Idioms
Interactive flashcards for learning vocabulary
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get the hang
I finally got the hang of riding my bike without training wheels.
get your head around
It took me a while to get my head around the new software at work.
grey area
Her decision to leave the job was a grey area; she felt it was right but also wrong.
take sth on board
During the meeting, the manager said she would take on board all the feedback from the team.
up to speed
Before the meeting, I need to get up to speed on the latest project updates.
dateline
The dateline helps readers understand the context of the news story.
agony aunt
The agony aunt gave some great tips on how to handle stress at work.
punctuation
I have a dog.
I hate him!
What is that?
I am, inevitable
maternity leave
She is planning to take maternity leave for three months after the baby is born.
grumbling
The children were grumbling about having to do their homework on a sunny day.
sing the blues
After losing the game, the team really started to sing the blues.
wait in the wings
The understudy was waiting in the wings, ready to step in if the lead actor couldn't perform.
kick my heels
I had to kick my heels for an hour before the meeting started.
cat's eye
The jeweler showed me a beautiful cat's eye gemstone that sparkled in the light.
guard rail
The guard rail prevented the car from falling off the cliff.
manhole
The workers opened the manhole to check the sewer system.
speed bump
The car slowed down as it approached the speed bump.
heartthrob
The singer became a heartthrob overnight after his first hit song.
buy a lemon
He was upset when he realized he had bought a lemon that kept breaking down.
for peanuts
I can't believe I worked all weekend for peanuts!
small potatoes
When it comes to the budget, those extra expenses are just small potatoes.
melt in my mouth
The chocolate cake was so rich and creamy, it just melted in my mouth.
walk on eggshells
After their argument, I felt like I had to walk on eggshells around my friend.
have a screw loose
After he started talking to his plants, I thought he might have a screw loose.
off his rocker
After he decided to wear a clown costume to the meeting, everyone thought he was off his rocker.
crybaby
He always acts like a crybaby when he loses a game.
perk up
After a long day, a cup of tea can really help me perk up.
off the top of my head
I can't remember the exact number, but off the top of my head, I think we have about 50 students in the class.
in the loop
I want to make sure everyone is in the loop about the project changes.
cross that bridge
Let's not worry about the exam next month; we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
on the back burner
We decided to put the new marketing campaign on the back burner until we finish the current project.
look the other way
The teacher decided to look the other way when the students were talking during the lesson.
labour of love
Meaning: work that is done out of love, passion, or dedication rather than for financial gain or obligation.
Ex: She spent months restoring the old house as a labour of love.
cut your losses
After realizing the project was failing, the manager decided to cut his losses and move on to a new idea.
enough is enough
After weeks of late nights at work, she finally said, "Enough is enough!
in business
We are in business and ready to serve our customers.
knock it on the head
After discussing the project for hours, we decided to knock it on the head and start fresh next week.
up and running
The new software is finally up and running after the updates.
not do things by halves
When she decided to organize the party, she really did not do things by halves; she planned everything down to the smallest detail.
do my level best
I will do my level best to finish the project on time.
go all out
For her birthday, she decided to go all out and throw a big party with decorations and games.
go the extra mile
When planning the event, we decided to go the extra mile to make it special for everyone.
make a meal out of
She really made a meal out of that small mistake in her presentation.
above board
The company assured us that all their practices are above board.
below the belt
His comment about her family was really below the belt.
lay your cards on the table
Before we make a decision, let's lay our cards on the table and discuss our concerns.
a level playing field
The new rules will create a level playing field for all the teams in the tournament.
to my face
She said that I was lazy to my face, not behind my back.
cover your tracks
After the party, she made sure to clean up and cover her tracks so her parents wouldn't find out.
give the game away
She almost gave the game away when she mentioned the surprise party in front of him.
go through the motions
Even though she was at the meeting, she was just going through the motions and not really paying attention.
on the fiddle
He was caught on the fiddle, stealing money from the company.
white lie
Sometimes, a white lie is better than telling the harsh truth.
have a fit
(blow a fuse)
My mom had a fit when I forgot to do my homework.
at the end of your tether
I had tried every single solution yet none of them worked, i'm at the end of my tether now
jump out of your skin
When the loud thunder struck, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
on edge
He was on edge waiting for the results of the job interview.
shaking like a leaf
She was shaking like a leaf before her big performance.
agree to differ
After discussing their favorite movies, they decided to agree to differ on which one was the best.
cross swords
The two politicians crossed swords during the debate, each trying to prove their point.
give someone a piece of your mind
After the meeting, she decided to give her boss a piece of her mind about the unfair treatment.
a shouting match
For a sec i thought the presidential debate was gonna become a shouting match
charity begins at home
Before volunteering at the shelter, remember that charity begins at home; make sure your family is taken care of first.
like a moth to a flame
She knew he was trouble, but she went to the party anyway, like a moth to a flame.
cry wolf
After he cried wolf so many times, no one believed him when he actually needed help.
go with the flow
Sometimes, it's best to go with the flow and see where life takes you.
red herring
"I need you to cause a red herring"
"Holy shitt, we're all gonna die"
shooting fish in a barrel
Winning the game was like shooting fish in a barrel; the other team didn't stand a chance.
blind as a bat
When it comes to directions, I'm as blind as a bat; I always get lost.
the world is your oyster
After graduating from college, she realized that the world is her oyster and she could travel anywhere she wanted.
go down in flames
After months of preparation, the team's project went down in flames when the presentation failed to impress the judges.
water under the bridge
After their argument, they decided it was just water under the bridge and moved on with their friendship.
ants in your pants
After waiting for the party to start, the kids had ants in their pants and couldn't sit still.
monkey business
The kids were up to some monkey business in the backyard.
