30/4 Flashcards
1
Q
clear the air
A
remove suspicion, bad feeling
2
Q
all along
A
from the beginning until now
3
Q
all but
A
nearly, almost
4
Q
all in
A
exhausted
5
Q
all in all
A
when everything is considered
6
Q
all the same
A
yet, however
7
Q
all told
A
altogether, in total
8
Q
be the apple of someone’s eye
A
be very precious to somebody
9
Q
be up in arms
A
be very angry
10
Q
for all
A
in spite of
11
Q
for all I care
A
I don’t care
12
Q
for all I know
A
as far as I know
13
Q
in the act of
A
while performing the act
14
Q
in the air
A
uncertain
15
Q
make allowances for
A
take special circumstances into consideration
16
Q
make amends for
A
try to compensate for a past action
17
Q
of all people
A
used to express annoyance/surprise
18
Q
on account of
A
because of
19
Q
on no account
A
under/in no circumstances
20
Q
on the air (#off the air)
A
broadcasting
21
Q
on the alert
A
watchful and be prepared/on the lookout/expecting something
22
Q
take something into account
A
consider something
23
Q
on this/that account
A
for this/that reason
24
Q
whet somebody’s appetite
A
make somebody eager to have/experience more
25
up in the air
existing, but not talked about
26
above board
honest
27
bark up the wrong tree
have a false idea about something
28
be broke
have no/very little money
29
be full of beans
be very lively
30
be in sb's black books
be out of favour
31
beat about/around the bush
avoid saying what one means directly
32
behind bars
in prison
33
big-headed
conceited, boastful
34
black and blue all over
covered with bruises
35
blessing in disguise
sth which appears bad at first but then turns out favourably
36
blue-eyed boy/golden boy
a favoured person
37
bolt from the blue
suddenly
38
brainwave
sudden clear idea/thought
39
break even
show neither loss nor profit
40
browned off
fed up, bored
41
butter somebody up
flatter somebody
42
by and large
generally speaking
43
catch somebody red-handed
be caught while committing a crime
44
chip off the old block
somebody who is very like one of his parents
45
cost a bomb
very expensive
46
deal a blow to
damage one's hopes
47
don't hold your breath
don't wait for somebody/something anxiously
48
drive a hard bargain
be a tough businessman
49
drop a brick
say something tactlessly
50
feel in one's bones
feeling something instinctively
51
get your own back
take/get revenge
52
have a bee in one's bonnet
have an obsession about something
53
have butterflies in one's stomach
be very nervous about something
54
in black and white
in writing
55
in the balance
uncertain
56
kick the bucket
die
57
lay bare
make public
58
make a clean breast of
confess
59
make one's blood boil
cause sb to become very angry
60
on the spur of the moment
without thinking about something
61
out of the blue
suddenly and unexpectedly
62
ring a bell
remind somebody of something
63
see the back of
be glad to see somebody leave
64
take the bull by the horns
deal with something boldly and directly
65
wet blanket
dull person who spoils people's happiness
66
a piece of cake
something that is very easy to do
67
a red-letter day
a very important day
68
a wile-goose chase
a hopeless research
69
be caught red-handed
be caught while committing a crime
70
be on the cards
likely to happen
71
be over the moon
be happy
72
call somebody names
insult somebody
73
chair a meeting
presider over a meeting
74
crocodile tears
false tears
75
cross one's mind
think of something
76
cut somebody dead
ignore somebody
77
different as chalk and cheese
totally different
78
down in the dumps
depressed/miserable
79
down the drain
wasted, lost
80
get a bit hot under the collar
get angry, upset or embarrassed
81
get a problem off one's chest
tell somebody else about your problem
82
go to the dogs
not as good as in the past
83
have the cheek
dare to do something
84
keep one's chin up
not be discouraged
85
let sleeping dogs lie
avoid mentioning a subject which could cause troubles
86
Lost cause
Hopeless situation/case
87
Off colour
Look/be slightly unwell
88
On the dole
Receiving unemployment benefit/social security
89
Play one’s cards right
Act cleverly
90
Show one’s true colours
Reveal one’s real character
91
With flying colours
With great success
92
Not count one’s chickens before they’re hatched
Not assume something before it happens
93
Be dying for something
Really want something
94
Be fit for
Be good enough for
95
Be worn out
Be very tired
96
Be green
Be inexperienced
97
Cook one’s goose
