Idioms and Phrases Flashcards

1
Q

Rank and File

A

Ordinary People

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

By fits and starts

A

In short periods, not regularly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

A wee bit

A

A little

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Out of the wood

A

Free from all difficulties and dangers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Under his thumb

A

Under his control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

At one’s wits end

A

In a state where one does not know what to do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

In the nick of time

A

Just at the last moment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Between the devil and the deep sea

A

Between two dangers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Burn the midnight oil

A

Work or study hard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Call a spade a spade

A

Speak frankly and directly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Come off with flying colours

A

Be highly successful

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Hoping against hope

A

Without hope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Hit the nail on the head

A

Do or say the exact thing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

An axe to grind

A

A personal interest in the matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

To get rid of

A

Dispose of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

At daggars drawn

A

Bitterly hostile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

To play ducks and drakes

A

To act foolishly or inconsistently

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

To take the bull by the horns

A

To tackle a problem in a bold and direct fashion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Rain cats and dogs

A

Rain heavily

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

To move heaven and earth

A

To make a supreme effort

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

No avail

A

Without any result

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Bark up the wrong tree

A

Acccuse or denounce the wrong person

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Keep one at bay

A

Keep one at a distance

24
Q

Make a clean breast of it

A

Confess - especially when a person has done a wrong thing

25
Q

Have a card up one’s sleeve

A

Have a secret plan in reserve

26
Q

Like a car on hot bricks

A

Very nervous

27
Q

Cat and dog life

A

Life full of quarrels

28
Q

Cock and bull story

A

Made up story that one should not believe

29
Q

Cry for the moon

A

Ask for the impossible

30
Q

The pros and cons

A

The various aspects of a matter in detail

31
Q

Be in a tight corner

A

In a very difficult situation

32
Q

Cross one’s t’s and dots

A

Be precise, to pay close attention

33
Q

At arm’s length

A

To keep at a distance

34
Q

Out of the question

A

Impossible

35
Q

Out of the way

A

Strange

36
Q

Show a clean pair of heals

A

Run away

37
Q

Keep one’s fingers crossed

A

The anxiety in which you hope that nothing will upset your plans

38
Q

Sitting on the fence

A

Hesitate between two decisions

39
Q

Spread like wild fire

A

Spread quickly

40
Q

The gift of the gab

A

Talent for speaking

41
Q

By hook or by crook

A

By fair or foul means

42
Q

Feather one’s own nest

A

Make money unfairly

43
Q

Throw out of gear

A

Disturb the work

44
Q

Take to one’s heels

A

Run away

45
Q

Tooth and nail

A

With all one’s power

46
Q

Die in harness

A

Die while in service

47
Q

Take a leaf out of one’s book

A

Imitate one

48
Q

Leave no stone unturned

A

Use all available means

49
Q

A man of straw

A

A man of no substance

50
Q

Read between the lines

A

Understand the hidden meaning

51
Q

In cold blood

A

Deliberately and without emotion

52
Q

A thorn in the flesh

A

A constant source of annoyance

53
Q

Smell a rat

A

Suspect something foul

54
Q

Harp on the same string

A

Dwell on the same subject

55
Q

Bury the hatchet

A

End the quarrel and make peace

56
Q

Leave one in the lurch

A

Desert one in difficulties; leave one in a helpless condition

57
Q

Like a fish out of water

A

In a strange situation