-k-,
! IDIDMS/FIXED PHRASES
I
c:leartMalr.removesu~cion/b&dleeling
all alonl = lrom the beginning until now
all but .. nearly,almost
all In -exhausted
all In all _ when eIIerything is considered
all tile u me -ret, however
all told . altogether, in total
be the apple ofsb'l eye = be very precious to sb; be
sb'sfavourite
be up in afTM "beveryangry
forall _lnspiteof
foralllca,. _ldon'tcare
for all I know .. as far as I know
In the act of z while performing the act
In the air _uncertain
make aUowances for = take special circumstances
IntoeonSio'eration
make amends for = try to compensate fora past action
of all people _usedto eXjlfess annoyance/surprise
on account of .. because 01
on no account = under/in no circumstances
on tile air .. broadcastire(opp: off the airj
on the a..rt = watchful and prepared/on the IookouV
expecting 5th
takesthlntoacCOllr'lt:consiOOrsth
on this/that account : /o(thls/that rea$Ol'l
wllet Ib's appetite = make sb eager to h8Ye/
experience more
up In tile air _existing, but notlalked about
aboveboant _honest
bark up the wronc tree = have a false Idea about 5th
be broke = h8Ye no/very little money
be lull of beaM = be very lively
be In sb's black books = out 01 favour
beat about/around the busII:8¥Oid sayingwtlat one
means directly
belllndbara _inprison
bif.fleaded -cooeetted ; boastful
black and blue all ovar : covered with bruises
blesll",In dlSlUlse = sth which appears bad at first
but then turns oul favourably
blue-eyedboy/goldenboy =afavouredperson
bolt from the blue = slKldenly
bralnWlVe -suddencleario'eajlllought
breakeven _shownei!her!ossnorproflt
browned ort= 1ed up; bored
butter sb up = flatter sb
by and large "generaJlyspeaking
Appendix 21
catchsbrecH\anded =beCllChtWhile~aame
chip off tile old block " sbwho is very like one of hiS
parents
cost a bomb _ veryexpensiYe
deal a blow to = damage one's hopes
don't hold your breath -don't wait for sb/sth anxiously
drive a hard bargain "be a tough businessman
drop a brick = saysth tactiessly
feeJlnone '$bOIIes .. 1eellnssthinstinctively
get your own back -take/get revenge
llaYea bee In one .. bonnat _haYeanobsessionaboutsth
have butler1'lles In one'$stomach = be very nefYOUS
,"""''"'
in black and whit, . Inwritinc
in the balance _uncertain
kick the bucket _die
lay bare = make public
make a clean brealtof"confess
makeone'"bloodboll -c8u~sbtobecomeveryangry
on the spur of the moment .. without thinking about sth
out of the blue _soddenlyand unexpecledly
ring a bell = remind sb olsth
seethe backof _begladto see sb leave
takethebulbythahoms _dealMthsthboldly<n:ldWectly
wet bIanket: dJlI person who spoils people's happiness
a piece of cake .. s!h very easy to do
aretHetterday= avefylmportantday
awild-gooMchaM =ahopelesssearch
:;:;:ugtrt recHlanded " be caught while committing a
be on the cards .. be likely to happen
be over the moon -beelated
callsb names = insult sb
chair a meetirll = preside over a meeting
crocodlleteal"l:fal~tears
crossone'$mlnd .. thinkofsth
clltsbdead "'ignore sb
dtfferentaschalkandcMeu_totallydifferent
clown In the dum.--depressedjmiserable
clown the drain = wasted; lost
get a bit hot under the collar = get angry, upset or
embarrassed
get a problem offone'$ chHt_tell sb else about
yoo rprob lem
gotothedop _WOI'sen
hav,thecheek -daretodo sth
keepone'$ chin up _not bedlsoouraged
let sleeping dogI J.. .. avoid mentionirea subject
which could cause trouble
lost cause = I!opeless situation or case
237
I APpendiX2
off colour = look/be slightly unwell
on the dole = receiving unemployment oonefit/social
security
play one's cards r\ght= act cleverly
show one's true colours = reveal one's real character
with ftylng eolOllrs = with great success
not count one's chickens before they're hatched =
not assume sth before it happens
be dying for sth= really want sth