End one’s plans abruptly
98
Fair and square
honestly and according to the rules
99
Fall head over heels
Fall in love quickly
100
feel one's ears burning
Have a feeling that someone is talking about you
101
gatecrasher
sb attending a party, event etc without an invitation
102
get off on the wrong foot
argue or disagree at the beginning of a relationship
103
give and take
a willingness between two people or groups to understand each other, and to let each other have or do some of the things they want
104
have a frog in one's throat
inability to speak due to nervousness
105
have the gift of the gab
be able to talk well, persuasively
106
hear it through/on the grapevine
find out information indirectly
107
in a flash
very quickly
108
it's all Greek to me
a way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written
109
keep a straight face
manage to look serious under difficult circumstances
110
keep an eye on sth
guard/protect sth
111
meet behind closed doors
meet secretly
112
one's flesh and blood
family member
113
plenty more fish in the sea
used to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are many other people that they could have a relationship with
114
put one's foot down
to use your authority to stop something happening
115
put one's foot in it
to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone
116
take it easy
not work too hard/relax
117
take sb for granted
not appreciate sb because someone is too familiar
118
a bit of a dark horse
a person with hidden abilities
119
be for the high jump
about to be reprimanded/punished
120
be in two minds about
not be able to decide what to do
121
be sound asleep
sleep deeply
122
be the perfect image of somebody
look exactly like somebody
123
before one can say Jack Robinson
before one can say Jack Robinson
124
break the ice
ease the tension when one first meets people
125
eat one's heart out
feel jealous/sad about something (followed by the name of a famous person, you are joking that you are even better than that person)
126
flog a dead horse
waste time doing something useless
127
fly off the handle
quickly become very angry
128
get out of hand
become out of control
129
get the hang of something
to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple
130
go to one's head
If something goes to someone's head, it makes that person think that they are very important and makes them a less pleasant person
131
grey matter
brains; intelligence
132
hand in glove with sb
be in very close contact with sb
133
have a job to do sth
find sth difficult to do
134
have many irons in the fire
have lots of plans/possibilities in progress at the same time
135
have one's heart in one's mouth
be extremely anxious about something
136
have time on one's hands
have free time
137
hold one's horses
wait, be patient
138
ill at ease
embarrassed; uncomfortable
139
keep sth under one's hat
keep sth secret
140
keep up with the Joneses
compete with others in status/material goods
141
lend sb a hand
give help to sb
142
like the back of one's hand
be very familiar with sth
143
lose heart
Become discouraged
144
make head nor tail of
understand sth
145
off the cuff
without preparation
146
stew in one's own juice
suffer the consequences of one's own actions
147
straight from the horse's mouth
from the most direct source
148
have sb's hands full
be very busy with sth
149
sth comes in handy
be very useful/practical
150
strike gold
come across sth useful
151
take sth to heart
If you take criticism or advice to heart, you think about it seriously, often because it upsets you
152
take to one's heels
run away
153
the ins and outs
the details of an activity
154
the tip of the iceberg
small evident part of a much larger, concealed situation
155
at large
free, not caught
156
be in the know
be well-informed
157
bring to one's knees
destroy, humble
158
bury one's head in the sand
avoid or ignore reality/responsibility
159
come to a head
reach a point where some strong action has to be taken
160
drop sb a line
send sb a letter
161
fine kettle of fish
a very difficult and annoying situation
162
get rid of sth
give sth unwanted away
163
go to any lengths
do anything necessary to get sth you want
164
have kittens
be nervous/anxious about sth
165
keep one's fingers crossed
hope that sth will turn out well
166
keep oneself to oneself
live quietly, privately
167
make a killing
have a sudden, great success/profit
168
make light of
treat sth as unimportant