as busy as a beaver
During the holiday season, the store employees are as busy as a beaver preparing for the big sales.
throw someone to the wolves
When the team lost the game, the coach threw the players to the wolves by blaming them publicly.
like a deer in headlights
When the teacher asked him a question, he looked like a deer in headlights.
back to the drawing board
After the presentation failed to impress the clients, the team realized it was back to the drawing board.
come up in the world
He worked hard and came up in the world, now he owns a beautiful house.
fall flat on your face
After practicing for weeks, his presentation fell flat on his face when he forgot his main points.
go pear shaped
We thought the picnic would be fun, but it went pear shaped when it started to rain.
work like a charm
I tried the new cleaning spray, and it worked like a charm on the stains.
flog a dead horse
There's no point in discussing that issue again; we're just flogging a dead horse.
gain ground
The team has started to gain ground in the championship after winning three matches in a row.
get to grips
It took me a while to get to grips with the new math concepts.
get your act together
After failing the exam, she realized it was time to get her act together and study harder.
in the pipeline
We have several new products in the pipeline for next year.
on a roll
After winning three games in a row, the team felt like they were on a roll.
put something on hold
I need to put my vacation plans on hold until I finish my project.
lull
There was a lull in the conversation as everyone thought about what to say to the kid to lull him
not have a prayer
If you don't study for the test, you won't have a prayer of passing.
early days
It's still early days for the new project, so we should wait before making any big changes.
long shot
Winning the lottery is a long shot, but I still buy a ticket every week.
on the cards
The weather forecast says rain is on the cards for tomorrow.
on the off chance
He applied for the job on the off chance that they would consider him.
par for the course
Getting a few wrong answers on the test is par for the course when you're learning something new.
not a snowball's chance in hell
He thinks he can win the game without practicing; he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
asking for trouble
He is driving without a seatbelt; he is really asking for trouble.
fly in the ointment
The party was great, but the rain was a fly in the ointment.
not have a leg to stand on
When he tried to explain why he was late, he realized he didn't have a leg to stand on.
in over your head
After taking on too many projects at work, I realized I was in over my head.
an own goal
When she forgot to submit her project, it felt like an own goal in her studies.
stumbling block
The lack of funding was a major stumbling block for the new project.
vicious circle
Meaning: An issue causes another issue, which makes the first one even worse
Ex: Poverty often leads to a vicious circle where families cannot afford education, keeping them in poverty.
the coast is clear
After checking the street, she said, "The coast is clear, we can cross now.
good bet
Investing in education is a good bet for your future.
in safe hands
The children are in safe hands with their experienced babysitter.
take your life in your hands
When you travel alone, you really have to take your life in your hands and be aware of your surroundings.
feel the pinch
After losing his job, John really started to feel the pinch.
have deep pockets
Many companies want to partner with investors who have deep pockets.
on a shoestring
She started her business on a shoestring, using her savings to buy supplies.
out of pocket
I had to pay for my medication out of pocket because my insurance didn't cover it.
rolling in it
After winning the lottery, she is now rolling in it.
small fortune
He saved a small fortune over the years for his dream vacation.
there is no free lunch
When you want to start a business, remember that there is no free lunch; you need to invest time and money.
by the same token
The team worked hard to win the game; by the same token, they deserve to celebrate their victory.
take it with a pinch of salt
When he told me about the new movie, I decided to take it with a pinch of salt since he often exaggerates.
in the same vein
She loves to paint landscapes; in the same vein, her sister enjoys creating nature-inspired sculptures.
moot point
Whether we should have pizza or burgers for lunch is a moot point since the cafeteria is closed today.
throw someone in at the deep end
When I started my new job, my boss threw me in at the deep end by making me lead a meeting on my first day.
take umbrage
She took umbrage at his rude comments during the meeting.
a pyrrhic victory
The team celebrated their win, but it was a pyrrhic victory as they lost their star player to injury.
fly in the face
The new policy flies in the face of our traditional values.
be hoist with your own petard
After trying to cheat on the test, he was caught and ended up failing, proving he was hoist with his own petard.
play second fiddle
In the project, I had to play second fiddle to my boss, who made all the important decisions.
sow the seeds of
Teachers often sow the seeds of curiosity in their students.
By volunteering in the community, we can sow the seeds of change.
He hopes to sow the seeds of friendship during his travels.
scaredy cat
Me myself is just a scaredy cat, afraid of trying anything
be there or be square
We're having a movie night at my house on Friday. Be there or be square!
the finger of suspicion
The detective pointed the finger of suspicion at the man who was seen near the crime scene.
wear your hat on your sleeve
She always wears her heart on her sleeve, so you can tell when she is happy or sad.
tickle
When I feel sad, watching a funny movie can tickle my spirits.
hold a clinic
The local health center is going to hold a clinic for free vaccinations.
not the sharpest tool in the shed
When he forgot his own birthday, I thought he was not the sharpest tool in the shed.
