Studied by 0 people
put your foot in your mouth (US)
to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone
put all your eggs in one basket
to depend for your success on a single person or plan of action:
take a shine to sb
to like someone immediately
there's safety in numbers
said to emphasize that being part of a group makes you less likely to be harmed
have a whale of a time
to enjoy yourself very much
be of/in two minds
to be unable to decide about something:
safe and sound
not hurt or damaged
twist someone's arm
to get someone to do what you want by making it very difficult for him or her to refuse
go cap in hand to sb
to ask someone in a polite and sincere way for something, especially money or to be forgiven
foot the bill
to pay for something, esp. something expensive
the apple of sb's eye
the person who someone loves most and is very proud of
bury/have your head in the sand
to refuse to think about unpleasant facts, although they will have an influence on your situation
run its course
to develop and finish naturally
go/come up in the world
to have more money or a better social position than you had before
lick your wounds
to spend time getting back your strength or happiness after a defeat or bad experience
open the door to sth
to make something possible
sink like a stone
to attract no support, attention, or interest. to fail completely
prick up your ears
listen carefully
whip sth/sb into shape
to take action to get something or someone into the good condition that you would like.
the domino effect
the situation in which something, usually something bad, happens, causing other similar events to happen
debt of honour/honor
a debt that one owes someone for moral rather than financial reason
so far, so good
satisfactory up to this particular time
get off your backside
to stop being lazy [slang]
not soil your hands
to not become involved in something unpleasant or bad [Literary]
pigs can fly (US)
said when you think that there is no chance at all of something happening [humorous]
know sth inside out
to know everything about a subject [informal]
have occasion to do sth
to need to do something [formal]
send sb to Coventry
they refuse to speak to that person, usually as a punishment for having done something to upset the group [old-fashioned]
hopping mad
very angry
make a name for
become famous/respected for sth
run a tight ship
control something firmly and effectively
go spare
to become very angry
behind someone's back
without someone knowing
Feather your own nest
you use your position or your job illegally for personal gain.
be beyond the pale
be unacceptable
to be given the sack
to be fired/to be dismissed
like it or lump it
you mean that person must accept a situation they do not like, because it cannot be changed [informal]
take centre stage
to be at the centre of attention
make a mountain out of a molehill
to make a slight difficulty seem like a serious problem
join forces with
When two people or groups join forces, they act or work together [formal]
minefield
a situation that contains hidden dangers or difficulties [formal]
casualty
a person or thing that suffers as a result of something else happening. [formal]
pull rank (on someone)
to use the power that your position gives you over someone in order to make them do what you want
(take/catch/draw/get the) flak
strong criticism or opposition [informal]
(give/get someone's) marching orders
you ask them to leave a job, usually because they have done something wrong [informal]
see sense/reason
to be reasonable and have good judgment [formal]
see the point of sth
to understand the importance of or the reason for something [formal]
see the light
you suddenly understand something you didn't understand before [formal]
get/see the joke
to understand something funny and find it funny yourself
see red
to become very angry
black mark
the fact of people noticing and remembering something that you have done wrong or failed to do
be at a crossroads
to be at a stage in your life when you have to make a very important decision
get nowhere
make no progress
uncharted waters
a situation that is not well known and may be dangerous [formal]
have sth up your sleeve
to have a secret plan or idea
bluff your way into/out of/through something
to succeed in dealing with a difficult situation by making other people believe something which is not true
Tom, Dick, and Harry
used to refer to an ordinary person or all ordinary people [disapproving]
where there's a will there's a way
if you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult
variety is the spice of life
doing many different things, or often changing what you do, makes life interesting
easy come, easy go
said when something, especially money, is easily got and then soon spent or lost [informal]
off the top of your head
from the knowledge you have in your memory
look on the bright side
to find good things in a bad situation
cry your eyes out
to cry a lot
at the top of your lungs/voice (US)
extremely loudly
tip of the iceberg
a small, noticeable part of a problem, the total size of which is really much greater
from (the) cradle to (the) grave
for all of a person's life
out of one's own pocket
using one's own money
be like a bear with a sore head (UK)
to be in a bad mood that causes you to treat other people badly and complain a lot [informal]
the good old days
you mean a time in the past when you believe life was better
sb's/sth's days are numbered
they will not exist for much longer
clip sb's wings
to limit someone's freedom
up-to-the-minute
Modern.containing the most recent information.
at a loss for words
not knowing what to say, especially because you are very surprised or shocked
sick (and tired) of someone/something
to have experienced too much of someone or something with the result that you are annoyed
make a mountain out of a molehill
to make a big problem out of a small problem
fringe benefits
Any financial extras beyond the regular pay check, such as health insurance, life insurance, paid vacation and/or retirement
blow away someone
to surprise someone very much
be on the same wavelength
to think in a similar way and to understand each other well
be part and parcel of sth
to be a feature of something, especially a feature that cannot be avoided
burn a hole in sb's pocket
If money is burning a hole in your pocket, you are very eager to spend it
see eye to eye
they agree with each other.
get your act together
to start to organize yourself so that you do things in an effective way.
sit on the fence
to delay making a decision
back to square one
return to the beginning because of a failure to accomplish the desired result
right off the bat (US)
it happens immediately or at the very beginning of a process.
throw someone a curveball (US)
unexpectedly present someone with a challenge or disruption.
be batting a thousand (US)
to be successful in an endeavor or in multiple areas of one's life
drop the ball (US)
do sth stupid or careless
catch some z's (US)
get some sleep (informal)
to be fresh out of something (US)
having just finished or sold all of something.
isn't worth a dime (US)
has little or no value
the icing on the cake (UK)
something that is extra to a already good situation
the frosting on the cake (US)
something that makes a good situation even better
fight like cats and dogs (US)
argue violently all the time
grunt/donkey work
hard boring part of a job or task
take the biscuit (UK)
to be the most silly, stupid or annoying thing in a series of things
cry buckets (US)
to cry a lot ( informal)
cold/harsh cash
money in the form of coins or paper
like the cat that ate the canary = like the cat that got the cream
very proud or pleased because of something you have achieved or got
Sth from hell
frequently refers to difficult people or unpopular things
