Phrases 2 Flashcards
To blow the cobwebs away
- Do you want to go hillwalking this weekend? It might help you blow the cobwebs away.
- I’ve been stuck indoors for days, I need to blow the cobwebs away and go for a run.
- I know studying is hard, why don’t you go for a walk in the park to blow the cobwebs away? It might help you think more clearly.
Cobwebs تار عنکبوت
It means to get some fresh air and exercise so that you feel refreshed and can think more clearly. So it’s about feeling more lively and alert?
A knees-up
- Sorry I’m a bit sleepy today, we had a big knees-up last night. It was great!
- We’re planning a knees-up for Dad’s 70th birthday, I hope you can come.
- Now our exams have finished, let’s have a knees-up at my house tonight!
(party time)
So a knees-up is a lively party or gathering to celebrate something. This is going to be fun!
I won’t be coming – I haven’t got time – I’m up to my knees in paperwork.
Up to your knees’ in paperwork! You mean you’ve got too much work to do
To put someone or something on the map
- Her first exhibition at the Tate gallery has put her on the map as a serious modern artist. .
This great tasting food has really put this new restaurant on the map.
Hosting the Olympics has put this city on the map as a great place to come for a holiday.
To become famuse, popular and more prominent
I suppose it suggests that becoming famous means you are now important enough for your name to be seen or heard by everyone.
Down in the dumps
- Don’t be so down in the dumps, you’re going on holiday tomorrow!
Oh it’s Monday again, no wonder I feel so down in the dumps.
Reshma has been so down in the dumps since her boyfriend left her.
Feeling 😞 and miserable
Excuse me
Excuse me, could you move down the bus please so that I can get on. Thanks!
Excuse me! How can you say I don’t do any housework – I cleaned the bathroom yesterday.
Excuse me, do you know the way to the railway station?
😊😊😊
A sting in the tail
We had a great holiday but it had a sting in the tail – when we got home we discovered our house had been broken into.
I love her new book – the story is funny and romantic – but there’s a sting in the tail when someone dies.
Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month, but there’s a sting in the tail – we’re expected to work longer hours.
‘a sting in the tail’ – a phrase that means something unpleasant and sometimes unexpected happens when doing something good or fun.
So done with
I need a new job. I’m so done with delivering pizza.
I need to get to bed earlier. I’m so done with feeling like a zombie every day.
I’m so done with learning Hungarian. The grammar is so hard!
. If you say you’re ‘so done with’ something – it means you are irritated and bored by it! Often it’s a task that you don’t want to do.
Lolz 😂
A: You’re putting so many chillies on your pizza?! Why?
B: For the lolz. Going to be hot!
I collect teapots. Everyone tells me it’s pointless but I do it for the lolz.
I’m going to convince everyone I’m an astronaut, just for the lolz.
LOL stands for ‘laughing out loud’. We use it when texting or on social media after a joke or something funny. For example, Neil, your hair looks amazing, LOL.
Have a go (1)
The boss really had a go at Michaela after she offended our clients.
Susie had a go at her husband last night. He’d forgotten all about her birthday.
Why do you always have a go at me? Why can’t you say something nice?
To have a go at someone’ - which means to criticise someone.
Have a go (2)
Why don’t you have a go at making an example sentence, Feifei?
Feifei
Ok then. I’m going to have a go at cooking a Thai curry from scratch.
To have a go’ has another meaning – ‘to try’.
A test of your own medicine
Our boss is so rude to us but finally somebody has answered back and now he’s got a taste of his own medicine.
When I meet up with my boyfriend, he’s always late so this time I’m going to give him a taste of his own medicine and turn up late as well.
Deepak is always rude to the teacher but he was really offended when she gave him a taste of his own medicine and was rude back to him!
‘a taste of your own medicine’ which describes someone receiving the same treatment that they have given to somebody else. negative phrase
About / around
Hi, is Sue about? Just need to give her some files.
Will you be about this evening? I want to ask a big favour.
There’s no one about. It’s a bit scary.
Don’t talk like that. There are children about.
About’ meaning in or close to an area.
Wing it
Mary spent all weekend partying instead of studying. When I asked her why she wasn’t concerned about the exam, she told me she’d just wing it.
The minister is a great orator. He’s never had a speech ready, he just wings it and people love it.
improvise, do something without preparation
