Consolidation 3 Flashcards
a close shave/call
He had a close shave when his brakes failed on the mountain road.
a narrow escape
a red-letter day
It was a red-letter day for United, who won a place in Saturday’s final.
a very important day
a wild-goose chase
The police had been sent on a wild goose chase.
a hopeless search
be on/in the cards
The merger has been on the cards for some time now.
to be likely to happen
be over the moon
They’re over the moon about their trip to Japan.
to be elated
call sb names
At school, bullying takes many forms, including whispering about people and calling them names.
insult sb
crocodile tears
false tears
chair a meeting
preside a meeting
cross one’s mind
to think of sth
cut sb dead
She saw me, recognized me and cut me dead.
ignore sb
different as chalk and cheese
very different
down in the dumps
He’d been down in the dumps since his girlfriend left him.
not cheerful
down the drain/plughole
Safety standards have gone down the plughole.
wasted; lost
get a bit hot under the collar
He got very hot under the collar when I asked him where he’d been.
get angry, upset, or embarrassed
get a problem off one’s chest
tell sb else about your problem
go to the dogs/go to hell in a handbasket
This firm’ went to hell in a handbasket since the new management.
go to waste
have the cheek
He had the cheek to ask his ex-girlfriend to babysit for them.
dare to complain
keep one’s chin up
not to be discouraged
let sleeping dogs lie
avoid mentioning a subject which could cause
lost cause
The game looked a lost cause when the score reached 6–0.
hopeless situation or case
on the dole
After the mines closed, my uncle spent the next ten years on the dole
receiving unemployment benefit
play one’s cards right
If you play your cards right, the job could be yours when she leaves
act cleverly
show one’s true colours
It was after they got married, he showed himself in his true colours
reveal one’s character
with flying colours
with great success
