80 Flashcards
Underling
a person lower in status or rank.
“she was shouting orders at underlings between gulps of coffee”
Don’t put me in the middle
in a difficult or unpleasant position. She hated conflict and did not want to be put in the middle. He was caught in the middle when his parents got divorced.
Control
a group or individual used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment.
Brinksmanship
the activity, especially in politics, of trying to get what you want by saying that if you do not get it, you will do something dangerous:
The talks have collapsed and both sides have resorted to brinkmanship.
瀬戸際政策 《危険な状態をぎりぎりまで押し進めて強い態度で有利な立場に立とうという政策
I owe you apology
ごめんなさいと言わなきゃ
Get a move on
hurry up.
“get a move on or you’ll be late”
Old broad
Old woman
Get across the finishing line
to reach the end of a race, task, or project, signifying successful completion; essentially, it means to achieve the final goal or milestone in a process
Take no for the answer
. to not allow someone to refuse what you have offered: I told Steve I’m not interested, but he keeps asking me out - he won’t take no for an answer.
＝「駄目と言っても聞かない・断っているのにしつこい」という意味。
What’s the occasion?
なんで着飾ったりしてるのかい？
Matchy matchy
something is too color-coordinated or has matching patterns. It’s often used to describe clothing that’s too similar in style, color, or fabric.
Examples
“I am not particularly a fan of a matchy-matchy themed table”.
“The next day, the couple sat front row at the Calvin Klein show, once again looking a little matchy-matchy”.
“You should coordinate the drapes and bedspread without getting too matchy-matchy”.
Usage
The term is often used in a disapproving way, to indicate that something is not attractive. For example, you might describe a bedroom set as “matchy-matchy” if it’s too similar in color or pattern.
Origin
“Matchy-matchy” is a reduplication of the words “match” and “-y”. It was once used as an insult to mock people who thought matching colors was the height of fashion.
Tips
To avoid a matchy-matchy look, you can try adding a different pattern, texture, or scale to your outfit or decor.
Life coach
a person who counsels and encourages clients on matters having to do with careers or personal challenges.
The Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West was the evil one with the green face. The Wicked Witch of the East was the one that the house fell on.
Take the air
take a walk; go for a walk; walk for pleasure. synonyms: walk.
Playing catchup
to try to reach the same level as someone else after falling behind. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including sports, business, and school
遅れを取り戻そうと奮闘している、追いつこうと必死である
Smokescreen
something that hides the truth about someone’s intentions:
Instead of doing something about the problem, the city council is hiding behind a smokescreen of bureaucracy.
煙幕
〈比喩〉〔実際の計画や真意などを隠すための〕偽装行為［発言］
Go to ground
to hide in order to escape someone or something following you:
He found the media attention intolerable and went to ground for several months.
The second
as soon as :
The second I saw him, I knew he was going to be a star.
the First World
the richer countries of the world that have advanced economies. Some people find this use offensive:
Those of us who live in the First World consume more than 80% of the planet’s resources.
It was the world’s first
something was the very first of its kind to ever exist, 世界初の
signifying a groundbreaking or pioneering event on a global scale; essentially, it was the initial instance of that particular thing in the entire world.
Got whooped
to be severely beaten or punished. It can also mean to be defeated completely
Gloomy Gus
someone who is often gloomy or pessimistic.
It can also refer to someone who has a sullen or unhappy demeanor
In the eyes of god
something is being considered from God’s perspective,
implying that God sees everything, knows everything, and judges everything based on his perfect understanding, often used to convey the idea that no matter how someone may appear to others, God sees their true nature and intentions
Here is the thing
the speaker is about to introduce a key point or important piece of information in a conversation, essentially signaling to the listener that what follows should be paid close attention to
Don’t shoot the messenger
said to warn someone not to be angry with the person who tells them something bad
The old switcheroo
is an idiom that refers to an unexpected or sneaky swap or exchange.
It can also refer to a sudden change in attitude, character, or position.
Soften the blow
to make a bad situation less serious:
He lost his job, but he has enough money in the bank to soften the blow.
Don’t be a wise guy !
stop acting like you know everything or are smarter than you are,”
essentially telling someone to not be cocky, arrogant, or sassy, and to behave respectfully; it’s synonymous with “don’t be a smart aleck
High stakes
a situation with a lot of risk, or where there is a chance of losing or gaining a lot
Pull your weight
do one’s fair share of work.
“he must pull his weight or leave”
Sort it out
phrasal verb of sort
1.
arrange things systematically in groups or according to type.
“she sorted out the clothes, some to be kept, some to be thrown away”
2.
resolve a problem or difficulty.
“the teacher helps the children to sort out their problems”
Does not stretch as far
means something is limited in its capacity or ability to reach a certain point,
essentially indicating that it cannot be extended or applied to a wide range of situations or possibilities
; it falls short of what is needed or expected そこまではいかない
Fizzle out
to gradually end in a disappointing or weak way. It can also mean to fail, especially after a hopeful beginning.
