Speaking Phrases Flashcards
to never think about something because you believe it will always be available or stay exactly the same
take sth/ so for granted
to consider or remember something when judging a situation
take sth into account/ consider
rest, relax or be calm
take it easy
to watch or take care of something or someone
keep an eye on sb/ sth
to see something only for a moment (2 phrases)
catch sight of someone/something
catch glimpse of someone/ something
available to be used by someone
at sb’s disposal
to avoid talking about what is important
beat around the bush
no need to advertise or boast about something of good quality, as people will always discover its merits
good wine needs no bush
clothes are made and bought in standard sizes and not made especially to fit a particular person (3 phrases)
off-the-peg
off-the-rack
ready-to-wear
It is given to you free by a business
on the house
not noticed or not used
on the shelf
make the people watching it laugh or clap very loudly
bring down the house
to tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking with the person
pull someone’s leg
used to refer to something that is very surprising
the darnedest thing
to study
hit the books
to be exactly what is needed
hit the spot
to be at an extremely low level and be unable go any lower
hit rock bottom
to suddenly laugh a lot, or to make someone suddenly laugh a lot
crack sb up
suddenly think about an idea
to show someone that you are sexually attracted to them
hit on
to cause someone to be very angry (2 phrases)
make so’s blood boil
make so’s gorge rise
to pay too much money for something
pay through the nose
to feel very nervous, usually about something you are going to do
have butterflies (in your stomach)
to be sold rapidly and in large quantities
sell like hot cakes
a situation in which you come very close to a dangerous situation
close shave
to keep talking about something again and again because you think it is very important
have a bee in one’s bonnet
to tell everyone proudly about your achievements
blow your own trumpet/horn
to try very hard to get something you want
fight tooth and nail
completely in love
head over heels in love
to recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening
smell a rat
to know very well
know something like the back of your hand
the latest problem in a series of problems, that makes a situation impossible to accept
the last straw
to react in a very angry way to something that someone says or does
fly off the handle
to write someone a letter, especially a short informal one
drop sb a line
to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important such as getting married
get cold feet
not important or not related to the subject being discussed
beside the point
not officially; do not want it to be publicly reported
off the record
someone who is very similar in character to their father or mother
a chip off the old block
many members of the family have a quality, ability, disease, etc.
run in the family
favorite things
sb’s cup of tea
wearing old clothes, or in a bad condition, because of not having much money
down at heel
to make or lose a lot of money very quickly
make money hand over fist
to work very hard as well as doing other things such as going out late at night, so that you get very little rest
burn the candle at both ends
about to be said if you can remember it
on the tip of your tongue
to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone
put one’s foot in the mouth
