slangman 2 Flashcards
strong-arm someone (to)
to force someone to do something ·
He was strong-armed into doing it; He was forced into doing it.
get one’s back up (to)
to make one irritated and angry
I don’t like her. She always gets my back up; I don’t like her. She makes me irritated and angry. · NOTE: This expression is borrowed from the animal kingdom since it is generally used when describing an angry cat.
give the shirt off one’s back (to)
to give all one can ·
He’ll give the shirt off his backforhisfriends; He’ll do anything for his friends.
roll off one’s back (to) .
not to affect someone ·
She insulted me, but I just let it roll off my back; She insulted me, but I just didn’t let it affect me
bare bone essentials
necessities (i.e. food, toiletries, etc.)
We’d better go to the market because we’re down to the bare bone essentials; We’d better go to the market because we’re left with only the necessities. · ALSO: to get down to the bare bone essentials exp. to discuss the most important issues · Let’s get down to the bare bone essentials; Let’s discuss the most important ISSUeS.
bone to pick with someone (to have a)
to have a subject of disagreement, a conflict ·
I have a bone to pick with you; I have a concern to discuss with you.
bone up (to)
to study or practice
I need to bone up on my English; I need to study my English.
bonehead n.
a stupid person
He’s a real bonehead; He’s really stupid
lazy bones
an extremely lazy person ·
Wake up, lazy bones!; Wake up, lazy person!
no bones about something (to make)
absolutely, unquestionably, straightforward
He made no bones about telling her to leave; He was straightforward about telling her to leave.
pick someone’s brain (to) .
to question someone carefully in order to further one’s own knowledge ·
Since you’re an expert, would you mind if I pick your brain for an hour?; Since you’re an expert, would you mind if I question you carefully for an hour?
rack one’s brain(s) (to) .
to strain to remember something or find a solution to a problem ·
I racked my brains for an hour but couldn’t remember her name!; I strained for an hour but couldn’t remember her name! · I racked my brain(s) trying to find a solution; I strained to find a solution
cheeky (to be) .
to be disrespectful ·
Stop being so cheeky!; Stop being so disrespectful!
turn the other cheek (to) .
to accept without argument or resistance ·
His mother turned the other cheek when he took the cookie; His mother pretended not to notice when he took the cookie.
bend someone’s ear (to) .
to talk to someone incessantly
· He bent my ear for an entire hour; He talked to me incessantly for an entire hour
blow it out one’s ear (to) .
a contemptuous response to someone’s annoying remark ·
“My father’s a lot smarter than yours!” “Go blow it out your ear!”; “My father’s a lot smarter than yours!” “That’s nonsense!”
dog-eared
said of paper) tattered
The pages of this book are all dog-eared; The pages of this book are all tattered.
earmarks n.
attributes ·
He has all the earmarks of being a thief; He has all the attributes of being a thief.
perk up one’s ears (to) .
to catch one’s attention ·
It perked up my ears when I heard him mention my name; It caught my attention when I heard him mention my name.
Play it by ear
to improvise
Maybe we can have dinner together next week. Let’sjust play it by ear; Maybe we can have dinner together next week. Let’s just improvise.
put a bug in someone’s ear (to)
to warn someone ·
I think the boss is going to be laying off the employees who aren’t working hard enough. I just want to put a bug in your ear; I think the boss is going to be laying off the employees who aren’t working hard enough. I just want to warn you.
talk someone’s ear off (to) .
to irritate someone by talking too much ·
She talked my ear off for a whole hour; She irritated me by talking for a whole hour.
elbow grease .
hard work ·
The stain will come off It just takes some elbow grease; The stain will come off. It just takes some hard work
elbow room (to give someone)
to give someone space
I can hardly move. Give me some elbow room; I can hardly move. Give me some space
bedroom eyes (to have)
to have sexy eyes ·
He has such bedroom eyes; He has such sexy eyes.
give one’s eyetooth for something (to) .