Grlmding out
produce similar things again and again, especially in a way that is boring:
The band ground out the same tunes it had been playing for 20 years.
She has ground out more than thirty romance novels during her career.
Her opponents were busy grinding out press releases attacking her personality and policies.
Ravel
untangle or unravel something.
“Davy had finished raveling out his herring net”
2.
unravel; fray.
“a shirt with a raveled collar”
糸のほつれ. The thread is coming loose
Guaquero
person who illegally digs up archaeological sites or graves for valuable items
Put up for sale
to make something available for purchase or auction. For example, you might put a house or other property up for sale
A brush with death
a close encounter with death or the experience of almost dying.
Explanation
Sourpuss
a bad-tempered or habitually sullen person.
someone who always looks unhappy and annoyed
I’m not up to it
I am not well enough to do
Stone cold badass
someone who is extremely cool, tough, and confident, almost to the point of being emotionless or unfazed by anything; essentially, a very impressive and intimidatingly capable person, often used to describe a character in movies or someone with a strong, assertive personality
Listen to you
pay attention to what someone is saying or to a sound. It can also mean to understand what someone is saying and consider it important or true
Minion
a person who is not important and who has to do what another person of higher rank orders them to do:
He sent one of his minions to do something about it.
取り巻き
Moonshine
illicitly distilled or smuggled liquor.
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
the singer’s attractive qualities, represented by the metaphor of a milkshake, are so alluring that they draw a lot of attention from men, essentially saying she’s very attractive and gets a lot of male interest; “yard” is used as a casual way to say “around her” or “to her” in this context
The pen is mighter than the sward
writing is more effective than military power or violence.
Giggler
someone who laughs in a nervous or silly way, often in a series of rapid, high-pitched sounds. The word “giggle” can also be used as a verb to describe the act of laughing in this way
笑い上戸
Rough patch
period of time when someone is experiencing a lot of problems or difficulties. It can refer to a challenging time in a person’s life or relationship
Eat my feelings
Eating your feelings is eating when you’re not hungry. You’re feeding your feelings. Because after all, food is a source of comfort
やけ食い
Tempered by
limited or controlled, or made less extreme: tempered by Her ambitions are tempered by the scale of the task. tempered with Their love for each other was growing steadily, but the emotion was tempered with suspicion
和らげられた
Icky
something is unpleasant or disgusting. For example, you might describe a dish as “icky” if you think it’s nasty or yucky. You might also describe something as “icky” if it’s sticky or gummy.
Ward
one of the parts or large rooms into which a hospital is divided, usually with beds for patients:
a geriatric/maternity/psychiatric ward
US
one of the parts into which a prison is divided
Erode
gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed.
“this humiliation has eroded what confidence Jean has”
Rizz
the ability to attract people’s attention and make them like you, often in a romantic or sexual way:
She has more rizz than anyone I’ve ever met.
SKIBIDI
“cool”, “bad”, or “dumb” depending on the context. It can also be used to describe someone who is obsessed with an unimportant issue
Batty
mad; insane.
“you’ll drive me batty!”
GROOVALICIOUS HEPCAT
tribute band or a description of something that is very exciting or attractive
a stylish or fashionable person, especially in the sphere of jazz or popular music.
“it’s rock’s most waggish hepcat, on the third of his nine showbiz lives”
Take heart
to gain courage or confidence, essentially to feel more hopeful or optimistic about a situation; it’s an idiom used to encourage someone not to worry or be discouraged, often when facing a challenge.
Example: “Despite the setbacks, the team can take heart from their recent progress.”.
Key
Four faces
The idea of four faces can have multiple meanings, including in Hinduism, the Bible, and leadership
Litmus test
an opinion or action that is thought to show more general opinions or likely future actions:
Analysts say the election is a litmus test for democracy in the region. 反応を見る
Pillage
to steal something from a place or a person by using violence, especially during war:
Works of art were pillaged from many countries in the dark days of the Empire.
Maglev train
high-speed train that uses magnets to levitate above the track instead of wheels. The term “maglev” is short for “magnetic levitation
Pick a fight
talk or behave in such a way as to provoke a fight or argument.
“it wasn’t in his nature to pick a fight with anyone”
Similar:
provoke
On a par with
the same as or equal to someone or something:
The regeneration of the city’s downtown dock front will put it on a par with Nice or Cannes.
Property in this bustling city is valued even higher, almost on a par with London.
Culprit
someone who has done something wrong:
Police hope the public will help them to find the culprits.
First of its kind
something is unique or exceptionally different, or appears in the earliest stages. For example, you might describe a product or service as “one of a kind” if it is the only one of its type or very unusual
Out of commission
not in service; not in working order.
“my car is out of commission until a new clutch arrives”
Turd
a piece of solid waste:
dog turds on the pavement
a rude word for someone who you think is unpleasant:
I’m not doing business with that little turd. 糞
Denote
to represent something:
The colour red is used to denote passion or danger.
