Expressions Flashcards
Fast and loose
To act in a deceitful way
Level the playing field
To make a situation fair for all
Razed to the ground
Destroyed completely
Wreak havoc
Inflict devastation
Due diligence
Taking proper precautions to ensure a positive outcome in business or finance
Laughing stock
The subject of ridicule
Love lost
There is ill between two people or groups
Whets my appetite
To increase desire
Save face
Avoiding humiliation or loss of reputation
Cease-and-desist
Official order to stop doing something
All told
Taking everything into account
Gainfully employed
To have consistent work and income
Head over heels
To be madly in love
Mind’s eye
In one’s imagination
Hair’s breadth
A very small distance
Case in point
A good example of something
By and by
Before long or eventually
Behoove
To be worthwhile or advantageous
Punt
To move to a later time.
For example: Let’s punt this story to next sprint
Ballpark
Approximation/around.
For example: We’re expecting to make somewhere in the ballpark of a million dollars
Pushback
Resistance.
For example: We’re getting a lot of pushback about the idea.
Flip
To send/forward
For example: Can you flip me that email?
Drill down
Look into something/get more details.
For example: Can you drill down into what happened?
Parking lot a conversation
Stop discussing a topic and make a note to discuss later or at another time.
For example: Can we parking lot this?
Get the ball rolling
To start something.
For example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this initiative
Loop in
Bring someone into the conversation/give someone information.
For example: Can you loop in Bob to the conversation?
Tag on
To add something
For example: Let’s tag this work on to the story
Align
To agree on something
For example: Are we all aligned on the goal?
Swamped
Overwhelmed/ a lot of work.
For example: I’m really swamped right now. Can we do this tomorrow?
Bandwidth
Ability/manpower
For example: Do we have the bandwidth to do this right now?
Buy in
To get agreement
For example: Do we have buy in to do this?
Heads up
Letting you know something.
For example: Heads up that there’s going to be a meeting tomorrow
30,000 feet
General/high level overview.
For example: Can you give me the 30,000 feet of this?
Up to speed
To catch up on knowledge/be updated
For example: I need to be up to speed by tomorrow on how to do this.
Beck and call
To be at one’s constant service
Beyond reproach
Something is perfect and can’t be criticized
Fell swoop
In a single action or effort
Put a sock in it
Stop talking
Pin someone down
to force someone to be specific or make his or her intentions known, esp. by asking a lot of questions.
A gentleman and a scholar
Podge
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.”
Moot point
A debate of no practical value because it’s hypothetical
Rabble-rousing
Stirring up anger or violence
To keep someone IN the loop
To keep someone posted
To be out of the loop
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”.
To be in the dark
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”.
To have the floor
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”.
To beat around the bush
To speak vaguely or euphemistically so as to avoid talking directly about an unpleasant or sensitive topic. Primarily heard in US.
To cut to the chase
To reach the most important points quickly. This phrase is often used as an imperative.
To touch base (with someone)
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”.
To see eye to eye
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".
Drop someone a line
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”.
Hear (something) through the grapevine
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.”
Sugarcoat (something)
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”.
Learn the ropes
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".
Show (one) the ropes
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?
Add my two cents
Give my opinion when no one asked for it
Right off the bat
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”.
Get down to business
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?”
Scot-free
To not receive the punishment deserved
Chock-full
Something that is full to overflowing
New lease on life
A fresh start
Treasure trove
A collection of valuable things
Grin and bear it
Endure something unpleasant with good humor
Fast and loose
Act in a deceitful way
Much ado about nothing
Fussing over something of little importance
Sounded out
To have gathered the opinion of others
Broach the subject
Bring up the subject
Jack-of-all-trades
Having many skills
Bogged down
To be prevented from making progress
Doe-eyed
Someone with large, gentle eyes and a look of innocence
Neither here nor there
Of no consequence
All for naught
Something was done all for nothing
Deep-seated
Something firmly established or fixed in place
Leeway
To have more flexibility or freedom to so something the way you wanted
Band together
To form a group for a purpose
Pass muster
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”.
Rear its ugly head
Something unpleasant that’s hidden and suddenly appears
Iron out the differences
Talk it out
Out and about
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.
I have bigger fish to fry
I have more important things to do
I have to step out of the meeting for a biobreak
I have to leave the meeting momentarily
You BRING OUT the best in me
Sacas lo mejor de mí
On the MEND
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
A head of cabbage
Una cabeza de repollo
A tube of toothpaste
Una pasta de dientes
A head of garlic
Una cabeza de ajo
A clove of garlic
Un gajo de ajo
A hand of bananas
Un ramo de banano
Bereft of hope
Hopeless
Desprovisto de esperanza
Sin esperanza
Wring (one’s) hands
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.
Talk with many digressions
To argue round and round
Beat around the bush
Another string to (one’s) bow
An additional skill, option or ability available to one
To have a bee in (one’s) bonnet
To talk incessantly about something one thinks is important (often in spite of other’s disinterest).
Knee-deep in (something)
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”.
Let down (one’s) hair
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!”
