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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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playing with fire
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You're playing with fire if you're involved in an activity that could be dangerous, or could lead to problems in the future
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quick on the trigger / quick on the draw
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If you are quick on the trigger, or quick on the draw, you act quickly when solving problems or answering questions.
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under wraps
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If something is under wraps, it's being kept secret
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clean as whistle
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If something is as clean as a whistle, it's extremely clean, or for a person it can mean they have a perfect record and have never done anything illegal.
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read between lines
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When you read between the lines you try to understand what someone implies, but doesn't openly state, when they say or write something.
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You can say that again!
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If someone says "You can say that again!", it shows they strongly agree with what was just said.
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it stands to reason
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You can say it stands to reason that something should be so if it seems reasonable to you that it should be so.
•It stands to reason that kids who study the hardest get the best grades |
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(someone's) name is mud
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If someone's name is mud, other people are angry with them, or they're no longer popular, because they've done something wrong
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(something) escapes you
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If you say something escapes you, it means you can't remember it
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a bag of tricks
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Someone's bag of tricks is their collection of techniques or methods for getting a job done or for achieving a goal.
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a wake-up call
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An event acts as a wake-up call if it makes people more aware of a danger
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agree to differ | agree to disagree
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If two people agree to differ, or agree to disagree, they accept that they have different opinions about something and stop trying to change each other's opinion
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keep a low profile
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If you keep a low profile, you try not to do anything that will draw attention to you or create interest in you
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the x-factor
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If someone has the x-factor, they have a certain charismatic appeal and magnetic quality.
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'A fool at 40 is a fool forever'
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If someone hasn't matured by the time they reach forty, they never will.
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'A little bird told me'
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If someone doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
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A long row to hoe
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Something that is a long row to hoe is a difficult task that takes a long time
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A penny for your thoughts
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This idiom is used as a way of asking someone what they are thinking about
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A shallow brook babbles the loudest
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People who are loud and talk a lot usually have nothing of substance to say. This contrasts with "Still waters run deep." Other versions are "Shallow brooks babble loudest" and "Shallow brooks are noisy."
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A steal
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If something is a steal, it costs much less than it is really worth.
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A still tongue keeps a wise head
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Wise people don't talk much.
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A textbook case
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A textbook case, it is a classic or common example of something
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A watched pot never boils
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Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer
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Abide by a decision
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If you abide by a decision, you accept it and comply with it, even though you might disagree with it.
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Ace in the hole
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An ace in the hole is something other people are not aware of that can be used to your advantage when the time is right.
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Acid test
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An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not
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Add fuel to the fire
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If people add fuel to the fire, they make a bad situation worse
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A person after your own heart
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A person after your own heart thinks the same way as you.
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Ahead of time
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If something happens ahead of time, it happens early or before the set time
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All hell broke loose
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When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.
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All square
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If something is all square, nobody has an advantage or is ahead of the others
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All talk no trousers
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(UK) Someone who is all talk and no trousers, talks about doing big, important things, but doesn't take any action.
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all the tea in China
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If someone won't do something for all the tea in China, they won't do it no matter how much money they are offered.
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put all your eggs in one basket
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If you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk everything at once, instead of trying to spread the risk. (This is often used as a negative imperative- 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket'. 'Have your eggs in one basket' is also used.)
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All's fair in love and war
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This idiom is used to say that where there is conflict, people can be expected to behave in a more vicious way.
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A babe in arms
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A babe in arms is a very young child, or a person who is very young to be holding a position.
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Back burner
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If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority
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Back foot
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(UK) If you are on your back foot, you are at a disadvantage and forced to be defensive of your position.
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Back number
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Something that's a back number is dated or out of fashion.
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Back the wrong horse
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If you back the wrong horse, you give your support to the losing side in something.
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back to square one
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If you are back to square one, you have to start from the beginning again.
Back to the drawing board |
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Back to the wall
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If you have your back to the wall, you are in a difficult situation with very little room for manoeuvre
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A backseat driver
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A backseat driver is an annoying person who is fond of giving advice to the person performing a task or doing something, especially when the advice is either wrong or unwelcome
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Bad apple
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A person who is bad and makes others bad is a bad apple.
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Bad egg
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A person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg. Good egg is the opposite.
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a bad hair day
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If you're having a bad hair day, things are not going the way you would like or had planned
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bad mouth
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(UK) When you are bad mouthing,you are saying negative things about someone or something.('Bad-mouth' and 'badmouth' are also used.)
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Bad shape
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If something's in bad shape, it's in bad condition. If a person's in bad shape, they are unfit or unhealthy
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bad taste in your mouth
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If something leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you feel there is something wrong or bad about it.
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a bag of bones (not a complement)
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If someone is a bag of bones, they are very underweight
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a bag of nerves
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If someone is a bag of nerves, they are very worried or nervous
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the ball is in your court
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If the ball is in your court, it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
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a basket case
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If something is a basket case, it is so bad that it cannot be helped
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Be careful what you wish for
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If you get things that you desire, there may be unforeseen and unpleasant consequences.('Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.' and 'Be careful what you wish for; you may receive it.' are also used.)
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Cake's not worth the candle
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If someone says that the cake's not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not be worth the effort put in to achieve it.
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a spade a spade
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A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt to conceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.
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Call it a day
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If you call it a day, you stop doing something for a while, normally at least until the following day
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called on the carpet
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If you are called on the carpet, you are summoned for a reprimand by superiors or others in power
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call the dogs off
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If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticising someone
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call the shots
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If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do
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call the tune
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The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.
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can't do it for toffee
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If you can't do something for toffee, you are incapable of doing something properly or to any sort of standard
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can't hack it
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Unable to perform an act, duty, job etc
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a carrot and stick
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If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment.
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carry the can
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If you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn't do it or are only partly at fault.
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case by case
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If things are done case by case, each situation or issue is handled separately on its own merits and demerits.
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cast a doubt on
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If you make other people not sure about a matter, then you have cast doubt on it.
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cast your net widely
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If you cast your net widely, you use a wide range of sources when trying to find something
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a cat and dog life
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If people lead a cat and dog life, they are always arguing.
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a cat nap
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If you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.
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