For all i care
If he wants to quit the team, for all I care, it's his choice.
that takes the cake
After hearing about the prank, I thought, "Wow, that takes the cake!
be breathing down someone's neck
She felt like her parents were breathing down her neck while she was studying for the exam.
go over someone's head
The teacher went over the student's head by talking to the principal instead of discussing the issue with the student first.
have someone eating out of the palm of your hand
With his persuasive arguments, he had the committee members eating out of the palm of his hand.
in high places
The new policy was supported by many influential figures in high places.
pass the buck
When Jack impregnated Thien An, he decided to pass the buck to her and run away, like what a fuckboy would do
twist someone around your little finger
She knows how to twist her brother around her little finger to get what she wants.
bend the rules
The teacher decided to bend the rules and let the students submit their projects a day late.
the dos and don'ts
Before going to the party, make sure to read the dos and don'ts to know how to behave.
over the top
The decorations at the party were really over the top, with too many balloons and lights everywhere.
tread on someone's toes
Be careful not to tread on her toes when you take over the project.
with no strings attached
I received a gift from my friend with no strings attached, so I didn't have to do anything in return.
your hands are tied
The manager said my hands are tied because of the budget cuts.
in a manner of speaking
He is, in a manner of speaking, the leader of the group, even if he doesn't have an official title.
what goes around comes around
She always helps others, and she believes that what goes around comes around.
a friend in need is a friend indeed
WhenIwassickSarahtookcareofmeafriendinneedisafriendindeed.
out of sight out of mind
After moving away, I realized that out of sight, out of mind; I hardly think about my old friends anymore.
through thick and thin
Mybestfriendhasalwaysbeenthereformethroughthickandthin.
bright eyed and bushy tailed
After a good night's sleep, she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for her big day.
young at heart
Even though she is in her seventies, she is still young at heart and loves to dance.
one way or another
We will finish the project on time, one way or another.
business as usual
Even with the recent changes in management, it's business as usual at the office.
have your hands full
She has her hands full with her new job and taking care of her kids.
off limits
The construction site is off limits to everyone except workers.
carry a torch
She has been carrying a torch for him since high school.
soft spot
She has a soft spot for animals and often volunteers at the shelter.
not a patch on
This restaurant is nice, but it's not a patch on the one we visited last week.
you have to be cruel to be kind
Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind when teaching children about responsibility.
not a happy bunny
After losing his favorite toy, he was not a happy bunny.
at death's door
The doctor said he was at death's door after the accident.
dropping like flies
After the flu outbreak, students were dropping like flies and many had to stay home from school.
the worse for wear
The old car is really the worse for wear after years of driving on rough roads.
black eye
After the soccer match, he came home with a black eye.
egg head
My brother is such an egg head; he spends all his time reading science books.
not give a fig
They can talk about their problems, but I honestly don't give a fig.
blot your copybook
After his scandal, he really blotted his copybook with the company.
formulaic
The movie was entertaining, but its plot was very formulaic and predictable.
binomial
The phrase "salt and pepper" is a common binomial used in cooking.
take a shine to
After meeting her, I really took a shine to her friendly personality.
go cap in hand to
After losing his job, he had to go cap in hand to his parents for financial support.
sink like a stone
After the bad review, the movie's popularity sank like a stone.
prick your ears up
He always pricks his ears up when the teacher talks about field trips.
knock it into shape
We need to knock this project into shape before the deadline.
debt of honour
After helping me with my project, I felt a debt of honour to support her in return.
run its course
Sometimes, you just have to let a friendship run its course.
corpus
The linguist analyzed the corpus of texts to understand language patterns.
get off your backside
Come on, it's a beautiful day! Get off your backside and go for a walk.
know no bounds
Her creativity knows no bounds, and she always comes up with amazing ideas.
curl your lip
He curled his lip in disgust at the smell of the rotten food.
go spare
When she found out her brother had broken her favorite toy, she went spare.
feather your own nest
Instead of helping the community, she only cared about feathering her own nest.
take centre stage
At the conference, the latest technology took centre stage, impressing everyone in attendance.
minefield
Discussing politics can feel like walking through a minefield, as one wrong comment can upset people.
pull rank
When the manager wanted the project done quickly, he decided to pull rank and assign extra resources.
take the flak
After the project failed, she was the one who took the flak from the clients.
see sense
She was upset at first, but eventually, she saw sense and apologized.
see the light
After studying hard for the exam, she finally saw the light about the difficult math problems.
black mark
He received a black mark for being late to work too many times.
from the cradle to the grave
The government should provide support for citizens from the cradle to the grave.
every tom, dick and harry
Every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to have an opinion on the matter.
like a bear with a sore head
When Sarah didn’t get her coffee, she was like a bear with a sore head during the meeting.
clip your wings
When the company cut back on funding, it felt like they were clipping the wings of the project team.
at the top of your voice
She called out at the top of her voice to get her friend's attention.
fringe benefit
The company offers several fringe benefits, including gym memberships and flexible working hours.
burning a hole in your pocket
After getting his allowance, Jake felt like the money was burning a hole in his pocket and rushed to the toy store.
bat a thousand
After winning three competitions in a row, she is really batting a thousand this season.
at sixes and sevens
The party was at sixes and sevens because no one knew what to do first.
time after time
She has helped me with my homework time after time.
through and through
She is a musician through and through, always playing her guitar and singing.
trial run
Before the big show, the actors did a trial run to practice their lines.
line manager
Every week, I have a meeting with my line manager to discuss my progress.
talk someone through
Can you talk me through how to set up my new computer?
in-house
They prefer to conduct in-house training sessions rather than sending employees to external workshops.
paid leave
After the accident, he was granted paid leave to recover.
bow and scrape
He always bows and scrapes when the boss walks in, trying to get on her good side.
it's all greek to me
When the teacher started explaining calculus, I thought, "It's all Greek to me!
a penny for your thoughts
When Sarah was staring out the window, I asked, "A penny for your thoughts?
a dime a dozen
In the city, coffee shops are a dime a dozen; you can find one on almost every corner.
