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2 Remembering Vocab & Idioms > Idioms, Phrases, & Expressions > Flashcards

Idioms, Phrases, & Expressions Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion.

A

Obstinate

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2
Q

If you say someone is this, it implies that the person is a negative influence on others or is troublesome in nature.

A

A Bad Apple

“We should not punish everyone because of one bad apple.”

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3
Q

This expression refers to a situation reaching a point where something must be done. To culminate or reach a crisis.

A

Coming to a Head

“Before Donald Trump’s political ambitions truly came to a head, he and Ivanka appeared on The Wendy Williams Show to talk about then-First Lady Michelle Obama’s new hairstyle, among other things, in 2013.”

“Things hadn’t been good between us for a while and this incident just brought it to a head.”

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4
Q

This idiom refers to the difficulty in finding something really small among larger things. It is…

A

A Needle in a Haystack

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5
Q

This idiom refers to someone becoming quiet all of a sudden and refuses to talk or respond.

A

Clam Up

“Whenever she asks her teenager about his activities, he clams up.”

This term alludes to the tightly closed valves of a live clam.

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6
Q

This idiom refers to going after something that you are not likely to get, or a pursuit that is a waste of time because it is unlikely to succeed.

A

To Be Sent on a Wild Goose Chase

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7
Q

If you are deliberately trying to stay as far away from something you probably wouldn’t…

A

Touch It With a 10 Foot Pole

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8
Q

If you tell someone not to have this, you are telling them not to get upset over something so minor and trivial. Saying this minimizes both the activity itself and the person’s feelings who is upset.

A

Don’t Have a Cow

“Jimmy had a cow when he learned that his best friend, John, had plagiarized his term paper and passed it off as his own writing.”

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9
Q

If you tell someone to do this, you want them to get straight to the main point of what they are saying.

A

Cut to The Chase

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10
Q

This phrase was first used to emphasize a type of attraction that might cause someone’s destruction. The person in question is strongly attracted to something. It indicates that sometimes things that seem familiar and irresistibly inviting might hurt you.

A

Like a Moth to a Flame

“He drew women to him like moths to the flame”

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11
Q

When someone says this, it means that there’s no point in changing someone’s established routine. They may also say that it’s very difficult to teach a new task to someone, almost impossible.

Example: My mom won’t learn how to use the computer. I guess…

A

You Cant Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

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12
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is easily upset or irritable. They are requiring or give close attention to details. Synonyms include choosy, demanding, fastidious, finicky, particular, and picky.

A

Fussy

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13
Q

This idiom refers to being extremely cautious about one’s words or actions around someone or other people. You are…

A

Walking on Egg Shells

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14
Q

This word means a minute or minor detail-usually used in its plural form.

A

Minutiae

“He was bewildered by the contract’s minutiae.”

“The minutiae of meetings remains private, but the general gist is that it was a problem and it has been addressed.”

“I have a disturbing fascination with minutiae, general knowledge, pointless facts and other trivia.”

“He added it was only possible to iron out the minutiae of the details once the centre was open.”

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15
Q

This idiom refers to a problem that is difficult to solve, a person that is difficult to deal with, someone or something that is difficult to understand, or a person that is hard to get to know or to get close to.

A

A Hard Nut to Crack

“The new boss is really hard to figure out. He’s going to be a tough nut to crack.

“Good luck trying to get the new guidelines past the head teacher. He’s a hard nut to crack.”

“Alison has been dating Stan for two years and she still feels like she doesn’t know him at times. He must be a tough nut to crack.”

“My father loves doing the crossword every day. Sometimes he gets a clue that is a hard nut to crack.The mysterious murder case seems a hard nut to crack for police as the officials are still groping in the dark.”

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16
Q

This idiom means to be in a tough situation with limited options. Your…

A

Back Against The Wall

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17
Q

This word means to have no precedent. An earlier occurrence of something similar.

A

Unprecedented

“President Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election are unprecedented in American history.”

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18
Q

If you accuse someone of doing this, you are saying that they are taking less than desirable measures to make something happen. They may be starting something with no intention of finishing.

A

Half-Stepping

“Each year, US officials swear that the Iraqi military is getting ever closer to combat readiness, but the half-steps that military takes under American tutelage never seem to get it into fighting shape.”

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19
Q

People who do this are people who feel it’s important to show that they’re as successful as others (such as their rich neighbours, “The Joneses”).

A

Keep up With The Joneses

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20
Q

f you quit something such as a habit like coffee, smoking, drinking, etc in this manner, it it means you stop completely. You…

A

Quit Cold Turkey

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21
Q

You can say a person or an organisation has this if they have lots of money.

A

Deep Pockets

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22
Q

Doing something wrong in response to another wrong is not justified.

A

Two Wongs Don’t Make a Right

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23
Q

You can use this expression to show that you don’t care if something happens or not.

A

It’s No Skin Off my Nose

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24
Q

This card playing idiom refers to describing something as it really is, to speak plainly and tell the truth even if it is not pleasant.

A

To Call a Spade a Spade

I decided to call a spade a spade and tell our supervisor what I think is wrong with our workplace.”

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25
Q

This expression refers to something that operates capably through the effective coordination of many parts. It is something that works very smoothly and effectively. It is a…

A

Well Oiled Machine“

“The office runs like a well-oiled machine.”

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26
Q

This idiom refers to a very small amount compared to the amount needed.

An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem. It is just…

A

A Drop in The Bucket

A $100 donation from an individual is generous, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the $100,000 fundraising goal.

“His contribution was just a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the team.”

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27
Q

If you are no longer in trouble due to some legal or work issue then you are safely…

A

Out of The Woods

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28
Q

This idiom means including all parts or categories, usually with no exceptions.

A

Across The Board

“Much to the delight of the employees, a significant wage hike was announced across the board.”

“The government decided to raise taxes across the board, drawing the ire of the general public.

“As a result of the new policies, improved performances were seen across the board.”

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29
Q

This idiom refers to someone who is very similar in character to one of their parents, usually their father.

A

A Chip Off The Old Block

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30
Q

This word means occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation.

A

Incidental

“Many said in interviews that any favorable outcome was incidental to their patronage.”

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31
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is awkwardly blundering or faltering. They can be prone to or marked by foolish mistakes.

A

Bumbling

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32
Q

This idiomatic expression means that every difficult or sad situation has a comforting or more hopeful aspect, even though this may not be immediately apparent.

A

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

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33
Q

This idiom refers to something that is really easy to do. It is…

A

As Easy Pie

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34
Q

This idiom refers to the basics or important parts of something. They are considered to be the…

A

Meat and Potatoes

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35
Q

This idiom refers to getting favorable results from something. If you put in hard work, your efforts should…

A

Bear Fruit

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36
Q

This word means to sooth or mollify, especially by concessions. Appease. Synonyms include pacify and mollify.

A

Placate

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37
Q

A comment that is considered this, is very stupid and shows that the speaker doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. It shows grossness of mind, precludes delicacy and discrimination.

A

Crass

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38
Q

This word means to be loud, excited, and emotional. It could also mean something or someone that is marked by violent or overwhelming turbulence or upheaval.

A

Tumultuous

“Biden Wins Presidency, Ending Four Tumultuous Years Under Trump”Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was elected the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, promising to restore political normalcy and a spirit of national unity to confront raging health and economic crises, and making Donald J. Trump a one-term president after four years of tumult in the White House.

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39
Q

This idiom refers to hearing something (usually secretive or unknown) from someone (not named).

A

A Little Bird Told Me…

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40
Q

This idiom refers to people dying or falling down, or quitting in large numbers. They are…

A

Dropping Like Flies

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41
Q

This idiom refers to something that is at the height of its popularity. It is…

A

All The Rage

“My parents used to love the Beatles. They were all the rage when they were teenagers.”

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42
Q

This idiom refers to easily and deftly manipulate someone to suit one’s own needs, ends, or benefits.

A

Play Like a Fiddle

“That travelling salesman played me like a fiddle. Now what am I going to do with all this junk that he convinced me to buy?”

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43
Q

If you speak this way, you say something without having prepared or thought about your words first.

A

You speak off the cuff

“Maybe Barron got caught with an illicit Juul in his school bag by the Secret Service. Or maybe there’s some weird Maury Povich stuff going on that America hasn’t been clued in on. Or maybe Donald Trump was just speaking off the cuff, as he does from time to time.”

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44
Q

If you say something is this, you mean it isn’t really important. It was neither great nor poor, just average.

A

Nothing To Write Home About

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45
Q

If you know these things, you know all the details about something and understand how it works.

A

The Ins and Outs

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46
Q

This idiom refers to going back to the start.

A

Back to Square One

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47
Q

This idiom refers to avoiding a particular situation by pretending that it doesn’t exist.

A

To Bury Your Head In The Sand

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48
Q

This card playing idiom refers to the fact that in order to get what you want, you have to…

A

Play Your Cards Right

“If you play your cards right, you could land this business deal.”

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49
Q

If something is outside the bounds of acceptable behavior, it is considered…

A

Beyond The Pale

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50
Q

This idiom refers to a thing that is desired all the more because it is not allowed. It could also be an immoral or illegal pleasure. It could be the boss’s daughter. It is considered…

A

Forbidden Fruit

She had a crush on her friend’s boyfriend but he was forbidden fruit.

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51
Q

This word refers to the repetition of words ideas or acts that you or someone else may have said.

A

Echoed

In a June 10 column in USA TODAY, Biden said: “Across the board – from our classrooms to our courtrooms to the president’s Cabinet – we have to make sure that our leadership and our institutions actually look like America.”

