C2.1. Unit 5-8 Phrases & Idioms

Question 1

the right way round

Answer 1

to do sth. right, like the normal way sth. is done

in the correct position

Question 2

to serve someone right

Answer 2

to get what you deserve in a negative way (karma)

Question 3

to make all the right noises

Answer 3

trying to be nice to sb. to get some benefits (even if you don’t mean what you say)

Question 4

to be within your rights

Answer 4

to be entitle

you are legally allowed to do sth.

Question 5

by rights

Answer 5

if the situation was fair

if we were to follow the established rules, by rights…

Question 6

to be right under your nose

Answer 6

to be in a place that you can clearly see

Question 7

in the right

Answer 7

If you are in the right, what you are doing is morally or legally correct.

A nicer way to say sb. is right.

Question 8

as right as rain

Answer 8

to feel healthy or well again

Question 9

right on time

Answer 9

to arrive punctually

Question 10

the film rights

Question 11

right in time

Answer 11

to be in time for sth./to do sth. (has de dir a temps de fer què).

Question 12

a burst of applause

Answer 12

acclamation, ovation

Question 13

a pane of glass

Answer 13

panell de vidre

Question 14

a stroke of luck

Answer 14

something good that happens to you by chance

(cop de sort)

Question 15

a grain of sand

Answer 15

a small contribution to a collective goal

Question 16

a gust of wind

Answer 16

a sudden, strong wind that blows for a very short time

Question 17

a speck of dust

Answer 17

dry dirt in the form of powder that covers surfaces inside a building, or very small dry pieces of soil, sand, or …

Question 18

a stream of abuse

Answer 18

You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is speaking or writing in a way that is hostile and insulting.

Question 19

a ray of sunshine

Answer 19

a person who brings happiness into the lives of others

Question 20

a source of amusement

Answer 20

It is often used to describe something that brings enjoyment or laughter, so it could be used in contexts such as reviews, stories, descriptions, etc.

Question 21

an item of clothing

Answer 21

a particular thing such as a shirt or a pair of trousers that you wear to cover, protect, or decorate your body

Question 22

an item of news

Answer 22

a particular piece of news, usually from a journalistic source

Question 23

a rumble of thunder

Answer 23

a low heavy continuous reverberating often muffled sound (as of thunder)

Question 24

a puff of smoke

Answer 24

a small amount of smoke, air, or something that can rise into the air in a..

(figurative) Disappearing suddenly. Usage notes. edit. Preceded by verbs that signify disappearance, such as vanish, go up, and disappear.

Question 25

a state of emergency

Answer 25

a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures in order to regain control.

Question 26

take exception to something/someone

Answer 26

to be offended or made angry by something or someone: Why did you take exception to what he said? He was only joking.

Question 27

take notice

Answer 27

to give attention to something: I asked him to drive more slowly, but he didn't take any notice.

Question 28

take place

Question 29

take part

Answer 29

to happen: The concert takes place next Thursday.

Question 30

take the view

Answer 30

to have an opinion (about something), to believe. He takes the view that the economy will improve in the coming year.

Question 31

take account of

Answer 31

(similar to take something into account but more formal) to consider or remember something when judging a situation: I hope my teacher will take into account the fact that I was ill just before the exams when she marks my paper. to consider or notice something.

Question 32

take issue with someone/something

Answer 32

to disagree strongly

Question 33

take advantage of something

Answer 33

1) to use the good things in a situation: I thought I'd take advantage of the sports facilities while I'm here. 2) to treat someone badly in order to get something good from them: I think she takes advantage of his good nature.

Question 34

take something into account

Answer 34

(similar to take account of something but more informal) to consider or remember something when judging a situation: I hope my teacher will take into account the fact that I was ill just before the exams when she marks my paper. to consider something, especially as part of a decision-making process.

Question 35

take something for granted

Answer 35

to believe something to be the truth without even thinking about it: I didn't realize that Melanie hadn't been to college - I suppose I just took it for granted.

Question 36

take a stand

Answer 36

To assert an opinion or viewpoint; to defend one's point of view or beliefs. It's time for you to take a stand and tell them that things need to change.

Question 37

someone of note

Answer 37

sb important, distinguished.

Question 38

be in tune with someone/sth.

Answer 38

having a good understanding of someone or something: He is more in tune with his players today, because he has asked them for their opinions.

Question 39

for a song

Answer 39

very cheaply: She bought the bed for a song at an auction.

Question 40

have another string to your bow to have more than one string to your bow

Answer 40

to have more than one interest, skill, or resource that you can use if you need to: I enjoy my work, but I'd like to have another string to my bow in case I lose my job.

Question 41

settle the score

Answer 41

do something to someone because that person did something harmful or insulting to you in the past: After being embarrassed in front of the class, Dan was determined to settle the score.

Question 42

strike the right note

Answer 42

Say or do what is especially appropriate. To communicate effectively (text, poem, a performance). She struck the right note when she complimented the new parents on their baby .

Question 43

strike a chord

Answer 43

If something strikes a chord, it causes people to approve of it or agree with it (to make sb. feel identificated with a situation): - strike a chord with Their policy on childcare has struck a responsive chord with women voters. - strike a chord among Her speech struck a sympathetic chord among business leaders.

Question 44

catch someone's eye

Answer 44

to get sb. attention

Question 45

look someone in the eye

Answer 45

literall. Also extraconnotation: honesty

Question 46

have an eye for something

Answer 46

to be good at noticing, spoting, identifying a particular type of thing: She has an eye for detail.

Question 47

turn a blind eye to

Answer 47

to ignore something that you know is wrong: Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace. You see a problem and you pretend you don't see it (maybe you feel that you are helpless, you know that you can't do anything about it or you don't want to have anything to do with it).

Question 48

see eye to eye with someone

Answer 48

If two people see eye to eye, they agree with each other: My sisters don't see eye to eye with me about the arrangements.

Question 49

be in the public eye

Answer 49

to be famous and written about in newspapers and magazines and seen on television

Question 50

Out of the blue

Answer 50

something happens unexpectedly

Question 51

Out of the frame

Answer 51

something isn’t possible (refers to a person). You're no longer a canditate. = out of the picture

Question 52

A bed of roses

Answer 52

an easy and happy existence

Question 53

Burn your boats completely

Answer 53

If you are in a situation and you burn your boats/bridges, you destroy all possible ways of going back to that situation

Question 54

In a nutshell

Answer 54

very briefly, giving only the main points

Question 55

The best of both worlds

Answer 55

a situation in which you can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time

Question 56

Burn a hole in your pocket

Answer 56

have money that you want to spend

Question 57

Burn the midnight oil

Answer 57

work late into the night

Question 58

Get your fingers burned / burnt

Answer 58

have something go wrong

Question 59

Fiddling while Rome burns

Answer 59

focusing on something trivial during a crisis

Question 60

Have money to burn

Answer 60

have lots of money

Question 61

Burn your bridges

Answer 61

take action which you can’t reverse

Question 62

taking place

Question 63

in place

Question 64

all over the place

Question 65

first place

Question 66

out of place