Get bashed
to be attacked, either physically or verbally. “Bashing” is an informal term that can be used as a verb or a noun
rummage through
search for something by moving things around without care and looking into, under, and behind them:
She rummaged through the drawer, looking for a pen.
the emperor’s new clothes
used to describe a situation in which most people praise or seem to believe something that is false or has no value, because they are afraid to go against the general opinion. This refers to a story in which an emperor (= a powerful ruler) is sold new clothes that do not really exist, and nobody except a young boy is willing to say publicly that the emperor is naked:
Swagger
walk or behave in a very confident and arrogant or self-important way.
“he swaggered along the corridor”
purserette
female purser. The word is derived from the noun “purser” and the suffix “-ette”. The earliest known use of the word was in 1931 in the Newport Daily News
STD
sexually transmitted disease
Antics
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior.
“the antics of our political parties”
Have a go at
- make an attempt at; try.
“let me have a go at straightening the rim”
2.
BRITISH
attack or criticize.
“she’s always having a go at me”
come back from the brink
To return to a state of stability or well-being after being on the verge of utter ruin, failure, or destruction.
The company has come back from the brink of bankruptcy after the massive success of its newest product.
I was in a really dark, hopeless place, but the support and love of my family helped me come back from the brink.
Cut right through
to quickly and directly address or deal with something difficult or complex, essentially going straight to the heart of the matter without being hindered by unnecessary details or obstacles; it implies efficiently penetrating through something to reach the core issue.
Example sentences:
“The CEO’s straightforward speech cut right through the corporate jargon and clearly outlined the company’s new strategy.”
“Her sharp questions cut right through the politician’s evasive answers, forcing him to address the real concerns.”
Key points about “cut right through”:
Directness: It emphasizes a clear and immediate approach to dealing with something.
Efficiency: It suggests quickly navigating through complexities to get to the important part.
Figurative usage: While “cut” can be literal, in this phrase it is often used metaphorically to represent overcoming barriers or confusion.
Grit and glamour
Grit” refers to courage and perseverance, while “glamour” refers to attractiveness and excitement
Grit
「やり抜く力」「粘る力」「根性」「気概」「ガッツ」など
courage and resolve; strength of character.
“he displayed the true grit of the navy pilot”
Climacteric fruits
fruits that can continue to ripen after being picked from the plant. They are sensitive to ethylene gas, which they produce themselves.
Examples of climacteric fruits
Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Mangoes, Peaches, Pears, and Tomatoes
Freak
thing, person, animal, or event that is extremely unusual or unlikely, and not like any other of its type:
I was born with black hair all over my back, like some sort of freak.
freak of nature The pearl is so big that it has been described as a freak of nature.
Woo woo stuff
is an informal term for ideas or practices that are based on false beliefs or imaginary things rather than scientific knowledge. For example, you might describe astrology or tarot cards as “woo woo stuff
Unitalian
member of a Christian Church that does not believe in the Trinity (= the existence of one God in three forms, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit):
We caught up
to be involved in something, to be excited about something, or to reach the same level as others
Go mingle
Is to move around and talk to many people at a social event. For example, you might go mingle with other guests at a party
“ I’ll go mingle”
pose a penalty
to introduce or establish a punishment for a specific action or violation, essentially signifying that breaking a rule or committing an offense will result in a negative consequence
Flashmob
a group of people who arrange, by email or mobile phone, to come together in a place at the same time, do something funny or silly, and then leave
Savant
person with a high level of knowledge or skill, especially someone who is less able in other ways:
There are musical savants who are very awkward physically - until they sit at the piano.
Paper trail
series of documents that show a record of your activities
Captive audience
a group of people who are forced to listen or watch something because they cannot leave. For example, a captive audience might be students in a class or employees at work.
いやでも聞かなければ[見なければ]ならない聴衆, 「囚(とら)われの聴衆
Get steps in
walk or move around enough throughout the day to reach a desired number of steps, typically considered to be 10,000 steps, as tracked by a fitness tracker or pedometer; essentially, it refers to the act of intentionally increasing your daily walking activity to maintain good health
予定通りしっかり歩く
Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself
when you choose to forgive someone, you are ultimately freeing yourself from the burden of anger, resentment, and negativity, thereby giving yourself the gift of peace and the ability to move forward; the act of forgiveness is primarily for your own well-being, not necessarily about the other person.
Afterthought
an idea, thought, or plan that was not originally intended but is thought of at a later time:
She only asked me to her party as an afterthought.
Upswing
an increase in strength or quantity; an upward trend.
“cigar smoking has been on the upswing”
Skim
to move quickly just above a surface without touching it:
The birds skimmed (across/along/over) the tops of the waves.
Putting out
1.Extinguish
To stop something from burning or shining
For example, “put out the fire” or “put out the lights”
2.Produce
To produce something, especially for sale
For example, “the company puts out a mail-order catalog
PB&J
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich consists of peanut butter and fruit preserves spread on bread
Malice
Malice -the wish to harm or upset other people:
There certainly wasn’t any malice in her comments.
