Idioms Flashcards
(it’s) about time
[said when someone does something or something happens that you think should have been done or have happened much sooner]
[ya era hora, ya iba siendo hora]
- It’s about time she got a job.
a cut above
[better than someone or something]
His latest novel is a cut above the rest.
a problem shared is a problem halved
[used to say that if you tell someone about a problem, it is easier to deal with]
a rainy day
[a time when money might unexpectedly be needed]
- She had saved some money for a rainy day.
a state of affairs
[a situation, usually a bad one]
- This state of affairs can no longer be ignored.
a thing of the past
[something that no longer happens]
- Giving up your seat to an older person seems to be a thing of the past.
a whole lot
(informal)
[very much]
- Things were about to get a whole lot worse.
- He didn’t like them a whole lot.
[a large number]
- You take a whole lot less to heart
above and beyond something
[more than a particular amount or level]
We have faced costs far above and beyond what was anticipated.
Gifts above and beyond the $11,000 annual limit may be subject to tax.
up to speed
[al corriente, al tanto]
[If you are up to speed with a subject or activity, you have all the latest information about it and are able to do it well]
We arranged for some home tutoring to get him up to speed with the other children in his class.
an arm and a leg
[a lot of money]
[un ojo de la cara]
Had I just kept quiet, I would have ended up paying an arm and a leg in taxi fares
any day now
[very soon, especially within the next few days]
They’re due to make the announcement any day now.
around the clock
[all the time], [las 24 horas del día]
“The engineers are working around the clock to get the project finished on time.”
as you go along
[as you are doing a job or activity]
[sobre la marcha]
- We have a flexible approach to what we’re doing that allows us to make any necessary changes as we go along.
- I’ll explain the rules as we go along.
at (your) ease
[relaxed]
- The president seemed at ease during the press conference, and even cracked a few jokes.
at length
[for a long time]
[largo y tendido]
- He talked at length about his visits to various Roman sites.
- She’ll call her interior designer to discuss at length which lampshade to buy.
at stake
[If something that is valuable is at stake, it is in a situation where it might be lost]
Thousands of lives will be at stake if emergency aid does not arrive in the city soon
back then
[at a particular time in the past that you are talking about]
- Back then, more kids were interested in fishing.
barking up the wrong tree
[trying to do something in a way that will not work]
- His attorney suggested that the investigators might be barking up the wrong tree.
be (all) the rage
(old-fashioned)
[to be very popular at a particular time]
- Long hair for men was all the rage in the 70s.
be better off
[to have more money than you had in the past or more money than most other people]
- Obviously, we’re better off now that we’re both working.
- When his parents died, he found himself $100,000 better off (= he had $100,000 more than before).
[to be in a better situation, if or after something happens]
- He’d be better off working for a bigger company.
be hit hard/be hard hit (by sth)
[to be badly affected by something]
- Car makers were among the hardest hit as consumers bought fewer vehicles last month.
- The area has been hit hard by job losses in textiles and furniture.
be on the same page
[to have the same ideas as someone else]
- Everyone in the office has to be on the same page about what our top priorities are.
be out of your element
[to be unhappy and feel uncomfortable in a particular situation]
be worse off
(opposite of: better off)
[poorer or in a more difficult situation]
- If Rick loses his job we’ll be even worse off.
be/take a weight off your mind
[to allow you to stop worrying about a particular thing]
- It’s a great weight off my mind to know that the building is finally finished.
- It was a weight off my mind knowing that our finances were taken care of.
beat [sb] to it
[do [sth] before [sb] else], [adelantarse a alguien]
I you want to rent an apartment you have to beat everybody to it
better safe than sorry
[said when you think it is best not to take risks even when it seems boring or difficult to be careful]
[más vale prevenir que curar]
- Make sure you take an umbrella – I know it’s sunny now, but better safe than sorry.
bone dry
[extremely dry]
- The turkey was overcooked and bone dry.
bring something to an end
[to make something finish]
- He ran out of time and brought the interview to an end.
