idiomatic expressions Flashcards
= never, used for things that are highly unlikely or impossible to happen
when pigs fly
= “yes, obviously!”
is the Pope Catholic?
wanting to know someone’s thoughts on something
penny for your thoughts?
to feel a bit ill or unwell (physically or emotionally)
to feel a bit under the weather
it’s brilliant / fantastic
it’s the best thing since sliced bread
it seems just right for you
it’s got your name on it
to do everything possible to achieve something
to crawl over broken glass
it makes use of all my skills
it stretches me
to be too old to be considered useful
to reach your sell-by date
to talk about your own achievements
to blow your own trumpet
not so intelligent
not exactly the brightest button in the box
to spend a lot of money on celebrating something
to push the boat out
to be very anxious
to will have kittens
to have permission the proceed
to have got the green light
to feel rather unwell
to feel off colour
according to the rules
by the book
get to the point
let’s cut the chase
to make an additional effort
to go the extra mile
to choose the best people for something
to cherrypick your team
that is just what is needed
that’ll fit the bill
do you understand what i mean?
do you get my drift?
to decrease drastically
to go south
to be cheerful and active
to be on good form
a huge step up
a quantum leap
to make your money last
to make ends meet
it’s really hard to believe
it beggars belief
to have insight into people’s characters
to know what makes people tick
there’s a lot to learn
it’s a steep learning curve
to be free from family responsibilities
to be off the leash
to disappear completely
to go into a black hole
to be naked (NL: in adamskostuum)
to be in one’s birthday suit
een bierbuik
a pot-belly
to blush
to have got roses in your cheeks
an unexpected or sudden advantage
a windfall
the ‘pleasure’ district
the red district
to raise the eyebrows
to knit the brows
can do many things, but expert at none of them (NL: 12 ambachten, 13 ongelukken)
Jack-of-all-trades and master of none
dag en nacht werken
to work double tides
wie a zegt moet ook b zeggen
in for a penny, in for a pound
aangeschoten zijn
to be halfseas- over
alle beetjes helpen
take care of the pence, the pounds will take care of themselves
those who already have, get more (NL: hoge bomen vangen veel wind)
high winds blow on high hills
bezint eer ge begint
look before you leap
iemand een draai om de oren geven
to give someone a thick ear
trusting the wrong person with your secrets
to go to the wrong shop
iets tot een goed einde brengen
to drive the nail home
een ezel stoot zich geen 2 keer aan dezelfde steen
once bitten, twice shy
het geduld raakt op
the patience is wearing thin
blaffende honden bijten niet
hard words break no bones
te veel hooi op je vork hebben
to have too many irons in the fire
jan en alleman
all the world and his wife
over koetjes en kalfjes praten
to talk about cabbages and kings
lachen als een boer met kiespijn
to laugh on the wrong side of your mouth
harming others will only attract harm
harm hatch, harm catch
to go out and enjoy yourself
to paint the town red
don’t make plans that depend on something good happening before it has actually happened
don’t count your chickens before they hatch
to make it impossible to return to a previous state
to burn your bridges
to try to support 2 opposing views
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
too much worry can cause burden
care killed the cat
doing something in a way that will not work
barking up the wrong tree
only just
by the skin of your teeth
twee linkerhanden hebben
my fingers are all thumbs
can’t stay in one place for long, often has the urge to travel
gets itchy feet
to know every detail about something
to know your grammar inside out
beautiful, amazing
out of this world
to have a lot to do
to be snowed under with work
something is very easy
something is a doddle
to make fun of someone
to take the mickey out of someone
to forget things quickly
to have got a brain like a sieve
rondlopen als een kip zonder kop
to run around like a headless chicken
to secretly watch something
to be a fly on the wall
in very isolated places
off the beaten track
to try something for the first time
to try your hand at something
to stay up late and get up early
to burn out the candle at both ends
to talk about work when you’re not at work
to talk shop
to be well off and able to have “the good things”
to live in the lap of luxury
a lot of money
a small fortune
relaxed, in control, not nervous
cool, calm and collected
an energetic person
a live wire
person who constantly disapproves others’ activities or decisions
a wet blanket
a person who is generally of good character but lacks manners
a rough diamond
a person about whom little is known, but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds
a dark horse
person who’s curious but in a bad way
a nosy parker
to behave independently, ignoring laws and rules
to be a law unto oneself
