Idioms__V Flashcards
To even the score.
To settle things, to make things even, to arrive at a fair resolution between two people.
To settle things, to make things even, to arrive at a fair resolution between two people.
(even)
To even the score.
To be “on” someone.
To be someone’s responsibility, especially financially.
To be someone’s responsibility, especially financially.
(to be …)
To be “on” someone.
To have your fingers in too many pies.
To be committed to too many goals or projects.
To be committed to too many goals or projects.
(fingers)
To have your fingers in too many pies.
To take on.
To make yourself responsible for something, to agree to an obligation.
To make yourself responsible for something, to agree to an obligation.
(..on)
To take on.
To jump the gun.
To do something too early, to act too quickly.
To do something too early, to act too quickly.
(jump)
To jump the gun.
To take the bull by the horns.
To approach a situation directly and with determination.
To approach a situation directly and with determination.
(bull)
To take the bull by the horns.
To put your best foot forward.
To present your best attributes and qualities.
To present your best attributes and qualities.
(to put …)
To put your best foot forward.
To give someone a break.
To hold back criticism, judgment, or effort against someone.
To hold back criticism, judgment, or effort against someone.
(give)
To give someone a break.
To brush something off.
To fail to take something seriously. To treat something as unimportant or inconsequential.
To fail to take something seriously. To treat something as unimportant or inconsequential.
(off)
To brush something off.
To put something away.
To save something, such as money.
To save something, such as money.
(put …)
To put something away.
To burn through something.
To use something very fast, with little care for future supplies.
To use something very fast, with little care for future supplies.
(… through…)
To burn through something.
To live paycheck-to-paycheck.
To earn only enough money to meet weekly or monthly bills, to not be able to save or spend on nonessentials.
To earn only enough money to meet weekly or monthly bills, to not be able to save or spend on nonessentials.
(…to…)
To live paycheck-to-paycheck.
No skin off someone’s nose.
To be of no concern or importance to someone. To fail to affect someone. To say “it’s no skin off your nose” means that there’s an inconvenience only for the speaker, but none for the listener.
To be of no concern or importance to someone. To fail to affect someone.
(nose)
No skin off someone’s nose.
To say “it’s no skin off your nose” means that there’s an inconvenience only for the speaker, but none for the listener.
To make your own way in the world.
To support yourself, to be responsible for your own needs in life.
To support yourself, to be responsible for your own needs in life.
(way)
To make your own way in the world.
To get the ball rolling.
To get started doing something.
To get started doing something.
(ball)
To get the ball rolling.
To get your feet wet.
To get experience, to try something out.
To get experience, to try something out.
(wet)
To get your feet wet.
Like talking to a wall.
Communicating with someone who doesn’t understand or listen.
Communicating with someone who doesn’t understand or listen.
(like …)
Like talking to a wall.
To go about something.
To handle, to act, or to perform in a situation or with a certain goal.
To handle, to act, or to perform in a situation or with a certain goal.
(to go …)
To go about something.
To have your head in the clouds.
To be a dreamer, to fail to be realistic or pay attention to realistic needs.
To be a dreamer, to fail to be realistic or pay attention to realistic needs.
(head)
To have your head in the clouds.
To sell out.
To betray your principles for money.
To betray your principles for money.
(…out)
To sell out.
To get along with.
To behave in an agreeable way with someone.
To behave in an agreeable way with someone.
(with)
To get along with.
To see eye to eye.
To agree.
To agree.
(…to…)
To see eye to eye.
To take charge of something.
To become responsible for something and make active decisions about it.
To become responsible for something and make active decisions about it.
(charge)
To take charge of something.
To wake up and smell the coffee.
To acknowledge the reality of a situation.
To acknowledge the reality of a situation.
(smell)
To wake up and smell the coffee.
Neither here nor there.
To be undefined, vague, not clear
To be undefined, vague, not clear
(neither)
Neither here nor there.
To not be the point.
To not matter or be important in the current context.