In his first speech as president-elect, Biden echoed that message: “I said from the outset I wanted a campaign that represented America, and I think we did that. Now that’s what I want the administration to look like.”

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52
Q

This word means to accept, comply, or submit tacitly or passively —often used with in or to.

A

Acquiesce

“They demanded it, and he acquiesced.”“Apparently, the contractor expected me to acquiesce to my own fleecing.”

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53
Q

This idiom refers to a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

Also known as a vicious cycle - two or more conditions require the other conditions to be fulfilled, but these other conditions also require the original condition to be fulfilled. In simple terms, this means neither can get fulfilled without the other. A needs B needs A.

A

A Catch 22

For example, a homeless person needs to find a job so that they can afford somewhere to live, but they cannot apply for a job because they have nowhere to live – this is a Catch-22 situation.

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54
Q

This phrase is used to go back or recall to mind, something in the past.

A

Harkens Back

“This place caters to Americans and harkens back to days when the town attracted famous celebrities.

“Greenberg worked very closely with the laboratory which harkened back to his earliest days in the film business.”

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55
Q

This is used to describe official routines or procedures marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction.

A

Red Tape

“But Mr. Mattis also quietly slow-walked a number of Mr. Trump’s proposals… In each case, he went through the motions of acquiescing to the White House — and then buried the plans in Defense Department red tape.”

“pompous officials (often lowly clerks) in love with red tape who delight in obstructing the expedition of what should be simple procedures.”

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56
Q

This idiom refers to talk about or describe (something) in a way that makes it seem more pleasant or acceptable than it is because you are afraid to call it like it is.

To truthfully manipulate a fact to make it sound less harsh and/or worse than the straight truth.
To..

A

Sugar Coat

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57
Q

This idiom refers to getting two things done at once. You can…

A

Kill Two Birds With One Stone

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58
Q

This word describes instruction of an individual or group of people, a guiding influence.

A

Tutelage

“Each year US officials swear that the Iraqi military is getting ever closer to combat readiness, but the half-steps that military takes under American tutelage never seem to get it into fighting shape.”

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59
Q

This word is a synonym for something or someone that is timeless or lasting. Synonyms include ageless, timeless, continuing, and perpetual.

A

Enduring

“Even in defeat, though, Mr. Trump demonstrated his enduring appeal to many white voters and his intense popularity in rural areas, underscoring the deep national divisions that Mr. Biden has vowed to heal.”

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60
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is removed or distant, either physically or emotionally.

A

Aloof

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61
Q

This idiom refers to something that just doesn’t make sense.

A

Doesn’t Add Up

“I was also very far from being the only journalist to notice that the Bush administration’s case for Saddam Hussein’s imaginary ‘weapons of mass destruction’ didn’t add up.”

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62
Q

If your in trouble or a difficult situation, you may be…

A

In Deep Water

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63
Q

Criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person.

A

Like Water Off a Ducks Back

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64
Q

This idiom refers to an unusual or false quiet period before a period of upheaval. It is…

A

The Calm Before The Storm

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65
Q

This idiom means to distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones. To…

A

Separate The Wheat From The Chaff

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66
Q

This idiom refers to a situation, activity, or lifestyle that is easy and comfortable. It is considered…

A

A Bed of Roses

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67
Q

This refers to an utterly calamitous or mismanaged situation or occurrence. A disaster. It is slightly better than a train wreck.

A

A Dumpster Fire

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68
Q

Cheap or plentiful

A

A Dime a Dozen

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69
Q

This idiom refers to wasting one’s time or energy idly or frivolously; to neither progress nor regress, but remain in a fixed, neutral position. You are just…

A

Spinning Your Wheels

“They kept me on to manage what’s left of this division, but to be honest, I’ve just been spinning my wheels here for the last couple of years.”

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70
Q

If someone tells you to do this, they are telling you to face a challenge or danger boldly. Just go for it.

A

Take The Bull by The Horns

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71
Q

This expression can be said of someone who is stiff, stern, uptight, or humorless. They…

A

Have a Stick Up Their Ass

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72
Q

This idiom refers to having something that is neat and tidy in arrangement, everything is in the correct place and sterile.

A

Apple Pie Order

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73
Q

This word means to almost do something but not quite. You decide to…

A

Stop Short of

“While Mr. Biden stopped short of claiming victory as the week unfolded, he appeared several times in his home state, Delaware, to express confidence that he could win, while urging patience as the nation awaited the results.”

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74
Q

This idiom refers to a plan or issue still to be settled; unresolved. If a situation is uncertain, it may be…

A

Up in The Air

“The future of the company is still up in the air.”

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75
Q

If you verbally harass or tease someone, you are guilty of…

A

Busting Their Balls

“Hey, I told the boss you were looking for a new job. -”Really? How could you do that? – I didn’t. I’m just busting your balls.”

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76
Q

This word refers to a survey or review of a past course of events or period of time.

A

Retrospect

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77
Q

Take on a project that you can’t finish or take on too many responsibilities.

A

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

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78
Q

This card playing idiom refers to receiving as much or more than you could want of something.

A

In Spades

“The sick child received get well cards in spades when the radio station talked about his illness.”

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79
Q

This idiom refers to summarizing something in as few words as possible. A similar phrase is “to make a long story short.”

A

In a Nutshell

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80
Q

This idiom means that you have a private or selfish reason for doing something. It means that you have have an ulterior motive or have a strong opinion or point of view about something. It can also mean that you have a dispute to take up with someone.

You have a problem with someone, or a complaint against them, which you’d like to discuss.

A

Axe To Grind

“Simply stated, he is a disgruntled, disgraced and dishonest ex-employee with an ax to grind.”

“He should not become the chairman of the committee as he has too many axes of his own to grind.

“I think he is gunning for the top job because he has an axe to grind with some of his colleagues.”

“Some new reports may be biased because the reporters have an axe to grind.”

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81
Q

This idiom means to get things in order.

A

Get Your Ducks in a Row

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82
Q

This word refers to lengthy, angry, and impassioned speech. It is the action of speaking, writing, or shouting in a loud, uncontrolled, or angry way, often saying confused or silly things.

A

Rantings

“His letters were the rantings of a crazy person.”

“This isn’t an argument, it’s just meaningless ranting.”

“At this point, we are not commenting on Michael Avenatti‘s rantings, Mark C. Moore told USA Today. He said, he didn’t think the conversation with him would have been as civil if it had not happened at the courthouse.”

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83
Q

This word describes a principal item of a policy or program.

A

Plank

“President Trump’s White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows made quite a telling admission. “We’re not going to control the pandemic,” Meadows said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, suggesting that the spread of the virus was fate acompli (a thing accomplished, and presumably irreversible) and that containment was not a central plank* (principal item of a policy or program) of the White House’s strategy.”

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84
Q

This idiom refers to a minor punishment, especially one for a serious crime.

A

Slap On The Wrist

“The mayor’s son was arrested for dealing drugs, but he got just a slap on the wrist.”

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85
Q

This adjective describes things that are unpredictable, unusual, and that deviate from the norm. Having no fixed course. Characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity.

A

Erratic

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86
Q

This word is used to describe something that is marked by a lack of a plan, order, or direction. All over the place.

A

Haphazard

“As we’ve seen with the President’s haphazard approach to Syria, our national defense is too important to be subjected to the President’s erratic whims.”

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87
Q

This idiom is used to emphasize that you can make it easy for someone to do something, but you cannot force them to do it.

A

You can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Can’t Make Him Drink

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88
Q

This Idiom refers to something following very soon after something that previously occurred.

A

Comes On The Heels of

“Trump’s endorsement from the hip-hop star comes on the heels of Lil Pump publicly backing him as well … though Pump’s reasoning was all about his personal bottom line.”

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89
Q

If you disrupt or ruin a plan you are…

A

Upsetting The Apple Cart

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90
Q

This idiom is used to describe talking with someone in a friendly and informal way.

A

To Chew The Fat

“We sat in a bar most of the evening just chewing the fat.”

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91
Q

This card playing idiom refers to revealing something that has been kept a secret. To be open and honest about one’s opinion.

A

To Lay Your Cards on The Table

“I am going to go in there, lay all my cards down on the table and tell him how I truly feel.”

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92
Q

This word means to make less by or to reduce something.

A

Curtail

“Trump’s critics have slammed the administration for failing to impose a genuine plan to curtail the infections.”

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93
Q

This word describes a person or thing that is chronologically out of place.

A

Anachronism

“And there will be new demands that the Electoral College be abolished as an awful anachronism, especially if Trump loses the popular vote.”

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94
Q

This is said to someone who must accept the unpleasant results of something they have done.

A

You Can Sleep in The Bed You’ve Made

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95
Q

If you do this, you say or do something that offends someone else.

A

To Put Your Foot In Your Mouth

“He put his foot in his mouth when he called her the wrong name for the second time that day.”

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96
Q

When people’s tempers do this, people get increasingly angry and are ready to fight.

A

Boil Over

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97
Q

This idiom refers to an empty promise or dream. It is something very ambitious that will never happen. It is…

A

Pie in The Sky

“She wants to be a famous singer but that dream is just pie in the sky if you ask me.”

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98
Q

If you make a suggestion to do this, it means not to talk about things in the past that might cause problems if you mention them today. You should…

A

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

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99
Q

This idiom refers to something that is really easy to do. It’s so easy, it’s…

A

Like Taking Candy From a Baby

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100
Q

This word means to laugh at or insult contemptuously. To subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule or criticism. It can also be used to express a lack of respect or approval of.

A

Deride

“The president downplayed a federal judges decision to restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House press pass but derided an alleged lack of decorum among reporters who cover the administration.

