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English phrases Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

make a fuss

A

complain about sth (usually unimportant)
Ex: After work, I have to submit a report to my boss. I never want to forget it because if I do, she’ll definitely MAKE A FUSS about it, and I don’t like her voice at all. In fact, nobody does.

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2
Q

bang for the buck

A

worth the money you spend
Ex: MacBook is relatively expensive but it gives you more BANG FOR THE BUCK. I get more things done since I bought it. And you should consider buying it too, because if you don’t get your work done on time, your boss will MAKE A FUSS about it.

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3
Q

around the corner

A

coming up very soon
Ex: The next IELTS exam is just AROUND THE CORNER. You study or you die. New Year is also AROUND THE CORNER too. You have to choose which one is your priority.

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4
Q

hands down

A

simply too obvious and NOT worth arguing at all
Ex: Calgary is the best city in Canada to get rich, HANDS DOWN.
Siro-A is the HANDS DOWN the best performer in America’s Got Talent this year.

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5
Q

heads-up

A

an advance notice, just to remind you sth is coming so better be prepared
Ex: It’s easier to get A and A+ in Canada than in Vietnam because professors usually give students A HEADS-UP before the exams on what chapters to focus on. I feel like I get more BANG FOR THE BUCK.

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6
Q

Big time!

A

used to stress the extreme (usually put at the end of the sentence)
Ex: I earned $3,000 from stock investing BIG TIME last week. However, yesterday’s market crash also made me lose, BIG TIME. To get more BANG FOR THE BUCK, I better do more research.

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7
Q

back to square one

A

back to the starting point (square one), usually as a result of a failure
Ex: After losing all the money in the stock market, my saving is now BACK TO SQUARE ONE. But still I believe stock market is HANDS DOWN the best place to make some bucks.

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8
Q

pull off (pull it off)

A

successfully make sth happen or accomplish sth, succeed
Ex: I had a job interview last week and guess what, I PULLED IT OFF!
I just PULLED OFF the $200,000 real estate deal with my client. Now I have money to spend!

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9
Q

pull an all nighter

A

do not sleep at all to do some-freaking-thing. Most used by college students.
Ex: Even though I’m well-prepared, I still have to PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER for the exam tomorrow. Coffee is ready. Hopefully I can PULL IT OFF.

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10
Q

goof off

A

waste time instead of studying or working

Ex: I don’t get it when Jim GOOFS OFF all the time but still get A+. He must have a secret sauce.

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11
Q

a rip-off

A

sth unreasonably expensive
Ex: $1000 for an IELTS course? Definitely a RIP-OFF. They’re obviously trying to RIP YOU OFF. So stay away. You will not get any BANG FOR YOUR BUCK at all.

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12
Q

tie the knot

A

get married
Ex: I’m 23 this year and I’m not gonna TIE THE KNOT anytime soon. Getting married involves a lot of responsibility, both expected and unexpected. My friends, Jim and Lori, will TIE THE KNOT this month and their wedding is just AROUND THE CORNER.

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13
Q

step up my game

A

try harder and make it better
Ex: I want to go back to stock investing to make some money. I’m aware that to make a nice return, I’ll have to stop GOOFING OFF to STEP UP MY GAME.

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14
Q

I’m buyin’ it

A

I’m convinced!
Ex: Linh was always trying to convince me she saw an alien. At first, I WAS NOT BUYING IT because her story was so sketchy. But then I saw it with my own eyes and I have to believe in it. I’M BUYING IT.

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15
Q

Hold onto your hat!

A

Be ready to hear sth surprising!
Ex: Hi everybody, I got some good news. Please HOLD ONTO YOUR HAT. I finally have a girlfriend!
Oh, Congrats! Unbelievable!

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16
Q

Screw it!

A

Whatever happens, I don’t care.
Ex: In teamwork, people often slack off. That really annoys me sometimes. But you know what, SCREW IT. I’ll just do my part and I’ll PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER as usual.