To not matter or be important in the current context.
(to not …)
To not be the point.
To cut the cord.
To detach yourself from someone or something that you used to have strong influence or control over. The image is of a baby being physically attached to his or her mother by the umbilical cord.
To detach yourself from someone or something that you used to have strong influence or control over.
(cut)
To cut the cord.
The image is of a baby being physically attached to his or her mother by the umbilical cord.
It’s about time.
To be the right time. This expression may also communicate the opinion that something should have been done a long time ago.
To be the right time. This expression may also communicate the opinion that something should have been done a long time ago.
(about)
It’s about time.
To take a load off.
To rest by sitting down.
To rest by sitting down.
(off)
To take a load off.
In a nutshell.
Concisely and quickly explained.
Concisely and quickly explained.
(in a …)
In a nutshell.
To make a clean break.
To forget about something in the past, to start fresh.
To forget about something in the past, to start fresh.
(clean)
To make a clean break.
To turn over a new leaf.
To begin a new project or period in your life.
To begin a new project or period in your life.
(a new)
To turn over a new leaf.
To be up in the air.
To not have direction or definite shape.
To not have direction or definite shape.
(up)
To be up in the air.
No big deal.
Not important.
Not important.
(big)
No big deal.
To put something off.
To delay something, to postpone something, to procrastinate.
To delay something, to postpone something, to procrastinate.
(put)
To put something off.
To have a foot in the door.
To be in a situation that could lead to better opportunities. Notice that you may also “get a foot in the door” or “give someone a foot in the door.”
To be in a situation that could lead to better opportunities.
(door)
To have a foot in the door.
Notice that you may also “get a foot in the door” or “give someone a foot in the door.”
To show up.
To arrive.
To arrive.
(up)
To show up.
The straw that broke the camel’s back.
An event or thing that by itself is insignificant, but added to other problems is just enough to leave a big impact or cause a big change.
An event or thing that by itself is insignificant, but added to other problems is just enough to leave a big impact or cause a big change.
(straw)
The straw that broke the camel’s back.
To have something in mind.
To have an idea or conception about something.
To have an idea or conception about something.
(mind)
To have something in mind.
To get on your feet.
To become stable financially, emotionally, socially, etc.
To become stable financially, emotionally, socially, etc.
(to get ..)
To get on your feet.
To get a break.
To be given an opportunity to do something you want to do.
To be given an opportunity to do something you want to do.
(… b…)
To get a break.
To have two left feet.
To be ungraceful, to move in a clumsy or awkward way, especially while dancing.
To be ungraceful, to move in a clumsy or awkward way, especially while dancing.
(two)
To have two left feet.
To be hard on someone.
To be strict or difficult with someone, to be demanding, to be overly critical or disciplinary.
To be strict or difficult with someone, to be demanding, to be overly critical or disciplinary.
(hard)
To be hard on someone.
To stick to someone or something.
To stay with someone or something.
To stay with someone or something.
(sti…)
To stick to someone or something.
By the way.
This expression introduces an afterthought. It is used before saying something that is somehow related to what’s already been said.
This expression introduces an afterthought. It is used before saying something that is somehow related to what’s already been said.
(by)
By the way.
To hit the road.
To begin to travel or move. To set off on a trip.
To begin to travel or move. To set off on a trip.
(hit)
To hit the road.
To be looking up.
To seem positive, to suggest a positive outcome or improvement.
To seem positive, to suggest a positive outcome or improvement.
(up)
To be looking up.
To give someone the cold shoulder.
To fail to be warm and welcoming to someone, to ignore someone, especially on purpose.
To fail to be warm and welcoming to someone, to ignore someone, especially on purpose.
(cold)
To give someone the cold shoulder.
To start from square one.
To start again, to start a process from the very beginning.
To start again, to start a process from the very beginning.
(from)
To start from square one.
To reach out.
To extend a welcome to a person, to put forth an effort to communicate with someone.
To extend a welcome to a person, to put forth an effort to communicate with someone.
