Fixed Phrases/Idioms Flashcards
1
Q
one in every three/two in every hundred etc
A
used to show how common something is
ex. In Britain, one in every three marriages now ends in divorce.
2
Q
a great/good deal of
A
a large quantity of something (a lot)
ex. It took a great deal of time and effort.
3
Q
apart/aside from
A
except for
ex. We didn’t see anyone all day, apart from a couple of kids on the beach.
4
Q
by/in virtue of
A
by means of, or as a result of something
ex. She became a British resident by virtue of her marriage.
5
Q
to provide (someone) with (something)
A
to give something to someone or make it available to them, because they need it or want it
ex. The project is designed to provide young people with work.
6
Q
to experiment with/on
A
a scientific test done to find out how something reacts under certain conditions, or to find out if a particular idea is true
ex. experiments with alcohol-fuelled cars
experiments on sleep deprivation
7
Q
to miss out on (something)
A
to lose the chance to do something / get something / achieve something
ex.
8
Q
in fact
A
actually
ex. He was in fact near death by the time they reached him.
9
Q
in the habit of
A
if you are in the habit of doing something, you do it regularly or often
ex. They were in the habit of giving two or three dinner parties a month.
10
Q
have a good chance of
A
there is strong likelihood / possibility of doing something or of something happening
ex. There’s a good chance (that) I’ll have this essay finished by tomorrow.
11
Q
it goes without saying
A
something is so obvious that it
need not be said
ex. Of course, it goes without saying that you’ll be paid for the extra hours you work
12
Q
something strikes somebody as (being)
A
to make someone have a particular opinion or feeling
ex. He didn’t strike me as being the jealous sort
13
Q
struggle to (verb), let alone
A
not to mention
ex. He was incapable of leading a bowling team, let alone a country
14
Q
such was (noun) that
A
ex. Such was the force of the blast, that the car was blown right across the street
15
Q
to congratulate on
A
ex. Congratulations on winning the lottery!
16
Q
it would appear that
A
it seems
ex. It would appear that the love is reciprocal.
17
Q
turn up at (something)
A
arrive
ex. I am sorry for not turning up at the meeting.
18
Q
in case
A
if it is true that
ex. We take gloves, in case it is cold
19
Q
symptomatic of (something)
A
serving as a symptom or sign, especially of something undesirable
ex. These difficulties are symptomatic of fundamental problems
20
Q
even so
A
in spite of that; nevertheless
ex. It was not the most exciting of places, but even so I was having a good time
21
Q
reputation for (being)
A
ex. The company has a reputation for excellent customer care
22
Q
as if
A
as would be the case if
ex. She behaved as if he wasn’t there
23
Q
(a) little chance of
A
a small possibility
ex. There’s still a little chance of winning the contest.
24
Q
it made a change to (verb)
A
to become different
ex. It made a change to learn something useful from TV last night.
25
regret (noun/gerund)
ex. She regretted not getting along better with her father.
26
get along
have a harmonious or friendly relationship.
| ex. They seem to get along pretty well
27
on time/in time
at a particular designated time/early enough
28
come to terms with the fact
to accept an unpleasant or sad situation and no longer feel upset or angry about it
ex. She finally came to terms with the fact that she would never see him again.
29
(prices/taxes) have gone though the roof
has been a big raise
| ex. Property taxes have gone though the roof in the last year.
30
make no/a secret of something
To try to hide something; to keep something secret
| ex. He make no secret of the fact that he has been married before.
31
to be on speaking terms
friendly enough to talk
| ex. We had an argument, but we’re back on speaking terms now.
32
tell (someone) apart
to recognize the difference between people or things that are similar
ex. I cannot tell them apart.
33
on the point of
was about to do something
| ex. As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.
34
bring to (someone's) attention
to make someone aware of (something)
| ex. It has been brought to my attention that the meeting has been canceled.
35
take (no) notice of something
to give something your attention
| ex. She took no notice of the fact that she is unsuitable.
