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.