To reach out.
To make small talk.
To make insignificant conversation with someone, especially only to be polite.
To make insignificant conversation with someone, especially only to be polite.
(small)
To make small talk.
To break the ice.
To put an end to a time of silence or lack of communication. To initiate a conversation or friendliness with someone.
To put an end to a time of silence or lack of communication. To initiate a conversation or friendliness with someone.
(break)
To break the ice.
Lined up at your door.
Eager and in large numbers.
Eager and in large numbers.
(lined)
Lined up at your door.
To raise eyebrows.
To bring attention to yourself, to cause people to notice you as someone different or unconventional. Notice that this expression is similar to “stick out like a sore thumb,” but there’s a hint of amoral judgment with “raise eyebrows.”
To bring attention to yourself, to cause people to notice you as someone different or unconventional.
To raise eyebrows.
Notice that this expression is similar to “stick out like a sore thumb,” but there’s a hint of amoral judgment with “raise eyebrows.”
Good old-fashioned.
Traditional.
Traditional.
(good)
Good old-fashioned.
On the clock.
On a strict schedule, especially on working time.
On a strict schedule, especially on working time.
(on)
On the clock.
To take the scenic route.
Jokingly, to get lost and take a long time to reach a destination.
Jokingly, to get lost and take a long time to reach a destination.
(scenic)
To take the scenic route.
Off the beaten track.
Remote, faraway, hard to get to, and not very well known.Notice that you can also say “off the beaten path.”
Remote, faraway, hard to get to, and not very well known.Notice that you can also say “off the beaten path.”
(track)
Off the beaten track.
Mixed-up.
Confused.
Confused.
(X)
Mixed-up.
It will be a cold day in hell before something happens.
It is highly unlikely or improbable that something will happen.
It is highly unlikely or improbable that something will happen.
(cold)
It will be a cold day in hell before something happens.
The middle of nowhere.
A very remote place, especially someplace wild and far away from people or towns.
A very remote place, especially someplace wild and far away from people or towns.
(middle)
The middle of nowhere.
To wing it.
To do something without following instructions or directions. To improvise.
To do something without following instructions or directions. To improvise.
(chirp)
To wing it.
To shake off the dust.
To rest and compose yourself after a long trip, as if you had been walking for a long time and were covered in dust from the road.
To rest and compose yourself after a long trip, as if you had been walking for a long time and were covered in dust from the road.
(dust)
To shake off the dust.
To freshen up.
To wash up and relax. To tidy your appearance and overall condition after something tiring.
To wash up and relax. To tidy your appearance and overall condition after something tiring.
(up)
To freshen up.
To whip up.
To prepare something, especially food, in a fast and improvised way.
To prepare something, especially food, in a fast and improvised way.
(up)
To whip up.
To catch up.
To talk and share recent news after not having seen someone in a while.
To talk and share recent news after not having seen someone in a while.
(up)
To catch up.
To unwind.
To relax and free yourself fromstress.
To relax and free yourself fromstress.
(u…)
To unwind.
To kick off.
To begin something.
To begin something.
(off)
To kick off.
R and R.
Rest and Relaxation.
Rest and Relaxation.
R and R.
To recharge the batteries.
To rest and regain physical and psychological strength.
To rest and regain physical and psychological strength.
(rech…)
To recharge the batteries.
A weekend getaway.
A place to go to for the weekend where you can rest and relax.
A place to go to for the weekend where you can rest and relax.
(getaway)
A weekend getaway.
The rat race.
The total system of life centered around working hard—commuting, struggling to be successful and get ahead, dealing with the stresses of life, worrying about bills, etc.
The total system of life centered around working hard—commuting, struggling to be successful and get ahead, dealing with the stresses of life, worrying about bills, etc.
(race)
The rat race.
Culture shock.
Reaction to a very significant change in way of life.
Reaction to a very significant change in way of life.
(culture)
Culture shock.
The sticks.
The country. A rural area.
