Idioms Flashcards
To imitate / copy sth. good that someone does.
To take a leaf out of someone’s book.
You should take a leaf out of your brother’s book and go to the library to study on Saturday night.
A request / task that is difficult to do
A tall order.
Passing your C2 Proficiency exam without preparation is a very tall order.
a foolish, unrealistic plan
hare-brained
The government’s hare-brained scheme to lower pollution levels is bound to fail.
The true value / quality of sth. can only be judged through experience.
The proof of the pudding.
Jane claims to be the fastest runner at school, but the proof of the pudding will be the race on Saturday.
To misunderstand what someone has said.
Get the wrong end of the stick.
Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. I wasn’t disagreeing with you. On the contrary, I think you’re right.
To admire someone greatly (as if they’re perfect.)
To put someone on a pedestal.
We shouldn’t put Instagram influencers on a pedestal. They have their faults and weaknesses like everyone else.
To avoid / delay taking a decision.
To sit on the fence.
to find it difficult to make a decision
to be on the fence
I’m on the fence about this, to be honest. I can see the pros and cons of both options.
can’t decide between two options of a choice
to be torn between
I’m torn between pictures C and D. They both have their merits.
to remove the bad feelings between people
to clear the air
“You guys need to clear the air.”
We really need to clear the air.
a way of solving a problem by trying a number of different methods and learning from the mistakes that you make.
trial and error
We’ll figure out the experiment. It’s just a process of trial and error.
to disagree or to be different from something
to be at odds over/with
I’m at odds with this version of the story.
My sisters and I are at odds over the family estate.
expressing certainty that something is true
beyond a shadow of a doubt
I think it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt that the earth’s climate is changing.
the argument presented show someone is guilty and must be accepted as fact
beyond a reasonable doubt (law)
We have shown the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
decide how to deal with a situation as it develops (~spontan) infr.
play it by ear
Let’s just play it by ear. We have a plan, but we can make changes if necessary.
to do or to agree what other people are doing
go with the flow
Just relax and go with the flow.
work or money being wasted
down the drain
All that work down the drain.
to be critizised
to come under fire
The government has come under fire after the failed response.
to guess the facts about a situation without enough information.
jump to conclusion / jump to the conclusion that
Let’s not jump to conclusions. (often used in the negative form)
a result that is certain to happen
a foregone conclusion
The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion.
not having the knowledge / skill with a particular situation or subject.
out of one’s depth
Look, you’re out of your depth
to be accurate or faire by representing sth. as that the person or thing truly is.
do sb. / sth. justice (often in the negative form)
The book is so much better that the movie. The movie doesn’t do it justice.
to expand your knowledge or experience
to broaden your horizon
I have no idea
I haven’t got the faintest / foggiest idea.
I haven’t got the foggiest idea what’s happening in the photo, but it might be…
to guess (risk)
To hazard a guess.
I haven’t got the foggiest idea, but if I had to hazard a guess, I would say…