Tranquilize
To help the frightened dog, the trainer used a gentle method to tranquilize it.
silent majority
The politician claimed that the silent majority would support his new policies, even if they didn't speak out publicly.
new kid on the block
When Sarah joined the team, she was the new kid on the block, eager to learn from everyone.
landslide victory
The new kid on the block won the election with a landslide victory, receiving over 70% of the votes.
ballot rigging
The new kid on the block was accused of rigging the election to favor one candidate, winning the election by a landslide.
power behind the throne
But Mr.Big was the power behind the throne, helping the new kid on the block succeed in his political election through grey power vote while staying out of the public eye.
grey power
Many organizations advocate for grey power to ensure that older voices are heard.
hindsight is a wonderful thing
She often says that hindsight is a wonderful thing when talking about her past relationships.
get your skates on
Come on, get your skates on! We’re going to be late for the movie.
mum's the word
When my friend told me about the surprise party, I promised her that mum's the word.
good riddance
When the old car finally broke down for the last time, I thought, "Good riddance!
fair's fair
When we play games, fair's fair; everyone should have the same chance to win.
strike the right note
The teacher struck the right note when she encouraged the students to share their ideas.
go down a treat
The chocolate cake went down a treat at the party!
go with a swing
The team went with a swing during the presentation, capturing everyone's attention.
get into the spirit of
At the party, we all started to get into the spirit of dancing and having fun.
hit the spot
After a long hike, that pizza hit the spot!
get stars in your eyes
He got stars in his eyes when he saw the beautiful car he wanted to buy.
on a high
After winning the game, the team was on a high for the rest of the day.
full of the joys of spring
After winning the game, the team was full of the joys of spring.
music to your ears
The news of the promotion was music to my ears.
rattle your cage
His comments were meant to rattle her cage and make her reconsider her choices.
get someone's goat
The loud music from the party next door really gets my goat.
wild horses couldn't make someone do something
"Wild horses couldn't make me use Birch" - Said Camman18
sinking feeling
She had a sinking feeling when she realized she forgot to study for the test.
kick yourself
After missing the bus, I kicked myself for not leaving the house earlier.
give someone houseroom
When my friend lost her job, I decided to give her houseroom until she found a new one.
wide berth
He gave the aggressive dog a wide berth as he walked by.
batten down the hatches
As the deadline for the project gets closer, it's time to batten down the hatches and focus on our work.
go by the board
The project was going well, but then it went by the board when the budget was cut.
broad hint
She gave him a broad hint about the surprise party by mentioning how much fun they would have.
barrage
After the announcement, the company received a barrage of questions from the press.
idle threat
She made an idle threat about quitting the team, but everyone knew she loved playing too much to actually leave.
intensely personal
The artist shared an intensely personal story behind her painting.
call to arms
In her speech, she made a powerful call to arms for environmental protection.
drop a bombshell
The director dropped a bombshell when he announced the company would be closing its doors.
on the warpath
After hearing the news, she was on the warpath and wanted to talk to the manager.
come out swinging
The team came out swinging in the first half of the game, scoring three goals quickly.
shoot yourself in the foot
When she argued with her boss during the meeting, she shot herself in the foot.
shoot someone down in flames
The coach shot the player's excuses down in flames after the poor performance in the game.
hang fire
She chose to hang fire on making a decision about the job offer.
baptism of fire
Starting my first day at the new job was a real baptism of fire.
run the gauntlet
She had to run the gauntlet of tough questions during the interview.
join the ranks
After years of hard work, she still joined the ranks of the unemployed and got humiliated by her ex boyfriend.
steal a march on
The company stole a march on its competitors by launching the new product first.
take your eye off the ball
If you take your eye off the ball at work, you might miss an important deadline.
lose your touch
The coach thinks the player has lost his touch since he got injured, so he needs to keep his hand in ASAP.
slap in the face
When she found out she was not invited to the party, it felt like a slap in the face.
put your nose out of joint
He didn't mean to put her nose out of joint, but his comments were a bit too honest.
pull the carpet from under your feet
When the company changed its policies without warning, it felt like they pulled the carpet from under our feet.
settle the score
After losing the game last time, the team was eager to settle the score in the rematch.
drifter
Many drifters find work in seasonal jobs as they travel from place to place.
round up
When you calculate the total, remember to round up to the nearest dollar
Let's round up some volunteers for the community clean-up.
hit it off
When I met Sarah at the party, we really hit it off and talked for hours.
bosom friend
She's my bosm friend, he's my bosom pal, and that guy over there's my bosom buddy. We hit it off as soon as we met, getting on like a house on fire.
kindred spirit
Close friendships are often born from a recognition of shared values and a similar outlook on life. It is the feeling of having found a kindred spirit that makes a bond so meaningful and long-lasting.
well-matched
The two players are well-matched, making the game very exciting to watch.
Well-matched couples? Well, you're forever alone aren't you?
high regard
She is held in high regard by her colleagues for her dedication and hard work.
run out of steam
The team was doing well at first, but they ran out of steam in the second half of the game.
go off the rails
After he lost his job, he really went off the rails and started partying every night.
down the line
He ran outta steam and went off the rails, starting to riot. But knowing him, You can be reassured he'll be back on track down the line.
in the driving seat
When the team leader left, John stepped up and took the driving seat.
move up a gear
During the final minutes, the team moved up a gear , but they were still playing by the seat of their pants and lost, which enraged the coach, who filed a freaking lawsuit against the winning team, and now they're on a collision course.
wide awake
I had a good night's sleep, and now I feel wide awake.
as dead as a doornail
After the storm, the power lines were as dead as a doornail, leaving the whole neighborhood in darkness.
under the gun
The team was under the gun to finish the project before the deadline, which they've been gunned for ever since.
pink slip
After the company downsized, many employees received their pink slips through compulsory redundancy, dashing their hopes of escaping that dog's life.
best thing since sliced bread
When they invented the electric car, many people said it was the best thing since sliced bread.
hard of hearing
My grandmother is hard of hearing, so we always speak clearly when we talk to her.
sow your wild oats
Before he got married, he wanted to sow his wild oats and travel the world, playing the field, and he did have a bit on the side then.
