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English - Glossary > Idioms > Flashcards

Idioms Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

INF not yet free from the difficulties or problems

A

Not out of the woods

Ex. The situation is improving, but we’re not out of the woods yet

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2
Q

Deliberately become less actively involved in sth, and stop trying to control things.

A

Take a back seat

I’ll probably take a back seat and let him do most of the work.

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3
Q

Used to tell sb that you suddenly felt sad or worried about sth.

A

My heart sank

My heart sank when I saw the hotel room they’d given us.

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4
Q

Used to say that sth is true despite what you have just said.

A

Having said that

This city is not as good as I thought. Having said that, their public parks are well designed.

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5
Q

Used to say that sth happened very quickly and unexpectedly.

A

The next thing I knew

…and then the next thing I knew, the bird had flown away.

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6
Q

Used to say you’re not surprised that sth is true.

A

I thought as much

She said her son is getting divorced. I thought as much.

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7
Q

Very likely/ very happy/ very ready etc.

A

More than likely

They will more than likely lose the game.
I’d be more than happy to hear from you.

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8
Q

Find it very difficult to do sth

A

Be hard pressed/ pushed/ put to do sth

I’d be hard pressed to understand all the programming concepts.

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9
Q

Used to say that sb is in a bad mood

A

Got out of bed on the wrong side

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10
Q

Sth that makes you upset, angry, or embarrassed when sb mentions it.

A

A sore point

It’s a bit of a sore point because she got a low mark for it.

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11
Q

INF Accidentally say sth that embarrasses, upsets, or annoys sb

A

Put your foot in it

I put my foot in it, then.

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12
Q

Used to say that you think sb deserves sth unpleasant that happens to them.

A

It serves sb right (for doing sth)

It serves her right.

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13
Q

INF not do any work at all.

A

Not do a stroke of work.

She didn’t do a stroke of work.

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14
Q

Feel that a failure is your fault, or feel offended by sth/sb.

A

Take it/sth personally.

Don’t take it personally. She’s just in a bad mood.

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15
Q

To end up in a positive or comfortable position after being involved in a bad or difficult situation.

A

Land on one’s feet.

He landed on his feet with that job at the bank.

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16
Q

An expression of encouragement to persist or stay calm in a challenging situation.

A

Hang on in there.

It won’t be easy; you’ve just got to hang on in there.

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17
Q

If my memory is correct.

A

If my memory serves me correctly.

If my memory serves me correctly, the first moon landing was in 1969.

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18
Q

To maintain the same lifestyle as one’s neighbors or peers.

A

Keep up with the Joneses.

My sister’s just bought a new car. Basically, it’s just keeping up with the Joneses.

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19
Q

The final problem, setback, or source of irritation in a series that causes one to finally lost patience or for sth to stop working.

A

Proverb(諺語）: “It’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

He’s unreliable at the best of times, but forgetting my birthday was the last straw.

20
Q

To be certain or confident (about sth).
Usually used as an imperative. (至關重要的/急迫/迫切）

A

Rest assured that …

You may rest assured that we will do everything we can to help.

21
Q

Start doing sth and proceed quickly and successfully.

A

To hit the ground running.

He made it clear we were going to hit the ground running.

22
Q

Admit you’ve been defeated and stop trying.

A

Not to throw in the towel.

I was determined not to throw in the towel.

23
Q

Distinguish the able people from the less able people.

A

Sort out the sheep from the goats.

He said this competition would sort out the sheep from the goats.

24
Q

He is not as aggressive as he sounds.
One’s words or demeanor is worse than one’s behavior.

A

His bark was worse than his bite.

Sue may be intimidating, but you’ll see soon enough that her bark is worse than her bite.

25
Q

Pretend you feel confident and happy when you do not.

A

Put a brave face on it.

That made me feel very uneasy, but I put a brave face on it.

26
Q

metaphorical meaning: Wait for an unsettled situation to become calm.
literal meaning : wait to be able to see more clearly.

A

Wait for the dust to settle.

I think we should wait for the dust to settle before we decide what to do.

27
Q

meta: the person is in control of a situation.
literal: the person is literally in control of the vehicle.

A

Be in the driving seat.

She is in control of the situation.

28
Q

INF Having serious problems and likely to fail.

A

On the ropes.

The minister is on the ropes now.

29
Q

INF In a difficult situation.

A

In a tight corner / spot.

The boss found himself in a tight corner / spot.

30
Q

Keeps one’s plans or ideas secret.

A

Plays one’s cards close to one’s chest.

I don’t understand why he always plays his cards so close to his.

31
Q

Has a plan or idea he will keep secret until needed.

A

Got sth up in one’s sleeve.

He hasn’t told us everything. I think he’s got something up his sleeve.

32
Q

Make use of an opportunity immediately because now is the best time to do it.

A

Strike while the iron is hot.

Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot.

33
Q

Be sensitive about or feel offended by sth, as a result of sth that happened in your past.

A

Have a chip on your shoulder.

He always has a chip on his shoulder about the world has treated him unfairly.

34
Q

Make sb less confident by saying or doing sth unexpected.
To diminish one’s enthusiasm, excitement, or positive outlook (about sth).

A

Take the wind out of sb’s sails.

It took the wind out of his sails to learn that nearly half of his bonus would go to taxes.

35
Q

Learn how to do a particular job.

A

Learn the ropes.

This class is intense! They don’t even give you a chance to learn the ropes before they throw an exam at you.

36
Q

Think in a similar way.

A

Be on the same wavelength.

That’s what I was going suggest! We must be on he same wavelength!

37
Q
  1. You are mistaken about what someone else means. To have a miscommunication between on another.
  2. Of oneself, to be or become confused, mistaken, or mentally disordered (about sth).
A

Get your wires (lines) crossed / crossed wires

I’m sorry for bringing you the wrong order, I’ve been getting my wires crossed all day!

38
Q

Be in a position of control or responsibility.

A

Be in the saddle.

Make sure to get good grades now, so that you’re in the saddle when it comes time to choose a college.

39
Q

Control sth/sb carefully or strictly.

A

Keep a tight rein on sth/sb.

We try to keep a tight rein on our expenditures, but that’s not always possible.

40
Q

Force yourself to do sth unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.

A

Bite the bullet.

I guess we’d better bite the bullet and get this over with.

41
Q

Go away quickly from an unpleasant place or situation.

A

Beat a hasty retreat.

  1. I beat a hasty retreat when I saw that shady group of guys standing by the jukebox.
  2. When the rain started, everyone on the field beat a retreat indoors.
42
Q

To lose one’s composure and act emotionally or irrationally.

A

Lose one’s head.

You need to calm down before you talk to him. You don’t want to lose your head before finding out his side of the story.

43
Q

To use one’s intelligence and intellectual ability; to think logically and rationally.

A

Use one’s head (loaf)

I know you can figure this out on your own. Use your head for a change!

44
Q

To have sound judgment. INF One is sensible and realistic.

A

Have one’s head screwed on (right).

I always knew you had your head screwed on properly.

45
Q
  1. Be very upset or offended by somebody’s critisism.
  2. Pay great attention to sb’s suggestions.
A

Take sth to heart.

I’m pleased to see that they have taken my suggestions to heart and followed my advice.

46
Q

To do sth based on one’s own personal desire rather than for pragmatic or practical reasons.

A

Let one’s heart rule one’s head.

I think she knows that a relationship with him will eventually end in tears, but she’s letting her heart rule her head.

English - Glossary (5 decks)

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