“The politicians derided their opponents after…”

“They were derided after saying…”

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101
Q

This idiom refers to not seeing the whole situation clearly because you’re looking too closely at small details, or because you’re too closely involved. You…

A

Can’t See The Forest For The Trees

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102
Q

This word means to scold, or express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner.

A

Admonish

“He admonished the child for his bad behavior”“Admonish is always used with an eye on improving someone’s behavior. The exact meaning of this formal verb varies in intensity depending generally on who is being corrected. If a child or subordinate is being admonished, it means “scold” or “rebuke” whereas if someone admonishes a person with equal standing, warn or advise are closer synonyms.”

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103
Q

This idiom refers to the easiest things to get or do. They are considered…

A

Low Hanging Fruit

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104
Q

This word describes ideas and arguments that don’t really matter. To trivial to think about.

A

Moot

A judge rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the outcome of Prop 22 would render it “moot.”If your plane is crashing, whether or not your socks match is a moot point. When someone accuses you of making a moot point, he’s basically saying, “Come on! Let’s talk about what’s important.” As with so many things, people don’t always agree on what’s moot and what’s not.

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105
Q

This idiom refers to a change from one direction to the opposite one. It is an…

A

About Face

But if Apple does release a stylus, it would represent yet another about-face for the company. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously hated styluses…

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106
Q

This word means to decrease in size, extent, or degree. To become less brilliant and powerful. To diminish.

A

Wane

“Mortar and rocket attacks against the embassy have waned over the past several weeks, and the task to shutter the largest American diplomatic mission in the world could take months to complete.”

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107
Q

This idiom refers to a person trying to abandon their responsibility or commitment in a way that is sneaky or cowardly. They are trying to…

A

Weasel Their Way Out of Something

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108
Q

Said of correctly figuring out or solving a problem, as compared with computation.

A

Put Two and Two Together

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109
Q

This is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement.

A farewell appearance or final act or pronouncement. It is the last time that someone does something for which they are famous.

A

Swan Song

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110
Q

If you are considered this, it means that you are calm and collected. You are…

A

As Cool As a Cucumber

She was as cool as a cucumber in the interview and impressed everyone.

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111
Q

This idiom refers to you having a hard time understanding or grasping something. It is …

A

All Greek to You

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112
Q

If you take great care to accommodate someone or do something nice for them, you…

A

Bend Over Backwards

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113
Q

This word means a difficult, perplexing, or trying situation. Synonyms include dilemma, conundrum quagmire, pickle, and rabbit hole.

A

Predicament

“Yet even if Trump might cost Republicans the Senate and some of their most prominent members, he isn’t getting blamed, at least publicly, for their predicament.”

“The governor has gotten himself into quite a predicament.”

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114
Q

If you are this, you are successful or in a good position to succeed. The phrase often refers to financial situations but may be used in other competitive situations.

A

Ahead of The Game

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115
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is a rude or vulgar fool. Buffoon. They were badly brought up and they show a bad upbringing. They are impolite.

A

Clown

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116
Q

If something you do is this, you do it because you believe in something or you are testing your belief in something. It usually involves taking a risk or doing something difficult.” It is…

A

An Act of Faith

“Hiring anyone in any profession is an act of faith…Ultimately you’ve got to trust the people that work for you and sometimes that trust is betrayed.”

“You know, if you invest in the stock market, it’s going to fluctuate, but you have shares in something…With bitcoin it just seems like an act of faith…”

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117
Q

This idiom refers to something happening at the last possible moment just before the deadline or end.

A

Eleventh Hour

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118
Q

These idioms refers to being very, very happy about something. You are in

A

Seventh Heaven

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119
Q

This word means to proceed to what follows without pause. To make a transition without interruption from one activity, topic, scene, or part to another.

A

Segued

“She quickly segued to the next topic.”

“The band smoothly segued from one song to the next.”

“In the movie, a shot of the outside of the house segued neatly to a shot of the family inside the house.”

“Sarmiento, a 2017 Air Force Academy graduate, segued eas- ily, she said.”

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120
Q

If you verbally torment someone because of a mistake they made you are guilty of…

A

Busting Their Chops

“People keep busting my chops over the embarrassing speech I made at the dinner. I wish they’d just forget it.”

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121
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is noisily turbulent, exuberant, and in high spirits. Stormy and tumultuous are also good descriptors.

A

Boisterous

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122
Q

If you get the greatest percentage of something, you…

A

Get The Lions Share

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123
Q

This idiom refers to being excited or crazy. You are going…

A

Go Bananas

The dog was going bananas when the cat came into the house.

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124
Q

This word describes a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

A

Respite

“If you’ve been fighting with your partner, a visit from a friend might offer a brief respite from the argument, but the fight will pick up again when she leaves.”

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125
Q

This idiom refers to a mild infatuation or crush.

A

Puppy Love

“Most teenagers are quick to fall in love and expect it to last a lifetime, but of course it is puppy love and they soon fall out of it.”

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126
Q

This word can be used to describe behavior or speech that is meant to excite factions, quarrels, or sedition.

A

Incendiary

“He also defended his incendiary attacks on the press.”

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127
Q

When someone takes liberties, doing things too boldly, you can describe them with this adjective…

A

Presumptuous

“At the end of a lengthy, contentious interview, the anchor asked if Barr would serve in President Trump’s second term if he wins reelection, a question Barr thought was “presumptuous” for him to answer.”“I said it was “presumptuous” for white people like me to say we knew Native Americans’ interests better than they did.”

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128
Q

This idiom refers to comparing things that are different, leading to an incorrect conclusion.

A

Apples and Oranges

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129
Q

This word refers to overtly and often exaggeratedly threatening actions or statements (such as verbal threats or ostentatious displays of military power) that are meant to intimidate an enemy by suggesting possible use of force. It also means to issue threatening statements or actions when the word is not used in a military sense.

A

Saber Rattling

“But Jager insists that North Korean saber-rattling was aimed mostly at extorting economic aid from Washington, Seoul and other governments anxious to preserve peace at almost any price.”

“Iran’s noisy saber rattling is only the latest lurch in its erratic foreign policy.”

“But if Theranos thought this saber rattling would make us stand down, it was mistaken. Over the next three weeks, we published four more articles.”

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130
Q

Describing someone as this means the person has only one ability or good quality that he/she is known for, and doesn’t have any other talents or abilities. They are considered a…

A

One Trick Pony

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131
Q

This word refers to something that is so old, that it’s no longer useful, popular, or accepted.

A

Antiquated

“The pandemic struck after Wisconsin and other states toughened rules for accessing unemployment benefits - in the name of reducing fraud - and failed to upgrade antiquated computer systems.”

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132
Q

This is a pejorative term for someone perceived as entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. A common stereotype is that of a white woman who uses her privilege to demand her own way at the expense of others. Depictions also include demanding to “speak to the manager”, being racist, being anti-vaccination, or sporting a particular bob cut hairstyle. As of 2020, the term was increasingly being used as a general-purpose term of disapproval for middle-aged white women.

A

Karen

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133
Q

These type of words are insulting, disrespectful, unflattering, unkind, or demeaning.

A

Derogatory

“Management did nothing to correct the workers’ behavior, the office said, even when it removed a whiteboard with a derogatory message written by the Black employee’s supervisor.”

“The office later amended instructions, he wrote, saying U.S. citizens, permanent residents and Canadians were exempt from secondary inspection, “provided there was no associated derogatory information.”

Derogatory means about the same as insulting. Derogatory language is meant to hurt, and it usually does. If you feel offended or insulted by what someone says, the person probably said something derogatory. Racial, sexist, and homophobic slurs are all derogatory. Insults that mean someone is stupid or crazy are derogatory. Making a joke about someone’s mother is derogatory.

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134
Q

This idiom refers to getting information from someone well-informed (about a particular topic).

A

Pick Someone’s Brains

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135
Q

To do something because you are angry, even if it is not in your best interest.

A

To Cut Your Nose Off to Spite Your Face

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136
Q

This idiom is used to describe a town or village that is very small. The image is that nothing ever happens in the town, it is boring and quiet. It is a…

A

One Horse Town

“I grew up in a one-horse town. I moved away at the first chance I had.”

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137
Q

To make an official decision about who is right in a dispute or to come to an official conclusion about something.

A

Adjudicate
Adjudicated

“The school board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.”

“The claims will be adjudicated by a judge.”

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138
Q

This idiom refers to being upset and frustrated because you’ve tried everything you can think of to solve a problem, and nothing has worked.

A

At Your Wits End

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139
Q

This is an idiomatic expression that refers to a better or more promising situation.

A

Greener Pastures

“The young ambitious girl emigrated to Canada seeking greener pastures where she can develop her career.”

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140
Q

This word means to divide. Something that’s been split into two sides that are so different, it seems as though they’re from opposite ends of the earth — like the North Pole and the South Pole.

A

Polarize

Political parties have long been polarized by different views and approaches to government. But you’ll also find polarized soda devotees arguing over the merits of Coke vs. Pepsi. Any topic that is controversial can polarize a population, especially if the topic inspires either a fiercely “pro” or fiercely “con” reaction. Topics such as gun control and health care reform have been known to polarize Congress.

“The issue has polarized the nation.”

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141
Q

This word is used to describe someone who is marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful. They may dismiss important matters. This can describe themselves or their attitude.

A

Cavalier

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142
Q

This idiom refers to a situation going from bad to worse.

A

Out of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire

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143
Q

This idiom refers to everyone having good luck or success at some point in their lives. It is said that…

A

Every Dog Has It’s Day

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144
Q

This idiom refers to the practice of trying to stop something that persistently occurs in an apparently random manner at the point where the occurrence is noticed. It is annoying and can become tiresome but may also be futile because of the frequency of occurrence. It is basically one big game of…

A

Whack a Mole

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145
Q

This idiom is used to refer to forces or influences that inhibit progress.