169
make/earn a/one's living
earn money
170
on the level
honest/sincere
171
pull one's leg
tease or trick sb
172
shed light upon
give new/further information
173
sleep like a log
be sound asleep
174
the life and soul of sth
the most lively and amusing person present somewhere
175
the lion's share
the biggest part/portion
176
turn over a new leaf
make a new start
177
with a view to doing sth
with the intention or hope of doing sth
178
a night owl
person who enjoys staying up late
179
be second to none
be the best
180
cross one's mind
think of something
181
cry over spilt milk
grieve over sth that can't be put right
182
every nook and cranny
everywhere
183
feel/be down in the mouth
feel discouraged/depressed
184
get a move on
hurry up
185
get on one's nerves
irritate/annoy sb
186
have an early night
go to bed early
187
hit the nail on the head
say exactly the right thing
188
in a nutshell
Briefly, in a few words
189
lose one's nerve
lose courage
190
make a name for oneself
become famous/respected for sth
191
make hay while the sun shines
take advantage of favourable circumstances
192
make money hand over fist
make a lot of money quickly and easily
193
make one's getaway
escape
194
moon around
look miserable
195
null and void
invalid ; not legally binding
196
put sb's name forward
nominate sb
197
put words into one's mouth
pretend that sb has said sth that they haven’t actually said
198
slip one's mind
forget about sth
199
work a miracle
make sth almost impossible happen
200
give the green light to sth
give permission to proceed with sth
201
a bitter pill to swallow
a difficult fact to accept
202
against all odds
despite the difficulties
203
be out of practice
lacking practice
204
come to the point
reach the main point in a discussion
205
fall into place
become clear
206
get the sack
be dismissed from one's job
207
get the wrong end of the stick
misunderstand completely what has been said
208
golden opportunity
the best chance to gain sth
209
grease sb's palm
bribe sb (to give someone money secretly so that they will make things happen in the way that you want)
210
grow out of sth
become too big for sth
211
have no option but
must; have no choice
212
In public
in the presence of other people
213
in the offing
likely to happen
214
off the point
irrelevant
215
once and for all
for the last time
216
out-and-out
complete, total
217
out in the open
(of secrets) revealed, known
218
out of print
(of books) not available anymore
219
out of the frying pan into the fire
from a situation to a worse/similar one
220
part and parcel of
basic part of
221
past one's prime
growing old/not at one's best
222
pop the question
make a proposal of marriage
223
short and sweet
brief but pleasant (usu ironic) (surprisingly short in a way that is pleasing)
224
status symbol
property/possession that shows sb's high social rank wealth etc
225
take things to pieces
dismantle things (to separate something into smaller parts)
226
throw a party
have/hold a party
227
white elephant
useless/unwanted possession
228
an unknown quantity
person or thing that one has no experience of
229
as a last resort
when all else has failed
230
at close quarters
from a short distance
231
be in a quandary
be confused, undecided
232
beg the question
makes people want to ask a particular question
233
call it quits
give up/stop
234
cut sb to the quick
deeply hurt sb's feelings
235
hit the roof
get very angry
236
in a rut
be stuck in a monotonous routine time
237
in the long run
after a long period of
238
it stands to reason
it is logical/obvious
239
keep sth quiet
keep sth secret
240
know the ropes
know all the details of sth
241
off the record
unofficially, not public
242
on the quiet
secretly
243
open to debate
not decided/settled
244
out of the question
impossible
245
put down roots
settle down
246
work to rule
adhere strictly to the rules as a form of protest
247
rack sb's brains
think very hard about sth
248
a long shot
a wild guess/a risk
249
a memory like a sieve
a poor memory
250
be all at sea
be in a state of confusion
251
be in the same boat
be in the same (usu bad) situation
252
be in sb's shoes
be in sb's position
253
be the spitting image of sb
look exactly like sb
254
be/get soaked to the skin
be/get very wet
255
be/have a close shave
barely avoid an accident/a bad situation
256
behind the scenes
in secret
257
come out of one's shell
gain personal confidence
258
does it show?
is it obvious?
