That's absurd. You're wasting your time there. It'll
never amount to anything! You're chasing __________.
to pursueone or more goalsthatareunrealistic,fanciful, or unlikely to happen
Miscellaneous Idioms
That's absurd. You're wasting your time there. It'll
never
amount to anything! You're chasingrainbows.
to chase rainbows
to pursueone or more goalsthatareunrealistic,fanciful, or unlikely to happen
Miscellaneous Idioms
I don't believe in euphemisms or skirting around
the truth. I prefer to call a spade ________ .
to speak directly and bluntly - to tell it as it is
Miscellaneous Idioms
I don't believe in euphemisms or skirting around
the
truth. I prefer to call a spade a spade.
to call a spade a spade
to speak directly and bluntly - to tell it as it is
Miscellaneous Idioms
Yes, I've repaired the woodworm damage to the roof
joists, but it's cost me an arm ___________ to do so!
to cost a LOT of money
Miscellaneous Idioms
Yes, I've repaired the woodworm damage to the roof
joists,
but it's cost me an arm and a leg to do so!
to cost an arm and a leg
to cost a LOT of money
Miscellaneous Idioms
1)
2)
FGS stop beating __________________ and get to the point.
FGS stop pfaffing about and cut __________________.
to get to the point without wasting time
Miscellaneous Idioms
1)
2)
FGS stop beatingabout the bush and get to the point.
FGS stop pfaffing about and cutto the chase.(more common in North America)
to beat about the bush - to cut to the chase
to get to the point without wasting time
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I'm afraid I can't get him to budge on his decision
to sell the house; he's really digging __________.
to refuse to change a decision - to be stubborn and obstinate
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I'm afraid I can't get him to budge on his decision
to sell the house; he's really digginghis heels in.
to dig one's heels in
to refuse to change a decision - to be stubborn and obstinate
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
He's just lost his job, so I think you should
cut him _____________; give him a break.
to judge someone less severely than one usually would
because they are having problems at the present time
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
He's just lost his job, so I think you should cut himsome slack ; give him a break.
to cut someone some slack
to judge someone less severely than one usually would
because they are having problems at the present time
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Sorry. No can do. At some point one has to say: "Enough is enough." He can go
on a road trip with his mates but I __________ at lending him my camping-van!
to set a limit on what one will do or allow
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Sorry. No can do. At some point one has to say: "Enough is enough." He can go
on
a road
trip with his mates but I draw the line at lending him my camping-van!
to draw the line (at ......ing)
to set a limit on what one will do or allow
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I know I'm overweight, but you want me to lose 20kg! _________________ done, I fear!
When something is WAY more difficult than it sounds!
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I know I'm overweight, but you want me to lose 20kg! Easier said than done, I fear!
easier said than done
when something is WAY more difficult than it sounds!
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Look, we can't go on ignoring the _________________
for ever.
We have to talk about it sometime, don't we?
a hugely important and worrying topic that nobody really wants to talk about
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Look, we can't go on ignoring the elephant in the room
for ever. We have to talk about it sometime, don't we?
the elephant in the room
a hugely important and worrying topic that nobody really wants to talk about
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
We can't get out of this one. They're going to find out what
we've done. We'll just have to own up and _____________.
to accept the unavoidable unpleasant consequences/punishment
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
We can't get out of this one. They're going to find out what
we've done.
We'll just have to own up and face the music.
to face the music
to accept the unavoidable unpleasant consequences/punishment
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I don't think I will be able to go to the party tonight because ....
1) I feel a bit under _____________ .
2) I feel a bit out _____________.
tired, headachy, not feeling great generally, maybe a bit unhappy,
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I don't think I will be able to go to the party tonight because ....
1) I feel a bit under the weather.
2) I feel a bit out of sorts.
tired, headachy, maybe a bit unhappy, not feeling great generally
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
1) After moving to Japan, it took me a few months to find ___________ ,
understand the culture and language, and settle into a daily routine.
2) When you become a parent for the first time, it can take a while
to find ___________ and navigate the challenges of raising a child.
