CAE Idioms

Bolea
A good turn of phrase

 down in the dumps = depressed;

 e.g: She's a bit down in the dumps because she failed one of her exams.
 to keep sb in the dark = to keep sb uninformed;
 e.g: My sister is keeping her husband in the dark about her pregnancy because
she's afraid he might be disappointed.
 not be all it he/she is cracked up to be = to be not as good as
people say;
 e.g: Honestly, the movie isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the
right audience for it.
 catch sb’s eye = to get sb’s attention;
 e.g: I tried to catch the waiter's eye, so we could order.
 right up one’s street = within one’s range of interests/knowledge;
 e.g: Anna loves watching movies, so I'm sure she'll go to the film festival with
you—that's right up her street.
 take things easy = to relax;
 e.g: My doctor told me to take things easy for a while.
 off the beaten track = isolated and quiet;
 e.g: We wanted to find a camping site that was a little bit off the beaten track.
 come down to earth with a bump = to stop dreaming and start thinking
practically;
 e.g: Losing the match brought them back down to earth with a bump.
 in one’s element = very happy/suited to a situation;
 e.g: My mother is in her element in the kitchen and can make just about any
dish.
 the crack of dawn = very early in the morning;
 e.g: We'll have to leave at the crack of dawn.
 get away from it all = to take a break from work or problems;
 e.g: My son needs to get away from it all soon. He's been under a lot of
pressure these days.
 run-of-the-mill = ordinary and unexciting;
 e.g: He gave a fairly run-of-the-mill speech.
 as brown as a berry = very suntanned;
 e.g: She was as brown as a berry when she returned from her tropical
vacation.
 round-the-clock = all day and all night;
 e.g: Fire crews were working round-the-clock to bring the huge blazes under
control.
 one’s best bet = the most appropriate choice;
 e.g: If you want to get to the station before ten o'clock, your best bet would be
to take a cab.
 over the moon = extremely pleased;
 e.g: Keith was over the moon about becoming a father.
 get into the swing of = to become accustomed to sth and start enjoying it;
 e.g: I’ve been here a week, and I’m only just beginning to get into the swing
of things.
 steer clear (of sb/sth) = to avid (sb/sth);
 e.g: They warned their children to steer clear of drugs.

 let one’s hair down = to relax and enjoy oneself;

 e.g: The only time my mom lets her hair down at parties is if she has had
several drinks.
 a new lease of life = a return of energy or enthusiasm;
  e.g: His grandchildren have given him a new lease of life.
 an old flame = sb one was once in love with;
 e.g:
 steal sb’s heart = to make sb fall in love with you;
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 the man of one’s dreams = the ideal man;
 e.g:
 woman of one’s dreams = the ideal woman;
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 (be/fall) head over heels in love = to be very much in love with sb;
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 break sb’s heart = to cause sb great unhappiness;
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 a change of heart = a change of one’s feelings/opinion for sth/sb;
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 wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve = to allow one’s feelings to be too
obvious;
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 see eye to eye = to agree;
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 all’s fair in love and war = all actions are justified when there are feelings
for love/rivalry;
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 be the bee’s knees = to be the best there is;
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 donkey’s years = a long time;
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 bury the hatchet = to forget old quarrels;
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 the apple of sb’s eye = the person who someone loves most and is very
proud of;
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 the black sheep of the family = a person strongly disapproved of by
members of his/her family;
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 play hard to get = to pretend one is not interested in sb;
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 like putty in sb’s hands = easily controlled or manipulated;
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 drive sb round the bend = to annoy sb a lot;
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 tie the knot = to get married;
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 live/be in clover = to enjoy a life of money and comfort
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 blood is thicker than water = blood ties or family relationships are the
strongest;
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 give sb the boot = to fire sb from their job;
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 a lame duck = a person/company that is weak/a failure;
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 feel the pinch = to suffer because of lack of money;
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 in the red = in debt;
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 hit rock bottom = to reach the lowest point;
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 in the black = in credit/making profit;
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 play with fire = to take dangerous risks;
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 step into sb’s shoes = to replace sb;
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 a firm hand = control and discipline;
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 pay dividends = to cause or produce good results in the future due to an
investment of time, money, or other resources;
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 a small fortune = a lot of money;
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 mean business = to be serious about what one says/intends;
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 get sth off the ground = to start a business/company/project;
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 bear fruit = to produce good results;
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 live on a shoestring = to manage with very little money;
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 burn the midnight oil = to work very late at night to achieve sth;
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 be rolling in it = to be rich
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 keep one’s head above water = to survive despite financial problems;
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 money down the drain = money wasted;
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 tighten one’s belt = to live on a smaller budget;
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 food for thought = sth to think about;
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 whet one’s appetite = to make sb keen to experience/taste more of sth;
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 at a loss for words = unable to think of anything to say;
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 make one’s mouth water = to cause sb to desire sth, especially food;
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 cut corners = to use a cheaper/easier method;
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 in full swing = at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest;
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 pull a few strings = to use influence to achieve sth;
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 cannot hold a candle to sb/sth = cannot be compared favourably with sb;
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 pick up the tab = to pay for sth;
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 feast one’s eyes on sb/sth = to look with pleasure at sth/sb;
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 not be one’s cup of tea = not to be to one’s taste;