The country. A rural area.
(the s)
The sticks.
A fish out of water.
Out of place, not in your natural environment.
Out of place, not in your natural environment.
(water)
A fish out of water.
The boondocks.
The country, the rural areas far away from cities or big towns. Note that this expression is often shortened to “the boonies.”
The country, the rural areas far away from cities or big towns. Note that this expression is often shortened to “the boonies.”
(docks)
The boondocks.
A place to hang your hat.
A place to call home, a place to feel at home.
A place to call home, a place to feel at home.
(hat)
A place to hang your hat.
To pan out.
To be successful, to work out well.
To be successful, to work out well.
(out)
To pan out.
To snap out of it.
To recover after a state of confusion, sadness, or psychological fatigue.
To recover after a state of confusion, sadness, or psychological fatigue.
(snap)
To snap out of it.
The locals.
The people who live in a certain place. The local people.
The people who live in a certain place. The local people.
The locals.
To stick out like a sore thumb.
To be very visible or obvious, to draw attention to yourself because you are different in some noticeable way.
To be very visible or obvious, to draw attention to yourself because you are different in some noticeable way.
(… sore …)
To stick out like a sore thumb.
To size someone up.
To examine or evaluate someone, especially visually.
To examine or evaluate someone, especially visually.
( to … up)
To size someone up.
To be in the market for something.
To want to buy something, to be looking to buy something.
To want to buy something, to be looking to buy something.
(be in …)
To be in the market for something.
To mull something over.
To think about something. To consider a situation.
To think about something. To consider a situation.
( … over)
To mull something over.
To be a steal.
To be a great bargain. To get a lot of value for your money.
To be a great bargain. To get a lot of value for your money.
(be a …)
To be a steal.
To go up.
To increase, to become higher or larger.
To increase, to become higher or larger.
(go …)
To go up.
To go through the roof.
With reference to money, price, value, it means “to become very high.” To have an extreme, angry reaction.
With reference to money, price, value, it means “to become very high.”
To have an extreme, angry reaction.
(roof)
To go through the roof.
To be a drop in the bucket.
To be small in comparison to something else, to be a very small portion of some much larger total.
To be small in comparison to something else, to be a very small portion of some much larger total.
(drop)
To be a drop in the bucket.
To go south.
To go wrong. To end or stop because of problems.
To go wrong. To end or stop because of problems.
(the market went …)
To go south.
To get something.
To understand something.
To understand something.
(I … that)
To get something.
To cover your back.
To take steps that will protect you in the future. To be very shrewd and cautious in protecting yourself against being held responsible for potential problems.
To take steps that will protect you in the future. To be very shrewd and cautious in protecting yourself against being held responsible for potential problems.
(back)
To cover your back.
To hit the nail on the head.
To identify the important issue or main point of a situation with precision.
To identify the important issue or main point of a situation with precision.
(nail)
To hit the nail on the head.
Swamped.
Very busy.
Very busy.
(flo)
Swamped.
A crapshoot.
A chance or risk, named after the dice game.
A chance or risk, named after the dice game.
(cr-s)
A crapshoot.
Nest egg.
A sum of money saved up and set aside.
A sum of money saved up and set aside.
(chirp)
Nest egg.
To go over someone’s head.
To not confront someone about a problem, but instead bring it up with another person who is higher in authority.
To not confront someone about a problem, but instead bring it up with another person who is higher in authority.
(head)
To go over someone’s head.
Fender bender.
A car accident that causes minimal damage, usually only to the front or back bumpers.
A car accident that causes minimal damage, usually only to the front or back bumpers.
(F-B)
Fender bender.
To barrel out of somewhere.
( barrel up, barrel down, barrel along, barrel in, etc.)
To leave somewhere very quickly, usually with little attention to your surroundings.
To leave somewhere very quickly, usually with little attention to your surroundings.
(barrel)
To barrel out of somewhere.
( barrel up, barrel down, barrel along, barrel in, etc.)
