11-15 Idioms Flashcards

where there is a will, there is a way

if we really want to achieve something, we can

nothing ventured, nothing gained

you need to take risks to achieve something

every cloud has a silver lining

there is something good in every bad situation

variety is the spice of life

change makes life interesting

necessity is the mother of invention

if people really need to do something, they will find a way to do it

all’s fair in love and war

all behaviour is acceptable in extreme situations, especially in romantic situations and competitions

it never rains but it pours

problems always happen together

it takes two to tango

two people are equally responsible

rome wasn’t built in a day

it takes a long time to do important things properly

better safe than sorry

it is better not to take risks, even if it seems boring or hard work

no pain no gain

there must be some suffering in order to succeed

first come, first served

the first to arrive will get something

there are plenty more fish in the sea

there are plenty more people or possibilities. often used to cheer up someone who has found one person or opportunity unsuccessful

look on the bright side

try to see something good in a bad situation

it’s easy to be wise after the event / hindsight is a wonderful thing

when you know what happens next, it's easy to say what you or others should have done

it’s not over until the fat lady sings

you cannot be sure what will happen until the very end of something, often a sports event

enough is as good as a feast

you shouldn't have more of something than you need, e.g. food

ignorance is bliss

you may be happier sometimes when you do not know all the facts about a situation

you can lead a horse to water (but you can’t make it drink)

you can give someone the opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to do it

truth will out

the truth will always become known

get your skates on

hurry up

i’ll believe it when i see it

i’m doubtful that it will happen

mum’s the word

i promise not to tell a secret

good riddance

i’m happy something or someone has gone

take it easy

calm down and relax

fair’s fair

their behaviour is reasonable

so far, so good

things are going well up to this point

give me a break

stop criticising me

ad hoc

not planned but arranged or done when needed

ad infinitum

without end, forever

compos mentis

in control of one’s actions, mentally healthy

de facto

existing but not officially agreed

non sequitur

a statement which does not seem to be connected with what was said before

status quo

the present situation

au fait with

fully knowledgeable about

bete noire

what the speaker hates most

c’est la vie

you say this when something happens that you do not like but which you have to accept

creme de la creme

very best

a fait accompli

a decision that has been made or a completed action that cannot be changed

laissez-faire

desire not to control

plus ca change

times change, but some things stay the same

on the rocks

in serious difficulty

give sth a wide berth

avoid

cut and run

avoid a difficult situation by leaving suddenly

batten down the hatches

get ready for a difficult situation by preparing in every way possible

run a tight ship

control a business or organisation firmly and effectively

go by the board

to be abandoned

weather the storm

survive difficult times

make good headway

make good progress

on the offing

likely to happen soon

to be taken aback

to be very surprised

to be left high and dry

put in a difficult situation which they could not improve

take the wind out of sb’s sail

make sb feel less confident, by saying or doing something unexpected

in the wake of sb/sth | in sb/sth’s wake

following closely behind

all hands on deck

everyone must help

any port in a storm

you must accept any help you're offered when you're in a difficult situation

call to arms

a call to prepare for confrontation

drop a bombshell

to tell someone an unexpected and often unpleasant piece of news

beat a retreat

withdraw quickly, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant

on the warpath

angry and ready or eager for confrontation

shell-shocked

extremely tired and nervous or frightened, especially after an unpleasant and unexpected event, or extremely surprised

come out fighting

to react to something or begin something in a strong, forceful way

shoot yourself in the foot

unintentionally do or say something foolish which makes your situation worse

shoot sb down in flames

immediately criticize one’s idea and refuse to accept it

hang/hold fire

delay making a decision

a fighting chance

a small but real possibility

a flash in the pan

something that happened only once and was not repeated

a baptism of fire

very difficult first experience of something

run the gauntlet

face a lot of people who are criticising or attacking sb

battle of wills

conflict between two different, strong desires or intentions

join the ranks of

become sb/sth

steal a march on

get an advantage by acting before their rivals do