Idioms and Phrases Flashcards
make no bones about
do not have any hesitation in anything
Get on nerves
Annoying
big fish/frog in a small pond
high rank in a small organisation
Fit like a glove
Perfectly
The genomes of Zurich
A slang term for Swiss bankers
be new to the game
lack of experience in a particular thing
Pull up
Reprimand
to chip on his soulder
holding a grudge or grievance that readily provokes a fight
roof over your head
a place to live
to go down like a lead baloon
a speech, proposal, or joke that is poorly received
over head and ears
completely
strikes a chord
it reminds you of something, it seems familiar to you or you are interested in it
bitter pill to swallow
something unpleasant that must be accepted
hammer and sickle
a symbolic representation of communism in general
sweep something under a rug/ carpet
to hide something because it is embarrassing
put on a brave face
to pretend that something is not affecting you when you are facing a problem
take a deep breath
to pause, to feel strong and confident
forbidden fruit
something desired which cannot be achieved
a little bird told me
when you do not want to reveal the source of information
at a loss
to be unable to decide
after the 11th hour
at the last moment
when it rains, it pours
bad things happen in bulk
Turn up
To appear
make merry
to enjoy yourself
have (too much) time on one’s hands
to have extra time
To mince matters
Moderate or restrain one’s language to be polite or avoid giving offense. Today these phrases are nearly always put negatively, as in Not to mince matters, I feel he should resign, or Don’t mince words—say what you mean.
old wife’s tales
a wrong traditional theory or belief, often about health
hard and fast
strict
save money for a rainy day
reserve money for a time which it might be needed unexpectedly
have too much on one’s plate
to be too busy
Straw in the wind
An indication of what might happen
bury the hatchet ( hatchet - sharp part of an axe)
to make peace
royal road
an easy or direct way of achieving a desired result
sail under false colour
to pretend to be something that you are not
read between the lines
to understand the hidden meaning
to show one’s teeth
to adopt a threatening attitude
you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar
it is easier to get what you want by being polite rather than rude
as gentle as a lamb
kind innocent people
low men on the totem pole
least important man in a hierarchy or organisation
bosom friend
a very close or intimate friend.
“we have been bosom friends for years”
1) took to heels
2) head over heels
3) Kicking heels
4) To show a clean pair of heels
1) run away in fear
2) to be madly in love
3) To be relaxed and enjoy / Waste time
4) To escape
with might and main
with full force
once in blue moon
not very often or very rarely
drive a wedge between
break relationship between two people
shrug one’s shoulder
to show indifference
Go Dutch
Divide the cost
lie like a rug
tell lie shamelessly
shoulder to cry on
a person whom you can tell your problems and except sympathy
hue and cry
any loud public outcry
better the devil you know
it is sometimes better to deal with someone or thing you know than to deal with a new person or thing who could be even worse
a nervous Nellie
someone whose personality and usual behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity and timidity
throw your hat into the ring
show intention to enter into a competition
gone down the drain
what is lost forever
fold like a cheap suit
to change one’s thought frequently
Null and void
Invalid/ Empty
beside the mark
not to the point
to draw a longbow
to exaggerate something or to overstate something
Take fancy
Be attracted to someone or something, as in They took a fancy to spicy foods after their Mexican vacation , or I’m hoping he’ll take a liking to the water, now that we have a cottage on a lake
lock stock and barrel
completely
to the letter
paying attention to every details/ doing or following exactly what somebody, something says
on the cuff
on credit
be glad to see the back of someone
be happy because somebody left
brown study
a state of deep thought
In the blues
Cheerless and depressed
slow coach
a person with lazy approach of working
method to my madness
there’s a reason for someone’s strange behaviour
As hard as nail
Emotionless / To show no sympathy, kindness or fear
be in the mire
be in difficulties
set one’s teeth on edge
to irritate or annoy someone
easy on the eye
pleasant to look at
to take to heart
to be greatly affected/ to grief over
To go to the whole hog
To do it completely
to sleep with the fishes
to be dead
barking up the wrong tree
looking in the wrong place
To spill the beans
To reveal a secret
stand the test of time
it lasts for a long time
In two minds
To be undecided
blast from the past
something or someone from your past that reappeared into your life again
took over
replaced something
sour as vinegar
disagreeable
put one’s foot in it
to say something that causes someone to be embarrassed, upset, or hurt especially when the speaker did not expect that reaction
to blunder
Leave in the lurch
To desert someone
cast pearls before swine
a right thing in the wrong hands
Keep a level head
To remain calm and sensible in a difficult situation
wet blanket
one who spoils the enjoyment
mare’s nest
a false invitation
In the loop
Informed regularly
play a second fiddle
to take a subordinate position or weaker position than someone else
take one at one’s word
to be convinced of one’s sincerity and act in accordance with his/her statement
by leaps and bounds
rapidly, hurriedly
to keep oneself to oneself
to restrain oneself
kith and kin
blood relation
put will over other people’s eyes
to deceive someone into thinking well of them
queer fish
strange person
pull a fast one
play a trick
fall back on somebody
To go to somebody for support
to go for broke
to risk everything in an all-out effort
curiosity killed a cat
not to ask too many questions because it can get you in trouble.
