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Upper Intermediate English > Expressions > Flashcards

Expressions Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Fast and loose

A

To act in a deceitful way

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2
Q

Level the playing field

A

To make a situation fair for all

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3
Q

Razed to the ground

A

Destroyed completely

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4
Q

Wreak havoc

A

Inflict devastation

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5
Q

Due diligence

A

Taking proper precautions to ensure a positive outcome in business or finance

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6
Q

Laughing stock

A

The subject of ridicule

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7
Q

Love lost

A

There is ill between two people or groups

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8
Q

Whets my appetite

A

To increase desire

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9
Q

Save face

A

Avoiding humiliation or loss of reputation

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10
Q

Cease-and-desist

A

Official order to stop doing something

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11
Q

All told

A

Taking everything into account

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12
Q

Gainfully employed

A

To have consistent work and income

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13
Q

Head over heels

A

To be madly in love

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14
Q

Mind’s eye

A

In one’s imagination

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15
Q

Hair’s breadth

A

A very small distance

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16
Q

Case in point

A

A good example of something

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17
Q

By and by

A

Before long or eventually

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18
Q

Behoove

A

To be worthwhile or advantageous

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19
Q

Punt

A

To move to a later time.

For example: Let’s punt this story to next sprint

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20
Q

Ballpark

A

Approximation/around.

For example: We’re expecting to make somewhere in the ballpark of a million dollars

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21
Q

Pushback

A

Resistance.

For example: We’re getting a lot of pushback about the idea.

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22
Q

Flip

A

To send/forward

For example: Can you flip me that email?

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23
Q

Drill down

A

Look into something/get more details.

For example: Can you drill down into what happened?

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24
Q

Parking lot a conversation

A

Stop discussing a topic and make a note to discuss later or at another time.
For example: Can we parking lot this?

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25
Q

Get the ball rolling

A

To start something.

For example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this initiative

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26
Q

Loop in

A

Bring someone into the conversation/give someone information.
For example: Can you loop in Bob to the conversation?

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27
Q

Tag on

A

To add something

For example: Let’s tag this work on to the story

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28
Q

Align

A

To agree on something

For example: Are we all aligned on the goal?

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29
Q

Swamped

A

Overwhelmed/ a lot of work.

For example: I’m really swamped right now. Can we do this tomorrow?

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30
Q

Bandwidth

A

Ability/manpower

For example: Do we have the bandwidth to do this right now?

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31
Q

Buy in

A

To get agreement

For example: Do we have buy in to do this?

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32
Q

Heads up

A

Letting you know something.

For example: Heads up that there’s going to be a meeting tomorrow

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33
Q

30,000 feet

A

General/high level overview.

For example: Can you give me the 30,000 feet of this?

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34
Q

Up to speed

A

To catch up on knowledge/be updated

For example: I need to be up to speed by tomorrow on how to do this.

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35
Q

Beck and call

A

To be at one’s constant service

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36
Q

Beyond reproach

A

Something is perfect and can’t be criticized

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37
Q

Fell swoop

A

In a single action or effort

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38
Q

Put a sock in it

A

Stop talking

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39
Q

Pin someone down

A

to force someone to be specific or make his or her intentions known, esp. by asking a lot of questions.

40
Q

A gentleman and a scholar

Podge

A

A complimentary term for a person, especially one who has done you a favor. Back in the era when courteous behavior and academic achievement were prized far more highly than they are today, acknowledging a kindness, such as holding the door or relinquishing a place on line so that someone else could get a taxi, would be met with a smile, a nod, and the phrase, “You are a scholar and a gentleman.”

41
Q

Moot point

A

A debate of no practical value because it’s hypothetical

42
Q

Rabble-rousing

A

Stirring up anger or violence

43
Q

To keep someone IN the loop

A

To keep someone posted

44
Q

To be out of the loop

A

Not privy to the most up-to-date information.

“I’m sorry, what is this we’re discussing? I’m a little out of the loop”.

45
Q

To be in the dark

A

To not know something that other people do.

“Somehow, everyone knew that Alicia had quit school except for me—I was totally in the dark”.

46
Q

To have the floor

A

To have the right or opportunity to speak in a group, especially at a formal event or gathering.
“Please, Dr. Dunstaple, your colleague has the floor. You’ll have the opportunity to reply when he has finished speaking”.

47
Q

To beat around the bush

A

To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic. Primarily heard in US.

48
Q

To cut to the chase

A

To reach the most important points quickly. This phrase is often used as an imperative.

49
Q

To touch base (with someone)

A

To contact someone to update them or receive an update from them.
“I was just calling to touch base since it’s been a few weeks since we last spoke”.

50
Q

To see eye to eye

A 
To agree (with someone); to share the same position or opinion (as someone else).
"His mother and I don't see eye to eye about his decision to drop out of college".
51
Q

Drop someone a line

A

To contact someone, usually with a letter, note, or phone call.
“I know you’ll be busy enjoying yourself, but please, drop me a line on your trip”.
“I’ll drop you a line once I get settled in at school”.

52
Q

Hear (something) through the grapevine

A

To hear or learn of something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip.
“I heard through the grapevine that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce”.
“A: “How do you know the company is going bust?” B: “I heard it through the grapevine.”

