July

Question 1

can

Answer 1

dismiss (someone) from their job.

“he was canned because of a fight over promotion”

Question 2

blow out of proportion

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

buff

Answer 3

a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject.

“a computer buff”

Question 4

small potatoes

Answer 4

(idiomatic) One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.

My paycheck is small potatoes compared to hers.

Question 5

spiffy

Answer 5

snazzy, US and Canadian smart; stylish

“a spiffy new blazer”

Question 6

bubblehead

Answer 6

A foolish or empty-headed person.

That guy is such a bubblehead. He says the most naive and ignorant things.

Question 7

put finger in the dyke

Answer 7

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”.

Question 8

toot your own horn

Answer 8

To brag about one’s own talents.

Joe: I am the greatest person on earth!
Bob: Don’t toot your own horn, you ass.

Question 9

porta potties

Answer 9

portable toilet

Question 10

with it

Answer 10

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.”

Question 11

old-line

Answer 11

having a reputation or authority based on length or proven quality of service

e.g. an old–line firm

Question 12

deranged

Answer 12

mad; insane.

“a deranged gunman”

Question 13

slink

Answer 13

move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner.

“the fox came slinking through the woods”

Question 14

card carrying member

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

dish

Answer 15

subject others to criticism or punishment.

“you can dish it out but you can’t take it”

Question 16

do one’s bidding

Answer 16

do what someone orders or requests, typically in a way considered overly slavish.

Question 17

goad

Answer 17

provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction.

“he goaded her on to more daring revelations”

Question 18

bleeding edge

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

folded

Answer 19

(of an enterprise or organization) cease operating as a result of financial problems or a lack of support.

“the club folded earlier this year”

Question 20

throw out the baby with the bath water

Answer 20

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

Question 21

a bird in the hand

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

fealty

Answer 22

loyalty.

Most school kids pledge their fealty, or allegiance, to the United States of America every morning in homeroom

Question 23

cut of one’s jib (ship part)

Answer 23

(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

Question 24

gaffe

Answer 24

an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder.

“an unforgivable social gaffe”

Question 25

not bat an eye

Answer 25

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.’

Question 26

light into

Answer 26

criticize severely; attack.

“he lit into him for his indiscretion”

Question 27

clam up

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

pound the pavement

Answer 28

Fig. to walk through the streets looking for a job.

I spent two months pounding the pavement after the factory I worked for dosed.

Question 29

swig

Answer 29

a large draft of drink.

“he took a swig of tea”

Question 30

shoot the breeze

Answer 30

(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.

Question 31

in the nick of time

Answer 31

just in time.

The doctor arrived in the nick of time. The patient’s life was saved.

Question 32

rank and file

Answer 32

the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.

“the rank and file of the Labor party are dissatisfied”

Question 33

in over one’s head

Answer 33

Fig. having more difficulties than one can manage.

Calculus is very hard for me. I’m in over my head.

Question 34

push the envelope

Answer 34

approach or extend the limits of what is possible.

“these are extremely witty and clever stories that consistently push the envelope of TV comedy”