Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Mayo > Id.dioms > Flashcards

Id.dioms Flashcards

1
Q

a drop in the ocean

A

a very small amount that will not have much effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

a home from home

A

a place where you feel as relaxed as you do in your own home

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

a leopard cant change its spots

A

used for saying that someone will never change their behaviour or character

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

a sight for sore eyes

A

someone or something that you are very pleased to see

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

a stitch in time (saves nine)

A

used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now, rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

a stone’s throw (away/from)

A

very close (to)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Achilles’ heel

A

a weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure to be attacked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

add fuel to the fire

A

make a bad situation worse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

all in good time

A

used for telling someone to wait for something and not try to make you hurry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

all mod cons

A

all modern conveniences, the machines and pieces of equipment in your house that make life easy and comfortable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

an act of God

A

an event such as a flood, lighting or an earthquake that is produced by natural forces, and that people have no control over

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

as the crow flies

A

in a straight line (used for measuring distance)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

at a loose end

A

with nothing in particular to do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

at the drop of a hat

A

immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

be born with a silver spoon in your mouth

A

have advantages because you come from a rich family

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

be on the same wavelength

A

understand the way another person thinks because you often have the same ideas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

before your time

A

used for saying that something happened or existed before you were born or before you lived or worked somewhere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

below/under par

A

below the usual or expected standard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

big mouth

A

used as a criticism of someone when they say things they should not

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

blot on the landscape

A

something that makes a place look less attractive, for example an ugly building

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

break even

A

if a person or business breaks evens, they neither make a profit nor lose money

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

breaks the mould

A

change a situation by doing something that is very different from what most people usually do or have done in the past

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

bury your head in the sand

A

ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it will disappear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

change your tune

A

change your opinion or attitude

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

clean as a whistle

A

completely honest or legal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

clean as a whistle

A

extremely clean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

come clean (about sth)

A

tell the truth about something that you have kept secret

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

come rain or shine

A

used for saying that something always happens or someone always does something despide bad weather or difficult conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

commuter belt

A

area surrounding a large city where many people who work in that city live

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

concrete jungle

A

unpleasant part of a city where many people who work in that city lives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

couch potato

A

someone who spends a lot of time sitting at home watching television

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

cry over spilt milk

A

waste time feeling upset about something bad that has happened and cannot be changed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

do sth on a whim

A

do because of a sudden feeling that you must have or do sth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

down on your luck

A

having a long period of difficulty finding work and earning money

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

drawn the line (at)

A

say that you will definitely not allow or accept something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

draw the short straw

A

be chosen to do something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

fall short

A

not reach a particular level or to fail to achieve something you were trying to do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

fifty-fifty

A

equal, or into two parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

fly of the handle

A

suddenly become extremely angry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

follow your nose

A

do what you feel is right in a particular situation, although you are not certain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

follow your nose

A

go straight forward, without turning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

for good

A

permanently, withouth the possibility of change in the future

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

for the time being

A

for now

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

from time to time

A

sometimes, but not often

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

gain/get/have/take the upper hand

A

gain/get/have/Take control or advantage over a person or situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

get on like a house on fire

A

become good friends very quickly and have a lot to talk to each other about

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

get sth off your chest

A

talk to someone about sth that has been worrying you, so that you feel better about it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

get the wrong end of the stick

A

understand sth completely wrongly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

get/catch sb’s drift

A

understand the basic meaning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

get/have your way

A

be allowed to have or do what you want

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

give sb a taste/dose of their own medicine

A

treat someone in the same bad way they treat other people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

give sb your word

A

promise to do sth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

give sth a miss

A

decide not to do sth that you usually do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

go halves

A

share the cost of sth with someone so that you each pay 50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

go to your head

A

if success goes to your head, it makes you think that you are better or more important than you really are

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

grin and bear it

A

accept a difficult situation without complaining or showing how you feel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

have a change of heart

A

change your opinion about sth or decide not to do sth you were planning to do

58
Q

have your wits about you

A

be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions

59
Q

(hear sth) on/through the grapevine

A

the way in which information spreads quickly from one person to another through conversation

60
Q

home sweet home

A

used for saying that someone is annoyed/pleased with you

61
Q

in the dark (about)

A

not knowing very much about something, because other people are keeping it secret from you

62
Q

in the middle of nowhere

A

a long way any town or city

63
Q

in the nick of time

A

just in time to prevent sth bad happening

64
Q

in the sticks

A

in an area far from the town or city

65
Q

its a broad as its long

A

used for saying that you cannot choose between two things or actions because they are equal

66
Q

keep a straight face

A

remain serious and not laugh

67
Q

keep sb posted

A

regularly give someone information about sth they are interested in, for example, how a situation is changing or developing

