25/5

Question 1

can’t (even) begin

Answer 1

If you can’t (even) begin to do something, it is very difficult for you to do it: As a wealthy businessman, he couldn’t even begin to imagine real poverty.

Question 2

can’t abide someone/something

Answer 2

: If you can’t abide someone or something, you dislike them very much: One thing I really can’t abide is people telling me how to do my job.

Question 3

can’t cut it -idiom (also can’t cut the mustard):

Answer 3

to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way: If he can’t cut it, then we’ll get someone else to do the job.

Question 4

carry the can

Answer 4

-idiom UK informal :to take the blame or responsibility for something that is wrong or has not succeeded: As usual, I was left to carry the can.

Question 5

can’t face something/doing something:

Answer 5

to not want to do or deal with something unpleasant:I can’t face walking up all those steps again.

Question 6

can’t see it myself

Answer 6

used to say that you do not understand why people think something is good, or that you do not agree: The chairwoman thought the new plan was a great improvement, but I couldn’t see it myself

Question 7

can’t be bothered doing/to do something:

Answer 7

phrase mainly UK informal: If you can’t be bothered doing/to do something, you are too lazy or tired to do it: I can’t be bothered to iron my clothes./Most evenings I can’t be bothered cooking.

Question 8

I can’t think

Answer 8

:mainly UK :I do not know: I can’t think why she hasn’t phoned.

Question 9

someone can’t win

Answer 9

:idiom informal :used to say that nothing someone does in a situation will succeed or please people: Whatever I do seems to annoy her - I can’t win.

Question 10

it can’t be helped

Answer 10

idiom: used to say that an unpleasant or painful situation, or an unwanted duty cannot be avoided and must be accepted: I really didn’t want to go away this weekend but, oh well, it can’t be helped.

Question 11

I can’t hear myself think

Answer 11

:Idiom :If you cannot hear yourself think, you cannot give your attention to anything because there is so much noise: There was so much noise in the classroom that I could hardly hear myself think.

Question 12

Somebody can’t hold one’s water

Answer 12

idiom UK: to be unable to keep a secret or unable to stop yourself from talking about something: Don’t tell her anything - she can’t hold her water.

Question 13

be at/mark/reach/hit a turning point noun [ C, usually singular ]

Answer 13

:a time when a situation starts to change in an important way: Figures published last month suggest the housing market is at a turning point.

Question 14

reach/hit/ approach/near a tipping point :

Answer 14

a time during an activity or process when an important decision has to be made or when a situation changes completely::Employee anger over pay violations in the restaurant industry may have reached a tipping point.

Question 15

be itching for something/to do something

Answer 15

PHRASE INFORMAL: to feel very impatient because you want to do something immediately: I was itching to get into the kitchen, to try out some of these recipes.

Question 16

beggars can’t be choosers

Answer 16

: idiom saying : said when you recognize that you must accept an offer or a situation because it is the only one available to you: I would have preferred a house of my own rather than sharing, but beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose.

Question 17

I take it

Answer 17

-idiom (also can take it) :You can say ‘I take it’ to check with someone that what you believe to be the case or what you understand them to mean is in fact the case, or is in fact what they mean.: ‘You’ve no objection, I take it?’—’Of course not.’

Question 18

can’t be doing with something

Answer 18

-idiom UK informal:
to be unable to bear something, or to have no patience with it: I can’t be doing with all this shouting and screaming.

Question 19

Can(not) hold one’s liquor/drink/alcohol –

Answer 19

idiom informal: to be able to drink alcoholic beverages without becoming too drunk: He can’t hold his liquor at all.

Question 20

you can’t win ‘em all

Answer 20

idiom informal (also you win some, you lose some): something you say that means it is not possible to succeed at everything you do: It would have been great to get the job but I suppose you can’t win ‘em all

Question 21

cannot afford - (formal can ill afford)

Answer 21

If you cannot afford to do something, you must not do it because it would cause serious problems for you: We can’t afford to make any mistakes at this stage in the project. /He can ill afford to fail any of his exams.

Question 22

mistake + somebody/something + for + somebody/something

Answer 22

to think wrongly that somebody/something is somebody/something else: SYNONYM confuse with: I think you must be mistaking me for someone else.

Question 23

walk up (to somebody/something):

Answer 23

to walk towards somebody/something, especially in a confident way: She just walked up to the desk and asked to see the manager.

Question 24

can’t get one’s head around sth

Answer 24

idiom informal: If you say that you can’t get your head around something, you mean that you cannot understand it: I just can’t get my head around these tax forms.

Question 25

can't stand the sight of someone/something –

Answer 25

idiom: to hate someone or something:: Aunt Gloria can't stand the sight of cats.

Question 26

nice work if you can get it

Answer 26

–idiom: something you say about an easy way of earning money that you would like to do if you could: She got one million dollars for appearing on television for five minutes - (that's) nice work if you can get it!

