Idioms 351-400

Question 1

you can tell # You can tell it’s Friday. # You can tell she’s been working out—look how big her biceps /ˈbaɪseps/ are! # Can you believe he’s incredibly rich? You could never tell by looking at his shabby clothes! # Can you tell?

Question 2

Tell me about it! # —He’s driving me crazy with his stupid jokes. —Tell me about it!

Question 3

trial and error # There was a lot of trial and error involved with that. # We learnt by trial and error.

Question 4

fair and square # She beat me fair and square. # She won the game fair and square. # The division of the money should be fair and square.

Question 5

to know sth like the back of your hand # I know this area like the back of my hand.

Question 6

to get off your high horse # So come on, John, get off your high horse.

Question 7

to take the risk # I can’t imagine why you would take the risk. # Take risks in life and try new things.

Question 8

to get (the) chills; to give the chills # If you’ve got chills, you may have the flu. # That horror film gave me the chills. # I get the chills when I’m alone in this house at night.

Question 9

to get goose /ɡuːs/ bumps # She still got goose bumps whenever he walked into the room.

Question 10

to live on the edge # He likes to live on the edge and take risks.

Question 11

in one go # I read it in one go last night. # He won’t drink it in one go. # I can say everything in one go.

Question 12

never mind # —Do you still need a ride? —No, never mind. I’ll take the bus.

Question 13

in a [week | year | month…]’s time… # I’ll be back in a month’s time. # We’ll get together in a week’s time.

Question 14

to get on sb’s nerves # Nothing personal, but your voice is really getting on my nerves. # She’s starting to get on my nerves. # You’re trying to get on my nerves, aren’t you?

Question 15

to get the hang of # I took her ice-skating for the first time, and she got the hang of it right away. # I’ll teach you how to use the design program – you’ll get the hang of it after a while. # I’m starting to get the hang of how this computer works.

Question 16

to reconcile /ˈrekənsaɪl/ oneself to sth # She must reconcile herself to the fact that she must do some work if she wants to pass her exams. # John reconciled himself to living alone. # Anne reconciled herself to having to wear glasses.

Question 17

last, but not least # I would like to thank my publisher, my editor, and, last but not least, my husband.

Question 18

to be said that… # She is said to be the best player. # This car is said to have very low consumption.

Question 19

to turn red # She turned red.

Question 20

happen to do sth # Did you happen to see my keys? # We happened to meet him in Las Vegas when were walking down the main street. # Please let us know if you happen to find the keys.

Question 21

to go for sth # What sort of printer are you going to go for? # She went for the blue car instead of the red one. # I’ll go for the cream caramel

Question 22

to forget one’s manners # Have you forgotten your manners?

Question 23

and so on # Put a chair here and another next to it, and so on. # Victims of the disaster urgently need drinking water, food, medical supplies, and so on.

Question 24

be up your street # I have a little job for you which is right (= exactly) up your street. # Carpentry isn’t really up my street. I’d rather pay someone else to do it. # Anna loves watching movies, so I’m sure she’ll go to the film festival with you—that’s right up her street. # If you like casual yet elegant clothes, then this collection should be right up your street. # I read a review of the book and thought it would be right up my street.

Question 25

to be a walk in the park # He’s used to hard physical work - this is a walk in the park to him. # As any director will tell you, doing Shakespeare isn’t a walk in the park.

Question 26

more and more # Life is getting more and more expensive.

Question 27

to be all the rage /reɪdʒ/ # I can’t believe that stupid dance is all the rage right now. # He wore a strange outfit which might have been all the rage when Dickens was busy scribbling. # Long hair for men was all the rage in the 70s.

Question 28

as the days go by # As the days go by, the sun rises higher and remains above the horizon even at night. # As the days go by more and more water is lost.

Question 29

In your face! # We won again! In your face! # You dared me to eat a dozen donuts, and I did it. In your face! # Guess who’s going out with Carolina. Me! In your face!

Question 30

the crux /krʌks/ of the [matter | problem] # As usual, money was at the crux of the matter. # The crux of the country’s economic problems is its foreign debt.

Question 31

to add fuel to the fire, to fan the flames # Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire. # I’m not going to fuel the fire. # The riot fanned the flames of racial hatred even more. # The hostility in the school is bad enough without anyone fanning the flames. # His hurtful comment only added fuel to the fire.

Question 32

to move on # Let’s move on.

Question 33

to take its toll /təʊl/ # The stress was starting to take its toll on him. # All those late nights working really took a toll on me. I need about 24 hours’ sleep to recover.

Question 34

what is done is done # Even if you kill me, what is done is done!

Question 35

after/when all is said and done # When all is said and done, this isn’t such a bad part of the country to live in after all. # She doesn’t have a lot of experience but, when all is said and done, she’s the best person for the job.

Question 36

consider it done # —Could you give me a copy of this page, please? —Consider it done.

Question 37

no sooner said than # —Jan, I need you to reorganize the store room. —No sooner said than done, boss. # —Can I help you out? —Yes! Put these files in alphabetical order. —No sooner said than done. # The service at the hotel was really remarkable. Everything we asked for was no sooner said than done.

Question 38

to turn out (that) # It turns out that she had known him when they were children. # So it turns out that I had been waiting on the wrong side of the train station.

Question 39

to give sb your word of honour /ˈɒnə/ # I give you my word of honor that I will pay the money back.

Question 40

Charge!, Attack!

Question 41

through thick and thin # We’ve been together through thick and thin. # She’s always been there for me through thick and thin, so I can’t turn my back on her now.

Question 42

on second thoughts # We don’t need an umbrella. On second thoughts, maybe we do. # Wait here. No, on second thought, follow me.

Question 43

to have second thoughts # You’re not having second thoughts about getting married, are you?

Question 44

Go for it! # —I’m thinking of applying for that job. —Go for it! # —I’m thinking of asking Dave out on a date, but what if he says no? —Just go for it, dude! # Don’t throw away your chances. Just go for it! # Don’t listen to him, Jeannie, go for it! How will you ever know unless you try?

Question 45

to be (as) thick as a brick, to be (as) dumb as a rock, the lights are on but nobody is at home # Jen’s new girlfriend is very nice, but she’s thick as a brick.

Question 46

There are plenty of fish in the sea # When John broke up with Ann, I told her not to worry. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. It’s too bad that your secretary quit, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Question 47

as stubborn as a mule

Question 48

to make living # Most people work to make a living # You can make a good living (= earn a lot of money) in sales if you have the right attitude.

Question 49

to make one’s exit # When the game finished, the spectators made their way to the exit.

Question 50

[get | lay] your hands on sth # She’s only marrying him to get her hands on his money. # I need to go to the library and get my hands on this book for my research paper. # I’ve finally got my hands on this very rare Beatles recording! # Do you know where I can get my hands on a Russian dictionary? # I’d buy a new car if only I could lay my hands on the money.