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17
Q

Crunch time

A

busy period of time when everyone has to work hard
Ex: The tax season is just AROUND THE CORNER. In Canada, it’s between March and April. It’s CRUNCH TIME for accountants to file tax for their clients.

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18
Q

What’s the catch?

A

It sounds weird. What’s the reason behind it?
Ex: AT&T is giving away free iPhone.
Really? so WHAT’S THE CATCH?
You have to sign a 2-year contract with them, costing you around $70 every month.

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19
Q

Recoup (v)

A

recover what you have lost
Ex: I lost $3,000 in stock market last week.
Yesterday, I earned $4,000. I have not only RECOUPED THE MONEY but made a profit after all.

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20
Q

Fit into the picture

A

does not fit with the overall plan
Ex: Having a job is important. But having a job that is not related to what you study doesn’t really FIT INTO THE PICTURE. And of course, doesn’t give you more BANG FOR THE BUCK after all.

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21
Q

On my toes

A

be really ready, alert, attentive, focused
Ex: Whenever my boss is around, all employees are always ON THEIR TOES. They don’t want to mess up or she may MAKE A FUSS about it.

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22
Q

Look

A

Listen! Attention!
(used a lot in conversation to get attention)
Kien: You are not so smart, Jim
Jim: Kien, LOOK, do you think you are?

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23
Q

pave the way

A

make it easier to do the next things
Ex: Getting the IELTS certificate can PAVE THE WAY for your dream of studying abroad. You’ll need to study DAY IN DAY OUT to get your English UP AND RUNNING. And of course, STEP UP YOUR GAME.

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24
Q

I’ve been there

A

I’ve experienced that. I did that. So I know
Ex: Your parents don’t allow you to get married and you’re sad? I’VE BEEN THERE. I know how it feels. Wanna CATCH A MOVIE?

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25
Q

It slipped my mind!

A

I forgot it!
Ex: I already submitted my Marketing assignment via email to my professor. However, IT TOTALLY SLIPPED MY MIND since I did not attach the file to the email.

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26
Q

In no time

A 
Instantly (well, almost)
Ex: Many people believe attending an IELTS class can get them IELTS 7.0 IN NO TIME. I believe to STEP UP THEIR GAMES, they have to stop GOOFING OFF and start HITTING THE BOOK.
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27
Q

Not so fast

A

Don’t be so eager believing in sth just yet, slow down a bit
Ex: After you’ve done school, you think you can have freedom? NOT SO FAST, face your boss at work and you’ll see how freedom really looks like.

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28
Q

On the verge of

A

very close to
Ex: Greece is ON THE VERGE OF default if it cannot pay its debt on time.
I’m ON THE VERGE OF failing the IELTS test because I didn’t put enough effort on studying.

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29
Q

Go bananas

A 
Be wild, lose control
Ex: Lena totally WENT BANANAS when student asked her about the class schedule.
30
Q

psyched up!

A

ready and excited

Ex: After reading Kien Tran’s handbook, many are PSYCHED UP for the next big challenge!

31
Q

no-brainer

A

sth that is extremely easy to do or too obvious

Ex: Hacking the U.S. government’s website is a challenge to me but is a NO-BRAINER to some famous hackers.

32
Q

cut and dry

A

too obvious and clear, no further explanations required
Ex: I don’t know why I failed so many time just to make a cake although the instructions are very CUT AND DRY. I’m going to GO BANANAS!

33
Q

tag along

A

to follow or go with s.o
Ex: Linh is going to CATCH A MOVIE later today and I really want to TAG ALONG but am not really sure if she will be happy if I do.

34
Q

bad-mouth

A

say bad things about

Ex: If you don’t like s.o, just ignore him or her. It’s not a good idea to BAD-MOUTH other people.