befttlor= begooo enough for
bewom out = be very tired
begreet1=beinexperienced
cook one's goose =end one's plans abruptly
fair and square = within the rules
fall head over hHls= fall in love quickly
feel one's ears buming= have a fee ling that sb is
talking about you
gatecrasher = sb attending a party,event etc without
anirwitation
get off on the wrong foot = argue or disagree at the
beginningofarelationship
give and take = compromise
haveafToglnone'sth~=inabilitytospeakdueto
neMusness
ha't'ethe gift of the gab = be able to talk v.ell,persuasively
hear It throughjon the grapevine = find out
information indirectly
In a flasll = very quickly
it's all Greek to me = sth new or foreign; not easily
understood
keep a straight face = manage to look serious under
difficult circumstances
keep an eye on sth =guard/pmtect sth
meet behind closed doors = meet secretly
one's flesll and blood = family member
plenty more flsh In the sea = many more
opportunities in life for love
put one's foot down = insist on sth
put one'S foot In it= make a tactless comment
take It easy = not worll too hard/relax
take sb for granted = not appredate sb
a bit of a dark horse = person with hidden abilities
beforthe high jump = about to be repl1mandedjpunished
be in two minds about sth = not be able to decide
what to do
be sound asleep = sleep deeply
be the perfe<:t lmageofsb = look ex.actly likesb
before one can say Jack Roblnson = extremely quickly
238
break the Ice = ease the tension when one first meets
people
eat one's heart out = feel jealous/sad about sth
flog a dead horse = waste lime doingsth useless
fty off the handle = quickly become very angry
get out of hand = become out of control
get the hang 01 It = get in the habit of doing sth
go to one's head = make conceited
grey matter = brains; intelligence
hand In glove with sb= be in very close contact with sb
llaYe a]ob to do sth = find sth difficult to do
have many Irons In the flre = have lots of
plans/possibilities in progress at Ihe same time
haYe one's heart in one's mouth = be extremely anxious
,boot""
have time on one's hands = have free time
hold one's horses = wait, be patient
III at ease = embarrassed; uncomfortable
keej)sth under one's hat = keep sth secrel
keep up with the Joneses = compete with others in
status/material goods
lend sba hand = give help to sb
llkethebackofone'shand=beveryfamiliarwithsth
lose heart = become discouraged
make head nor tail of= understand sth
off the cuff = without preparation
stew in one's own Juice = suffer the consequences of
one's own actions
straight fTom the horse's mouth = fiom the most
direct source
llave sb's llandsfllll = be very busy with sth
sth comes In handy = be very usefuljpractical
strtkegold = come across sth useful
take stllto heart = take personally/be innuenced by
take to one's heels = runaway
the ins andouts = the details of an activity
the tip of the Iceberg = small evident partofa much
larger, concealed situation
at large = free, not caught
be In the koow = be well-informed
bring to one's knees = destroy. humble
bury one's head in the sand = avoid or ignore reality/
responsibility
come to a head = reach a critical point
dropsba line = send sb a letter
flne kettleofflsh = confused state of affairs
get rtd olsth = give sth unwanted (JIIMoj
go to any lengths = 00 anything necessary to get sth
you want
haveklttens =benervous/anxiousaboutsth
keep one's flngers crossed= hope that sth will turn
out well

keeponeselftoonese/f= liYequietly,private/y
make 1 k1llinC = have a sudden,great success/ profit
make II&ht of = treat sth as unimportant
make/elm l/one'l IlYIng = earn money
on the IeYtI = I\onesV sincere
puli one's leg =teaseor tricksb
shed IIgtrt upon = give new/ further information
sleep like 1 log = be SO\Jnd asleep
the IIfe.ndsoul of sth = the most lively and amusing
