American Idioms 3, A Flashcards
(46 cards)
A banner year
A particularly good or successful time
“2004 was a banner year for astronomy”.
A blast from the past
Something that suddenly makes you remember an earlier time in your life
“Hearing that record again was a real blast from the past”.
A bolt from the blue
Something important or unusual that happens suddenly or unexpectedly
“The resignation of the chairman came like a bolt from the blue. a bolt from the blue”.
A bone of contention
Something that two or more people argue about strongly over a long time
“Jerry leaving his dirty dishes in the sink for days became a bone of contention between him and his roommate”.
A case in point
A good example of something;
“Supermarkets often charge too much for goods. Bananas are a case in point”.
A cat on a hot tin roof
One who is anxious and unable to sit still or relax
“Waiting for the doctor to call with her test results, she’s been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day”.
A chip off the old block
Someone whose character or personality resembles that of their parent
“Mike’s automotive repair skills really rival those of his father. He’s a real chip off the old block!”
A closed book
Someone or something that is difficult to know or understand
“She’s such a private person that I don’t know much about her. I guess she’s a closed book”.
A feather in your cap
An achievement to be proud of
“It’s a real feather in our cap to be playing in the state championship”.
A heavy heart
A feeling of unhappiness
“With a heavy heart, she turned to wave the final goodbye”.
A hot hand
A continuous period of great success, luck, or fortune; a winning streak
“I’m not usually any good at poker, but I had a hot hand last night”.
A kick at the can
An opportunity to do, try, or achieve something
“He might not have been elected to office this term, but he’ll likely look for another kick at the can in November”.
A knee-slapper
A hilarious joke, especially one that evokes loud and prolonged laughter
“My uncle told me a real knee-slapper the other day! Do you want to hear it?”
A knight in shining armor
Someone who saves you from a difficult or dangerous situation
“Thank you so much for fixing my flat tire. You are a knight in shining armor”.
A knuckle sandwich
A punch in the mouth
“If you keep mocking me, you’re going to get a knuckle sandwich!”
A long haul
Something that takes a lot of time and energy
“When given the choice, Peter told his boss that he wouldn’t quit so soon. He’s in it for the long haul”.
A means to an end
Something done to achieve something else
“I didn’t particularly like the job - it was just a means to an end”.
A narrow escape
A situation in which danger or problems are barely avoided
“That guy barely made it over the tracks before the train came. What a narrow escape!”
A one-track mind
To think about one particular thing and nothing else
“My sister has a one-track mind, only thinking about how something can further her career”.
A rap on/over the knuckle
The act of speaking to someone severely because of something they have done or failed to do
“I got a rap on the knuckles for not finishing my essay on time”.
A safe pair of hands
Someone whom you can trust to do an important job well, without making mistakes
“That struggling company really needs a leader who is a safe pair of hands and can make some positive changes”.
A shiver down one’s spine
A frightened or excited feeling
“At its most terrifying, his writing sends shivers up and down my spine”.
A stitch in time saves nine
Not wait to deal with a specific problem or you risk it getting much worse later on
“John said to his brother, “ You better bring your car to the shop while it’s still running because a stitch in time saves nine”.
A walk in the park
Something that is very easy to accomplish
“It’s clear that the role is a walk in the park for the veteran actor”.