Oxford Word Skills, Idioms & Phrasal verbs, Advanced by Ruth Gairns & StuartRedman (complete set)

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

play it cool

to behave in a calm way because you do not want someone to know that you are really nervous, angry etc:

She would not show him how upset she was. It was always smarter to play it cool.

be under somebody's thumb

to be so strongly influenced by someone that they control you completely:

He was still under his father's thumb.

tie the knot

get married

SYN get hitched

meet sb halfway

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

you have to meet your partner halfway- compromise is everything

put pressure on sb (to do sth)

...

drive a wedge between you

to make the relationship between two people or groups worse:

Their divorce has driven a wedge between the two families.

have a quick temper

to get angry very easily

as thick as two short planks

=very stupid

as tough as old boots

=very tough He's as tough as nails - a good man to have on the team

as mad as a hatter

completely crazy

a creature of habit

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

My sister goes to bed at exactly 10:30 every night. She's a creature of habit.

Live wire

informal someone who is very active and has a lot of energy

most of the group are very quiet-we need a live wire like Jez to get us talking.

bright spark

someone who says or does something that they think is intelligent but is really wrong or stupid:

Some bright spark thought the building was on fire and called the fire brigade.

a soft touch

(inf) someone from whom you can easily get what you want, because they are kind or easy to deceive

be an unknown quantity

if someone or something is an unknown quantity, you do not know what their abilities are or how they are likely to behave

the salt of the earth

someone who is ordinary but good and honest

the scum of the earth

plural] informal nasty unpleasant people:

Scum like that should be locked away!

People like that are the scum of the earth.

be no/ nobody's fool

to be difficult to trick or deceive, because you have a lot of experience and knowledge about something:

Katherine was nobody's fool when it came to money.

a nasty piece of work

someone who is dishonest, violent, or likely to cause trouble

a cold fish

an unfriendly person who seems to have no strong feelings

A man/woman of his/her word

a man or woman who does what they have promised to do)

have sb's (best) interest at heart

=care about someone and want to do what is best for them)

He has your best interests at heart, you know.

We've got to balance economic interests and environmental interests.

go out of your way to do sth

to do something with more effort than is usual or expected:

She went out of her way to make me feel welcome.

go to great lengths to do sth

to try very hard or to do whatever is necessary to achieve something that is important to you:

He went to great lengths to keep their name out of the papers.

Bella would go to any lengths to fulfil her ambition.

hold sth together

keep a group of people, a marriage, etc. United in difficult circumstances.

Against all expectations, the coalition held together well.

In those days the Church held the community together.

be there for sb

to be always ready to help someone when they need help:

That's what I loved about my father - he was always there for me.

a shoulder to cry on

someone who gives you sympathy:

Ben is always there when I need a shoulder to cry on.

turn to sb/sth

to try to get help, advice, or sympathy from someone:

I don't know who to turn to.

The Namibian government turned to South Africa for help.

set sb apart (from sb)

if a quality sets someone or something apart, it makes them different from or better than other people or things:

[+ from]

Man's ability to reason sets him apart from other animals.

give/lend sb a helping hand

help save

She is always giving sb or other a helping hand.

thank your lucky stars

[spoken] used to tell someone that they are very lucky, especially because they have avoided an unpleasant or dangerous situation

You should thank your lucky stars I got here when I did

have things / it (all) your own way

have/ get your own way

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

put your foot down

a)INSIST

to say very firmly that someone must do something or must stop doing something:

You'll just have to put your foot down and tell him he can't stay out on school nights.

b)informal

MOTOR VEHICLES

to make a car go faster

sure of yourself

confident in your own abilities and opinions, sometimes in a way that annoys other people:

Kids nowadays seem very sure of themselves.

will/ would stop at nothing (to do something)

to be ready to do anything to achieve something that you want to achieve:

We will stop at nothing to save our child.

walk all over sb

treat sb badly by always doing what you want to do

push sb around

give sb orders in a rude or unpleasant way

pick on sb/sth

to behave in an unfair way to someone, for example by blaming them or criticizing them unfairly:

Why don't you pick on someone else for a change?

stick up for sb/yourself

to defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them:

You're supposed to be sticking up for me!

stick up for yourself

She's always known how to stick up for herself.

not lift a finger (to do sth)

to do nothing to help:

He never lifted a finger to help me with the kids.

take it for granted

to believe that something is true without making sure:

He just took it for granted that he would pass the exam.

twist sb round your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything that you want:

Ed could wrap his mother around his little finger.

get round sb

to gently persuade someone to do what you want by being nice to them:

I know how to get round Chris.

win sb over

to get someone's support or friendship by persuading them or being nice to them:

We'll be working hard over the next ten days to win over the undecided voters.

be made for each other

be perfect partners

drive a wedge between somebody

to make the relationship between two people or groups worse

Their divorce has driven a wedge between the two families.

meet sb halfway

to do some of the things that someone wants, in order to reach an agreement with them

clear the air

to do something to end an argument or bad situation, for example discuss a problem calmly

walk away

1to leave a bad or difficult situation, instead of trying to make it betterwalk away from

You can't just walk away from 15 years of marriage

When the business started to have problems, it was very tempting to walk away.

2to come out of an accident or very bad situation without being harmed

Miraculously, both drivers walked away without a scratch

heat

strong feelings, especially anger or excitement Reconciliation services can take the heat out of =reduce the anger in the dispute.

in the heat of something

Quick decisions had to be made in the heat of the negotiations.

In the heat of the moment =when feelings were very strong Nick threatened to resign

store sth up

1to put things away and keep them until you need themstore something away up

Squirrels are storing up nuts for the winter.

