Destination C1 unit 14 idioms

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Englishhardby peleskamiloslav
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a very small amount that will not have much effect

a drop in the ocean
The donation was just a drop in the ocean compared to the total cost of the project. Her efforts to clean the park felt like a drop in the ocean when the whole city was polluted. Studying for an hour is a drop in the ocean if you want to pass the exa

if a person or business breaks even, they neither make a profit nor lose money
break even
The company needs to sell 1,000 units to break even this quarter. After reviewing the budget, we realized we would break even by the end of the year. She was relieved to find out that her investment would break even after two years.

not reach a particular level or to fail to achieve something you were trying to do
fall short
The team fell short of winning the championship this year. Despite her hard work, she felt she fell short of her parents' expectations. The project fell short of the budget, leading to some unexpected challenges

equal, or into two equal parts
fifty-fifty
We decided to split the pizza fifty-fifty, so each of us gets half. In the game, the prize money will be shared fifty-fifty between the two winners. They agreed to take turns with the chores fifty-fifty to make it fair for everyone.

share the cost of something with someone so that you each pay 50%
go halves
Let's go halves on the pizza so we both pay the same amount. When we go to the movies, do you want to go halves on the tickets? My friend and I decided to go halves on the hotel room for our trip.

used for saying that you cannot choose between two things or actions because they are equal
it's as broad as it's long
When deciding between the two routes, I realized it's as broad as it's long; both will take the same time. Choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream is as broad as it's long; I love them both equally! In this debate, both sides have valid poin

try to be as rich, successful, etc as your neighbours
keep up with the Joneses
After seeing his friends buy new cars, Tom felt he had to keep up with the Joneses and get one too. She always buys the latest gadgets just to keep up with the Joneses. Instead of saving money, they spend it all to keep up with the Joneses in their n

very small, because you were very young
knee-high to a grasshopper
When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I dreamed of becoming a superhero. That puppy is knee-high to a grasshopper; it will grow much bigger! She was knee-high to a grasshopper when she first learned to ride a bike.

obtain money, especially by acting dishonestly
line your pocket(s)
The politician was accused of trying to line his pockets with public funds. She found a way to line her pockets by selling fake tickets to the concert. It's not right to line your pockets at the expense of others.

including every part of a particular thing, situation, place, etc
lock, stock and barrel
When they sold the house, they included the furniture, the garden tools, and the car—lock, stock and barrel. She decided to move to another city, taking her job, her friends, and her hobbies with her, lock, stock and barrel. The company is shutting d

used for saying that two things are equally good or bad
six of one (and) half a dozen of the other
Whether we go to the park or the beach, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. Choosing chocolate or vanilla ice cream is six of one and half a dozen of the other for me. In the end, whether we take the bus or the train, it's six of one and h

large sum/amount
tidy sum/amount
She saved a tidy sum for her vacation. He received a tidy amount for selling his old car. They donated a tidy sum to the local charity.

to agree to share the cost of something, especially a meal
go dutch
After dinner, we decided to go Dutch and split the bill evenly. When we went to the movies, we agreed to go Dutch on the tickets and snacks. It's nice to go Dutch sometimes, so no one feels burdened by the costs.
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