crowning achievement
Winning the championship was her crowning achievement in sports.
bring out the best
Her teacher always knows how to bring out the best in her students.
dash your hopes
The news of the team's loss dashed their hopes of winning the championship, which could have been a crowning achievement.
howling
Neither film was a howling success.
in the bag
The team played so well that the championship is practically in the bag.
you have to be in it to win it
To win the lottery, you have to be in it to win it.
make a case
He made a compelling and convincing case for the new policy and she made a case for recycling by explaining its benefits to the environment.
argue the toss
There's no point in arguing the toss; the decision has already been made.
do battle
The two teams will do battle in the championship game this weekend.
you might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb
Now that we’ve started the project, we might as well aim for a bigger goal and make it the best it can be.
coveted
The coveted prize is desired undenied
But only if I thrive, you mind.
defuse
The teacher tried to defuse the argument between the two students.
conciliate
The diplomat worked hard to conciliate the two countries and prevent war.
wedded
The couple often shares stories about how they are wedded to their wedded bliss with their friends.
thrilled to bits
I was thrilled to bits when I found out I won the contest!
cross
Don't be cross with me dick.
practice medicine
After finishing medical school, she decided to practice medicine in her hometown.
fast track
She was put on the fast track for promotion because of her hard work.
the staff of life
During the famine, the community relied on rice as the staff of life to survive.
career ladder
He is determined to climb the career ladder and become a manager one day.
get your priorities straight
She realized she needed to get her priorities straight after feeling overwhelmed with too many activities.
backseat driver
My friend is such a backseat driver; he keeps telling me how to drive even though I know the route well.
put the brakes on
The manager decided to put the brakes on the new project until they had more information.
one in the eye for
After losing the first round, she came back strong and scored a goal, which was one in the eye for her opponent.
hold your tongue
During the meeting, John decided to hold his tongue instead of arguing with his boss.
get your tongue around
It took me a while to get my tongue around the word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
get your teeth into
Once the project starts, I will really get my teeth into it.
keep your finger on the pulse
She always keeps her finger on the pulse of the latest fashion trends.
press the eject button
He looked very uncomfortable and clearly wanted to press the eject button and let the other leaders get on with it.
They seem to be frantically searching for the eject button before irreparable damage is done.
screw something out of someone
She managed to screw the secret out of him after a long conversation.
see out
She decided to see out the project, even though it was challenging.
in the company of
I enjoy reading in the company of my friends.
near and dear
My family is very near and dear to me.
a computer buff
At the tech fair, I met a computer buff who knew everything about artificial intelligence.
pull the plug
The company decided to pull the plug on the project because it was not making any money.
push your buttons
My little brother always knows how to push my buttons when he steals my toys.
pigeonhole
He felt pigeonholed by his job title and wanted to explore other roles so he filed it in a pigeonhole.
no dice
When I asked if I could stay up late, my mom said, "No dice!
dice with death
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is like dicing with death.
hold all the cards
In the negotiation, she held all the cards, so the deal went in her favor.
not cricket
SHe took credit for her work and is holding all the cards in her field. That’s just not cricket !
play hardball
The company decided to play hardball during the negotiations to get a better deal.
not pull any punches
During the meeting, she didn't pull any punches when discussing the project's failures and the fact that many of the members were either bottom feeders or freeloaders.
punch-drunk
I'm feel punch-drunk and doddery
Mainly because I'm high-strung and jittery
pandora's box
When she decided to share her secret, she opened a Pandora's Box of gossip among her friends.
Midas touch
After starting her new business, it became clear that she had the Midas touch, as everything she did turned to gold.
trojan horse
The company discovered a Trojan Horse in their software that was stealing user data.
sword of Damocles
As the CEO announced the layoffs, he felt the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, knowing that his own job was at risk.
fiddle while Rome burns
While the team was struggling to meet the deadline, the manager seemed to fiddle while Rome burns by planning a party.
the writing is on the wall
When she started ignoring his calls, he realized the writing was on the wall for their relationship.
halcyon days
As I look through old photographs, I can't help but reminisce about the halcyon days of my childhood.
turn the other cheek
In a world full of conflict, it’s important to learn how to turn the other cheek and promote peace.
parting shot
His parting shot left everyone in the room thinking about their choices.
epic proportions
The storm caused damage of epic proportions, affecting thousands of homes.
saved by the bell
Just when I thought I would fail the test, the teacher gave us extra time, and I felt saved by the bell.
intensive
She went through an intensive training program to prepare for the marathon.
This is an intensive language course.
verge on
The excitement in the room verged on chaos as the concert began.
culture vulture
She goes to every art gallery opening; she's such a culture vulture!
dabbler
As a dabbler in music, he plays several instruments but doesn't focus on mastering any of them.
steal the show
The little girl in the play really stole the show with her amazing singing.
on the edge of your seat
During the thrilling movie, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
heavy going
Running up the hill was heavy going, but I felt great once I reached the top.
