Idioms Flashcards
STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTE/CHORD
To be perfectly suitable for a particular situation or circumstance; to get something exactly right.
Exs.:
The commercial struck the right note/chord with its target audience, and was one of the most highly rated spots of the year.
It’s tricky trying to strike the right note/chord during a job interview, when you’re trying to sell yourself while remaining relatable.
IN PLACE
Be in the appropriate or usual position or order; be ready.
Ex.: With everything in place, she started the slide show
For the transport scheme to work, certain conditions need to be in place first.
BE GOING PLACES
Sb/sth is likely to become very successful.
Exs.:
Alice is definitely going places with that singing voice of hers.
One of the doctors said, `You’re a hell of a surgeon. You are going places.’
If we can play like that every week, then this club is going places.
A PLACE OF ONE’S OWN
A PLACE TO CALL ONE’S OWN
One’s own home.
Exs.: After spending a year sleeping on friends’ couches to save money, I was ready to have a place to call my own. I am tired of living with my parents. I want a place of my own.
OUT OF PLACE
1) Not in the usual or proper place;
2) Not appropriate for or fitting with the current surroundings or environment;
Exs.: We need to put everything back perfectly—Mom and Dad will know if even one book is out of place.
I’m afraid your type of humor might be a little out of place in such a formal venue.
I always felt out of place in school, like I was there by mistake.
FALL INTO PLACE
- To suddenly make sense; become natural.
Once he explained the instructions to me more thoroughly, everything fell into place, and I was able to complete the project.
The lesson started to fall in place after I re-read the chapter. - To produce an ideal or desired outcome.
There were a lot of missteps along the way, but all of our plans have finally fallen in place.
If everything falls into place, we’ll be rich.
THERE’S A TIME AND A PLACE (FOR EVERYTHING)
Said when someone is behaving in a way that you do not think is suitable for the situation they are in.
Ex.: Anna shouldn’t have spoken against the Mayor at the council meeting. There’s a time and place for doing such things.
BE ALL OVER THE PLACE
- If things are all over the place, they are spread over a very large area, usually in a disorganized way.
There were clothes lying all over the place. - If you say that someone is all over the place, you mean that they are confused or disorganized, and unable to think clearly or act sensibly.
She only had two weeks to prepare and she was all over the place trying not to collapse. When I played in the Scottish tournament I was all over the place.
TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES
In every practical or functional sense; almost completely.
Ex.: To all intents and purposes, the gym is ready for tonight’s dance. There’s only a few small things we still need to do.
SERVE ONE’S/THE PURPOSE (WELL/JUST FINE)
To fit or satisfy the necessary requirements; to be useful for or fit to achieve some aim, goal, or purpose.
Exs.: Well, it isn’t a very pretty car, but it should serve the purposes of our mission.
Child: “But mom, I want a smartphone!” Mother: “Nonsense, the cell phone you have serves the purpose just fine.”
BE/GET AXED
= be discharged or fired, expelled, reduced or rejected.
It’s great living in a village environment, far from the stresses of city life – but we have few facilities locally, so it was a real blow when the bus service into town was axed.
That’s/it’s A MUST
= that which is requisite, necessary, or indispensable.
Exs.: We have a car-share scheme too, of course, that’s a must if you’re setting up a scheme like ours, so nobody’s absolutely dependent on the bikes in foul weather or if they fall ill.
BE DEAD SET ON sth
= to be determined to do sth
Exs.: I work at the hospital, and didn’t have much choice but to join the Cycle Challenge – everyone in my department was dead set on it, mostly for environmental reasons – though some do compete in cycle races too.
SET sb/sth BACK
= to delay or hinder the progress of sth/sb
Ex.: You do need a decent bike though, with good gears and lights, and you’ve got to dress appropriately, and all that can set you back a bit.
GO OVER THE TOP
= to go beyond a certain limit, threshold, goal, or quota.
Ex.: Some people go over the top and get a racing bike, but I’m not really into the whole cycling fraternity thing.
STEER CLEAR OF sth/sb
= to avoid sth/sb
Exs.: I’ve never been tempted to seek out cycling buddies actually, because I’ve heard that cycling clubs can be a bit competitive … I’d say steer clear of all that.
MEANS TO AN END
= a thing you do only in order to achieve or obtain something else.
Ex.: For some people, cycling’s like a means to an end – it gets you from A to B, whereas for others it’s more
of a lifestyle choice.
BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW
= to take on more responsibility than one can handle.
Ex.: I now give talks to fellow sufferers on the benefits of cycling. I’m always saying: ‘Don’t bite off more than you can chew – gradually build up stamina.
DRAW A LINE AT sth
= allow or accept sth up to a particular point, but not beyond it
Aunt Peggy was fine with us setting her up on a date, but she drew a line at letting us create an online dating profile for her.
