Idioms__III Flashcards
To be coming up.
To be about to occur. To happen in the near future.
To sneak up on somebody.
To happen or be about to happen without someone’s realization or preparation. By the way, you’ll hear many people use the past form “snuck” as well.
To slip someone’s mind.
To be forgotten.
To go in on something with someone.
To share the cost or expense of something with someone.
To not have a clue.
To not know about something at all.
To look around.
To move through a place and observe without the intention of finding something in particular.
To turn up.
To appear or be found.
To break the bank.
To spend all yourmoney on something, to empty your bank account to pay for something, to pay too much for something.
Bookworm.
A person who loves to read.
To be on the case.
To already be working on a certain project, to have begun working to achieve a particular goal.
To be run-of-the-mill.
To be ordinary or typical. To be commonplace.
To tear something to pieces.
To find fault with something or harshly criticize. To insult.
To throw someone a bone.
To make a small or token gesture of support for someone, often in a patronizing way.
To shoot something down.
To dismiss or reject something, such as an idea or a suggestion.
To get on someone’s nerves.
To annoy or agitate someone.
To be beat.
To be exhausted.
To call it a day.
To decide that a project, event, or situation is over. To stop working on something for the day.
To put in or give your two cents.
To give your opinion or share your ideas about something.
To knock someone’s socks off.
To shock or surprise someone in a pleasant or happy way by performing beyond expectation.
To be in shape.
To be in good physical condition. Note that you can also say “to get in shape, ”meaning “to train your body and become physically fit.”
To shell out.
To pay, usually a bit unwillingly.
Hands down.
Without a doubt.
To be a weight off your shoulders.
To no longer be a source of worry or concern for you.
To push your luck.
To try to get toomuch of a reward, to be greedy, to want toomuch.
To have something covered.
To be responsible for something, to handle something.
Beats me.
I don’t know. I have no idea.
To slip someone’s mind.
To be forgotten by someone.
To be about to occur. To happen in the near future.
To be coming up.
To happen or be about to happen without someone’s realization or preparation. By the way, you’ll hear many people use the past form “snuck” as well.
To sneak up on somebody.
To be forgotten.
To slip someone’s mind.
To share the cost or expense of something with someone.
To go in on something with someone.
To not know about something at all.
To not have a clue.
To move through a place and observe without the intention of finding something in particular.
To look around.
To appear or be found.
To turn up.
To spend all yourmoney on something, to empty your bank account to pay for something, to pay too much for something.
To break the bank.
A person who loves to read.
Bookworm.
To already be working on a certain project, to have begun working to achieve a particular goal.
To be on the case.
To be ordinary or typical. To be commonplace.
To be run-of-the-mill.
To find fault with something or harshly criticize. To insult.
To tear something to pieces.
To make a small or token gesture of support for someone, often in a patronizing way.
To throw someone a bone.
To dismiss or reject something, such as an idea or a suggestion.
To shoot something down.
To annoy or agitate someone.
To get on someone’s nerves.
To be exhausted.
To be beat.
To decide that a project, event, or situation is over. To stop working on something for the day.
To call it a day.
To give your opinion or share your ideas about something.
To put in or give your two cents.
To shock or surprise someone in a pleasant or happy way by performing beyond expectation.
To knock someone’s socks off.
To be in good physical condition. Note that you can also say “to get in shape, ”meaning “to train your body and become physically fit.”
To be in shape.
To pay, usually a bit unwillingly.
To shell out.
Without a doubt.
Hands down.
To no longer be a source of worry or concern for you.
To be a weight off your shoulders.
To try to get toomuch of a reward, to be greedy, to want toomuch.
To push your luck.
To be responsible for something, to handle something.
To have something covered.
I don’t know. I have no idea.
Beats me.
To be forgotten by someone.
To slip someone’s mind.
Look who’s talking!
An expression of disbelief or irony meaning that someone is guilty of something he or she is blaming someone else for.
