Idioms & Metaphorical Language

Question 1

Account for

Answer 1

1. To take into consideration or make adjustments based on
2. Cause. This is not the same as give an account of, which just means explain.

I **accounted for ** the fact that Joe is always late by telling him to meet use at 1:30 when the event is really at 2.

I did get us the meeting, but Ellen’s hard work accounted for the rest of our success.

Question 2

A given

Answer 2

The use of *a given * as a noun is different from the use of given alone. For instance, a person’s given name is the one given by his or her parents. A given means something taken for granted, something assumed or that does not require proof:

When planning my wedding, it was **a given ** that my parents would invite anyone they wanted, since they were paying for everything.

Question 3

Albatross

Answer 3

A constant burden or worry; an obstacle. Literally, an albatross is a bird:

The city has done an admirable job of rebuilding its infrastructure and marketing itself, but the crime rate continues to be an** albatross** around the city’s neck in trying to attract tourists

Question 4

All but

Answer 4

Almost definitely. The bill’s passage is all but assured means that the bill will almost certainly pass.

Your objections have arrived too late; the matter is all but decided.

Question 5

And yet

Answer 5

A stronger way of saying yet. An idiom used for emphasis. It indicates a surprising twist, an ironic realizing, etc. If it often used at the beginning of a sentence for emphaiss, and can even be used on its own, although this usage is casual:

The company was lauded for its commitment to the environment. **And yet **its employees regularly fly in private jets, creating carbon footprints that would embarrass any true environmentalist

Question 6

Arms race

Answer 6

Competition between two countries to build up the best and largest supply of weapons. This term is often associated with the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Metaphorically, an arms race is competition that implies a sort of “more, more, more!” mentality and may not be entirely rational:

Analysts carefully watched stock prices as the two Internet giants competed in an arms race, expanding rapidly by buying up smaller companies with little due diligence.

Question 7

Aside from

Answer 7

In addition to:

Aside from the obvious financial benefits of investing in a socially responsible fund, you can rest assured that your money is used to maximize social good.

Question 8

(Adj) As it is, ….

Answer 8

This pattern is used to contrast the part after the comma with the part before. For instance,

Charming as she is, I just don’t want to be friends with her anymore.

**As pleased as we are **to see more minorities on the board than ever before, discrimination in hiring and promotion is still a serious problem.

Question 9

As well as

Answer 9

Sometimes, as well as just means and, as in I had ramen for lunch, as well as a hot dog. But as well**_ as_ can also be used to mention one thing as a way to contrast with or emphasize another. For instance:

You know what I discovered? My French teacher speaks Chinese, as well as French!

Question 10

At best

Answer 10

At the most, interpreted in the most favorable way. The seminar drew 20 people at best means that 20 or fewer people attended.

Question 11

At loggerheads

Answer 11

In conflict, at a standstill.

The strike is not likely to end soon - the transit authority and the union representatives have been at loggerheads for weeks.

Question 12

At odds

Answer 12

In conflict:

The teachers’ union and the state government are always at odds.

Question 13

At once

Answer 13

1) Immediately, 2) At the same time:

Once the hurricane veered near the coast, the governor ordered that we evacuate at once.

We’ve received three proposals that are all excellent, but we can do them at once

Question 14

Beside the point

Answer 14

Irrelevant, off-topic

Question 15

The better part

Answer 15

The largest or longest part. The better part does NOT have to be good! The word *better *is a bit confusing here:

For the better part of human history, slavery has been a reality. (The speaker is saying that, for most of human history, slavery has existed)

When the oil magnate died, he left the better part of his fortune to his third wife, and only a small sliver to his children.

Question 16

Bite the hand that feeds you

Answer 16

This expression means exactly what it sounds like (think of a mean and not-very-smart dog):

The music industry **bites the hand that feeds it ** when it penalizes consumers who share (and therefore publicize) their favorite songs with friends.

Question 17

Brook

Answer 17

Tolderate, allow. Often used with the word *no. *You could say The dictator will not brook dissent, but a more common usage would be The dictator will brook no dissent.

Question 18

(adj) but (adj)

Answer 18

This pattern is used for two adjectives that provide a contrast. They can be opposites, or one good and one bad, etc. For instance, a boring but lucrative job.

The food available in such neighborhoods is inexpensive but insalubrious. (Here, you could use the structure to infer that, since *inexpensive * is good, insalubrious must be bad. Insalubrious means unhealthy)

Question 19

(verb) by so (verb)ing

Answer 19

The second verb is equivalent to or causes the first verb. He defaults by so refusing means when he refuses, he is defaulting (that is, neglecting to fulfill the duties of a contract). By so agreeing also occurs on its own, meaning by agreeing to do the thing that was just mentioned.

He agreed to run as the Green Party candidate though he already holds a Democratic Party chairmanship, which he effectively** abandoned by so agreeing.**

Question 20

The case at issue

Answer 20

The matter at hand, the thing we are discussing:

Usually, raising prices results in a drop in demand, but in **the case at issue, **the price jump convinced consumers that the product was a luxury good, thus spurring demand from aspirational consumers.

Question 21

Caught red-handed

Answer 21

Caught in the act of doing something wrong, so that the person cannot deny the guilt. The expression refers to having blood on one’s hands.

The scientists on the company payroll could no longer claim that the fish in the river were all dying from natural causes once the company was caught red-handed dumping waste at the river’s mouth.

Question 22

Colored by

Answer 22

Influenced or prejudiced by:

Her opinion about the prison system was colored by having grown up effectively an orphan while both her parents served sentences in separate prisons.

Question 23

Couldn’t have come at a better time

Answer 23

The same as *could hardly have come at a better time, * this expression means that something happened at the best possible time, such as at a very convenient moment or just in time to prevent disaster.

Question 24

Curry favor

Answer 24

To try to gain favor (such as preferential treatment from a boss) through flattery or servile behavior. The expression is derived from French.

Question 25

Cut bait

Answer 25

Give up, abandon an activity. Often part of the expression * fish or cut bait*, to cut bait is to stop fishing.

As much as he wanted to be an entrepreneur, after a eyar of struggling, he cut bait and asked his former boss for his old job back.

Question 26

Due diligence

Answer 26

Research or analysis done before taking action (such as investigating); care that a reasonable person would take to prevent harm to others.

Question 27

En masse

Answer 27

All together, in a group:

The protestors marched en masse to the palace.

Question 28

Entree

Answer 28

Admittance, permission to enter. A person who wants to rise in society might seen an entree into a certain social group:

For disadvantaged young people, good public schools can provide an entree into the middle class

Question 29

For all X, Y

Answer 29

This sentence pattern means, “Despite X, actually Y”. The word “actually” (or a similar word) often appears in this pattern, but doesn’t have to.

For all of its well-publized “green” innovations, the company is one of the worst polluters in the state.

For all of the criticism she has received for her actions during the merger, she’s actually a really nice person if you get to know her.

Question 30

For years to come

Answer 30

Until much later. The consequences won’t affect us