call someone names
to call someone by unpleasant, abusive or insulting namnes
blood ran cold
he was frightened
mad as a March hare
crazy and insane
chicken feed
of very little importance
come from behind
to win after being in a losing position in a game for a long time
A cut above
Rather superior to
keep one’s fingers crossed
to wait expectantly
Leave no stone unturned
To try every possible way
in this day and age
in present
from hand to mouth
providing only bare essentials
be in the driving seat
bearing all responsibilities
rack one’s brain
think very hard about something
to be on the apex
to be at the highest point
have finger in the pie
to be involved in something
keep your chin up
encourage someone who has to bear difficult circumstances
to rip up old sores
to revive a quarrel, which was almost forgotten
it has someone’s name on it
said about something that belongs to someone or meant for someone
Give someone stick
To criticise your mock someone
bear the brunt of
to bear the main part of something unpleasant
die a dog’s death
to die a shameful death
Run into
To meet someone accidently
turn the table
position from being the weaker one to a position of being strong
gala day
celebration day
To make one’s blood boil
To make somebody furious
hard nut to crack
a difficult problem to solve/ a person difficult to understand
face the music
get reprimanded
Throw up cards
To give in / To blow away the plan
on (or off) the wagon
abstaining (or not abstaining) from drinking alcohol.
“Monty was supposed to be on the wagon”
be in black and white
to be in written down/ in printed on written from
stick one’s neck out
invite trouble
rainy day
future time of need, especially financial need
snake in the shoes
to tremble with fear or apprehension
for pete’s sake
the phrase is used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance
Floored
To surprise or confuse
wolf in sheep’s clothing
a malicious person in harmless or benevolent disguise
on one’s last legs
close to collapsing
bring a knife to the gun fight
to enter into a confrontation or other challenging situation without being adequately equipped or prepared
nurse a grudge
bear resentment for long period
in someone’s pocket
dependent on someone financially
raise eyebrows
to be surprised or show disapproval
pick up the gauntlet
to accept the challenge
talk big
to boast or brag
snake in the grass
a secret enemy
to get one’s walking papers
one can leave
in god’s name
used to add emphasis
on the table
being discussed
Pros and cons
For and against
turn tail
to run away because one is too frightened to attack
spin one’s wheels
It means wasting time and effort.
