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111 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Pass the buck
Government ministers always pass the bulk if they are challenged with poverty
blame somebody else/ refuse to accept responsibility
acting the fool/goat
Stop acting the goat
acting stupidly
kill two birds with one stone
I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.
to manage to do two things at the same time instead of just one, because it is convenient to do both
in the blink of an eye
In the blink of an eye the handsome prince was transformed into an ugly frog
extremely quickly
a bone of contention
The main bone of contention was deciding who would take care of the children after the divorce.
something that people argue about for a long time
be as dry as a bone
I don't think he's been watering these plants - the soil's as dry as a bone.
to be extremely dry
rough and ready
I've done a rough and ready translation of the instructions. I hope it's clear enough.
if you do something in a rough and ready way, you do it quickly and without preparing it carefully
Cool, calm and collected
relaxed ,in control and not nervous
to cut a long story short British & Australian, American to make a long story short
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we left at midnight and James left somewhat later.
something that you say when you are about to stop telling someone all the details of something that happened and tell them only the main facts
by hook or by crook
I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook.
if you intend to do something by hook or by crook, you are determined not to let anything stop you doing it and are ready to use any methods
be at loggerheads
They're constantly at loggerheads with the farmers' union. [often + with]
The Senate and the House are still at loggerheads over the most crucial parts of the bill. [sometimes + over]
if two people or groups are at loggerheads, they disagree strongly about something
pay through the nose informal
If you want a decent wine in a restaurant, you have to pay through the nose for it. [usually + for]
to pay too much for something
have second thoughts
You're not having second thoughts about coming to Brighton with me, are you? [often + about]
if you have second thoughts about something, you change your opinion or start to have doubts about it
as free as a bird
She'd been traveling alone round the Greek islands for a year - free as a bird.
completely free to do what you want and without any worries
give sb a free hand
His manager had given him a free hand to make whatever changes he felt necessary. [often + to do sth]
to allow someone to do whatever they think is necessary in a particular situation
well-to-do
In Johannesburg's well-to-do suburbs, residents are hiring security guards to protect their homes.
rich
out of the blue British, American & Australian, American & Australian out of a clear (blue) sky
Then one day, completely out of the blue, I had a letter from her.
The invasion came out of a clear blue sky and caught everyone off guard.
if something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and you are not expecting it
put your foot down

When Anna came home drunk one afternoon I decided it was time to put my foot down.
to tell someone in a strong way that they must do something or that they must stop doing something
You can't just let him do what he wants, you'll have to put your foot down.
put/set the cat among the pigeons British & Australian

Tell them all they've got to work on Saturday. That should set the cat among the pigeons.
to do or say something that causes trouble and makes a lot of people angry or worried
safe and sound

It was a difficult drive but we all arrived safe and sound.
if you are safe and sound, you are not harmed in any way, although you were in a dangerous situation
lie through your teeth


The man's lying through his teeth. He never said anything of the sort.
to tell someone something that you know is completely false
drive/send sb round the bend informal


You're driving me round the bend with your constant complaining.
to make someone very angry, especially by continuing to do something annoying
pick up the bill/tab informal


When we go out for dinner it's always Jack who picks up the bill.
It's the taxpayer who picks up the tab for all these crazy government
to pay for something, often something that is not your responsibility
come (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump/jolt)

We came down to earth with a bump when we got back from our holidays to find we had a burst pipe.
to have to start dealing with the unpleasant or boring things that happen every day after a period of excitement and enjoyment
hold/stand your ground


The union stood its ground in negotiations despite pressure by management to accept a pay cut.
to refuse to change your opinions or behaviour, even if other people try to force you to do this
put/stick the knife in British & Australian, informal


'No one in the office likes you, you know, Tim', she said, putting the knife in.
The reviewer from The Times really stuck the knife in, calling it the worst play he'd seen in years.
to do or say something unpleasant to someone in an unkind way
be banging/hitting your head against a brick wall


I've been trying to get the rules changed for years now but I'm hitting my head against a brick wall.
He never listens to me - sometimes I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.
to keep asking someone to do something which they never do
frighten/scare the (living) daylights out of sb

Don't come up behind me like that. You scared the living daylights out of me!
to frighten someone very much
against (all) the odds, against all odds


Against all the odds, she conceived her first child at the age of 56.
He struggled against the odds to keep his business going during the recession.
if you do or achieve something against all the odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed
hit sb where it hurts (most)


