Idioms Flashcards
It’s catch-22.
An expression meaning an unpleasant situation from which you cannot escape because you need to do one thing before doing a second, but you need to do the second thing before doing the first.
n. , s. Catch-22
n. , pl. Catch-22’s, Catch-22s.
It’s a catch-22.
I’m in a Catch-22 situation.
In the catch-22 of the/a/an …
There is a Catch-22 with the/a/an …
utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively
BARK: utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively
Exs.:
‘Don’t just stand there, give me a hand, ’ she barked at the shop assistant.
Meanwhile our lord and master would sit and drink one cup of tea after another, barking orders from time to time.
shout loudly (loud outburst)
BELLOW: shout loudly (loud outburst)
Ex.:
The security guard was bellowing out instructions to all the cars pulling into the parking lot.
Sometimes they can be heard bellowing far away on the shoreline in very great numbers.
if a group of people or a place is doing this, there is a lot of activity or excitement
BUZZ: if a group of people or a place is buzzing, there is a lot of activity or excitement
Exs.:
The canteen, a gloomy area in the basement, was buzzing with talk about Steinmark.
The whole office seemed to be buzzing with the sound of machinery.
to talk quickly in a friendly way without stopping, especially about things that are not serious or important
CHATTER:
1) to talk quickly in a friendly way without stopping, especially about things that are not serious or important
Ex.: She chattered excitedly like a child.
They poured out of the school chattering with their friends.
2) if your teeth are chattering, you are so cold or frightened that your teeth are knocking together
Ex.: Our teeth chattered from the cold.
to speak in a happy high voice
CHIRP:
1) to speak in a happy high voice
Ex.: ‘Yes, all finished, ’ he chirped.
2) speak in a high voice, or (of mobile phone,
electronic equipment) emit a high-pitched noise
Ex.: You even miss the sense of office noise that constant chirping of faxes and phones that indicates business is being done.
to speak in a low rough voice, as if you have a sore throat
CROAK: to speak in a low rough voice, as if you have a sore throat
Ex.: ‘Help!’ she croaked, her throat dry with fear.
to say something in a low angry voice
GROWL: to say something in a low angry voice
Ex.: ‘Get out of my way, ’ he growled.
The thin man complained and continued to argue but no-one took notice but Michael, who growled tersely at his cowardice.
Instead, after work my stomach was always growling.
a shout or laugh that shows you think something is funny or stupid
HOOT: a shout or laugh that shows you think something is funny or stupid ( a hoot of laughter/derision etc)
Ex.: Hoots of laughter rose from the audience.
Needless to say, no lunch for him, as he retreated amidst hoots and laughter, carrying the offending object.
If the skills dipped, there would be hoots of laughter.
Well, he couldn’t give a hoot, either! (= doesn’t care)
to make a long loud cry because you are unhappy, angry, or in pain, or because you are amused or excited
HOWL:
1) to make a long loud cry because you are unhappy, angry, or in pain, or because you are amused or excited
Exs.:
Upstairs, one of the twins began to howl (= cry).
Somewhere, someone was howling in pain.
He makes audiences howl with laughter.
2) HOWL FOR sth: to shout or demand something angrily
Ex.: Republicans have been howling for military intervention.
3) if the wind howls, it makes a loud high sound as it blows
Ex.: I could hear the wind howling in the trees.
to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed
HUM:
1) to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed
Exs.:
Tony was humming to himself as he drove along.
He began to hum a tune.
2) if a place hums, it is full of activity – use this to show approval → busy
Exs.:
By nine o’clock, the restaurant was humming.
The streets were humming with life.
3) the sound of an expensive car engine or a piece of
machinery, also of a busy place
Exs.:
The computer was still on, humming away.
Sewing machines hummed on the factory floor.
The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.
to shout something in a deep powerful voice;
to laugh loudly and continuously
ROAR: 1) to shout something in a deep powerful voice Exs.: ‘Get out of my house!’ he roared. The crowd roared in delight. "You idiot!" he roared.
2) to laugh loudly and continuously
Exs.:
By this time, Michael was roaring with laughter.
3) if a vehicle roars somewhere, it moves very quickly and noisily
Exs.:
The Ferrari roared and shot off down the road.
to shout loudly in an unpleasant high voice because you are angry, afraid, or excited
SCREECH:
1) to shout loudly in an unpleasant high voice because you are angry, afraid, or excited
Exs.:
Sue grabbed him, screeching, and started hitting him with her fists.
““Get out!’’ she screeched angrily. ““I hate you!’’
2) if a vehicle screeches, its wheels make a high unpleasant noise as it moves along or stops
Exs.:
The train screeched as it pulled into the station.
The plane’s tires screeched as it touched down on the runway.
to complain loudly and angrily
SQUAWK: to complain loudly and angrily
Exs.:
They squawked that Jack was robbing them again, taking away their chance to make a big tourist dollar.
to say something in a very high voice, especially because you are nervous or excited;
just pass an exam
SQUEAK:
1) to say something in a very high voice, especially because you are nervous or excited
Exs.: ‘Too late!’ she squeaked.
2) SQUEAK THROUGH
to succeed, win, or pass a test by a very small amount so that you only just avoid failure
Exs.:
She just squeaked through her math test.
