Idioms and Expressions Flashcards
Acertar o prego na cabeça
Someone that solved a problem precisely.
hit the nail on the head
You’ve hit the nail on the head
Not focused, not alert
Not on the ball
I’m really not on the ball today
Ficar de olho
keep an eye on
I will keep an eye on your house whille you are away.
Queridinho do professor
teacher’s pet
He is a teacher’s pet
Overreaction
Over the top
not completely believe something that someone said
Take something with a pinch of salt
Pegando no pé
pulling someones leg.
I wouldn’t take what he said seriously. He was just pulling your leg.
em cima do muro
sitting on the fence
I’m sitting on the fence
confront the consequences
face the music
I believe that I will get into trouble, but I ready to face the music
relaxar
let your hair down
It’s time to let your hair down
a bola está com você
The ball is in your court now
Nunca pensei muito nisso
I neve gave enough thougth to this
make people surprise or shocked
Raise eyebrows
make people excited about something
Raised the roof
The announcement of the surprise party raised the roof
Te vejo em breve
When you are looking foward to see someone again
See you right around the bend
two different and opposite opnions
poles part
bem em frente
dead ahead
The school is dead ahead. Just two miles from here.
very close to some place
within a stone’s thrown of a place
The hotel was within a stone’s throw of the beach
an unique and unrepeatable opportunity
uma vez na vida
once-in-a-lifetime
We wan an once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zeland
make a decision on the spot
play it by ear
We don’t have a fixed agenda for the road trip; let’s play it by ear.
Eu não vou estar pronto até lá
I will not ready by then
An indication of what future holds
Exemplo de como vão ser as coisas
The shape of things to come
The increasing prevalence of remote work is the shape of thing to come.
No longo prazo
In the long run
In the long run, investing in education yields significant benefits.
Curto prazo
Short-term
Although there may be short-term challenges, in the long run it is good.
metaphorically to mean clearing obstacles or making preparations for something to happen or progress smoothly.
Pave the way
As teachers, our role is pave the way for the students.
Become friend of somenone
Fazer amizade
made friends with someone
I made friends with her many years ago.
To have the same opinion
See eye to eye
It’s refreshing to find colleagues who see eye to eye on milestones.
Meet someone unexpectely
Bumped into
We bumped into her teacher in the supermaket
Say that a feature is commom in an a family
Run in the family
A lack of knack for finances runs in the family.
Like somebody easily and quickly.
Click with someone
As soon as I met Tom, we just clicked
Firm and authoritative stand
Não arredar o pé
Putting your foot down
She put her foot down and insist on fair treatment in the office.
High positive opinion obout someone
Think the word of someone
I realy think the world of my colleague; she’s so hardworking.
Parecido
Look alike
You look alike your brother
a place where someone go regularly
Regular haunt
The daily struggles and busyness that people experience
Aborrecimento e agitação
hassles and bustles
I’m tired of all the hassles and bustles of city life; I need a break.
Act of entertaining someone by treating them to a meal, often accompanied by wine or other alcoholic beverages.
Wine and Dine
To impress his date, James wines and dines her date at an elegant rest.
A person’s strong liking or craving for sweet foods
Sweet tooth
Emily couldn’t resist indulging her sweet tooth.
Quanto mais melhor
The more, the merrier
Analyze or point out the similarities and differences between two or more things.
Draw a comparison
You can not draw a comparison between then and now
ter em mente
bear in mind
vale a pena, vale o tempo
worth your time
Deal with something directly
Tackle this problem head-on
We need to tackle this problem head-on before it got worse.