She hit him where it hurt most - in his bank account.
If you want to hit her where it really hurts, tell her she's putting on weight again.
to do something which will upset someone as much as possible
not look a gift horse in the mouth


Okay, it's not the job of your dreams but it pays good money. I'd be inclined not to look a gift horse in the mouth if I were you.
if someone tells you not to look a gift horse in the mouth, they mean that you should not criticize or feel doubt about something good that has been offered to you
be pushing up (the) daisies humorous


It won't affect me anyway. I'll be pushing up the daisies long before it happens.
to be dead
Definition

on the brink of sth


The country is on the brink of civil war.
We are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
She is on the brink of international stardom.
if someone or something is on the brink of a situation, that situation is likely to happen soon
tie yourself (up) in knots


They tied themselves in knots over the seating arrangements. [often + over]
to become very confused or worried when you are trying to make a decision or solve a problem
be man enough to do sth

He was man enough to admit he had made a mistake.
to be brave enough to do something
a slime ball informal

I don't know what she sees in him - he's such a slime ball!
an unpleasant man who is friendly in a way which is not sincere
There's no peace/rest for the wicked! humorous


I can't talk - I've got to finish this essay. There's no rest for the wicked.
something that you say which means you must continue an activity although you might like to stop
from/since time immemorial literary


Her family had farmed that land from time immemorial.
for longer than anyone can remember
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. old-fashioned


If 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away,' then why have I got this terrible cold?
something that you say which means eating an apple every day will keep you healthy
stuff your face very informal


We've been stuffing our faces with Susannah's delicious chocolate cake. [usually in continuous tenses]
to eat a lot of food
give sb pause (for thought) formal

something
It was a tragedy which gave us all pause for thought.
if something gives you pause, it is surprising or worrying and it makes you think more carefully about
Under the weather
Mark has been feeling under the weather for weeks
not very well
like death (warmed over)
The poor guy looked like death warmed over.
if you feel or look like death warmed up, you feel or look very ill
recharge your batteries

A week away would give you time to rest and recharge your batteries.
to rest in order to get back your strength and energy
be off-color


He had flu a couple of months ago and he's been a bit off-color ever since.
to not be feeling as well as usual
be on the mend


He's still a bit tired but he's definitely on the mend.
if you are on the mend, your health is improving after an illness
By the end of the week he returned to work as fit as a fiddle

My Dad's nearly eighty now but he's as fit as a fiddle.
to be very healthy
be as right as rain


I'll be as right as rain as soon as I take my pills.
He's been as right as rain ever since
to feel well
not be all there informal

Some of the things she said made me think she's not quite all there.
She is not all there
to be slightly crazy
be off your trolley humorous


What are you doing eating chocolate and cheese again? You're off your trolley!

She's off her trolley
to be crazy
not be right in the head informal


His aunt's not right in the head, poor soul - you sometimes see her wandering up the street in her nightie.
He's not right in the head
to be mentally ill
have a screw loose informal


I think that woman has a screw loose - she goes out in her slippers.
She's got a screw loose
to be crazy
a basket case

INFORMAL

She'll never get a job. She's a basket case.
She's a basket case


Twenty years ago the country was an economic basket case.
someone who is crazy and unable to organize their life

a very poor country which needs economic help from other countries, or a business that is in a very bad financial situation
be off your rocker informal


Spending that much on a car! He must be off his rocker!
He's off his rocker
to be crazy
be one sandwich short of a picnic humorous, humorous be a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic


After talking to him for about 10 minutes I decided he was definitely one sandwich short of a picnic.
She's one sandwich short of a picnic
if someone is one sandwich short of a picnic, they are stupid or crazy
pop your clogs British, humorous


This place hasn't been the same since poor old Harry popped his clogs.
She's popped her clogs
to die
give up the ghost


She'd been trying to break into acting for ten years without success and was just about to give up the ghost.


We've had the same television for fifteen years and I think it's finally about to give up the ghost.She's given up the ghost
to die
to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed
(humorous) if a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working
bite the dust

INFORMAL

Three hundred more people lost their jobs in the same region when another firm bit the dust.
She can't make it on Saturday? Oh, well, another good idea bites the dust!