- We will have to use economic and military pressure to bring this situation to an end.
- With these allegations of abuse his career was brought abruptly to an end.
buy time
[to do something in order to be allowed more time]
[ganar tiempo]
- He tried to buy time by saying he hadn’t been well.
by all means
[of course, certainly], [por supuesto, claro]
May I sit here?
By all means
by and large
[when everything about a situation is considered together]
- There are a few small things that I don’t like about my job, but by and large it’s very enjoyable.
by heart
[exactly and from your memory]
- She baked muffins from recipes she knew by heart.
call it a day
[to stop what you are doing because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough]
- After 14 years living and working in this country, she thinks it’s time to call it a day.
can stand [sth/sb]
[soportar, aguantar]
I hope that noise stops soon - I don’t think I can stand it much longer!
can’t/couldn’t help
[If you can’t/couldn’t help something, such as acting in a particular way or making a particular remark, you are/were not able to control or stop it]
- It was awful, but I couldn’t help laughing.
- “Stop giggling!” “I can’t help it!”
- I can’t help thinking (= my true feeling is that) she’d be better off without him.
catch [sb] off guard
[to surprise someone by doing something that they are not expecting or ready for]
The news caught her completely off guard – she didn’t know what to say.
come in handy
[venir bien, ser útil]
“It always comes in handy to have a quilt in the car”
come off better/worse/badly/well
[to finish in a particular condition after a fight, argument, etc., especially compared to someone else]
[salir mal parado, bien parado, etc]
- The smaller dog actually came off better, with only a few scratches.
- I always come off worse when we argue.
- Potts came off badly in the survey, with 52% of respondents describing him as a buffoon.
- The letters show the bitterness of divorce, and neither party comes off well.
- Kennedy won the debate because he came off better on television.
come to terms with something
[to accept something unpleasant by learning to deal with it]
[asimilar, aceptar]
- I think he’s still coming to terms with the death of his wife.
- He made little effort to come to terms with his critics.
could do with something
[If something could do with something, it needs it very much]
[venir bien]
- This place could do with a good cleaning.
do the trick
[ser suficiente, bastar]
“That will do the trick”
draw lots
[to make a decision by choosing from a set of objects such as pieces of paper or sticks that are all the same except for one]
- We drew lots to decide who would go.
- We drew lots to decide the order in which we would perform.
drive [sb] up the wall
[to make someone extremely angry]
[sacar a alguien de quicio, sacar a alguien de sus casillas]
My flat-mate is driving me up the wall.
ever since
[continuously since that time]
- He’s been depressed ever since he got divorced.
- Eric had a bone marrow transplant five years ago and has been healthy ever since.
- She’s had an irrational fear of sharks ever since watching the film ‘Jaws’.
- We met at a party in 2005 and we’ve been together ever since.
- He’s been fascinated by insects ever since he was a child.
every other something
[not each one in a series, but every two]
- The conference used to be held every year, but now it takes place every other year.
- We get together every other Saturday for lunch.
every so often
[sometimes but not often]
- Every so often I treat myself to a meal in an expensive restaurant.
- These memories come to the surface every so often.
- We waters his lawn every so often.
- He popped his head outside the door every so often to check the weather.
- Every so often she says someting that betrays her real opinions.
fall short
[to fail to reach an amount or standard that was expected or hoped for, causing disappointment]
[quedarse corto, no alcanzar, no ser suficiente]
- The amount of water in the reservoir falls short of our targets this year.
fear not (or: never fear)
[do not worry]
- Never fear, I’ll take good care of him.
feel the pinch
(mainly UK)
[to have problems with money because you are earning less than before]
- When my father lost his job and we had to live on my mother’s earnings, we really started to feel the pinch.
find a way
[to discover how to achieve or deal with something]
- Finding a way through the legislation is impossible without expert advice.
for a change
[refers to something unusual or new that is better or more pleasant than what existed before]
[para variar]
- Why don’t we eat on the porch for a change?
