagging
Whentongues are wagging,people are beginning to spread gossip or rumours, often about someone’s private life. The photograph of the couple that appeared in a magazine really set tongues wagging.
deep down
If you talk about how someone is, or feels,deep down, you are describing what they are like or what they really feel deep inside, behind the outward appearance. He appears to be indifferent to his success, but deep down he’s very happy.
scales fall from your eyes
When thescales fall from your eyes,you finally understand the truth about something. It was only when he was arrested for theft that the scales fell from my eyes and I realized where his money came from.
free hand
If youhave a free hand, you have permission to make your own decisions, especially in a job. My bossgave me a free handin the choice of supplier.
in cahoots with someone
If one person isin cahootswith another, they are working in close partnership, usually conspiring to do something dishonest. There was a rumour that the Mayor was in cahoots with a chain of supermarkets.
steal a march
If yousteal a march on someone,you do something in an unexpected or secret way that enables you to gain an advantage over them. We were able to steal a march on other retailers by immediately offering a 10% reduction on orders received the first day.
allshapesand sizes
Something that can be found in many different forms, types or varieties,comes in all shapes and sizes. Computers come in all shapes and sizes nowadays.
caughtred-handed
If a person iscaught red-handed,they are caught while they are doing something wrong or illegal. The boy was caught red-handed stealing chocolate in the supermarket.
cold turkey
This term means to immediately and completely stop an addictive substance, a regular activity or a behavioural pattern, instead of ending it gradually. When Dave decided to stop smoking, he did it cold turkey on January 1st
sink one’s teeth into
If yousink your teeth into something,you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job.
drop a bombshell
If youdrop a bombshell,you make an unexpected announcement which will greatly change a situation. The chairman dropped a bombshell when he announced the merger with the company’s biggest rival.
at odds
If one person isat oddswith another, they disagree with each other. Sam is at odds with his father over the purchase of a new tractor.
rise to the occasion
If yourise to the occasion,you manage to do something successfully in difficult circumstances. When her boss broke his leg, Julie had to represent the company at the congress, and she rose to the occasion extremely well.
in badshape
A person who isin bad shapeis in poor physical condition. Have you seen Terry recently? He’s really in bad shape.
tie yourself up in knots
If youtie yourself up in knots, you become totally confused or confuse others when trying to explain something. Sandy tied herself up in knots trying to explain the rules of the game.
foot in the door
To say that someone has afoot in the doormeans that they have a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future. With today’s unemployment, it is difficult to get a foot in the door in any profession.
jump the lights
If you continue driving when the traffic lights turn red, youjump the lights. It’s very dangerous to jump the lights. No wonder he was stopped by the police.
by degrees
If something happens or developsby degrees, it happens gradually or little by little as time goes by. By degrees their business relationship grew into friendship.
have afingerin every pie
If someone has a finger in every pie, they are involved in many activities. For information about the activities in this town, you should talk to John Brown. He’s got a finger in every pie.
eyeson stalks
If youreyes are on stalkswhen you look at something, they are wide open with surprise or amazement. The child’s eyes were on stalks as he watch the magician’s performance.
close call
If something happens, or is avoided or missed, with very little margin, it is calleda close call. She won the election with 0.5% of the votes - it was a close call.
put house in order
If you tell someone toput their house in order, you are saying that they should organise their own affairs or take care of their own problems before giving advice to other people. You should put your house in order before telling me what to do!
automatic pilot
If you areon automatic pilot, you do something without thinking about it or having to pay attention, because you do it regularly. Fred’s on automatic pilot today - he didn’t even hear my question!
