Unit 10: Idioms & metaphors

He’s got a nose for a bargain.

very good at finding X

We did it by the skin of our teeth!

we only just succeeded

turned a blind eye to it

to pretend not to notice, to ignore

gave him the cold shoulder

ignored him

It cost an arm and a leg.

it was very expensive

I was on my knees by the end of the day

I was exhausted

They don’t see eye to eye

they don’t get along

There’s no elbow room

er is geen ruimte, het is krap

really put my foot in it this time

I said something I shouldn’t have by mistake

we soon lost heart

we became demotivated

Blood is thicker than water.

Family is more important to most people than friends

to speak off the cuff

without having prepared anything

to be hand in glove with someone

to have a close working relationship

cloak-and-dagger

involving secrecy

to have/take the shirt off someon’s back

take someone’s last possession

to put someone in the straitjacket

restrict someone’s freedom

to wear the trousers

de baas zijn, de broek dragen

That’s the story of my life.

That’s what always happens to me

to get a new lease of lief

become more energetic and active than before

a dog’s life

a very unhappy and difficult life

from the cradle to the grave

from birth to death

the good old days

de goede oude tijd

your days are numbered

je tijd is om, je bent aan het einde

could have heard a pin drop

there was total silence

at a loss for words

niet weten wat te zeggen

sunny disposition

hardly ever miserable

frosty reception

koeltjes onthaald

snowed under

overbelast zijn

cloud your judgement

oordeel vertroebelen

a hail/storm of abuse

een regen/hoos van beledigingen

the tip of the iceberg

a small part of a bigger problem

make such a mountain out of a molehill

van een mug een olifant maken

bee in your bonnet

A person with … has an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts.

every Tom, Dick and Harry

anyone

burn the candle at both ends

to get up early in the morning and go to bed late at night on a regular basis

a can of worms

a difficult and complicated situation

take the bull by the horns

to deal bravely or confidently with a difficult situation

pay through the nose

to pay a lot of money

clear the air

to help end an argument or disagreement

talk shop

to discuss your job with a coworker, usually in a social situation where there are others present

put me in the picture

to let somebody know what has happend, usually when other people already know

pull a few strings

to use your influence with somebody in order to get something

on the level

being honest and telling the truth

carry the can

being the person who is considered responsible for something that has gone wrong

rained on my parade

to spoil something or make it much less enjoyable

by and large

generally

read between the lines

decide what somebody really means when they say or write something

a stone’s throw

very near

pulling a fast one / trying one on

not being completely honest

in the back of beyond / off the map/the middel of nowhere

very remote

a pick-up joint

a place where you go to try to meet someone, usu. for casual sex

fell short of my expectations

wasn’t as good as I expected

wasn’t really up to the mark / wasn’t up to scratch

wasn’t good enough

misery guts

somebody who is always in a bad mood

laying down the law

telling everyone what to do and how to behave

gone to the dogs / gone to rack and ruin / gone downhill

declined in quality

steep

expensive

shop around

look for the cheapest prices

bucket shop

a place where you can buy cheap travel tickets

cut-price

very cheap (but not always very good quality)

an unearthly hour / an ungodly hour / at the crack of dawn

very early, or during the night

round the houses

a very indirect route

a tough customer

somebody who demands the very best quality and service

picking holes in everything

finding faults all the time

out of the question

unacceptable, impossible

flew off the handle / she threw her toys out of the pram / threw a wobbly

became very angry

pull his socks up

make an effort to improve

stormed out

walked out of a room angrily

skipper

a hotel guest who leaves without paying his / her bill

nicked / pinched / swiped

stolen

get your money’s worth

get something that is worth the amount of money you paid

grub

food

plonk

(cheap) wine

cheap’n’cheerful

very cheap (but not always good quality)

take the skin off your teeth

very rough tasting

natives

locals

out of this world

very impressive; extremely good

dog-tired

very tired

in good hands

safe and well cared for

went out of their way + fell over himself / they bent over backwards / moved heaven and earth

did everything humanly possible

slept like a log / went out like a light

slept very well