68
Q

keep sth under your hat

A

keep sth secret

69
Q

keep up with the Joneses

A

try to be as rich, successful etc as your neighbours

70
Q

keep your hair on

A

used for telling someone not to get angry or upset

71
Q

kick yourself

A

the very annoyed because you have made a mistake, missed an opoortunity, etc

72
Q

knee-high to a grasshopper

A

very small, because you were very young

73
Q

know sth inside out

A

be very familiar with

74
Q

know what’s what

A

know the important facts about a situation

75
Q

last word in

A

the newest and best type of sth

76
Q

lay/put your cards on the table

A

tell people exactly what you are thinking or what you are intending to do

77
Q

let nature take its course

A

allow sth to develop without trying to influence

78
Q

let off steam

A

shout or do sth that allows you to get rid of anger

79
Q

let sleeping dogs lie

A

leave a person or situation alone if they might cause you trouble

80
Q

let off steam

A

shout or do sth that allows you to get rid of anger

81
Q

let sleeping dogs lie

A

leave a person or situation alone if they might cause you trouble

82
Q

let your hair down

A

relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a comfortable environment

83
Q

life and soul of the party

A

someone who is very lively at social events

84
Q

like two peas in a pod

A

used for saying that you should accept other people’s beliefs and way of life, even if they are very different from your own

85
Q

lock, stock and barrel

A

including every part of a particular thing, situation, place, etc

86
Q

lose your bearings

A

become confused about where you are and where other things are

87
Q

make a beeline for

A

go towards someone or sth in the quickest and most direct way

88
Q

make yourself at home

A

feel relaxed and behave in the same way as you do in your own home

89
Q

never/dont look a gift horse in the mouth

A

if you are given sth good, you should not complain about it or try to find things that are wrong with it

90
Q

no rhyme or reason

A

used for emphasising that there is no reason or explanation for sth

91
Q

not have a leg to stand on

A

not have any way of proving that you are right about sth

92
Q

not to see the wood for the trees

A

used for saying that someone cannot understand what is important in a situation because they are thinking too much about small details

93
Q

off the beaten track

A

away from populated areas or areas popular with tourist

94
Q

on good terms (with)

A

have a good relationship with someone

95
Q

on the spur of the moment

A

if you do sth on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly and do not take time to plan it or think carefully about it

96
Q

on the street

A

with no place to live

97
Q

on the town

A

spending the evening enjoying yourself in bars, clubs, theatres, etc

98
Q

once in a blue moon

A

very rarely

99
Q

out of the blue

A

happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem connected with anything that happened before

100
Q

out of this world

A

extremely good or impressive

101
Q

over the top

A

more than what is considered normal

102
Q

pride of place

A

in the place that is most central or important

103
Q

pull (a few) strings

A

use your influence or in order to get sth you want or to help someone, especially when this unfair

104
Q

put sth in perspective

A

provide a sensible way of judging how good, bad, important, etc sth is in comparison with other things

105
Q

put two and two together

A

guess what is happening or what something means based on what you have seen or heard

106
Q

put your feet up

A

sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised off the ground

107
Q

quick/slow on the uptake

A

taking a very short/long time to understand or realise sth

108
Q

recharge your batteries

A

rest after being very busy, so that you will be ready to start working again

109
Q

red tape

A

documents, rules or processes that cause delays

110
Q

reinvent the wheel

A

waste time and effort trying to do sth that someone else has already done well

111
Q

ring a bell

A

sth that rings a bell sounds familiar to you, although you cannot remember the exact details

112
Q

round the bend

A

crazy

113
Q

satellite town

A

town or city that is close to and depends on a larger city

114
Q

sb is only human

A

used for saying someone has been weak in the ways most people are weak and should not be blamed for their behaviour

115
Q

see eye to eye (with sb)

A

agree with someone or have the same opinion as them

116
Q

set your heart on

A

decide that you want sth very much

117
Q

six of one (and) half a dozen of the other

A

used for saying that two things are equally good or bad

118
Q

speak volumes

A

provide a lot of information, especially in an indirect way

119
Q

split hairs

A

argue or worry about very small details or differences that are not important

120
Q

steal the show

A

receive a lot of attention because you give the best performance in a show or other event

121
Q

stick your guns

A

refuse to change what you are saying or doing despite the opposition or criticism of other people

122
Q

stop dead in your track

A

suddenly stop, for example because you are surprised

123
Q

take a short cut to

A

follow a path that is quicker and shorter than the usual way

124
Q

take stock (of)

A

spend some time thinking about the situation you are in before you decide what to do next

125
Q

take the law into your own hands

A

punish someone in your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing sth illegal yourself

126
Q

take the scenic route

A

follow a longer path than the usual one because it is more attractive

127
Q

tell tales

A

tell someone in authority about bad things that someone else has done, because you want them to be punished

128
Q

the edge over

A

and advantage that makes someone or sth more successful than other people or things

129
Q

the luck of the draw

A

used for saying people have limited control over what life brings them

130
Q

the other day

A

recently

131
Q

the powers that be

A

the people who control a situation

132
Q

the tools of the trade

A

the skills and equipment that you need in order to do your job

133
Q

throw the book at sb

A

punish someone very severely

134
Q

tidy sum/amount

A

large sum/amount

135
Q

touch wood

A

used when you have said that you have food luck in order to prevent bad luck from happening to you

136
Q

turn over a new leaf

A

change your life by starting to be a better person or stopping a bad habit

137
Q

under sb’s thumb

A

completely controlled by someone else

138
Q

up in arms about

A

angry and complaining about sth

139
Q

variety is the spice of life

A

used for saying that different experiences and situations make life enjoyable or interesting

140
Q

your flesh and blood

A

your relative

Mayo (54 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions