English 2nd term

on a roll

experiencing a period of success or good luck

be rolling in it

to have a lot of money

your bread and butter

your main source of income

feel the pinch

to experience financial difficulty

keep your head above water

to manage to survive financially

money for old rope

money earned very easily

not for love nor money

not possible under any circumstances

put your money where your mouth is

to act on your words or beliefs

catch up with (someone)

to reach the same level or meet again

sound out

to ask someone’s opinion before making a decision

stake out (a claim)

to assert a right or position

stake out (a building)

to watch a place secretly

stake out (a territory)

to claim an area as one’s own

con

to trick or deceive someone

confound

to confuse or puzzle

double-cross

to betray someone

dupe into

to trick someone into doing something

hoodwink

to deceive or trick

hustle

to work hard energetically or to push for something quickly

stump

to confuse or puzzle someone

swindle someone/something out of something/someone

to cheat someone out of something

woodland habitat

a natural environment of forests or wooded areas

wind erosion

the process of soil being worn away by wind

in the clear

free from danger or suspicion

make waves

to cause trouble or challenge the status quo

out of hand

out of control

by any means necessary

using any method possible

by any standard

according to any measure or comparison

in your mind’s eye

in your imagination

out of the ordinary

unusual or different

flamboyant

very colorful, confident, and showy

garish

excessively bright or showy in a tasteless way

imposing

impressive and grand in appearance

renowned

famous and respected

swanky

stylish and expensive

understated

simple and not showy

vulgar

lacking good taste; crude

whimsical

playful, unusual, or imaginative

a black canvas

a dark base or background for creative work

a slow burner

something that develops slowly but becomes successful

collector’s item

something valuable to collectors

go back to the drawing board

to start again after failure

go down a storm

to be very successful or well received

leave your mark

to have a lasting impact

cult classic

a work that has a devoted but smaller fanbase

hard-hitting

strongly impactful or serious

long-awaited

expected for a long time

spellbinding

very exciting or captivating

spine-tingling

causing excitement or fear

star-studded

featuring many famous people

tearjerker

a story that makes people cry

as mad as a box of frogs

extremely crazy

as sly as a fox

very cunning

sleep like a log

to sleep very deeply

watch someone like a hawk

to observe someone very closely

as dead as a doornail

completely dead or no longer active

catch-22 situation

a no-win situation with contradictory rules

cliff-hanger

a suspenseful ending leaving the outcome uncertain

down the rabbit hole

entering a strange or complex situation

give someone the creeps

to make someone feel uncomfortable or scared

love is blind

people in love overlook faults

the pot calling the kettle black

criticizing someone for a fault you also have