Idioms Flashcards
(54 cards)
In over your head: “Can you give Sue a bit of help with her big report? I fear she’s in over her head on this one.”
involved in something that is too difficult to handle
When the chips are down: “When the chips are down, you can always call Charlie to work your out of the crisis!”
when a very difficult situation happens
Wet behind the ears: “I don’t think Mandy can actually lead this project, since she’s still pretty wet behind the ears.”
new and inexperienced at something
Dead in water: Our new development plan will be dead in the water if we don’t get the city government to approve it.”
not able to function effectively
To dodge a bullet: “Looks like we really dodged the bullet by getting our shipment out just before gas prices went up.”
to avoid a big problem
To grasp a straw: “Cutting all our employee benefits is just grasping at straws.”
to try anything to resolve a difficult situation
To blow up in your face: “This whole project blew up in our face when the client decided they wanted it done three months sooner.”
to unexpectedly go very wrong
To kick something around: “I think HR is kicking around a 4-day work week.”
to think something over; discuss with others
To come out of left field: “Can you believe Sherry quit? That totally came out of left field!”
to be surprising
To bring on: “What brought on this change in policy?”
to cause something to happen
On the sideline: “I can’t stand on the sidelines and watch you destroy your career.”
outside the main area of activity
To kick it into touch: “This approach isn’t working. We need to kick it into touch and try something else.”
to stop doing something; cancel something
In the same league: “Since we’re such a small operation, we’re not in the same league as our competitors.”
at the same level
To move the goalposts: “The last time Connie was in charge, she kept moving the goalposts. Deadlines were always changing without warning.”
to make unreasonable changes
To know the score: “You can’t fool Ricardo. He’s been an analyst for 40 years; he knows the score.”
to know the truth about something
To carry the ball: “Francine will carry the ball while I’m away.”
to lead; to see that something gets done properly
To scout out: “Lars is going to Istanbul next month to scout out some office space.”
to look for
On the ball: “Simon hasn’t been on the ball lately. I wonder if he’s having trouble at home.”
alert and focused
Offside: I’m not sure that Tony did the right thing. Seems a bit offside to me.”
not completely legitimate or acceptable
To score an own goal: “I never knew that Betty was so unreliable. I scored an own goal when I asked her to help me.”
to cause problems for yourself
To give something your best shot: “You gave it your best shot. That’s al anyone could ask for.”
to make your best effort
First out of the gate: “Amazon is hoping to be first out of the gate in delivering products by drone.”
the first to do something that many are trying to do
To get something off the ground: “We love your idea Frank, but we just feel it will require far too much money to get it off the ground.”
to successfully start something, such as a project, plan, or idea
Pie in the sky: Yeah, we might be able to visit the moon, but the idea of entire cities up there is just pie in the sky.”
a nice idea, hope, or plan that will never happen
