VOC TEST 1

 as the crow flies

by the shortest and most direct route

black sheep

a disgraced, disreputable, or disfavored member of a group

cash cow

a project that generates a continuous flow of money

eager beaver

an alert and energetic person

gift horse

a poor-quality present that should be accepted uncritically

go to the dogs

become ruined

high horse

an attitude of arrogant superiority

horse around

play in a rough and careless way

let the cat out of the bag

reveal confidential information or secrets

monkey around

do random, unplanned work or activities; spend time idly

monkey business

mischievous or dishonest behavior

paper tiger

an entity that appears powerful but is actually ineffectual

play possum

to pretend to be dead

rain cats and dogs

rain heavily

rat race

an exhausting routine that leaves no time for relaxation

red herring

something intended to distract attention from the main issue

road hog

a driver who obstructs others

sacred cow

one unreasonably protected from opposition or criticism

scapegoat

someone who is punished for the errors of others

southpaw

a person who is left-handed

squirrel away

save up, as for future use

take the bull by the horns

face a difficulty and grapple with it without avoiding it

top dog

a person who is in charge

underdog

one who is at a disadvantage and expected to lose

wolf down

eat quickly

chew the fat

talk socially without exchanging too much information

couch potato

an idler who spends much time on a couch

forbidden fruit

anything that is tempting but dangerous

good egg

(old-fashioned slang) a good person

in a nutshell

summed up briefly

half-baked

foolish; not fully thought out

piece of cake

any undertaking that is easy to do

on the table

able to be negotiated or arranged by compromise

gold standard

a model or perfect example of excellence

silver lining

a positive aspect of a difficult situation

promised land

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

rain check

a promise that an offer will be renewed in the future

jet set

a group of rich, fashionable people who travel for pleasure

pet peeve

an annoyance about which someone frequently complains

rhetorical question

an inquiry that is not supposed to be answered

rite of passage

a ritual performed when an individual changes status

last resort

something done or used only when nothing else works

last straw

an annoyance that stretches your patience beyond its limit

doublespeak

language that conceals or misrepresents the truth

windbag

a person who talks a great deal about uninteresting topics

gutsy

showing courage and determination in the face of difficulty

exhilaration

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

resilience

ability of a material to return to its original shape

willy-nilly

in a random manner

morph

cause to change shape in a computer animation

billowing

characterized by great swelling waves or surges

searing

extremely hot

trepidation

a feeling of alarm or dread

fragile

easily broken or damaged or destroyed

lunge

the act of moving forward suddenly

permeate

spread or diffuse through

abject

of the most contemptible kind

lamented

mourned or grieved for

clamber

climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

steep

having a sharp inclination

ultimately

as the end result of a succession or process

gratification

the act or an instance of satisfying

confidence

belief in yourself and your abilities

caution

judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger

deference

courteous regard for people's feelings

grope

feel about uncertainly or blindly

anticipation

the act of predicting, as by reasoning about the future

attribute

a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity

tension

the action of stretching something tight

hazard

an unpredictable phenomenon that causes a certain result

recruit

cause to assemble or enlist in the military

timid

showing fear and lack of courage

mature

having reached full natural growth or development

primary

of first rank or importance or value

absorb

take in a liquid

bare bones

(plural) the most basic facts or elements

blue blood

a member of the aristocracy or upper class

body and soul

with complete faith

cold feet

timidity preventing the continuation of a course of action

cold shoulder

a refusal to recognize someone you know

cold-blooded

without regret, sympathy, or human feeling

in cold blood

in an insensitive, unemotional manner

half-hearted

feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm

neck and neck

even or close in a race or competition or comparison

pain in the neck

something or someone that causes trouble

skin and bones

a person who is unusually thin and scrawny

yellow-bellied

easily frightened

mealymouthed

hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly

at first hand

from the original source; directly

single-handed

unsupported by other people

thick-skinned

insensitive to criticism

thin-skinned

quick to take offense

secondhand

by indirect means

eye-popping

amazingly impressive

sound bite

a very short speech; usually on radio or television

carte blanche

complete freedom or authority to act

faux pas

a socially awkward or tactless act

prima donna

a vain and temperamental person

quid pro quo

something given in exchange for something else

status quo

the existing state of affairs