Idioms

Question 1

read between the lines

Answer 1

find or look for a hidden or extra meaning in sth a person says or writes, usu. their real feelings about sth

Question 2

reach for the stars

Answer 2

try to be successful at sth that is difficult

Question 3

add fuel to the fire

Answer 3

do or say sth which makes a difficult situation worse, or makes sb even more angry

Question 4

shoot the messenger

Answer 4

blame the person who gives the news that sth bad has happened instead of the person who is really responsible

Question 5

miss the mark

Answer 5

fail to achieve the result that was intended

Question 6

take the bull by the horns

Answer 6

deal with a difficult or dangerous situation in a direct and brave way

Question 7

hit the nail on the head

Answer 7

describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem

Question 8

have bigger fish to fry

Answer 8

have more important, interesting, or useful things to do

Question 9

burn the midnight oil

Answer 9

work or study until very late at night

Question 10

bite the bullet

Answer 10

force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situation

Question 11

throw caution to the winds

Answer 11

stop caring about how dangerous sth might be, start taking risks

Question 12

stay the course

Answer 12

continue doing sth until it has finished or been completed

Question 13

get the show on the road

Answer 13

start an activity or a journey, especially one that needs a lot of organization

Question 14

hit the spot

Answer 14

be exactly what is needed

Question 15

set the scene for sth

Answer 15

create the conditions in which sth can eaily happen

Question 16

keep the wolf from the door

Answer 16

make sure you have enough money to pay for the basic things like food, rent, heating etc

Question 17

jump the gun

Answer 17

do sth before the right time

Question 18

keep your eye on the ball

Answer 18

give your attention to what you are doing at the time

Question 19

pull the plug

Answer 19

bring a business project, plan, etc to an end, especially by taking away financial support

Question 20

cook the books

Answer 20

change numbers dihonestly in the accounts of an organization, especially in order to steal money from it

Question 21

bet the farm

Answer 21

risk everything you have on sth

Question 22

live off the fat of the land

Answer 22

have plenty of money to spend on the best food, drink, entertainment, etc

Question 23

hold the purse strings

Answer 23

be the person who controls the amount of money spent and the wa in which it is spent

Question 24

strike the right note

Answer 24

do say or write sth that is suitable for a particular occasion

Question 25

sort out the sheep from the goats

Answer 25

separate the good people from the bad people

Question 26

press the panic button

Answer 26

react in a sudden or an extreme way to sth unexpected that has frightened you

Question 27

feel the pinch

Answer 27

be under pressure bc you don't have as much money as you had before

Question 28

learn the ropes

Answer 28

learn how to do a particular job, task etc correctly

Question 29

draw the short straw

Answer 29

be the person in a group who is chosen or force to do sth unpleasant that nobody wants to do

Question 30

paint the town red

Answer 30

go to a lot of different bars, clubs, etc and enjoy yourself

Question 31

bring home the bacon

Answer 31

be succesful in sth, be the person who earns money for a family, organization, etc

Question 32

get the hang of sth

Answer 32

learn how to do something, esp. if it is not obvious our simple

Question 33

pull the wool of sb's eyes

Answer 33

deceive sb, hide the truth from sb

Question 34

have a whale of a time

Answer 34

enjoy yourself very much

Question 35

turn the clock back

Answer 35

return to the past, return to old-fashioned ideas, customs, etc

Question 36

bridge the gap

Answer 36

make it easier to move from one thing to another or for two groups to communicate with each other

Question 37

be up in arms

Answer 37

protest angrily

Question 38

fight a rearguard action

Answer 38

try to stop sth but w/o much hope of success

Question 39

make a last ditch attempt

Answer 39

try the last possible solution

Question 40

stick to your guns

Answer 40

refuse to change your decision

Question 41

gain ground

Answer 41

become more important, progress

Question 42

break ranks

Answer 42

disobey orders, fail to co-operate

Question 43

on your watch

Answer 43

during a period when you are responsible

Question 44

catch someone off guard

Answer 44

surprise someone

Question 45

be at loggerheads with sb

Answer 45

have aconflict with sb

Question 46

burn your bridges

Answer 46

make decisions that cannot be changed

Question 47

take something on board

Answer 47

accept sth, such as a piece of advice

Question 48

a close call

Answer 48

an accident prevented at the last moment

Question 49

a loose cannon

Answer 49

an unpredictable, dangerous person

Question 50

steer clear of sb

Answer 50

avoid meeting sb

Question 51

clear the decks

Answer 51

finish earlier jobs so a new one can be started

Question 52

to be in the doldrums

Answer 52

not make any progress

Question 53

to be left high and dry

Answer 53

to be in a comfortable situation

Question 54

in the wake of someting

Answer 54

after or as the result of a big event

Question 55

on an even keel

Answer 55

calm an d not likely to change suddenly

Question 56

to get into gear

Answer 56

start working effectively

Question 57

be in the fast lane

Answer 57

experience lots of action and excitement

Question 58

middle of the road

Answer 58

not extreme, ordinary

Question 59

go into overdrive

Answer 59

begin to work extremely fast

Question 60

be in the driving seat

Answer 60

be in charge

Question 61

take a back seat

Answer 61

let other people take action

Question 62

be on the skids

Answer 62

be in trouble, in decline

Question 63

go belly up

Answer 63

go bankrupt

Question 64

bone of contention

Answer 64

point of disagreement

Question 65

carrot and stick method

Answer 65

using rewards and penalties

Question 66

ruffle sb's feathers

Answer 66

make sb feel annoyed

Question 67

bite the hand that feeds you

Answer 67

be ungrateful

Question 68

call somebody to heel

Answer 68

make someone obey

Question 69

go for the jugular

Answer 69

attack in order to cause great damage

Question 70

to be out on a limb

Answer 70

be in a risky situation

Question 71

the pecking order

Answer 71

the hierarchy of an organisation

Question 72

take centre stage

Answer 72

become the most important person

Question 73

set the stage for sth

Answer 73

prepare for sth

Question 74

jump on the bandwagon

Answer 74

join a movement bc it is fashionable

Question 75

strike a chord

Answer 75

cause an emotional response

Question 76

play second fiddle to sb

Answer 76

be less important than sb else

Question 77

face the music

Answer 77

accept responsibility for what you've done

Question 78

call the tune

Answer 78

be in charge

Question 79

walk a tightrope

Answer 79

be in a delicate position