PNJA: Reading and Writing_test 2

(be) on an even keel – working or progressing steadily, to regularise something

(know something) off-hand – (know something) without asking or looking it up

a bit of a dark horse – person with hidden abilities

a night owl – person who enjoys staying up late

add insults to injury – make things even worse

after hours – outside regular business hours

as good as – practically, very nearly

at large – free, not caught

be beside oneself – to be extremely emotional, often with anger, joy, or grief

be exact double of/be the perfect image of somebody – look exactly like somebody

be in for the high jump – be about to be punished

be in jeopardy – be in danger

be in the know – be well-informed

be in two minds about something – not able to decide what to do

be overlooked for – to not be chosen or considered for something, despite being a potential candidate

be prone to – have a tendency or inclination toward something, often negative

be put off by something – to feel discouraged or repelled by something

be second to none – be the best

be sound asleep – sleep deeply

be subject to – be affected by or exposed to a particular condition, rule, or influence

be the life and soul of something –  be the most lively and amusing person present somewhere

be to blame for something – be responsible for a mistake or a negative outcome

beat somebody at their own game – to defeat/do better than somebody in an activity considered their strength

before one can say Jack Robinson – extremely quickly

break the ice – ease the tension when one first meets people

bring to one’s knees – destroy/humble

bury one’s head in the sand – avoid or ignore reality/responsibility

catch a glimpse of somebody – to see someone briefly or only for a moment

come to a head – reach a critical point

come to conclusion – reach a decision or judgment after considering the evidence or situation

come to grief – something is unsuccessful

come under the hammer – something is sold at auction

come/get to grips with – consider seriously and start to take action

cross one’s mind – occur to one/have a sudden idea

cry over spilt milk – grieve over something that can’t be put right

dig one’s own grave – cause one’s own failure

do nothing but moon about – spend time aimlessly or absentmindedly, often because of being in love or feeling melancholic

do somebody/something justice – reproduce somebody/something accurately and show how good they are

do something at the drop of a hat – be willing/happy to do something; do something quickly

drop somebody a line – send somebody a letter

every nook and cranny – everywhere

express concern about something – show worry or anxiety about a situation           

feel down in the mouth – feel discouraged/depressed

fine kettle of fish – confused state of affairs

fit like a glove – fit perfectly

flog a dead horse – waste time doing something useless

fly off the handle – lose your temper very suddenly

for good – permanently

from/since time immemorial – for a long time/throughout history

gain ground – make progress/become more popular

get a move on – hurry up

get off the ground – begin or start functioning

get on one’s nerves – irritate/annoy somebody

get out of hand – become out of control

get the hang of it – get in the habit of doing something

gild the lily – spoil something beautiful by additions

give somebody a free hand – allow somebody to do as they wish

give somebody one’s assurance – make a promise or guarantee to someone to provide confidence

give somebody one’s word – to make a sincere promise to someone

give the game away – reveal a secret or one’s feelings

give the green light to something/ somebody – give permission to proceed with something

go to any lengths – do anything necessary to get something you want

go to one’s head – to make someone overly proud, arrogant, or self-important

grey matter – brains, intelligence

grind to a halt – slowly stop/come to an end

hand on glove with somebody – be in very close contact with somebody

hand over fist – acquire/lose a lot of money very quickly

have a go at doing something – to attempt to do something, especially for the first time

have a job – find something difficult to do

have a lot going for you – have a lot of advantages in your favour

have a tendency to – often do or be likely to do something

have an early night – go to bed early

have greater depths to somebody – possess more complexity, intelligence, or emotional capacity than is immediately apparent

have kittens – be nervous/anxious about something

have many irons in the fire – to have a lot of plans/possibilities in progress at the same time

have one’s heart in one’s mouth – be extremely anxious about something

have somebody’s hands full – be very busy with something

have time on one’s hands – have free time

have to hand it to somebody – admire somebody and think they deserve praise

have/get itchy feet – have a strong desire to travel

hit the nail on the head – say exactly the right thing

hold one’s horses – wait, be patient

ill at ease – embarrassed, uncomfortable

in a jiffy – quickly

in a nutshell – briefly, in a few words

in the interests of – in order to achieve a certain aim

in the interim – in the meantime

in view of something – considering or taking into account a particular situation or fact

it’s a mystery to somebody – something is puzzling or hard to understand for someone

jog one’s memory – make one remember something

judging by – based on evidence or observation

jump for joy – extremely pleased or happy

keep one’s fingers crossed – hope that something will turn out well

keep oneself to oneself – live quietly, privately

keep out of harm’s way – keep out of danger

keep something under one’s hat – keep something secret

keep up with the Joneses – compete with others in status/material goods

knock somebody dead – impress somebody greatly

lend somebody a hand – give help to somebody

let your hair down – relax and enjoy yourself

like the back of one’s hand – be very familiar with something

lose heart – become discouraged

lose one’s nerve – lose courage

make a go of something – have some success

make a hash of something – do something very badly

make a killing – have a sudden, great success/profit

make a name for oneself – become famous/respected for something

make hay while the sun shines – take advantage of favourable circumstances

make headway – make progress

make inroads into – affect something negatively or destructively

make light of – treat something as unimportant

make money hand over fist – to earn a lot of money very quickly and easily

make no mention of something – to deliberately avoid talking about or referencing a particular topic

