Bbc Learning English

Front 1

Straitjacket

Back 1

Which means limiting what somebody can do in a way that is damaging .

Front 2

Pot Luck

Back 2

Describe a situation in which one must take a chance that whatever is available will prove to be good or acceptable .

E.g We didn't know which restaurant to eat at, so took pot luck and chose the one recommended in the guide book.

Front 3

Wet weekend

Back 3

A boring and disappointing time

E.g. That was a wet weekend, my friends were coming to stay but cancelled at the last time .

My cousin's a bit of a wet weekend, he's got no personality and nothing to say.

Front 4

It beats me

Back 4

A phrase used for saying that you do not know or understand something .

E.g It beats me how Stephanie ever got that promotion.

Front 5

Echo chamber

Back 5

A situation in which people only hear their own opinions repeated back to them.

E.g Yeah well you should try moving away from your echo chamber and listens g to people who don't agree with you .

Front 6

Give us a bell

Back 6

Meaning make a call

E.g When you get there, give us a bell and tell us what it's like.

Front 7

Pounds

Back 7

No one can hear the other instrument/ because Javier pounds the drums

Front 8

Darkness

Back 8

Back (Definition)

Front 9

In something's wake

Back 9

Only can use in negative circumstances

Front 10

Wing it

Back 10

In English "to wing it" something means to improvise.

EG

The minister is a great orator . He's never had a speech ready. He just wings it and people love it.

Mary spent all weekend partying instead of studying. When I asked her why she wasn't concerned about the exam, she told me she'd just wing it.

Front 11

To fall out with somebody

Back 11

Means to argue or disagree with them.

E.g. I fell out with my best friend at school.we didn't talk to each other for a whole week.

Front 12

No hard feelings

Back 12

Is something you say to somebody you have argued with or beaten in a game or contest to say you'd still like to be friends.

E.g I always get the quiz questions right. Unlike you Neil. But no hard feelings , OK?

Front 13

Gesticulate

Back 13

Which means to make gestures with your hands or arms.

E.g Meyer was worried because her students and the man on the street were shouting and gesticulating at each other .

Front 14

Faux pas

Back 14

Is saying or doing something embarrassing in a social situation .

E.g I committed a serious faux pas at a party last night - that I'm too embarrassed to tell you about .

Front 15

Giants

Back 15

Back (Definition)

Front 16

Idiomatic pairs

Back 16

Back (Definition)

Front 17

Ways to say you are feeling sad

Back 17

Back (Definition)

Front 18

Shoulder to shoulder

Back 18

Back (Definition)

Front 19

Meaning of moving

Back 19

Back (Definition)

Front 20

Ways to talk about winning

Back 20

Back (Definition)

Front 21

Have a go

Back 21

1. To have a go at someone, as we’ve just seen, means to criticize someone .

2. To try : If you have a go at something , you try it.

E.g Why are you having a go at me?

I am going to have a go at cooking a Thai curry from scratch.

Front 22

Way to say you agree

Back 22

Back (Definition)

Front 23

Not half

Back 23

Meaning “ very much “

E.g That party was awesome.

Not half, mate . The music was incredible .

Another example : not half with adjective .

E.g I just got back from Singapore. It’s not half expensive. ( meaning very expensive)

Front 24

Perfect storm

Back 24

Back (Definition)

Front 25

Ways to say that something is very funny

Back 25

Front 26

Bull idioms

Back 26

Front 27

To break the ice

Back 27

Back (Definition)

Front 28

Dark horse

Back 28

Back (Definition)

Front 29

Fat cat

Back 29

Back (Definition)

Front 30

Full of bean

Back 30

Back (Definition)

Front 31

Fat cat

Back 31

Back (Definition)

Front 32

Full of bean

Back 32

Back (Definition)

Front 33

Question tag

Back 33

Front 34

About

Back 34

‘About’ means ‘here’, or ‘someone near here’.

E.g Is Mark about today?

Will you be about this evening? I want to ask a big favor.

There’s no one about. It’s a bit scary.

Don’t talk like that. There are children about.

Front 35

Jack-of-all-trades

Back 35

Is someone who can do many kinds of jobs - you could say they’re multi-skilled.

E.g If you need any work doing to your house, get my Dad round - he’s a jack-of-all-trades.

Some people say ‘ jack-of-all-trades’ master of none.

Similar words :

All-rounder

Full of yourself

Front 36

Down in the dumps

Back 36

Meaning being depressed or unhappy is a miserable feeling.

E.g Don’t be so down in the dumps, you’re going on holiday tomorrow.

Oh it’s Monday again , no wonder I feel so down in the dumps.

Front 37

Stone-faced

Back 37

Back (Definition)

Front 38

English expressions

Back 38

Back (Definition)

Front 39

Expression with guilt

Back 39

Back (Definition)

Front 40

Hot potato

Back 40

Back (Definition)

Front 41

Idioms for all seasons

Back 41

Back (Definition)