- It’s nice to see her smile for a change.
for the time being
[por el momento, por ahora, de momento]
My car broke down so I’m using my mother’s for the time being
fussy (adj)
/ˈfʌs.i/
[too concerned or worried about details or standards, especially unimportant ones]
[quisquilloso, delicado]
- fussy parents
- fussy (about something) Our teacher is very fussy about punctuation.
- She’s such a fussy eater.
- “Where do you want to go for lunch?” “I’m not fussy (= I don’t mind).”
- I don’t like dining with Mark because he’s always fussy about his food and sends it back to the kitchen multiple times.
get a grip on yourself
[to control your emotions]
- Get a grip on yourself, and tell me what happened.
get down to business (or: work)
[to start talking about the subject to be discussed]
If the introductions are over I’d like to get down to business.
something gets on top of someone
[If a difficult situation gets on top of you, it makes you feel so upset that you cannot deal with it]
[agobiar]
- She’s had a few financial problems, and I think things have just been getting on top of her.
get to know one another
[llegar a conocerse]
The two men got to know each other while they were both at college
get under someone’s skin
[to annoy someone]
- Jack really gets under my skin - he never buys anyone a drink.
get your act together
(informal)
[to start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way]
- She’s so disorganized - I wish she’d get her act together.
get your own way
/
get your way
[salirse con la suya]
Sue got her own way when her parents let her go to the party.
get/start the ball rolling
[to make something begin or happen]
- We have to get the ball rolling on this project soon.
give something/someone a wide berth
(informal)
[to avoid a person or place]
- I tend to give the city centre a wide berth on Saturdays because it’s so busy.
go all out
[to put all your energy or enthusiasm into what you are doing]
- The team went all out for a win
go wrong
[if someone goes wrong, he makes a mistake or a bad decision]
- If you just follow the signs to the park, you can’t go wrong.
[if a situation goes wrong, there are problems or there is a bad result]
- I was so worried that something had gone wrong that I called the police.
go your own way
[to do as you choose], [ir a tu bola]
It’s best to let her go his own way if you don’t want a fight
goes hand in hand with [sth]
[If something goes hand in hand with something else, it is closely related to it and happens at the same time as it or as a result of it]
[de la mano de algo va]
Prosperity goes hand in hand with investment.
have a, some, etc. say in something
[to be involved in making a decision about something]
- When he’s 18, he’ll begin to have a/some say in the running of the family business.
- The employees had little/no say in the restructuring of the company.
have seconds
[repetir plato]
have something under your belt
[to have learned or succeeded in something that might be an advantage in the future]
- Basic computer skills are a good thing to have under your belt.
have/keep your finger on the pulse
[to be/stay familiar with the most recent changes or improvements]
- The situation changes daily, so you need to keep your finger on the pulse.
hit the (or: a) wall
[to reach a point when you are running, exercising, playing sports, etc. where you are so physically tired you feel you cannot continue]
[la pájara]
- Many marathon runners hit the wall at around 20 miles.
- In the final, with a strained hamstring, I hit the wall.
- Every long-distance runner hits a wall at some stage.
hit the sack
[irse al sobre]
I’m gonna hit the sack, I’m drained
hoof it
/huːf/
[to walk somewhere, or to walk somewhere quickly]
[ir a pata]
We missed the bus and had to hoof it
in dire straits
[in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix]
- These kids are in dire straits, and the schools are doing nothing to help them!
in full swing
[at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest]
- When we got there, the party was in full swing.
- The economic recovery is now in full swing.
in hot water
[in a difficult situation in which you are likely to be punished]
- Emails that criticize others can land you in hot water, so be careful what you write.
in no time (at all)
[very quickly]
- Now that we’re on the highway, we’ll be there in no time.
in no way
[not at all]
- She added that she had in no way intended to offend anybody
in the long run
[at a time that is far away in the future]
- It seems a lot of effort but I’m sure it’s the best solution in the long run.
in the main
[generally or mostly]
- Her friends are teachers in the main.
