Idioms__IV Flashcards
(198 cards)
2
Q
To be tied up with something or someone.
(to be b…)
A
To be busy.
3
Q
To be busy.
A
To be tied up with something or someone.
4
Q
To be killing someone.
A
To be very painful.
5
Q
To be very painful.
(to be k…)
A
To be killing someone.
6
Q
A beauty.
A
A very good or vivid example of something; in this case, a really good example of a bad injury.
7
Q
A very good or vivid example of something; in this case, a really good example of a bad injury.
( a b…)
A
A beauty.
8
Q
To do a number on something.
A
To damage, destroy, or hurt something badly.
9
Q
To damage, destroy, or hurt something badly.
(number)
A
To do a number on something.
10
Q
A surefire way to do something.
A
A way that will definitely have a certain outcome or result.
11
Q
A way that will definitely have a certain outcome or result.
(way)
A
A surefire way to do something.
12
Q
To live something down.
A
To be allowed to forget about an embarrassing situation. This is used in the negative—to never or not live something down. A common way you’ll hear this expression is the phrase “I’ll never live this down!”
13
Q
To be allowed to forget about an embarrassing situation.
(live)
A
To live something down.
This is used in the negative—to never or not live something down. A common way you’ll hear this expression is the phrase “I’ll never live this down!”
14
Q
To outdo yourself.
A
To do something very well. To do better than you normally do.Note that this expression is often used in a sarcastic way.
15
Q
To do something very well. To do better than you normally do.Note that this expression is often used in a sarcastic way.
(out…)
A
To outdo yourself.
16
Q
A tall order.
A
An unusually difficult request.
17
Q
An unusually difficult request.
(tall)
A
A tall order.
18
Q
To be out of the question.
A
To be impossible to accomplish.
19
Q
To be impossible to accomplish.
(out)
A
To be out of the question.
20
Q
To be back in the saddle.
A
To return to your normal activities, especially after an illness or injury. To be back in control of your normal activities.
21
Q
To return to your normal activities, especially after an illness or injury. To be back in control of your normal activities.
(back in)
A
To be back in the saddle.
22
Q
To handle something.
A
To cope with ormanage a situation.
23
Q
To cope with or to manage a situation.
(handle)
A
To handle something.
24
Q
To be a piece of cake.
A
To be very easy.
25
Q
To be very easy.
(piece)
A
To be a piece of cake.
26
To take it easy.
To do things slowly and carefully, without tiring yourself.
27
To do things slowly and carefully, without tiring yourself.
(easy)
To take it easy.
28
To baby someone or something.
To treat very carefully and with great sensitivity.
29
To treat very carefully and with great sensitivity.
(to ba...)
To baby someone or something.
30
To keep an eye on.
To watch carefully.
31
To watch carefully.
| (eye)
To keep an eye on.
32
To get in touch with.
To contact, to talk to someone.
33
To contact, to talk to someone.
| (in t...)
To get in touch with.
34
To drop by.
To visit someone.
35
To visit someone.
| (to ... by)
To drop by.
36
To follow up on something.
To address or check on a situation later.
37
To address or check on a situation later.
To follow up on something.
38
To tie the knot.
To get married.
39
To get married.
| (tie)
To tie the knot.
40
To take the plunge.
To follow through on a big or life-changing decision. On the invitation, it has a double meaning. It refers both to a “plunge” into water at the beach party and to the fact that Matt and Allison will be getting married.
41
To follow through on a big or life-changing decision.
(take a ...)
To take the plunge.
On the invitation, it has a double meaning. It refers both to a “plunge” into water at the beach party and to the fact that Matt and Allison will be getting married.
42
To get cold feet.
To be or become afraid to do something. To have second thoughts.Notice that you can also say “have cold feet.”
43
To be or become afraid to do something. To have second thoughts.
(cold)
To get cold feet.
Notice that you can also say “have cold feet.”
44
Stuffy.
Formal. Overly conservative in ceremony and style.
45
Formal. Overly conservative in ceremony and style.
(s...)
Stuffy.
46
To let your hair down.
To celebrate in a free and uninhibited way.
47
To celebrate in a free and uninhibited way.
(down)
To let your hair down.
48
To walk down the aisle.
To get married.
49
To get married.
| (walk)
To walk down the aisle.
