english idioms in use inter unit 45

get into gear | get something into gear

to start working, or to start something working, in an efficient way

To go to sleep you need the wakefulness system to be winding down as the sleep system begins to _.

back-seat driver

(disapproving)

1. ​a passenger in a vehicle who keeps giving advice to the driver about how they should drive

2. ​a person who wants to be in control of something that is not really their responsibility

~ người không có trách nhiệm nhưng cứ thích điều khiển

• It is expected that the former CEO will be a _ (= have a controlling influence on what happens) on the company's board.

put the brake(s) on

to slow down or stop an activity:

• The city has _ further spending.

• We’ve _ our plans to expand the business – there’s not enough demand anymore.

tick over

usually used in the progressive tenses

1. ​(of an engine) to run slowly while the vehicle is not moving

   synonym idle

   • The cab was waiting outside, the engine _.

2. ​(of a business, a system, an activity, etc.) to keep working slowly without producing or achieving much

   • Just keep things _ while I'm away.

   • The business is _ nicely at the moment.

blow/let off steam

1. ​(informal) to get rid of your energy, anger or strong emotions by doing something active or noisy

   • I went for a long walk to _.

   • I like _ and I like saying things that shock people.

~ Làm gì đó để giải tỏa năng lượng dư thừa hoặc lo lắng

get your wires/lines crossed

(informal) to become confused about what somebody has said to you so that you think they meant something else

• We seem to have _. I thought you were coming on Tuesday.

~ hai hoặc nhiều người hiểu nhầm ý nhau hoặc thông tin bị hiểu sai

be on the same wavelength | be on somebody’s wavelength

1. ​(informal) to have the same way of thinking or the same ideas or feelings as somebody else

   • We work together but we aren’t really _.

   • My boss and I are just not _.

blow a fuse/gasket

(informal) to get very angry

give somebody a buzz

(informal) to phone somebody

• I'll _ on Monday, OK?

back-pedal

1. (on something) to change an earlier statement or opinion; to not do something that you promised to do

   • The protests have forced the government to _ on the new tax.

2. ​[intransitive] to pedal backwards on a bicycle; to walk or run backwards

(throw) a spanner in the works

(to cause) a delay or problem with something that somebody is planning or doing

The funding for the project was withdrawn so that really _.

meltdown

[uncountable, countable]

1. ​a serious accident in which the central part of a nuclear reactor melts, causing harmful radiation to escape

2. ​(economics) a situation where something fails or becomes weaker in a sudden or dramatic way

   • The country is in economic _.

   • a _ on the New York Stock Exchange

in the pipeline

something that is ~ is being discussed, planned or prepared and will happen or exist soon

• Important new laws are already _.

~ đang được giải quyết, đang trên đường vận chuyển (hàng hoá..)