To define a goal
Set a sight on
After completing his education, he set a sight on building a career
to progress or advance, often in one’s career, education, or life in general.
avançar; progredir
Get ahead
Studying regularly helped him get ahead in his studies
Be busy with a task or several tasks
Have your hands full
She must have her hands full with these 4 children
Do more than you are required
Go the extra mile
Ter olho para detalhes
Have an eye for detail
um pequano aviso (alerta)
One word of caution
To memorize something
Decorar
Learning something by heart
means that bureaucratic obstacles or administrative barriers have been removed or resolved.
the red tape is out of the way
I have been planning open my own shop for years, but now all the red tape is out of the way.
to start a new activity or project with great energy, enthusiasm, and efficiency.
hit the ground running
After years, I’m ready to hit the groung running and begin working.
can be used to give someone irrestrict autority to spend
cheque em branco
Blank check
I live on a budget, I don’t have a blank check
Carta na manga
ace up my sleeve
quem não arrisca não petisca
nothing ventured, nothing gained
a vote formed by rasing hands to show agreement
show of hands
Can we have a show of hands for those who agree with the idea?
ficar sem tempo
run out of time
the as “in order to”
so as to (formal);
so that (less formal)
I studied english so as to become a bilingual teacher.
They checked goods for damages so that costumers do not receive broken items
contar uma mentira boa
tell a white lie
dizer rumores
start/ spread a rumor
have a persistent ideia with little or no evidence
tenho uma suspeita
have a sneaking suspicion
to avoid bad luck
bate na madeira
knock on wood
feeling that something is not right
tenho sérias dúvidas/medos
Have serious misgivings/doubts
say something indirectly
dar uma dica
drop a hint
dedo duro
Tattletale
information passed by talking
boca a boca
word of mouth
The best publicity is word of mouth
um golpe de sorte
A stroke of luck
falar pelas costas
talking behind people’s backs.
Paulo is always talking behind people’s backs.
describe something that is sad, distressing, or disappointing in appearance or situation
sorry sight
After the storm passed, the once beautiful garden was now a sorry sight, with uprooted trees and flowers strewn everywhere.
something unexpected or surprising happening suddenly and without warning
A bolt from the blue
The news of his sudden promotion was a bit of a bolt from the blue for the entire team.
-informal way of saying that you cannot accept an invitation or take advantage of an offer at the moment, but you would like to accept it later.
Rain check
I’d love to grab coffee with you, but I have a meeting right now. Can I get a rain check?
to describe someone or something that is in perfect condition, health, or order
as right as rain
After a good night’s sleep, I felt as right as rain and ready to tackle the day ahead
means that success, praise, or attention has caused someone to become arrogant, conceited, or overly confident.
gone to somebody’s head
After winning the championship, the athlete’s success seemed to have gone to his head, as he started to boast and act arrogantly towards his teammates.
become very famous
ter o nome nos holofotes
Have your name in lights
refers to the particular achievement or attribute that makes someone or something notable or well-known.
Claim to fame
The small town’s claim to fame is its annual strawberry festival, drawing visitors from all over the region.
Her claim to fame as an author came with the publication of her debut novel, which became a bestseller overnight.
a very importatn day, or with a special event or memory
Red-letter day
If I pass my exam, it will be a red letter day.
the opposite, less positive, or less popular side of something
on the flip side
idiom used to describe something that is exactly right or perfectly suited to a particular situation or person.
to a T
The new dress fits her figure to a T
describe something that is extremely exceptional, surpassing normal or expected levels.
off the charts
The success of their latest album is off the charts
critizing something, judging
Knocking on something
I am not knocking on video games
instant; make a quick decision
on-the-spot
We made the decision on-the-spot
large amount quantity - formal
a great deal of
Countries often have a great deal of cultural diversity within them
idiom to suggest that when you are in a foreign or unfamiliar place, it’s wise to adopt the customs or behavior of the people who live there.
when in Rome
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
I’m not accustomed to haggling, but when in Rome, I’ll give it a try at the market.
espero o melhor
hope for the best
I did not study for the exam, but I’ll hope for the best
o que o futuro guarda/reserva
what the future holds
idiom to express how things are going to be in the future
a forma como as coisas vão ser
the shape of things to come
I really hope this isn’t the way of things to come.
in order to
for the sake of
Let’s try to get along for the sake of peace
tenha em mente
bear in mind
say what you fell, even if its controversial
fale oq vc pensa
speak you mind
don’t be afraid to speak your mind
I wanto to be upfront and speak my mind.
suponho que sim
I suppose so