36
no sooner had (subj) (verb past) than
one thing happens immediately after another thing
| ex. No sooner had they started their walk than it started to rain.
37
put (something) down to (something)
you think it has happened for that reason (attributed)
| ex. I put his irritability down to tiredness.
38
to live to up to (someone's) expectations
to do as well as someone expects one to do
| ex. He found it hard to live up to his parents' expectations.
39
only after (subj. + verb) to be + subj.
ex. Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken
40
let (someone) out of (your) sight
in a place that you cannot see from where you are
| ex. Don’t let the kids out of your sight for a second.
41
to mistake (someone) for (someone)
to confuse someone with someone else
| ex. I'm sorry. I mistook you for John.
42
predisposition to/towards (something)
the state of being likely to behave in a particular way or to suffer from a particular disease
ex. There is evidence that a predisposition to(wards) asthma runs in families.
43
thanks to (someone) that (verb)
to tell someone that you are grateful for something
| ex. It was thanks to her that I continued my studies.
44
to take offence at (something)
to become angry or upset by something that another person has said or done
ex. She takes offense at any criticism.
45
by far
undoubtely
| ex. This was by far the largest city in the area
46
entitled to (something)
to give someone the right to do something
| ex. The people who are entitled to vote should be aware of that fact
47
come as no/a surprise (something)
be unexpected
| ex. The letter offering me a job came as a total surprise
48
at the height of (something)
at the most advanced or extreme point of (something)
| ex. He was at the height of his fame when he died.
49
whatsover
at all
| ex. I can honestly say that I have no interest whatsoever in the British royal family.
50
prompt to do (something)
to make them decide to do it (cause)
| ex. What prompted you to say that?
51
it was with the excitement that (verb)
ex. It was with excitement that I signed the contract.
52
make/take a decision
choose, decide
| ex. He took the decision to take the job.
53
to be taken in by (something)
to be fooled, cheated, or beguiled (by someone or something).
ex. It galls me how many people are taken in by companies' claims that "the customer matters most."
54
much to (someone's) delight/surpise/amazement...
used for saying that something happens that surprises, annoys etc someone a lot
ex. Much to my surprise, they offered me a £4,000 scholarship.
55
to insist on (something)
ex. She insists on doing everything her own way.
56
to pull down
to destroy something, esp. a building
| ex. Many of those old buildings will soon be pulled down.
57
to be liable to (verb)
likely to do, happen, or experience something
| ex. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’re liable to get sick.
58
to be with regret that (something)
ex. It is with regret that we have to inform you didn't get the job
59
get to the stage when
ex. I got to the stage when I didn't want to go there anymore.
60
take (someone's) mind off
to stop you from worrying or thinking about a problem or pain
ex. The good thing about running is that it takes my mind off any problems I have.
61
to be alleged to (have + verb)
to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof
ex. She is alleged to have been at the centre of an international drug ring
62
if it hadn't been for (someone or something)
in the absence of (something or someone)
| ex. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't be where I am today.
63
to fall short of (something)
fail to meet an expectation or standard
| ex. On the other hand, if the firm falls short of covering its fixed costs, a loss will be incurred.
64
to make up
1. compose or constitute a whole
ex. women make up 56 percent of the student body
2. invent a story or plan.
ex. she enjoyed making up fairy tales
65
take (something) into account
to consider or remember something when judging a situation
| ex. A good architect takes into account the building's surroundings.
66
take on
1. engage an employee
ex. They are not taking on any female employee.
2. be willing or ready to meet an adversary or opponent/compete against
ex. This evening Manchester United take on Barcelona.
67
to undertake (something)
commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility)
ex. a firm of builders undertook the construction work
68
to be alone in (doing) (something)
to be the only person that does something
| ex. He was not alone in being lied about that.
69
to be better-known for (something) than (something)
more familiar or renowned than the other of two
| ex. She is better-known for her relationships than her albums.
70
to be led to believe
To cause one to believe something, especially if it is untrue
ex. He led us to believe he had a graduate degree in economics. Turns out he didn't even graduate from high school.