259
give sb the slip
escape from sb
260
go for a song
be sold very cheaply
261
go without saying
be a foregone conclusion (used to mean that something is obvious)
262
hit the sack
go to bed
263
live out of a suitcase
travel often/not have a permanent home
264
make quite a scene
become angry in a dramatic way
265
on a shoe string
on a very small budget
266
pull a few strings
use influential contacts in order to obtain an advantage
267
pull one's socks up
make a greater effort
268
sleep on it
think about sth
269
smell a rat
suspect that sth is wrong
270
spill the beans
reveal a secret/the facts
271
stand in sb's way
prevent sb from doing sth
272
take... with a pinch of salt
not believe sth completely
273
the last straw
the last and worst episode in a chain of bad experiences
274
thick-skinned
insensitive
275
(by) trial and error
learning from one's mistakes
276
be ahead of one's time
have modern ideas
277
be (as) thick (as a brick)
be stupid
278
be tickled pink
be really pleased
279
come to a standstill
not progress/stop
280
come to terms with
accept a difficult situation
281
for the time being
temporarily
282
in a tick
shortly, soon
283
in the nick of time
just in time
284
kill time
pass time while waiting for sb/sth
285
lay the table
prepare/set the table for a meal
286
not be one's cup of tea
not suit one's taste
287
on second thoughts
having changed one's mind
288
out of turn
not in the correct order/time
289
paint the town red
have a great time
290
play truant
stay away from school without permission
291
put two and two together
to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard
292
red tape
unnecessary bureaucracy
293
take one's time
not to hurry
294
through thick and thin
whatever happens (in good times and bad times)
295
touch and go
with uncertain result
296
Be all very well
appear satisfactory but in fact not be
297
be on the up and up improve steadily
improve steadily
298
Be up and about
have recovered from an illness
299
drive (sb) up the wall
make sb angry/annoy sb
300
frosty welcome
Be in a bad mood
unfriendly reception
301
get out of bed on the wrong side
Be in a bad mood
302
get wind of
receive information about sth indirectly
303
give vent to
express sth freely
304
give way to
give in/yield (to be replaced by something, especially because it is better, cheaper, easier, etc)/ to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time
305
not hold water
not seem reasonable or in accordance with the facts
306
make a flying visit
make a quick trip
307
make waves
cause trouble
308
no/little wonder
not surprising
309
quick/slow on the uptake
quick/slow to understand
310
set in one's ways
fixed in one's habits/routines
311
speak volumes
be strong evidence of sb's feelings
312
under the weather
depressed/unwell
313
up and coming
likely to be successful
314
ups and downs
good things alternating with bad ones
315
wet behind the ears
inexperienced
316
an old wives' tale
false belief (usually about health)
317
be born yesterday
be easily deceived/naive
318
beat sb black and blue
hit sb repeatedly until bruised
319
go back on one's word
not fulfil a promise (keep one’s word)
320
have a yellow streak
be a coward (often scared or not very brave)
321
not have it both ways
refuse to make a decision between two pleasant things (usu in expression "You can't have it both ways!")
322
in the red
owe money to a bank (opp: in the black)
323
see red
suddenly become very angry
324
green belt
the area on the outskirts of a town adjoining the country
325
pitch black
very dark
326
black tie
formal clothing
327
green with envy
very jealous
328
green (matter/issue)
concerned with ecology
329
have words with sb
have an argument
330
have/keep one's wits about one
be alert and able to deal with difficulties
331
in deep water
in trouble/difficulty
332
make sb's day
make sb very happy
333
see/look at sth through rose-coloured spectacles
see sth from an unrealistically positive point of view
334
the black sheep of the family
a disgraced family member
335
the pot calling the kettle black
accusing sb of a fault one has oneself
336
until one is blue in the face
as hard/long as one possibly can (usu without success) (wasting your efforts because you will get no results)
337
red herring
sth which distracts you from sth important
338
(fight) like cat and dog
Disagree (violently)
339
Like a bull in a china shop
behave in a clumsy/awkword
340
Make a dog’s dinner of something
Make a mess of something
341
a bear with a sore head
irritated/in a bad mood
342
a different kettle of fish
a totally different situation etc from the one just mentioned
343
a dog's life
a difficult, hard life
344
a fish out of water
sb who feels uncomfortable/in unfamiliar surroundings
345
a red rag to a bull
action, comment etc liable to provoke sb
346
a sitting duck
an easy target
347
as busy as a bee/a busy bee
(sb) very busy
348
as the crow flies
in a direct line/by a direct route
349
be in the doghouse
be out of favour, in trouble
350
dog eat dog
used to describe a situation in which people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms other people
351
dog-eared (of books)
with the corners bent and turned down through use
352
donkey work
boring, monotonous work
353
donkey's years
a long time
354
kill two birds with one stone
achieve two things with one action
355
let the cat out of the bag
reveal a secret
356
like water off a duck's back
having no effect
357
make a fool of oneself
make oneself look stupid/embarrassed/curious
358
make a mountain out of a molehill
to make a slight difficulty seem like a serious problem
359
no room to swing a cat
said about a place or space that is very small.
