collocations and idioms

each and every

(used for emphasis) every single one

leave sth in your way

to go somewhere new, leaving problems, confusion, etc. behind you, that you have caused

be in the doghouse

someone is annoyed with you and shows their disapproval

be barking up the wrong tree

to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve sth

beat about the bush

to talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point

bite the dust

to fail, or to be defeated or destroyed

jump/climb on the bandwagon

to join others in doing sth that is becoming fashionable because you hope to become popular or successful yourself

do a bunk

to run away from a place without telling anyone

fly off the handle

to suddenly become very angry

burn your boats

to do sth that makes it impossible to return to the previous situation later

jump the gun

to do sth too soon, before the right time

call a spade a spade

to say exactly what you think without trying to hide your opinion

spill the beans/tea

to tell sb sth that should be kept secret or private

be on the threshold of sth

to be at the start of a new and important time or development

at the hands of sb

because of sb’s actions

bad/ill feeling

anger between people, especially after an argument

work your way through sth

to do sth from beginning to end

out of thin air

from nowhere or nothing, as if by magic

hot air

claims, promises, statements that sound impressive but have no real meaning or truth

up in the air

not yet decided

alive and kicking

very active, healthy or popular

disappear, vanish, etc. into thin air

to disappear suddenly in a mysterious way

(all) at sea

confused and not knowing what to do

once and for all

now and for the last time, finally and completely

with open arms

be extremely happy and pleased to see sb

for the asking

sth that is very easy for you to get if you ask for it

cross swords (with sb)

to fight or argue with sb

bear resemblance to sb/sth

to be similar to sb/sth

keep a clear/cool head

to remain calm in a difficult situation

get wind of sth

to hear about sth secret or private

turn your back on sb/sth

to reject sb/sth that you have previously been connected with

a far cry from sth

a very different experience from sth

disorderly conduct

the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in a public place

not to be outdone

not wanting to let sb else do better

pie in the sky

an event that sb talks about that seems very unlikely to happen

behind the scenes

in a way that people in general are not aware of

strike a bargain/deal (with sb/sth)

to make an agreement with sb about sth in which both sides have an advantage

money for jam/old rope

money that is earned very easily, for sth that needs little effort

stoop so low (as to do sth)

to drop your moral standards far enough to do sth bad or unpleasant

a sticky wicket

a difficult situation

make a mountain out of a molehill

to make an unimportant matter seem important

cul-de-sac (n)

a situation that leads nowhere

fill/fit the bill

to be what is needed in a particular situation or for a particular purpose

nothing to write home about

not exciting or special

a home from home

a place where you feel as comfortable as you do in your own home

bring sth home to sb

to make sb realize how important, difficult or serious sth is

home in on sth

to aim at sth; to find and give a lot of attention to sth or sb

home truth

a true but unpleasant fact about a person, usually told to them by sb else

bring the house down

to make everyone laugh or cheer, especially at a performance in the theater

get on like a house on fire

to become friends quickly and have a very friendly relationship

go all round the houses

to waste time doing or asking sth in a very complicated way

be home and dry

to have done sth successfully, especially when it was difficult

do an impression of sb

to try to make people laugh by copying another person’s manner and speech, etc.

as easy as falling off a log

very easy or very easily

sleep like a log/baby

to sleep very well

root and branch

completely and in a way that affects every part of sth

like a dog with a bone

very determined and refusing to give up

leave sb in the lurch

to fail to help sb when they are relying on you to do so

lay it on thick

to exaggerate sth

toe the (party) line

to say or do what sb in authority tells you to say or do, even if you do not share the same opinion, etc.

come one’s way

to happen to sb by chance or unexpectedly

take precautions to do sth

take care of sth in advance

keep an eye open/out for sb/sth

to look for sb/sth while you are doing sth else

be streets ahead of sb/sth

to be much better than sb/sth else

take the rough with the smooth

to accept unpleasant or difficult things as well as the good things in life

steep yourself in sth

to spend a lot of time thinking or learning about sth

take the floor

to start dancing on a dance floor

be/go against the grain

to be or do sth different from what is normal or natural

win sth hands down

to win sth very easily

fit to drop

extremely tired

fly in the face of sth

to completely oppose sth that seems sensible or normal

food for thought

an idea that makes you think seriously and carefully

double bind

a situation in which whatever you choose will lead to unpleasant results

leading light

an important and respected person

the common touch

the ablity of a powerful and famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people

fetch and carry for sb

to do a lot of little jobs for sb

bow and scrape

to be too polite to an important person in order to gain their approval

hum and haw

to take a long time to make a decision before you say sth

at/in a canter

without much effort; easily (in sport)

make a cold call

to make a phone call to sb you do not know in order to sell sth