- I like dogs in the main, but my sister’s dog’s a nasty vicious specimen.
inside out
[with the inside part facing out]
- She put her sweater on inside out.
[If you know something inside out, you know it very well]
- He’s the best person to tell you how to get there because he knows the city inside out.
it’s all Greek to me
[a way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written]
just about
[You use just about to indicate that what you are talking about is so close to being the case that it can be regarded as being the case]
- He is just about the best golfer in the world.
- What does she read? Just about everything.
- ‘His memory must be completely back, then?’—’Just about.’
keep on your toes
[Someone or something that keeps you on your toes forces you to continue directing all your attention and energy to what you are doing]
- I work with people who are half my age, so that keeps me on my toes.
- Teaching four different subjects keeps you on your toes.
keep track (of someone/something)
[to continue to be informed or know about someone or something]
- My sister’s had so many jobs, I can’t keep track anymore.
keep up with the Joneses
(disapproving)
[to always want to own the same expensive objects and do the same things as your friends or neighbours, because you are worried about seeming less important socially than they are]
lead the way
[to be the best]
The company leads the way in developing new software.
like pulling teeth
[f you say that making someone do something was like pulling teeth, you mean it was very difficult and they did not want to do it]
- Getting her to tell me about her childhood was like pulling teeth.
likewise
/ˈlaɪk.waɪz/
[The same to you; used as a response]
- Sarah told Tom that she enjoyed their date, and he responded, “Likewise.”
listen to (or: see) reason
[to listen to good advice and be influenced by it]
- Friends tried to persuade them to change their minds, but neither man would listen to reason.
live (from) hand to mouth
[to have just enough money to live on and nothing extra]
[vivir al día]
- My father earned very little and there were four kids, so we lived from hand to mouth.
long story short
[used when you do not tell all the details]
- Long story short, I got fired.
lose sight of something
[to forget about an important idea or fact because you are thinking too much about other things]
- I’m worried that we’re losing sight of our original objectives.
- Some members of the peace-keeping force seem to have lost sight of the fact that they are there to help people.
lose sight of [sth]
[to forget about an important idea or fact because you are thinking too much about other things]
- It is easy to overwhelm your audience with visuals and lose sight of what you actually want to say.
- I’m worried that we’re losing sight of our original objectives.
make a beeline for someone/something
(informal)
[to go directly and quickly towards someone or something]
- At parties he always makes a beeline for the prettiest woman in the room.
make a lasting impression
[dejar huella]
Your voice, tone, style and manner all have a lasting impression on the audience
make do (with something)
[to use what is available although it is not enough or what you wanted]
[apañarse con, valer con]
- Can you make do with $5 for now and I’ll give you the rest tomorrow?
make do with [sth]
[to use what is available although it is not enough or what you wanted]
[Apañarselas/Arreglarselas con algo]
- You’ll have to make do with what you can carry with you.
- We can make do with the ones we have.
- Can you make do with $5 for now and I’ll give you the rest tomorrow?
make ends meet
[to have enough money to buy what you need to live]
[llegar a final de mes]
- It’s not easy to make ends meet with a big family, but somehow we manage.
make headway
[to make progress, especially when this is slow or difficult]
- We are making little headway with the negotiations.
- The boat was unable to make much headway against the tide.
- Some headway has been made toward restoring the balance of power.
make headway
[to make progress or get closer to achieving something]
- I’m trying to learn to drive, but I’m not making much headway (with it).
- Little headway has been made so far in the negotiations.
make it through
[conseguir, soportar, pasar]
“I didn’t know if the tent was going to make it through the storm”
make or break
[to make something a success or a failure]
Recognition by this organization can make or break a career.
make someone’s skin crawl
[If someone or something makes your skin crawl, you think they are very unpleasant or frightening]
[poner los pelos de punta]
- The filthy house made my skin crawl.
- This is a classic horror novel that will make your skin crawl.
make the most of something
[to take full advantage of something because it may not last long]
- It’s a beautiful day - we should make the most of it.