71
would/do you mind (verb + ing)
to ask people politely to do things
| ex. Would you mind opening the window, please?
72
so/in order that
to talk about the purpose
| ex. We left a message with his neighbour so that he would know we’d called.
73
as far as one can tell
judging from the available information.
| ex. The work will take about six weeks, as far as I can tell
74
to put your feet up
to relax, especially by sitting with your feet supported above the ground
ex. You go home and put your feet up.
75
to be characterized by (something)
to be characterized by a particular feature or quality
| ex. The 1980s were characterized by high inflation and high unemployment.
76
call for
require, demand, need
| ex. Skill and initiative are called for in this job.
77
be keen on (something)
interested in something and enjoying it, especially an activity that you do often
ex. He’s also very keen on modern painters.
78
to give (someone) a ring
to telephone, or contact
| ex. Give me a ring tomorrow and we’ll arrange something for this weekend.
79
suggest + verb. ing
ex. She suggested travelling together for safety since the area was so dangerous
80
had better
to talk about actions we think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation
ex. It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.
81
to be fed up with
to be bothered and angry by someone/something
| ex. My wife is fed up with our car, but we just can't afford a new one.
82
get on to (someone)
you contact them in order to ask them to do something or to give them some information
ex. I got on to him and explained some of the things I had been thinking of.
83
give a thought to (something)
To consider, reflect upon, or think hard about something
ex. Marian gave some thought to the company's excess costs and determined that the number of employees had to be reduced for them to survive.
84
burst into laughter/tears
ex. When she saw him, she burst into tears
85
take (something/someone) for granted
1. to expect someone or something to be always available to serve in some way without thanks or recognition, or undervalue/underestimate
ex. I took it for granted that they'd offer to pay for their share but I was wrong
2. assume that something is true without questioning it.
ex. George had taken it for granted that they'd get married
86
make up your mind about/to (something)/come to a decision
ex. I haven't made up my mind where to go yet.
87
brush up (something)
improve something already learnt, but partly fotgotten
| ex. You’d better brush up on your French before going to Paris
88
put (someone) in the picture about (something)
To keep someone informed, aware, or up to date (about something)
ex. His lawyer put him in the picture about what had happened since his arrest.
89
lay claim to
to say that something belongs to you or say that you deserve something
ex. No one has laid claim to the property.
90
stand a chance
to have a chance of success:
| ex. I think she stands a good chance of winning the election.
91
stand trial for/on
to be brought to a court of law to have your case examined and judged
ex. Baya, for his part, said he was ready to stand trial, but then he left the country.
92
take into consideration
ex. Results of the study should be taken into consideration before the medication is prescribed to patients.
93
need for (exc. in need of)
ex. There is an urgent need for freshwater.
94
advertisement for
ex. a television/newspaper advertisement for a new car
95
make of
to have or form an opinion about (something or someone)
| ex. What do you make of this message?
96
catch up on (something)
to get the latest information
| ex. He reads the newspaper on Sunday mornings to catch up on the news
97
catch on
(of practice or fashion) become popular
| ex. No one expected that the new fashion would catch on as quickly as it has.
98
to swell
to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount
ex. The group recruited more members, swelling its ranks to more than 1.3 million.
99
to mushroom
increase, spread, or develop rapidly
| ex. Environmental concern mushroomed in the 1960s
100
to convey
transport or carry to a place
| ex. Pipes were laid to convey water to the house
101
to follow suit
to do the same thing
| ex. When one airline reduces its ticket prices, the rest usually follow suit.
102
to deprive
prevent (a person or place) from having or using something, to dispossess
ex. The princess is too kind to wish to deprive me of the pleasure of spending the evening with you.
103
hard done by
harshly or unfairly treated
| ex. The hall porter was feeling hard done by at having to extend his shift.
104
embezzlement
theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer; financial fraud
ex. The law student now had a secure job with the firm and any future episodes of embezzlement had been discouraged.
