Various Idioms

Question 1

sth you tell others to stop doing sth

Answer 1

cut it out (used in imperative)

Hey, you kids are making too much noise. Cut it out.

Question 2

to try very hard to do something (think of bodily movement)

Answer 2

bend/lean over backwards

Question 3

suddenly become very angry (think of steam coming out of a kettle)

Answer 3

blow your lid/top/stack

Question 4

to defeat, bore, frighten, etc. someone completely (think of an item of clothing)

Answer 4

beat, bore, scare, etc. THE pants off sb

Question 5

to try to do something you have not done before

Answer 5

to have A bash (at it)

Question 6

to make a quick decision or give an answer quickly (think of a body part)

Answer 6

to think on one’s feet

Question 7

to be a good thing to do, or to be a lucky thing to happen or be done

Answer 7

to be just as well
It’s just as well you’re not here - you wouldn’t like the noise.
He left at three, which was just as well or he’d have missed the train.
It would be as well to check the small print.

Question 8

used to mean that something will happen very quickly and simply …. И вуаля - вы у цели / и вы на месте / вот и всё, всё просто

Answer 8

and Bob’s your uncle

Just tell them you’re a friend of mine and, Bob’s your uncle, you’ll get the job.

Question 9

everyone enjoyed it very much

Answer 9

go down A treat (with sb)

Question 10

is suitable and has the right effect

Answer 10

hit /strike THE right note

Question 11

been very successful and probably made a lot of money

Answer 11

hit THE jackpot

Question 12

tasted good and made everyone satifsfied

Answer 12

hit THE spot with sb

Question 13

to show that you are happy to be at a social event by talking to a lot of people, dancing, or wearing special clothes

Answer 13

to enter/get into THE spirit of

‘Hey, I like your hat!’ ‘Well, I thought I’d better enter into the spirit of things.’

I’m afraid I was feeling too ill to really get into the spirit of the evening.

Question 14

if an event, especially a party, X, it is very exciting and successful

Answer 14

go with A swing

Question 15

dream of becoming famous

Answer 15

to have got stars in one’s eyesd

Question 16

to be in good spirits, happy and excited

Answer 16

to be on A high

Question 17

very happy (feating a first name)

Answer 17

as happy as Larry

Question 18

very happy indeed (think of a time of year)

Answer 18

to be full of THE joys of spring

Question 19

irritate (think of an animal)

Answer 19

to get one’s goat

Question 20

make one very angry (think of where animals are kept)

Answer 20

to rattle one’s cage

Question 21

angry and worried (x and y)

Answer 21

all hot and bothered

Question 22

become very angry

Answer 22

to burst A blood vessel

Mum almost burst a blood vessel when she saw my brother fighting on the street.

Question 23

said when one is sure he will never do any such thing (think of an animal)

Answer 23

wild horses couldn’t make me (do sth)

Question 24

shock or upset very much (think of a number)

Answer 24

to knock sb for six

Question 25

don’t look or approve of; also, not willing to have sth in one’s house

Answer 25

not go give sth house room

Question 26

be very cross with yourself because you’ve done sth very stupid

Answer 26

kick yourself (for doing sth)

Question 27

испытывать судьбу

Answer 27

push it / push you luck

Question 28

to have very little patience with people who you think are silly or have stupid ideas

Answer 28

not suffer fools gladly

Jim’s a fair boss, but he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

Question 29

To begin; to gain early experience.

набираться опыта

Answer 29

cut one’s teeth

He cut his teeth flying model airplanes as a child, so aeronautical engineering came naturally.

Question 30

to be very poor, lack basic necessities

Answer 30

not to have sth to one’s name

: I don’t have a hat to my name.

: not have a penny to your name

Question 31

to not allow someone to win easily

Answer 31

give sb a run for their money

We’re going to give the other candidate a run for her money.

Question 32

said when you are giving someone a piece of information and you are notcertain if that information is useful or important
>whether or not this is of any use/value
>It’s almost a kind of self-deprecation; it’s saying ‘No words of mine will be adequate, but…’
>
если кому интересно”, “если кому надо”, “может, и не важно, но вот», мало ли…

Answer 32

for what it’s worth

:For what it’s worth, I think you can’t trust that man.
:And my son says, for what it’s worth, that he won’t do that again.
:For what it’s worth, I’m very sorry I broke the window.

Question 33

> something that causes serious problems and disappointment for a person trying to do something

> a hit to the main part of your body

Answer 33

body blow

Having all her research notes stolen was a real body blow for her.

Question 34

to use something or someone that is not completely suitable because nothing or no one more suitable is available

> Induce someone to join the military. More recently the phrase is used to mean ‘make impromptu use of’ some article or person to fulfill some task - usually someone or thing that isn’t normally used for such a task.

Answer 34

press sth/sb into service

The car’s broken down so I’ve had to press my old bike back into service.