Idioms 151-200

Question 1

in one sitting # I read the whole book yesterday in one sitting.

Question 2

to go Dutch # —Will you let me take you out tonight?’ —As long as we go Dutch.

Question 3

to put sb on the spot # She put the boss on the spot by asking him when he was going to give her a pay rise. # When you are put on the spot…

Question 4

In other words…

Question 5

to be caught red-handed # The shoplifter was caught red-handed as he stuffed items into his pockets.

Question 6

to prefer sth to/over sth else # Our survey found that a vast majority of customers preferred Brand A [to | over] Brand B. (WRONG: than, instead of Brand B, rather than, more than) (AVOID: prefer [to-infinitive] TO [to-infinitive]. USE: prefer [gerund] to [gerund] | would rather [bare-infinitive] than [bare-infinitive]).

Question 7

practice what you preach # You keep telling us to clean up, but I wish you’d practice what you preach.

Question 8

as of today, # As of today, the company’s sales are strong.

Question 9

as if (one) owns the place # Ugh, the boss’s son always walks through the office as if he owns the place. # I want you to walk into that interview as if you own the place—no false modesty.

Question 10

as we go # We have to work it out as we go. # We could learn as we go. # I’ll give you instructions as we go.

Question 11

to do the right thing # You must always try to do the right thing. # I’m trying to get you to do the right thing.

Question 12

the right way # This is not the right way to communicate. # Medicines are not being taken the right way. # He just hasn’t been asked the right way.

Question 13

in and of itself # That’s not weird in and of itself.

Question 14

Why the long face?

Question 15

a long day ahead of us

Question 16

Let it be said that… # let it be said that there were even problems in including references

Question 17

[Watch | Mind] your step.

Question 18

not to [fancy (UK) | feel like] sth # What do you fancy doing, anyway? # Do you fancy going to see a movie sometime? # No, I don’t feel like it today. # I don’t feel like seeing my family. # Where do you feel like going to dinner? # I feel like some ice cream.

Question 19

to be starving # Find us something to eat, I’m starving.

Question 20

to be freezing to death # I can’t stand it, I’m freezing to death.

Question 21

to lose the marbles # I must be losing my marbles.

Question 22

to give (sth) a shot # I think we should give a shot. # I gave that book a shot, but I stopped reading it because I wasn’t interested.

Question 23

to bite the bullet # I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll just have to bite the bullet. # Getting your car repaired is often an expensive business, but all you can do is bite the bullet and pay up.

Question 24

all of a sudden

Question 25

there comes a day # There comes a day when you get fed up.

Question 26

to keep your feet on the ground # It’s a very exciting time for the business but it’s important that we keep our feet on the ground.

Question 27

to put (someone or something) to the test # Our new mobile game will put your reflexes to the test. # I’m going to put my car to the test right now, and see how fast it will go.

Question 28

blood, sweat and tears… # I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this company, # After years of blood, sweat, and tears, Timmy finally earned a college degree. # It may sound simple, but the blood, sweat and tears of many dedicated individuals went into designing it.

Question 29

to be out of one’s depth # I’m not a strong swimmer, so I prefer not to go out of my depth. # I was out of my depth in the advanced class, so I moved to the intermediate class.

Question 30

Look at the state of you!

Question 31

goosebumps # …and then he said something that gives me goosebumps. # I always get goosebumps every time I see it. # Look, I have goosebumps, just listening to the boy.

Question 32

to chase one’s tail # I’ve been chasing my tail all morning!

Question 33

to hit the nail on the head # —It sounds as if he almost depended on you as much as you depended on him. — You just hit it on the nail.

Question 34

the way things are going # The way things are going around here, that’s the last thing we need.

Question 35

for once # Show a little courage for once. # For once, dad is not complaining. # His smile, for once, was genuine. # Maybe I should do my work a little at a time for once, instead of putting it off.

Question 36

to set foot in # It was the first time she had set foot in the desert. # It wasn’t me. I’ve never set foot in that building before!

Question 37

What a nightmare! / Incredible!

Question 38

Hell if I know!

Question 39

What a cheek!

Question 40

What a rip off!

Question 41

(every) once in a while # You meet some really interesting people every once in a while. # Once in a while she phoned him.

Question 42

rule of thumb # A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two handfuls.

Question 43

there’s no point in doing sth # There’s no point in having a car if you never use it.

Question 44

to water sb’s mouth # My mouth is watering.

Question 45

to rain on someone’s parade # I hate to rain on your parade, but lots of people have tried that strategy and it hasn’t worked yet.

Question 46

to be a tough nut to crack # He’s a tough nut to crack.

Question 47

to push sb’s luck! # I didn’t dare push my luck too far and did not ask them to sign statements. # Don’t push your luck!

Question 48

to be on sb’s back # She’s on my back again about those sales figures. # Why are you and Dad always on my back?

Question 49

to get off on the wrong/right foot # He got off on the wrong foot with my parents by arriving late. # I know we got off on the wrong foot when I was a half hour late to the interview.

Question 50

do sb a favour # Can you do me a favour?