HINT: a part of the body!
expresses the difficult process of adapting to and managing something new
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
1) After moving to Japan, it took me a few months to find my feet,
understand the culture and language, and settle into a daily routine.
2) When you become a parent for the first time, it can take a while
to find your feet and navigate the challenges of raising a child.
to find one's feet
expresses the difficult process of adapting to and managing something new
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
This place doesn't suit him at all. He's like a _______________ water.
expresses the idea of not fitting into a job or other situation
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
This place doesn't suit him at all. He's like a fish out of water.
to be a fish out of water
expresses the idea of not fitting into a job or other situation
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Give it up, mate. It'll never work. You're _________________ horse there.
pursuing a lost cause - wasting time, energy and/or money on something that won't work
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Give it up, mate. It'll never work. You're flogging a dead horse there.
to flog a dead horse
pursuing a lost cause - wasting time, energy and/or money on something that won't work
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I thought we had the situation under
control, but now it's really getting __________________.
to reach a point where one is losing control
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I thought we had the situation under control, but now it's really gettingout of hand.
to get out of hand
to reach a point where one is losing control
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Tom: "Did you see Mary at the party?"
Dick: "Yes, but she practically ignored me: really gave me the____________."
HINT: a part of the body!
to deliberately ignore someone
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Tom: "Did you see Mary at the party?"
Dick: "Yes, but she practically ignored me: really gave me thecold shoulder."
to give someone the cold shoulder
to deliberately ignore someone
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I was going to invest in China but given the
current political situation I'm starting to get ______________ .
HINT: a part of the body!
to start feeling uneasy about some project or plan
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
I was going to invest in China but given the
current
political situation I'm starting to get cold feet.
to get cold feet
to start feeling uneasy about some project or plan
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Dave:
Well, nothing's working out right with this; we'll have to have a rethink.
Bill:
Yes, we'll probably haveto go (right)
____________________ one.
____________________-board.
two idioms with the same meaning
to give up the current plan and make a new one
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Dave:
Well, nothing's working out right with this; we'll have to have a rethink.
Bill:
Yes, we'll probably have to go (right)
back to square one.
back to the drawing-board.
two idioms with the same meaning
to give up the current plan and make a new one
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Tom: "Well, this really is a very tricky problem, isn't it?"
Dick: "Yes, it's going to be a ____________ crack."
a very difficult problem to solve
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Tom: "Well, this really is a very tricky problem, isn't it?"
Dick: "Yes, it's going to be a hard nut to crack."
a hard nut to crack
a very difficult problem to solve
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
We've had a long day and it's getting late. I think I'll hit ___________.
to go to bed
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
We've had a long day and it's getting late. I think I'll hit the hay.
to hit the hay (in the US also to hit the sack)
to go to bed
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Absolutely right, Bill. You've hit _______________ .
to say (or do) something that is completely right
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Absolutely right, Bill. You've hit the nail on the head.
to hit the nail on the head
to say (or do) something that is completely right
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
His plan will never work; it's completely bonkers.
Sometimes
I think that James lives in cloud-__________________.
to live in a fantasy world - be totally and ridiculously unrealistic
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
His plan will never work; it's completely bonkers.
Sometimes I think that James lives in cloud-cuckoo land.
to live in cloud-cuckoo land
to live in a fantasy world - be totally and ridiculously unrealistic
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
THERE you are at last! The train leaves in two minutes!
You've arrived in the _____________ time.
a colloquial synonym for "just in time"
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
THERE you are at last! The train leaves in two minutes!
You've arrived in the nick of time.
in the nick of time
a colloquial synonym for "just in time"
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Dave:
This is a delicate situation. We mustn't make our move too soon.
Bill:
No, ____ing __________ would be disastrous.
to take an action prematurely and risk spoiling the desired outcome
Miscellaneous Idioms - set 1
Dave:
This is a delicate situation. We mustn't make our move too soon.
Bill:
No, jumping the gun would be disastrous.
to jump the gun
to take an action prematurely and risk spoiling the desired outcome