expel much effort for little or no gain
come of age
reach adulthood
1) to hang in balance
2) hang up
3) hang by a thread
1) to be uncertain
2) put something on hook or receiver/ an emotional problem or inhibition
3) be in a risky situation
fell foul of
got into trouble with
with one accord
in one voice/ unanimously
Horse sense
Basic common sense
run riot
act without restrain
golden age
period of prosperity
To pay off old scores
To refund old dues
jaundiced eyes
to look at something with a prejudiced view
to shoot the breeze
to have a casual conversation
to give oneself airs
behaving arrogantly
open question
a question which may have more than one answer
shoulder to shoulder
united effort
red flag
warning or alert
in full swing
at the height of activity
Gerrymandering way
In a manipulative and unfair way
Balloon goes up
The situation turns unpleasant or serious
cut no ice
to fail to make an impression
looked blank
was without any emotion
by fits and starts
irregularly
Watching grass grow
Very boring
between life and death
a situation involving the danger of dying or being killed
that makes the two of us
same is true for you
token strike
short strike held as warning
sail through something
to pass or progress quickly and easily
Big draw
Huge attraction
Vexed question
Controversial issue
Kick up a row
Make a great fuss / To complain loudly about something
At a snail’s pace
Slowly
tender age
young
quarrel with one’s bread and butter
to fight with the executive or employer, who is providing one’s means of living
To keep in abeyance
In a state of suspension
between the devil and deep blue sea
dilemma, a choice between two undesirable situation
the straw that broke camel’s back
small thing which causes failure
cork something up
to not allow yourself to express your anger, worry, or sadness. Controlling emotions
a bolt from the blue
an unpleasant event
easy on the ear
pleasant to listen
man in the street
an ordinary person
cock and bull story
an implausible story used as an excuse
Keep up with
Go at equal pace
Be down with
Suffering from
To explore every avenue
To try every opportunity
fish for compliments
induce someone to make a compliment
haul over the coals
to take to task, to reprimand
a red rag to a bull
something that will cause an angry or violent reaction
Keep your head
Remain calm
run the gauntlet
to go through an unpleasant experience
not all there
lack of one’s mental faculties
at sixes and seven
state of confusion, chaotic situation
donkey work
hard or boring work
steal a march
to obtain an advantage by secret means
feather in the cap
additional success
mother wit
common sense
cat’s paw
a person used by another as a dupe or tool
An open book
Straight forward and honest dealings
Throw a spanner in the works
An action that complicates a plan.
To do something that complicates a plan or even prevents it from succeeding
Giving a piece of one’s mind
Speak sharply / To disapprove /to rebuke or to scold
turn an honest living
make a legitimate living
one’s hand in the till
to steal from one’s employer (Till meaning - a place where shopkeepers keep their money in shop)
birds of the same feather
persons of same character
bed of thorns
a situation of extreme difficulty
Stir up a Hornet’s nest
To create a lot of trouble
donkey’s years
a long time
Lay it on thick
grossly exaggerate or overemplasize something
to doctor the account
to manipulate the accounts
to take to task
reprimanded him
in a split second
in very short time
Feel one’s pulse
To find what one is thinking on some point
Put your feet down
Take a firm stand / To be very strict in opposing what somebody wishes to do/ to act firmly
the printer’s devils
error in printing
Break off
Suddenly stop
Back to the drawing board
Plan it all over again
to beat a dead horse
to revive interest in hopeless issue
raw deal
when someone is ill treated
bull in a china shop
a person with no tack who upsets other
all cats are grey in the dark
in dark, the physical appearance does not matter
turned a deaf ear/ fall on deaf ears
paid no heed/ Refuse to obey/ to ignore a request or complaint
To flog a dead horse
Waste one’s efforts
kith one’s brow
to frown
to keep up
to keep intouch
At a stretch
Continuously
get on like a house on fire
two people like each other and become very close friends in a very short period
at one’s wit’s end
completely confused
by fair means or foul
in any way, honest or dishonest
in the good books
in favor with
blow one’s own trumpet
to praise oneself
to live out of suitcase
to stay very briefly in several places, with only the belonging in your suitcase
Average out
Balance
speak of the devil
someone who appears unexpectedly while being talked about
bad blood
unpleasant feeling between two people/ hatred between two families
jangle someone’s nerves
to annoy someone
to keep the professor’s fury at bay
successfully avoided the professor’s fury
Die hard
unwilling to change
keep wolf from door
to avert poverty /starvation
Eat like a horse
Eat a lot
fell short
had no effect/ fail to meet expectation
status quo
unchanged position
feel like a million/ feel like a million dollars
feel happy/ healthy
chicken hearted
lacking courage/ cowardly
take a stab at
means to attempt or try
in’s and outs
details and complexities
double-edged sword
a benefit that carries some significant but non-obvious cost or risk
a tooth for a tooth
an eye for an eye
blessing in disguise
boon/ hidden blessing
Out of wits
Greatly confused
out of the blue
totally unexpected
white lie
a minor lie
Rock the boat
to disturb a situation which was otherwise stable
To gather roses only
To seek all enjoyments of life
blue blood
having a high social class
at daggers drawn
If you say that two people are at daggers drawn, you mean they are having an argument and are still very angry with each other.