Two Hollywood stars of the thirties have recently bitten the dust.He's bitten the dust
to fail or to stop existing
(humorous) to die
Definition

fall off your perch British, old-fashioned, humorous


By the time I fall off my perch, Britain may well be a republic.

he's fallen off his perch
to die
a sore point/spot


I tried not to make any reference to Mike's drinking habits - I know it's a sore point with Kay at the moment. [often + with]
Try not to mention baldness while he's here. It's his sore point
a subject which someone would prefer not to talk about because it makes them angry or embarrassed
give sb a dose/taste of their own medicine


She's always turning up late for me so I thought I'd give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes it.
Refusing to lend him money now would give him a taste of his own medicine he never lent you any
to do the same bad thing to someone that they have often done to you, in order to show them how unpleasant it is
a bitter pill (to swallow), bitter medicine


Losing the championship to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.
Cuts in salaries are a dose of bitter medicine that may help the company to survive
Losing my job was initially a bitter pill to swallow
a situation that is unpleasant but must be accepted
sugar/sweeten the pill British, American & Australian, American sugar-coat the pill


The government have cut income tax to sweeten the pill of a tough budget.
The boss has sugared the overtime pill by offering a large extra payment
to make something bad seem less unpleasant
I can't stay in one place for more than a year without getting itchy feet
have itchy feet British & Australian, informal


Why've you got all these travel brochures? Do you have itchy feet?
to want to travel or to do something different
be on cloud nine informal


For a few days after I heard I'd got the job, I was on cloud nine.

I'm on cloud nine
to be very happy
be over the moon informal


Marie got the job. She's over the moon.
I'm over the moon
to be extremely pleased about something
be thrilled to bits British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal be thrilled to pieces


'So what did your parents say when they heard you were pregnant?' 'Oh, they were thrilled to bits.'
I'm thrilled to bits
to be extremely pleased
be on top of the world


She'd just discovered she was pregnant and she felt on top of the world.
I am/feel on top of the world
to feel very happy
be in seventh heaven humorous


Since they got married they've been in seventh heaven.
I'm in seventh heaven
to be extremely happy
get a kick out of sth/doing sth informal


Anyone who gets a kick out of horror movies will love this show.
I get a real kick out of shopping for new shoes.
I get a (real) kick out of going for a run first thing before everyone is up
to enjoy doing something very much
for kicks informal


Local kids steal cars and race them up and down the street, just for kicks.
Sandra is keen to have a go on bungee jumping- just for kicks
if you do something for kicks, especially something dangerous, you do it because you think it is exciting
jump for joy


Tina jumped for joy when she found out she'd be in the team.
Rowena jumped for joy when she heard she had won the first prize
to be very happy about something good that has happened
be floating/walking on air


When the doctor told me I was going to have a baby, I was walking on air.
I've been walking on air ever since Chris and I started going out together
to be very happy and excited because something very pleasant has happened to you
make sb's day


Go on, tell him you like his jacket. It'll make his day!
I was so pleased to hear
from Peter. It really made my day.It's great to hear from you. it made my day
to make someone very happy
be out of sorts


I'd been feeling tired and headachy and generally out of sorts for some time.
to feel slightly ill or slightly unhappy
be down in the dumps informal


Things hadn't been going so well for her at work and she was feeling a bit down in the dumps.
Will is down in the dumps because he doesn't like his teacher this year
to be unhappy
not be the end of the world

If I don't get the job, it won't be the end of the world.
I've told him that it's not the end of the world
if you say that if something happens it won't be the end of the world, you mean it will not cause very serious problems
grin and bear it

I don't want to spend the whole weekend working but I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it.
to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation because there is nothing you can do to improve it
a misery guts informal


Of course, your father, old misery guts, wanted to come home after half an hour because he was bored.
someone who complains all the time and is never happy
sour grapes


I don't think it's such a great job - and that's not just sour grapes because I didn't get it.
if you say that something someone says is sour grapes, you mean that they said it because they are jealous
put a damper/dampener on sth


Steve lost his wallet so that rather put a damper on the evening.
We were both ill while we were in Boston, which put a bit of a dampener on things.
to stop an occasion from being enjoyable
A damper is a device used on piano strings to make the sound less loud.
be fed up/sick to the back teeth British & Australian, informal


He's been treating me badly for two years and, basically, I'm fed up to the back teeth with it. [often + with]
You're probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about my problems! [often + of]
to be bored or angry because a bad situation has continued for too long or a subject has been discussed too much
be at your wits' end