50
To not see something coming.
To not expect something. To be surprised by something.
51
To not expect something. To be surprised by something.
(see)
To not see something coming.
52
A turnout.
The number of people at an event.Notice that there’s also the verb “to turn out.”
53
The number of people at an event.
| (t...)
A turnout.
Notice that there’s also the verb “to turn out.”
54
To get hitched.
To get married. These days, this expression is an informal, humorous, and exaggerated way to say “to get married.”
55
To get married. These days, this expression is an informal, humorous, and exaggerated way to say “to get married.”
(to get h..)
To get hitched.
56
To pop the question.
To propose marriage to someone.
57
To propose marriage to someone.
| (pop)
To pop the question.
58
To lose your nerve.
To lose courage.
59
To lose courage.
| (lose)
To lose your nerve.
60
To turn someone or something down.
To say “no” to someone or something.
61
To say “no” to someone or something.
| (turn)
To turn someone or something down.
62
To settle on something.
To decide something after discussion, consideration, or negotiation.
63
To decide something after discussion, consideration, or negotiation.
(to se...)
To settle on something.
64
To count on something.
To depend on something happening. To be sure something will happen.
65
To depend on something happening. To be sure something will happen.
(to c... on)
To count on something.
66
To bail.
To leave a person or quit a project earlier than expected. You can also say “to bail out on someone or something.”
67
To leave a person or quit a project earlier than expected. You can also say “to bail out on someone or something.”
(to b...)
To bail.
68
To beat around the bush.
To be indirect in approach in order to avoid confrontation.
69
To be indirect in approach in order to avoid confrontation.
To beat around the bush.
70
To give it to someone straight.
To be direct and honest with someone.
71
To be direct and honest with someone.
(give...)
To give it to someone straight.
72
To bully someone into something.
To force someone to do something.
73
To force someone to do something.
| ( to bu... )
To bully someone into something.
74
To throw someone for a loop.
To surprise someone. To confuse someone with something unexpected.
75
To surprise someone. To confuse someone with something unexpected.
(throw)
To throw someone for a loop.
76
To do a 180.
To change in a drastic way. To turn completely around.
77
To change in a drastic way. To turn completely around.
(to do a ...)
To do a 180.
78
To play the field.
To date many different people.
79
To date many different people.
| (play)
To play the field.
80
To settle down.
To grow comfortable and content in a routine or situation, especially in a relationship with another person. Often, this implies growing older andmore responsible, or less fun-loving and free, depending on how you look at it!
81
To grow comfortable and content in a routine or situation, especially in a relationship with another person.
(down)
To settle down.
Often, this implies growing older andmore responsible, or less fun-loving and free, depending on how you look at it!
82
To be a wake-up call.
To be something that changes your view of what is important or possible.
83
To be something that changes your view of what is important or possible.
(call)
To be a wake-up call.
84
To be seeing someone.
To date someone informally.
85
To date someone informally.
| (to be s...)
To be seeing someone.
86
To hand it to someone.
To acknowledge someone’s achievement.
87
To acknowledge someone’s achievement.
(to ha...)
To hand it to someone.
88
To get something on track.
To make decisions and take actions about something that will lead to a favorable outcome.
89
To make decisions and take actions about something that will lead to a favorable outcome.
(on t....)
To get something on track.
90
To clean up.
To make a very large profit, to make a lot of money.
91
To make a very large profit, to make a lot of money.
( c... up)
To clean up.
92
To take your time doing something.
To not rush. To do something slowly and carefully.
93
To not rush. To do something slowly and carefully.
(time)
To take your time doing something.
94
To be burned.
To be betrayed, fooled, or hurt, especially after expecting a positive outcome.
95
To be betrayed, fooled, or hurt, especially after expecting a positive outcome.
( to be b...)
To be burned.
96
To eye something up.
To look at, examine, or consider visually.
97
To look at, examine, or consider visually.
(e... up)
To eye something up.
98
To chomp at the bit.
To be very anxious or eager to do something.
99
To be very anxious or eager to do something.
(bit)
To chomp at the bit.
100
To strike while the iron’s hot.
To take advantage of a favorable opportunity.
101
To take advantage of a favorable opportunity.
(hot)
To strike while the iron’s hot.
102
To talk something over.
