Deck 2 Flashcards
bolt from the blue
- complete surprise; unexpected
The resignation of Nawaz came like a bolt from the blue
put your foot down
- adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition
IK put his foot down in the face of constant pressure from media and leading opposition parties
worth your salt
- good at the job specified
Any analyst worth his salt could have predicted the decline in stock market.
down the drain
-to go wasted and spoiled
If CPEC shuts down, $26bn investment will go down the drain
swan song
- a person’s last piece of work and achievement
This weekend’s game was his swansong as the team’s captain.
cheek by jowl
- close together
Ali and Amir lived cheek by jowl in a one-room flat.
to bring grist to the mill
- something that can be used for a particular purpose
The arrival of python brought grist to the mill in data science space.
Now that he’s a writer, he regards his difficult childhood experiences as grist to the mill.
set one’s cap at someone
-To try to attract, secure, or win someone as a romantic partner
Don’t find it cheap to set your cap at a girl who is barely of voting age?
to draw the long bow
to exaggerate in telling stories; overstate something
Boy, she’s really drawing the long bow. I can’t believe a single word.
to send a person to Coventry
- to deliberately ostracise someone
The thieves were sent to Coventry.
beer and skittles
- amusement or enjoyment
The work isn’t all beer and skittles
acid test
- A situation that provides a definite proof of something
The acid test of a good driver is whether he remains calm in an emergency
skeleton in cupboard
- a discreditable or embarrassing fact that someone wishes to keep secret
The defeat of the United State in Afghanistan is a skeleton in the cupboard
a mare’s nest
- discovery that seems interesting and exciting but is found to be false
I assure you that this will prove to be a mare’s nest
keep ones nose to the grindstone
-work hard and continuously
Hunain kept his nose to the grindstone and cleared the exam.
