2601-2800 Flashcards
tear a strip off
If youtear a strip off someone,you reprimand them severely for doing something wrong. The teacher tore a strip off Charlie for not doing his homework.
in retrospect
This expression refers to a past situation or event, particularly if your present opinion is different from the one you had at the time. In retrospect, we were not aware of the effects on the environment.
get wires crossed
If peopleget their wires crossed,they misunderstand each other or are confused about what was said. We must have got our wires crossed. I thought we were to meet at the hotel.
on paper
To say that an idea, plan or scheme seems goodon papermeans that it looks good in theory or in writing but may not work when put into practice. His plan looks good on paper but I’m not convinced it will work.
drop like a hotpotato
If youdrop someone or something like a hot potato, you leave them or immediately stop associating with them. As soon as the article was published, she dropped him like a hot potato.
speak volumes
If somethingspeaks volumes, it expresses a reaction or opinion very clearly, with no need for words. The happy smile on the child’s face when he opened the box spoke volumes about my choice of gift.
hope against hope
If youhope against hope,you continue to hope even when the situation looks bad. The whole building was destroyed by fire. John’s parents are hoping against hope that he escaped in time.
stick something out
If youstick something out,you continue to endure it in spite of the difficulties or unpleasant aspects of the situation. Life is difficult here, but Luke is going to stick it out because he is determined to succeed.
rushed off yourfeet
If you arerushed off your feet, you are extremely busy. I’d love to have lunch with you but I’m rushed off my feet at work!
out of harm’s way
If you put somethingout of harm’s way, you put it in a safe place where it won’t be damaged. I’m going to put this glass bowl out of harm’s way so that it doesn’t get broken.
in the bag
People use this expression when it becomes obvious that success or victory is going to be achieved. An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in the bag for the Conservative candidate.
not give the time of day
If you dislike someone so strongly that you ignore them and refuse to speak to them, you donot give them the time of day. Sarah’s parents dislike her boyfriend so much they won’t even give him the time of day!
up in the air
If something, such as a plan or decision, isup in the air, it has not been decided or settled yet. I can’t give you a definite answer yet; the project is still up in the air.
grasp at straws
If you are in a desperate situation and yougrasp at straws,you try any method, even if it has little chance of success, in an attempt to find a solution. In his search for a cure, he turned to a faith healer, knowing that he was grasping at straws.
put the kibosh on
If you do something to prevent a plan or activity from happening or developing, youput the kibosh on it. The bank’s refusal to grant him a loan put the kibosh on Jack’s project.
byvirtueof
The termby virtue ofmeans ‘due to’, ‘because of’ or ‘on account of’ something. The old lady got the most comfortable armchair by virtue of her age.
come up roses
If thingscome up roses, the end result is successful or positive, even if there were difficult times. After several disappointments, everything seems to be coming up roses for the tennis player this year.
put the cart before the horse
A person whoputs the cart before the horseis doing things in the wrong order. Building a school before knowing the age of the population is putting the cart before the horse.
ways and means
To say that there areways and meansof achieving something means that there are several methods which will produce the desired result. All ways and means will be used to provide assistance to the survivors.
rub shoulders with
If yourub shoulderswith someone, you have an opportunity to meet and talk to that person, especially someone wealthy, famous or distinguished. In her in public relations, she sometimes rubs shoulders with famous people.
throw goodmoneyafter bad
Someone who spends additional money on something that was already considered a bad investment is said tothrow good money after bad. Buying a second-hand computer and then spending money to have it repaired is throwing good money after bad!
crooked as a dog’s hind leg
To say that someone is ascrooked as a dog’s hind legmeans that they are very dishonest indeed. He can’t be trusted - he’s as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
wide off the mark
If something is (or falls)wide off the mark,it is incorrect or inadequate, or it is not what was expected. The price offered was wide off the mark; it was sold for ten times more!
hairy at the heel
A person who ishairy at the heelis thought to be untrustworthy or even dangerous. Rumour has it that the owner of the club is a bit hairy at the heel.