An expression of disbelief or irony meaning that someone is guilty of something he or she is blaming someone else for.
Look who’s talking!
To not give a damn.
To not care. Note that some people consider the word “damn” to be harsh and impolite, so an alternate expression is to not give a darn.
To not care. Note that some people consider the word “damn” to be harsh and impolite, so an alternate expression is to not give a darn.
To not give a damn.
To fly off the handle.
To become extremely agitated, excited, or angry. To react too strongly to a situation.
To become extremely agitated, excited, or angry. To react too strongly to a situation.
To fly off the handle.
To make a mountain out of a mole hill.
To exaggerate a situation, to turn a relatively minor situation into something much bigger or more important than it should be.
To exaggerate a situation, to turn a relatively minor situation into something much bigger or more important than it should be.
To make a mountain out of a mole hill.
To have a bone to pick with someone.
To have a problem or complaint about someone.
To have a problem or complaint about someone.
To have a bone to pick with someone.
To get something out in the open.
To air a complaint or a grievance, to discuss something openly.
To air a complaint or a grievance, to discuss something openly.
To get something out in the open.
Slacker.
A lazy or irresponsible person. This expression is related to the verb “to slack off.”
A lazy or irresponsible person. This expression is related to the verb “to slack off.”
Slacker.
To be eating someone.
To bother, aggravate, or frustrate someone over a period of time.
To bother, aggravate, or frustrate someone over a period of time.
To be eating someone.
Bent out of shape.
Annoyed or bothered by something. Upset. Note that this expression suggests that the reason behind the emotion is insignificant or not worth being upset about.
Annoyed or bothered by something. Upset. Note that this expression suggests that the reason behind the emotion is insignificant or not worth being upset about.
Bent out of shape.
To lighten up.
To take a more casual or relaxed attitude. To not be overly upset or angry about something.
To take a more casual or relaxed attitude. To not be overly upset or angry about something.
To lighten up.
To lean on.
To rely or count on, to be dependent on someone else instead of being self-sufficient.
To rely or count on, to be dependent on someone else instead of being self-sufficient.
To lean on.
To pick up someone’s slack.
To compensate for someone else’s shortcomings.
To compensate for someone else’s shortcomings.
To pick up someone’s slack.
To pass the buck.
To put the blame or responsibility on someone else.
To put the blame or responsibility on someone else.
To pass the buck.
To hook someone up with something.
To arrange for someone to have something. To help someone obtain something or to give someone something.
To arrange for someone to have something. To help someone obtain something or to give someone something.
To hook someone up with something.
To screw up.
To make mistakes, to perform poorly.
To make mistakes, to perform poorly.
To screw up.
To give someone a bad name.
To give someone a bad reputation.
To give someone a bad reputation.
To give someone a bad name.
To work your tail off.
To work very hard. To put forth great effort.
To work very hard. To put forth great effort.
To work your tail off.
To twiddle your thumbs.
To do nothing. Literally, to have your hands clasped and to move your thumbs in circles around each other.
To do nothing. Literally, to have your hands clasped and to move your thumbs in circles around each other.
To twiddle your thumbs.
Bull.
Nonsense. Something untrue or unbelievable. Note that this is a shortened, more polite form of an expression containing a four-letter word. “Bull” on its own is not considered vulgar, though.
Nonsense. Something untrue or unbelievable. Note that this is a shortened, more polite form of an expression containing a four-letter word. “Bull” on its own is not considered vulgar, though.
Bull.
To chat someone up.
To talk to someone, to show interest in someone by making conversation.
To talk to someone, to show interest in someone by making conversation.
To chat someone up.
To lift a finger.
To offer help. To put forth effort to do some sort of physical work.
To offer help. To put forth effort to do some sort of physical work.
To lift a finger.
To look like a train wreck.
To be very messy or in terrible condition. To appear as if destroyed in some kind of accident.
To be very messy or in terrible condition. To appear as if destroyed in some kind of accident.
To look like a train wreck.
To pitch in.