Question 27

can’t say fairer than that

Answer 27

-PHRASE BRITISH INFORMAL:used for saying that an offer is the best that can be expected : Look, I won’t charge you for delivery; you can’t say fairer than that.

Question 28

bite off more than you can chew

Answer 28

- idiom informal: to try to do something that is too difficult for you: We bit off more than we could chew in our original reform proposals.

Question 29

can't see the forest for the trees

Answer 29

-idiom US (UK can't see the wood for the trees):to be unable to understand a situation clearly because you are too involved in it: I don't think we can see the forest for the trees at this stage, so let's get an outsider to take a look at the project and give us a progress report.

Question 30

if you can't beat 'em, join 'em

Answer 30

-idiom informal saying: said when you accept that you cannot be as successful as other people without doing what they do, even though you do not approve of or agree with it: A: "I thought you said you'd never join social media." B: "Yeah, but everybody else has, so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, I guess."

Question 31

-you can't make bricks without straw -be any good

Answer 31

- idiom UK saying: used to say that you cannot make something without the necessary materials: You're never going to have a championship team unless they start recruiting players who are actually any good. You can't make bricks without straw. -be any good: idiom: to be useful or helpful: Would an apology be any good?

Question 32

never look back:

Answer 32

to continue to be successful after doing something with a good result: She never looked back after that first exhibition.

Question 33

you can't teach an old dog new tricks

Answer 33

idiom saying: said to mean that it is very difficult to teach someone new skills or to change someone's habits or character: I tried to get my mother to start using a computer, but she says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Question 34

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

Answer 34

idiom saying: used as a way to tell someone that they should either stop complaining about a difficult or unpleasant activity, or stop doing it: The pace is only going to pick up from here, newbie, so if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Question 35

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

Answer 35

: idiom saying:used to emphasize that you can make it easy for someone to do something, but you cannot force them to do it: A: "I just don't understand. We've given him the very best education and introduced him to the right people, but he just won't pursue a meaningful career." B: "Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

Question 36

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

Answer 36

: idiom saying:used to emphasize that you can make it easy for someone to do something, but you cannot force them to do it: A: "I just don't understand. We've given him the very best education and introduced him to the right people, but he just won't pursue a meaningful career." B: "Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

Question 37

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

Answer 37

: idiom saying:it is hard to achieve something important without causing unpleasant effects: Your students clearly don't respect you. I know you don't want to yell at them, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

Question 38

-I feel your/his, etc. pain -the same thing

Answer 38

used to say that you understand why someone is upset and that you feel sorry for them; sometimes used humorously when someone has no good reason to be upset: When you say your cats destroy furniture, I feel your pain. I've had dogs do the same thing.

Question 39

could have died

Answer 39

idiom infml :felt very embarrassed: I could have died when my friends saw me shopping for clothes with my mom.

Question 40

I couldn't care less

Answer 40

- informal (US: I could care less): used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone: Susie's always trying to impress him whereas I couldn't care less what he thinks of me.

Question 41

could use sth (also could do with sth)

Answer 41

- idiom (also could do with sth): to need or want something: I could use some help over here!/You could do with a haircut.

Question 42

be kicking yourself/could have kicked yourself:

Answer 42

used to say that you are very annoyed with yourself because you have done something stupid or missed a chance: When I realized what I'd done I could have kicked myself. /They must be kicking themselves for selling their shares too early.

Question 43

if looks could kill...

Answer 43

: idiom saying said when you see someone look very angrily at someone else: She didn’t say anything—but if looks could kill, I’d be dead right now.

Question 44

in a spot:

Answer 44

phrase of spot –INFORMAL in a difficult situation: I'm in a spot here—I need to be at a job interview in an hour, and my car won't start.

Question 45

put someone on the spot

Answer 45

–idiom: If you put someone on the spot, you cause them embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them at that moment to answer a difficult question or make an important decision:: Mira rather put the boss on the spot by asking him when he was going to give us a pay rise.

Question 46

go a long way:

Answer 46

idiom (also go far): If you say that someone will go a long way, you mean that they will be very successful.: This new law will go a long way in addressing this issue.

Question 47

go (around) in circles

Answer 47

–idiom: to do a lot or seem very busy without achieving anything: We just keep going around in circles, talking without deciding anything.

Question 48

go (all) round the houses

Answer 48

1/ to waste time doing or asking something in a very complicated way: Doc, please stop going around the houses and just tell me—how serious are Johnny's injuries? 2/(US go around Robin Hood's barn):to take a route that is much longer than necessary:I got the number 26 bus and that one goes all round the houses.

Question 49

could count something on (the fingers of) one hand

Answer 49

–idiom: If you could count something on (the fingers of) one hand, it does not happen very often or exists in very small numbers: I could count the number of times he's paid for dinner on the fingers of one hand.

