Idioms Flashcards
Every cloud has a silver lining
Even if the situation is hard, stay optimistic because better times will come.
Every cloud has a silver lining, you will get over it very soon.
A hot potato
The discussed topic is very controversial.
Gender equality is a hot potato.
Let the sleeping dogs lie
Do not get involved in the situation.
I think this is a good example of a situation in which the best thing to do is let the sleeping dogs lie.
Let sleeping dogs lie, you were not there so you cannot comment.
Once in a blue moon
Not very often; seldom
I reckon I read books once in a blue moon.
Steal someone’s thunder
Take credit for someone else’s accomplishments
In the business environment, people stealing other people’s thunder are not rare.
He stole his colleague’s thunder about doing an excellent job.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Do not rely on a situation before it happens
Before committing to make the payment, wait till you receive the money from the bank. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
It takes two to tango
Both people involved in a situation are equally responsible for it
Don’t blame me for the argument. It takes two to tango! You are equally responsible
Your guess is as good as mine
do not know the answer
I did not know how to solve the problem and her guess was as good as mine. So, ended up with a bigger issue in our hands.
“How far do you think this place is?” “Your guess is as good as mine.”
See eye to eye
to agree fully with another person on a subject
Although we both share very similar interests, we do not see eye to eye on everything.
He is looking for a new job as he does not see eye to eye with his manager.
Catch someone off guard
Catch a person by surprise
She was totally caught off guard when they ask her to leave the company.
The news caught her completely off guard – she didn’t know what to say.
Drag your heels
to do something slowly because you don’t want to do it.
past= dragged
The government is dragging its heels in implementing real changes.
I suspect the management is dragging its heels on this issue.
