Idioms Engels test June Flashcards
1
Q
Committing something to memory
A
Make yourself remember something
2
Q
Taking a stroll/trip down down memory lane
A
Remember some of the happy things you did in the past
3
Q
Jogging someone’s memory
A
Make you remember something
4
Q
In/within living memory
A
Can be remembered by people still alive
5
Q
Coming to mind
A
Immediately think of something
6
Q
Slipping your mind
A
forget about something
7
Q
Keeping/bearing something in mind
A
Remember information when making a decision or thinking about a matter
8
Q
Your mind goes to blank
A
You can’t think of anything to say
9
Q
crossing your mind
A
think about something for a short time
10
Q
Out if sight, out of mind
A
Something you say which means that, if you do not see someone, you forget about them
11
Q
Something is on the tip of your tongue
A
You know it, but you can’t quite remember it
12
Q
Ring a bell
A
Thinking you’ve heard something before
13
Q
A train of thought
A
A series of consecutive thoughts
14
Q
Rack your brains
A
Think very hard
15
Q
Has seen better days.
A
Is old and not working so well
16
Q
out of date.
A
old and not useful or correct any more
17
Q
making up for lost time
A
doing now what she did not have the opportunity to do previously
18
Q
since/from the year dot.
A
from the beginning of time
19
Q
the shape of things to come
A
an indication of what is likely to become popular in the future
20
Q
for the time being
A
temporarily; instead of something else
21
Q
on the threshold of
A
something is likely to happen very soon
22
Q
in the short/medium/long term
A
for a short/medium/long time in the future
23
Q
only a matter of time
A
it will definitely happen, even though we cannot say exactly when
24
Q
It’s early days yet.
A
it’s too soon to say/decide
25
In the long run
a long time from now
26
working against the clock
working fast because you only have limited time
27
in no time at all
do it very quickly
28
call it a day
decide to finish (usually finish working)
29
don't have a minute to call your own
are very busy indeed
30
there and then (or then and there)
do it immediately, right at that moment
31
at the crack of dawn
start very early in the morning
32
once in a lifetime
never likely to happen again
33
once in a blue moon
very rarely
34
once and for all
finally and definitely
35
off and on / on and off
sometimes, but not regularly or continuously
36
from time to time
sometimes, but not regularly
37
nine times out of ten
almost always
38
started the ball rolling
started an activity and encouraged others to join in
39
The ball is in your court
you have to do something now before any progress can be made
40
on the ball
quick to understand and react
41
off our own bat
on our own initiative, without being
asked to by anyone else
42
throwing us a curveball
surprise us with an unexpected problem
43
playing ball
co-operate in order to achieve something (usually used in a negative context)
44
on a level playing field
in a fair situation
45
playing your cards right
to act wisely or strategically to achieve success or a desired outcome.
46
putting/laying your cards on the table
to reveal your true thoughts, intentions, or plans openly and honestly.
47
passing the buck
to avoid taking responsibility by shifting it to someone else.
48
following suit
to do the same as someone else has done; to imitate their actions or behavior.
49
calling someone's bluff
to challenge someone to prove a claim or threat, believing they are not being truthful or won't follow through.
50
taking the plunge
doing something important or difficult that you've
been thinking of doing for a long time
51
going back to square one
go back to the beginning of a project, because previous attempts have failed
52
being wide of the mark
be wrong or miss what you were trying to hit
53
doing something on the spur of the moment
doing something suddenly, without planning
54
being on the cards
be likely to happen
55
your best bet
the best thing you can do to achieve the result you want
56
when the chips are down
when you are in a difficult situation, especially one
which tests whether you can trust people
57
biting the bullet
facing a difficult situation and act decisively / do not avoid it
58
jumping the gun
doing something too soon, before you should do it
59
stick to your guns
don't let other people change your mind/ ideas/ principles
60
looking daggers at someone
looking at them in a very angry or hateful way
61
putting the knife in
deliberately do or say something really hurtful to someone
62
twisting the knife
do or say something which makes a bad/hurtful situation even worse
63
up in arms
very angry or upset about something; ready to protest or fight.
64
his own worst enemy
someone who harms themselves through their own actions, decisions, or behavior.