person present somewhere
the lion'l wre = the biggest parVportion
turnOYer. new leaf = make a new start
wIttIlYlewtoOokCsth= withtheintentionorhopeof
doir,«sth
a night owl = pe rson who enjoys stayinglJP late
be second to none = be the be st
crou OIIfI'. mind = occur to one, haVe a sudden kiea,
recalisth
cr, CMr sp/tt milk = grieve over sth that can't be put
right
_,nook and cranny = everywtlere
feel/ be down In the mouth = feel
discouraged/depressed
pta lI'IOYe on = hurry up
ptonone'l netveI = irritate/anl'l(7jsb
haYean elrl, night =gotobed early
hit the nail on the head = say exactly the right thing
in a nutshell = briefly; in a few words
IOH one'. ner.... = !ose courage
make a name Ior oneself = become
famous/respectedfor sth
make hay while the sun shines= take aavantage of
fi!M)I,nablecirclJmstances
make IIIOM)' hand over fist = make a lot of money
QUickly and easily
makeone'l pt.away = escape
moon atOUnd = look miserable
nuli.nd void = irrvalid; not legally binding
once In 1 biue moon = very rarely
put sb's namelorward = nominate sb
put wordl into one's mouth = pretend that sbhas
said sth that they haven't actually said
lIip one'l mind = forget abolll sth
work 1 miracle = make sth almost impossible happen
pthecreen light to Ith = give pem1issionto
proceedwithsth
,.:ljO@ifi"a
1 bitter pill to swallow = a difficult fact to accept
acalnst.11 odc!s = c!espi!e the difflculties
Appendix 21
be OIl!: ofpqctk:e = lacking practice
come to the point = reach the main point in a diSCtJssion
fall into place = become clear
get the sack = be dismissed from one's job
get the wrong end ofthe . tlck = misunderstand
completely what has been said
golden opportuntty = the best chance to gain sth
greasesb's palm " bribe sb
C:row OIl!: ofsth = become too bigforsth
ha'Ye no option but = must; haVe no choice
Inpubllc =inthepresenceofotherpeople
In the offtng = likely to happen
off the point = irrelevant
once and for.11 = fo(the last time
out-and-out = complete, total
OIl!: in the Op&r1 " (of secrets) revealed, known
out of print = (efbooks) not available anymore
out of the ftylng pan Into the fire = from a situation
to a worse/similarone
part Ind parcel of = basic part of
pastone's prime = growing old/not at one's besl
pop the question = make a proposal of marriage
short and lwee! = brief but p/easant(usu irooic)
status symbol = property/ possession thal shows sb's
high social rankweaith etc
take things to piecn = dismantJe things
throw a party = haVe/ hoida party
white elephant = useless/ unwanted possession
an unkl'lown quantlt,= person or thing that one has
no experienceef
as a last mort = when all else has failed
et close quartell = from a short distance
be In 1 quanclary a beconfllsed; undecided
begtne question = makes peopie want to ask a
particular question
call tt quits = give up/ stop
cut sb to the quick = deeply hurt sb's feelings
hit the roof = get very angry
In a rut = be stuck in a monotonOlJs rou\ine
In the long run = after a long period of time
tt stands to reason = it Is logical
keep sth quiet .. keep sth secret
krlowthe ropes = know all the details of 5th
off the record = unofficia~ly)
on the qu!et = secre!iy
open to debate = notdecided/settled
OIl!: of the question = impossible
put down roots = settle down
wortItotule = adhere strictly to therulesasa form of
prolest
rack one'l brains "thinkveryhard aboul sth
239

I 1ong.1Iot =a wild guess/a risk
I memory like I sieve" a poor merTlOfy
be III attea:: be in a state ofconfusiOll
:;=
be In sb's shoes "00 in sb'spositiOl1
same boat = be in the same (usu bad)
be tile spitting Image 01 sb = look exactly like sb
be/get soaked to the 'kln :: be/get very wet
be/h..... lcloseshave~barelyavoldanaccidenva
badsituatiOll
behind thesc-s = in secret
come outolO/M"shell = gain personal cOIlfidence
does ttsllow? = is it otMous?
