Idioms 1 Flashcards
to arrive in small numbers or quantities
to leave in dribs and drabs
very early in the morning
bright and early
generally
by and large
not be difficult to find, not very common
to be few and far between
to accept and unpleasant situation without complaining
to grin and bear it
the details of a complicated situation/problem
ins and outs
to complain too much about something in a way that seems unnecessary
to make a song and dance about
small unimportant objects
odds and ends
definitely and finally so that you end all doubt and uncertainty
once and for all
a relative
one’s own flesh and blood
a complete lie (used to reply to somebody who has accused you of something)
an out-and-out lie
a basic and fundamental part of
to be part and parcel of
calm and tranquility
peace and quiet
something or somebody that a person is very proud of
pride and joy
very conservative and easily offended
prim and proper
pushing - used in references to crowded places
pushing and shoving
safe and unharmed
safe and sound
very clean
spick and span
doubtful - used with reference to important or life-threatening situations
touch and go
somebody who shows a lot of promise and will probably be very successful in the future
up-and-coming
to have good times and bad times
to have ups and downs
completely
well and truly
to win fairly
to win fair and square
a very annoying person, thing or task
a pain in the neck
at the bottom of (a hill, mountain, stairs, tree, bed…)
at the foot of
to be very expensive
to cost an arm and a leg
to play against another team
to face a team
to fall madly and completely in love
to fall head over heels in love
at the bottom of (a hill, mountain, stairs, tree, bed…)
to foot the bill
to be very expensive
to cost an arm and a leg
to suddenly feel that you are not brave enough to do something important
to get cold feet
to vent
to get something off your chest
to annoy somebody
to get up somebody’s nose
to help somebody do something
to give somebody a hand
to be happy when somebody leaves or when something is finished
to be glad to see the back of somebody/something
to be obsessed by something and think about it all the time
to have something on the brain
to have seen something that you want to buy/have
to have your eye on something
to leave a place to go home
to head home
to know that something is wrong or different, but be unable to say exactly what it is
I can’t put my finger on it
I couldn’t stop laughing
I couldn’t keep a straight face
I can’t tell/answer until I have checked first
I don’t know off-hand
I would really like to
I’d give my right arm to
legally, according to the laws of the land
In the eyes of the law
to look after something or somebody
to keep an eye on something/somebody
to know a particular place very well
to know somewhere like the back of your hand
to learn not to depend on others
to learn to stand on one’s own two feet
to rapidly make or lose large sums of money
to make/lose money hand over fist
information given immediately without full knowledge of the facts
off the top of one’s head
something is in very bad condition and will very soon stop working
something is on its last legs
to play a joke on somebody and make them believe that is not true
to pull somebody’s leg
to become strict and tell somebody that they must/can’t do something
to put your foot down
to see somebody, often for the first time
to set eyes on somebody
to really want something
to set your heart on something
to increase one’s desire for something
to whet one’s appetite
To change one’s opinion/discourse.
To change one’s tune
When an establishment or money changes ownership.
To change hands.
When one reforms.
To change one’s ways
When you don’t envy a person’s situation.
I wouldn’t change places with them.
an unusual ability that some people are thought to have that allows them to know without being told what will happen in the future or what is happening in a different place
To have second sight.
To attribute “A” to “B”.
To put “A” down to “B”
when something happens in close proximity to somebody
something happens right under their nose
to interfere in a situation which does not concern you, with the result that you cause other people problems
to stick your nose into other people’s business
to be able to give good answers to unexpected questions
to think on your feet
with the intention of
with an eye to
to unwittingly reveal something by the expression on your face
written all over your face
to admit and admire somebody for something they have achieved
you have to hand it to them
To disappoint one, fail to interest one
to leave one cold
to be a curse on
to be a pox on
