Idioms 001-050

Question 1

Say when. (the answer is “WHEN” as well)

Question 2

speak/talk of the devil. # —Hey everyone, sorry I’m late! —Well, talk of the devil! I was just telling them about something funny you said the other day.

Question 3

You’re [pulling my leg | kidding (me)].

Question 4

It rings a bell.

Question 5

by all means # —May I borrow this book? —By all means.

Question 6

no wonder /ˈwʌndə/ # No wonder the house is so cold, the heater is broken! # It’s no wonder we are so depressed.

Question 7

Same here. # —I thought that film was awful! —Same here!

Question 8

to be another/a different kettle of fish, to be a horse of another color # Having knowledge is one thing but being able to communicate it to others is another kettle of fish. # You may be able to read French well, but speaking it fluently is a different kettle of fish entirely. # I’ve always found math to be easy, but calculus is a horse of a another color. # I was talking about trees, not bushes. Bushes are a horse of another color.

Question 9

on paper / in theory # It’s a good idea on paper, but I don’t think it would work in a real-world environment. # On paper, the plan works great. But in reality?

Question 10

What the hell…! # What the hell is going on? | It’s expensive, but what the hell, you only live once.

Question 11

Thank God # Thank God nobody was hurt in the accident. # Thank God it’s Friday.

Question 12

to live in la-la land # If that’s what she thinks, she’s living in la-la land.

Question 13

Take it easy.

Question 14

If I were you…

Question 15

If you say so…

Question 16

safe and sound

Question 17

too little, too late # A spokeswoman described the aid for the refugees as too little, too late. # Her efforts to improve her grade were too little, too late.

Question 18

You never know. # You never know who you might run into.

Question 19

No chance! /tʃɑːns/, No way! # You want to borrow dad’s car? No chance! # —Come on, let me borrow your bike. —No way!

Answer 19

x

Question 20

better than ever # I was sad yesterday, but now I’m better than ever.

Question 21

I’m [stuffed /stʌft/ | full (up)] # I’m stuffed FROM all that lasagna /ləˈzænjə/ and garlic bread.

Question 22

I don’t buy it. / I’ll buy it. # Sorry, (I) don’t buy it. # All right, I’ll buy it.

Answer 22

x

Question 23

whatever it takes # I will do whatever it takes to become the next President.

Question 24

to top it (all) off, and on top of that # The washing machine flooded, my car broke down, then to top it all off I locked myself out of the house. # While I was arguing with my brother, I had left the tap running and it flooded the bathroom, then to top it all I slipped on the wet floor and hit my head. # We missed our flight, and on top of that we had to wait seven hours for the next one. # What a day! First I woke up late, then the hot water heater burst, and on top of that, I got a flat tire.

Question 25

nothing ever happens # Nothing ever happens here in the evenings. # Because in a place like this where nothing ever happens, you have plenty of time to read.

Question 26

(Well,) I never (did)! # —Sophie’s brother has been married seven times. —Well, I never (did)! # —George and Josh are brothers. —Well, I never.

Question 27

smooth /smuːð/ as silk # The negotiations /nɪˌgəʊʃɪˈeɪʃəns/ went smooth as silk. # Have you tried this chocolate mousse? It has an incredible flavor and is smooth as silk. # The landing at Kirkwall turned out to be as smooth as silk.

Question 28

to put the cart before the horse # Sara insisted that having sex before marriage was like putting the cart before the horse.

Question 29

off you go! # —Are you ready to start? —Yes! —Okay, off you go! # Just make sure your parachute is properly setup and off you go!

Question 30

on and off # I’ve had toothache on and off for a couple of months. # Jan has been going to the gym on and off for the past six months.

Question 31

to play [stupid | dumb /dʌm/] (WITH sb) # Don’t play [stupid | dumb] with me! # Phil played dumb when his dad asked him if he knew who had broken the window.

Answer 31

x

Question 32

alive and kicking # It’s my father’s 98th birthday, and he’s still alive and kicking.

Question 33

to rob Peter to pay Paul # It is robbing Peter to pay Paul, dressed up as something else. # Never use a credit card to pay a debt—that’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul! # Taking money out of the hospital’s budget for this is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Question 34

to cost an arm and a leg # It cost us an arm and a leg to get here, but it has been worth every penny and more. # We want to redecorate the living room, but I’m afraid it’s going to cost us an arm and a leg.

Question 35

Thank God it’s Friday (T.G.I.F.)

Question 36

to beat around the bush /bʊʃ/, to go round the houses # Stop beating around the bush and answer my question. # Don’t beat around the bush—just tell me the truth. # Why are you beating around the bush? Are you leaving our company?

Question 37

from now on # From now on the gates will be locked at midnight. # From now on you can wear casual clothes to work every Friday. # From now on I expect you to call me when you’re going to be late.

Question 38

as quick as a wink/flash # As quick as a wink, the thief took the lady’s purse /pɜːs/.

Question 39

the sooner, the better

Question 40

once and for all # I’m going to get this place organized once and for all!

Question 41

I don’t give a monkey’s. / I really don’t care.

Question 42

to be a stone’s throw /θrəʊ/ from # Brett moved to a house that is just a stone’s throw away from his job. # His office is a stone’s throw away from Westminster.

Question 43

A little bird told me…

Question 44

I have it on good authority.

Question 45

to kill time # I killed time reading a novel. # I’m going to walk down to the bookstore to kill time before my flight. # There was nothing to do, so I sat around killing time until dinner was ready.

Question 46

my soul mate

Question 47

to [have | know] something off pat /pæt/ # Like most politicians he had all his answers off pat.

Question 48

to be as daft /dɑːft/ as a brush /brʌʃ/

Question 49

to cross the line, to overstep the mark # She overstepped the mark and lost her job. # This time, you’ve really crossed the line.

Question 50

to take something as read /red/ # I just took it as read that anyone who applied for the course would have the necessary qualifications. # We can take your resignation as read, can we? # You can take it as read that you have the contract.