to risk anything in order to obtain something ·
I’d give my eyetooth to look like her; I’d risk anything to look like her. · NOTE: The “eyetooth” is the upper canine.
goo-goo eyes at someone (to make) .
to look at someone longingly and romantically ·
I hate talking with her because she keeps making goo-goo eyes at mel; I hate talking with her
green-eyed monster
jealousy ·
That’s the f?reen-eyed monster talking; That jealousy talking.
see eye-to-eye (to) .
to be in agreement with someone ·
We always see eye to e.ve; We’re always in agreement
one’s finger on something (to put) .
to discover the truth
· I think you just put your finger on it; I think you just discovered the truth.
wrapp~d around one’s little finger (to be) .
to be controlled by someone ·
He ‘II do anything I ~vant. I have him wrapped around my little finger; He’ll do anything I want. I have him under control.
cold feet (to get) .
to lose one’s courage at the last moment ·
Just when I was about to ask him for a raise, I got cold feet; Just when I was about to ask him for a raise, I suddenly lost my courage.
footloose (to be)
to be able to do anything one desires in one’s life without any restrictions ·
Now that he’s divorced, he’sfootloose; Now that he’s divorced, he can do anything he wants in his life without restrictions. · VARIATION: to be footloose and fancy-free
footsie (to play) .
to flirt by rubbing someone’s feet with one’s own feet ·
She kept playing footsie with me under the table; She kept rubbing my feet under the table with her own feet
get a foot in the door (to)
to take the first step in attaining a goal·
You didn’t get the job yet, but at least it’s a foot in the door; You didn’t get the job yet, but at least it’s the first step
get one’s feet wet (to) .
to become familiar with a situation
I don’t really know what my job entails. I’m still getting my feet wet; I don’t really know what my job entails. I’m still becoming familiar with it.
hotfoot it (to) .
to hurry ·
The movie starts in five minutes.’ We’d better hotfoot it over to the theater.’; The movie starts in five minutes! We’d better hurry to the theater! · NOTE: This expression is from the early 1900’s but is still occasionally used in fun. It conjures up an image of someone whose feet are hot due to moving very fast
one’s foot down (to put)
to forbid ·
I have to put my foot down on that; I have to forbid that.
pussy-foot around (to) .
to be indirect and cautious ·
Stop pussy-footing around. What do you want?; Stop being indirect and cautious. What do you want?
quick on one’s feet
able to arrive at ideas quickly
He’s always been quick on his feet; He has always been able to arrive at ideas quickly
swept off one’s feet (to be)
to be seduced
He swept her off her feet as soon as they met; He seduced her as soon as they met.
under one’s feet (to get)
to get in someone’ s way ·
She always gets under my feet; She always gets in my way. · ALSO: to get underfoot exp. · She always gets underfoot; She always gets in my way.
wrong foot (to get off on the) .
to begin a friendship badly ·
We got off on the wrong foot, but now we’re friends
flap one’s gums (to)
to talk nonsense ·
Stop flapping your gums!; Stop talking nonsense!
bust a gut (to)
to laugh hard ·
He busted a gut laughing; He laughed hard
gut (to get a)
to get a big belly ·
You’re starting to get a gut; You’re starting to get a big belly
gut reaction n.
initial and instinctive response .
My gut reaction to him wasn’t good; My initial reaction to him wasn’t good
gutsy (to be) .
to be courageous ·
She’s very gutsy; She’s very courageous
bate someone’s guts (to)
to despise someone ·
I hate her guts!; I despise her!
spill one’s guts (to) .
to disclose one’s innermost feelings ·
She spilled her guts to me; She disclosed her innermost feelings to me
hairy
frightening ·
That must have been hairy!; That must have been frightening
let one’s hair down (to) .
to relax and abandon all pretense ·
She finally let her hair down in front of us; She finally relaxed and abandoned all pretense in front of us.
hand it to someone (to)
(said in admiration of someone) ·
I’ve got to hand it to you!; I really admire you!