A

Headwinds

“Power-plant construction is facing headwinds in the U.S. as renewable energy projects and slack demand throw the economics of new generators into question.

“For generations, the tribe has been leaning into cultural headwinds to preserve a language on the brink of extinction.”

“The plan faces political headwinds from both sides of the aisle.”

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146
Q

This idiom refers to doing or saying something in order to show that you want to end a disagreement with someone and that you are looking to reconcile.

A

To Hold Out An Olive Branch

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147
Q

This card playing idiom refers to giving somebody an unfair advantage over another person.

A

To Stack The Cards Against Someone

“Even though the cards were stacked against them, they pulled off the win.”

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148
Q

This idiom refers to going straight for something you are interested in. You…

A

Make a Beeline

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149
Q

This idiom is used to describe something or someone that one thinks is very good, useful, etc. It could be a new invention that is likely to improve people’s lives significantly or something that is thought to be very good.

A

Greatest/Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

“He thinks wireless Internet access is the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

“Have you checked out this cool new app? I think its the best thing since sliced bread.”

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150
Q

This idiom is used to describe a weak and fragile structure, plan, or organization, something that could topple over or fail at any time.

A

A House of Cards

151
Q

When someone tells you to do this, they are saying to regard something as exaggerated; believe only part of something. Have some skepticism. Whatever they are saying may not be 100% true. Don’t take something too seriously.

A

To Take Something With a Grain of Salt“

Before elections, all parties make a lot of promises. They are best taken with a grain of salt.”

“This piece of news appears to be a blown up account of what actually happened. I’ll take it with a grain of salt.”

152
Q

This idiom refers to being motivated by a specific purpose or opinion, usually hidden and selfish. To have a dispute to take up with someone or to have an ulterior motive.

A

Have An Ax to Grind

“I think he is gunning for the top job because he has an axe to grind with some of his colleagues.”

“Some new reports may be biased because the reporters have an axe to grind.”

153
Q

This word refers to a statement (such as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said.

A

Non Sequitur

“We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog.”

154
Q

This idiom refers to something that is moving extremely slow.

Example: Traffic is moving…

A

At a Snails Pace

155
Q

If something is filling and nutritious it is said to

A

Stick to Your Ribs

156
Q

If you get this, something bad happens to you or you feel that you’ve been treated poorly.

A

A Kick In The Teeth

157
Q

This idiom refers to something worth considering. It is…

A

Food For Thought

“Here is some food for thought…”

“The manager’s meeting today has given me a lot of food for thought about whether I want to continue working in this company.”

158
Q

This phrase is similar to worth your pay. You are good or competent at the job or profession specified.

A

Worth Your Salt

“Any epidemiologist worth their salt would have predicted this pandemic.”

159
Q

This idiom refers to the seemingly minor or routine action that causes an unpredictably large and sudden reaction, because of the cumulative effect of small actions.It is the latest in a series of unpleasant or undesirable events, and makes you feel that you cannot tolerate a situation any longer.

A

The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

“The crisis could be the last straw for many of the world’s poorest people. Then came the recession. Revenues dropped, but the straw to break the camel’s back was the war.”

160
Q

This word refers to a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior.

A

Disdain

The divided judgment — a rare example of ticket splitting in partisan times — demonstrated that, for many voters, their disdain for the president was as personal as it was political.

161
Q

This idiom refers to stopping a bad situation from becoming worse by taking action at an early stage of its development. It could also refer to good plans that may be terminated for one reason or another.

A

To Nip Something In The Bud

“When the kid shows the first signs of misbehaving, you should nip that bad behavior in the bud.”

“A guy at home wasn’t necessarily the same guy at work, especially when the fellow in question was ambitious and faced with a sudden obstacle that might nip all his big plans in the bud.”

162
Q

This card playing idiom refers to forcing someone to prove that what they are doing or saying is true, to make someone prove that they will really do what they say they will do- usually because you do not believe them

A

To Call Someones Bluff

“My girlfriend always said that she did not want to get married so I called her bluff and asked her to marry me. She said yes.”

163
Q

This idiom refers to suffering an indignity or act of disrespect (an insult) after being harmed (injured) in some other way.

A

Add Insult To Injurt

Add insult to injury is a cliché, used frequently and often thoughtlessly.

“It was also a trip when my son, operating the boat, managed to knock three holes in the bottom by hitting a piece of an old dead tree. Adding insult to injury was two flat tires on the trailer during the trip home.”

“Shares of Chicago Bridge & Iron dropped 11%, adding to losses that have cost the stock nearly half its value just since the beginning of August…Adding insult to injury today was a downgrade from analysts at Jefferies, which reduced their rating on the stock from buy to hold.”

164
Q

If you can do this, you can persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous. You may be a good salesman. You can…

A

Sell Ice to Eskimos

165
Q

This word means to criticize someone severely. To rebuke. To censure or scold severely.

A

Chastise

“Minutes before, Oswalt chastised Trump’s press conference, writing, “Some solid ‘Top Kia Salesman in Southeastern Kansas Award Ceremony’ energy at this Trump press conference right now.”

“About an hour later, at a second stop in Philadelphia, Biden chastised the effort by Trump supporters to intimidate his campaign over the past few days.”

166
Q

This is a colorful way of saying a lot of money or a high price.

A

An Arm and a Leg

167
Q

If you say something is this, you think it’s an overreaction to something that shouldn’t have caused so much trouble.

A

Much ado About Nothing

168
Q

These are considered small unimportant details or facts. They are…

A

Small Potatoes

169
Q

This idiom refers to making a bad problem worse, or making an argument more intense. You are…

A

Adding Fuel to The Fire

“Arresting the communal leader in such a tense situation will only add fuel to the flames.

“At the time she doubted him of cheating on her, seeing him with another girl only added fuel to the flames.”

“His parents were already angry when he flunked the class. When they saw him drunk, it only added fuel to the flames.”

170
Q

This idiom refers to being questioned in great detail about something.

A

To Get The Third Degree

“My boyfriend is so controlling that I always get the third degree if I goanywhere or see anyone without him.”

171
Q

This expression is a form of disgust or revulsion. It may refer to something that creeps you out.

A

Ick Factor

“Donald Trump has also publicly spoken of Ivanka in terms that many find to be totally inappropriate on many, many occasions. Here are just some of the times Donald Trump upped the ick factor when it came to how he treated Ivanka.”

172
Q

You can say that you had to do this if you had to complete a lot of tasks before being permitted to do something.

A

Jump Through Hoops

173
Q

If you hurt or offend someone who helps or supports you, you are guilty of…

A

Biting The Hand That Feeds You

174
Q

This word refers to criticism or opposition.

A

Flak

“But first, how does this keep happening?Another botched art restoration in Spain is gettingflak online because it looks like… Mr. Potato Head.”

175
Q

These are all synonyms for crazy

A 
Insane
Out to Lunch
Unhinged
Mad as a Hatter
Foaming at The Mouth
176
Q

If you say that something is this, you mean that it is a part of the character of the person, thing, or situation that you are talking about and cannot be avoided. Negotiations always get tougher towards the end. That’s…

A

That’s The Nature of The Beast

177
Q

This idiom refers to forcing yourself not to say something you really want to say.

A

To Bite Your Tongue

178
Q

This word means a large number or amount of something.

A

Spate

“Lucas said the recent spate of mass shootings in public places may have placed customers on heightened alert, leading them to call police reporting an active shooter.”

179
Q

This word means to be light heartedly silly, joyfully elated or euphoric.

A

Giddy

“Hill grew up in Hot Springs, Ark., decades after its 20th-century heyday* as the boozy, freewheeling hangout of choice for gamblers, mobsters and crooked politicians; his book recreates the giddy era with a delightfully light touch…”

180
Q

This expression refers to what is normal or expected in any given circumstances. You may not pleased with it but it is what you expected to happen.

A

Par For The Course

“Long hours are par for the course.”“I had an appointment to see my doctor at three but I had to wait an hour. I know waiting is par for the course when it comes to doctors, but it still annoys me.“Bill hasn’t paid his rent on time, but that’s par for the course. He’s always late.”

181
Q

If you say something is this, you don’t like it but you understand that it has to be accepted sometimes or it has to exist.

A

A Necessary Evil

182
Q

This card playing idiom refers to existing circumstances or conditions that will help a person be successful. The cards are…

A

To Have The Cards Stacked in Your Favor

“With her experience and connections, the cards are stacked in her favor. She shouldn’t have any problem getting that job.”

183
Q

This idiom refers to a state of extreme, euphoric happiness. You are said to be on…

A

Cloud 9

“Ever since Mary got her promotion at work, she’s been on cloud nine.”

184
Q

This idiomatic expression refers to risking something in a venture or undertaking. If you do this, you are said to…

A

Have Skin In The Game

I don’t have any skin in the game, so you can trust my opinion. I’m just trying to say what I think is best for you.

185
Q

This idiom refers to getting upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed. If you do get emotional over it you are…

A

Crying Over Spilled Milk

186
Q

This word means to observe or think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction, gratification, or delight.

A

Gloat

“Russia quiet after gloating over U.S. election disarray.”

187
Q

This word describes bitter criticism or malice. Bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism.

A

Vitriol

“For some of her supporters, the vitriol Ms. Harris had to withstand was another aspect of her experience they found relatable.

188
Q

If you do this, you cause someone or a group of people to become annoyed, upset, or offended. You have…

A

Ruffled Someone’s Feathers

189
Q

This phrase is often used when you try to solve a problem or answer a question, but you only create more problems or more questions.

