EH

Question 1

as a matter of fact

Answer 1

in reality (used especially to correct a falsehood or misunderstanding).

ex: As a matter of fact, John came into the room while you were talking about him.

Question 2

grab a bite

Answer 2

to get something to eat

ex: I don’t have much time, so let’s grab a quick bite.

Question 3

hang out

Answer 3

less serious than getting together or dating. spending time with someone in the context of friendship or in the context of casually exploring whether you like someone as just a friend or maybe more than a friend

ex: I’m gonna hang out with my best friend this weekend.
ex: We should hang out sometimes

Question 4

banking on something

Answer 4

to depend on something

ex: All I can bank on is that when I tell Dad what happened, he’ll know what to do

Question 5

getting ahead of oneself

Answer 5

do something before you should be doing

ex: When he bought a new title bicycle before the baby was born, he was getting ahead of himself

Question 6

spring to mind

Answer 6

to come quickly into your mind

ex: Say the word ‘Australia’ and a vision of beaches and blue see immediately spring to mind.

Question 7

a slim chance

Answer 7

almost nonexistent chance

ex: There is a slim chance that Arsenal will finish in top 4 this season

Question 8

sidestep / circumvent

Answer 8

avoid talking about a subject, especially by starting to talk about something else.

ex: The speaker sidestepped the question by saying that it would take him too long to answer it.

Question 9

pain in the neck / ass

Answer 9

a person or thing that is extremely annoying or inconvenient

ex: Her boyfriend is a pain in the neck

Question 10

going down the drain / tube

Answer 10

to fail, to be ruined or destroyed

ex: My father’s company is now going down the drain because of the incompetent new CEO

Question 11

on top of your game

Answer 11

doing really well, doing extraordinary well

ex: You’re always on the top of your game

Question 12

oasis

Answer 12

a fertile spot in a desert where water is found

Question 13

loose end

Answer 13

a minor unresolved problem or difficulty, especially a final detail preceding the completion of something

ex: Mark arrived back at his office to tie up any loose ends

Question 14

learn the ropes

Answer 14

to understand how to do a particular job or activity

ex: It’ll take some time for the new receptionist to learn the ropes

Question 15

under the weather

Answer 15

feeling ill / sick

ex: I feel soft of under the weather today

Question 16

up in the air

Answer 16

undecided, uncertain about someone or something

ex: We have no idea which school she’ll be attending in September - everything is still up in the air

Question 17

upper hand

Answer 17

if you have the upper hand, you have more power than any one else and so have control

ex: After hours of negotiations, the president got the upper hand.

Question 18

on the back burner

Answer 18

having low priority

ex: That project has been put on the back burner for a long time.

Question 19

call it a day/night

Answer 19

to quit work and go home / to say that a day’s work has been completed

ex: I’m tired. Let’s call it a day.

Question 20

big picture

Answer 20

the whole story of something

ex: The CEO gives us all the big picture this afternoon.

Question 21

deliberate

Answer 21

done consciously and intentionally

ex: a deliberate attempt

Question 22

groundbreaking

Answer 22

If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type.

ex: His latest movie is interesting, but not groundbreaking.

Question 23

read between the lines

Answer 23

to try to understand someone’s real feelings or intentions from what they say or write

ex: Reading between the lines, I’d say he isn’t happy with the situation.

Question 24

put the cart before the horse

Answer 24

to do things in the wrong order

ex: Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse by deciding what to wear for the wedding before you’ve even been invited to it?

Question 25

tough break

Answer 25

A trying or troublesome circumstance, bad luck ex: He got a tough break when he was denied a raise

Question 26

in the ballpark

Answer 26

close to what is expected ex: Your estimate is not even in the ballpark. Please try again.

Question 27

common courtesy

Answer 27

The practices and forms prescribed by social conventions or by authority

Question 28

insatiable

Answer 28

hunger, impossible to satisfy ex: an insatiable hunger for knowledge

Question 29

by the book

Answer 29

in a way that strictly adheres to the established rules ex: He always does things by the book

Question 30

catch off guard

Answer 30

to catch a person at a time of carelessness ex: Tom caught Ann off guard and frightened her

Question 31

come up short / close but no cigar

Answer 31

to not go far enough/ so close, almost succeed ex: The shot came up short the target

Question 32

go the extra mile

Answer 32

to do more than one is required to do to reach a goal ex: He is always willing to go the extra mile to do things right.

Question 33

in the driver's seat

Answer 33

in control/ in charge of things ex: With the boss on vacation, Mr John is in the driver's seat and enjoying it.

Question 34

dart around

Answer 34

to move quickly and erratically ex: It's impossible to keep an eye on all the kids when they're darting around the park like this.

Question 35

hand over fist

Answer 35

[for money and merchandises to be exchanged] very rapidly ex: What a busy day. We took in money hand over fist

Question 36

out of pocket

Answer 36

lacking money or referring to actual money spent ex: I had to pay the hotel bill out of pocket, but I know I'll be reimbursed.

Question 37

under the table

Answer 37

getting cash illegally and secretly ex: The mayor made a few bucks under the table

Question 38

cash-strapped

Answer 38

not having enough money as you need / not have having extra money ex: cash-strapped consumers have gone deeper into debt

Question 39

well-rounded

Answer 39

comprehensively developed and well balanced in a range or variety of aspects ex: The article is well-rounded and is fair to both sides of the dispute.

Question 40

throw in the towel

Answer 40

the signal that one is going to quit ex: When John could stand no more of Mary's bad temper, he threw in the towel and left.

Question 41

convoluted

Answer 41

intricate / complicated

Question 42

perplex

Answer 42

confuse / difficult to understand

Question 43

ambience

Answer 43

The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment. ex: a restaurant known for its romantic ambiance

Question 44

not going to fly

Answer 44

not going to be sucessful ex: Your plan is not going to fly

Question 45

off the top of my head

Answer 45

without giving it too much thought or without precise knowledge. ex: Tom: What time does the morning train come in? Bill: Off the top of my head, I don't know.

Question 46

on top of it

Answer 46

in command or control of ex: He couldn't get on top of his work

Question 47

rock the boat

Answer 47

to disturb a situation that is otherwise stable and satisfactory ex: Look, Tom, everything is going fine here. Don't rock the boat!

Question 48

second nature

Answer 48

A habit or mode of behavior so long practiced that it seems innate ex: Driving in heavy traffic is second nature to Chris.

Question 49

consensus

Answer 49

An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole ex: Among political women, there is a clear consensus about the problems women candidates have traditionally faced.

Question 50

backfire

Answer 50

opposite of expected ex: Overzealous publicity backfires on her

Question 51

hit rock bottom

Answer 51

to reach the lowest possible level or be in the worse possible situation ex: She used illegal drugs for 8 years and quit before she hit rock bottom.

Question 52

hit the wall

Answer 52

reach the point of total exhaustion and fatigue ex: Many marathon runners hit the wall at about 20 miles

Question 53

say it ain't so

Answer 53

tell me it's not true

Question 54

talk the talk... walk the walk

Answer 54

if you say that someone talks the talk but not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in the way that agrees with the things they say. ex: When it comes to recycling, he talks the talk but he doesn't walk the walk

Question 55

sink in

Answer 55

to understand

Question 56

over someone's head

Answer 56

beyond the ability of someone to understand ex: This topic is over my head I'm afraid