To discuss carefully in order to come to a decision.
103
To discuss carefully in order to come to a decision.
(talk)
To talk something over.
104
To make yourself scarce.
To leave, to move away from someone. Rude when said to someone else.
105
To leave, to move away from someone. Rude when said to someone else.
(make sc...)
To make yourself scarce.
106
A dream come true.
Something wonderful, something so good it’s as though it came out of a dream.
107
Something wonderful, something so good it’s as though it came out of a dream.
(true)
A dream come true.
108
To keep in mind.
To remember. To consider.
109
To remember. To consider.
| (keep)
To keep in mind.
110
To talk something up.
To praise something verbally. To speak highly of something or exaggerate its value.
111
To praise something verbally. To speak highly of something or exaggerate its value.
(up)
To talk something up.
112
To come through.
To happen, to materialize, to become a real event.
113
To happen, to materialize, to become a real event.
(come t...)
To come through.
114
To fall on deaf ears.
To be pointless to mention, suggesting that the person you’d like to talk to won’t care about your complaint, opinion, or problem.
115
To be pointless to mention, suggesting that the person you’d like to talk to won’t care about your complaint, opinion, or problem.
(deaf)
To fall on deaf ears.
116
To jump down someone’s throat.
To overreact and attack someone verbally.
117
To overreact and attack someone verbally.
(jump)
To jump down someone’s throat.
118
Cornered.
Threatened. Feeling as if you don’t havemany options left.
119
Threatened. Feeling as if you don’t havemany options left.
(co...)
Cornered.
120
To not hold your breath.
To not wait for something to happen with much hope.
121
To not wait for something to happen with much hope.
(hold)
To not hold your breath.
122
To keep a low profile.
To do nothing that would draw attention to you or distinguish you from others.
123
To do nothing that would draw attention to you or distinguish you from others.
(keep)
To keep a low profile.
124
Pink slip.
Notification that you’ve been fired. The full expression is “to get a pink slip.”
125
Notification that you’ve been fired.
(pink)
Pink slip.
The full expression is “to get a pink slip.”
126
Written in stone.
Fixed, firm, unchangeable.
127
Fixed, firm, unchangeable.
| (stone)
Written in stone.
128
To keep up with something or someone.
To go at the same speed or pace, to be aware of changes or current conditions.
129
To go at the same speed or pace, to be aware of changes or current conditions.
(to k... up)
To keep up with something or someone.
130
To be bushed.
To be very tired.
131
To be very tired.
| (be bu...)
To be bushed.
132
To have a blast.
To have a lot of fun, to have a great time.
133
To have a lot of fun, to have a great time.
(a bl...)
To have a blast.
134
To be a pushover.
To be easily convinced or persuaded.
135
To be easily convinced or persuaded.
| (be a pu...)
To be a pushover.
136
Set on something.
Fixated on something and determined to have it.
137
Fixated on something and determined to have it.
( s... on)
Set on something.
138
To have a fit.
To have a temper tantrum. To lose control of your emotions. To display your anger.
139
To have a temper tantrum. To lose control of your emotions. To display your anger.
(have a f...)
To have a fit.
140
To cave in.
To give in. To allow yourself to be persuaded or tempted.
141
To give in. To allow yourself to be persuaded or tempted.
( c... in)
To cave in.
142
To buckle.
To be persuaded, to change your mind.
143
To be persuaded, to change your mind.
(to b...)
To buckle.
144
To have someone wrapped around your finger.
To cause someone to be obedient to you. To influence someone very greatly, to exert far toomuch influence on someone.
145
To cause someone to be obedient to you. To influence someone very greatly, to exert far toomuch influence on someone.
(wrapped)
To have someone wrapped around your finger.
146
To be hooked.
To enjoy something very much, to be convinced of something. In the context of drugs or alcohol, “hooked” can also mean “addicted.”
147
To enjoy something very much, to be convinced of something.
(be h...)
To be hooked.
In the context of drugs or alcohol, “hooked” can also mean “addicted.”
148
When it comes to something.
Regarding, with regard to, or concerning something.
149
Regarding, with regard to, or concerning something.
(when...)
When it comes to something.
150
To run into somebody.
To meet somebody unexpectedly.
151
To meet somebody unexpectedly.
| (into)
To run into somebody.
152
To have one on the way.
