English slang 001 Flashcards
spill the beans
to tell something that shouldn’t be told; to disclose something confidential:
● He spilled the beans, and she knew all about the party in advance.
short on cash
To be short on cash means not to have much money:
● Unfortunately, I’m short on cash and so I can’t afford to buy that car.
to know something like the back of your hand
to be familiar with a place or route:
● Ashley knows Los Angeles like the back of her hand, so you can ask her about interesting places to visit.
bear with me
/ber/
to ask someone to patiently wait as you finish a task or something you are doing:
● If you’ll just bear with me for a moment, I’ll find you a copy of the drawings.
● Let me explain it to you. This will be a little bit technical, so bear with me.
be crawling with something
to be completely covered with or full of a particular type of thing:
● After the bomb scare, the airport was crawling with police.
● The bread they gave us was crawling with ants and completely inedible.
● The city is absolutely crawling with stray cats.
● Their homes have no running water and the walls are crawling with termites.
be fit as a fiddle
to be very healthy and strong:
● My grandmother’s 89, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.
a dime a dozen
common and not special:
● Plastic toys like this are a dime a dozen (=they are common and not special).
sit tight
1) to stay where you are:
● You’d better sit tight and I’ll call the doctor.
● You sit tight, and I’ll go get help.
2) to refuse to change your mind:
● My parents tried to persuade me not to go alone, but I sat tight.
pitch in
to start to do something as part of a group, especially something helpful:
● If we all pitch in together, it shouldn’t take too long.
● When I bought this house, all my friends pitched in to help fix it up.
● My brother pitched in with an offer of help.
blow off steam
to do or say something that helps you to get rid of anger, strong feelings or energy:
● Call me any time you need to blow off some steam.
You can say that again!
It means I completely agree with you!
- It’s really hot today!
- You can say it again!
be at the top of your game
(be on top of your game)
to be performing extremely well in a sport, job, etc. so that you could not perform any better:
● I want to beat Andy when he’s at the top of his game.
● The pitcher is completely on top of his game tonight—the batters barely stand a chance to get a hit.
● A singer at the top of her game when performing before her hometown audience.
hit the sack
to go to bed in order to sleep:
● I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I’ll hit the sack.
get/start the ball rolling
to make something new begin or happen:
● We have to get the ball rolling on this project soon.
ride shotgun
ride shotgun means to ride in the seat next to the driver
hit the spot
to be exactly what is needed:
● That bacon sandwich really hit the spot!
● Expect this film to hit the spot.
hit the books
hit the books means to study hard:
● I have to hit the books this weekend — I have two exams next week.
● I can’t go out tonight. I need to hit the books.
let the cat out of the bag
to allow a secret to be known, usually without intending to:
● I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.
be over the moon
to be very pleased or happy:
● She was over the moon about/with her new bike.
run out the door
to leave in a hurry:
I’m just about to run out the door.