35
Q

pump iron

A 
lift weight (in the gym)
Ex: After work, I have no energy left to PUMP SOME IRON. But I used to PUMP IRON in the gym all the time.
36
Q

on fire

A

doing so great that nobody is able to stop him/her
Ex: My friend’s totally ON FIRE after she read my IELTS handbook. She is doing so much better than anyone else now and looks like she’s not gonna stop. She told me she got PSYCHED UP every time after reading that handbook.

37
Q

leave me high and dry

A

leave me alone to do all the work, no help at all
Ex: I got a bad experience with my professor when she LEFT ME HIGH AND DRY with all the new learning materials that she never explained in class. Let’s face it, those are not really CUT AND DRY for me to self-study. And I think I’m ON THE VERGE OF failing her class.

38
Q

turn me off

A

disappoint, disgust

Ex: I kinda like a girl named XYZW, but the fact that she never takes a shower really TURNS ME OFF.

39
Q

make ends meet

A

earn just enough money to pay the bills (expenses) and there is almost no money left after that
Ex: If you are earning $50,000 per year, well you’re good. But if you only earn $30,000, you may just MAKE ENDS MEET. If you only earn less than that, you’re ON THE VERGE OF poverty.

40
Q

money talks

A

money can make your problems go away
Ex: In Vietnam, whenever you get caught by the police, just remember MONEY TALKS. It also works for hospital, or even in school. You want to get high marks? Well, MONEY TALKS.

41
Q

early birds

A

those who come earliest (than expected)
Ex: Parking fee for EARLY BIRDS is $10 per hour. Regular fee is $5. Unless you really need to, don’t come too early. It’s a RIP-OFF, i know.

42
Q

double-check

A

check again to make sure
Ex: Before going to the CFA testing center, you need to DOUBLECHECK to see if you forget the financial calculator. Otherwise, the consequence would be CATASTROPHIC. If you can, have s.o TAG ALONG with you to make sure everything’s right.

43
Q

on the same page

A

seeing things the same way, in agreement!
Ex: After figuring out that my friend is also a stock trader, I know that we are ON THE SAME PAGE. He knows what I know and vice versa. We can work extremely well with each other.

44
Q

in the same boat

A

in the same trouble, have the same problem or situation
Ex: After figuring out that Linh was RIPPED OFF when she paid $3,000 for an useless bike, I feel like we’re IN THE SAME BOAT as I also paid around $4,000 for a made-in-china bike. We had the same situation.

45
Q

fill me in

A 
tell me more (about stuff I've missed)
Ex: I was sleeping during class so my classmate had to FILL ME IN after we got home. And she told me there was nothing special. The professor just wanted to give us a HEADS-UP on some new special events.
46
Q

filthy rich

A

super rich
Ex: Doctors and lawyers make around $200 per hour. They’re HANDS DOWN FILTHY RICH. But before getting there, they definitely have to study DAY IN DAY OUT.

47
Q

Do you follow me?

A

Do you understand what I’ve said so far?
Ex: After reading all the idioms and phrases, DO YOU STILL FOLLOW ME?
Yes? Good, we should continue! And STEP UP OUR GAMES.

48
Q

for good

A

forever
Ex: If you win the lottery, do you think you will change your life BIG TIME FOR GOOD?
NOT SO FAST, many people get poorer after spending all the money. They can’t even MAKE ENDS MEET.

49
Q

freebie

A

free stuff
Ex: People who are just MAKING ENDS MEET tend to seek FREEBIE. Some FREEBIES are worthless. But some of them do give people BANG FOR THE BUCK.

50
Q

watch out

A

be cautious
Ex: Canada’s GDP is slowing down and could be ON THE VERGE OF a recession. Better WATCH OUT. The new recession might just be AROUND THE CORNER.

51
Q

weed out

A

get rid of, remove
Ex: It’s easy to get through Accounting Basic. But the Advanced Accounting course is really the one that WEEDS OUT lots of lazy students who GOOF OFF all the time.

52
Q

well taken

A

true, significant

Ex: Practice always leads to success is such a WELL TAKEN statement. I’M REALLY BUYING IT.