give sb the slip = escape from sb
golorlaong= be soldveryclleapiy
go without saylng = bea foregOlle conclusion
hit the aack=goto bed
IIveOllt ofl suitcase = travel often/not have a
permanent home
..,
make quite a scene = become angry in a dramatic
0111 shoe Strin(=OI1 a very smaJI budget
pull a few,trlngs = use influential contacts In order
tOobtainanaa.antage
pull one's socks up= make a greater effort
sleep on It::thlnkaboutsth
,mell I rat = suspec1that sth is wrong
splllthebelns "revealasecreVthefacts
standlnsb'sW/lY=preventsbfromdoi~Sth
tlke ... with a pinch of salt = not believe sth
completely
the last,traw = the last and worst episode in a chain
of bad experiences
thlck ..klnned= insensitive
(by) trlal Ind error = leaming from one's mistakes
be ahead of one', time = have modern ideas
be(as)thlck{8Slbrick)=bestUpid
be tickled pink = be really pleased
come to. ,tandstlll = not progress/stop
come to t.rms with = accept a difficult situation
for the time belna: = temporarily
In Itlck:::shortly,soon
In the nlckoftlme = just in time
klll tlme::: pass time while waitine for sb/sth
lay the table = prepare/set the table for a meal
not be one'. cup of tea = oot suit one's taste
on second thoughtl = having changed cne's mind
outoftum = not in the correct order/time
240
paint the town red = have a great time
playtNlnt'"stay~fromschoolwithout
permission
put~andtwotocether=8rriYeatthetMhby
looking at facts
redtlpe = unnecessary bureaucracy
tlke one's time = not to hurry
throuih thick and thin = whatever happens
touch and go = with uncertain result
: all verrwell = appear saUstactory but In tact not
be on the up and up = imprOW! steadily
be up and about = have reeovered from an illness
drive (,bJ up the wall = make sb angry/annoysl:l
ITostywelcome = unfriendly reception
getoutofbedonthewrongllde=beinabadmood
let wind of = receive information abotrt sth indirectly
give vent to '" e~press sth freely
CIve way to = give inj)'ield
not hold water:a not seem reasonable or in
accordance with the facts
make anylne mlt = make a quick trip
mike waves = cause trouble
no/little wonder '" not surprising
qulck/llowon tile uptlke = quick/slow to
~"""
seI: in OI'Ie'sW/lY' = fixed in one's habits/routines
.pe~k yolumes 2< be strong evidence of $b's feelings,
metltsetc
under the weather = depressed/unwell
lip and coming = 'ike/y to be successful
:sand downl 11 good things alternating with bad
wet behind the ears = ine~perienced
In old wlYes'tale:: false belief (usually abovt heatth)
be bom yesterday = be easily dewived/naive
~sbblack~blue="itsbrepeatedlyuntH
brUised
go back onone's word = not fulfil a promise{opp:
keep one's word)
have a yellow streak = be a coward
not have It both W/lYI = refuse to make a de<:ision
between two pleasant things (usu in expression "You
can't have it both ways'")
In the red = owe money to a bank {opp: in the black)
,.. red = suddenly become very angry
green belt = the area on the outskirts of a town
adjoinillgthecountJy

pitch black = very dark
blaektle:fonnalclothing
greenwltl'lenvy=Yeryjealous
green (rMtterjlssue) = CQncemed with ewlogy
llaVe words wfth ab = have an argument
havejkeep one', wits about one = be alen and able
10 deal with difficutties
In deep WlItef = in troob fe/d ifficulty
make Ib'.Uy = make sb very t1appy
_/IookIlt.ththroughros&eOlouredspedacln=
