Oxford idioms and phrasal verbs (advanced)

not out of the woods

not yet free from difficulties or problems

take a back seat

deliberately become less actively involved in something, and stop trying to control things

my heart sank

used to tell somebody that you suddenly felt sad or worried about something

having said that

used to say that something is true despite what you have just said

the next thing I knew

used to say that something happened very quickly and unexpectedly

i thought as much

used to say you are not surprised that something is true

more than likely/happy/ready...

very ...

i'd be hard pressed to

find it very difficult to do something

got out of bed on the wrong side

used to say that somebody is in a bad mood

a sore point

something that makes you upset, angry or embarrassed when somebody mentions it

put your foot in it

accidentally say something that embarrasses or upsets somebody

it serves somebody right

used to say that yiu think somebody deserves something unpleasant that happens to them

not do a stroke of work

not do any work at all

take it/something personally

feel that a failure is your fault, or feel offended by something/somebody

wait for the dust to settle

wait for an unsettled situation to become calm

on the right track

acting in a way that will bring a desired result

on the ropes

having serious problems and likely to fail

in a tight corner

in a difficult situation

playing her cards close to her chest

keep her plans or ideas secret

he's got something up his sleeve

has a plan or idea he will keep secret until needed

strike while the iron is hot

make use of an opportunity immediately

have a chip on your shoulder

be sensitive about or feel offended by something, as a result of something that happened in your past

to put something down

write something down/killing a sick animal with a drug

put yourself/somebody down

critize yourself or somebody else in front of others

put somebody/somebody's name down for something

write somebody's name on a list so they can participate in something

put something down to something

believe something is caused by something

put somebody up to something

encourage or pesuade somebody to do something wrong or stupid

talk somebody into/out of doing something

persuade somebody to do/not to do something

count on somebody to do something

trust somebody to do something

work out + wh clause

find the answer to something

breakout

an escape from prison by a group (v: break out of something)

getaway

an escape or quick departure from the scene of a crime, a short holiday (v: to get away)

climbdown

an act of admitting that you were wrong (v: to climb down)

cover-up

a course of action taken to hide a mistake or illegal activity from the public (v: to cover something up)

intake

an act of taking in something, especially breath or food (v: to take something in)

summing-up

a legal statement made by a judge, magistrate, lawyer which gives a summary of the evidence in a court (v: to sum up)

outbreak

a sudden start of violence, war, disease, ... (v: to break out)

backup

extra help or support you can get if necessary (v: to back something/somebody up)

passer-by

someone who is walking past something by chance (v: to pass by somebody/something)

bystander

someone who watches what is happening (v: to stand by something/somebody)

throwaway

intended to be thrown away after use (v: to throw something away)

breakaway

having separated from a larger group/part (v: to break away from something/somebody)

knockout

teams continue competing until there is only one team left (v: to knock somebody out of something)

off-putting

strange or unpleasant (v: to put somebody off)

ongoing

continuing to exist or develop (v: to go on)

outspoken

saying what you think, even when it upsets people (v: to speak out against something/somebody)

watered down

weaker and less powerful than it was originally (v: to water something down)

worn out

very tired because they have been working hard, too old/damaged to be used (v: to wear something/somebody out)

leftover

remaining after you have finished or used what you want or need (v: to be left over from something)

like/love the sound of your own voice

talk too much, usually without listening to other people

not suffer fools gladly

not be polite or patient with people you think are less intelligent than you

(as) though as old boots

very strong and able to bear pain, criticism, ... without complaining

on the surface

when you consider obvious things (opp: deep down)

play it cool

hide your feelings so that you appear calm and controlled

under somebody's tumb

controlled or influenced by somebody

have a quick temper

become angry easily and often

(as) thick as two short planks

very stupid

(as) mad as a hatter

be mad/crazy

to be mad keen on somebody

liking somebody very much

hopping mad

very angry

a creature of habit

a person who likes to do the same thing at the same time on a regular basis

a live wire

a person who is lively and full of energy and enthusiasm

a bright spark

1) a lively and intelligent person

2) a person who has done something stupid

a soft touch

a person from whom you can easily get money because they are kind or easy to deceive

an unknown quantity

a person or thing whose qualities and abilities are yet not known

the salt of the earth

a good, reliable, honest person

the scum of the earth

a person or group considered to be extremely unpleasant or evil

nobody's fool

a person who is too clever to be tricked by other people

a nasty piece of work

a person who is unpleasant, unkind, dishonest

a cold fish

a person who shows little emotion or seems unfriendly

a man/woman of his/her world

a person who always does what he/she has promised to do

have somebody's best interests at heart

care about somebody and want to improve their situation

go out of your way (to do something)

do something that you do not have to do and that involves making a special effort to help or please someone

go to great lengths to do something

try in a determined way to achieve something

hold something together

keep a group of people united in difficult circumstances

be there for somebody

be available and supportive if somebody wants to talk to you or needs your help

a shoulder to cry on

a person who gives you sympathy

turn to somebody/something

go to somebody/something for help or advice

set somebody apart (from somebody)

make somebody different from or better than others

give/lend somebody a helping hand

help somebody

thank your lucky stars

feel very grateful and lucky about something

have things/it (all) your own way

get or do what you want, even when other people want something different

put your foot down

use your authority to stop somebody doing something

sure of yourself

very confident

stop at nothing

do anything to get what you want, without caring about its effect on others

walk all over somebody

treat somebody badly by always doing what you want to do

push somebody around

give somebody orders in a rude or unpleasant way

pick on somebody

treat somebody unfairly by blaiming or critizing them

stick up for somebody/yourself

support or defend somebody/yourself

not lift a finger (to do something)

do nothing to help somebody

take it for granted (that...)

expect something to happen because it usually does

twist somebody around your little finger

persuade them to do anything you want

get round somebody

persuading someone by being nice to them

win somebody over

to persuade someone to support you or agree with you, often when they were opposed to you before

be made for each other

be perfect partners

tie the knot

get married

get hitched

get married

meet somebody halfway

reach agreement with somebody by giving them part of what they want

drive a wedge between people

make the relationship between two people or groups suffer

clear the air

improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about it