make one’s getaway – escape

make use of one’s potential – fully utilize one's abilities or talents

make/earn a living – earn money

meet (somebody) halfway – come to an agreement/compromise

meet with failure – not succeed in achieving something

moon around – look miserable

move the goalposts – change the rules or demands of a situation

not to make head nor tail of something – not to understand something at all

now and then – occasionally/not often but from time to time

null and void – invalid/not legally binding

off the cuff – without preparation

on a knife-edge – situation where nobody knows what will happen next/extremely exciting

on the level – honest/sincere

once in a blue moon – very rarely

pull one’s leg – tease or trick somebody

put one’s name forward – volunteer or nominate oneself for a position, task, or role

put words into one’s mouth – pretend that somebody had said something that they hadn’t actually said

reserve judgement on somebody/ something – postpone giving an opinion before more is known

rough justice – unfair or unjust treatment

safe in the knowledge – confidently (because a prior condition has been met)

shed light upon – give new/further information

sleep like a log – be sound asleep

slip one’s mind – forget about something

something comes in handy – be very useful/practical

stew in one’s own juice – suffer the consequences of one’s own actions

stick to one’s guns – keep to your opinion

straight from the horse’s mouth – from the most direct source

strike gold – come across something useful

strike/hit home – (of situation) be accepted as real even though it is painful/achieve the intended effect

suffer a defeat – lose in a competition, battle, or challenge

take heart from something – feel encouraged by or optimistic about something

take issue with somebody – disagree and start arguing

take root – become established, either literally (as in plants) or figuratively (as in ideas or traditions)

take something to heart – take personally/be influenced by

take the initiative – be the first person to act

take to one’s heels – run away

take to something – begin to like or enjoy something, or to start doing it regularly

tell the difference between – distinguish or identify the contrast between two things

the ins and outs – the details of an activity

the lions- share – the biggest part/portion

the tip of the iceberg – small evident part of a much larger concealed situation

throw down the gauntlet – challenge somebody

tie oneself in knots – get confused

to all intents and purposes – practically/in effect

to one’s heart’s content – (do) as much or as often as one wants

turn over a new leaf – make a new start

undergone a change – have experienced a transformation or alteration

up for grabs – available to those who are interested

with a view to doing something – with the intention or hope of doing something

work a miracle – make something almost impossible happen

series on a specific topic, often unique or noteworthy

aftermath – the consequences or results of an event, especially a negative one

agenda – a list of items to be discussed or acted upon, often at a meeting

at disadvantage – in a less favourable or less advantageous position

at ease – relaxed and comfortable

at short notice – with little warning or time for preparation

be mightier – to be stronger or more powerful than something else

be well versed – to have a deep understanding or a lot of knowledge in a particular subject

bereaved – referring to those who have lost a loved one, particularly through death

broadsheet – a larger-format newspaper that typically covers more serious, in-depth news and analysis

by the vested interest – refers to being influenced or controlled by individuals or groups who have a personal stake in the outcome

cajoling – persuading someone through flattery or gentle urging

canon – a collection of works, rules, or standards that are considered official or authoritative

censorship – the suppression or restriction of content by authorities to control information

circulation figures – the number of copies of a publication distributed or sold, used to measure its reach

come up to scratch – to meet the required standard or expectation

commercial break – the interruption of a television or radio program for advertisements

confrontation – a hostile or challenging encounter between opposing parties

correspondent – a journalist who reports from a specific location or on a particular subject

couch potato – a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television, often inactively

crumble down – to fall apart or deteriorate, often in a literal or metaphorical sense

demise – the end or death of something, especially a person, business, or institution

detractor – a person who criticizes or belittles something or someone

directional – providing guidance or instruction about the direction of something, often related to goals or plans

directional message – a message that provides guidance, direction, or clarity on a specific subject or issue

disbelieving eyes – eyes showing disbelief, surprise, or doubt about something

discourteous – showing a lack of respect or consideration for others; rude

disposable income – the amount of money a person has left after paying for necessities, which can be used for non-essential purchases

do away with – to dispose of; to get rid of or abolish something

do down – to criticise

do out – to decorate

do out of – to deprive of

do over – to burgle; to break into and thoroughly search or damage

do without – to manage despite not having; to cope or continue without something

done for – (to be) doomed; to be in serious trouble or beyond hope

drag on – proceed slowly, in a long and boring way

drive at – to allude to; to imply or try to convey something indirectly

drive away – to discourage

drive off – to repel; to force someone or something to leave

drive out of – to force to disappear; to push someone or something out of a place or position

editorial – an article written by the editor or editorial team expressing the newspaper’s opinion on a current issue

egg somebody on – encourage somebody to do something foolish/dangerous

evasive – avoiding giving a clear or direct answer

extensive/full coverage – comprehensive reporting or broadcasting of a particular event, providing all relevant details

extolling one’s virtues – praising or highlighting someone's positive qualities or achievements

fall back on something – to use something, especially a form of financial support, when other things have failed

