Phrases 6 Flashcards
Face the music
Whoever keeps missing these deadlines will have to face the music.
After two years of stealing from the family who hired her, the nanny was caught stealing red-handed. Now she has to face the music.
To face the music is another way of saying you have to accept the consequence of your mistakes.
Fuddy-duddy
Ling thinks I’m an old fuddy-duddy because I don’t drive a flashy sports car.
My dad’s a bit of a fuddy-duddy - he still listens to music on cassette tapes.
The bank has lost many customers over the years, probably due to its fuddy-duddy image.
A fuddy-duddy – that’s an informal phrase to describe someone who is boring, dull and has old-fashioned attitudes.
No great shakes
My sister puts on a good dinner party but she’s no great shakes when it comes to cooking!
That new singer has a great voice but he’s no great shakes at playing the guitar.
The film sequel is no great shakes compared with the first one – there was no story and the special effects were awful!
It is not good or just ordinary
Yes, I did – I was really impressed – the new cafe has a great range of food and friendly staff. So have you tried it Rob?
Rob
Yeah, I’ve been there twice now – but, well, it’s no great shakes.
Not a sausage
A: Did you find any good deals?
B: No, not a sausage.
A: Did the boss say anything about my project?
B: No, sorry, not a sausage.
A: Are there any sandwiches left?
B: I’m afraid not. Not a sausage.
Nothing at all
Great. Hopefully he will finally spill the beans about this mysterious new job.
Neil
Ooh – to spill the beans – meaning to reveal your secrets. It’s often used when you share a secret you didn’t mean to share!
Long
I can’t believe you’re cleaning the whole house. That’s long, bro. Come out and enjoy the sun.
A: Why don’t you stick with your diet?
B: Dieting is long. I just eat what I want and go to the gym instead.
Long is British street slang which we use to talk about a task which is boring and not really worth it.
Not half
Neil, you really enjoyed that pizza, didn’t you?
Neil
Not half! I love pizza. And Feifei, you love playing darts, don’t you?
Feifei
Darts, not half! I play every night.
Not half: very much I just got back from Singapore. It’s not half expensive.
Bery expensive
All over the shop
Where were you? We looked all over the shop for you.
He left his dirty washing all over the shop. Our house was a real mess!
I spilled wine all over the shop when I tried to open that bottle. Oops.
It can also describe someone or something very disorganised. Listen to this:
Example
Sorry, I’m a bit all over the shop this morning. I forgot my ticket, my phone… I left my laptop at home. What’s wrong with me?
It usually means ‘everywhere’ – when describing a search for something, or an untidy arrangement of things.
Come/go with the territory
The job involves a lot of travelling, but I guess that comes with the territory.
If you’re gonna play rugby, you’re gonna get hurt – injuries go with the territory!
The public attention that famous people get just goes with the territory
To be expected fact or result of a particular situation or position
It Won’t wash
Your excuses for not finishing your essay won’t wash with me – you’ve missed your deadline and that’s that.
The boss’s idea to work an extra hour everyday won’t wash with the team – they’ll be furious.
Just saying you’ve got a cold won’t wash with your fans – they’ve paid a lot of money to come and see you perform.
this phrase originally referred to fabrics that were not good quality and wouldn’t last long when they were washed. But now it’s about someone’s idea or suggestion not lasting very long because people won’t believe it or accept it.
When I said it won’t wash I meant his idea is unconvincing and won’t work.
Jack-of-all-trades
If you need any work doing to your house, get my Dad round – he’s a jack-of-all-trades!
Jane’s got a great business – she runs a cafe where she makes and sells the cakes, she does the marketing and her own accounting – she really is a jack-of-all-trades.
jack-of-all-trades – a phrase that describes someone – a man or a woman – who can do many different types of work. We could call them an all-rounder.
some people say ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’ – which means you can do many things but you’re not an expert in any of them! A real jack-of-all-trades can do many different jobs – all to a good standard.
The coast is clear
I really wanted to know what my birthday present was, so when the coast was clear, I unwrapped it – I guess I’ve spoilt my surprise now!
The coast is clear so make a run for it before you get caught!
that’s the coast is clear which means it’s safe to do something which isn’t allowed while nobody is watching. Right Neil, is the coast still clear?
Like turkey voting for Christmas
Workers agreeing to pay cuts would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.
It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas if people asked for a tax rise.
So in English, we use this idiom ‘like turkeys voting for Christmas’ as a metaphor when someone accepts a situation which will have a negative outcome for them.
Killing time
I turned up an hour early for my flight, so I just looked at the duty free to kill some time.
I had an hour between work and meeting my friends so I killed time in a department store.
I always arrive hours early for job interviews. I’d rather have to kill time than deal with the stress of being late!
It’s an expression which means to do something which isn’t really important just to keep you occupied until the start of your next plan or arrangement
At the movies
Sci-fi Romcom whodunnit
My favourite sci-fi movie is Star Wars. I can’t wait for the next film in the series!
I’m catching a movie with my friends after work. We’re going to watch the latest romcom.
Alfred Hitchcock was the master of the whodunnit. Nobody makes better films in that genre than he did!
Feifei
That’s it! I am fetching the popcorn!
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