360
play cat and mouse with sb
Keep sb in a state of uncertain expectation treating them alternatively cruelly and kindly
361
put the cat among the pigeons
cause trouble/controversy
362
rain cats and dogs
Rain heavily
363
swim like a fish
Swim very well
364
talk the hind legs off a donkey
talk for a long time, uninterrupted
365
the rat race
the competitive nature of modern urban life
366
until the cows come home
for a long time
367
mutton dressed as lamb
dress in a style younger /inappropriate to your age
368
sour grapes
say unpleasant comments because of jealousy
369
sweet tooth
enjoy eating sweet things
370
get nowhere fast
make no/little progress
371
pay sb's way
contribute your share of a bill/budget
372
white-collar job
office/clerical work
373
fly on the wall
see/hear sth in a situation which does not
involve you
374
Achilles heel
weakest point of sb's character
375
wash sb's hands of sb
refuse to be involved with sb
376
a pain in the neck
annoying person/thing
377
be all fingers and thumbs
be awkward, clumsy
378
get cold feet
lose courage to do sth
379
give sb the cold shoulder
ignore/shun sb
380
have a cheek/nerve
act/speak boldly or impudently
381
have a sharp tongue
tend to say unkind or hurful things
382
have an eye for
be a good judge of sth
383
look down one's nose at sth/sb
feel/act superior to sb
384
lose one's head
lose self control
385
put one's heart and soul into sth
be devoted to sth
386
tongue in cheek
intend it to be understood as a joke, although you might appear to be serious
387
tooth and nail
fiercely
388
turn a blind eye to sth
ignore
389
not lose any sleep over sth
not worry about sth
390
jack of all trades
sb who is able to do a variety of jobs
391
a storm in a teacup
a lot of fuss about sth that is not important
392
bring sth home to sb
make sb understand how important/ serious sth is
393
bite off more than sb can chew
try to do sth which is too difficult
394
in clover
living a luxurious/comfortable life
395
face the music
be criticised/punished for sth you have done
396
In abeyance
Halted temporarily
397
be of/have no fixed abode
be homeless
398
out and about
1) outdoors
2) travelling from one place to another
399
in the abstract
in a general way
400
of its own accord
automatically
401
agree to differ/disagree
stop arguing because there is no chance of agreement
402
in arrears
have not paid the money they owe
403
cast aspersions
criticise
404
cost an arm and a leg
be very expensive
405
be thrown off balance
be surprised/confused
406
on the ball
alert
407
below the belt
cruel and unfair
408
be beside oneself with anger/excitement
to be extremely angry/excited
409
bide one's time
wait for a good opportunity
410
in the black
not owing anybody any money (in the red)
411
blaze a trail
Discover/explore something new
412
on the blink
stop working properly (of electrical equipment)
413
go by the board
be rejected/ignored/ no longer possible
414
cut to the bone
reduced to the/a minimum
415
out of bounds
prohibited, forbidden (place)
416
pick someone's brains
ask sb to help with a problem/extract information from an expert
417
make common cause with sb
act together to achieve aim
418
Rise to the challenge
act and be successful even though sth is new
419
give chapter and verse
give every exact detail
420
big cheese
person with important job/position
421
take sth on the chin
bravely accept criticism, punishment, etc
422
chop and change
keep changing (your mind)
423
strike a chord
make sb feel sympathy/enthusiasm
424
claim to fame
thing which makes sb unusual/important
425
come clean
admit the truth; confess
426
steer/stay clear of
Avoid sb/sth
427
part company with
end association
428
cut corners
to do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way
429
not all it's cracked up to be
not as good as people say it is/overestimated
430
cramp one's style
restrict one's behaviour in some way
431
Hold/keep in check
control; prevent from becoming too powerful
432
put a damper on
ruin sth or make it less enjoyable
433
be in the dark about sth
be unaware of sth
434
don’t give up your day job
continue to do sth you know rather than trying sth new
435
in broad daylight
in full view of the public/easily seen
436
deal a blow to sb or sth
cause sb great difficulty or spoil their plans
437
be on the defensive
protect oneself because one feels insecure or threatened
438
by definition
because of its own features
439
(for) donkey's years
(for) a very long time
440
on the dot
punctual, exactly on time
441
lend an ear
listen to sb in a careful and sympathetic way
442
play it by ear