53
Q

Sugarcoat (something)

A

To say, explain, or present something in a manner that is easier to accept, understand, cope with, or endure.
“Don’t sugarcoat it for me, Doc—is my wife going to make it?”
“My grandmother was never one to sugarcoat her criticisms. If she thought you had messed up, she would tell you in no uncertain terms”.

54
Q

Learn the ropes

A 
To learn or understand the basic details of how to do or perform a job, task, or activity.
"We have a few high-priority projects we need to get done now, so you'll need to learn the ropes on your own".
"This class is intense! They don't even give you a chance to learn the ropes before they throw an exam at you".
55
Q

Show (one) the ropes

A

To explain or demonstrate to one how to do or perform a job, task, or activity.
“I know there’s a lot to take in, but your partner has been here for over 10 years and will show you the ropes”.
“This class is intense! You’re expected to know how to do everything from day one, without anyone showing you the ropes”.
Can you show me the ropes? = Can you teach me?

56
Q

Add my two cents

A

Give my opinion when no one asked for it

57
Q

Right off the bat

A

Immediately; at once; without delay.
“Right off the bat, I could tell that the plan had no chance of success”.
“Sarah’s parents took to her new girlfriend right off the bat”.

58
Q

Get down to business

A

To begin doing something with the seriousness or determination the action requires; to begin doing what needs to be done.
“OK, let’s quit fooling around and get down to business”.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our offices. Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

59
Q

Scot-free

A

To not receive the punishment deserved

60
Q

Chock-full

A

Something that is full to overflowing

61
Q

New lease on life

A

A fresh start

62
Q

Treasure trove

A

A collection of valuable things

63
Q

Grin and bear it

A

Endure something unpleasant with good humor

64
Q

Fast and loose

A

Act in a deceitful way

65
Q

Much ado about nothing

A

Fussing over something of little importance

66
Q

Sounded out

A

To have gathered the opinion of others

67
Q

Broach the subject

A

Bring up the subject

68
Q

Jack-of-all-trades

A

Having many skills

69
Q

Bogged down

A

To be prevented from making progress

70
Q

Doe-eyed

A

Someone with large, gentle eyes and a look of innocence

71
Q

Neither here nor there

A

Of no consequence

72
Q

All for naught

A

Something was done all for nothing

73
Q

Deep-seated

A

Something firmly established or fixed in place

74
Q

Leeway

A

To have more flexibility or freedom to so something the way you wanted

75
Q

Band together

A

To form a group for a purpose

76
Q

Pass muster

A

Measure up to a certain standard

To be accepted as adequate; to meet the minimum or standard requirement.
“I gave the interview my best, but I guess I didn’t pass muster”.
“There are so many typos and structural problems—there’s no way this report will pass muster with the boss”.

77
Q

Rear its ugly head

A

Something unpleasant that’s hidden and suddenly appears

78
Q

Iron out the differences

A

Talk it out

79
Q

Out and about

A

Doing things outside from the house.
“I’m just out and about with Mary if you want to come join us”.
“It’s nice to be out and about after being bedridden for so long”.
Able to go outside again after an illness.

80
Q

I have bigger fish to fry

A

I have more important things to do

81
Q

I have to step out of the meeting for a biobreak

A

I have to leave the meeting momentarily

82
Q

You BRING OUT the best in me

A

Sacas lo mejor de mí

83
Q

On the MEND

A

Recovering
She was in hospital for a month after the crash, but now she is finally on the mend.
To repair something that’s broken

84
Q

A head of cabbage

A

Una cabeza de repollo

85
Q

A tube of toothpaste

A

Una pasta de dientes

86
Q

A head of garlic

A

Una cabeza de ajo

87
Q

A clove of garlic

A

Un gajo de ajo

88
Q

A hand of bananas

A

Un ramo de banano

89
Q

Bereft of hope

A

Hopeless
Desprovisto de esperanza
Sin esperanza

90
Q

Wring (one’s) hands

A

To display one’s worries about something but not act to address it.
To twist and rub your hands together because you are very worried, upset or anxious.

91
Q

Talk with many digressions

To argue round and round

A

Beat around the bush

92
Q

Another string to (one’s) bow

A

An additional skill, option or ability available to one

93
Q

To have a bee in (one’s) bonnet

A

To talk incessantly about something one thinks is important (often in spite of other’s disinterest).

94
Q

Knee-deep in (something)

A

Having a plentiful or excessive amount or number of something.
“I’m always knee-deep in tests and book reports to grade at the end of the semester”.
“Our office has been knee-deep in clothing and toys donated by people around the city for our charity drive”.

Mired in or overwhelmed by something very difficult or troublesome.
“The company is knee-deep in scandal after an undercover journalist exposed its CEO’s practice of bribing politicians”.
“We’re going to end up knee-deep in debt if our next product isn’t a major success”.

95
Q

Let down (one’s) hair

A

To cease acting formally or conservatively; to let go of one’s inhibitions or reservations.
“Come on, Jim, this is a party! Let down your hair and go a little wild!”

Upper Intermediate English (13 decks)

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