Idioms Flashcards
by and large :
I don’t like a few things about my job, but by and large it is quite enjoyable.
= generally, usually
out of the question
It is out of the question for us to do anything about the chaotic traffic.
= no way, there is nothing to talk about
on the tip of my tongue
I just couldn’t remember her name even though it was on the tip of my tongue.
weigh up pros and cons
When you decide to do something, you should weigh up the pros and cons.
all along
I realized all along that he was a thief.
=from the beginning
for a rainy day
Even if you are rich, you should save money for a rainy day.
get on my nerves
I do wish you’d stop biting your nails. It really gets on my nerves.
= make sbd annoy
hit the roof
My father hit the roof when he found out that I’d damaged the car.
= become angry
saw pink elephant
He lurched from wall to wall because he saw pink elephant.
= blind drunk, dead drunk, as drunk as a lord
made my blood boil
My brother broke my glasses and that really made my blood boil.
get a splitting headache
I really must go and lie down for a while, I’ve got a splitting headache.
beat about the bush
Stop beating about the bush, John! Just tell me exactly what the problem is.
= talking around the subject without main point
the entire day
We spent the entire day looking for a new apartment.
= all day along
last straw
I was already fed up with the job, but when my boss walked into my office and told me he expected me to work overtime that was the last straw.
: insignificant matter that upsets a delicate balance
= giọt nước tràn ly
chalk from cheese
I couldn’t believe that they were brothers. They were different as chalk from cheese.
take smt/sbd for granted
I just took it for granted that he’d always be available.
: not appreciate and improtant
: cho điều gì là hiển nhiên, không đáng nhắc tới
take sbd into account/ consideration
It was taken into account before lauching.
= was considered, was brought up in calculations
Pay through the nose
If you want a flat in the center of the city you have to pay through the nose for it.
( pay the high price )
selling like hot cakes
Those smartphones are selling like hot cakes. Buy now or cry later!
sow one’s wild oats
He is a typical type of people who sow his wild oats.
shake like a leaf
She was so frightend that she was shaking like a leaf.
know it like the back of one’s hand
Peter was born and brought up in Hastings and know it like the back of his hand.
Get out of bed on the wrong side
What’s wrong with you today? Did you get out of bed on the wrong side?
chip off the old block
Nath is definitely chip off the old block - he look exactly like his father in young days.
down at heel
He was wearing very shabby, dirty clothes and looked very down at heel.
make money hand over first
Since he started his own business he has been making money hand over first.
out of practice
I can’t see us beating them at tennis court this year - we are so out of practice.
= to be bad at smt
out of order
Those machines have been out of order already.
= broke
to be in one’s shoes
You would understand my feeling of betrayal if you were in my shoes.
= to be in one’s situation
get itchy feet
He gets itchy feet - not type of people who can stay one place for long.
= want to do smt different
= want to go somewhere
a leopard can’t change it spots
It’s pointless to persuade him - a leopard can’t change it spots.
in donkey’s years
I haven’t seen my old teacher in donkey’s years.
= for a long time
by the skin of my teeth
I caught the last train to my hometown by the skin of my teeth.