The book was heavy going, what a heavy tomb.
pick holes
It's easy to pick holes in her presentation, but she did a great job overall.
armchair critic
My uncle is an armchair critic who always has something to say about movies, even though he never goes to the cinema.
have your name in lights
After her amazing performance, she finally had her name in lights on Broadway.
luminary
Albert Einstein is considered a luminary in the field of physics.
leading light
The young artist quickly became a leading light in the local art community.
notables
The museum displayed the works of several notables in the art world.
tread the boards
After years of training, she finally got the chance to tread the boards in a major production.
play to the gallery
She always plays to the gallery when she performs, making her shows very entertaining.
crowd-puller
The concert was a real crowd-puller, with thousands of fans attending.
wait in the wings
The understudy was waiting in the wings, ready to step in if the lead actor couldn't perform.
mind you
She is very talented, mind you, but she still needs more practice.
hot off the press
The newspaper had a story that was hot off the press, and everyone wanted to read it.
push the right buttons
She knows how to push the right buttons to make her friends laugh.
a cog in the machine
In a big company, every employee is just a cog in the machine, but together they create something amazing.
set the wheels in motion
The manager decided to set the wheels in motion for the new marketing campaign.
grease the wheels
The manager decided to grease the wheels by providing extra resources for the project, I love him.
gas guzzler
Many people are looking to buy smaller cars because they want to avoid gas guzzlers.
an ace in the hole
Even though he seemed to be losing the game, he had an ace in the hole that surprised everyone.
come of age
After years of hard work, she finally came of age and took over the family business and married another bitch.
all's well that ends well
After a long and difficult journey, we finally reached our destination, and I thought to myself, all's well that ends well.
look out for number one
She always looks out for number one, making sure her needs are met before helping others. What a glutton for punishment, bitch.
continental breakfast
We enjoyed a continental breakfast at the hotel, with fresh croissants and coffee.
eat you for breakfast
She thinks she can beat me in the race, but I will eat her for continental breakfast!
love rat
She found out that her boyfriend was a love rat when she saw him with another woman. And i swear to you, she'll eat him for (continental) breakfast, literally.
wait for the dust to settle
After the meeting, let's wait for the dust to settle before playing the fool, you don't want that whizz kid to eat you for breakfast!
on the ropes
The team was on the ropes after losing three games in a row, getting eaten for breakfast by the whizz kid of the enemy team who had more than one string to his bow.
beat a hasty retreat
When the storm started, we decided to beat a hasty retreat to the safety of our home.
up your street
Eating people for continental breakfast is right up that whizz kid's street.Fuck him, what a dick, always looking out for number one.
make allowance for
It's important to make allowance for different learning styles in the classroom.
armed to the teeth
Why are you armed to the teeth? You don't want to be a glutton for punishment do you?
with open arms
When my sister came to visit, I welcomed her with open arms.
asleep at the switch
The team lost the game because they were asleep at the switch during the final minutes.
awkward age
Many kids during wars have been armed to the teeth since the awkward age, and they can't afford to be asleep at the switch during hard times.
babes in the wood
The little kids playing in the park looked like babes in the wood, asleep at the switch, completely unaware of the dangers around them, soldiers armed to the teeth. But the whizz kid among them realized the impending army and played the fool.
back-breaking
Cleaning the entire house felt like back-breaking work, but it was worth it in the end.
eat into
The unexpected expenses began to eat into her savings.
eye candy
The new movie is full of eye candy, with stunning visuals and beautiful actors.
not much to look at
The old building was not much to look at, but it had a lot of history.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
During the debate about the sculpture, someone reminded us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we should respect different opinions.
not just a pretty face
She is not just a pretty face; she is also a brilliant scientist.
dressed up like a dog's dinner
At the birthday party, I felt out of place because I was dressed casually while everyone else was dressed up like a dog's dinner.
glad rags
She put on her glad rags for the wedding and looked stunning.
middle-age spread
After turning 40, I noticed a bit of middle-age spread around my waist.
butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
She acts like a perfect angel, but I know butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
look the part
For the school play, she wore a beautiful dress that made her look the part of a princess.
reserve judgement
Before we discuss the new policy, let's reserve judgement until we have all the facts.
back on your feet
After the accident, it took some time, but he is now back on his feet and enjoying life again.
It was a gloomy prognosis, but the country was soon back on its feet.
in knots
She was in knots before her big presentation.
bed of nails
Going through a breakup can feel like a bed of nails, but it gets better with time.
big gun
The company hired a big gun to help with their marketing strategy.
boil the ocean
We need to focus on our main goals instead of trying to boil the ocean with every idea we have.
break out in a cold sweat
When I heard the loud noise, I broke out in a cold sweat.
child support
The court ordered him to pay child support every month to help with their children's expenses.
close the door on
She was careful not to close the door on the possibility of further talks.
cook the books
The accountant was caught trying to cook the books to hide the company's losses.
cool your heels
When the bus was late, the driver told us to cool our heels until it arrived.
low hanging fruit
We should start with the low hanging fruit to make quick progress on the project.
drop the ball
During the project, I really dropped the ball by not submitting my part on time.
drown your sorrows
"he bought a bottle of whiskey to drown his sorrows"
fill in
Can you fill in for me at the meeting tomorrow? I'm acquainted with no one there
flat out
She was working flat out to finish the project on time.
He just flat out lied to the American people.
get your foot in the door
She took the internship to get her foot in the door at the company.
get even
After he played a prank on me, I decided to get even by doing something funny to him.
ducks in a row
I need to get my ducks in a row before the big presentation next week.
give you a run for your money
The new player is really talented; he will give you a run for your money in the next match.
green thumb
My grandmother has a green thumb; her garden is always full of colorful flowers.
keep your ear to the ground
He kept his ear to the ground and spent a lot of time in his office after hours.
A good leader has their ear to the ground and knows when people are not happy.
Keep an ear to the ground for what other people have discovered.
hit the bottle
After losing his job, he started to hit the bottle every night.
hornet's nest
Talking about politics can be like poking a hornet's nest; you never know what will happen.
strike as
She strikes me as a very kind person.
Doesn't it strike you as odd that he never talks about his family?
