Idioms Flashcards
if you intend to do something by hook or by crook, you are determined not to let anything stop you doing it and are ready to use any methods
by hook or by crook
I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook.
Not to let sth have a negative effect on you
if criticism is ~ to someone, it has no effect on them at all (often + to
Like water off a duck’s back
i(often + to )
He’s always being told he’s lazy and incompetent, but it’s just water off a duck’s back to him.
self-fulfilling prophecy
is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front,direct
steer sth in the right direction
involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.
To entail sth
“a situation which entails considerable risks”
constantly or noisily crying out or making a statement.
ndia had also been an obstacle because of its vociferous objections to provisions that might endanger grain subsidies aimed at ensuring its poor get enough to eat.
in addition to the bad thing already mentioned
on top of that
We missed the bus, and on top of that it started raining.
o be very unsatisfactory
leave much to be desired.
Suddenly, they find he has no charisma and that his skills as an orator leave much to be desired.
Fundamental element
building block
Providing Building Blocks for the Future
Not very extended
In a limited scope
Even if limited in scope, a conflict with nuclear weapons would wreak havoc in the atmosphere and devastate crop yields,
To meet or come up to a required standard (from golf where a player must do equal or better than a certain score to continue)
Make the cut
Many buzz-worthy companies one might expect to find on this list – Uber, Hailo, Snapchat, Lyft, ClassDojo – did not make the cut, either because they were founded or launched their current product more than a year ago, or are already generating revenue that graduates them from startup level.
Gild the lily
› to improve or decorate something that is already perfect and therefore spoil it:
Should I add a scarf to this jacket or would it be gilding the lily ?
Neat clean and well looked after
Spick and span
My little house is spick and span
- a small punishment when a more severe punishment is deserved:
A slap on the wrist
A: Did you get in trouble for starting that fire?
B: Nope! I got a slap on the wrist!
The bank robber escaped with aslap on the wrist when the judge sentenced him to 10 days in jail.
