idioms pt 2 Flashcards
try to be as rich, successful etc as your neighbours
keeping up with the Joneses
used for telling ppl not to get angry or upset
keep your hair on
be very annoyed bc u have made a mistake, missed an opportunity
kick yourself
very small bc u were very young
knee-high to a grasshopper
be very familiar with
know smth inside out
know the important facts about situation
know what’s what
the newest and best type of smth
last word in
tell ppl exactly what u r thinking or what u r intending to do
lay/put your cards on the table
allow smth to develop without trying to influence it
let nature take its course
shout or do smth that allows u to get rid of anger
let off steam
leave a situation or a person alone if they might cost u troubles
let sleeping dogs lie
relax and enjoy yourself bc u r in a comfortable environment
let your hair down
someone who is very lively at social events
life and soul of the party
used for saying that u should accept other ppl’s way of life and beliefs even if they are other than yours
live and let live
including every part of a particular situation, thing, place etc
lock, stock, and barrel
e.g. They’ve sold all their possessions, lock, stock and barrel
become confused about where u r and where other things r
lose your bearings
go towards someone or smth in the quickest and most direct way
make a beeline for
feel relaxed and behave in the same way as u do in your own home
make yourself at home
used for emphasising that there is no reason or explanation for smth
no rhyme or reason
e.g. there seems to be no rhyme or reason for this decision
not have any way of proving that u r right about smth
not have a leg to stand on
used for saying that someone cannot understand what is important in a situation bc they are thinking too much about details
not see the wood for the trees
away from populated areas or areas popular with tourists
off the beaten track
smth done suddenly and without time taken to plan it or think carefully about it
on the spur of the moment
with no place to live
on the street
spending the evening enjoying yourself in bars, clubs, theatres etc
on the town
happening in a way that is sudden and does not seem connected to anything that happened before
out of the blue
more than what is considered normal or suitable
over the top
e.g. dont u think spending $500 on a pair of shoes was a little over the top?
in a place that is most central or most important
pride of place
use ur influence to get something u want or to help someone especially when this is unfair
pull (a few) strings
provide a sensible way of judging how bad, good important etc the something is in comparison to other things
put smth in perspective
guess what is happening or what smth means based on what u have seen or heard
put two and two together
sit down and relax, especially with ur feet raised off the ground
put your feet up
taking a very short/long time to understand or realise smth
quick/slow on the uptake
rest after being very busy so that u can start working again
charge ur batteries
waste time and effort trying to do something someone else has already done well
reinvent the wheel
crazy
round the bend
e.g. this noise is driving me round the bell
town or city that is close to and depends on a larger city
satellite town
agree with someone or have the same opinion as they do
see eye to eye (with someone)
decide that u want smth very much
set your heart on
two things which are equally good or bad
six of one (and) half a dozen of the other
provide a lot of information, especially in an indirect way
speak volumes
argue or worry about very small details or differences which do not matter
split hairs
refuse to change what u r saying or doing, despite the opposition of other ppl
stick to your guns
suddenly stop, e.g. bc u r surprised
stop dead in your tracks
follow the path that is quicker and shorter than the usual way
take a short cut to
spend some time thinking about the situation before deciding what to do next
take stock (of)
punish someone in your own way without involving police etc
take the law into your own hands
follow the longer path bc it is more attractive
take the scenic route
tell someone in authority about bad things somebody has done bc u want them to be punished
tell tales
an advantage that makes someone or something more successful than other ppl or things
the edge over
used for saying that ppl have limited control over what life brings them
the luck of the draw
the ppl who control a situation
the powers that be
the skills and equipment that u need in order to do your job
the tools of the trade
punish someone very severely
throw the book at sb
large sum/amount
tidy sum/amount
used when u have said that u have had good luck in order to prevent bad luck from happening
touch wood
e.g. i’ll find a new job before too long, touch wood.
change your life by starting to be a better person or stopping a bad habit
turn over a new leaf
completely controlled by sb else
under sb’s thumb
angry and complaining about smth
up in arms about
your relative
your flesh and blood
