Chapter 4 Flashcards
hit the books (to)
study
“We should hit the books tonight because we have a quiz tomorrow”
go over something (to)
review something
“She wants to go over her notes before she gives her speech to the audience”
at the end of one’s rope
frustated, stressed out
“I’m almost at the end of my rope because my lazy co-worker never helps me”
mind/memory like a steel trap (a)
a great memory
“She never forgets a name. She has a mind like a steel trap”
on the tip of one’s tongue
on the verge of remembering something
“What’s the name of that small town we went to? It’s right on the tip of my tongue.
mull something over (to)
consider, think something over
“I’ll have to mull it over for awhile before I make a decision”
hung up on something/someone
stuck on something/someone, unable to continue
“I can’t stop thinking about that beautiful woman. I’m really hung up on her”
what’s(his/her)-face
used when a person’s name can’t be remembered
“Could you please give this book to what’s-her-face the next time you see her”
cacth hell (to)
reprimand someone harshly
“The teenage boy caught hell because he didn’t come home last night”
tell someone off (to)
reprimand someone harshly
“He told his girlfriend off because she forgot his birthday for the second time”
chew someone out (to)
reprimand someone harshly
“She chewed her brother out after he broke her CD player”
badmouth someone (to)
say negative things about someone
“That guy never says anything positive about anyone. He’s always badmouthing people”
have it in for someone (to)
get even with someone, seek revenge
“I’ve had it in for him ever since I found out that he stole my wallet”
run into someone (to)
meet someone by accident
“I ran into someone friends from school whilw I was at the library on Sunday”
cover for someone (to)
provide an alibi for someone "I'll cover for you if you skip class and go to the beach instead"
new flame
new lover
“She’s very happy because her new flame is handsome and charming”
come down with something (to)
get a cold/the flu
“I came down with the flu just before my vacation started”
come up with something (to)
think of something
“Have you come up with something to do on Friday night?”
vivid
colorful, dramatic, vibrant
“The vivid colors in that painting of the sunset are very interesting”
coming along
progressing
“How’s the essay you’re writing coming along?”
make a dent in something (to)
make a little progress in something
“I’ve only made a dent in the essay that I have to write”
surf the net (to)
use the internet
“I usually surf the net on my new computer when I get home from school”
weight off one’s shoulders (a)
a relief
“It was a weight off his shoulders when he finally got accepted to law school”
come down hard on someone (to)
reprimand someone harshly
“The boss came down hard on the salesman who fell asleep during the meeting”