A

Open a Can of Worms

Some also believe that “can of worms” is a modern version of the idiom, “Pandora’s box.”

Pandora’s box comes from an old myth, and it also means to create a new set of problems.

Example: You’ve opened a real can of worms here.

190
Q

This is a metaphor suggesting an amount of separation, keeping one thing or person away from another. It is…

A

At Arms Length

191
Q

This word is used to describe someone who favors or is inclined to start quarrels or wars. Synonyms include argumentative, belligerent, combative, confrontational, feisty, and quarrelsome.

A

Bellicose

192
Q

Someone accused of doing this has made an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance that is expressed in words but not backed by deeds. They are all talk.

A

Paying Lip Service

“She paid lip service to blue-collar workers, but she did nothing to help them.”

“So far all we’ve gotten from him is lip service.”

193
Q

This idiom refers to a fierce, competitive struggle for power, position, status, etc.

A

The Rat Race

194
Q

This word refers to parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning.

A

Context

“The Vatican has sought to clarify Pope Francis’ comments in support of same-sex civil unions, saying they were taken out of context and do not signal a change in doctrine.

“The book puts these events in their proper historical and social contexts.

“We need to consider these events in context.”

195
Q

This word means to reject something. To refuse to accept or support it.

A

Repudiate

“This verb usually refers to rejecting something that has authority, such as a legal contract, doctrine, or claim. In connection with debts or other obligations, repudiate is used in the specialized sense “to refuse to recognize or pay.” If referring to a child or a lover, repudiate is used in the sense “to disown, cast off.” This verb is derived from Latin repudiare “to put away, divorce.”

196
Q

If you tell someone to not worry about the minor things, you are telling them to not do this.

A

Sweat The Details

197
Q

This idiom means you can’t have something both ways. You can’t have the best of both worlds. You can’t have the two mutually exclusive things you desire at once.

A

You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

198
Q

This idiom refers to many ways to do something, there are many ways to achieve a goal. There’s…

A

More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

199
Q

This word means nervously excited. Synonyms include antsy, edgy, and jittery.

A

Aflutter

“Six weeks ago, eight weeks ago, you never heard of this. All of a sudden, it’s got the world aflutter,” Trump said.

200
Q

This idiom refers to something that is bad but not as bad as something else.

A

Lesser of 2 Evils

201
Q

This idiom refers to something positive that happens in an already very good situation but sometimes something quite bad that happens in an already very bad situation. It is considered…

A

The Icing On The Cake

202
Q

If you conform to certain rules or standards, then you…

A

Tow The Line

203
Q

This word describes foreknowledge of events. Foresight. Human anticipation of the course of events.

A

Prescient

“Almost two months before the 2016 presidential election, Dave Wasserman, an editor at the non partisan Cook Political Report, wrote a prescient piece.”

204
Q

This word describes someone who is dressed in an unattractive way. They are dull and drab. They are out of date style-wise. If you want to get on your mom’s bad side, tell her she looks this way.

A

Frumpy

205
Q

If someone does this, they cause a lot of trouble or stir things up a lot.

A

Make Waves

206
Q

This is a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué

A

Double Entendre

Huge Melons

“His membership was revoked after he was unable to get through two consecutive sentences without a smutty double entendre.”

207
Q

This idiom refers to wasting energy on a lost cause or to keep talking about a situation that cannot be changed because it has already been discussed or decided. If you do this, you are guilty of…

A

Beating a Dead Horse

208
Q

This idiom is used when you want to refer to something that is much different from something else. It is…

A

A Far Cry From

“He is a great player, but it is time for him to retire. His recent performances are a far cry from what they used to be during his peak years.”

“The apartment they live in now is a far cry from the huge mansion they once used to have.”

209
Q

This phrase sometimes refers to someone seeking publicity for a bad or selfish purpose. But in most uses it is neutral, assuming there’s no harm in people wanting a little bit of fame.…

A

15 MINUTES OF FAME

“A contestant misrepresented himself in order to get on a television show for his proverbial 15 minutes of fame.”

“We now live in a time when everyone clamors for their 15 minutes of fame via self-promotion on social media every day.”

“A raccoon in Minnesota got its 15 minutes of fame after climbing up the side of a skyscraper Tuesday.”

210
Q

This idiom refers to a diagonal direction.

A

Kitty Corner

The gas station is kitty corner to the WaWa.

211
Q

This card playing idiom refers to someone who is unpredictable.

A

A Wild Card

“She is such a wild card. It is hard to say who she will vote for.”

212
Q

This idiom refers to a benefit that is available now is more valuable than some possibly larger future benefit. For example, Bob thinks he might do better in a bigger firm, but his wife insists he should stay, saying that…

A

A Bird in The Hand is Worth Two in The Bush

213
Q

This card playing idiom refers to not telling anyone what you plan on doing. To keep your plans a secret. You are…

A

Keeping Your Cards Close To Your Chest.

“He keeps his cards close to his chest, I have no idea who he has selected for the position.”

214
Q

This idiom refers to a big clumsy person.

A

A Bull in a China Shop

215
Q

This idiom is normally used to mean that the bad things that someone has done in the past have come back to haunt the individual or bite them in the butt. This expression is similar to “what goes around, comes around” and basically means that the consequences of one’s evil actions catch up in a negative way.

A

Chickens Come Home To Roost

216
Q

This word refers to something that is overwhelming or intimidating such as a new endeavor or task.

A

Daunting

Joseph R. Biden Jr. achieved victory offering a message of healing and unity. He will return to Washington facing a daunting set of crises.Few things are more daunting than having to speak in front of a large crowd.Shakespeare’s plays can be daunting for a young reader.Often used in the phrases “daunting prospect” and “daunting task,” daunting describes something that you are not looking forward to doing. Having to fill out complicated tax forms every year is a daunting task for many people. Once a daunting task is complete, you no longer describe it as daunting, but instead can call it a job well done, or at least another life experience survived.

217
Q

To approach or discuss a matter without directly getting to the point, to put off getting to the point in a conversation.

A

To Beat Around The Bush

218
Q

This word refers to a framework, discipline, standard, perspective, or set of ideas. It is a way of looking at something.

A

Paradigm

“By not conforming to the gender paradigm imposed on us as children, I’ve been able to enjoy life in a more open and fulfilling fashion.”

“Between the two of them as non-traditional spouses, will they form a new paradigm for both first lady and second gentleman?”

“Even though Liza is an unconventional teacher, she still supports the educational paradigm that is used by most of the veteran teachers at her school.”

The word paradigm comes up a lot in the academic, scientific, and business worlds. A new paradigm in business could mean a new way of reaching customers and making money. In education, relying on lectures is a paradigm: if you suddenly shifted to all group work, that would be a new paradigm. When you change paradigms, you’re changing how you think about something.

219
Q

If you do this, you are doing something in a perfunctory way, without any enthusiam or commitment. Simulating an action.

A

Going Through The Motions

“Mr. Mattis also quietly slow-walked a number of Mr. Trump’s proposals… In each case, he went through the motions of acquiescing to the White House — and then buried the plans in Defense Department red tape.

220
Q

These idiom refers to an occurrence or an event that will never happen.

It will not happen in this lifetime or a time in the unforeseeable distant future; not a chance.

A

It Will be a Cold Day in Hell

When Hell Freezes Over

A Snowballs Chance in Helli

When Pigs Fly

221
Q

This idiom refers to something that is flying off the shelves whether it is being given away or being sold. It is…

A

Selling Like Hot Cakes

222
Q

This word means to meditate on or ponder a subject. It also means to review something idly or casually and often inconclusively. You don’t want to assume anything.

A

Speculate

“If you want me to speculate, I’d say it ran far deeper than that.”

“I’m not going to speculate on…”

223
Q

If you say this, you’re saying that the expression on someone’s face is showing their true feelings or thoughts.

A

It’s Written All Over Your Face

224
Q

If someone does this, they join a movement or follow a fashion that has recently become popular.

A

Jump on The Band Wagon

225
Q

This idiom refers to acquiring something easily, usually without any effort on the receiver’s part. It is something that is usually given to someone because of their relationship with the person in charge.

A

To Be Handed Something on a Silver Platter

The CEO’s daughter was given the internship since she always got everything handed to her on a silver platter.

226
Q

This is another word for hard and blunt.

A

Stark

“What started as a lopsided election cycle with Republicans defending 23 seats, compared with 12 for Democrats, quickly became a more stark referendum on the president as Democrats reached deeper into Trump country and put the GOP on defense.”

227
Q

This idiom refers to not be good or effective enough. Someone…

A

Doesn’t Cut The Mustard

“Give me the bigger hammer. This little one just doesn’t cut the mustard.”

“I didn’t cut the mustard as a hockey player.”

“If you can’t cut the mustard, your not going to make the team.”

“The boss fired him because he couldn’t cut the mustard.”

228
Q

This word means to be marked my stubborn determination. Having or showing tenacity and grim persistence.

A

Dogged

“The president’s dogged refusal to concede and his refusal to allow transition processes for President-elect Joe Biden, as required by law, is tarnishing America’s image as the world’s leading democracy.”

229
Q

When you say that someone is this, you are saying that they are crazy or insane. Maybe unhinged. An Idiom.

A

Out to Lunch

230
Q

This idiom refers to a person or organization so powerful that it can act without regard to the rights of others or the law.

A

The 800 Pound Gorilla

231
Q

This idiom refers to getting yourself in trouble. Don’t get yourself…

A

In a Pickle

“Seeing as the deadline was looming and Grace was yet to round up the project, she realised she was in a pickle.”

