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Idioms Flashcards

(100 cards)

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1
Q

use the power his (manager) position gives him to make them (employees) do something

A

to pull rank in sb.

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2
Q

debt of honour

A

a debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason

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2
Q

see the joke

A

understand something

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2
Q

very pleased with oneself (informal, usually collocates with ‘look’, ‘grin’ or ‘smile’)

A

like the cat that ate the canary

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3
Q

hopping mad

A

very angry

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4
Q

to take center stage

A

to be the most important or noticeable thing or person

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4
Q

be dismissed from your job

A

get the sack

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4
Q

suddenly understanding something

A

to see light

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5
Q

knock into shape

A

take action to get something into a good condition

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5
Q

to se the point

A

understanding the importance of something

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5
Q

right of the bat

A

immediately

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5
Q

take action to get something into a good condition

A

knock into shape

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6
Q

run a tight ship

A

control something firmly and effectively

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6
Q

grunt work

A

hard, boring work

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7
Q

to clip someone’s wings

A

to limit someone’s freedom

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8
Q

lose his job

A

be given/ get his marching order

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9
Q

know no bounds

A

be extreme

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9
Q

failed completely

A

sink like a stone

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9
Q

understanding the importance of something

A

to se the point

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9
Q

understand something

A

see the joke

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9
Q

immediately

A

right of the bat

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11
Q

delay making a decision when they have to choose between two different options in a dispute

A

sit on the fence

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12
Q

something that makes a good thing even better

A

the frosting on the cake

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13
Q

pretend to be in a weaker or stronger position than is really the case

A

bluff your way

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14
someone drops the ball
do something careless or stupid
15
throw someone a curveball
surprise them with something difficult or unpleasant to deal with
15
come to a natural end
run its course
15
become sensible/ reasonable
to see reason
17
very angry
hopping mad
18
control something firmly and effectively
run a tight ship
19
take the cake
used informally to describe something the speaker finds very annoying
20
the frosting on the cake
something that makes a good thing even better
20
doing something extremely well, better than they had hoped
someone is batting a thousand
22
to sneer, show disrespect
curl your lip
23
money in form of cash or notes, not a cheque or credit card
cold cash
24
like the cat that ate the canary
very pleased with oneself (informal, usually collocates with 'look', 'grin' or 'smile')
25
used informally to describe something the speaker finds very annoying
take the cake
27
open the door to
give something a new start
28
new
up-to-the-minute
29
be given/ get his marching order
lose his job
30
to limit someone's freedom
to clip someone's wings
31
surprise them with something difficult or unpleasant to deal with
throw someone a curveball
32
going up in the world
gained a better position, or more money, than before
33
start to listen carefully
prick ones ears up
35
remembering the past nostalgically
the good old days
37
is fresh out of
has just finished or sold all its supply
38
put your foot in it
say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone
39
give something a new start
open the door to
40
dishonestly use your position to get money for yourself
feather one's own nest
41
spirit of adventure
enthusiasm for adventurous activities
43
every Tom, Dick and/or Harry
people that you don't know or think are not important
43
gained a better position, or more money, than before
going up in the world
44
hard, boring work
grunt work
45
to immediately like something/someone
take a shine to
46
to see light
suddenly understanding something
48
stop being lazy (very informal)
get off your backside
50
do something careless or stupid
someone drops the ball
51
sink like a stone
failed completely
53
be beyond the pale
be unacceptable
54
not worth a dime
has little or no value
55
to get/ take flak
recieve strong criticism
57
get the sack
be dismissed from your job
58
enthusiasm for adventurous activities
spirit of adventure
59
say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone
put your foot in it
60
be unacceptable
be beyond the pale
61
to pull rank
use the power his (manager) position gives him to make them (employees) do something
62
a flash in a pan
something that happens only once
63
sit on the fence
delay making a decision when they have to choose between two different options in a dispute
64
cry a lot (informal)
cry buckets
65
take a shine to
to immediately like something/someone
66
prick ones ears up
start to listen carefully
67
up-to-the-minute
new
68
a debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason
debt of honour
70
run its course
come to a natural end
71
people that you don't know or think are not important
every Tom, Dick and/or Harry
72
someone is batting a thousand
doing something extremely well, better than they had hoped
73
accept your low position within society without trying to improve it
know your place
74
to be the most important or noticeable thing or person
to take center stage
75
cold cash
money in form of cash or notes, not a cheque or credit card
77
to see reason
become sensible/ reasonable
79
a necessary part of an event or experience which cannot be avoided
part and parcel
80
curl your lip
to sneer, show disrespect
81
has just finished or sold all its supply
is fresh out of
82
feather one's own nest
dishonestly use your position to get money for yourself
83
sleep (informal)
catch some z's
85
get off your backside
stop being lazy (very informal)
86
catch some z's
sleep (informal)
87
make a name for
become famous or respected for
88
the good old days
remembering the past nostalgically
89
cry buckets
cry a lot (informal)
90
fight like cats and dogs
argue violently all the time
91
something that happens only once
a flash in a pan
92
part and parcel
a necessary part of an event or experience which cannot be avoided
93
has little or no value
not worth a dime
94
be extreme
know no bounds
96
recieve strong criticism
to get/ take flak
97
bluff your way
pretend to be in a weaker or stronger position than is really the case
98
become famous or respected for
make a name for
99
argue violently all the time
fight like cats and dogs
100
know your place
accept your low position within society without trying to improve it

Idioms (2 decks)

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