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Idioms

The document provides definitions and example sentences for several idiomatic phrases in British English including 'to talk until blue in the face', meaning to argue for a long time uselessly, 'for donkey's years', meaning for a very long time, 'chew the fat', meaning to chat leisurely, and 'do a runner', meaning to flee quickly.

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Johny Stark
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37 views1 page

Idioms

The document provides definitions and example sentences for several idiomatic phrases in British English including 'to talk until blue in the face', meaning to argue for a long time uselessly, 'for donkey's years', meaning for a very long time, 'chew the fat', meaning to chat leisurely, and 'do a runner', meaning to flee quickly.

Uploaded by

Johny Stark
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

blue in the face

to talk or argue for a very long time to try to persuade someone but it's useless
because they won't do or agree with what you want.

Example sentences
— I could've argued with my parents until I was blue in the face but they'd still
never let me go to the party.
— I was blue in the face trying to explain my position but the director simply
wouldn't listen to other ideas.
— I've explained to my daughter until I was blue in the face that she cannot drive
my car but as you can see, she won't take no for an answer.
— They yelled at each other until both were blue in the face and then finally,
someone called the police.
— Go ahead and yell until you're blue in the face—I'm not going to change my mind.
— After I explained the situation until I was blue in the face, I asked to speak to
a manager.
— You can keep lecturing your kids until you're blue in the face or you can just
take their cell phones away until they're more responsible.
— I explained how to operate the machine until I was blue in the face.
— My dad yelled at my brother for not coming home last night until he was blue in
the face.

for donkey's years BRITISH, INFORMAL = for a long time.

If something lasts or has been happening for donkey's years, it lasts or has been
happening for a very long time. I've been a vegetarian for donkey's years. He owns
some old iron mines that haven't been used in donkey's years. Note: This expression
was originally `as long as donkey's ears', which are very long. The change to
`donkey's years' may have come about partly because the expression is used to talk
about time, and partly because the original form is difficult to say clearly.

chew the fat = To discuss, chat, converse, etc., especially at length and in a
leisurely, friendly manner.

- My sister and I haven't seen each other in nearly five years, so we stayed up
half the night chewing the fat.
- Come into my office and chew the fat with me a little bit, David. I want to know
how things are going with you.

do a runner = To flee or quickly leave a place, usually so as to get out of paying


for something or to avoid trouble or the law. Primarily heard in UK.

- The teenagers did a runner as soon as the cab stopped, leaving the driver to foot
the bill.
- The young man, unintelligible with drink, did a runner when the police went up to
question him.

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