Store the beans in an airtight jar.

2to keep facts or information in your brain or a computer

Standard letters can be stored on floppy discs.

3store up trouble problems etc

to behave in a way that will cause trouble for you later

Smokers may be storing up disease for their unborn children.

live in each other's pocket

( Br E) [informal]

if two people are in each other's pockets, they are together too much

go through a bad /sticky patch

a bad difficult sticky rough patch informala period of time when you are having a lot of difficulty

Gemma's going through a bad patch right now

do as you please

be able to do whatever you like

SYN please yourself

answer to sb (for sth)

to give an explanation to someone, especially about something that you have done wrong Phipps answers to me and me alone.

mess sb around

to cause a lot of problems for someone, especially by changing your mind often and not being completely honest Don't mess me around - I want the money you promised me

finish with sb

to end a romantic or sexual relationship with someone So I told him I wanted to finish with him

something doesn't bear thinking about

used to say that something is so upsetting or shocking that you prefer not to think about it

The long-term consequences of a nuclear leak don't bear thinking about

hold sb back

to prevent someone or something from making progress

They felt the British economy was being held back by excessive government controls

Your own flesh and blood

someone who is part of your family

How can he treat his own flesh and blood that way

there is no love lost between somebody and somebody

if there is no love lost between two people, they dislike each other

close ranks

if people close ranks, they join together to protect each other, especially because their group, organization etc is being criticized

turn on sb

to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words:

Peter turned on Rae and screamed, 'Get out of my sight!'

as miserable as sin

very miserable and unhappy

account for sth

to be the reason why something happens

SYN explain

Recent pressure at work may account for his behavior.

take sb for granted

to expect that someone or something will always be there when you need them and never think how important or useful they are:

Bridget was careful not to take him for granted.

on top of somebody

if something dangerous or threatening is on top of you, it is very near you:

The truck was almost on top of us.

result in sth

to make something happen

SYN cause

an accident that resulted in the death of two passengers

put sb on a pedestal

to admire someone so much that you treat them or talk about them as though they are perfect:

Women are both put on a pedestal and treated like second-class citizens.

get away with murder

to not be punished for doing something wrong:

Some of those children get away with murder!

squeeze sb out

to do something so that someone or something is no longer included or able to continue:

If budgets are cut, vital research may be squeezed out.

starve sb/sth of sth

to not give something that is needed:

The schools are starved of funding.

The poor kid's just starved for attention.

back sth up

to say or show that what someone is saying is true:

Jane would back me up if she were here.

There's no evidence to back up his accusations.

These theories have not been backed up by research.

leave sb out

to not include someone or something:

She outlined the case to him, being careful not to leave anything out.

leave somebody/ something out of something

Kidd has been left out of the team.

distance yourself from sth

to say that you are not involved with someone or something, especially to avoid being connected with them:

The UNO has firmly distanced itself from the anti-government movement.

make a point of doing sth

to do something deliberately, even when it involves making a special effort

He made a point of spending Saturdays with his children.

I always make a point of being early.

lavish sth on sb

to give someone or something a lot of love, praise, money etc:

lavish something on/ upon somebody

He lavished attention on her.

lavish somebody with something

Hug your children and lavish them with love.

emotional roller coaster

a situation that changes often:

Their relationship was an emotional roller coaster.

for no apparent reason

without an obvious cause

He left suddenly, for no apparent reason.

at the end of your tether

to be so worried, tired etc that you feel you can no longer deal with a difficult or upsetting situation

cry your eyes out

be extremely sad and cry a lot)

Lucy read the letter and cried her eyes out.

wind sb up

to deliberately say or do something that will annoy or worry someone, as a joke

The slightest things wind her up.

go off the deep end

to become angry suddenly and violently, usually when there is not a good reason

laugh/ shout/ scream etc your head off

to laugh, shout etc very loudly:

Fans were screaming their heads off.

stir sth up

to deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people John was always stirring up trouble in class.

Dave's just trying to stir things up because he's jealous

take sides

to choose to support one person or group in an argument, and oppose the other one

that's easier said than done

used to say that something would be very difficult to do:

Finding the perfect house was easier said than done.

be dying for something/ to do something spoken

to want something very much:

I'm dying for a cup of tea.

She was dying to ask where he'd got it.

I'm dying to see what it is.

have a go at sb

to criticize someone:

You're always having a go.

go at

Will you stop having a go at me!

have a go at somebody for/ about something

Mum had a go at me for not doing my homework.

rub sb up the wrong way

to annoy someone by the things you say or do, usually without intending to

keep/ hold somebody/ something in check

keep someone or something under control:

You must learn to keep your emotions in check.

attempts to keep global warming in check

He made an effort to hold himself in check.

pour your heart out(to sb)

tell someone all your feelings, including your most secret ones

roll your sleeve up

to start doing a job even though it is difficult or you do not want to do it:

It's time to roll up our sleeves and get some work done on the basics.

deal sth out

to decide what kind of punishment someone will get

judge Wallis dealt out tough penalties for people driving without a license.

stick it out

to continue doing something that is difficult, painful, or boring:

It wasn't a happy period of his life, but he stuck it out.

prop sth up

to help an economy, industry, or government so that it can continue to exist, especially by giving money:

The government introduced measures to prop up the stock market.

chuck

1to throw something in a careless or relaxed way:

chuck something on/ out of/ into etc something

Tania chucked her bag down on the sofa.

I chucked a few things into a suitcase and left.

chuck somebody something

Chuck me that pen, would you?

2to throw something away because you do not want it any more:

I think I might have chucked it by mistake.

on the breadline

a very low level of income that allows people to eat but not have any extra things:

a family living on the breadline