Idioms And Phrasal Verbs ( Intermediate ) Flashcards
Lose face
Be less respected or look stupid because of something you have done.
Example:
He could lose face if other people see that he got everything wrong.
Turn a blind eye ( to sth )
Pretend not to see or notice sth, usually sth bad.
Example :
The teacher turned a blind eye to some of the children’s bad behaviour.
Out of the blue
Suddenly and unexpectedly.
Example :
My uncle just arrived out of the blue.
In the distance
Far away, but able to be seen or heard
Example:
We could see lights in the distance.
Without fail
Always.
Example:
I ring my mother every day without fail.
If all else fails
Used to say what sb can do if nothing else they have done is successful.
Example:
If all else fails, i’ll have to sell the car.
That/It depends
Used to say that you are not certain about sth because other things have to be considered.
Example:
Do you want to go out? That/It depends.
Rings a bell
It means it is a name that sounds familiar to you.
Steer/stay clear of
Take care to avoid sth or sb , because it or they may cause problems.
Example:
I would steer/stay clear of that place; it is not very safe.
Why/ how/ where/ who , etc on earth (INF)
Used to emphasize a question when you are angry or surprised or can’t think oc an obvious answer.
Example:
Why on earth are you shouting?
How on earth did he pass ths exam? He didn’t work at all.
Be in/ get into a state (INF)
Be/become anxiousor upset.
Example:
She was in a terrible state, so i decided to stay and look after her.
Terrible here means ‘extreme’ so she was extremely anxious.
Make sense
Be a practical and logical thing to do.
Example:
It makes a lot of sense to buy now while houses are cheap.
How come (INF)
Used to ask the reason for sth which is surprising
Notice the word order after how come is in statement form although it is a question
Example:
How come you are here so early?
Like mad (INF)
Very fast , hard, much
SYN flat out
Example
I had to run like mad to catch the bus.
Be in two minds(about doing sth)
Be unable to decide what you think about sth
In the end
After a period of time
Be a good thing (that)
Be lucky that
A good laugh (INF)
Amusing and fun to be with
Be rolling in money (INF)
Have a lot of money
Apparently (adv)
1-Used to say that you have heared that sth is true although you are not sure
2- according to the way someone likes or a situation appears, although you can’t be sure.
Extract
Summary , abstract
Bright and early
Early in the morning
Take advantage of sth
Make good use of sth
Example:
We left camp bright and early to take advantage of the good weather.
Change your mind
Change your decision or opinion abouth sth.
Get nowhere
Make no progress or have no success.
Example:
Even he agreed we were getting nowhere and announced that we were lost.
Be supposed to do sth
If you are supposed to do sth, you should do it because sb told you to do it , or because it is your responsibility to do it.
SYN : be meant to do sth
In that case
Used to say what will happen or what you will do as a result of a particular situation.
In charge ( of sb/sth)
Having control or command of sb or sth
A piece of cake (INF)
A thing that is very easy to do.
A stone’s throw
A short distance
Example:
We could see we were only a stone’s throw from the main road.
Famous last words.
Used when you think sb is speaking with too much confidence about sth that they think will happen
Better late than never
It is better to arrive late than not at all
More or less
Almost or appriximately
Dont ask me (INF)
Used to say that you dont know the answer to sth.
SYN : search me
Thank heavens
Used to say you are pleased and relieved about sth.
Laugh sth off
Joke about sth to show you think it is not serious or important.
Example:
I tried to laugh it off.
Get through (to sb)
Make contact with sb by phone
Example:
There was no signal on my mobile so we couldn’t get through.
Set off
1to start to go somewhere
I’ll set off early to avoid the traffic.
for
Jerry and I set off on foot for the beach.
2set something ↔ offto make something start happening, especially when you do notintendto do so
News that the claims might be true set off widespread panic.
Hong Kong’s stock market fell, setting off a global financial crisis.
Register
In written English, people often say that somethingtriggersa particular reaction or event, rather thansetsitoff, because it sounds more formal:This couldtriggera global financial crisis.
Example:
Before he changed his mind and set off in another direction.
Fed up
informalannoyedorbored, andwantingsomething to change
She felt tired and a bit fed up.
fed up with
I’m really fed up with this constant rain.
Annagot fed upwith waiting.
Example:
We were fed up with walking round in circles.
Announced
[transitive]
1to officially tell people about something, especially about a plan or adecision
They announced their engagement in ‘The Times’.
announce a decision/intention/plan
The government has announced plans to create 10,000 new jobs.
announce that
A government spokesman announced that the hostages had been released.At the end of their meeting,it was announced thatan agreement had been reached.
announce something to somebody
Cordon announced his resignation to staff members on Wednesday.
2to say something, especially something that other people will not like, in aloudandconfidentwaySYNstate
‘I’m not going to their party, ’ Maggie announced.
announce (that)
He stood up and announced that he was ready to go.
3to give information to people using aloudspeakerormicrophone, especially at anairportorrailwaystation
We arrived just as they were announcing the arrival of Flight 207 from Minneapolis
Valley
anareaoflowerlandbetween twolinesofhillsormountains, usually with ariverflowingthrough it
Furious
1veryangry
furious at/about
Residents in the area are furious at the decision.
furious with
She was furious with herself for letting things get out of hand.
furious that
Her family are furious that her name has been published by the press.
She wasabsolutely furious.
2[usually before noun]done with a lot ofenergy,effort, orspeed
Neil set off at afurious pace.
furious debate/argument etc
There was afurious rowover the proposals.
The action isfast and furious.
Give him a ring
1
Followed up
1
Steep
1aroad,hilletc that is steepslopesat a highangle
The road became rocky and steep.
a steep climb to the top
2steepprices,chargesetc are unusuallyexpensiveOPPlow
steep rents
3involvinga big increase ordecreaseSYNsharp
steep cuts in benefits
steep increase/rise
a steep increase in house prices
steep decrease/drop
a steep drop in orders
Example:
We followed him up a steep path
March off
1
Exclamations
a sound, word, or shortsentencethat you say suddenly and loudly because you aresurprised,angry, orexcited
Proverb
1
(By/through) trial and error
If you do sth by trial and error , you test many different methods of doing sth in order to find the best
Example:
I learned most of what i know about gardening through trial and error.
Live on
1- If sth lives on, it continues to exist
Example:
Ali’s memory will live on.
2-live on sth to have a particular amount of money to buy food and other necessary things
Example:
I dont know how they manage to live on $55 a week.
3-live on sth to eat a lot of a particular type of food.
Example:
They live on bread and potatoes.
Good grief
Used when you are slightly surprised or annoyed.
Example:
Good grief!what a mess!
In the main
Mostly
Find my feet
To become confident in a new situation , especially one that is difficult at first.
Example:
Rob is still finding his feet as a coach.
Absence make the heart grow fonder.
Used to say that being away from someone makes you like them more.
Fact of life
An unpleasant situation that exists and that must be accepted.
Example:
Persuading others to accept the hard financial facts of life is not a very popular job.