Question 50

could do something in your sleep

Answer 50

–idiom: If you could do something in your sleep, you can do it very easily, usually because you have done it so often: I've made this recipe so many times I could do it in my sleep now.

Question 51

you could cut the atmosphere/air/it with a knife

Answer 51

: informal used to say that everyone in a place is very annoyed or angry with each other and this is very easy to notice| Alluding to something very thick, such as muggy air or a heavy accent; also, a very tense atmosphere.: When I walked in they all stopped talking and you could cut the air with a knife / The smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife,

Question 52

you could hear a pin drop:

Answer 52

used to emphasize how quiet a place is: After he finished telling the story you could have heard a pin drop.

Question 53

nothing could be further from the truth –

Answer 53

idiom: used to say that what has been suggested is completely untrue: People say we're splitting up, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Question 54

may/might as well

Answer 54

- idiom: used to suggest doing something, often when there is nothing better to do: We may as well start the meeting - the others will be here soon.

Question 55

(your) mileage may vary

Answer 55

:Idiom Informal : used for saying that someone might have a different experience in a particular situation : I actually love working from home, but your mileage may vary.

Question 56

may I ask ...,?

Answer 56

–idiom: used in questions to show disapproval: What, may I ask, was the point of repeating the tests?

Question 57

I might have known

Answer 57

idiom disapproving: said when you are not surprised at a situation or someone's behaviour, because you expected it: I might have known (that) he'd still be in bed at noon.

Question 58

as the case might be (also whatever the case might be)

Answer 58

one of the stated possibilities that is true: When the election is called in April, or June, as the case might be, we shall be ready for it.

Question 59

I thought as much

Answer 59

used to say that you are not surprised by what someone has said or done:"I came to ask you a favour." "I thought as much."

Question 60

1/Map something out: 2/map something to/on/onto something:

Answer 60

1/ to plan something in detail: map out a strategy/plan Our agents will help you to map out a strategy for wealth accumulation in the future. 2/to link a group of qualities, items, etc. with their source, cause, position on a scale, etc.: Grammar information enables students to map the structure of a foreign language onto their own. / The motherboard is responsible for decoding the virtual addresses and mapping them to physical addresses.

Question 61

at some point/time

Answer 61

at some moment in time that is not made specific: At some point I decided she was no longer my friend.

Question 62

Someday / sometime

Answer 62

–adv: someday: at some time in the future that is not yet known or not stated:: Maybe someday you'll both meet again../ We really should meet sometime soon to discuss the details.

Question 63

At this point/time

Answer 63

: At the present moment; right now; currently. At this point, we are the best ranked football team in the country.

Question 64

At this time/point

Answer 64

used for talking about what exists now, usually when it may be different in the future: We have no more information available at this time.

Question 65

At a time at the time/point (of sth) at that time:

Answer 65

At a time: 1/ : during one particular moment: Please speak one at a time and not all at once. 2/ during one period of time without stopping:She can sit and read for hours at a time. At that time [actions/events]: We were cooking tempura at that time. There were no schools for the deaf at that time. At the time/point (of sth) [periods]: It was raining at the time of the accident.

Question 66

in those days:

Answer 66

in the past: in those days people didn’t keep buying new clothes

Question 67

at a time= at once

Answer 67

1/ : during one particular moment: Please speak one at a time and not all at once. 2/ during one period of time without stopping:She can sit and read for hours at a time.

Question 68

at one time:

Answer 68

during one period of time in the past: : At one time there was only one grocery store in town

Question 69

In times of + Noun,… :

Answer 69

In times of difficulty you showed us the way forward to happiness and success.

Question 70

By now:

Answer 70

o emphasize a sentence that’s dependent on time saying that something is ending now or should be happening now: We should have been at school by now.

Question 71

at some time or other

Answer 71

:—used when the specific details about when something is or was done are not important or have been forgotten: Everyone has felt that way at some time or other in their lives.

Question 72

At times Vs. at all times:

Answer 72

at times: occasionally; sometimes: At times he doesn’t seem to be paying attention in class. At all times: always: Please keep your bags with you at all times.

Question 73

One day

Answer 73

1/: at some time in the future: One day, it'll happen. You'll see./ People may one day be able to take vacations to the moon. 2/: on a day in the past: I went to her house one day and had lunch with her./ One day, we had a terrible argument.

Question 74

day after day:

Answer 74

on each successive day over a long period.:"the rain poured down day after day"

Question 75

day in, day out:

Answer 75

continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.:"I worked with you day in, day out"

Question 76

one of these days

Answer 76

: some time in the near future: You're going to get into serious trouble one of these days.

Question 77

one of those days:

Answer 77

a bad day when things do not happen as you would like them to:: I forgot to call her again - it's just been one of those days.

Question 78

on/at the point of sth / (doing something) on the edge of something

Answer 78

to be going to do something very soon: As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived./ She was so tired that she was on the point of collapse.