Idioms
Re: Idioms
white lie
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A lie that is told in order to be polite or to stop someone from being upset by the truth
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A lie that is told in order to be polite or to stop someone from being upset by the truth
Re: Idioms
which way the wind blows
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If a person tries to discover which way the wind blows/is blowing, he/she tries to discover information about a situation, especially other people's opinions, before he/she takes action.
John knows which way the wind blows and always acts accordingly.
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If a person tries to discover which way the wind blows/is blowing, he/she tries to discover information about a situation, especially other people's opinions, before he/she takes action.
John knows which way the wind blows and always acts accordingly.
Re: Idioms
take one's breath away
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To make someone feel surprised and excited.
The beautiful new cinema took my breath away.
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To make someone feel surprised and excited.
The beautiful new cinema took my breath away.
Re: Idioms
a slip of the tongue
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If you describe something you said as a slip of the tongue, you mean that you said it by mistake.
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If you describe something you said as a slip of the tongue, you mean that you said it by mistake.
Re: Idioms
to be born in purple
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It was originally used to refer to babies born to the members of the royal family.
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It was originally used to refer to babies born to the members of the royal family.
Re: Idioms
bottom line
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Main result/factor.
The bottom line is, I don't have enough money.
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Main result/factor.
The bottom line is, I don't have enough money.
Re: Idioms
castles in the air
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Plans that have very little chance of happening.
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Plans that have very little chance of happening.
Re: Idioms
apple of one’s eye
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Special favorite, beloved person or thing.
The youngest was the apple of his father's eye.
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Special favorite, beloved person or thing.
The youngest was the apple of his father's eye.
Re: Idioms
bring home the bacon.
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To bring home the bacon means to earn the household income.
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To bring home the bacon means to earn the household income.
Re: Idioms
a drop in the bucket.
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A very small amount compared to the amount needed
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A very small amount compared to the amount needed
Re: Idioms
at first sight.
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Used to describe your first impression of someone or something, usually to indicate that this first impression was wrong or incomplete.
Love at first sight
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Used to describe your first impression of someone or something, usually to indicate that this first impression was wrong or incomplete.
Love at first sight
Re: Idioms
roughly speaking
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Not being totally accurate (used as a phrase to specify).
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Not being totally accurate (used as a phrase to specify).
Re: Idioms
put food on the table
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To provide enough money to cover basic necessities.
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To provide enough money to cover basic necessities.
Re: Idioms
put your heart and soul into something
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If you put your heart and soul into something, you do it with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy.
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If you put your heart and soul into something, you do it with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy.
Re: Idioms
man of his word
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A person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.
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A person who can be trusted to keep a promise; a reliable person.
Re: Idioms
odds and ends
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Various things of different types, usually small and not important, or of little value.
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Various things of different types, usually small and not important, or of little value.
Re: Idioms
on hand
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If someone or something is on hand, they are near and able to be used if they are needed.
Do you have a calculator on hand?
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If someone or something is on hand, they are near and able to be used if they are needed.
Do you have a calculator on hand?
Re: Idioms
which way the wind blows
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What the real situation is.
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What the real situation is.
Re: Idioms
The real meat of things
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The most important part or the main part of something.
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The most important part or the main part of something.
Re: Idioms
under cover of something
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Hidden or protected by something.
He was working undercover at that time.
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Hidden or protected by something.
He was working undercover at that time.
Re: Idioms
keep in mind
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To be careful to remember something important.
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To be careful to remember something important.
Re: Idioms
bear in mind
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If you tell someone to bear something in mind or to keep something in mind, you are reminding or warning them about something important which they should remember.
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If you tell someone to bear something in mind or to keep something in mind, you are reminding or warning them about something important which they should remember.
Re: Idioms
the chicken and egg problem
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If you describe a situation as a chicken and egg situation, you mean that it is impossible to decide which of two things caused the other one.
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If you describe a situation as a chicken and egg situation, you mean that it is impossible to decide which of two things caused the other one.
Re: Idioms
there is no such thing as a free lunch
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Used to say that it is not possible to get something that is desired or valuable without having to pay for it in some way.