53
Q

out of the woods

A

out of danger
Ex: After the exam, people tend to think they’re OUT OF THE WOODS. But the new semester is coming and we don’t know what’s gonna happen. Let’s see HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

54
Q

nest eggs

A

money for retirement, savings
Ex: If you put 10% of your income into your NEST EGGS and earn compound interest. You may not be FILTHY RICH but you won’t have to MAKE ENDS MEET when you retire.

55
Q

no-frills

A

inexpensive, no luxury, just basic

Ex: It doesn’t FIT INTO THE PICTURE when some FILTHY RICH guys driving NO-FRILLS cars

56
Q

I’m not just saying that

A

I’m serious
Ex: I bought a NO-FRILLS backpack last week and I think I PULL OFF the best deal because it’s IN MINT CONDITION. I love my life and I’M NOT JUST SAYING THAT. DO YOU FOLLOW ME?

57
Q

no questions asked

A

Yes, no question asked
Ex: _ Do you want a credit card?
_ Just give us your student ID and we’ll sign up for you, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. And WE’RE NOT JUST SAYING THAT!

58
Q

there’s no truth to it

A

Create a credit card with just student ID and NO QUESTIONS ASKED? Come on, it’s a scam. THERE’S NO TRUTH TO IT. I WASN’T BORN YESTERDAY.

59
Q

a slim chance

A

very unlikely to happen

Ex: There is a SLIM CHANCE Kien will be the next president. If that happens, then we’ll all CLAM UP.

60
Q

a steal

A

a bargain, sth ridiculously underpriced
Ex: $5 for a printer is A STEAL. But THERE’S A VERY SLIM CHANCE that you will find a good one. DOUBLECHECK everything before you make the final decision.

61
Q

all ears

A

listening carefully

Ex: Whenever Obama says anything, people are ALL EARS. He really PULLS OFF his charisma and makes people like him.

62
Q

down the road

A

in the future

Ex: 1 year DOWN THE ROAD, Obama will leave the White House. Let’s see HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

63
Q

play it safe

A

stay careful and not taking any chance
Ex: Old people tend to PLAY IT SAFE with their money. They don’t want to risk losing the value of their NEST EGG because if sth bad happens, it’ll take long for them to RECOUP all the lost money.

64
Q

politically correct

A

appropriate (words)
Ex: Saying “I don’t care” is POLITICALLY CORRECT. Saying “I don’t give a shit” isn’t. Be careful with your word use and I’M NOT JUST SAYING THAT.

65
Q

pop up

A

show up, appear
Ex: The name Donald Trump POPS UP quite often recently because he’s running for the president of the United States. I like him because he’s taking risk and NOT PLAYING IT SAFE.

66
Q

psyched out

A

lose confidence

Ex: My boss is MAKING A FUSS over a new employee, making him PSYCHED OUT. Everybody’s ON THEIR TOES.

67
Q

fuss over

A

care too much for, pay too much attention to

Ex: Linh just bought a new expensive phone and she’s FUSSING OVER it DAY IN DAY OUT.

68
Q

get down to business

A

not talking about sth else, just talking and doing business
Ex: Get PSYCHED UP and GET DOWN TO BUSINESS because everything is now CUT AND DRY. If we need to work hard to STEP UP OUR GAME.

69
Q

get off the ground

A

start successfully!

Ex: Let’s GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. I want our business to GET OFF THE GROUND so we can earn at least $5,000/ month.

70
Q

get on my nerves

A

bother
Ex: My brother GETS ON MY NERVES sometimes when he says inappropriate stuff in the public and I usually MAKE A FUSS about it.

71
Q

screw up

A

cannot handle a situation properly, mess up
Ex: If you still GOOF OFF, you’ll SCREW UP on the exam. So better PULL AN ALL NIGHTER to review all chapters so you can pump up some grades.

English words (3 decks)

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