I've tried everything I can think of to make her eat and she flatly refuses. I'm really at my wits' end.
to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it
have had it (up to here) informal


I've had it! From now on they can clear up their own mess.
I've had it up to here with lawyers! [often + with]
to be so angry about something that you do not want to continue with it or even think about it any more
have/throw a fit


My mother threw a fit when she saw the mess we'd made.
to be very angry
go off the deep end informal


One minute we were having a perfectly reasonable discussion and the next minute you just went off the deep end!
to suddenly become very angry or upset and start shouting at someone
go spare British & Australian, informal


She'd go spare if she found out he was spending all that money.
to become very angry
do your nut British & Australian, informal


If she has to walk from the station again she'll do her nut.
to become extremely angry
blow a fuse/gasket informal


Jim'll blow a fuse if he finds you here.
When her husband realized how much she'd spent he blew a gasket.
to become very angry and shout or behave in a violent way
sb's blood is up


Now Tom's blood was up - he ran at Bob waving his fists.
if someone's blood is up, they are very angry or excited about something and may act in a violent way
be after sb's blood


He'd cheated them and now they were after his blood.
to want to catch someone in order to hurt them or punish them
be out for blood


These people are out for blood and if they find out you're involved you're in serious trouble.
if you are out for blood, you are determined to find someone to attack or blame for something
drive sb up the wall informal


I was being driven up the wall by their silly chatter.
Working in a factory would have driven me up the wall.
to make someone very angry or very bored
rub sb up the wrong way British & Australian, American rub sb the wrong way


It's not her fault - she just rubs me up the wrong way.
Whenever they meet, they always manage to rub each other the wrong way.
to annoy someone without intending to
get/put sb's back up informal


When a cat feels angry it raises its back.
She put my back up immediately by interrupting everything I said.
to do or say something which annoys someone
ruffle sb's feathers


He wasn't asked to speak at the conference, and I know that ruffled his feathers a bit.
to make someone annoyed
not be on speaking terms


She's not on speaking terms with her ex-husband. [often + with]
Jeanette and her mother haven't been on speaking terms since the wedding.
to be refusing to talk to someone because you have had an argument and are still angry with them
give sb an earful informal


You can just imagine the earful he gave her when they got home.
to tell someone how angry you are with them
give sb a piece of your mind informal


I've had enough of him coming home late. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind when he gets in tonight.
to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong
know sth inside out informal


Why don't you ask Mike? He knows the system inside out.
to know everything about a subject
know your stuff informal


When it comes to restoring grand pianos, Mr Morley really knows his stuff.
to know a lot about a subject, or to be very good at doing something
have a familiar ring (to it)


I thought that name had a familiar ring. I went to school with that girl.
if something has a familiar ring, you believe that you have heard it before
ring a bell, ring any bells


Does the name 'Fitzpatrick' ring a bell?
No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me. [often + with]
if a phrase or a word, especially a name, rings a bell, you think you have heard it before
not have a clue informal


'How much do houses cost in Yorkshire?' 'I haven't got a clue.'
Internet researchers in the 1980s didn't have a clue about the exciting online landscapes of the future. [often + about]
to have no knowledge of or no information about something
not have the faintest (idea)


'Do you know where Anna is? ' 'I haven't the faintest.'
I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. [often + question word]
to have no knowledge of or no information about something
not have the foggiest (idea/notion) informal


'Do you know where Kate's gone?' 'I haven't the foggiest.'
The photocopier's broken down again, and nobody has the foggiest idea how to fix it. [often + question word]
to not know the answer to a question
can't for the life of me


I know I filed it somewhere but I can't for the life of me remember where.
if you say you can't for the life of you remember something, you mean that you cannot remember it at all
touch base


I had a really good time in Paris. I touched base with some old friends and made a few new ones. [usually + with]
to talk to someone in order to find out how they are or what they think about something
be out of touch


Some of these judges are so out of touch, they've never even heard of Ecstasy.
to not know much about modern life
put two and two together


I didn't tell her my husband had left, but she'd noticed his car was missing and put two and two together.
to guess the truth about a situation from pieces of information which you know about it
get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick informal


Her friend saw us arrive at the party together and got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
I said how nice he was and Julie got the wrong end of the stick and thought I wanted to go out with him.
to not understand a situation correctly