ring a bell

A: Do you know April ONeil? Definition B: Hmm. Maybe. That name rings a bell. = is familiar to you but you can't remember where you heard it Definition = (expression used to when considering the advantages and disadvantages of sth)

on the one hand / on On the one hand, Peters roommate is kind. On the other the other hand hand, hes quite messy.

have/keep an open mind

I tried to keep an open mind about Definition Allan even though Id heard some bad things about him. = be openminded

on the tip of your tongue

His name was on the tip of my tongue but I couldnt remember it.

Definition = used to say you are almost able to remember something, but you can't Definition = unwell from drinking too much alcohol on the previous day

a hangover (noun) / hung-over (adj)

Tyler was too hung-over from last nights party to go to work.

~ish

Lets meet around 4ish.

Definition = used to make sth more vague and less exact

fed up

Im fed up with my neighbours dog.

Definition = so angry that you can no longer tolerate any more of sth

Big deal!

It takes you 15 minutes to walk to school? Big deal!

Definition = a sarcastic expression meaning that sth is actually NOT a big deal.

Give sb a hand

My dad gave me a hand with my homework.

Definition = helped you

let the cat out of the bag

It was going to be a surprise party, Definition until Todd let the cat out of the bag. = told the secret so other people found out too early If you think you can make the team, then give it a shot. Definition = give it a try

give it a shot

No way!

A: George, Im pregnant. B: No way!

Definition = similar to "that can't be possible!" / "I don't believe you!"

The more the merrier.

A: Can I invite my brother? B: Sure. The more the merrier.

Definition = used to say that the more of sth there is, the better it will be.

give it your all

Even though I lost the race, I gave Definition it my all. = tried your hardest I saw the accident happen, firsthand. Definition = you experienced it personally

first-hand

a dead end

Lets not take this path. It leads to Definition a dead end. = a place with only an end Time flies when your having fun. Definition = time passes quickly

time flies

pull sbs leg

You have 6 brothers? Youre pulling my leg!

Definition = same as "You're joking!"

have sth on your mind

When Dana has something on her Definition mind, she likes to go for a long walk by herself. = to have a certain topic in your thoughts I use my watch to keep track of time. Definition = to monitor the time

keep track

from scratch

My aunt made the cake from scratch.

Definition = from nothing (without any already-prepared materials)

off the top of your head

He asked me to tell him a joke, but I couldnt think of one off the top of my head.

Definition = using only the ideas you have in your head at that moment Definition = to learn sth important about life from making a mistake/doing something wrong

learn your lesson

The boy learned his lesson. Hell never play with fire again.

keep/bear in mind

The professor told his students to keep in mind that they only have 50 minutes to complete the test.

Definition = not forget; remember

speak your mind

Timmy was afraid to speak his mind in front of his schoolmates.

Definition = say what you honestly feel

Just my luck!

It rained on my only day off. Just my luck!

Definition = expression used when sth unlucky happens to you. It implies that unlucky things happen to you, thus your luck is bad luck

Theres nothing to it. Why dont you make a simple

Definition

website for your business? Theres nothing to it.

= it's very easy; it's a piece of cake Definition = got out of control

get out of hand

The house party got out of hand, so we had to call the police.

cut a long story short

To cut a long story short, Lisa and Definition I have had some interesting experiences together. = to make a long story shorter so it takes less time to say The test was a piece of cake. I finished it in 20 minutes. Definition = very easy

a piece of cake

break the ice

At the start of the meeting, Mike tried to break the ice by telling a joke.

Definition = to initiate social interaction/conversation. (Note: the ice is that cold feeling when no one is talking or people dont know each other. You break the ice by beginning to speak or starting an activity (e.g. telling a joke, or doing a warm-up activity)) Definition = to take extra time to make an additional effort to do sth Definition = to think about sth; to consider sth

go out of your way to I went out of my way to help Jenny find an apartment, and she do sth didnt even say thanks!

cross your mind

The thought never even crossed my mind.

road rage

I dont like being in the car with Gary. He has difficulty controlling his road rage.

Definition = extreme anger when driving

go on about

The old man went on about his school days for nearly an hour.

Definition = to speak for too long about sth uninteresting

slip your mind

I was going to return the library books today after work, but the thought slipped my mind.

Definition = used to say you forgot to do sth Definition = to get angry and begin acting like an angry child

have/throw a fit

The baby threw a fit when I took his toy away.

The ball is in your court

The ball is in their court now. Lets Definition wait for their decision. = used to say that YOU now have control of the situation Finding a fifty-dollar bill on the ground made my day. Definition = used to say that sth made your day special (and great).

make your day

a rip off / to rip sb off Six dollars for a cup of coffee?! What a rip off!

Definition = sth very over-priced

get a kick out of sth

I get a kick out of reading science fiction novels.

Definition = to get enjoyment from sth

catch sbs eye

The bright advertisement caught my eye.

Definition = to grab sb's attention and make them look at sth

jump the gun

I jumped the gun and asked Gail to marry me. She said she wasn't sure what to say.

Definition = to do sth too soon.

give sb a piece of your mind

The angry worker gave his boss a Definition piece of his mind. = to speak angrily to sb

about sth bad they have done cross your fingers Kate crossed her fingers and hoped it wouldnt rain on her wedding day. Definition = (Westerners cross their fingers when they want good luck)

cost (sb) an arm and The designer handbag cost her an Definition arm and a leg. a leg = to cost a LOT of money be in hot water Ken was in hot water about forgetting his wedding anniversary. Definition = to be in trouble

in a bind

Susan is really in a bind. She has Definition two essays due tomorrow and she hasn't started either of them. = in a difficult situation; stuck in a difficult situation The film on global warming was a real eye-opener for Tom. Definition = sth that makes you see or think about sth differently from then on

an eye-opener

let off steam

Ted plays squash when he needs Definition to let off steam. = to release anger and frustration You can figure out the authors opinion by reading between the lines. Definition = to find the hidden meaning in sth that is written or said Definition = to use all of your energy or resources (e.g. money in the above example) to do sth

read between the lines

go all out

We went all out and booked a five-star hotel for our trip.

out of line

Marks comment was out of line.

