Idiomatic American English 126-250

Front 1

adj.) rich

Back 1

well-heeled

Front 2

adj.) experienced in difficulties of life

Back 2

through the mill

Front 3

n.) a talk to arouse enthusiasm

Back 3

pep talk

Front 4

v.) begin to act and look right

Back 4

shape up

Front 5

n.) notice of dismissal

Back 5

pink slip

Front 6

v. ) finally find time to do something

Back 6

get around to

Front 7

adv.) in another person's place or position

Back 7

in someone's shoes

Front 8

v.) continue without changing a situation

Back 8

let it ride

Front 9

adv.) privately, unofficially, not for public announcement

Back 9

off the record

Front 10

v.) become stricter

Back 10

clamp down

Front 11

adj.) enthusiastic, eager

Back 11

gung ho

Front 12

adv.) very happy

Back 12

in seventh heaven

Front 13

v.) be daydreaming, lost in thought

Back 13

have one's head in the clouds

Front 14

v.) be successful

Back 14

make a hit

Front 15

v.) greatly impress, surprise

Back 15

knock one dead

Front 16

v.) be serious

Back 16

mean business

Front 17

v.) acknowledge, give credit to

Back 17

hand it to someone

Front 18

v.) to defend an action or opinion despite an unfavorable reaction

Back 18

stick to one's guns

Front 19

v.) happen favorably

Back 19

pan out

Front 20

v.) wish for good luck

Back 20

keep one's fingers crossed

Front 21

v.) invent, create

Back 21

think up

Front 22

n.) very smart idea

Back 22

brainstorm

Front 23

v.) do something decisive

Back 23

take the plunge

Front 24

v.) test

Back 24

try something out

Front 25

v.) start before you should

Back 25

jump the gun

Front 26

v.) discuss, think about

Back 26

kick something around

Front 27

v.) take control, command

Back 27

take over (take charge)

Front 28

v.) make progress, a good start

Back 28

get off the ground

Front 29

n.) intelligent person

Back 29

brain

Front 30

v.) tolerate, like

Back 30

stand (neg.)

Front 31

v.) annoy, bother, make angry

Back 31

rub one the wrong way

Front 32

adj.) paying attention and doing things well

Back 32

on the ball

Front 33

v.) be practical, sensible, stable

Back 33

have one's feet on the ground

Front 34

v.) always work hard, keep busy

Back 34

keep one's nose to the grindstone

Front 35

n.) the best of a group, top choice

Back 35

cream of the crop

Front 36

adj.) certain, sure, definite

Back 36

in the bag

Front 37

adv.) perfectly, exactly

Back 37

to a T

Front 38

v.) secretly use influence and power

Back 38

pull strings

Front 39

One is unable to help

Back 39

One's hands are tied

Front 40

v.) use one's influence in a showy manner

Back 40

throw one's weight around

Front 41

n.) important person

Back 41

big shot

Front 42

v.) give one's opinion

Back 42

put in one's two cents

Front 43

v.) speak or argue with no result

Back 43

waste one's breath

Front 44

v.) rely on one's own abilities

Back 44

make one's own way

Front 45

v.) trick, playfully tease, fool

Back 45

pull someone's leg

Front 46

v.) work very hard

Back 46

work one's fingers to the bone

Front 47

v.) give someone an opportunity or chance

Back 47

give someone a break

Front 48

v.) improve, get better

Back 48

look up

Front 49

v.) begin to handle, commit oneself to, accept

Back 49

take on

Front 50

v.) adapt or adjust to a new environment

Back 50

get in the swing of things

Front 51

v.) acquire special knowledge of a job

Back 51

learn the ropes

Front 52

n.) easy

Back 52

a breeze

Front 53

adj.) suited to, have talent for

Back 53

cut out

Front 54

adj.) smart, witty, quick-thinking

Back 54

sharp

Front 55

v.) obtain extra money, often dishonestly, through one's job or position

Back 55

feather one's nest

Front 56

n.) person who gets money aggressively or unethically

Back 56

hustler

Front 57

n.) money obtained easily and often unethically

Back 57

fast buck

Front 58

adv.) rapidly

Back 58

hand over fist

Front 59

v.) ask for a loan of money

Back 59

put the bite on someone

Front 60

n.) an exaggerated or false story

Back 60

cock and bull story

Front 61

n.) no chance at all

Back 61

a snowball's chance in hell

Front 62

n.) one who gives money easily when asked

Back 62

soft touch

Front 63

v.) have many luxuries, be very comfortable

Back 63

live high off the hog

Front 64

adj.) having no money available

Back 64

strapped

Front 65

v.) come out of a bad situation successfully

Back 65

land on one's feet

Front 66

adj.) making an effort, trying

Back 66

in there pitching

Front 67

v.) waste time, be lazy

Back 67

let grass grow under one's feet
(neg.)