handout
offering, charity ·
Although he doesn’t have any money, he refuses to accept handouts; Although he doesn’t have any money, he refuses to accept charitable donations
hands down
- without exception ·<br></br>2. unanimously
I think it’s the best movie hands down; I think it’s the best movie without exception
airhead n.
one who is irresponsible and flighty ·
I wouldn’t trust her. She’s a real airhead
bite one’s head off (to)
to attack someone verbally ·
I criticized her dress and she bit my head off; I criticized her dress and she attacked me verbally.
head trip (to be on a)
- to be living in an imaginary world, dreaming ·<br></br>2. to be conceited · Get off your head trip!; Stop acting conceited
She’s on a real head trip. She thinks she’s the smartest person in class; She’s living in an imaginary world. She thinks she’s the smartest person in class.
Heads are going to roll”
“People are going to get in trouble” ·
The boss just called them into his office. I think heads are gonna roll; The boss just called them into his office. I think people are going to get in trouble.
Heads up!”
“Look up because there’s an object flying toward you!”
headway (to make)
to make progress ·
You’re starting to make headway with your French!; You’re starting to make progress with your French!
hole in the head (to need someone or something like a)
to have absolutely no need for someone or something
I need that like a hole in the head; I have absolutely no need for that.
sorehead n.
grumbler or complainer ·
Don’t be such a sorehead; Don’t be such a complainer. · NOTE: This is usually said to someone who is grumbling after having lost a game or competition
eat one’s heart out (to)
to be envious ·
She’s going to eat her heart out when she sees me with Tom; She’s going to die of envy when she sees me with Tom
heart-to-heart n.
a serious discussion
I need to have a heart-to-heart with my son; I need to have a serious discussion with my son
Achilles’ heel
vulnerable area ·
If you want her to like you, just talk about animals. That’s her Achilles’ heel; If you want her to like you, just talk about animals. That’s her vulnerable area.
cool one’s heels (to)
to wait ·
I cooled my heels for a whole hour before she finally arrived; I waited for a whole hour before she finally arrived.
“Heel!” interj.
command given to a dog to walk next to its master’s heel·
Heel!; Walk directly next to me! · I just taught my dog to heel; I just taught my dog to walk
heel .
contemptible person
I hurt her feelings. I fee/like such a heel; I hurt her feelings. I feel like such a contemptible person.
shoot from the hip (to) .
to act or respond impulsively
He never thinks before he speaks. He just shoots from the hip; He never thinks before he speaks. He just responds impulsively
knuckle down (to) .
to get serious and stop playing ·
We’ve got to knuckle down and clean this house; We’ve got to get serious and clean this house
knuckle sandwich (to give someone a)
to hit someone with the fist ·
How would you like a knuckle sandwich?!; How would you like to be hit with my fist?!
knuckle under (to)
to surrender ·
He finally knuckled under because the pressure was simply too much; He finally surrendered because the pressure was simply too much.
hollow leg (to have a)
(said of someone with a huge appetite)
I don’t know how he can eat so much. He must have a hollow leg; I don’t know how he can eat so much. He must be storing the food in a hollow leg
leg it (to) .
to walk ·
Let’s leg it to work today; Let’s walk to work today.
keep a stiff upper lip (to)
to keep one’s emotions under control ·
Don’t worry. Just keep a stiff upper lip; Don’t worry. Just control yourself
lip .
disrespectful talk ·
I don’t want any more lip out of you!; I don’t want any more disrespectful talk from you!
pay someone lip service (to)
to downgrade the importance of something; that which comes from the mouth and not the heart ·
What I’m saying is true. I’m not just paying you lip service; What I’m saying is true. I’m talking from my heart.
chopped liver (to be)
to be insignificant ·
He always ignores me. What am I? Chopped liver?; He always ignores me. What am I? Insignificant
blabbermouth n.
a talker; a gossiper ·
Don’t tel/him any secrets. He’s a real blabbermouth; Don’t tell him any secrets. He’s a real gossiper.