65
fighting a losing battle
trying hard to achieve something that is very unlikely to succeed.
66
burning your bridges
to destroy relationships or opportunities permanently, often by acting in a way that makes it impossible to go back.
67
having an axe to grind
to have a personal or selfish reason for saying or doing something, often hidden or not immediately obvious.
68
When it comes to the crunch
when a critical or decisive moment arrives, especially one that tests someone's true character or ability.
69
a chink in his armour
a weak point that we can exploit / take advantage of
70
our paths cross
we meet
71
stuck in a rut
in a boring situation, with no hope of excitement,
or future prospects
72
driving me round the bend!
making me angry and frustrated
73
is right up your street/alley
perfect for you; exactly what interests you
74
middle-of-the-road
neither left-wing nor right-wing, has no radical views
75
on the right/wrong track
thinking or acting rightly/wrongly
76
an uphill battle/fight/struggle
a very difficult task
77
having a shot
to attempt or try something, especially when success is uncertain
78
in the firing line
in a position where one is likely to be criticized, blamed, or attacked.
79
calls the shots
has the power or authority to make decisions and give orders
80
caught in the crossfire
unintentionally affected or harmed by a conflict or dispute between others.
81
hold fire
to delay taking action or to stop shooting temporarily; often used metaphorically to mean pausing before responding or deciding.
82
gone downhill
it was good, but is not any longer
83
off the beaten track
off the beaten track
84
at a crossroads
at a decisive moment in its history
85
dead end
it has no future/ no prospects
86
to go/get from A to B
to make simple/typical journeys
86
putting on the map
to make a place, person, or thing well-known or famous
86
hitting the road
start our journey (home)
86
Road rage
violent incidents resulting from traffic disputes
86
get into gear
to start working effectively or with energy; to begin taking action.
86
a real back-seat driver
someone who gives unwanted advice or tries to control something they’re not in charge of, especially while someone else is doing the work.
86
put the brakes on
to slow down or stop the progress of something.
87
ticking over
functioning in a basic or steady way, without much activity or progress, but not stopping.
88
let off steam
to release accumulated stress or emotions, usually by engaging in a physical activity or venting.
89
programmed
conditioned or predisposed to behave in a certain way, often as a result of repeated experiences, training, or external influences.
90
get your lines/wires crossed
there is a misunderstanding between you and someone
91
are on the same wavelength
you view the world or think in the same way as them
92
blowing a fuse/gasket
you lose your temper and react very angrily to an event
93
giving someone a buzz
you phone them (informal)
94
back-pedalling
beginning to say the opposite of what it
said before, like pushing the pedals of a bicycle backwards
95
putting a spanner in the works.
to cause disruption or introduce a problem that interferes with a process or plan, often halting progress or causing it to fail.
96
meltdown
a situation where something, such as a system, person, or process, collapses or fails dramatically, often due to stress or overwhelming pressure. It can also refer to an emotional breakdown.
97
in the pipeline.
something that is in progress, under development, or planned for the near future.
98
Jazz it up
to make something more lively, attractive, or interesting by adding dynamic or creative elements.
99
singing your heart out
to perform singing with intense emotion and complete dedication, giving one's best expressive effort.
100
sounding like a broken record.
repeating the same thing over and over again, often to the point of annoyance or redundancy.
101
music to my ears.
something that is very pleasing or gratifying to hear, often because it confirms what one hopes or expects.
102
struck a chord
to elicit a strong emotional reaction or resonate deeply with someone's feelings or experiences.
103
changed his tune
to change one's opinion, attitude, or behavior, especially to one that is more favorable or supportive after initially being opposed.
104
making a song and dance about
to make a big fuss or exaggerate the importance of something, often in a way that seems unnecessary or overly dramatic.
105
fine-tuning
making small adjustments or improvements to something in order to perfect it or ensure it works as well as possible.
106
to set the stage
create a situation that allows something else to happen
107
making a spectacle of yourself.
behaving in a way that attracts other people's attention, usually because you are doing something stupid or silly
108
been in the spotlight
been the centre of attention, often in public media
109
the curtain has fallen on
(his career) has finished
110
The show must go on.
I must continue what I am doing
111
