22.04 Shakespeare Flashcards
Idiom
The most important part of something; the ultimate goal or essential element.
The be-all and end-all
*For her, career success was the be-all and end-all of life.
*Money isn’t the be-all and end-all — happiness matters too.
Idiom
All at once; in a single, sudden action or event.
In one fell swoop
*The company laid off fifty employees in one fell swoop.
*She cleaned the entire house in one fell swoop.
Idiom
Something or someone that looks pitiful, messy, or disappointing.
A sorry sight
*After the storm, the garden was a sorry sight.
*He came to the meeting late, unshaven, and in wrinkled clothes — a sorry sight indeed.
Elbow room
*The café was so crowded, we barely had any elbow room.
*I need more elbow room at work to make decisions without constant approval.
Idiom
A futile or hopeless pursuit; a pointless or unsuccessful search.
A wild goose chase
*Trying to find that rare book in a tiny village shop was a wild goose chase.
*He sent me on a wild goose chase looking for documents that didn’t exist.
Saying
Used to express relief or satisfaction at someone’s departure or something unpleasant coming to an end.
Good riddance!
*He finally quit the job he never *cared about — good riddance
Phrase
A close family member; someone related by blood.
His own flesh and blood
*He couldn’t believe his own flesh and blood would betray him like that.
*She took in the child — after all, he was her own flesh and blood.
Idiom
To eat so much that it creates a financial or food burden, usually used humorously.
Eat sb out of house and home
*My teenage sons are eating me out of house and home!
*He stays for a weekend and eats them out of house and home.
Wear you r heart on your sleeve
Saying
To do or say something that seems harsh but is intended to help someone in the long run.
Saying
To do or say something that seems harsh but is intended to help someone in the long run.
Be cruel to be kind
*I told her the truth about his lies — sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
*Firing him was tough, but it was being cruel to be kind — he was miserable in that role.
Phrase
To stay out of sight or avoid attention, usually to escape trouble or stay safe.
Lie low
*After the scandal, he decided to lie low for a while.
*The thieves lay low until the police stopped searching the area.
Idiom
To make someone leave abruptly or forcefully, often because they’re unwelcome.
Send someone packing
*When he showed up late again, the boss sent him packing.
*She caught him lying and sent him packing without a second chance.
Idiom
To do or say something to relieve tension or get a conversation started in a social setting.
Break the ice
*He told a funny story to break the ice at the party.
*A few casual questions can help break the ice during interviews.
Idiom
To not sleep at all during the night.
Not sleep a wink
*I was so nervous about the exam that I didn’t sleep a wink.
*She didn’t sleep a wink with the baby crying all night.
Idiom
To disappear completely and without a trace.
Vanish into thin air
*The documents seemed to vanish into thin air.
*He turned the corner and vanished into thin air.
Idiom
Irrelevant or unimportant to the current topic or situation.
Neither here nor there
*What he thinks about my hobbies is neither here nor there.
*Whether she likes the paint colour is neither here nor there — the work must go on.
Idiom
Something that is enjoyable in moderation but becomes unpleasant or harmful when overdone.
Too much of a good thing
*Eating chocolate every day is too much of a good thing.
*She loves working out, but sometimes too much of a good thing can lead to exhaustion.
Saying
Used to tell someone to keep something secret or not to reveal information.
Mum’s the word
*I’m planning a surprise party, so mum’s the word!
*He knows the details, but mum’s the word until the announcement.
Saying
You have the freedom and opportunities to achieve anything you want in life.
The world’s your oyster
*Now that you’ve graduated, the world’s your oyster.
*With her talent and confidence, the world’s her oyster.
Idiom
Made me laugh a lot; caused uncontrollable laughter.
Had me in stitches
*His jokes were so good they had me in stitches the whole evening.
*That comedy show had us in stitches from start to finish.
Phrase
No matter what happens; regardless of the circumstances.
Come what may
*I’ll support you, come what may.
*Come what may, they were determined to finish the project.
Idiom
To be in a difficult, confusing, or troublesome situation
Be in a pickle
*I was in a pickle when I lost my passport abroad.
*She’s really in a pickle — she promised both friends she’d help at the same time.
Idiom
Deep down; in one’s most sincere and true feelings.
In my heart of hearts
In my heart of hearts, I knew I had *made the right decision.
*He smiled, but in his heart of hearts, he was still upset.
L
Adjective
Unable to read or write; lacking basic knowledge in a particular subject.
Be illiterate
Many adults in the region are still illiterate due to lack of education.
I’m completely illiterate when it comes to fixing cars
Verb
To become aware of or understand something through the senses or the mind.
Perceive
*She could perceive the tension in the room.
*He’s often perceived as arrogant, but he’s actually shy.
Phrasal verb
To bring or carry something forward, often into the future or a new situation.
(Formal or poetic; not commonly used in modern spoken English.)
Take forth
We must take forth the lessons of history.
The leader vowed to take forth the spirit of unity.
Phrase
A poetic or descriptive expression referring to a restless or disturbed state while drowsy or half-asleep. It combines the calm of slumber with the unease of agitation.
(Uncommon and literary in tone.)
Slumbery agitation
*She lay in slumbery agitation, tossing and turning as dreams haunted her.
*His mind was caught in slumbery agitation, too tired to think clearly but unable to rest.
Phrase
An old-fashioned or formal way of saying “it is appropriate” or “it is fitting.”
Tis most meet
*Tis most meet that we celebrate this great achievement together.
*Tis most meet to show respect for those who came before us.
Phrase
An archaic or poetic expression meaning “look” or “see” — used to draw attention to something.
Lo you
*Lo, you can see the stars shining brightly tonight.
*Lo, he stands before you, ready to speak.
Verb
An old-fashioned or poetic way of saying “listen” or “pay attention.”
Hark
*Hark! I hear the sound of distant thunder.
*Hark to the call of the birds in the morning.
Adjective
An archaic or poetic form of “afraid” or “fearful.”
Afeard
*He was afeard of the dark woods ahead.
*She felt afeard, knowing the danger was near.
Phrase
An old-fashioned or literary expression meaning deeply affected or emotionally overwhelmed, often with a sense of responsibility or guilt.
Sorely charged
*He was sorely charged with the weight of his past mistakes.
*She felt sorely charged with the responsibility of caring for her family.
Phrase
An expression meaning something is outside one’s knowledge, ability, or experience; beyond what one is accustomed to or capable of.
Beyond my practice
*The complexity of this case is beyond my practice.
*Her artistic skills are beyond my practice, but I admire them greatly.
Phrase
Archaic or poetic expression referring to malicious or harmful rumors or gossip.
Foul whisp’rings
*The kingdom was plagued by foul whisp’rings about the queen’s intentions.
*He was haunted by foul whisp’rings that questioned his loyalty.
Adjective
In a state of having paired or come together with a mate, often used in reference to animals or people in relationships.
Mated
*The birds mated in the spring, building their nest together.
*After many years, they finally mated and began their life together.