To assist, to share in a responsibility, such as housework or bill paying.
To assist, to share in a responsibility, such as housework or bill paying.
To pitch in.
To get off your high horse.
To stop acting superior or self-righteous.
To stop acting superior or self-righteous.
To get off your high horse.
To show someone up.
To try to appear better or more competent than other people.
To try to appear better or more competent than other people.
To show someone up.
Goody-goody.
An unflattering name for someone who behaves very well, is very responsible, and never gets into any kind of trouble. An expression that suggests that someone is afraid to do anything wrong.
An unflattering name for someone who behaves very well, is very responsible, and never gets into any kind of trouble. An expression that suggests that someone is afraid to do anything wrong.
Goody-goody.
To be at someone’s throat.
To be fighting with someone. To be aggressively attacking someone.
To be fighting with someone. To be aggressively attacking someone.
To be at someone’s throat.
To give something a rest.
To stop doing something, to pause or take a break from some kind of activity.
To stop doing something, to pause or take a break from some kind of activity.
To give something a rest.
To be cooking.
To be on the right track, to be making very good progress, to be on a roll with ideas.
To be on the right track, to be making very good progress, to be on a roll with ideas.
To be cooking.
To cost an arm and a leg.
To be very expensive.
To be very expensive.
To cost an arm and a leg.
To break something down.
To divide something into smaller parts in order to explain it or understand it more easily.
To divide something into smaller parts in order to explain it or understand it more easily.
To break something down.
Step by step.
One piece or part at a time, little by little.
One piece or part at a time, little by little.
Step by step.
Out of this world.
Outstanding, incredibly good.
Outstanding, incredibly good.
Out of this world.
Tricks of the trade.
Information that experienced people in a field know that makes their work easier or the product of their labor of a better quality.
Information that experienced people in a field know that makes their work easier or the product of their labor of a better quality.
Tricks of the trade.
From scratch.
Homemade, by hand, from basic rather than pre-packaged ingredients.
Homemade, by hand, from basic rather than pre-packaged ingredients.
From scratch.
Top-notch.
Of the highest quality.
Of the highest quality.
Top-notch.
To dream up.
To invent or conceive of.
To invent or conceive of.
To dream up.
Zip.
Spiciness, flavor, tanginess. Not usually used with reference to sweet foods. Note that zing, bite, and kick are all used to mean the same thing.
Spiciness, flavor, tanginess. Not usually used with reference to sweet foods. Note that zing, bite, and kick are all used to mean the same thing.
Zip.
To stick to the ribs.
To be filling. To be substantial.
To be filling. To be substantial.
To stick to the ribs.
To weigh someone down.
To make someone feel slow or tired. Said of something experienced as a weight—emotional, physical, psychological, etc.
To make someone feel slow or tired. Said of something experienced as a weight—emotional, physical, psychological, etc.
To weigh someone down.
To come upon.
To discover by accident.
To discover by accident.
To come upon.
To come up with.
To create something original.
To create something original.
To come up with.
Something to die for.
Something that is amazing or great.
Something that is amazing or great.
Something to die for.
To lend a hand.
To help. Notice that “a hand” can be used to mean “help” in other expressions—to offer a hand, to ask for a hand, to need a hand, etc.
To help. Notice that “a hand” can be used to mean “help” in other expressions—to offer a hand, to ask for a hand, to need a hand, etc.
To lend a hand.
To give it your best shot.
To try the best that you can.
To try the best that you can.
To give it your best shot.
The proof is in the pudding.
A saying that means that the true measure of how good something is can only be judged once it is made or done.
A saying that means that the true measure of how good something is can only be judged once it is made or done.
The proof is in the pudding.
In the nick of time.
Just in time, with no extra time to spare.
Just in time, with no extra time to spare.
In the nick of time.
To lay out.
To arrange in a flat position, to spread out.
To arrange in a flat position, to spread out.
To lay out.
Something to sink your teeth into.
Something of substance or depth. Also used in reference to non-food items.
