Idioms Flashcards
(145 cards)
1
Q
very friendly with someone, sometimes in a way that makes people think you’ve got a secret
A
to be (as) thick as thieves
Jacob and Greg are as thick as thieves.
2
Q
a friend who is only there for you when things are going well
A
a fair-weather friend
Abbie turned out to be a fair-weather friend.
3
Q
people who spend a lot of time together
A
to be joined at the hip
Chloe and Charlotte have been joined at the hip recently!
4
Q
to know someone very well
A
to know something/somebody inside out
I know Tamara inside out and I can guarantee she would never do that!
5
Q
a person who comforts you when you’re sad
A
a shoulder to cry on
Paulo has always been a shoulder to cry on for me.
6
Q
to socialise with someone who has the same lifestyle as you
A
to move in the same circles
Kate and I move in the same circles, so I know her quite well
7
Q
to get on well immediately
A
to hit it off
Abdul and Clara really hit it off last night!
8
Q
to agree with someone
A
to see eye to eye with someone
I see eye to eye with Chris about almost everything.
9
Q
to end an argument and be friends again
A
to bury the hatchet
Oscar and I agreed to bury the hatchet.
10
Q
to get rid of bad feelings between people, often with a discussion
A
to clear the air
Please come to my house later for a chat. We need to clear the air.
11
Q
forgive someone or forget about something bad someone did
A
to let bygones be bygones
I want to let bygones be bygones and be friends again.
12
Q
I don’t want to do anything anymore. I am fed up.
A
I’ve had enough
I’ve had enough of these kids screaming for one day.
13
Q
you’ve asked something I don’t know the answer to, or said something I want to disagree with but can’t
A
You’ve got me there!
What’s the difference between fog and mist? - Hmm, you’ve got me there.
14
Q
you’ve really messed up/done something wrong.
A
Now you’ve done it!
Oh, John have you broken it?! Now you’ve done it
15
Q
to do sth.
A
to have something involved
When we were on holiday in Ibiza, there was a lot of partying involved.
16
Q
what somebody likes or is interested in
A
to be someone’s scene/cup of tea
An evening at the opera isn’t everyone’s cup of tea
17
Q
an opportunity to begin something again
A
a fresh start
When I moved to the city, it was a fresh start for me
18
Q
to be in the same situation, usually a difficult one
A
to be in the same boat
You may think it’s just you, but we’re all in the same boat.
19
Q
an experience or situation that people would fear or hate most
A
to be one’s idea of hell
couldn’t ever go to a jungle; that’s my idea of hell
20
Q
to defend oneself when being teased or bullied by others
A
to not take (any) rubbish
I’m just not going to take any more of your rubbish!
21
Q
to not be influenced by the opinions or expectations of other people
A
to be oneself
Sometimes you just need to learn to be yourself and not worry about what
22
Q
to choose a particular direction in life
A
to go down the… path
After learning to play the guitar, he decided to go down the live music
23
Q
when another person seems to be at a more advanced stage in their life despite being the same age or from the same background
A
to be behind someone in life
he never cared about his studies, and now he’s behind most his friends
24
Q
to become able to act independently and with confidence
A
to find one’s feet
I have only recently started working here, so I’m still finding my feet.
25
to start to go bald
to thin on top
| I’ve been thinning on top for a couple of years now
26
to put make-up on
to put one’s face on
| Carrie spent a few minutes putting her face on every morning.
27
absolutely and totally gorgeous; used for men and women
drop-dead gorgeous
| She looked drop-dead gorgeous last night
28
someone who is dressed perfectly and looks very neat
not a hair out of place
| Anthony always looks perfect – never a hair out of place
29
dressed in your best clothes, or in really formal clothes, often for a special occasion, like a wedding
to be dressed (up) to the nines
| Everyone was dressed up to the nines!
30
wearing really attractive clothes because you want to be noticed and admired, usually used to talk about women
to be dressed to kill
| Ellie was dressed to kill last night!
31
an older woman dressed in a way that would better suit a younger woman; offensive
mutton dressed as lamb
| That dress is young for me I don’t want to look like mutton dressed as l
32
to look very untidy or ridiculous in some way
to look a sight
| It was blowing a gale and we looked a sight when we arrived at the pub
33
to look untidy and maybe dirty
to look like something the cat dragged in
| Ben had been working on the farm and he looked like something the cat dr
34
someone is so skinny that you can see their bones
to be skin and bone
| She was all skin and bone after her illness
35
wearing old, perhaps damaged, clothes because you don’t have much money. You can also use this adjective to describe places that are in a bad condition because they haven’t been looked after well
down-at-heel
| She looked very down-at-heel.