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Used to say that it is not possible to get something that is desired or valuable without having to pay for it in some way.
Re: Idioms
rags to riches
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Refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth.
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Refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth.
Re: Idioms
to get your feet wet
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To begin doing a new job, activity, etc., in a brief and simple way in order to become more familiar with it.
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To begin doing a new job, activity, etc., in a brief and simple way in order to become more familiar with it.
Re: Idioms
to have the edge over
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To have a slight advantage or superiority over.
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To have a slight advantage or superiority over.
Re: Idioms
touch some grass
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To go outside; enjoy nature (used especially as an exhortation to spend less time on electronic devices).
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To go outside; enjoy nature (used especially as an exhortation to spend less time on electronic devices).
Re: Idioms
start off on the right foot
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To immediately have success when you begin to do something.
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To immediately have success when you begin to do something.
Re: Idioms
Godspeed
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Godspeed should be used in sentences when you are bidding someone good luck, safety and success.
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Godspeed should be used in sentences when you are bidding someone good luck, safety and success.
Re: Idioms
a back of a napkin
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A back of a napkin plan is an informal plan that helps businesses plan and evaluates their new strategies.
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A back of a napkin plan is an informal plan that helps businesses plan and evaluates their new strategies.
Re: Idioms
a back-of-the-envelope calculation
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A back-of-the-envelope calculation is a quick and informal mathematical computation. This type of calculation is used as an estimate to arrive at a ballpark figure when needed quickly.
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A back-of-the-envelope calculation is a quick and informal mathematical computation. This type of calculation is used as an estimate to arrive at a ballpark figure when needed quickly.
Re: Idioms
to have a leg up
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To have an advantage over others.
The company has a leg up on the competition thanks to the recent publicity.
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To have an advantage over others.
The company has a leg up on the competition thanks to the recent publicity.
Re: Idioms
drama queen
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A person who often has exaggerated or overly emotional reactions to events or situations.
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A person who often has exaggerated or overly emotional reactions to events or situations.
Re: Idioms
to blow the budget
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The act of spending too much time or money on a single project.
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The act of spending too much time or money on a single project.
Re: Idioms
get one's foot in the door
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To make the first step toward a goal by gaining entry into an organization, a career, etc.
He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.
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To make the first step toward a goal by gaining entry into an organization, a career, etc.
He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.
Re: Idioms
go out on a limb
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If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other.
He's going out on a limb in criticizing her own party leadership.
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If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other.
He's going out on a limb in criticizing her own party leadership.
Re: Idioms
in someone's hands
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It means that you have responsibility for something. You are in charge of something.
The organization for Stephan's party is in your hands.
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It means that you have responsibility for something. You are in charge of something.
The organization for Stephan's party is in your hands.
Re: Idioms
a snowball's chance in hell
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It has absolutely no chance at all of happening, it is just impossible.
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It has absolutely no chance at all of happening, it is just impossible.
Re: Idioms
I'm cooked
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It means that you're done for, exhausted, or just generally struggling.
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It means that you're done for, exhausted, or just generally struggling.
Re: Idioms
Don't build your house on someone else's land
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When you build the house, it will be owned by whoever owns the land on which it is built.
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When you build the house, it will be owned by whoever owns the land on which it is built.
Re: Idioms
get your head down
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To direct all your efforts into the particular task you are involved in.
I'm going to get my head down and try and finish this report before I go home today.
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To direct all your efforts into the particular task you are involved in.
I'm going to get my head down and try and finish this report before I go home today.
Re: Idioms
blue collar worker
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The blue collar worker definition indicates that these workers perform primarily manual labor.
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The blue collar worker definition indicates that these workers perform primarily manual labor.
Re: Idioms
keys to the kingdom
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Possessing the “keys to the kingdom” implies having significant influence over these aspects.
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Possessing the “keys to the kingdom” implies having significant influence over these aspects.
Re: Idioms
on the bright side
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Look on the bright side - no one died.
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Look on the bright side - no one died.