So how does my proposition strike you? (= What do you think of it?)
itchy feet
After living in the same city for five years, I started to get itchy feet and wanted to travel abroad.
jaw dropping
The magician's final trick was absolutely jaw-dropping, leaving the audience speechless.
put your nose to the grindstone
During exam week, I really need to put my nose to the grindstone to study.
kickback
The contractor was caught giving a kickback to the city official to win the contract.
kick back
After a long week at school, I like to kick back and watch my favorite movies.
lame excuse
When he said he forgot his homework because his dog ate it, I thought that was a lame excuse.
leave someone out in the cold
"He felt left out in the cold when his friends went on vacation without him''
let bygones be bygones
After their argument, Sarah said, "Let's just let bygones be bygones and start fresh.
posterity
He wrote a book to share his knowledge with posterity.
bated breath
As the final seconds of the game ticked away, the fans watched with bated breath.
dirt cheap
I found a dirt cheap restaurant that serves delicious food.
iniquitous
The continued use of animals in cosmetic testing is an iniquitous practice that inflicts unnecessary suffering on sentient creatures for the sake of human vanity".
inebriated
After a few glasses of wine, he felt quite inebriated, as drunk as drunk and started to sing loudly.
intoxicated
The driver was arrested for being intoxicated while driving.
She felt intoxicated after just one glass of wine.
acquainted
I am acquainted with the rules of the game.]
I'm acquainted with you bro
gumption
She showed a lot of gumption by starting her own business at a young age.
no one had the gumption to call the nascent government and its system iniquitous
off beam
His guess about the answer was completely off beam.
bawl out
The teacher bawled out the students for not doing their homework.
beat your brains out
They stood over him with clubs raised as if to beat his brains out.3 days ago
back slapping
"effusive displays of backslapping and arm-punching"
back talk
When I asked him to clean his room, he gave me some back talk instead of just doing it.
baker's dozen
When I bought cookies, the baker gave me a baker's dozen, so I got thirteen instead of twelve.
take the ball and run with it
We had a very vague idea of what we wanted, but the marketing team just took the ball and ran with it.
the whole ball of wax
In the meeting, he discussed the whole ball of wax, covering every aspect of the new policy.
get to first base
The proposal is so poorly designed, they won't even get to first base with the directors.
batting average
Jack's battign average at the job is really great.
compulsive
Many people struggle with compulsive eating during stressful times.
It makes a compulsive reading.
beat someone to something
I managed to beat my friend to the finish line in the race.
bed of roses
Life is not a bed of roses; we all have to work hard to achieve our dreams.
beef up
We need to beef up our security before the big event.
She decided to beef up her resume by taking extra courses.
The team is working hard to beef up their performance for the next game.
bellyache
She always has a bellyache when she doesn't get her way.
bent on
She is bent on winning the championship this year.
bet your bottom dollar
I'll bet my bottom dollar that she will win the race.
wholefood
Extensive food processing frequently diminishes nutritional value by causing vitamin loss and the removal of beneficial fiber, while whole food diets, emphasizing items like [..] , are consistently linked to a reduced risks of chronic illnesses [..]
free-range
In conclusion, although intensive farming addresses the practical need for cheap food, the long-term ethical and environmental consequences suggest that a shift towards more sustainable and humane free-range practices is necessary.
preservative
The bread contains a preservative to keep it fresh for longer.
blow off
He always blows off his homework until the last minute.
on board
Make sure everyone is on board before we start the project.
rock the boat
His comments about the project really rocked the boat and made everyone rethink their approach.
to know where the bodies are buried
In the meeting, Sarah seemed to know where the bodies are buried when she pointed out the problems no one else had noticed.
bomb something
She really bombed the presentation by forgeting to add bears.
go bonkers
When the teacher announced a surprise holiday, the students went bonkers with joy.
a cushy number
After years of hard work, she finally landed a cushy number at the company.
slog your guts out
He just conked out and rightfully so because he slogged his guts out yesterday.
a sleeping partner
We don't intend to be the sleeping partner in Japan."
"he was involved in several businesses as a sleeping partner"
track record
Before hiring a coach, it's important to check their track record with previous teams.
corner the market
By offering the lowest prices, the store was able to corner the market in the local area.
going great guns
The team is going great guns with the new project and is ahead of schedule.
go bust
The small restaurant went bust after just one year of operation.
close up shop
"family farmers and small retailers are closing up shop, making way for national chains and billion-dollar corporations
glass ceiling
The company has made efforts to break the glass ceiling by promoting more women to leadership positions.
bounce around
We spent the afternoon bouncing around ideas for our project.
bound for
The package is bound for Australia.
bowl over
She was completely bowled over by the surprise party her friends organized for her.
boxed in
After working on the same project for weeks, I felt boxed in and needed a break.
bragging rights
After winning the game, she had all the bragging rights among her friends.
branch out
He wants to branch out into different types of music and learn to play the guitar.
break your promise
It's important to keep your promises; otherwise, people might think you are unreliable. (also break ur word)
breathe freely
After taking my medicine, I was finally able to breathe freely again.
zip your lip
When the kids started arguing, I told them to zip their lips and play nicely.
meet one's waterloo
Napoleon met his waterloo in waterloo, meaning he sucks, it is what it is.
rent free
He keeps thinking about his ex-girlfriend, and it's like she's living rent free in his head.
felicity
He spoke of his travels with great felicity, making everyone eager to hear more.
porous
Some types of soil are porous, which helps plants get the water they need.
sinewy
Na snaked her way around the sinewy Sơn with felicity yesterday, in bed, wet.
waylay
The thief tried to waylay the unsuspecting teenage girl in the dark alley, trying to zip her lips and browbeat her.
browbeat
The thief waylaid and browbeat her into grovelling in the dark alley.
zealously
She studied zealously for her upcoming exams.
spasmodic
The child's spasmodic laughter filled the room, surprising everyone.
ignominy
The athlete faced ignominy after being caught cheating in the competition.
gut instinct
Even though the plan seemed risky, her gut instinct encouraged her to go for it and fought back, but eventually she faced ignominy after the thief pinned her down and ripped her limbs off.
on balance
On balance, I think we should go ahead with the project despite the challenges.
in the main
The project was successful, in the main, despite some challenges along the way.
in the final analysis
In the final analysis, the only people who will benefit are property owners.
contradiction in terms
Many people think that an honest politician is a contradiction in terms.