Something of substance or depth. Also used in reference to non-food items.
Something to sink your teeth into.
The devil’s in the details.
A saying that means that changes in seemingly small or minor elements can make a big difference in the outcome.
A saying that means that changes in seemingly small or minor elements can make a big difference in the outcome.
The devil’s in the details.
The secret’s in the sauce.
A saying that means that the secret that makes something special or valuable is hidden or not immediately visible.
A saying that means that the secret that makes something special or valuable is hidden or not immediately visible.
The secret’s in the sauce.
To keep up with the trends.
To follow new fashions or trends very closely.
To follow new fashions or trends very closely.
To keep up with the trends.
To try something on.
To wear a piece of clothing to see if it fits properly or looks nice on a person. Notice that you can extend this idiom to “try something on for size.” It can mean the same thing as to try an article of clothing on, or it can be used generally to mean to try something and see how it feels or works.
To wear a piece of clothing to see if it fits properly or looks nice on a person. Notice that you can extend this idiom to “try something on for size.” It can mean the same thing as to try an article of clothing on, or it can be used generally to mean to try something and see how it feels or works.
To try something on.
Low-cut.
Describes clothing that is cut to reveal skin, to cover less of the body than usual.
Describes clothing that is cut to reveal skin, to cover less of the body than usual.
Low-cut.
It doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
Said of clothes that reveal a lot of skin, that are very tight, or that are nearly see through.
Said of clothes that reveal a lot of skin, that are very tight, or that are nearly see through.
It doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
Hot.
Physically attractive, sexually appealing.
Physically attractive, sexually appealing.
Hot.
To turn heads.
To be beautiful, to cause people to turn and look at you.
To be beautiful, to cause people to turn and look at you.
To turn heads.
The clothes make the man.
An expression meaning that people are judged by their appearance, including especially the clothes they choose to wear.
An expression meaning that people are judged by their appearance, including especially the clothes they choose to wear.
The clothes make the man.
To hear something through the grapevine.
To learn of something through an unofficial channel.
To learn of something through an unofficial channel.
To hear something through the grapevine.
To give someone the boot.
To make someone leave, to send someone away. Here it is used to mean “lay someone off.”
To make someone leave, to send someone away. Here it is used to mean “lay someone off.”
To give someone the boot.
To leap at the chance.
To be eager to do something, to be very willing to accept an opportunity.
To be eager to do something, to be very willing to accept an opportunity.
To leap at the chance.
Win-win, or a win-win situation.
A situation that is beneficial to everyone concerned.
A situation that is beneficial to everyone concerned.
Win-win, or a win-win situation.
To take on something.
To become responsible for something. To agree to a new responsibility.
To become responsible for something. To agree to a new responsibility.
To take on something.
Hold your horses.
Wait. Move more slowly.
Wait. Move more slowly.
Hold your horses.
To put the cart before the horse.
To do something out of logical order, to performa step before its appropriate time.
To do something out of logical order, to performa step before its appropriate time.
To put the cart before the horse.
To have your eye on someone.
To watch or examine someone closely.
To watch or examine someone closely.
To have your eye on someone.
To sideswipe someone.
To hit someone with the side edge of something.
To hit someone with the side edge of something.
To sideswipe someone.
To come up from behind.
To approach someone from behind. Notice that you can also say come up from the side, come up from below, etc.
To approach someone from behind. Notice that you can also say come up from the side, come up from below, etc.
To come up from behind.
Blind spot.
A part of someone’s field of vision that is obstructed, so that things in this area cannot be seen.
A part of someone’s field of vision that is obstructed, so that things in this area cannot be seen.
Blind spot.
To slam on the brakes.
To press the brake pedal in a car forcefully and suddenly.
To press the brake pedal in a car forcefully and suddenly.
To slam on the brakes.
Like a bat out of hell.
Moving in a fast and almost crazy manner.
Moving in a fast and almost crazy manner.
Like a bat out of hell.