36
good-looking
to be easy on the eye
| Ben is very easy on the eye.
37
ugly; offensive
a face only a mother could love
| Rob was a lovely boy, but he had a face only a mother could love.
38
to imitate or follow the way someone does something
to follow one’s lead
| It’s quite easy really; just follow my lead
39
that cannot be changed
hard and fast
| There are no hard and fast rules about this
40
to be content with the way that you look or are
to be happy in one’s own skin
| It took me many years to finally be happy in my own skin
41
to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water
dry-clean
| I need to go and dry-clean this suit before the wedding
42
person wears something that looks strange, perhaps because it is out of fashion, or not suitable for the occasion
look out of place
| He looked out of place at the wedding in a T-shirt
43
to no longer be single or dating
to be off the market
| Is your sister looking for a date to the gala,or is she off the market?
44
the person one sees as being perfect or ideal for them
the (person) of (someone’s) dreams
| We’ve been married for 50 years because she is the woman of my dreams
45
to have a feeling of extreme happiness
to be on cloud nine
| Daniel has been on cloud nine since he received his promotion
46
to like something very much
to die for
| The chocolate cake at Vesuvio’s is to die for!
47
to go as planned without any problems
to go off without a hitch
| Our recent marketing efforts have gone off without a hitch!
48
used to ensure that the audience does not get the wrong idea about what you're saying
don’t get me wrong
| I really can’t stand this song! Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great singer
49
to go to sleep
to hit the sack
| I couldn’t wait to hit the sack after my 12-hour travel day
50
to go home/to sleep early
(to call it) an early night
| It seems the weather is getting worse; let’s call it an early night
51
completely in love with your significant other
head over heels (in love)
| I don’t know what she saw in him, but she was head over heels!
52
to ask someone to marry you
to pop the question
| We were at the beach last week, and Jacob popped the question!
53
to get married
to get hitched
| My sister got hitched last week, and now she’s on her honeymoon.
54
to ask someone to marry you by putting one knee on the ground and offering a ring to your partner; usually done by men
to get down on one knee
| When he got down on one knee, it was so romantic
55
used to describe that a couple is perfect for each other
a match/marriage made in heaven
| George and Patty are truly a match made in heaven; I’ve never seen such
56
your partner; husband or wife.
better/other half
| I would like for you all to meet Elena, my better half.
57
a person’s wedding day, or other important or significant day
the big day
| Only one more week until your big day!
58
to request permission, typically from a family member, to marry a particular person
to ask for one's hand (in marriage)
| Mr. Taylor, I would like to ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage.
59
a traditional wedding, often in a church with the bride wearing a white dress
a white wedding
| She didn’t want a white wedding; she wanted something more original.
60
to get married from the ancient Celtic tradition
to tie the knot
| We tied the knot last year in Italy.
61
to say or express something in a very clear way, using few words
in a nutshell
| To put it in a nutshell, we're bankrupt
62
a meeting that you have arranged with a boyfriend or girlfriend or with somebody who might become a boyfriend or girlfriend
to go on a date
| We’re going on a date next week
63
used when telling a story to say that you do not need to tell the end of it, because everyone knows it already
the rest is history
| And so I agreed to meet him, and the rest is history
64
to deal with a situation in a calm way and not show what you are really feeling
to play it cool
| I decided to play it cool and act like I had forgotten all about it
65
to do or say something to show that you want to move to the next stage of a relationship
to make the next move
| We’ve been dating for a whilebut I think it’s time to make the next move
66
to express that there is no standard way to do something
there's no textbook when it comes to
| I’d like to give you some advice, but there’s really no textbook when it
67
used when you have failed to do something twice and hope that you will succeed the third time
third time lucky
| After two defeats, I hope that they’ll be third time lucky
68
to rain heavily
to chuck it down
| When I went outside, it was chucking it down out there.
69
to do something or make a decision at that exact time; immediately
do sth. there and then/then and there
| We decided then and there to get married
70
a phrase that means that everyone has right to have their own ideas or choices in life
each to their own
| I'm not personally a fan of model trains, but each to their own
71
to talk about something for a long time without coming to the main point
to beat around the bush
| Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.