To be pregnant. To be expecting a child.
153
To be pregnant. To be expecting a child.
(way)
To have one on the way.
154
A piece of work.
A complicated, interesting, or amusing person. Often said ironically.
155
A complicated, interesting, or amusing person. Often said ironically.
(a p.. of)
A piece of work.
156
A chip off the old block.
Said of children when they greatly resemble one of their parents in personality or behavior.
157
Said of children when they greatly resemble one of their parents in personality or behavior.
(old)
A chip off the old block.
158
You don’t say.
An expression used to show mild surprise, like saying “really?” This can also be a sarcastic expression, to show that you don’t find something as interesting as someone else does.
159
An expression used to show mild surprise, like saying “really?” This can also be a sarcastic expression, to show that you don’t find something as interesting as someone else does.
(don't)
You don’t say.
160
Hard headed.
Stubborn.
161
Stubborn.
| (hard)
Hard headed.
162
Up to something.
Involved in some kind of mischief. Planning something.
163
Involved in some kind of mischief. Planning something.
(u... to)
Up to something.
164
Something else.
An expression meaning “something noteworthy” or “something interesting or worth discussion.”
165
An expression meaning “something noteworthy” or “something interesting or worth discussion.”
(s... e...)
Something else.
166
To take after.
To have the same traits or characteristics as another person.
167
To have the same traits or characteristics as another person.
(take)
To take after.
168
To have a taste of one’s own medicine.
To be on the receiving end of behavior that one has subjected others to.
169
To be on the receiving end of behavior that one has subjected others to.
(taste)
To have a taste of one’s own medicine.
170
To pay the piper.
To suffer the consequences of your actions, after a long time of not suffering any consequences.
171
To suffer the consequences of your actions, after a long time of not suffering any consequences.
(pay)
To pay the piper.
172
On the ball.
Ready, alert, highly prepared.
173
Ready, alert, highly prepared.
| (ball)
On the ball.
174
To turn your back on someone.
Literally, to turn away from or look the other way. Note that this expression can also be used figuratively, meaning to abandon or stop caring about someone.
175
Literally, to turn away from or look the other way.
(back)
To turn your back on someone.
Note that this expression can also be used figuratively, meaning to abandon or stop caring about someone.Literally, to turn away from or look the other way. Note that this expression can also be used figuratively, meaning to abandon or stop caring about someone.Literally, to turn away from or look the other way. Note that this expression can also be used figuratively, meaning to abandon or stop caring about someone.
176
To be at something.
To engage or take part in something. Notice that you can also say “keep at” something, meaning to continue to take part in something.
177
To engage or take part in something.
(to be ...)
To be at something.
Notice that you can also say “keep at” something, meaning to continue to take part in something.
178
To be green.
To be new or inexperienced.
179
To be new or inexperienced.
| (g..)
To be green.
180
To be a shoo-in.
To be the best ormost likely candidate for something.
181
To be the best or most likely candidate for something.
(-in)
To be a shoo-in.
182
To make someone’s day.
To cause someone great happiness, joy, or pride.
183
To cause someone great happiness, joy, or pride.
(make)
To make someone’s day.
184
A catch.
A drawback or negative quality that might not be obvious.
185
A drawback or negative quality that might not be obvious.
(c)
A catch.
186
A catch.
In other contexts, “a catch” is a person who would be good to date.
187
A person who would be good to date.
(c)
A catch.
188
To be hung up on something.
To find fault with something, to identify a weakness or a drawback in something.
189
To find fault with something, to identify a weakness or a drawback in something.
(h.. on)
To be hung up on something.
190
At your fingertips.
Readily available.
191
Readily available.
| (at ...)
At your fingertips.
192
To lose your shirt.
To become financially ruined. To lose a lot of money.
193
To become financially ruined. To lose a lot of money.
(lose your ...)
To lose your shirt.
194
To nail someone.
To hit or do damage to someone.
195
To hit or do damage to someone.
| (to n...)
To nail someone.
196
To pull over.
To drive one’s car to the side of the road in order to stop.
197
To drive one’s car to the side of the road in order to stop.
(over)
To pull over.
198
To swap information.
To exchange names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company information, especially after a car accident.
199
To exchange names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company information, especially after a car accident.
(to s...)
To swap information.