act in a situation by responding to events rather than according to plan
443
ease off
reduce in degree, speed or intensity
444
at the cutting edge
of the forefront of (eg. technology), modern
445
on edge
tense/nervous/ anxious
446
to no effect
unsuccessful; ineffective
447
(not) see eye to eye with sb
(dis)agree with sb
448
have an eye for
be good at judging, the worth/quality of sth
449
more to sth/sb than meets
the eye
sth/sb is more important/interesting than is first seen
450
be/have at one's fingertips
be/have easily available/ have free access to
451
blow a fuse
become very angry/lose one's temper
452
come to the fore
become important or popular
453
put on a brave face/put a brave face on a situation
try to hide one's disappointment
454
without fail
do sth no matter what
455
in the flesh
in person
456
few and far between
scarce/rare
457
in full flow
(talking) at length
458
bear fruit
be successful
459
on the face of it
judging by how sth appears
460
point the finger of suspicion
blame sb for sth
461
see fit
think suitable or right
462
flat broke
penniless
463
not have the foggiest idea
not know sth at all
464
get cold feet
be nervous or frightened because sth might fail
465
by/from force of habit
used to doing sth without thinking
466
gain ground
make progress/become more popular
467
beat ab at their own game
to defeat/do better than sb in an activity considered their strength
468
give the game away
reveal a secret or one's feelings
469
throw down the gauntlet
challenge sb
470
gild the lily
spoil sth beautiful by additions
471
Fit like a glove
fit perfectly
472
move the goalposts
change the rules or demands of a situation
473
have a lot going for you
have a lot of advantages
474
as good as
almost
475
up for grabs
available to those who are interested
476
dig one's own grave
cause one's own failure
477
grind to a halt
slowly stop/come to an end
478
come/get to grips with
consider seriously and start to take action
479
get off the ground
begin or start functioning
480
come to grief
sth is unsuccessful
481
make a go of sth
have some success
482
for good
permanently
483
Stick to one's guns
keep to your opinion
484
meet (sb) halfway
come to an agreement/ compromise
485
come under the hammer
sth is sold at auction
486
let your hair down
relax and enjoy yourself
487
to make/lose money hand over fist
acquire/lose a lot of money very quickly
488
give sb a free hand
allow sb to do as they wish
489
know (sth) off-hand
(know sth) without asking or looking it up
490
have to hand it to sb
admire sb and think they deserve praise
491
keep out of harm's way
keep out of danger
492
fly off the handle
lose your temper very suddenly
493
do sth at the drop of a hat
be willing/happy to do sth, do sth quickly
494
not to make head (nor) tail of sth
not to understand sth at all
495
make headway
make progress
496
take heart from sth
feel encouraged by or optimistic about sth
497
make a hash of sth
do sth very badly
498
to one's heart's content
(do) as much or as often as one wants
499
strike/hit home
(of situation) be accepted as real even though it is painful/ achieve the intended effect
500
after hours
outside regular business hours
501
from/since time immemorial
for a long time/throughout history
502
take the initiative
be the first person to act
503
add insult to injury
make things even worse
504
make inroads into
affect sth negatively or destructively
505
to all intents and purposes
practically/in effect
506
in the interests of
in order to achieve a certain aim
507
in the interim
in the time between two particular periods or events
508
take issue with sb
disagree and start arguing
509
have/get itchy feet
have a strong desire to travel
510
be in jeopardy
be in danger
511
in a jiffy
quickly
512
jog one's memory
make one remember sth
513
jump for joy
extremely pleased or happy
514
reserve judgement on sb/sth
postpone giving an opinion before more is known
515
do sb/sth justice
to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows their or its true qualities)
516
rough justice
unfair or unjust treatment
517
(be) on an even keel
working or progressing steadily, to regularise sth
518
on a knife-edge
situation where nobody knows what will happen next/extremely exciting
519
knock sb dead
impress sb greatly
520
tie oneself in knots
get confused
521
safe in the knowledge
confidently (because a prior condition has been met)
522
by and large
to a great extent/generally exaggerated
523
larger than life
exaggerated
524
on its last legs
in weak or poor condition/ needing replacement
525
lay it on thick
exaggerate
526