“Alice is definitely in a pickle as she didn’t meet her last month’s sales target. I hate being in a pickle as it makes me frustrated and stressed.”

232
Q

If you do this, you try doing something for the first time, usually for fun.

A

Give it a Whirl

233
Q

If you do this, you change your opinion, position, or message about something.

A

Change Your Tune

234
Q

This is a proverb that means don’t risk everything on the success of one venture.

A

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

235
Q

This idiom refers to having a subordinate role to someone or something; be treated as less important than someone or something.

A

To Play Second Fiddle

236
Q

This card playing idiom refers to showing no expression on your face as to not give anything away.

A

Poker Face

“The politician had a poker face when he tried to defend himself against the scandal.”

237
Q

This word means to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case. Broadly, it means to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest.

A

Recuse

“Barrett was grilled by Democrats who were strongly opposed to her nomination, yet virtually powerless to stop her. The democrats did not like that she would not agree to recuse herself from post election related cases.”

238
Q

This word is used to describe behavior in keeping with good taste, propriety, conduct, appearance, and professionalism. Orderliness. Etiquette.

A

Decorum

“The president downplayed a federal judges decision to restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House press pass but derided an alleged lack of decorum among reporters who cover the administration.”“She accepted his report, not without obvious sadness but with business-like decorum and no sign of tears.”

239
Q

This idiom refers to having more important things to do. You have…

A

Bigger Fish to Fry

240
Q

This idiom refers to an important or enormous topic, question, or controversial issue that is obvious or that everyone knows about but no one mentions or wants to discuss because it makes at least some of them uncomfortable or is personally, socially, or politically embarrassing, controversial, inflammatory, or dangerous.

A

The Elephant in The Room

241
Q

If you accuse someone of doing this, you are saying that they are delaying or preventing the progress of something by acting in a deliberately slow manner.

A

Slow Walking

Mr. Mattis also quietly slow-walked a number of Mr. Trump’s proposals… In each case, he went through the motions of acquiescing to the White House — and then buried the plans in Defense Department red tape.

242
Q

If you say that you did not mean something you said earlier or say that you have changed your opinion, you have…

A

Backtracked

“Avenatti told Stormy that all the proceeds from the go fund me campaign he had set up would be going directly to her but later backtracked after it had raised over 5 million.”

243
Q

This word refers to the period of one’s greatest popularity, vigor, success, or prosperity.

A

Heyday

“In it’s heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for small-town America.

“Hill grew up in Hot Springs, Ark., decades after its 20th-century heyday as the boozy, freewheeling hangout of choice for gamblers, mobsters and crooked politicians; his book recreates the giddy era with a delightfully light touch…”

244
Q

This means including everything; completely.

A

Lock, Stock, and Barrel

the only thing which had not been sold lock, stock, and barrel with the … house was this piano

245
Q

This idiom refers to a powerful advantage that others cannot see, or is kept secret.”I like the excitement of a new idea and the surprise. As a comedian, that’s our ace in the hole. A joke is a surprise.”Microsoft thinks its cloud computing prowess is the ace up its sleeve that will help it pull ahead of Sony over the long-term.

A

Ace In The Hole

246
Q

If you are very busy and currently have a lot of responsibilities, you are said to…

A

Have a Lot on Your Plate

247
Q

This is an expression describing a person or thing that is distinctly inferior to someone or something else.

A

Can’t Hold a Candle To

248
Q

To make an official decision about who is right in (a dispute) : to settle judicially

A

Adjudicate
Adjudicated

“The school board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.”

“The claims will be adjudicated by a judge.”

249
Q

If someone tells you to do this, they are telling you to stop daydreaming or fantasizing and focus on reality.

A

Get Your Head Out of The Clouds

“Come on, man, get your head out of the clouds—we only have an hour left to cram for the test!”

250
Q

This word is used to describe someone who feels perfect assured of themselves even though they may be wrong. Synonyms include cocky, brazen, impudent, insolent, and sassy.

A

Cocksure

251
Q

This is a derogatory word for a person who is so fat and/or disgusting that the very sight of them invokes images of a giant vat filled with congealed animal fat. Synonyms include hippo, heifer, and fat bastard.

A

A Tub of Lard

“Kate is so disgusting. What the hell does that tub of lard think she is doing. She is not hot enough to get away with wearing that.”

252
Q

You can say the result of something is this, if everyone knows what it’s going to be before it happens. It’s a…

A

Foregone Conclusion

253
Q

This idiom refers to a futile attempt to control or organize a group of people who are all over the place. It’s like…

A

Herding Cats

254
Q

If someone is described as this, they are friendly, pleasant, and easy to talk to.

A

Affable

“An affable host offers you something to drink and makes you feel at home.”

“It recounts his Hollywood years and the skills he learned as an actor — the bright smile, his affable if slightly inscrutable affect — that made him such a powerful candidate for president.”

The adjective affable entered English by way of the Latin word affābilis, which means “kind, friendly.” If you’re stuck on an airplane next to someone affable, the trip won’t be so bad because that person will be easy to chat with but won’t talk your ear off. Synonyms of affable also refer to a pleasant and mild friendliness, such as genial, hospitable, and gracious. Affable people generally seem like they’re in a good mood and are happy to see you.

255
Q

To shock people

A

To Raise Eyebrows

256
Q

This phrase refers to the latest possible time to get something done before it is too late.

A

Eleventh Hour

“Don’t wait until the eleventh hour to study for your vocabulary quiz!”

257
Q

Said of two people who are very similar (or, in the case of the second expression, often in each other’s company)

A

Two Peas in a Pod

258
Q

This means to raise the required payment, or increase something.

A

Up The Ante

259
Q

Just Barely

A

By The Skin of Your Teeth

260
Q

If you say that someone is doing this, you mean that they are doing things in the wrong order. They are…

A

Putting The Cart Before The Horse

261
Q

If you accuse someone of being this, you are saying that they have or show an obtuse insensitivity or lack of perception, particularly in matters of public sentiment, opinion, or taste.

A

Tone Deaf

“The White House long ago concluded that she is aloof and politically tone-deaf.

“At the time, I wondered how such an intelligent man could be so tone-deaf to the harsh realities facing the nation.”

262
Q

This word describes a strong negative reaction or response by someone, or more often by a large number of people to a controversial political or social development.

A

Backlash

“Rapaport seems to be unbothered by the backlash, instead choosing to fan the flames rather than expressing remorse: “EAT SHIT SnowFlakes.”

263
Q

This word is used to describe someone who’s grief, sense of loss, or trouble can’t be alleviated or consoled. Synonyms include despondent, down, low spirited, miserable, mournful, or sad.

A

Inconsolable

264
Q

Something that you say to someone in a difficult situation in order to encourage them to be brave and to try not to be sad.

A

Keep Your Chin Up

265
Q

If you do this, you are so angry about something that you lose control of yourself and start screaming and shouting. You…

A

Fly Off The Handle

266
Q

If you accuse someone of doing this, you are saying that they are Intensifying or stirring up feelings and possibly exacerbating an already explosive situation.

A

Fanning The Flames

“Rapaport seems to be unbothered by the backlash, instead choosing to fan the flames rather than expressing remorse: “EAT SHIT SnowFlakes.”

267
Q

You can say this to indicate that everything is turning out very well for someone or for something.

A

Everything’s Coming up Roses

268
Q

If you have this in your closet, it means you have are hiding a shocking secret about yourself.

A

Skeleton in The Closet

269
Q

This is used as a metaphor meaning fatal weakness, but often its meaning is weakness, not necessarily fatal.

A

Achilles Heel

“The corrupt minister is regarded as the government’s Achilles heel and is expected to resign.”

“Though he was a good person, his short temper was his Achilles heel.”

“The tennis player had a great serve, but his returns were not as good and that could prove to be his Achilles heel.”

270
Q

This idiomatic expression refers to engaging in an activity that’s so futile as to be a complete waste of time.

A

To Piss Into The Wind

“Don’t waste your time trying to talk to Wanda about her spending habits. You’re pissing into the wind.

271
Q

If you flatter someone in the hopes of receiving special treatment, you are guilty of…

A

To Butter Someone Up

272
Q

This word means to free of confusion and to make something understandable.

A

Clarify

273
Q

This idiom means that you don’t really know much about something. You don’t…

A

Don’t Know Beans About That

274
Q

This idiom refers to someone or something in a competition that they are not expected to win. They are considered a…

A

Dark Horse

275
Q

This word means to not be bound by formal rules, procedures, or guidelines. To be loose and undisciplined. To do whatever you want.

A

Freewheeling

“But the days of unsupervised, freewheeling medical experimentation by the military were long gone.”

276
Q

This idiom refers to a humorous or sarcastic statement expressed in a mock serious manner.

A

Tongue in Cheek

277
Q

This word means to approach and speak to (someone) in an often challenging or aggressive way.

A

Accost

“He was accosted by a stranger on the street.”“He was accosted by three gang members on the subway.”

278
Q

As luck would have it means by chance; in the unpredictable way that things happen.

A

As Luck Would Have it

279
Q

This expression refers to something that you wish you never heard. You can’t…

A

Unhear it

280
Q

This idiom refers to seeing things clearly when they are in the past.

A

Hindsight is 20-20

281
Q

You can say something was this when it was exactly what was needed. It was…

A

Just What The Doctor Ordered

282
Q

This card playing idiom refers to having a secret advantage that one can play when ready. It is like in poker and a player hides a card up his sleeve until the perfect moment.

A

To Have a Card Up Your Sleeve

283
Q

This term is used to indicate that an action or beliefs opposes or contradicts accepted ideas or rules. To be or act in clear conflict with or opposition to something else.

