IDIOM Flashcards
a people person
- someone sociable and good with others
- Sarah is such a people person.
to hit the road /hɪt ðə rəʊd/
to hit the road /hɪt ðə rəʊd/
- to begin a journey
- It’s time to hit the road; it’s a long drive.
- to leave a place :
- I’d love to stay longer but it’s really time to hit the road.
not one’s cup of tea /nɒt wʌnz kʌp əv tiː/
not one’s cup of tea /nɒt wʌnz kʌp əv tiː/
- not something you enjoy
*Action movies are just not my cup of tea.
in shape /ɪn ʃeɪp/
in shape /ɪn ʃeɪp/
- in good physical condition
- Swimming helped him get in shape.
to hit the books /hɪt ðə bʊks/
to hit the books /hɪt ðə bʊks/
- to study hard
- We hit the books before the final exam
to break the bank /breɪk ðə bæŋk/
to break the bank /breɪk ðə bæŋk/
- to cost too much
- Buying a new TV won’t break the bank.
it cost an arm and a leg
(=expensive)
tip of the iceberg /tɪp əv ðə ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/
tip of the iceberg /tɪp əv ðə ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/
- a small part of a larger issue
- Plastic waste is just the tip of the iceberg.
dress to impress /dres tə ɪmˈpres/
dress to impress /dres tə ɪmˈpres/
- to wear clothes to make a good impression
- Always dress to impress in a job interview!
child’s play /tʃaɪldz pleɪ/
child’s play /tʃaɪldz pleɪ/
- something very easy or simple
- Learning to play the guitar was child’s
play for her. - Video editing for me is a child’s play
It’s not rocket science
= It’s simple
be over the moon
be over the moon
- to be very pleased
- She was over the moon about/with her new bike.
full of beans /fʊl əv biːnz/
full of beans /fʊl əv biːnz/
- very energetic or lively
- After his morning coffee, he is always full of beans.
over the top
over the top
- too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way
- I thought the decorations were way (= very) over the top.
- The speech was a bit OTT.
- He realized he’d gone over the top with the seating arrangements.
to be back on one’s feet /biː bæk ɒn wʌnz fiːt/
to be back on one’s feet /biː bæk ɒn wʌnz fiːt/
- to return to a normal or healthy state after an illness or a troubled time
- Kai was ill, but he’s back on his feet now.
a breath of fresh air
- something new and refreshing that brings new energy and enthusiasm
- My trip was a breath of fresh air.
make a house a home /meɪk ə haʊs ə
həʊm/
make a house a home /meɪk ə haʊs ə
həʊm/
- turn a residence into a comfortable, safe space
- Decorating can make a house a home.
be swimming in something
to have too much of something:
This salad was swimming in oil.
The company is swimming in cash and trying to figure out what to do with it.
I’ve no more ideas, (I have run out of steam)
(= lost all energy and enthusiasm)
every once in a while
sometimes, but not regularly
You meet some really interesting people every once in a while.
like wildfire
quickly in a way that cannot be controlled
Ex: News of the layoffs spread like wildfire through the company.
under your belt
learned or succeeded in, and now a part of your experience
Ex: Now that you’ve got the required courses under your belt, you can take some electives.
- to my mind
- to my way of thinking
- I’m in two minds about this (on the one hand .. on the other hand)
- I’m on the fence (on the one hand .. on the other hand)
have a ball
have a ball
to enjoy yourself very much:
“So how was the party last night?” “Oh, it was great - we had a ball!”
I had the time of my life
I had the time of my life last week when we celebrated my birthday
can’t be doing with something
to be unable to bear something, or to have no patience with it:
I can’t be doing with all this shouting and screaming.
