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Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

on no account idiom
get your act together idiom
to add insult to injury idiom
cannot afford idiom
then again idiom
raise the alarm idiom
be alive and well/kicking idiom
keep sb at arm's length idiom
if you ask me idiom
back and forth idiom
behind sb's back idiom
in the balance idiom
start/set/get the ball rolling idiom
jump/climb/get on the bandwagon idiom
with your bare hands idiom
into the bargain idiom
hold/keep sb/sth at bay idiom
bear fruit idiom
off the beaten track idiom
be behind sb idiom
drive/send sb round the bend idiom
be beside yourself idiom
at the best of times idiom
be a safe bet idiom
be your best bet idiom
beyond compare idiom
beyond a shadow of a doubt idiom
bits and pieces idiom
to the bitter end idiom
a blanket of sth idiom
in the blink of an eye idiom
make sb's blood boil idiom
make sb's blood run cold idiom
blow sb's mind idiom
blow it idiom
across the board idiom
keep body and soul together idiom
have a bone to pick with sb idiom
be in sb's good/bad books idiom
go by the book/do sth by the book idiom
break fresh/new ground idiom
break it/the news to sb idiom
a breath of fresh air idiom
under your breath idiom
have a bumpy ride idiom
a bundle of nerves idiom
burn the midnight oil idiom
call it a day idiom
be on the cards idiom
catch sb's eye idiom
(the) chances are idiom
change of heart idiom
get sth off your chest idiom
have a chip on your shoulder idiom
clear the air idiom
be in the clear idiom
behind closed doors idiom
be on cloud nine idiom
in cold blood idiom
a conflict of interest idiom
keep a cool head idiom
(just) around the corner idiom
at the crack of dawn idiom
cramp sb's style idiom
cross sb's path/cross paths with sb idiom
cry your eyes out idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

crystal clear idiom


not be cut out for sth idiom
don't you dare idiom
be in the dark idiom
make sb's day idiom
deep in thought idiom
jump in at the deep end idiom
run/go deep idiom
out of your depth idiom
beneath your dignity idiom
on the dot idiom
be down to sb idiom
down under idiom
down the drain idiom
go downhill idiom
draw the line idiom
beyond your wildest dreams idiom
not/never in your wildest dreams idiom
wouldn't dream of sth/doing sth idiom
drop it/the subject idiom
a drop in the ocean idiom
(down) in the dumps idiom
not be the end of the world idiom
be endowed with sth idiom
at the expense of sb idiom
keep your eyes open for sb/sth idiom
keep your eyes peeled/skinned idiom
keep a straight face idiom
in the face of sth idiom
on the face of it idiom
to sb's face idiom
let's face it idiom
fall into place idiom
fall on deaf ears idiom
go too far idiom
life in the fast lane idiom
be no mean feat idiom
cross your fingers idiom
put your finger on sth idiom
at your fingertips idiom
come under fire idiom
play with fire idiom
set fire to sth/sb idiom
put sb/sth first idiom
in a flash idiom
be sb's own flesh and blood idiom
go with the flow idiom
fly in the face of sth idiom
follow in sb's footsteps idiom
get off on the right/wrong foot idiom
put your foot down idiom
put your foot in it idiom
lay the foundations of/for idiom
the frontiers of sth idiom
give way idiom
be glued to sth idiom
go against the grain idiom
grasp the nettle idiom
be green with envy idiom
grin and bear it idiom
come/get to grips with sth idiom
grit your teeth idiom
be on your guard idiom
catch sb off guard idiom
drop/lower your guard idiom
at the hands of sb idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