lay sb low
make sb ill or weak, confine them to bed
527
improve by/in leaps and bounds
improve/increase very rapidly
528
do sth at length
take a long time to do/do sth in great detail
529
follow/obey to the letter
follow (e.g. instructions) exactly without question
530
on the level
sincere, truthful
531
make light of sth
treat sth as though it is not serious when in fact it is
532
bring into line with
make sb/sth comply with a standard/behaviour
533
draw the line
refuse to do/tolerate sth
534
put sth on the line
risk, endanger
535
be lost on sb
have no effect on sb/not to be understood by sb
536
not for love nor money
by no means/for no reason
537
like it or lump it
whether you like it or not
538
leave sb in the lurch
abandon/let sb down
539
make do with sth
to use what is available although it is not enough or what you wanted
540
give sb their marching orders
dismiss sb
541
meet one's match
compete with sb as good as/better than you
542
mean well
try to be kind/helpful
543
living beyond one's means
spending more than you can afford
544
on the mend
recover from (illness/injury)
545
mend one's way
begin to behave well
546
to put it mildly
used for saying that something is much more extreme than your words suggest
547
miles away
deep in thought
548
mint condition
perfect condition
549
give sth a miss
decide not to do sth or go to a place
550
sb gets their money's worth
sb gets sth which is worth its price/the effort put in it
551
name names
identify sb who has done sth (usually immoral or illegal)
552
name of the game
the most important aspect
553
come naturally to sb
be very easy for sb to do
554
nearest and dearest
close relatives/friends
555
risk one's neck
put oneself in danger (physically or metaphorically)
556
touch a nerve
mention a sensitive subject
557
nest egg
sum of money saved for a particular purpose
558
slip through the net
avoid being caught by a system/trap
559
none the wiser
know nothing more than before
560
poke one's nose into sth
try to interfere in sth
561
hand/give in one's notice
resign
562
have occasion to do sth
it is necessary to do sth
563
rise to the occasion
overcome a difficult situation by doing everything necessary to succeed
564
a drop in the ocean
so minimal or trivial as to have little effect
565
on the offchance
hoping that something may be possible, although it is not likely
566
every so often
occasionally
567
not on
unacceptable (of behaviour)
568
only too (+ adi)
more than (used for emphasis)
569
opt out
withdraw from sth
570
in good order
in good condition
571
made to order
specially made, not from stock
572
at/from the outset
from the very beginning
573
over and above
more than or in addition to an amount
574
over to
passing on to when introducing another speaker on the air
575
go overboard
to do something too much, or to be too excited or eager about something
576
to overflowing
so full of people or things that no more can fit in
577
overstep the mark
behave in an unacceptable way
578
own up
admit/confess
579
get your own back
get/take revenge
580
at one's own pace
at a speed which is comfortable for one
581
go to great pains
try hard to do sth because it is Important
582
fool below/under par
feel tired and unable to work
583
pass up
not take a chance or opportunity
584
in passing
đề cập qua một vấn đề, hoặc tình cờ nhắc đến
585
not put it past sb
not be surprised if sb did sth they shouldn't
586
not a patch on
not nearly as good as; not comparable
587
bring sb down a peg or two
reduce sb to their true status
588
phase in
introduce gradually
589
say your piece
give your view or opinion
590
pile up
mount up
591
feel the pinch
be in a difficult financial situation
592
play at
do sth others don't understand
593
take the plunge
take a/the risk
594
pluck up the courage
make an effort to be brave
595
plumb new depths
be worse than ever
596
go to pot
deteriorate
597
keep sb posted
keep sb informed
598
pit your wits against sb (or sth)
compete with sb (or sth) in intelligence/a test of knowledge
599
at a premium
at a higher price than usual because it is scarce
wanted/needed but difficult to get/ achieve
600
press on/ahead
continue determinedly
601
be/have a qualified success
be partially successful
602
give sb no quarter
show no mercy
603
a race against time
work fast in order to do sth on time
604
lose one's rag
try hard to think
605
rain or shine
in any circumstances
606
ram home sth
become angry
607
go on the rampage
rush about violently
608
raring to go
eager to do sth or go somewhere
609
have/get a raw deal
be treated unfairly
610
take it as read
