Phrases Flashcards
Take Someone’s Name In Vain
To use someone’s name in a way that shows a lack of respect.
Call Someone On The Carpet
To severely reprimand someone.
To come before an authority for censure or reproof.
One Foot In The Grave
To be near death through old age or illness.
Back In The Game
Once again active or able to succeed in something.
Still In The Game
To be still active or able to succeed in something.
Keep Someone In Countenance
To assist someone in remaining calm and confident.
Out Of Countenance
To be disconcerted or unpleasantly surprised.
Keep One’s Countenance
To maintain one’s composure, especially by refraining from laughter.
Keep One’s Feet
To manage not to fall.
Up One’s Game
To begin to perform at a higher level.
Of One’s Own Volition
By one’s own decision or offer.
War Of Attrition
A prolonged war or period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear out the other by a series of small-scale actions.
Go To Pieces
To become so nervous or upset that one is unable to behave or perform normally.
Fall To Pieces
To break up, come apart, or disintegrate.
To lose one’s capacity to cope.
Go To Someone’s Head
To make someone dizzy or slightly drunk, usually with alcohol.
To cause someone’s sense of importance to become overinflated.
Chill One’s Blood
To horrify; terrify.
Take The Chill Off
To warm slightly.
Take The Fall
To receive blame or punishment, typically in the place of another person.
Fall Between Two Stools
To fail due to the inability to choose between or reconcile two alternative or conflicting courses of action.
Fall On One’s Sword
To sacrifice one’s pride or position, especially in defending another person.
Fall Off A Cliff
To decrease very quickly and suddenly.
Grist For The Mill
Something turned to advantage or use, such as experience, material, or knowledge.
Wait For The Other Shoe To Drop
To await a seemingly inevitable
event, especially one that is not desirable.
Knock Something Into A Cocked Hat
To utterly defeat or outdo something.
All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go
Fashionably or smartly dressed for an anticipated occasion that does not take place.
Dead Long Years
Having died a long time ago.
Not Long For This World
Having little time left to do or enjoy something; soon to die.
Bell The Cat
Something that will be beneficial but is dangerous or difficult.
Behind The Game
To be lagging behind one’s competitors or peers in the same sphere of activity.
Show The Flag
To make an official visit to a foreign port, especially as a naval vessel and a show of strength.
Fly The Flag
To be registered in a particular country and sail under its flag, especially when speaking of a ship.
To represent or demonstrate support for one’s country, political party, or organization, especially when one is abroad.
Abjure The Realm
To swear an oath to leave a country or realm forever.
Goose Walking Over A Grave
An eerie premonition.
A Cat May Look At A King
Even a person of low status or importance has rights.
Like A Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Very agitated or anxious.
Like The Cat That Got The Cream
Self-satisfied; having achieved one’s objective.
Put A Cat Among The Pigeons
To say or do something that is likely to cause trouble or controversy.
When The Cat’s Away, The Mice Will Play
People will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do as they like.
Mote In One’s Eye
A fault in a person that is less serious than one in someone else who is being critical.
Cudgel One’s Brains
To think hard, especially about a problem.
Dig In One’s Heels
To resist stubbornly; refuse to give in.
Dig In
To break up and move something with a tool or machine, or with hands, paws, or snout.
To protect oneself by making a trench or similar ground defense.
To begin eating heartily.
To begin doing or investigating something in earnest.
To resist stubbornly; refuse to give in.
Drum Up
To try to obtain support or business by means of vigorous persuasion.