get/lay/put your hands on sth idiom


have your hands full idiom
in hand idiom
on hand idiom
have (got) to hand it to sb idiom
the hard way idiom
have it in for sb idiom
keep your head idiom
keep your head above water idiom
laugh, shout, scream, etc. your head off idiom
at heart idiom
take sth to heart idiom
hell of a idiom
like hell idiom
hold down a job idiom
hold your own idiom
hold water idiom
ring/sound hollow idiom
go/sell like hot cakes idiom
be ill at ease idiom
to/for all intents and purposes idiom
itch to do sth idiom
do the job idiom
do/make a good/bad job of sth idiom
jump to conclusions idiom
the jury is (still) out idiom
do justice to sb/sth idiom
keep (sb) at it idiom
not take kindly to sth idiom
know your stuff idiom
know best idiom
know better (than to do sth) idiom
labour of love idiom
at large idiom
the last sb heard/saw of sb/sth idiom
take the law into your own hands idiom
by/in leaps and bounds idiom
not in the least idiom
leave sb to their own devices idiom
leave no stone unturned idiom
the length and breadth of somewhere idiom
let go idiom
let's face it idiom
cast/shed/throw light on sth idiom
come to light idiom
within limits idiom
along the lines of sth idiom
in line with sth idiom
be on the line idiom
step/be out of line idiom
loom large idiom
lose heart idiom
lose sight of sth idiom
lose sleep over/about sth idiom
be at a loss idiom
bring a lump to your throat idiom
make do idiom
leave your/its mark on sb/sth idiom
make a/your mark (on sth) idiom
be a matter of life and/or death idiom
mean well idiom
by all means idiom
a means to an end idiom
in memory of sb idiom
take a stroll/trip/walk down memory lane idiom
have sth on your mind idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

in your mind's eye idiom


mind (you) idiom
mind your own business idiom
the minute (that) idiom
miss the boat idiom
be in the mood idiom
go through the motions idiom
get a move on idiom
so much for sth idiom
the naked eye idiom
in the name of sth idiom
make a name for yourself idiom
you name it idiom
neck and neck idiom
hit/touch a (raw) nerve idiom
be news to sb idiom
the next thing I knew idiom
none the worse, better, richer, etc. idiom
none too idiom
make (a) nonsense of sth idiom
poke/stick your nose into sth idiom
(from) under your nose idiom
be nothing if not generous, honest, helpful, etc. idiom
go/get/head nowhere idiom
against (all) the odds/against all odds idiom
be at odds idiom
be one of a kind idiom
go overboard idiom
get your own back (on sb) idiom
be part and parcel of sth idiom
the best/better part of idiom
on the part of sb/on sb's part idiom
go through a bad/difficult/rough/sticky patch idiom
pave the way idiom
pay the price idiom
pick up the pieces idiom
get the picture idiom
go/fall to pieces idiom
put sb in their place idiom
play (sth) by ear idiom
play it by ear idiom
play games idiom
pluck up your courage idiom
take the plunge idiom
to the point idiom
poles apart idiom
be at a premium idiom
make your presence felt idiom
be/fall prey to sth idiom
at any price idiom
swallow your pride idiom
be in the process of doing sth idiom
in the process idiom
pull your weight idiom
pull strings idiom
have/keep your finger on the pulse idiom
if/when push comes to shove idiom
be out of the question idiom
at any rate idiom
at this rate idiom
read between the lines idiom
reap the benefit, reward, etc. idiom
recharge your batteries idiom
be a recipe for disaster, trouble, success, etc. idiom
be in the red idiom
be far removed from sth idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

in good, bad, etc. repair idiom


be your last resort idiom
retrace your steps idiom
a rough ride idiom
ring a bell idiom
a riot of colour idiom
run riot idiom
ripe for idiom
give rise to idiom
rock the boat idiom
go through the roof idiom
a roof over your head idiom
learn/know the ropes idiom
round of applause idiom
be running at sth idiom
run wild idiom
make a run for it idiom
in a rut idiom
be in the same boat idiom
by the same token idiom
to say nothing of ... idiom
behind the scenes idiom
up to scratch idiom
see eye to eye idiom
see red idiom
see sense/reason idiom
take shape idiom
have your (fair) share of sth idiom
cut sth short idiom
a shoulder to cry on idiom
sick to your stomach idiom
on the side idiom
put/lay sth on/to one side idiom
lose sight of sth idiom
set your sights on sth idiom
have sth up your sleeve idiom
slip sb's memory/mind idiom
be snowed under (with sth) idiom
only so much/many idiom
be (really) something idiom
be something of a sth idiom
something like idiom
would (just) as soon idiom
not be on speaking terms idiom
so to speak idiom
speak your mind idiom
speak volumes idiom
speaks for itself idiom
make a splash idiom
put sb on the spot idiom
spring to mind idiom
on the spur of the moment idiom
at stake idiom
it stands to reason idiom
know where you stand idiom
stand your ground idiom
stay put idiom
let/blow off steam idiom
steer clear of sb/sth idiom
take stock idiom
a stone's throw idiom
stop short of sth idiom
be streets ahead idiom
strings attached idiom
be going strong idiom
sure enough idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