- I wanted to make the most of the time that we had together.
make up your mind
/
make your mind up
[to decide what to do or choose]
She made up her mind to call him again
meet half-way
[To accept some of the things someone wants, in order to reach an agreement with them]
We can’t cover all the costs but, we would be prepared to meet you half-way
more often than not
[usually]
More often than not when I make the effort to visit her, I wonder why I even bothered.
no wonder
[it is not surprising], [no me extraña]
No wonder the children are excited - this is the first time they’ve been abroad
not bat an eye
[to show no sign of surprise or worry when something unexpected happens]
- She told him she’d spent all her savings but he didn’t bat an eye.
not by a long shot
[not in any way]
[ni de lejos, ni de coña]
It wasn’t as good as his first book - not by a long shot.
can’t cut it
[to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties satisfactorily]
- We were playing against a more experienced team, and we just couldn’t cut it.
nothing like
[nada tener que ver con, no parecerse en nada a, para nada como, muy diferente]
Your Tinder date is picking you up but you look nothing like your pictures
off the beaten path (or: track)
[not known or popular with many people]
- We wanted to find a camping site that was a little bit off the beaten path.
off the top of your head
[from the knowledge you have in your memory]
[a bote pronto, de memoria, de cabeza]
Off the top of my head, I think we did it.
on cue
/kjuː/
[If something happens on cue, it happens just after someone has said or thought it would happen]
- I was just wondering where Sarah was, when, right on cue, she came in.
- I was talking to Betty about our first aid course when, as if on cue, a man in front of us fainted.
- She mentioned her many admirers and right on cue, a handsome young man appeared at the door.
- I had just sat down for lunch when, right on cue, the fire alarm went off.
on no account
/
not on any account
[(used to emphasize something) not for any reason]
[bajo ningún concepto]
- On no account should the house be left unlocked.
- Employees must on no account make personal phone calls from the office
on the fly
[If you do something on the fly, you do it quickly, often while you are doing something else, without preparing and without thinking too much about how it should be done]
- This new rule seems to have been created on the fly.
on the spot
[at that moment or place]
[en el acto, in situ]
- He was arrested on the spot.
[Someone who is put on the spot is forced to do or say something the person would rather not do or say]
[en un aprieto, en un compromise]
- I’m not trying to put you on the spot, but could you explain why you did that?
on the tip of your tongue
[about to be said if you can remember it]
- I know her - her name is on the tip of my tongue, but it won’t come to me.
on tiptoe(s)
[on your toes with the heel of your foot lifted off the ground]
[de puntillas]
- The children stood on tiptoe in order to pick the apples from the tree.
- They walked across the room on tiptoe so as not to wake the baby.
once and for all
[completely and finally]
[de una vez por todas]
- We have to decide, once and for all, whether we want to ask Dad for money.
or so
(informal)
[approximately]
- They raised two hundred dollars or so for charity.
out of the blue
[suddenly and unexpectedly]
One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving
out of the question
[not possible or not allowed]
- The class ends at 2, and leaving before then is out of the question
over and above
[in addition to]
- They receive extra money over and above the usual welfare payments.
- They do random searches and pat-downs over and above the routine security check-ins.
- He was seeking compensation over and above the medical costs.
- That figure represents spending that was over and above what the government had budgeted to spend.
over and out
[said when you are talking to someone by radio in order to end the conversation, or when you humorously want to say that something is finished]
[cambio y corto]
- “Thank you, control tower. Over and out.”
par for the course
[what should be expected because of past experience]
- The school budget is going to be cut again this year, but then that’s par for the course.
pay through the nose
[to pay too much money for something]
[pagar un ojo de la care]
- We paid through the nose to get the car fixed.
play it by ear
[to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier]
- We can’t make a decision yet. Let’s just play it by ear.
play safe
/
play it safe
[to be careful and not take risks]
[ir a lo seguro, ir sobre seguro]
We heard that Ryanair was planning to go on strike, so we played it safe and bought tickets from another airline.
pull rank
[to use the power that your position gives you over someone in order to make them do what you want]
[abusar de la autoridad]
- He doesn’t have the authority to pull rank on me
push the boat out
[UK: to spend a lot of money on celebrating something]
- They really pushed the boat out for Annie’s wedding.
put someone in the picture
[to tell someone the facts about a situation], [poner en situación]
His lawyer put him in the picture about what had happened since his arrest
put [sth/sb] out to pasture
[jubilar (figurado)], [to stop someone working in a job because they are too old to be useful]
You should put those shoes out to pasture, they have more holes than fabric.
ring a bell (or: any bell)
[to sound familiar]
- The name rang a bell but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it before.