Front 68

adj.) not very good

Back 68

not so hot

Front 69

v.) try, attempt

Back 69

take a crack at

Front 70

n.) a factory that has poor conditions, long hours, low pay

Back 70

sweatshop

Front 71

v.) be a waitress

Back 71

sling hash

Front 72

v.) begin important work or business

Back 72

get down to brass tacks

Front 73

adj.) willing, ready

Back 73

game

Front 74

n.) small quantities, little by little

Back 74

dribs and drabs

Front 75

n.) the essence or important part

Back 75

nitty-gritty

Front 76

v.) keep secretly ready for the right time

Back 76

have something up one's sleeve

Front 77

adj.) wonderful, terrific

Back 77

out of this world

Front 78

v.) go to work seriously

Back 78

sink one's teeth into

Front 79

ad.j.) making a lot of money

Back 79

on the gravy train

Front 80

v.) find out, hear gossip or rumors about

Back 80

get wind of

Front 81

adv.) directly from the person involved

Back 81

straight from the horse's mouth

Front 82

v.) start from the beginning so you'll have full advantage of any favorable outcome

Back 82

get in on the ground floor

Front 83

v.) do something before someone else can

Back 83

beat someone to the punch (draw)

Front 84

v.) join a popular activity

Back 84

jump (get) (climb) on the bandwagon

Front 85

v.) make a big profit

Back 85

clean up

Front 86

n.) a lot of money

Back 86

pretty penny

Front 87

n.) one who doesn't complete a study course

Back 87

a drop out

Front 88

adv.) almost, not quite; like, similar to; rather

Back 88

sort of

Front 89

v.) fool, play, joke

Back 89

kid around

Front 90

v.) make a good start, succeed, make progress

Back 90

get to first base

Front 91

v.) leave

Back 91

cut out

Front 92

v.) succeed, win, exceed

Back 92

come through (pass) with flying colors

Front 93

v.) lose an opportunity

Back 93

miss the boat

Front 94

v.) take strong action

Back 94

take the bull by the horns

Front 95

n.) praise

Back 95

a pat on the back

Front 96

v.) admire, respect, praise

Back 96

take one's hat off to someone

Front 97

v.) be in a difficult situation with little chance of success

Back 97

have two strikes against one

Front 98

n.) the poor section of town, implying social inferiority

Back 98

the wrong side of the tracks

Front 99

n.) a family member with a bad reputation

Back 99

black sheep

Front 100

adv.) in addition, also

Back 100

to boot

Front 101

v.) make great progress

Back 101

come a long way

Front 102

n.) ambitious person

Back 102

go-getter

Front 103

v.) be smart or sensible

Back 103

have a head on one's shoulders

Front 104

v.) have a perfect record, whether good or bad

Back 104

bat a thousand

Front 105

adj.) in trouble

Back 105

in a jam

Front 106

v.) withdraw

Back 106

get out of

Front 107

adj.) unreliable, untrustworthy

Back 107

fly-by-night

Front 108

adj.) honest

Back 108

on the level

Front 109

v.) reinvestigate thoroughly, Iook again for errors

Back 109

double-check

Front 110

n.) signature

Back 110

John Hancock

Front 111

v.) finish

Back 111

end up

Front 112

adv. or adj.) Iosing money

Back 112

in the red

Front 113

v.) record, score

Back 113

chalk up

Front 114

n.) a difficult or painful ordeal

Back 114

murder

Front 115

adj.) tired, exhausted

Back 115

beat

Front 116

v.) take a nap

Back 116

grab 40 winks

Front 117

adj.) busy running around

Back 117

on the go

Front 118

v.) tire, exhaust

Back 118

run ragged

Front 119

v.) trick, persuade, or pressure

Back 119

rope into

Front 120

adj.) terrible, awful

Back 120

for the birds

Front 121

v.) pay too much

Back 121

pay through the nose

Front 122

v.) cheat, swindle

Back 122

take someone for a ride

Front 123

v.) fail, collapse

Back 123

fall through

Front 124

v.) create a disturbance, make trouble

Back 124

raise Cain

Front 125

v.) reveal, inform, tell

Back 125

let on