General Flashcards
to be useful
to come in handy
I’ll put these bottles in the cupboard they might come in handy some day.
run/go like clockwork The party went like clockwork.
to happen exactly as planned, without any trouble (When things go right)
to come in handy
I’ll put these bottles in the cupboard they might come in handy some day.
to be useful
to happen exactly as planned, without any trouble (When things go right)
run/go like clockwork The party went like clockwork.
the rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to underscore that the rule exists
the exception proves the rule
I know that what I have said doesn’t apply to him, but I think in this case the exception proves the rule.
the exception proves the rule
I know that what I have said doesn’t apply to him, but I think in this case the exception proves the rule.
the rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to underscore that the rule exists
very fast
as quick as lightning
The dog grabbed the meat and was out of the shop as quick as a lightning.
as quick as lightning
The dog grabbed the meat and was out of the shop as quick as a lightning.
very fast
mark something up / down
This coat has been marked down from $10 to $8.
to reduce or raise the price of something
to reduce or raise the price of something
mark something up / down
This coat has been marked down from $10 to $8.
be at the bottom of
What’s at the bottom of these nasty rumours?
to be a cause of something
usually bad things
to be a cause of something usually something bad
be at the bottom of
What’s at the bottom of these nasty rumours? “
until / till / to the bitter end
The play was very boring, but we stayed until the bitter end.
to the limit of one’s efforts to the last extremit
**to the limit of one’s efforts to the last extremit **
until / till / to the bitter end
The play was very boring, but we stayed until the bitter end.
have the best of both worlds
Women with children who have a job they can do at home are often thought to have the best of both worlds.
to have the best aspects of one choice and the best aspects of another choice when you have been asked to select between two choices
to have the best aspects of one choice and the best aspects of another choice when you have been asked to select between two choices
have the best of both worlds
Women with children who have a job they can do at home are often thought to have the best of both worlds. “
You’re talented, young, healthy and wealthy the world’s your oyster!
the world is his oyster
about someone who is very talented and can take up the whole world quite easily;
the world is his oyster
You’re talented, young, healthy and wealthy the world’s your oyster!
about someone who is very talented and can take up the whole world quite easily;
rule of thumb
I usually work by rule of thumb.
a means of estimation made according to a rough and ready practical rule, not based on science or exact measurement;
a means of estimation made according to a rough and ready practical rule, not based on science or exact measurement;
rule of thumb
I usually work by rule of thumb.
in short order
When the burglar saw the police car he left the shop in short order.
immediately
immediately
in short order
When the burglar saw the police car he left the shop in short order.
have a good innings
She had a good innings she lived to be ninety-two.
to live happy ever after or the be successful for a long period of time
to live happy ever after or the be successful for a long period of time
have a good innings
She had a good innings she lived to be ninety-two.
it’s my funeral
If he wants to do something illegal, that’s his funeral, but there’s no reason why you should get involved.
it’s my problem, you don’t need to worry about it;
it’s my problem, you don’t need to worry about it
it’s my funeral
If he wants to do something illegal, that’s his funeral, but there’s no reason why you should get involved.
fair do’s / fair’s fair
Fair’s fair now it’s your time to do the washing up.
something that you say in order to tell someone that you think something is fair;
something that you say in order to tell someone that you think something is fair
fair do’s / fair’s fair
Fair’s fair now it’s your time to do the washing up.
dressed to kill
She was dressed to kill for this party.
dressed in their best clothes and looking stunning
dressed in their best clothes and looking stunning
dressed to kill
She was dressed to kill for this party.
cut corners
You can’t cut corners if you want the building to be of good quality
to do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often harming the quality of your work
to do something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, often harming the quality of your work
cut corners
You can’t cut corners if you want the building to be of good quality
many happy returns (of the day)
He visited his mother on her birthday to wish her many happy returns.
to wish somebody all the best
to wish somebody all the best
many happy returns (of the day)
He visited his mother on her birthday to wish her many happy returns.
a slap on the wrist
He got a slap on the wrist for not coming to work, but nobody was really angry.
to get a light punishment (for doing something wrong)
to get a light punishment (for doing something wrong)
a bit of stuff
He went to the party with a flashy looking bit of stuff he had picked up in a pub.
a sexually attractive woman (slang)
a sexually attractive woman (slang)
a bit of stuff
He went to the party with a flashy looking bit of stuff he had picked up in a pub.
tooth and nail
They fought for a new shirt tooth and nail.
with every available resource; with unrelenting effort
with every available resource; with unrelenting effort
tooth and nail
They fought for a new shirt tooth and nail.
not to turn a hair
She didn’t turn a hair when the madman ran towards her waiving a knife.
to remain calm, do not show any emotion
to remain calm, do not show any emotion
not to turn a hair
She didn’t turn a hair when the madman ran towards her waiving a knife.
in one’s mind’s eye
I can see the place where we spent our holidays in my mind’s eye.
in imagination
in imagination
in one’s mind’s eye
I can see the place where we spent our holidays in my mind’s eye.
mind one’s p’s and q’s
Mind your p’s and q’s so you don’t annoy him!
to do something very carefully or behave in a very polite way
to do something very carefully or behave in a very polite way
mind one’s p’s and q’s
Mind your p’s and q’s so you don’t annoy him!
take leave of one’s senses
What did she say to you? She must have taken leave of her senses!
to go crazy
to go crazy
take leave of one’s senses
What did she say to you? She must have taken leave of her senses!
a sitting target / duck
He wants to criticise someone and I’m afraid that his secretary is a sitting duck.
a defenceless victim
a defenceless victim
a sitting target / duck
He wants to criticise someone and I’m afraid that his secretary is a sitting duck.