72
to end a situation which is causing someone to suffer, usually by telling them something they have been waiting anxiously to hear
to put sb. out of their misery
| I suppose that I’d better put them out of their misery
73
to use one word to express your feeling about something
to describe sth. in one word
| If I could describe it in one word -heaven
74
in a quiet manner, almost inaudible
under one’s breath
| She came out of the cold water, muttering swear words under her breath
75
idiom to express that time passes quickly, especially when you are fully enjoying yourself or not paying attention
time flies (when you’re having fun)
| I can’t believe I am already in my thirtiestime flies when you’re having
76
other people's situations or possessions always seem better than your own, even when that is not necessarily true
the grass is always greener on the other side
| I often think that my life would have been better in spain; the grass is
77
to talk about happy memories from our past
to take a trip/stroll/walk down memory lane
| E. saw her best friend from school ; I’m sure they had a nice stroll dow
78
to describe someone who is very young and lacks experience
to be wet behind the ears
| We thought we knew what we were doing, but we were wet behind the ears.
79
to refer to someone who feels defenceless because of being young, innocent or naive, often in new or potentially dangerous situations
a babe in the woods
| I felt like a babe in the woods when I started secondary school, but I q
80
someone or something has suddenly appeared in our lives that reminds us of the past
a blast from the past
| Is this the Spice Girls?! What a blast from the past!
81
on or very close to the line that joins two countries
on the border
| I grew up in a small village on the border between England and Wales
82
83
to use or accept something that is not really good enough
to make do
| We were in a hurry so we had to make do with a quick snack
84
using very little money
on a shoestring
| My parents were quite poor, so we had to live on a shoestring budget
85
to be in a financial position to afford things that someone with a lower income might not be able to
to have the better things in life
| Now that your dad has got a promotion, we might be able to have some of
86
to be careful about how much money you spend as money is limited
to work to a budget
| When I was in university, I had to work to a really tight budget.
87
to be beaten with a stick as punishment for doing something wrong
to get the cane
| n my day, that kind of talk would have got you the cane
88
to start behaving in a way that is strange or unacceptable, for example drinking a lot or taking drugs
to go off the rails
| She went completely off the rails after her sister died
89
that person is always available to give help or support when needed
sb’s. door is always open
| If you ever need any help, my door is always open
90
an expression to say that we passing on new information we heard from someone
a little bird told me
| A little bird told me that it’s your birthday today
91
to take initiative and seize an opportunity
to take the bull by the horns
| I took the bull by the horns and asked my boss for a promotion
92
to be very careless in a delicate situation
to be like a bull in a china shop
| Watch Matthew around your car, he’s like a bull in a china shop!
93
to tell someone to wait and not be so impatient
hold your horses
| Hold your horses; we have plenty of time until the train leaves
94
to describe that the information you are given is first-hand, the person giving it to you is directly involved, and therefore you can trust it’s authentic
to be/come (straight) from the horse’s mouth
| Simon’s quit, I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth!
95
to follow a particular course of action
to lead one down that route
| Well, growing up in a family of artists led me down that route
96
a dream that is not practical or unattainable
pipe dream
| This isn’t some pipe dream; we’re going build the biggest clothing brand
97
to indicate the need to ask a question
to pose an interesting question
| The report poses several interesting questions related to our current ed
98
to make an opinion based on how something looks or from a first impression
to judge a book by its cover
99
to experience a difficult or challenging situation
to go through a hard time
100
to spend a lot of money
to push the boat out
| You guys really pushed the boat out on this wedding!
101
to do something to the best of a person’s ability
to do one’s best
| We did our best, but our boss still wasn’t satisfied
102
to make a deliberate attempt at something
to make a conscious effort
| We make a conscious effort to eat together as a family at least five tim
103
difficult to forget about or change
hard to let go
| I always had beans on toast for dinner on Saturdays, and it’s hard to le
104
according to what people say
by all accounts
| By all accounts, Rome is spectacular in the autumn
105
to wish someone a good night’s sleep
sleep tight
| See you tomorrow, sleep tight!
106
to reach a very lively or productive level (of an event or activity)
to be in full swing
| We arrived at 9, and the party was in full swing!