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 scrape the bottom of the barrel = to be left with/use the worst
person/object;
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 break the ice = to make sb relax/to get conversation started;
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 in the soup = in trouble;
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 turn sb’s stomach = to cause sb to feel sick/ disgusted;
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 cast pearls before swine = to offer sth good to sb who cannot appreciate
the value of it;
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 it’s not use crying over spilt milk = there is not point in regretting sth that
has happened;
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 sour grapes = negative attitude/bitterness because of jealousy;
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 as dry as a bone = very dry;
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 up to scratch = of the desired standard/reaching an acceptable standard;
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 take sth with a pinch of salt = to doubt/consider sth untrue;
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 at death’s door = about to die;
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 off colour = unwell;
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 full of beans = very lively and energetic;
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 go downhill = to get worse in health/quality/status;
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 nothing but skin and bone = very thin;
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 a shadow of one’s former self = weaker or less capable than one used to
be;
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 up and about = active after an illness;
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 as strong as an ox = very strong and fit;
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 ripe old age = very old age
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 kick the bucket = to die;
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 alive and kicking = still alive and active;
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 touch and go = uncertain;
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 the writing is on the wall = a sign /warning of danger /unhappiness;
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 hold one’s own = to manage despite difficulties/obstacles;
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 grin from ear to ear = to smile broadly;
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 there’s life in the old dog yet = one is still physically/mentally energetic
despite old age;
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 as blind as a bat = blind or unable to see well;
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 have (got) one foot in the grave = to be near death;
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 run out of steam = to lose the energy that one had previously;
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 the top of the ladder = the highest position in one’s profession;
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 down-and-out = person with no job or home;
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 live rough = to live under unpleasant conditions;
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 as poor as a church mouse = extremely poor;
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 from rags to riches = from being very poor to being very rich;
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 up-and-coming = likely to become successful;
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 right hand man = close and trusted assistant;
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 call the shots = to make the important decisions;
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 the jet set = a group of rich and fashionable people who are interested in
enjoyment;
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 the slippery slope = sth that is difficult to stop once it has begun and which
usually ends badly;
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 have (got) several irons in the fire = to have several options/projects at the
same time;
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 at full stretch = using all one’s energy to do sth
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 a dead end = sth which leads nowhere and has no future;
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 adopt a low profile = to avoid public attention;
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 take a back seat = to take a position of less importance/influence;
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 the rat race = the struggle for success, especially in a large city;
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 the big guns = important and powerful people;
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 have time on one’s hand = to have spare time;
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 do one’s own thing = to do whatever one wants;
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 keep up with the Joneses = to be in competition with other people for a
higher social standard;
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 break the mould = to completely change the way sth is done;
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 all the rage = very popular/fashionable;
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 (just) around the corner = very close in time/distance;
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 break new ground = to develop sth/to make innovations;
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 old hat = old-fashioned;
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 the last word = the best/most recent version of sth;
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 state-of-the-art = using the most modern techniques;
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 street ahead = more advanced;
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 on the horizon = expected/likely to happen soon;
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 from scratch = from the beginning and without any help;
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 past it = too old to work well or safely;
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 stand the test of time = to prove reliable/valuable over a long period;
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 in one’s day = at a time in the past when sb was young/popular etc;
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 live in the past = to behave as if what existed in the past still exists;
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 as old as the hills = very old;
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 brand new = completely new;
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 turn the clock back = to go back in time, especially to sth now is
considered old-fashioned;
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 up-to-date = modern/new/recent;
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 move with the times = to progress with changing customs/fashions;
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 till the cows come home = for a long time;
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 last-ditch = final (attempt, effort, hope etc)
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 cut one’s losses = to give up doing sth so as to limit/prevent further
loss/damage;
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 the tip of the iceberg = the tiniest sign of a larger problem;
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 vanish into thin air = to disappear completely;
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 out of hand = out of control;
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 not have a hope in hell = to have no chance;
