EXPRESSIONS Flashcards
AMONG OTHER THINGS
there are more facts but you don’t intend to mention them
AROUND THE CLOCK
all day all night
AS THICK AS THIEVES
very closely and secretively
AT ONE’S EXPENSE
paid for by someone, with someone as the victim, esp. a joke
AT ONE’S WITS END
perplexed, confused, flummoxed
AT THE EXPENSE OF SOMEONE
make some look silly
AT THE HELM
in charge, in command
AT STAKE
at risk
AT THE THOUGHT OF
in a situation in which someone is overwhelmed or affected emotionally by thinking about sth
BACK IN A JIFFY
be back very soon
BAIL AND WAIL
hit and run
BALLS IN THE COURT
it’s time for someone to deal with a problem or make a decision, because other people have already done as much as they can
BITE THE DUST
to fall so that your body hits the ground heavily
BURY THE HATCHET
make peace
BUST ONE’S BALLS
seriously irritate or nag someone; put lots of efforts in sth
CALL SOMEONE’S BLUFFS
to make someone prove that what they are saying is true, or will really do what they say bc you don’t believe them
CAST ASPERSIONS ON SOMEONE
to criticize or make damaging remarks or judgments about someone/sth
CLEAR THE AIR
to make the air cooler, fresher and more comfortable, to remove the bad feelings between people
COP A FEEL
touch someone in a sexual way without their permission
CLOAK AND SCYTHE
Grim Reaper
CREAM MY CORN
sth pisses you off so much, annoys someone else
CUL VEO CUL QUIERO
monkey see monkey do
CUT SOMEONE SOME LACK
not judge someone as severely as you usually would because they are having problems at the present time
DOLCE FAR NIENTE
sweetness of doing nothing
DOOM AND GLOOM
pros & cons
DRONE ON
speak for a long time with a dull voice without saying anything interesting
DROP THE BALL
make an error, miss an opportunity
DUE DILIGENCE
process or effort to collect and analyze info before making a decision or conducting a transaction so a party is not held legally liable for any loss or damage
FALL IN LINE
conform with others or with accepted behaviours
FEED THE FRENZY
a fierce competition between people who try to get as much as possible of something, esp. talk about media
FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL
make a strenuous effort
FLOAT SOMEONE’S BOAT
to be what someone likes or interested in
FLY FULL THROTTLE INTO THE HURRICANE
sth done with great speed and enthusiasm into destruction
JUMP UP AND DOWN
extremely angry or excited about sth
GET A COLD FEET
feel too frightened to
GET EVEN WITH SOMEONE
to do sth equally bad to someone who has done sth bad to you
GET UNDER SOMEONE’S SKIN
to annoy someone
GIVE OR TAKE
possibly a little more or less than the amount mentioned
GIVE SOMEONE AN EARFUL
complain angrily to someone
GO ROGUE
behave erratically / dangerously, by disregarding the rules of the usual way of doing things
GROW A PAIR
become more courageous or resolute
HANDS ARE TIED
someone is unable to act freely bc something prevents it (usually rules or laws)
HAVE EGG ON MY FACE
be embarrassed
HAVE A HEART IN A THROAT
full of apprehension, excitement or fear
HEDGE THE BETS
SYN. Sit on the fence
protect yourself against loss by supporting more than possible result or both sides in a competition
UNTIL/WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER
it will never happen, forever
HOG THE LIMELIGHT
attract more attention than anyone else present in the situation
HOLD MY TONGUE
remain silent
HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR STH
make someone responsible for what they do and demand a satisfactory reason for it
IN A BIT OF A PICKLE
in a difficult situation
IN A STEW (ABOUT/OVER/FOR)
excited, worried
IN A TRANCE
in a state of altered consciousness, somewhat resembling sleep, during which voluntary movement is lost
IN FAVOUR OF
in support or to the advantage of
IN LIMBO
in a situation where they seem to be caught between 2 stages & unclear what happens next
IN OVER YOUR HEAD
to be involved in a difficult situation that you cannot get out of
IN TANDEM
simultaneously
KEEP THE LION’S SHARE
keep the largest part while leaving very little for the others
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR STH
look out for something with particular attention
KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF MY COOKIE JAR
mind your own business
KEEP ONE’S HEAD ABOVE WATER
stay out of trouble, esp financial difficulties, or keep up with your work or other demands
KICK ONE’S ASS TO THE CURB
end a romantic relationship in an abrupt and often callous way
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT
make yourself tired by doing work
KNUCKLE UNDER
submit oneself to the authority
LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED
to do everything possible to find
LIGHT UP A PIPE
light a cigarette
LOSE ONE’S MARBLE
to start forget things and confused
LOSE MOMENTUM
to move more slowly
MADE OF STERNER STUFF
strong and determined
NO GIMMICKS
no tricks
NOTCH ON THE BELT
a remarkable success or achievement, esp one in a successive string, list or tally of other such ones
OFF THE WAGON
drinking alcohol again after a period of abstinence
ON A ROLL
have successful or lucky streaks
ON A WHIM
a sudden and unexplained wish or idea or change of mind
ON STEROIDS
much larger, stronger more extreme than normal
SIT ON THE FENCE
you really just can’t decide
ON THE FRITZ
out of order
ONE UP EACH OTHER OVER
do sth better than the other to prove that you’re better than them
OVER THE HUMP
over the worst, most difficult part of sth
PAINT BY NUMBERS
sth that is very easy to do and doesn’t need skill
PICK UP SOME SLACK
to improve a situation by doing sth that someone else has not done or not completed
PULL DOUBLES
double workload (cover the other) or double shifts
PROMISE SOMEONE MOONS AND STARS
make extravagant promises that are unlikely to be fulfilled
PUT A MUZZLE ON IT
to prevent an animal from biting, eating, to restrain from speech, expression of opinion