- No, I’m sorry, that description doesn’t ring any bells with me.
rue the day
[to feel very sorry about an event]
[lamentar el día que]
She’ll rue the day (that) she bought that house
run (or: go) deep
[if a feeling or problem runs deep, it is strong or serious and has existed for a long time]
- The anger runs deep on both sides.
second best
[not as good as the best and therefore not wanted as much]
- She refuses to settle for second best - she strives for perfection.
see fit (to do [sth])
[to think it is good or necessary to do something]
[creer conveniente, ver mejor]
You can leave it here or take it home with you, whichever you see fit.
She saw fit to pull her son out of the school.
sign of the times
(usually disapproving)
[something that is typical of the (bad) way things are now]
- These riots are a sign of the times.
sleep on it
[to wait before making a decision]
[consultarlo con la almohada]
Don’t give me an answer now – sleep on it and tell me whenever you’re ready.
someone’s two cents
(also someone’s two cents’ worth)
[someone’s opinion about something, esp. when it was not asked for or wanted]
- If the changes are going to affect me, then I want to put my two cents in.
something hangs in the balance
[the result of a situation has not yet been decided yet]
- The game hung in the balance until the last seconds.
sooner or later
[used to say that you do not know exactly when something will happen, but you are certain that it will happen]
- Sooner or later she’s going to realize what a mistake she’s made.
spare no expense
[to achieve something by working as hard as possible or spending as much money as is necessary]
[no reparar en gastos]
- She spared no expense in decorating her office.
spare no expense
[to achieve something by working as hard as possible or spending as much money as is necessary]
[no reparar en gastos]
- She spared no expense in decorating her office.
stay overnight (also stay the night)
[to sleep somewhere for one night]
[pasar la noche]
- We’ve arranged to stay overnight at my sister’s house.
steer clear of someone/something
[to avoid someone or something that seems unpleasant, dangerous, or likely to cause problems]
- Her speech steered clear of controversial issues.
- They warned their children to steer clear of drugs.
sure enough
[as expected]
- He said he’d left the book on the desk, and sure enough, there it was.
sweat it out
(informal)
[to wait nervously for an unpleasant situation to end or improve]
[sudar la gota gorda]
- I had the blood test last Tuesday, and I’ve been sweating it out ever since, waiting for the results.
[to do hard physical exercise]
- I like to sweat it out in the gym for a couple of hours every day.
take charge (of something)
[to accept responsibility for something and have control over it]
- She took charge of the project and made sure it was finished on time.
take five
(US informal)
[used to tell someone to stop working and relax for a short period of time]
take its/a toll
[If something takes its/a toll, it causes suffering, deaths, or damage]
[pasar factura]
- The problems of the past few months have taken their toll on her health and there are dark circles under her eyes.
- The deepening recession has also taken its toll in the south of the country, where unemployment is rife.
take someone’s mind off something
[to stop you from worrying or thinking about a problem or pain, often by forcing you to think about other things]
- The good thing about running is that it takes my mind off any problems I have.
take something to heart
[If you take criticism or advice to heart, you think about it seriously, often because it upsets you]
- Don’t take it to heart - he was only joking about your hair.
take the heat off [sb]
[If someone or something takes the heat off you, he, she, or it reduces the amount of criticism you have to deal with]
- The deputy’s resignation over the scandal has taken some of the heat off his superior.