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 lend a hand = to help;
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 sit tight = not to change one’s position/to stay where one is;
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 close call = a close encounter with danger;
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 chance it = to take a risk;
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 pick up the pieces = to restore a situation after confusion/disaster;
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 back to square one = back to the beginning;
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 by the skin of one’s teeth = only just;
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 with one’s bare hands = without tools/machinery;
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 safe and sound = safe and uninjured;
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 in a tight corner = in a difficult/awkward situation;
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 deliver the goods = to produce the promised/expected results;
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 have one’s back against the wall = to be in a desperate situation in which
one must struggle to survive;
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 at the end of one’s tether = at the point of losing one’s patience;
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 throw in the towel = to give up;
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 a rotten apple = sb/sth that is a bad influence on others;
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 an inside job = a crime committed by sb within a company/group/org;
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 spill the beans = to reveal information/the truth;
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 point the finger at = to accuse;
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 put a foot wrong = to make mistakes;
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 come clean = to confess to sth;
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 cover one’s tracks = to hide/get rid of incriminating evidence;
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 do time = to serve a prison sentence;
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 in hot water = in trouble;
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 carry the can = to take the blame (for sb else);
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 brush sth under the carpet = to hide/ignore sth illegal/unpleasant;
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 blow the whistle on = to stop sth bad or illegal from happening by telling
the authorities;
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 catch sb red-handed = to discover sb in the act of wrongdoing;
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 on the spur of the moment = spontaneously;
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 get away with murder = to do sth terrible/illegal without being punished;
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 in broad daylight = in the daytime/when it is easy to see;
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 by the book = according to te law/rules;
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 off guard = by surprise;
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 cut and run = to make a quick escape;
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 teach sb a lesson = to punish sb in order to improve their behaviour;
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 get to grips with sth = to begin to understand/cope with sth, especially a
problem/difficult situation;
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 make the grade = to reach a particular standard/ to succeed;
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 out of one’s depth = unable to understand/control, especially a difficult
topic/situation;
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 have a (good) head for figures = to be good at maths;
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 not have a clue = to have no knowledge of a subject;
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 slow on the uptake = of sb who understand and learns things slowly;
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 get/be on top of sth = to deal with sb successfully;
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 talk the hind legs off a donkey = to talk too much;
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 the gift of the gab = the talent to talk easily and persuasively;
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 be head and shoulders above the rest = to be more important/greater than
others;
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 old boy = former student, especially from an all-boys private school;
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 old girl = former student especially from an all-girls private school;
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 from the wrong side of the tracks = from the poor/less respectable part of
town;
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 smart alec = sb who thinks he/she is very clever;
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 put one’s foot in it = to offend/upset/embarrass others, usually by
accident;
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 of the old school = old-fashioned and conservative;
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 put sb in their place = to make sb understand/admit they have done/said
sth unacceptable;
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 all at sea = confused;
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 know sth/sb inside out = to know sth/sb very well;
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 learn the ropes = to become familiar with details/methods of a
job/profession/company etc;
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 scratch the surface = to examine a small part of a problem/subject;
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 on sb’s/sth’s last legs = about to fall due to age/exhaustion/health;
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 on the back burner = postponed till a later time;
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 on the blink = not working properly;
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 weigh a ton = to be very heavy;
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 kill two birds with one stone = to fulfill two purposes with one single
action;
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 teething troubles = difficulties that occur in the early stages of sth;
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 nuts and bolts = basic practical details;
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 on line = into a central computer network;
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 as clear as a bell = very easy to hear/understand;
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 surf the Net = to look up information on the Internet;
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 make head or tail of = to understand;
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 mind-boggling = amazing or confusing;
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 come in handy = to be useful;
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 see the light = to finally understand sth after a long time;
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 in the pipeline = in the process of being prepared/produced;
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 go back to the drawing board = to plan again from the beginning;
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 a flash in the pan = popular for only a short time;
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 past sb’s/sth’s sell-by date = no longer effective;
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 sell like hot cakes = to sell many of sth very quickly;