I take it idiom
take sth as it comes idiom
be in good, the best possible, etc. taste idiom
be in bad, poor, the worst possible, etc. taste idiom
teach sb a lesson idiom
I told you so! idiom
(I'll) tell you what idiom
come to terms with sth idiom
be on good, friendly, etc. terms (with sb) idiom
at the end of your tether idiom
thick and fast idiom
through thick and thin idiom
disappear/vanish into thin air idiom
do your own thing idiom
who would have thought it? idiom
this and that idiom
thread your way through, between, etc. sth idiom
on the threshold of sth idiom
throw caution to the wind/winds idiom
tie the knot idiom
be in a tight corner/spot idiom
tighten your belt idiom
give sb a hard time idiom
have no time for sb idiom
time flies idiom
tip of the iceberg idiom
on your toes idiom
take its/a toll idiom
from top to bottom idiom
on top of the world idiom
over the top idiom
to top it all idiom
torn between idiom
throw/chuck in the towel idiom
do the trick idiom
turn your back on sth idiom
turn your back on sb idiom
turn your nose up idiom
turn over a new leaf idiom
make yourself understood idiom
come in useful idiom
nothing ventured, nothing gained idiom
on the verge (of) idiom
wasted on sb idiom
water off a duck's back idiom
make waves idiom
be on the same wavelength idiom
get sth out of the way idiom
give way to sth idiom
go out of your way idiom
make your way idiom
wear thin idiom
be/feel under the weather idiom
what with idiom
not sleep a wink idiom
in sb's words idiom
word for word idiom
do sb the world of good idiom
out of this world idiom
fear the worst idiom
be worth your while idiom
don't get me wrong idiom
can ill afford, at cannot afford idiom
there again, at then again idiom
in the bargain, at into the bargain idiom
off the beaten path, at off the beaten track idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013


Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

bits and bobs, at bits and pieces idiom


blow your chance, at blow it idiom
be in the cards, at be on the cards idiom
throw sb in at the deep end, at jump in at the deep end idiom
down the gurgler, at down the drain idiom
a drop in the bucket, at a drop in the ocean idiom
at sb's expense, at at the expense of sb idiom
keep your fingers crossed, at cross your fingers idiom
quick as a flash, at in a flash idiom
put your foot in your mouth, at put your foot in it idiom
to hand, at on hand idiom
keep a cool head, at keep your head idiom
helluva, at hell of a idiom
hold your (own) ground, at hold your own idiom
itch for sth, at itch to do sth idiom
do sb/sth justice, at do justice to sb/sth idiom
know your onions, at know your stuff idiom
bring sth to light, at come to light idiom
along those lines, at along the lines of sth idiom
in sth's name, at in the name of sth idiom
(out from) under your nose, at (from) under your nose idiom
pluck up (the) courage to do sth, at pluck up your courage idiom
be no question of (doing) sth, at be out of the question idiom
in a good, bad, etc. state of repair, at in good, bad, etc. repair idiom
ring any bells, at ring a bell idiom
hit the roof, at go through the roof idiom
would sooner, at would (just) as soon idiom
can take it, at I take it idiom
this, that, and the other, at this and that idiom
OTT, at over the top idiom
to top it all off, at to top it all idiom
turn away from sth, at turn your back on sth idiom
to the verge of, at on the verge (of) idiom
make way for sth, at give way to sth idiom
not get a wink of sleep, at not sleep a wink idiom

© Cambridge University Press 2013

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