accept sth as true without question
611
recharge your batteries
take a break to renew/ refresh yourself
612
on reflection
after careful thought
613
be well rid of sb
better off without sb or sth
614
be taken for a ride
be deceived/cheated
615
be as right as rain
recover from an illness
616
hit the road
begin a journey
617
do a roaring trade
sell a lot of sth
618
take the rough with the smooth
accept unpleasant as well as pleasant situations
619
rub sth in
insist on reminding sb of sth unpleasant or embarrassing
620
up and running
operating normally
621
(to) be on the safe side
do sth to prevent the possibility of sth bad happening
622
not one's scene
not like/enjoy sth
623
settle a score
take revenge
624
without a shadow of (a) doubt
without any doubt
625
talk shop
Talk about work or business
626
if push comes to shove
if a situation becomes really bad/difficult
627
get on the wrong/bad side of sb
do sth to annoy sb
628
a sore point with sb
sth that makes sb angry or embarrassed
629
spick and span
clean and tidy
630
enter into the spirit of sth
take part in sth with enthusiasm
631
in the spotlight
receiving a great deal of public attention
632
be/get in a state
be very nervous/upset about sth
633
in stitches
unable to stop laughing
634
in store for one
about to happen in near future
635
take sth by storm
be extremely successful or popular
636
get into the swing of sth
get involved/get into the rhythm
637
in sync
well matched/work simultaneously as it should
(opp: out of sync badly matched not simultaneous as it should)
638
turn tail
turn and run away
639
In tandem with
together with, simultaneously
640
go off at a tangent
suddenly change subject or course of action
641
(be) on target
make good progress
642
in bad/poor taste
offensive/insulting
643
cup of tea
sth one likes
644
get one's teeth into sth
throw oneself into sth because it is interesting, complex and makes you think hard
645
put sth to the test
gauge how effective sth is by putting it into practice
646
thick and fast
happening quickly in large numbers
647
under one's thumb
under sb's control
648
toe the line
obey the rules
649
keep sb on their toes
make/keep sb alert
650
lower the tone of sth
make a place or event seem less respectable
651
tongue in cheek
not serious, in fun
652
to down tools
to stop working
653
be on top of the world
be happy
654
(sth) gets on top of sb
sth depresses sb/is too much to cope with
655
travel light
travel without much luggage
656
tread water
be in a position where no progress is being made
657
a trifle
slightly/to a small extent
658
the ultimate in
the best/most advanced
659
catch/take unawares
happen when you are least expecting it
660
unbeknown to sb
when sb is unaware of sth
661
In no uncertain terms
clearly and unmistakably
662
be given to understand that
be informed about sth but not directly
663
come unstuck
fail badly in sth you are trying to achieve
664
be up against sth
have a difficult situation or problem to deal with
665
be quick on the uptake
able to understand things quickly, clever
666
not be up to much
of poor quality
667
have its uses
have advantages of benefits
668
to the utmost
to the greatest extent
669
do sth in vain
not succeed in sth
670
banging your head against a brick wall
frustrated because sb is stopping you from making progress in sth
671
sb or sth is driving you up the wall
sb or sth is annoying and irritating you
672
have a whale of a time
to enjoy oneself very much
673
put years on sb
make sb look or feel much older
674
as yet
up until the present time
675
go from bad to worse
become more unpleasant
676
if the worst comes to the worst
if the situation develops in the most unfavourable way possible
677
act on
to take action as a result of advice, information, etc.
678
act up
to behave badly
679
answer (sb) back
speak rudely to sb
680
answer back
defend oneself
681
answer to
-to have to explain to someone why you did something
-be under the command of sb/have the characteristics described
-have a particular name
682
be in for it
be about to receive punishment/trouble
683
be in with
be in favour with
684
be out
(1) be in bloom, (2) be extinguished (make a fire or light stop burning or shining, make an idea or feeling stop), (3) be removed, (4) be absent (from home or work), (5) be wrong in calculation, (6) be unfashionable
685
bear on
be relevant to
686
Bear with
Be patient
687
answer for
be responsible for sth/pay for sth/vouch for (firmly believe that something is true or good because of your experience or knowledge of it)
688
back down
cease to oppose
689
back out of
withdraw from
