July Flashcards
can
dismiss (someone) from their job.
“he was canned because of a fight over promotion”
blow out of proportion
to behave as if something that has happened is much worse than it really is.
They had a minor argument in a restaurant but the press have blown it out of all proportion, speculating about divorce.
buff
a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject.
“a computer buff”
small potatoes
(idiomatic) One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
My paycheck is small potatoes compared to hers.
spiffy
snazzy, US and Canadian smart; stylish
“a spiffy new blazer”
bubblehead
A foolish or empty-headed person.
That guy is such a bubblehead. He says the most naive and ignorant things.
put finger in the dyke
In a positive way : A small effort that averts a major disaster.
In a more contemporary, negative way : Curing the symptom(s) instead of attacking the real cause(s). Example : the “War on (some) Terror”.
toot your own horn
To brag about one’s own talents.
Joe: I am the greatest person on earth!
Bob: Don’t toot your own horn, you ass.
porta potties
portable toilet
with it
cool; be on top of things; in the know; in with current styles or trends.
“Tyrell has one hella nice new Escalade!”
-“Yeah, that boy’s always with it.”
old-line
having a reputation or authority based on length or proven quality of service
e.g. an old–line firm
deranged
mad; insane.
“a deranged gunman”
slink
move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner.
“the fox came slinking through the woods”
card carrying member
Anyone who uses the reputation of an organization they belong to in order to try to further their career/social advancement, and use it as a pedestal to look down on others who aren’t a member of said organization.
Tom is a card-carrying member of his fraternity. He feels that wearing his letters gives him an excuse to be an asshole to everyone who’s not one of his brothers.
dish
subject others to criticism or punishment.
“you can dish it out but you can’t take it”
do one’s bidding
do what someone orders or requests, typically in a way considered overly slavish.
goad
provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction.
“he goaded her on to more daring revelations”
bleeding edge
Like cutting edge, only it went slightly too far. Used to refer to technology that is so far ahead of it’s time that it doesn’t yet have any practical application.
For example, Microsoft Longhorn is bleeding edge because the suggested specs are so ludicrously high that nobody would be able to run it.
folded
(of an enterprise or organization) cease operating as a result of financial problems or a lack of support.
“the club folded earlier this year”
throw out the baby with the bath water
Discard something valuable along with something not wanted.
I know you don’t approve of that one item in the bill but we shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bath water by voting the bill down
a bird in the hand
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
“A bird in the hand,” is yours, and it’s not going anywhere unless you let it go. But if you leave it and go for “two in the bush,” there is no guarantee you’ll catch them, you might end up with nothing in the end.
fealty
loyalty.
Most school kids pledge their fealty, or allegiance, to the United States of America every morning in homeroom
cut of one’s jib (ship part)
(idiomatic) A person’s general appearance, manner, or style.
A - lets go for a beer and some readily available cannabis
B - alright, i like the cut of your jib
gaffe
an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder.
“an unforgivable social gaffe”
not bat an eye
to not show any shock or surprise.
‘So what did she say when you told her you were leaving?’ ‘She didn’t bat an eyelid.’
light into
criticize severely; attack.
“he lit into him for his indiscretion”
clam up
To suddenly keep unusually quiet, often in regards to the divulging of information.
Carol clammed up about the incident at the bakery, so we never did find out whatever happened to Nate.
pound the pavement
Fig. to walk through the streets looking for a job.
I spent two months pounding the pavement after the factory I worked for dosed.
swig
a large draft of drink.
“he took a swig of tea”
shoot the breeze
(v) Idle chit-chat, mostly done to be polite and to occupy time.
I met up with that chick again last night, and we just shot the breeze for an hour.
in the nick of time
just in time.
The doctor arrived in the nick of time. The patient’s life was saved.
rank and file
the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.
“the rank and file of the Labor party are dissatisfied”
in over one’s head
Fig. having more difficulties than one can manage.
Calculus is very hard for me. I’m in over my head.
push the envelope
approach or extend the limits of what is possible.
“these are extremely witty and clever stories that consistently push the envelope of TV comedy”