fall behind with something – progress too slowly, not keep up to a schedule

follow things through – be persistent in completing all the stages necessary to achieve something or to get to the end of a task

frog-march – to force someone to walk forward by holding their arms behind their back

get by – to manage or survive, especially in difficult circumstances

get something fitted out – buy new equipment

give an added gloss – to improve or embellish something, often making it appear better than it actually is

gossip column – a section in a newspaper or magazine that shares rumours and personal details about celebrities and public figures

gripping drama – highly engaging and emotionally compelling story

gritty drama – refers to a realistic, often raw and hard-hitting portrayal of life or events

grump – to complain or express dissatisfaction in a grumpy or bad-tempered way

harboured – to keep a thought or feeling, often negative, in one’s mind secretly

have a monopoly on – to have exclusive control or ownership over something, usually a market or resource

ill-inspired – poorly planned or thought out

immense – very large in size, amount, or degree; vast

in agreement – sharing the same opinion or view

in confidence – privately or secretly, without sharing with others

in place of – as a substitute for or instead of

in progress – currently happening or ongoing

in some respects – in certain ways or aspects

in the air – uncertain or undecided; widely felt or sensed

in the midst of something – being in the middle of a particular activity, situation, or event

inaugural – referring to the first event or occurrence in a series

inception – the beginning or starting point of something

infancy – the very early stage of something’s development, when it is still growing or forming

innocuous – harmless or not likely to cause any damage or offense

land an apprenticeship/job – to successfully secure or obtain an apprenticeship or job

lash out – to suddenly attack or criticize someone or something in an angry or hostile manner

leading edge over – to have a competitive advantage or superior position compared to others

legal regulation – a law or rule that governs behaviour or actions, typically enforced by authorities

live commentary – real-time narration or reporting on an event as it happens

local press – focuses on news and events specific to a particular area or community

marketing landscape – the overall environment or structure of marketing strategies, trends, and activities within a given market

media coverage – the reporting and broadcasting of news and events by various media outlets

obituaries – notices of people’s deaths, often including brief biographies and details about their lives

outlandish – very unusual or bizarre, often in a way that attracts attention

outwit – to outsmart or trick someone, often by being more clever

overheat – to become too hot, often resulting in damage or malfunction

overwhelmed – to be emotionally or mentally exhausted, or to be unable to cope with a large amount of something

perception – the way in which something is understood, interpreted, or regarded by someone

platitude – a statement that is overused and lacks originality, often said without much thought

popular press – refers to widely read newspapers or magazines aimed at the general public, often featuring lighter content

prefect – a student appointed to a position of authority in a school, often responsible for helping maintain discipline

press officer – a person responsible for managing communications between an organization and the media

prime time – the time of day when television or radio audiences are at their largest, usually in the evening

quality press – newspapers or media outlets known for serious, in-depth journalism, as opposed to tabloids

readership – the total number of people who read a particular newspaper, magazine, or publication

recycled – refers to materials or products that have been processed and reused instead of being discarded

regular columnist – a journalist who writes a recurring article or opinion piece in a newspaper or magazine

relaunch – to introduce something again, often with changes or updates

running commentary – continuous narration or updates during an event

satellite dish – a device used to receive television signals transmitted via satellite

scathing – harshly critical or severely critical in manner

scoop someone – to beat someone to an important story or piece of information, often in the context of journalism

scrub from something – to remove or eliminate something from a list, record, or context

something worth its salt – something or someone that is valuable or deserving of respect because of their abilities or qualities

spool – to move data and store it for a short time, for example on a disk, especially before it is printed

spur on – to encourage or motivate someone to take action

stand out – to be noticeably different or exceptional in a way that attracts attention

sully (v) – to tarnish, soil, or make something impure, often in terms of reputation, or integrity

supplement – an additional section or magazine included with a newspaper, often focused on specific topics like lifestyle or health

tabloid newspapers – newspapers that focus on sensational, celebrity, or entertainment news, often with a smaller page size and bold headlines

to be a long way off – to be far in time or distance from the present moment or from a goal

to be adhered – to be followed or stuck to, often in the context of rules, guidelines, or principles

to be beamed into – to be transmitted, often via television or media, into a specific location or audience

to be stilted – to be unnatural, stiff, or overly formal in manner or speech

to be usurped by – to be taken over, replaced, or overtaken by someone or something else

to die down – become less intense

to produce a long cane – refers to bringing out a long, thin stick, often associated with corporal punishment in schools

traitor – someone who betrays their country, group, or trust

TV listings – a schedule of television programs showing what is being broadcast on various channels and at what times

underground – hidden, secret, or beneath the surface; a subway system

underpaid – receiving less pay than one deserves or compared to the value of the work performed

undue influence – improper or excessive influence or pressure exerted on someone, often in a manipulative or unfair way

unfold before one’s eyes – to gradually reveal or develop, often in a way that is observed with increasing understanding or surprise

weather man/girl – a person who presents the weather forecast on television or radio

with hindsight – understanding a situation or event after it has happened, often with more knowledge or clarity

word-of-mouth – information passed from person to person through casual conversation, often influencing decisions or opinions