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.