A

To Fly In The Face of

“I can’t believe you said something so awful. It flies in the face of everything we stand for!”

“They want to change the entire direction of the project, completely flying in the face of all the hard work we’ve done so far.”

“Her controversial new theory flies in the face of everything we know about quantum mechanics.”

“Scientific principles that seem to fly in the face of common sense.”

284
Q

To not like something because you think it is not good enough for you.

A

To Turn Your Nose up At

285
Q

This idiomatic expression means to mingle with other people and socialize, especially higher ups.

A

Rub Elbows With

286
Q

This means to get moving and start working on something. To…

A

Get Your Ass in Gear

287
Q

This type of person is arrogant or conceited. He’ll walk into a party with an inflated ego, ready to tell anyone who will listen that “I’m kind of a big deal.”

A

Pompous

288
Q

This is considered an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition. There are numerous variations on the theme; when an individual with a reputation for failure finally succeeds, onlookers may sarcastically claim to see a flying pig.

A

When Pigs Fly

289
Q

This idiom means to not expect what is under discussion to happen soon. Don’t…

A

Don’t Hold Your Breath

290
Q

This word means something that is extremely complex and difficult to understand or follow (especially of an argument, story, or sentence).

A

Convoluted

“ It was a convoluted explanation that left the listeners even more confused than they were before.”

291
Q

This word means essentially similar, related, or compatible.

A

Akin

If two things are akin, then they’re similar or related. A cupcake is akin to a cake and relatives are akin to each other.Football is akin to the sport of rugby; baseball is akin to the British sport cricket. Mice are akin to rats, and rats are akin to gerbils, hamsters, and squirrels. Things that are akin are alike.

292
Q

This is a pejorative term meaning to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner.

A

To MansplainIn

“In the 1984 debate, Bush not only refused to call Ferraro by her correct title — calling her Mrs. Ferraro rather than Congresswoman Ferraro — but he also mansplained everything to her.”

293
Q

If you’re doing this, you’re functioning as well as you possibly can.

A

Firing on All Cylinders

294
Q

This idiom means to make a humble apology and accept humiliation.

A

To Eat Humble Pie

“The teacher had to eat humble pie when she was the one who made errors in the final grades.”

295
Q

This word is a synonym for pull or influence.

A

Clout

“Maine will have far less clout, it will receive far less by way of federal funding. And I would be replaced by an individual who’s…”

296
Q

This idiom refers to something that will be happening for a long time. The phrase is often used to describe activities regarded as futile or unproductive.

A

Until The Cows Come Home

297
Q

If someone has to do this, they have to accept the consequences of doing something wrong.

A

Face The Music

298
Q

This idiom alludes to someone exposed to an uncomfortable, awkward, or unusual situation. You are not relaxed and may be nervous. They are not in their natural habitat.

A

Like a Fish Out of Water

This expression makes reference to the fact that fish cannot survive on dry land for a long time which is out their habitat.The natural place for a fish to live is in the water – if a fish is outside the water, it would feel very uncomfortable! If you feel “like a fish out of water,” it means that you are very uncomfortable in a particular situation or environment.

299
Q

If something is this, it has no chance of succeeding or of making any progress.

A

Dead In The Water or Dead on Arrival

300
Q

This term is used to describe a highly admired person or thing. When someone or something is the best or close to it. Something outstanding. Synonyms include The Bees Knees.

A

The Cat’s Meow

“After becoming the cat’s meow, Grumpy Cat earned her human millions of dollars.”

301
Q

This idiom refers to hearing something from the person who has direct personal knowledge of it. You…

A

To Hear Something Straight From The Horses Mouth

302
Q

This idiom refers to a situation in which somebody comments on or accuses someone else of a fault which the accuser shares.

A

The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

“I think it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black when she says he is obsessive.

303
Q

This is used to describe an utter disaster or mess, a disastrous calamity or source of trouble.

It can also be used to describe a person who parties their way to disaster – an architect of their own misfortune. They go out and drink all the time and end up with me In places they can’t remember. Also known as a hot mess.

A

A TRAIN WRECK

“The woman can’t ever get a good man, a good job, or education. Her life sucks. She is a trainwreck!”

304
Q

This is another word for criticism.

A

Flak

“But first, how does this keep happening? Another botched art restoration in Spain is getting flak online because it looks like… Mr. Potato Head.”

305
Q

This word refers to a word or phrase expressing a negative connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard.

A

Pejorative

306
Q

This idiom refers to sensing weakness or vulnerability and be ready to attack. You…

A

Smell Blood (In The Water)

Example: The opposition party smelled blood after the president was hit with corruption charges.

307
Q

This word means devoid of strength or resources. Lacking the authority or capacity to act.

A

Powerless

“Barrett was grilled by Democrats who were strongly opposed to her nomination, yet virtually powerless to stop her.”

308
Q

This word is used to describe someone who has a bad disposition.

A

Ill Tempered

309
Q

If you accuse someone of doing this, you are accusing them of deliberately dragging their feet and making something take longer than it needs to.

A

Slow Rolling

“Some analysts and lawmakers have accused the Air Force of slow-rolling the program in an attempt to see it quietly canceled, despite congressional enthusiasm for buying new attack planes.

310
Q

This idiom is used to call attention to someone who has entered the room or area.

A

Look What The Cat Dragged In or Speak of The Devil

311
Q

This word means to fall or stop on so as to crush. To completely suppress.

A

Squelch

The day before the election, he had given briefings every few hours, describing how the usual tribulations of the day were being dealt with, and squelching rumors. “It’s just another Tuesday on the internet,” he said with a shrug when asked about some of the misinformation.

312
Q

This expression refers to being In a gloomy or depressed mood. “After losing the student election, Jack really felt __________.”

A

Down In The Dumps

313
Q

This word means to set (someone) free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt.

A

Absolve

“The jury absolved the defendants of their crimes.”“Her youth does not absolve her of responsibility for her actions.”

314
Q

This idiom usually refers specifically to someone who watches a whole lot of TV. They may be lazy.

A

A Couch Potato

315
Q

If you do this, you do something very carefully to make sure you haven’t made any mistakes.

A

Dot Your i’s And Cross Your T’s

316
Q

This idiom refers to quickly stop being involved with someone or something because you stop liking that person or thing or you think they will cause problems for you later on down the road.

To abandon someone or something suddenly and completely, sometimes to avoid potential problems. You…

A

Drop Them/It Like a Hot Potato

To abandon as quickly as possible; to ditch. The simile is based on the fact that potatoes, which hold a fair amount of water, retain heat very well, as anyone who has so burned his or her fingers will testify.

The figurative hot potato is likely to be an embarrassing subject or ticklish problem. The term originated as a colloquialism in the early nineteenth century. It probably was a cliché by the time W. Somerset Maugham wrote, “She dropped him, but not like a hot brick or a hot potato,” meaning that she let him down gently.

317
Q

This word means to draw special attention to a fact, idea, or situation. You want to make something evident, you want to stress it.

A

Underscore

“Even in defeat, though, Mr. Trump demonstrated his enduring appeal to many white voters and his intense popularity in rural areas, underscoring the deep national divisions that Mr. Biden has vowed to heal.”

Literally, underscore means “to underline,” or draw a line beneath a word to emphasize it. In common speech, to underscore something is to call attention to it. If a worker sustained an injury on the job, for instance, the event would underscore the need for workplace safety.

Underscore is also used to mean “emphasize.” During a job interview, you want to underscore any experience that relates to the job you are applying for.

318
Q

If someone can’t see this, they are too involved in the details of a problem to look at the situation as a whole. They get so caught up in small details that they fail to see the bigger picture.

A

Can’t See The Forest For The Trees

It means that if you look at things one at a time, you might not realize that a branch of separate “trees” go together to make a “forest.

When you are too close to a situation you need to step back and get a little perspective. When you do you will notice there was a whole forest you couldn’t see before because you were too close, and focusing on the trees.

“The congressman became so involved in the wording of his bill that he couldn’t see the forest for the trees; he did not realize that the bill could never pass.”

“Smith is good at detail, but can’t see the forest for the trees.”

319
Q

This word refers to depriving somebody of their right to vote.

A

Disenfranchise

“The U.S. has a shameful history of disenfranchising African-American citizens through bogus laws and outright intimidation.”

320
Q

If you do this, you accept a difficult situation and try not to let it upset you. You…

A

Grin And Bear it

321
Q

This idiom refers to urging someone to do something foolish.

A

To Egg Someone On

322
Q

If you give someone this, you give them freedom to do whatever they want in a situation.

A

Carte Blanche

323
Q

This term is used to describe a person or plan that has no chance of succeeding or being effective.

A

A Non Starter

324
Q

To do nothing or to have nothing useful to do while you are waiting for something to happen.

A

To Twiddle Your Thumbs

325
Q

If you are saying that someone is this, it means bay they make a lot of threats but don’t really act on them. They may seem scary or intimidating, but they’re totally harmless.

Example: My boss yells a lot, but he’s really…

A

All Bark and No Bite

326
Q

This idiom refers to dressing up something unappealing in a vain attempt to make it look better.

A

Putting Lipstick on a Pig

327
Q

If you have a desire to catch somebody in order to hurt them or punish them, you are…

A

After Blood

328
Q

This idiom refers to money that is saved for the future. It is…

A

A Nest Egg

329
Q

If your this, you think you’re better or more important than you really are. You are…

A

Full of Yourself

330
Q

To stay so close to someone, watching everything that they do, that it’s annoying.

A

To Breathe Down Someone’s Neck

331
Q

This is an idiom that refers to a catch or mysterious element hidden in the details, meaning that something might seem simple at a first look but will take more time and effort to complete than expected.

