Oxford Idioms Lesson 2
The acceptable face of …
Meaning: the socially approved expression of something otherwise unacceptable
Examples:
“National security is the acceptable face of Islamophobia.”
“Socialism is the acceptable face of Communism.”
“Conservatism is the acceptable face of Fascism.”
accident waiting to happen
Meaning: something so unsafe an accident is almost inevitable
Examples:
“Leaving the stove unattended is an accident waiting to happen.”“Leaving the door unlocked in America is a crime waiting to happen.”
good/bad account of
Meaning: make a good/bad impression
Examples:
“The team lost, but we made a good account of ourselves.”
“You made a pretty poor account of yourself at the interview.”
There is no accounting for taste
Meaning: There is no way to explain some people’s taste.
Ace up one’s sleeve
Meaning: A last, secret strategy to win. From way to cheat at cards.
Examples:
“This witness is the prosecutions ace up the sleeve.”
“The atomic bomb was Truman’s ace up his sleeve.”