see 5th from an unrealistically positive point of view
tht black Iheep of the family = a disgraced family
-""
the pot taM1nc:the kettle black = accusing sb ofa
faultooehasoneself
tM yNr dot = a longtime ago
until one la blue In the face =as hardjlongas one
possibly can (usu without success)
led herrtnl:: 5th which distracts you from 5th
important
(ftght) like eat and dog = (disagree) 'MIent/y
(11keJ a bull In a tlllna shop= behaYe ina
~~r:.S)':;:~ (of stilI : {makel a mess (of sth) ,,""WMf:iiL•
a bear with a sore head:= irritated/in a bad mood
a different kettle of fllh : a totally different situation
ete from the one just mentioned
a cIoC'l life =a difficult, hard life
a fIIh out of water: sb who feels uncomfortable/In
unfamiliar surroundings
a Nd rat: to a bull = action, comment etc liable to
prO't'Okesb
a IIttlnc duck = an easy target
aabusyaaa bee/ a busy bee = (sb) very busy
aa thecrow"les = in a direct line/by a direct roote
belnthe~=beoutoff<M>\.ll'.introuble
dogeatdoC =ruthlesscompetltion,rtvalry
cIof4:aNd "(of books) with tile comers bent and
turned down through use
donkey work : boring, monotonous work
donkey'lyears =alongtime
kill two birds with one stone = achieve two things
with one action
let the cat out of the bag: reveal a secret
like watetoffaduck's back = having no elfect
make a fool 01 oneself: make oneself look stupid/
embarrassed/ridiculous
make a mountakl out of a molehill : cause a fuss
about a trMal matter
no room to lwinc a cat = no room at all
Appendix 21
jUyeatand rnouse with sb= keepsb In a state of
uncertain eJ,peCtation treating them allernatively
cruelly and kindly
put the cat among the plg_ = cause
trouble/controversy
rain cats anddogt = rain heavily
swim like aftlh = swim very well
talk the hind legs otra donkey = talk for a long time,
uninterrupted
the rat race :: the competitive nature of modem urban
life
until the _ come home:: fora Ior«time
mutton dreued 81 18mb :: dress in Cl style
than/inappropriate to)'OUr age
~r
sour grapes = say unpleasant comments because of
jealousy
seet: tooth = enjoy eatlng sweet thlngs
get nowhere last : make no/little progress
pay ab's way : contribute your shareofa bill/budget
whlte-eollarjob := office/clerical work
ftyon thewall : see/hear sth in a situation which
does notinvoiYe you
Achilles ,,"I := weakest point of sb'scharacter
wash sO's handsofsb : reluse to be involYedwith sb
a pain In the nec:k= annoytngpersonfthing
be all fingers and thumbs " be awkward, clumsy
pt cold fMt : lose courage to do sth
give sb the cold Ihoulder = ignore/shun sb
have a chMk/nerve = acVspeak boldly or impudently
ilave alllarptongue :tendto say unkind or hurtful
things
llaveaneyefoJ =beagoodjudgeofsth
look down one's nose atstll/sO: feel/act superior to sb
ioMone's head = lose self-control
put one's heart ancIaoul Intolth = be deYoted to sth
toncue in chMk = not serious, ironic
tooth and nail = fiercely
tum a blind eye to I th : ignore
not lose any liMP over I th '"' not worry about sth
Jack of all tradet = sbwtlo Is able to do a variely of jobs
ast onnln ateacup aalotoffussabout sththalis
nolimportanl
bring sth home to ab. make sb ur.Oerstand how
importanVserioussthis
bite off more tnan sbcan ctlew: try to do sthwhich
is too difficult
In cloYer '" living a luxurious/comfortable life
face the music = be criticised/punished for sth)OO
Ilavedone
241