take to something like a duck to water
[to discover when you start to do something for the first time that you have a natural ability to do it]
- He took to fatherhood like a duck to water.
take [the] credit
[to allow people to believe that one did something that deserves praise or special attention]
- I did all the work, and she took the credit.
take/lead someone on/to one side
[to have a private talk with someone]
- one of the older managers took me to one side and taught me three of the most useful techniques
- Bill’s father took him to one side and told him to stop misbehaving.
the big/bigger picture
[the most important facts about a situation and the effects of that situation on other things]
- In my political work I try to concentrate on the big picture and not be distracted by details.
the job/matter at hand
[the job or matter that is important at the present moment]
- Could you just concentrate on the job at hand?
- If we could return to the matter at hand, we can discuss other issues later.
the lion’s share
[the largest part or most of something]
- Reputable charities spend the lion’s share of donations on aid and a tiny fraction on administration.
- I’d been doing the lion’s share of the parenting to begin with…
think on your feet
[to think and react quickly, especially having good answers ready]
I’d never heard about the company before, so I had to think on my feet.
throw the baby out with the bathwater
[to lose valuable ideas or things in your attempt to get rid of what is not wanted]
tip the scales
[to cause a change, esp. in making something more likely to happen]
- Introducing new fish to the lake tipped the balance and made it very hard for the trout that were already living there.
to a fault
[more than is necessary]
- Keri is generous to a fault.
to spare
[left over or more than you need]
- If you have any woolyarn to spare when you’ve finished the sweater, can you make me some gloves?
- I caught the plane with only two minutes to spare.
- There’s no time/We have no time to spare if we want to get the article written by tomorrow.
up to (doing) something
[good enough for a particular activity]
- He wants to compete at international level, but honestly I don’t think he’s up to it.
[strong enough for a particular activity]
- It was a serious fall - it’ll be a while before you feel up to walking again.
what for?
[used for questioning the purpose of or reason for an action or plan]
“We really need a bigger car.” “What for? The one we have seems big enough to me.”
What’s the catch?
[¿Cuál es el truco?]
when it comes to [sth]
[cuando se trata de]
I love to read, but I have trouble when it comes to studying science.
work/do wonders
[to have a very good effect], [funciona de perlas, va de perlas]
Doctors have discovered that keeping a pet can do wonders for your health
you do you
[como tu veas, lo que tu veas (pasivo-agresivo)]
you name it
[lo que se te ocurra, lo que sea]
Salad, soup… you name it.
take something at face value
[to accept what someone says and believe it without thinking about it very much, even though it may be incorrect or untrue]
- Clients should know better than to take the advice of a wholesaler at face value.
go the extra mile
[to make more effort than is expected of you]
- He’s a nice guy, always ready to go the extra mile for his friends.
don’t sweat it!
(mainly US informal)
[used to tell someone not to worry about something]
- Can’t make the gig? Don’t sweat it; you’ll have plenty more chances.
charged up
[excited and full of energy]
- He was so charged up, he couldn’t sleep.
give way to something
[to be replaced by something, especially because it is better, cheaper, easier, etc.]
- In some areas, modern intensive farming is giving way to the re-introduction of traditional methods.
set foot in somewhere
[to go to a place]
- He refuses to set foot in an art gallery.
be behind someone
[If a bad experience or your own bad behaviour is behind you, it does not exist or affect your life now]
- Those dark days are behind me now, I’m glad to say.
no go
[not allowed or not acceptable]
- Shorts are no go here – you have to wear long pants and shoes.
have a bone to pick with someone
[to want to talk to someone about something annoying they have done]
- I’ve got a bone to pick with you - you’ve been using my shaver again.
take someone’s word for it
[to believe that what someone says is true]
- He said he’d give me a job and I just took him at his word.
- If he says there’s $500 in the envelope, then I’ll take his word for it.
change of heart
[If you have a change of heart, you change your opinion or the way you feel about something]
- She was going to sell her house but had a change of heart at the last minute.
on second thought
[used when you want to change a decision you have made]
- Can I have a cup of coffee, please? - actually, on second thoughts, I’ll have a beer.
not pull any/your punches
[to speak in an honest way without trying to be kind]
- Her image is that of an investigative reporter who doesn’t pull any punches.