down in the mouth
depressed ·
You look down in the mouth. What’s wrong?; You look depressed. What’s wrong?
mouth
language ·
I don’t like your mouth!; I don’t like the kind of language you’re using!
mouth off (to) .
to be disrespectful and insolent ·
You should hm·e heard him mouth l?ffto the teacher
run off at the mouth (to)
to talk nonstop ·
Stop running off at the mouth!; Stop talking so much!
shoot off one’s mouth (to) .
to say whatever comes to one’s mind ·
Think a little before you go shooting off your mouth!; Think a little before you say whatever comes to your mind.
neck (to)
to kiss and caress ·
I saw them necking in the park; I saw them kissing in the park
neck of the woods (to be in someone’s)
to be in someone’ s vicinity
I was in your neck-of the woods and thought I’d come by and visit; I was in your vicinity and thought I’d come by and visit.
neck-and-neck (to be)
to be even in a competition ·
The two runners are neck-and-neck; The two runners are even
redneck
bigot, prejudiced ·
He’s a real redneck; He’s a real bigot
hit a nerve (to)
to bring up a sensitive issue ·
I think Will just hit a nerve with him; I think you just brought up a sensitive issue with him
nerve .
audacity ·
You hm·e some nerve!; You have some audacity!
nerves on edge (to have one’s)
to be overwrought ·
I think !need a drink. My nen·es are on edge; I think I need a drink. I’m overwrought
keep one’s nose to the grindstone (to)
to work diligently ·
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll succeed; If you keep working diligently, you’ll succeed.
“It’s no skin off my nose”
It’s of no concern to me” ·
Whether she comes to my party or not, it’s no skin off my nose.
nose dive (to take a)
to fail suddenly ·
His health took a nose dive; His health failed suddenly. · NOTE: This expression is said of airplanes that suddenly lose power and fall quickly and suddenly to the ground.
nose for something (to have a)
to have a knack for finding something ·
She has a nose for finding bargains; She has a knack for finding bargains.
nose out (to) .
to slightly defeat ·
He nosed him out of the competition; He defeated him in the competition. · VARIATION: to win by a nose exp.
nose out of joint (to get one’s)
to become offended ·
Now, don’t get your nose out of joint; Now, don’t get offended
nosey adj.
curious ·
She so nosey!; She’s so intrusive!
nosey
curious ·
She so nosey!; She’s so curious
turn one’s nose up at someone or something (to) .
to reject someone or something
She turned up her nose at the dinner; She refused to eat the dinner.
palm off something on someone (to)
to rid oneself of something undesirable by giving it to someone ·
My brother palmed off his old bicycle on me; My brother rid himself of his old unwanted bicycle
speak straight from the shoulder (to)
to speak directly and straightforwardly
I spoke straight from the shoulder and told him I didn’t like the way he treated me yesterday; I spoke direct ly and straightforwardly and told him I didn’t like the way he treated me yesterday.
spineless
cowardly
He was really angry at his boss but was afraid to tell him. Sometimes he’s so spineless!; He was really angry at his boss but was afraid to tell him. Sometimes he’s so cowardly!
thumb a ride (to)
to hitchhike
Since we ran out of gas, we were forced to thumb a ride into the city; Since we ran out of gas, we were forced to hitchhike into the city
on one’s toes
alert ·
There could be trouble, so be on your toes; There could be trouble, so be alert.
toe the line (to)
to behave properly
If he doesn’t toe the line, fire him!; If he doesn’t behave properly, fire him!
toe-to-toe (to go)
to fight ·
They’re going toe-to-toe again!; They’re fighting again
long in the tooth (to be)
to be old
Our dog is getting long in the tooth; Our dog is getting old.
set one’s teeth on edge (to)
to make one shudder ·
That high pitched sound sets .’ny teeth on edge; That high pitched sound makes me shudder.
willy
(borrowed from British slang) penis.
example: It was so embarrassing. My little brother started playing with his willy in front of my friends!
