idiomatic expressions Flashcards

1
Q

= never, used for things that are highly unlikely or impossible to happen

A

when pigs fly

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2
Q

= “yes, obviously!”

A

is the Pope Catholic?

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3
Q

wanting to know someone’s thoughts on something

A

penny for your thoughts?

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4
Q

to feel a bit ill or unwell (physically or emotionally)

A

to feel a bit under the weather

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5
Q

it’s brilliant / fantastic

A

it’s the best thing since sliced bread

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6
Q

it seems just right for you

A

it’s got your name on it

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7
Q

to do everything possible to achieve something

A

to crawl over broken glass

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8
Q

it makes use of all my skills

A

it stretches me

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9
Q

to be too old to be considered useful

A

to reach your sell-by date

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10
Q

to talk about your own achievements

A

to blow your own trumpet

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11
Q

not so intelligent

A

not exactly the brightest button in the box

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12
Q

to spend a lot of money on celebrating something

A

to push the boat out

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13
Q

to be very anxious

A

to will have kittens

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14
Q

to have permission the proceed

A

to have got the green light

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15
Q

to feel rather unwell

A

to feel off colour

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16
Q

according to the rules

A

by the book

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17
Q

get to the point

A

let’s cut the chase

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18
Q

to make an additional effort

A

to go the extra mile

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19
Q

to choose the best people for something

A

to cherrypick your team

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20
Q

that is just what is needed

A

that’ll fit the bill

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21
Q

do you understand what i mean?

A

do you get my drift?

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22
Q

to decrease drastically

A

to go south

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23
Q

to be cheerful and active

A

to be on good form

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24
Q

a huge step up

A

a quantum leap

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25
to make your money last
to make ends meet
26
it’s really hard to believe
it beggars belief
27
to have insight into people’s characters
to know what makes people tick
28
there’s a lot to learn
it’s a steep learning curve
29
to be free from family responsibilities
to be off the leash
30
to disappear completely
to go into a black hole
31
to be naked (NL: in adamskostuum)
to be in one’s birthday suit
32
een bierbuik
a pot-belly
33
to blush
to have got roses in your cheeks
34
an unexpected or sudden advantage
a windfall
35
the ‘pleasure’ district
the red district
36
to raise the eyebrows
to knit the brows
37
can do many things, but expert at none of them (NL: 12 ambachten, 13 ongelukken)
Jack-of-all-trades and master of none
38
dag en nacht werken
to work double tides
39
wie a zegt moet ook b zeggen
in for a penny, in for a pound
40
aangeschoten zijn
to be halfseas- over
41
alle beetjes helpen
take care of the pence, the pounds will take care of themselves
42
those who already have, get more (NL: hoge bomen vangen veel wind)
high winds blow on high hills
43
bezint eer ge begint
look before you leap
44
iemand een draai om de oren geven
to give someone a thick ear
45
trusting the wrong person with your secrets
to go to the wrong shop
46
iets tot een goed einde brengen
to drive the nail home
47
een ezel stoot zich geen 2 keer aan dezelfde steen
once bitten, twice shy
48
het geduld raakt op
the patience is wearing thin
49
blaffende honden bijten niet
hard words break no bones
50
te veel hooi op je vork hebben
to have too many irons in the fire
51
jan en alleman
all the world and his wife
52
over koetjes en kalfjes praten
to talk about cabbages and kings
53
lachen als een boer met kiespijn
to laugh on the wrong side of your mouth
54
harming others will only attract harm
harm hatch, harm catch
55
to go out and enjoy yourself
to paint the town red
56
don’t make plans that depend on something good happening before it has actually happened
don’t count your chickens before they hatch
57
to make it impossible to return to a previous state
to burn your bridges
58
to try to support 2 opposing views
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
59
too much worry can cause burden
care killed the cat
60
doing something in a way that will not work
barking up the wrong tree
61
only just
by the skin of your teeth
62
twee linkerhanden hebben
my fingers are all thumbs
63
can’t stay in one place for long, often has the urge to travel
gets itchy feet
64
to know every detail about something
to know your grammar inside out
65
beautiful, amazing
out of this world
66
to have a lot to do
to be snowed under with work
67
something is very easy
something is a doddle
68
to make fun of someone
to take the mickey out of someone
69
to forget things quickly
to have got a brain like a sieve
70
rondlopen als een kip zonder kop
to run around like a headless chicken
71
to secretly watch something
to be a fly on the wall
72
in very isolated places
off the beaten track
73
to try something for the first time
to try your hand at something
74
to stay up late and get up early
to burn out the candle at both ends
75
to talk about work when you’re not at work
to talk shop
76
to be well off and able to have “the good things”
to live in the lap of luxury
77
a lot of money
a small fortune
78
relaxed, in control, not nervous
cool, calm and collected
79
an energetic person
a live wire
80
person who constantly disapproves others’ activities or decisions
a wet blanket
81
a person who is generally of good character but lacks manners
a rough diamond
82
a person about whom little is known, but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds
a dark horse
83
person who’s curious but in a bad way
a nosy parker
84
to behave independently, ignoring laws and rules
to be a law unto oneself