Seamy side
Unpleasant and immoral
cross swords
to quarrel or fight
took up
picked up, began to occupy, gather led from number of sources
hand and glove with
in close co-operation
a wee bit
to a very small degree
swelled head
grand opinion of oneself/ conceited
Ghamandi
in vogue
in the current fashions
Cold comfort
slight satisfaction
do not judge a book by its cover
appearance can be misleading
Knight in the shining armour
If anyone refers to someone as a knight in shining armour, it means that they are kind and brave, and likely to rescue someone from a difficult situation.
wild goose chase
pursuit of something unattainable
set a thief to catch a thief
the best person to catch a thief is another thief, because a thief knows how thieves think
be on cloud nine
extreme happiness
To die in harness
To die while in service
putting the card before the horse
tackling things in the wrong way
maiden name
a women’s surname before marriage
bite the dust
to die or break, to fail
pillar to post
one place to another
sow the dragon’s teeth
to create future troubles for yourself or others
a white elephant
a costly but useless possession
carrot and stick
reward and punishment policy
when pigs fly
something that will never happen
sail close to the wind
within limits of what is acceptable
cat and dog life
troublesome life
buy off
Pay someone to stop them from causing trouble
To strain every nerve
To make utmost efforts
don’t get me wrong
when you fear someone does not understand what you say
a fool and his money are soon parted
stupid people spend money without thinking
playing to the gallery
appeasing the masses
Black out
Lost consciousness
trumped up
concocted
turn turtle
to overturn
To bring to light
To reveal
to lose ground
becoming less acceptable
hand in
submit something ( assingment)
out of question
impossible
on the brink of disaster
at the point of
throw down the gauntlet
to challenge
all that glitters is not gold
appearance can be misleading
To take into account
To consider
go to dogs
to deteriorate/ degenerate
went to the winds
dissipated or wasted
Give way
Collapse
every man has his price
everyone can be bribed if you know how much or what to bribe him/ her with
To talk someone over
To convince over
In the running
Has good prospects in competition
count your blessings
you should be grateful for what you have
Cap in hand
In a respectful manner
throw in the towel
to admit defeat
against the clock
to do something as fast as possible and try to finish it before a deadline
on the run
fleeing or running from the police
in a tight corner
in a difficult situation
hammer and tongs
with great effort or energy
you cannot please everyone
making everyone happy is impossible no matter what you do
you name it
anything you say or choose or whatever you think of
rags to riches
situation where a person rises from poverty to wealth
Has a bee in one’s bonnet
To be preoccupied or obsessed with something
in the nick of the time
at the last possible moment, just before its too late
hole and corner policy
secret policy
necessity is the mother inventions
when people really need to do something, they will find a way to do it
have to face the music
accept or face the unpleasant consequences of one’s action
fight shy of
to attempt to avoid a thing or person
weather and storm
survive by coming out of difficulties
dollars to donuts
something is very likely to be true/ happen
to pull strings
use personal influence
Around the clock
Day and night
wet blanket
person who spoils other people’s fun/ one who spoils the enjoyment
1) Down in the dumps
2) down in the mouth
1) Sad and depressed
2) very depressed
Pin money
Additional money
cost an arm and leg/ cost a bomb
extremely expensive
Cool one’s heel
To keep waiting
high handed
overbearing
a watched pot never boils
things appear to more slowly if one waits for it
Get on well
Have a friendly relationship
Wide off the mark
Irrelevant / Not accurate / Inadequate
Rub up the wrong way
To irk or irritate someone
Make believe
To pretend that something is true
cheek by jowl
very close together
Pot luck dinner
Dinner where somebody brings something to eat
smooth sailing
easy progress
make a clean breast
to confess especially something bad or illegal
eagle eyed
with keen eyesight
no dice
not accepting a deal
be sick and tired of
be angry or bored because something unpleasant has been happening for a long time
To cut one short
To criticize one
all at sea
puzzled
dead letter
a law or ordinance that is no longer enforced