We went on an anarchist march, which is kind of a contradiction in terms.
Many engineers consider sustainable concrete a contradiction in terms.
the whole picture
She explained the project to us so we could see the whole picture and understand our roles.
set the stage
The author set the stage for an exciting adventure in the first chapter of the book.
point the way
Recent medical discoveries are already pointing the way to more efficient vaccines.
chop and change
She tends to chop and change her plans at the last minute, which makes it hard to keep up.
sunny side up
I would like my eggs sunny side up, please.
ring the changes on
Ring the changes on packed lunches using different types of bread and spicy fillings.
reach for the stars
Even though the project is challenging, I always tell my students to reach for the stars.
upset the applecart
When she decided to change the project at the last minute, she really upset the applecart.
to trim your sails
With the economy slowing down, many companies have had to trim their sails and cut spending.
Realizing the project was over budget, the manager decided to trim her sails and scale back the scope.
brass neck
She had the brass neck to ask for a raise after being late to work every day.
fork out
I had to fork out a lot of money for the new phone.
off your own bat
He learned to play the guitar off his own bat, practicing every day without a teacher.
butt out
When I was talking to my friend, my brother tried to join in, and I told him to butt out.
butter up
He always butters up his boss before asking for a raise.
on the button
The teacher said my answer was right on the button, so I felt proud of my work.
cloud your judgement
Don't let anger cloud your judgement when making important decisions.
button up
We need to button up this project by Friday to meet the deadline.
give someone a buzz
I'll give you a buzz next week.
I love riding fast - it gives me a real buzz.
buzz off
When my little brother kept bothering me, I told him to buzz off.
kiss off
I guess we can kiss off the deal.
leading role
She played the leading role in the school play and received a lot of praise.
concerted effort
The teachers and parents worked together in a concerted effort to support the students' learning.
highly efficient
The company's logistics system is highly efficient, ensuring timely delivery of all orders with minimal wasted resources.
As a worker, she was highly efficient, completing tasks quickly and effectively while still maintaining a high standard of qual-
hit rock bottom
After losing his job and going through a tough breakup, he felt like he had hit rock bottom.
off the grid
After years of city life, they decided to live off the grid in a cabin in the woods.
life of the party
Everyone loves Sarah; she is definitely the life of the party!
lock stock and barrel
She decided to leave the city, taking her memories lock, stock, and barrel.
bring a knife to a gunfight
Going into a job interview without any preparation is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
banner year
The team had a banner year, winning the championship and breaking several records.
at a stroke
The new law changed everything at a stroke.
in the trenches □
The volunteers were in the trenches, helping families affected by the disaster.
lose oneself in
"he had been lost in thought"
He lost himself in a book.
a free for all
When the doors opened, it turned into a free for all as everyone rushed to grab the best deals.
trade places
During the game, we decided to trade places so I could try being the leader.
fraught word
In the debate, the politician used a fraught word that stirred up strong emotions among the audience.
mad as a hatter
She talks to her plants and believes they can hear her; some think she's mad as a hatter.
cut and thrust
She enjoys the cut and thrust of party politics.
eighty six
The chef said we need to eighty six the lobster bisque; we ran out of ingredients.
"the passwords will be 86ed by next October"
what a pain
My computer crashed while I was working. What a pain!
weal and woe
Life is full of weal and woe, and it's important to cherish the happy moments.
nip and tuck
The race was nip and tuck, with both runners finishing just seconds apart.
heave-ho
The newspaper's foreign editor was given the heave-ho yesterday.
in a hole
After losing his job, he felt like he was really in a hole.
dispense with someone's services
"the club has no option but to dispense with his services"
push the panic button
Before you push the panic button, let's think about the solution calmly.
put a gloss on
Politics is all about putting a good gloss on unpleasant or difficult situations.
SMART Vocabulary: related words
boys will be boys
"We found a mess in the living room again, but I guess boys will be boys," she said, referring to her two sons.
walk the plank
When she missed the deadline, she knew she would have to walk the plank with her boss.
draw a long bow
He's sure to draw a long bow when he tells us about the size of the fish he caught."
beat the drum
Labour are banging the drum for a united Europe, which... ok.
a bill of goods
"The project manager promised the house would be finished by August, but he sold us a bill of goods; it's still not done".
sell-by date
I'm past my sell-by date and no one wants me anymore.
lazybones
Stop being a lazybones and help me clean the house!
bell the cat
Someone needs to bell the cat and talk to the boss about the new project.
all the while
She was studying for her exams, all the while thinking about her upcoming vacation.
fit out
They decided to fit out the new office with modern furniture and technology.
make tracks
As soon as the movie ended, everyone made tracks for the exit.
preach to the converted
When he spoke about climate change at the rally, he was mostly preaching to the converted, as all attendees were already passionate about the issue.
make or break
The final exam is a make or break moment for her academic career.
first-name basis
Faculty and students at the school were on a first-name basis.
carbon copy
His new car is a carbon copy of the model that was released last year.
fire away
When you have a question about the homework, just fire away!
pop your cherry
She said she wanted to wait until she was in love to pop her cherry.
hot and cold
Her interest in the project was hot and cold; one day she was excited, and the next day she didn't care.
make a splash
She made a splash with her colorful dress at the party.
if my memory serves me right
If my memory serves me right, we have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
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