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 a carbon copy = sb/sth that is exactly the same as sb/sth else;
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 a rough diamond = a good person with uncivil/curt manners;
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 golden boy = successful/popular person;
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 pull sb’s leg = to tease sb in a friendly manner;
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 put on a brave face = to try to look happy/pleasant in order to hide feeling
upset/embarrassed etc;
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 stab sb in the back = to be disloyal to a person;
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 make sb’s hackles rise = to make sb very angry;
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 behind one’s back = without one’s knowledge/consent
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 hot under the collar = annoyed/frustrated/excited/worried, etc;
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 keep one’s cool = to remain calm in a difficult situation;
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 down-to-earth = realistic/practical;
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 get sth off one’s chest = to talk about worries/problems in order to gain
relief;
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 a nosy Parker = sb who is curious about other people’s business;
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 a dark horse = sb whose character is unknown;
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 lose one’s head = to lose control due to panic/anger, etc;
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 chip on one’s shoulder = sense of anger/bitterness because of unfair
treatment;
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 have a short fuse = to have a tendency to get angry quickly/easily;
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 get one’s own back = to take revenge;
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 a wet blanket = a miserable person who doesn’t like others to have fun;
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 as straight as a die = completely honest/fair;
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 take sb’s point = to accept/appreciate what sb has said;
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 come under fire = to be condemned/to be sharply criticized;
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 foot the bill = to pay for sth;
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 count the cost = to suffer the consequences of a reckless/foolish action;
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 on the other hand = however;
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 break the bank = to leave sb without money;
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 a drop in the ocean = a very small amount compared to what is
necessary/needed;
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 toe the line = to obey orders/rules;
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 go up in smoke = to end in nothing/to result in failure;
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 pay lip-service = to voice/express agreement on sth without actually
supporting it;
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 a step in the right direction = a positive action, especially towards a
solution;
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 a breath of fresh air = sb/sth refreshingly new and different;
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 put sb on the spot = to put sb in a difficult position, especially by a sudden
question;
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 bring to light = to make known;
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 a clean bill of health = statement that sth/sb is in satisfactory
condition/health;
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 as clean as a whistle = very clean
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 a rude awakening = a sudden understanding/awareness of sth unpleasant;
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 burn to a crisp = to burn completely;
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 pitch-black = black/very dark;
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 bury one’s head in the sand = to ignore trouble by pretending it doesn’t
exist;
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 at loggerheads (with sb) = in strong disagreement;
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 a bone of contention = a sensitive issue that causes argument;
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 go round in circles = to argue about the same things repeatedly without
reaching a decision/solution, etc;
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 in a nutshell = in few words;
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 fight a losing battle = to struggle against sth with little or no hope of
success;
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 rack one’s brains = to think hard about sth in order to find a solution/an
answer;
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 put our/your heads together = to discuss sth, especially in order to solve a
problem;
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 start the ball rolling = to start a conversation/activity, etc;
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 put one’s thinking cap on = to start thinking about sth, especially a
problem/difficulty;
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 the bare bones = the most basic/important parts of sth;
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 rock the boat = to disturb/ruin a good situation/relation;
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 talk shop = to discuss work matters when not at work;
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 get on one’s nerves = to annoy/irritate sb;
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 pass the buck = to avoid responsibility/blame by transferring it to sb else;
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 not mince one’s nerves = to speak frankly/bluntly;
 e.g:
 get a grip = to take/maintain control (of oneself/a situation);
 e.g:
 throw sb off balance = to confuse/surprise sb;
 e.g:
 hold one’s tongue = to keep silent;
 e.g:
 drive home = to make sb fully aware/understand;
 e.g:
 clear the air = to relieve tension/anger between people by
saying/explaining sth;
 e.g:
 ring hollow = to sound false/insincere/worthless;
 e.g:
 take sth lying down = to accept sth harmful/unpleasant without
complaint/a struggle;
 e.g:
 hot air = false promises/claims;
 e.g:
 dig one’s heels in = to show firmness over sth, especially one’s own
desires;
 e.g:
 take the law into one’s own hands = to do sth to combat injustice without
abiding by the rules/law;
 e.g:
 seal sb’s/sth’s fate = to ensure the death/failure of sth/sb;
 e.g:
 stick to one’s guns = to keep supporting a particular belief/course of
action;
 e.g:
 sit on the fence = to refuse to have an opinion or take sides on an issue;
 e.g:
 up in arms = angry because one is opposed to sth;
 e.g:
 vote with one’s feet = to show one’s opinion by (not) participating in sth/
(not) going somewhere;
 e.g:
 do the trick = the achieve what is wanted;
 e.g:
 running battle = long-lasting struggle;
 e.g:
 easier said than done = sth which sounds/appears simple but is difficult to
achieve/do;
 e.g:
 fall on deaf ears = to be ignored, especially of speech/advice;
 e.g:
 the grass roots = ordinary people, not in authority but whose opinions are
influential;
 e.g:
 behind closed doors = in private/secretly
 e.g:
 call it a day = to stop doing sth;
 e.g:
 cut no ice = to fail to impress;
 e.g:
 the law of the jungle = the situation where the law is disregarded and the
strongest/most aggressive succeed;
 e.g:
 chapter and verse = in full detail;
  e.g:
 sit in judgement = to decide if sb/sth is good or bad;
 e.g: