Idioms 301-350

Question 1

to pull strings # I hear that the only reason Johnny got into college was because his dad pulled some strings with the president of the university. # I actually know a few people who work at the restaurant, so I’ll see if I can pull a few strings and get you a table.

Question 2

to keep your head # Don’t panic. Keep your head.

Question 3

Don’t say a word about this.

Question 4

to have sb’s number # Don’t worry, I’ve got his number, he doesn’t fool me.

Question 5

to [have | take] a look # Take a (good) look at this picture and see if you recognize anyone. # Can I have a look at your dictionary?

Question 6

your wish is my command # Okay, Sophie, your wish is my command.

Question 7

not give a damn # I don’t give a damn that my ex has a new girlfriend! # people who don’t give a damn about the environment # I don’t give a damn about making money, I just want to do something with my life that makes life better for others.

Question 8

sadly, unfortunately # Unfortunately, we didn’t win the game. # Sadly, Dave will be leaving us at the end of the month to join another company; I’m sure we will all miss him.

Question 9

sth is killing me # This heat is killing me! # Man, these shoes are killing me. # My boss is killing me! # That girl is so good looking she kills me.

Question 10

U turn # Even if you realize you’re going the wrong way, it is illegal to do/make a U-turn on a motorway.

Question 11

to get [along | on well] with sb # My friends and I get along very well. # It’s impossible to get along with him. # I get on well with my sister. # She doesn’t get on well with her father.

Question 12

You’re one to talk. / Look who’s talking. # —Ugh, she talks so loud! —You’re one to talk.

Question 13

love at first sight

Question 14

heads or tails # heads I win, tails you lose. # OK, whoever wins this coin toss has to go out and get the groceries. Heads or tails? # It doesn’t matter whether the result of the toss is heads or tails. I won’t like the outcome in any case. # Jim looked at Jane as he flipped the coin into the air. “Heads or tails?” he asked.

Question 15

to stab in the dark # I can see you don’t have a clue what you are talking about – you are stabbing in the dark. # Not doing research, you are stabbing in the dark just waiting to get lucky.

Question 16

to be a pain in the neck # One of my students is a real pain in the neck. # We’re having Mary over for dinner tomorrow night. I just hope her pain-in-the-neck husband doesn’t come along as well.

Question 17

to do a double take # When the boy led a goat into the park, everyone did a double take.

Question 18

to be out of this world # The meal was out of this world. # These new trains are out of this world. # The dress is out of this world.

Question 19

to live to the fullest # I want to live every day to the fullest.

Question 20

to be overloaded # —How is everything at work? —I’m completely overloaded.

Question 21

to get hot under the collar /ˈkɒlə/ # I get hot under the collar every time I think about it.

Question 22

to be dying for # I’m dying for an ice-cream.

Question 23

to looking forward to # I am looking forward to meeting you.

Question 24

to be brain dead # By the time I leave work I’m completely brain dead. # Did I just say that two plus two equals five? Wow, I’m really brain dead today.

Question 25

stuffed to the gills # I’ve got so many meetings these days that my schedule is stuffed to the gills! # Her mind was stuffed to the gills with ideas for her new book. # I felt stuffed to the gills after my grandmother’s Thanksgiving meal.

Question 26

fingers crossed # I studied for that exam for two weeks, so I hope I get a good grade on it. Fingers crossed! # Fingers crossed my packages get delivered in time for Christmas!

Question 27

to have no idea, not to be able to imagine # You [have no idea | can’t imagine] how much he’s been criticized.

Question 28

call it a day # I’m getting a bit tired now - let’s call it a day. # After 14 years living and working in this country, she thinks it’s time to call it a day.

Question 29

You have another think coming. / Don’t even dream of it. / That’s not going to happen. # John has another thing coming if he thinks he is going to pass the exam.

Question 30

to be at stake # What’s at stake? # The company’s reputation is at stake. # There’s a lot at stake in this.

Question 31

to be relevant # That’s not relevant now.

Question 32

at the drop of a hat # Don’t let my mother watch any of those sappy movies—she cries at the drop of a hat. # More people should sort out their own minor problems and stop calling the police at the drop of a hat. # We’re expected to just do it at the drop of a hat.

Question 33

back to the drawing board # It didn’t work. Back to the drawing board. # His government should go back to the drawing board to rethink their programme. # Failing to win means going back to the drawing board.

Question 34

ball is in your court /kɔːt/ # Well, they invited you, so the ball is in your court now. # I can’t do anything as long as the ball is in John’s court.

Question 35

barking up the wrong tree # If you think I have enough spare cash to pay for your holiday, then you’re barking up the wrong tree. # You’re barking up the wrong tree if you think I’m going to lend you my car. I’ve seen how you drive!

Question 36

the best thing since sliced bread # These waterproof jeans are the best thing since sliced bread. # Have you checked out this cool new app? I think its the best thing since sliced bread.

Question 37

to kill two birds with one stone # I killed two birds with one stone and picked the kids up on the way to the supermarket. # If we have to go to Manchester for the meeting, then let’s visit Auntie Joan on the way there. We can kill two birds with one stone.

Question 38

miss the boat # If you don’t call the recruiter back right away, you’re going to miss the boat. # There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to buy some.

Question 39

to get/give a taste of your own medicine # He is always late for appointments and keeps people waiting, so we decided to give him a taste of his own medicine. # I’m tired of him always finding faults with me. I’m going to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Question 40

your guess is as good as mine # —Where’s Hank? —Your guess is as good as mine. He didn’t say anything to me. # —What’s he doing? —Your guess is as good as mine.

Question 41

to stab someone in the back # A lot of people in this business think they have to stab each other in the back to succeed.

Question 42

break a leg!

Question 43

to hit the books # I can’t go out tonight. I need to hit the books.

Question 44

to feel like # I feel like [a pizza | Chinese food]. # I feel like going out for dinner tonight. # Do you feel like (having) a beer?

Question 45

on and on # John drove on and on through the dense and blowing snow. # …a desert of ice stretching on and on. # She went on and on about the various celebrities she’d met.

Question 46

or so # The container could hold a litre or so of water. # In about ten or so days, I will have finished my exams! # Can you please bring me back a dozen or so eggs from the grocery store?

Question 47

to make friends # I remember that I once warned you not to make friends with him. # Tom made friends with a snail.

Question 48

to call a spade a spade # Let’s call a spade a spade. That man is a liar.

Question 49

to have bigger fish to fry # It’s really not worth my time. I’ve got bigger fish to fry! # I can’t take time for your problem. I have other fish to fry. # I won’t waste time on your question. I have bigger fish to fry.

Question 50

to broaden /ˈbrɔːdn/ sb’s horizons/mind # I need to broaden my horizons and get some experience living without my family. # They say that travel broadens the mind.