- She doesn’t pull her punches when talking about lazy people.
- My father is very direct and pulls no punches.
be in the loop/be out of the loop
(informal)
[to have or not have the special knowledge or power that belongs to a particular group of people]
- You can tell she’s in the loop. She always knows about policy decisions before the rest of us.
- I’ve been out of the loop. I didn’t realize Wendy and Bob had got engaged.
as a (general) rule
[usually]
- As a general rule, I don’t read detective novels
pull a fast one
(informal)
[to successfully deceive someone]
- You paid too much - I think he pulled a fast one on you.
get something out of the way
[to finish something]
- I like to get my homework out of the way on a Friday night so that I can enjoy the weekend.
on its last legs
(informal)
[Something that is on its last legs is in such bad condition that it will soon be unable to work as it should]
- I’ve had this laptop for five years now, and it’s really on its last legs.
poke fun at someone/something
[to make someone or something seem ridiculous by making jokes about the person or thing]
- Late night comedy shows often poke fun at politicians.
mean well
[to do what you think will be helpful, although by doing it you might cause problems without intending to]
- I know he means well, but he just gets in the way.
on steroids
(informal)
[used for saying that something is an extreme example or version of something]
- He described the new edifices as “architecture on steroids”.
- People flocked to West Berlin in search of an alternative life in a liberal society. It was like Amsterdam on steroids.
run late
(informal)
[be behind schedule]
- I’d love to stop and talk to you, but I’m running late for an important meeting with my boss.
- The buses are running late
to do someone a solid
[to do something kind or helpful for someone
- Anyone care to do me a solid and tell me if I can claim this on my taxes?
- Do me a solid and stop talking.
set someone straight
[to tell someone the true facts about a situation that the person had not understood]
- I had to set him straight about what really happened.
- The article about the trial really set the record straight.
by far and away
[by a very grant amount]
few and far between
[not happening or existing very often]
- Apartments that are both comfortable and reasonably priced are few and far between.
- In this area, good jobs are few and far between.
- There are some other mental health services, but they are few and far between.
black and blue
[with dark marks on your skin caused by being hit or having an accident:
His arm was black and blue]
- I never thought he’d beat me black and blue just for disagreeing with him.
tried and true
(US)
[used by many people and proved to be effective]
- Most people would prefer to stick to tried and tested methods of birth control.
born and bred
(also born and raised, born and brought up)
[used to say that someone was born and grew up in a particular place, and usually that they are a typical example of someone who lives there]
- He’s a Parisian born and bred.
- I was born and bred in the country and all I know is farming.
- We were both born and raised here so the culture was in our blood.
be a hoot
[to be very funny]
- He’s an absolute hoot.
go/be back to square one
(informal)
[to be forced to think of a new course of action because your first course of action failed]
- The deal with the house fell through so I’m afraid we’re back to square one.
on point
(informal)
[as good as it could be; perfect]
- My hair was on point.
take stock (of something)
[to examine a situation carefully]
- After the storm homeowners came out to take stock of the damage.
be on top of something
(informal)
[indicate that someone is in control or well-informed about a particular situation or task. It conveys a sense of mastery, control, or awareness regarding the matter at hand]
- She’s always on top of her game, never missing a detail.
- It’s important to be on top of your studies to succeed in college.
in a way
[en cierta manera]
[considered in a particular manner]
- In a way, I hope he doesn’t win.
roll with the punches
[to be able to deal with a series of difficult situations]
to say the least
[used to show that what you are describing is in fact much more serious or important than you have suggested]
- It’s going to be awkward, to say the least.
of two minds (about something)
[unable to make a decision]
- I was of two minds about whether to invite him to the wedding.
hit the ground running
[to immediately work hard and successfully at a new activity]
- She studied the reports over the weekend so she could hit the ground running when the meeting began.