A

The Devil is in The Details

332
Q

This idiomatic expression is said when an explanation, a reason or an argument is not sound, strong or logical. It is said to…

A

Not Hold Water

333
Q

This idiom refers to something that hasn’t been fully thought through. It’s poorly developed or carried out.

A

Half Baked

334
Q

This idiom refers to revealing something, usually a secret.

A

To Spill The Beans

She kept asking me to spill the beans but I didn’t want anyone to know I was pregnant yet.

335
Q

This word refers to placing (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect).

A

Juxtapose

See the word “pose” in juxtapose? When you juxtapose, you are “posing” or positioning things side by side.The verb juxtapose requires contrasting things placed next to one other:

“The collage juxtaposed pictures of Jane while she was growing up and as an adult.” Juxtapose is used often when referring to contrasting elements in the arts.”

“The music juxtaposed the instrumentation of jazz with the harmonies of soul.”

336
Q

This word is used to describe someone who causes displeasure, annoyance, or anger. Synonyms include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, frustrating, irksome, maddening, peeving, or vexing.

A

Irritating

337
Q

If you are accused of doing this, you bring up the issue of race in order to get an advantage or to discredit the other person.

A

To Play The Race Card

338
Q

This word refers to open disrespect for someone or something. It can also be disrespect coupled with feelings of intense dislike.

A

Scorn

“The parade has unsurprisingly been met with scorn and has a lot of folks shaking their damn heads, but here’s what Boston native and ‘Captain America’ star Chris Evans thinks about it.”

339
Q

If you are in trouble with another person, usually a fried or loved one, you are considered to be…

A

In The Dog House

340
Q

If you are this, your attention is on the speaker and you are listening closely.

A

All Ears

341
Q

You can say this before saying what you’ll do if things don’t go as well as you’d like, and you’re forced to do something that you’d rather not do.

A

If Push Comes to Shove

342
Q

You can say something is this if it’s the way to reach a goal, or the way to achieve something.

A

A Means To An End

343
Q

This card playing idiom refers to being in a controlling position or in a position of advantage. You…

A

Hold All The Cards

“I can’t win. She is holding all the aces and she knows it.”

344
Q

If you do this, you are overly careful in your approach to something.

A

Err on The Side of Caution

345
Q

If you say that you would like to be this on an occasion, you mean that you would like to hear what will be said or see what will happen while not being noticed.

A

A Fly on The Wall

346
Q

This word means to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly.

A

Recant

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Attorney General William Barr each cited a federal postal worker who claims that supervisors tampered with ballots. But the worker subsequently recanted in a sworn statement to investigators. (He has since recanted his recantation.)”

347
Q

This idiom refers to being grateful and accepting of a gift and not try to evaluate the value of it. Don’t question the value of a gift. The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. Don’t…

A

Don’t Look a Gift Horse in The Mouth

348
Q

This means that someone has to give in or there has to be compromise.

A

To Blink

“Someone has to blink, or the two sides have to compromise.”

349
Q

If you do this, you are following the wrong line of thought, or making false assumptions or mistakes.

You may be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action. You may be completely misunderstanding something. You are…

A

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Barking up the wrong tree is an idiomatic expression in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have chased a prey up a tree, but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another.

350
Q

This word refers to something that seems like it was thought about after the fact and not during the initial phases of a project or process.

A

An afterthought

“Anyone with siblings and a father in their 70s knows him getting everyone’s names straight isn’t always guaranteed. Such was the case during Donald Trump’s post-impeachment-acquittal statement, when he mentioned his ‘whole” family and then seemed to throw Barron Trump in as an afterthought.”

351
Q

This idiom refers to doing something immediately, without planning.

A

At The Drop of a Hat

352
Q

This idiom refers to something that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it. It is…

A

Fait Accompli

“It’s Fait Accompli. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

353
Q

If you are in a place where it is crowded and everyone is shoulder to shoulder, you may be…

A

Packed Like Sardines

354
Q

If you make a mountain out of a molehill, you make a small problem seem to be a much bigger problem.

A

Make a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill

355
Q

This word means to be thoroughly proficient or an expert. A highly skilled or well trained individual.

A

Adept

“Some of these predators are adept at covering their tracks online, using software to mask their location.”“Nadal is as adept at the net as he is at the baseline and he showed Thompson that flair for risk-taking to great advantage in a first set that lasted barely half an hour.”

356
Q

If you do this in a conflict or a contest, you use the same methods or “weapons” as your opponent. You…

A

Fight Fire With Fire

357
Q

This adjective is very bold — if you are described as this, you are daring and unconventional! You could also be described as recklessly bold as well as rash.

Synonyms include bold, brash, brazen, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, and sassy.

A

Audacious

“The president’s push to prevent states from certifying electors and get legislators to override voters’ will eclipses even the bitter 1876 election as an audacious use of brute political force.”

358
Q

If you laugh hard and uncontrollably you may…

A

Bust a Gut

“When Jack showed up at the party in a clown suit, I thought I was going to bust a gut laughing.”

359
Q

This word refers to something that is not likely to offend or arouse strong feelings or hostility. It is an innocent question/statement.

A

Innocuous

“One otherwise innocuous question became an excruciating case study in awkwardness, however, when Trump weighed in on what his daughter may have inherited from him, personality-wise.”

360
Q

This word means to actually or appear to make great or greater.

A

Aggrandize

If you are a window washer, but you refer to yourself as a “vista enhancement specialist,” then you are aggrandizing your job title — that is, making it sound greater than it is.The verb aggrandize not only means “to make appear greater”; it can also be used to mean simply “to make greater.” If you buy an estate and sink millions of dollars into its improvement, then you are actually aggrandizing the estate. If you are making yourself seem greater, then people may say you are “self-aggrandizing.”

361
Q

This word is used to describe a capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind.

A

Whim

As we’ve seen with the President’s haphazard approach to Syria, our national defense is too important to be subjected to the President’s erratic whims.”

“He quit his job on a whim”

362
Q

This word is used when you want to make something appear less important than it really is. You are…

A

Downplaying or Minimizing

“The president downplayed a federal judges decision to restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House press pass but derided an alleged lack of decorum among reporters who cover the administration.”

363
Q

This word means to reduce or play down. To make something small and less serious. To intentionally underestimate. Synonyms include diminish and play down.

A

Minimize

“Through it all, the coronavirus and its ravages on the country hung over the election and shaped the choice for voters. Facing an electorate already fatigued by his aberrant conduct, the president effectively sealed his defeat by minimizing a pandemic that has created simultaneous health and economic crises.”

364
Q

This is a clue or piece of information which is or is intended to be misleading or distracting and draw attention away from the real facts of a situation.

A

A Red Herring

“”The book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of red herrings”

You might also hear this word used in the context of literature or film: a red herring in crime fiction is the conspicuous clue or suspicious character simply there to mislead you from working out who the real villain is. The sense of red herring as a deliberate distraction actually comes from the literal sense — the fish, which turns red when smoked. Red herring was used in training hounds, to identify the dogs who could detect a scent without being distracted by the stinky fish.

365
Q

This idiom refers to revealing a secret. If you reveal the secret when your not supposed to, you are…

A

Letting The Cat Out of The Bag

366
Q

This idiom means that what is good for a man is equally good for a woman or what a man can have or do, so can a woman have or do.

It is Used to say that one person or situation should be treated the same way that another person or situation is treated.

A

What’s Good For The Goose is Good For The Gander

367
Q

This word refers to a violation of a rule of behavior, manners, or etiquette.

A

Impropriety

So while it is fitting and proper to wear a bikini top and a sarong to the beach, to do so at church would be considered an impropriety.

368
Q

This word means at the same level or standard as (someone or something else)

A

On Par

“The new version of the software is on a par with the old one.”

“His new book is on par with his best sellers.”

369
Q

This word refers to your usual way of doing things. It’s is someone’s characteristic way of doing something.

A

Modus Operandi

A modus operandi is your usual way of doing things. If your modus operandi is to pretend to have no money to get your friends to buy your ice cream, they already know what you are about to say.

A characteristic way of doing something can be described with the Latin phrase modus operandi, like a friend whose modus operandi is to get rides instead of taking the bus. Your usual method of working is also a modus operandi, like your habit of waiting to study until the night before a test. The police often use the term modus operandi, or M.O., to mean the recognizable methods of a specific criminal.

370
Q

This word means to repeat what someone else says, without understanding it, or thinking about its meaning.

A

Parrot/Parroted

“She doesn’t have an original thought in her head - she just parrots anything that Sara says.”

“Flynn also lied to Vice President Mike Pence about those convos – and Pence parroted those to the media.”

371
Q

Use this word for someone or something that is romantic and unrealistic, or possessed by almost impossible hopes.

A

Quixotic

“On Monday, the Trump administration finally authorized a weeks-delayed transition process after Michigan certified Mr. Biden as its winner. Still, Mr. Trump continued to press quixotic lawsuits and tweet of fraud and defiant resolve.”

372
Q

This word means to manipulate someone or a group of people into questioning their own sanity.

A

Gaslighting

“Instead, he continues to gaslight the American people by acting like this pandemic is not a real threat.”

373
Q

This idiom refers to someone who is probably wasting time, trying to persuade people who are already persuaded. They are…

A

Preaching to the Choir

“Now, I know I may be preaching a little bit to the choir, but I want you to know I’m going to need you to then go out and preach to the unconverted.”

“When I came here, there were a lot of people just occupying the park. We’re like preaching to the choir out here. We’re all talking to each other about every problem that we have, but we need to hit the streets.”

2 Remembering Vocab & Idioms (1 decks)

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