struck several bad patches
had many professional difficulties
by putting two and two together
to deduce from given facts
shake a leg
to dance
Talking through hat
Talking nonsense
fair sex
women
In the red
Losing money/to owe money
charity begins at home
before taking care of other people, one’s family should be foremost concern
dead and buried
no longer in use or under consideration, irrelevant, forgotten
miss the beat
to lose an opportunity
meet their waterloo
defeated by someone who is stronger or by a problem that is very difficult to surmount
To pull a long face
Look sad
woe betide somebody
A phrase that is used to one somebody that there will be trouble for them if they do something or do not do something
Go a long way
help considerably
do over
repeat a job
under a cloud
under a suspicion
Second thoughts
Reconsidering the original idea
sitting on fence
avoids deciding/ refuse to take side in a dispute
put the cat among pigeons
create a disturbance and cause trouble
men in grey suit
powerful men in business
cut the mustard
to perform well
Chapter and verse
Providing minutes details
the squeaky wheel gets the grease
the most noticeable problems are the oness most likely to get attention
pull one’s legs
to make fun of or to tease
jail bird
a person who is or has been confined to jail
to turn over a new leaf
to change for the better
no love lost between
not on good terms
a bad egg
worthless
rise like a phoenix from its ashes
to make a miraculous comeback after a seemingly insurmountable setback
Put across
To communicate your ideas, feelings, etc. successfully.
it’s your funeral
if someone has to face the consequences of his or her actions
palmy days
prosperous/affluent days
green room
a lounge in a theatre or studio for the performers to get ready
as daft as a brush
extremely silly
big bucks
lots of money
draw the shortest straw
to be selected to do unpleasant task
maiden speech
first speech
chew the cud
to think about something carefully
sell ice to Eskimos
to persuade people to go against their best interest
1) Word for word
2) Word by word
1) In exact words
2) One word at a time
well-to-do
affluent ( wealthy person/ having lots of money)
going out on a limb
putting in a risky situation
lump in the throat
a tight or uncomfortable feeling in throat due to emotions
all Greek
incomprehensible
run its course
develop and then come to its usual end
thick as thieves
intimate, close-knit, sharing confidences
memory like a sieve
very poor memory
yellow journalism
sensational news whose accuracy is questionable
A dog’s breakfast
A total mess / A thing that has been done badly
Vote with your feet
Showing your disapproval
couch potato
lazy person/ a person who prefers to watch television
All moonshine
Concocted / Superficial/ far from reality
separate the wheat from the chaff
separate things of value from thing of no value
In Dutch
In trouble
i cannot put a name to someone
said when you can’t remember someone’s name
tread on someone’s toes
to offend someone
took out
obtained an official document or service
sweeping statement
thoughtless statement
Nail one’s colours to the mast
to refuse to admit defeat
-> If a ship nailed its colours to the mast, it would fight to the death and not surrender.
take by storm
to surprise unexpectedly
gave away
give something to someone else for free
he that would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin
if you want to marry a woman, first try to win her mother on your side
Pandora’s box
a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles
word of mouth
informal oral communication
of the essence
necessary and very important
see pink elephants
Any visual hallucination arising due to intoxication
No hard and fast rules
Easy regulation
to stave off
postpone
- > like father like son
- > like mother like daughter
- > to be cut from the same cloth
- > to be a chip off the same block
son resembles father/ similar things
bell the cat
taking first step at personal risk
love someone to death
to love somebody very much
music to someone’s ears
some good news, a spoken expression or a sound which is pleasing
man cannot live by bread alone
he cannot survive on bread, he needs music, arts or some other activity
All might and main
With full force
run out of steam
to lose impetus or enthusiasm
to take with a grain of salt
to accept with misgiving,
not to take what someone says too seriously
give the game away
give the secret away
Cool about working
Not tense about working / Reading to work
