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IDIOMS AND PHRASES > PART 1 > Flashcards

PART 1 Flashcards

1
Q

At one’s wit’s end

A

Confused perplexed bewildering

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2
Q

At one’s fingertips

A

Complete knowledge

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3
Q

At the spur of the moment

A

Without delay

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4
Q

All in all

A

Most important

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5
Q

At close quarters

A

At or from a position that is very near

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6
Q

Pale in comparison

A

To seem less important good serious etc

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7
Q

Leave someone in the lurch

A

Leave someone abruptly and without support when they are in a difficult situation

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8
Q

Dig Deep

A

Manage to find a lot of money for something

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9
Q

Wash one’s dirty linen in public

A

Discuss one’s personal affairs in public

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10
Q

Writing is on the wall

A

Warning or sign that something unpleasant or unfortunate is going to happen

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11
Q

Put a dampener on

A

To make something less strong active or exciting

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12
Q

A bull in a China Shop

A

One who cause damage

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13
Q

Daft as a brush

A

Very silly or somewhat crazy

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14
Q

Move heaven and earth

A

To do everything that you can do to achieve something

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15
Q

Cut the gordian knot

A

Solve or remove a problem in a direct or forceful way, rejecting gentler or more indirect method

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16
Q

Keep something under one’s hat

A

Keep something a secret

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17
Q

Nip something in a bud

A

To stop something bad before it develops or get worse

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18
Q

A gentleman at large

A

A person without any serious occupation

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19
Q

The moment of truth

A

An occasion when something important happens that test someone or something and that will have an effect on the future

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20
Q

At someone’s back and call

A

Always having to be ready to obey someone’s order

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21
Q

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

A

Do not refuse something good that is offered

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22
Q

Let sleeping dogs lie

A

To ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation

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23
Q

Throw caution to the wind

A

To do something without worrying about the risk or negative

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24
Q

There’s no such thing as a free lunch

A

Nothing is ever really given away for free so be worry of hidden charges, motives or agendas

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25
Q

A new lease of life

A

A chance to continue living or to become successful or popular again

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26
Q

In a pickle

A

In a difficult situation

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27
Q

Rain on someone’s parade

A

To spoil someone’s pleasure

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28
Q

Set alarm bells rings

A

To make someone feel warned or concerned about something

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29
Q

Rank and file

A

Ordinary people

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30
Q

By fits and starts

A

In short periods not regularly

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31
Q

Know the ropes

A

Have experience about the appropriate procedure

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32
Q

Go through fire and water

A

To face many challenges in order to achieve something

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33
Q

A Bolt from the blue

A

A sudden and unexpected event

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34
Q

A green horse

A

An inexperienced or naive person

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35
Q

Bury the hatchet

A

To stop an argument and become friends again

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36
Q

Bring someone to book

A

To punish someone or to make them explain their behaviour publicly when they have done something wrong

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37
Q

Blood,Sweat and Tears

A

Extremely hardwork or the greatest effort possible in order to achieve something

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38
Q

Achilles heel

A

A week point

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39
Q

A feather in your cap

A

To achieve something at to be proud of it

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40
Q

To cross swords

A

To fight

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41
Q

To take a leap in the dar

A

To do something without being certain of the outcome and result

42
Q

Bite the bullet

A

To accept something unpleasant or difficult

43
Q

Be in the soup

A

To be in trouble

44
Q

An axe to grind

A

To have a selfish aim or motive

45
Q

Water under the bridge

A

Anything from the past that isn’t significant or important anymore

46
Q

Get one’s goat

A

To annoy or irritate someone

47
Q

Cost an arm and a leg

A

Very expensive

48
Q

Bridging the chasm

A

To overcome a significant gap or disparity

49
Q

Factor in

A

To take into consideration or include as a relevant component

50
Q

Bouncing back

A

Recovering or rebouncing from setbacks or difficulties

51
Q

Connecting the threads

A

Process of linking different aspects or components to create a coherent whole

52
Q

Wheather the Stroms of life

A

To endure or overcome challenges and difficulties

53
Q

Speaks volumes

A

Conveys a great deal

54
Q

Keep somebody in the picture

A

To make sure someone knows all the facts about a changing situation

55
Q

Keep on trucking

A

To continue to do something that is ordinary or boring

56
Q

Keep on the right side of somebody

A

To try to make certain that someone is pleased with you

57
Q

Few and far between

A

Rare and not often found

58
Q

Set his face against

A

Sternly opposed

59
Q

Go bananas

A

Become angry

60
Q

Like riding a bicycle

A

Something that you will never forget how to do

61
Q

Jump on the bandwagon

A

Follow a trend or to do what everyone else is doing

62
Q

It takes two to tango

A

One person isn’t alone responsible

63
Q

Sitting on the fence

A

To delay or avoid making a decision

64
Q

A shot in the arm

A

A boost or stimulant

65
Q

Cash cow

A

Dependable source of income

66
Q

Yellow bellies

A

Cowards

67
Q

On the cards

A

Probable

68
Q

Turned the corner

A

Out of danger

69
Q

To hold good

A

To remain valid

70
Q

Out of line

A

Behaving in an appropriate way

71
Q

Pull yourself together

A

To become calm

72
Q

A fly on the wall

A

An unperceived observer

73
Q

A snowball effect

A

Situation in which one action or event causes many other similar actions or events

74
Q

Win laurels

A

To gain honour or achievement

75
Q

A kick in the teeth

A

To gain honour or disappointment

76
Q

Donkey’s years

A

Long time

77
Q

Get the axe

A

Lose the job

78
Q

A stone’s throw

A

A very short distance

79
Q

Round the clock

A

All day and all night

80
Q

A chip of the old block

A

Someone who is very similar in character to their father or mother

81
Q

Bring someone to book

A

Officially punish someone or call them to account for their behaviour

82
Q

The black sheep

A

To one with bad reputation

83
Q

Hit the purple patch

A

Very successful or lucky for a period

84
Q

Hit the sack

A

Go to sleep

85
Q

Beat around the bush

A

Discuss a matter without coming to the point

86
Q

Pull all the Stops

A

To make every possible effort

87
Q

Call a spade a spade

A

Speak clearly and directly about things

88
Q

Play for time

A

To make excuses or do things to gain time

89
Q

Full of sound and fury

A

Loud and angry words that attract a lot of attention but do nothing useful

90
Q

Utopian scheme

A

A visionary scheme through impractical

91
Q

It’s all Greek to me

A

To not understand

92
Q

A big draw

A

Huge attraction

93
Q

A bull in China Shop

A

An extremely awkward Clumsy person

94
Q

A cold fish

A

Someone who seems Unfriendly and who does not share feelings

95
Q

A cut above something

A

Superior to

96
Q

A damp squib

A

A disappointment result

97
Q

A dog’s breakfast

A

A total mess

98
Q

A fine state of affairs

A

An unpleasant situation

99
Q

A gentleman at large

A

A man without a job

100
Q

A hot patato

A

A controversial situation

IDIOMS AND PHRASES (2 decks)

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