107
all-encompassing and inclusive of everyone involved
across the board
| The government needs to increase the minimum wage across the board
108
to be in a risky position
to be skating on thin ice
| Don’t forget her birthday; you’re already skating on thin ice!
109
to have renewed energy and to continue at something we had
second wind
| I was not enjoying the hike, but after stopping at the stream, I got a s
110
to make something start to happen
to get the ball rolling
| What shall we do for New Year’s Eve? We need to get the ball rolling
111
to have a chance of winning or succeeding after temporarily not competing
to be back in the game
| Jane says that she’s over her divorce and she’s back in the game; let’s
112
no problem
no sweat
| We’ll find a new flat by May, no sweat!
113
to be very attentive and quick thinking
to be on the ball
| Sienna’s only six, but she’s really on the ball!
114
used to let someone know they can make the next move
the ball is in one’s court
| I sent our proposals to the agency, and now the ball’s in their court
115
to win extremely easily
to win hands down
| The reds were miles better and won the game hands down.
116
to be completely devoted to something
to live and breathe
| She lived and breathed football, spending all her free time playing or w
117
to have a few moments of free time
to have a spare moment
| Whenever I have a spare moment, I like to go for a run
118
wanting to do or liking something
to be keen on
| Both my children aren’t very keen on carrots
119
to make something seem insignificant in comparison
to put sth. to shame
| His sales figures this month put everyone else's to shame
120
from head to foot
from top to toe
| She was dressed from top to toe in designer clothes
121
to start running or exercising
to hit the tracks
| I always hit the tracks first thing every morning to stay in shape
122
to do something once and then move on
one and done
| This is not a one and done process
123
the opposite end of a range of possibilities
the other end of the spectrum
| I prefer something at the other end of the spectrum
124
to receive value for the money spent
to get one’s money's worth
| We really got our money’s worth at the buffet
125
when two or more parties come to an agreement
to strike a deal
| Lukaku and Inter Milan strike a deal for his return.
126
to bring issues to someone’s attention
to raise a question
| Key ministers raised questions on the new financial plan.
127
to try something slowly and carefully because you’re not sure if you’ll be successful
to dip one’s toes into
| We’ve been dipping our toes into investing recently.
128
a person who can do many different things, though may not do all of them well
a jack of all trades
| Alison is a real jack of all trades –she repairs loads of things around
129
o be involved in many things at the same time
to have one’s fingers in a lot of pies
| I’ve got my fingers in a lot of pies at the moment with all of these dif
130
to treat someone badly without thinking about how it affects them
to walk all over
| Her children walk all over her
131
to add some rude or disrespectful remarks in order to create more interest
to add a bit of sauce
| They put in some more details to add a bit of sauce.
132
to get the maximum benefit or advantage from something
to get the most value from
| How can I get the most value from this course?
133
134
to have something unexpectedly taken away or to have something suddenly disappear
to get the rug pulled out from underneath one
| When Instagram switched to favouring reels, I got the rug pulled out fro
135
to completely change sth. and to cause it to be the opposite of what it was
to turn sth on its head
| The introduction of social media really turned how people communicate on
136
partially or to a limited degree
to a certain extent
| I agree with you to a certain extent
137
to be difficult for somebody to accept or agree with
to not sit well with sb
| The manager’s decision to change suppliers didn’t sit well with many of
138
to cost too much. Often used as ‘to not break the bank’, meaning something doesn’t cost very much money.
to break the bank
| It only costs a few pounds. It’s hardly going to break the bank!
139
a warning to be careful with money because it’s not easy to come by
money doesn’t grow on trees
| Turn that light off! Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.
140
to have rich parents and to have been rich from birth
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
| Ophelia was born with a silver spoon in her mouth
141
to save money for a time when you will really need it unexpectedly
to save money for a rainy day
| It’s a good idea to save some money for a rainy day
142
to have lots of money
to be rolling in it
| Farhad is rolling in it now that his business has become successful
143
to pay for something, especially something that costs a lot of money
to foot the bill
| My dad had to foot the bill when my brother crashed his car
144
to not have enough money, maybe because you’re earning less or because prices have gone up
to feel the pinch
| We’re really feeling the pinch since Paul lost his job.
145
to go from being very poor to being rich. Used as an adjective with hyphens: ‘rags-to-riches’
(from) rags to riches
| Aladdin is a classic rags-to-riches story