Definition

He shouldnt have said that to a client.

= inappropriate; not in accordance with how sb is supposed to behave Definition = to persistently urge sb to do (or not to do) sth

be on sbs back

My manager is on my back about being at work on time.

would not be seen/caught dead

I wouldnt be seen dead wearing an ugly dress like that.

Definition = used to say that you would NEVER do sth

have mixed feelings

Larry has mixed feelings about his Definition new job. = to be unsure about sth When asked for her postal code, Amy drew a blank. Definition = to be unable to remember anything

draw a blank

You name it.

A: Daddy, can I have anything on the menu? B: Sure. You name it, you got it.

Definition = synonym of 'whatever you want'; anything Definition = to know sth well

know your stuff

Jim has been a mechanic for 20 years. He really knows his stuff.

left, right and centre

Businesses were closing in town left, right and centre.

Definition = everywhere

a change of heart

After seeing a mouse on the floor, Definition I had a change of heart about eating at the restaurant. = a change of feeling; used to say you changed your mind about sth Peter told his boss that he Definition wouldnt quit. Hes in it for the long haul. = the long road; the option

a long haul

that takes the most time be man enough George was the only one man enough to admit he had made a mistake. Definition = strong enough in character, or strong enough as a man Definition = the best know/learn the ropes It took me a month to learn the ropes at my new job. Definition = the process of learning about sth so you are comfortable with it a breath of fresh air The new employee, Gail, is a breath of fresh air in the office. Definition = sth new that adds life and energy to a situation get your act together The coach told me that if I didnt get my act together, Id be kicked off the team. Definition = start behaving properly

be second to none

The apple pie at this restaurant is second to none.

set your heart on sth Eric has his heart set on participating in the Olympics.

Definition = to be firmly resolved to do sth

take sb/sth for granted

Keith took it for granted that his girlfriend would always stay with him. Then, one day, she was gone.

Definition = to assume too confidently that you'll have sth in the future or forever Definition = to improvise; to not make a plan but decide what to do as you do it Definition

play it by ear

A: How long will you stay in Australia? B: Im not sure. Im just going to play it by ear.

put all your eggs in

Greg invested his money in a few

one basket

different areas. He didnt want to put all his eggs in one basket.

= to put all of sth you have in the same area (note: generally viewed as a bad thing to do) Definition = similar people tend to spend time with each other.

Birds of a feather (flock together)

A: Its funny that all of Kates friends are attractive. B: So is she. I guess birds of a feather flock together.

have second thoughts

Im starting to have second thoughts about my new apartment.

Definition = to have doubts

pay the price for sth

Dont touch my stuff. If you do, youll pay the price.

Definition = to suffer as a consequence of doing sth

a basket case

Darryls ex-wife is a total basket case.

Definition = a crazy person; a nut

on the dot

We arrived at 8 oclock on the dot. Definition = exactly

not have a clue

I dont have a clue where Nunavut Definition is. = to have no idea or absolutely no knowledge (about sth) Our team has a shot at winning the championship. Definition = has a chance

have a shot at

the word spread

It took only an hour for word to Definition spread around the office that John had been fired. = for some news to spread ("the word" = some news) I arrived home from my trip safe Definition

safe and sound

and sound. = safe be a pain (in the neck) My brother is a real pain in the neck sometimes. Definition = to be annoying/irritating be in the same boat The governments of Portugal and Greece are in the same boat. They both need financial assistance. Definition = to be in the same situation

be/feel at home

After two years, James felt at home in Prague.

Definition = to feel comfortable, as if you were in your home or hometown

be in sbs good books

Ryan is not in his fathers good books right now because he scratched his car.

Definition = to be on someone's good side; to be thought of as someone's friend or ally Definition = to wake up in a bad mood

get out of bed on the Id avoid talking with Bob today. He mustve got out of bed on the wrong side wrong side.

up-and-coming

Roger is an up-and-coming hockey player from Toronto.

Definition = young and rising to the top; new and becoming successful

get into gear

Youd better get into gear or youll Definition be late. = hurry up; start moving at a faster speed One day, out of the blue, I received a letter from my former schoolmate. Definition = unscheduled; without previous warning

out of the blue

set the record straight

In a TV interview, the politician set Definition the record straight about his experiences in the military. = to clarify what is true/factual about a story or thing The security guard kept an eye on Definition the suspicious man. = watch closely; monitor Because of a grey area in his job Definition description, Peter was not exactly sure what all of his responsibilities = a vague area; an unclear were. area; an area that is neither black nor white Luckily for her, the policeman let Jane off the hook for parking her car in a no-parking zone. Definition = to let someone go free instead of holding them responsible for sth bad Definition = to improvise; to not make a plan but decide what to do as you do it

keep an eye on

a grey area

get/let sb off the hook

out of sight, out of mind.

Jim was happy when his exgirlfriend moved out of his apartment out of sight, out of mind.

give sb the cold shoulder

Ted gave his ex-girlfriend the cold Definition shoulder when he saw her at the party. = to ignore sb

The ins and outs

It took Alan a year to learn all the ins and outs of his job.

Definition = to know all aspects of sth; to know completely how sth works

line of work

The fireman said that injuries were Definition common in his line of work. = job field; type of work I forgot to buy groceries so I had to make do with what was left in Definition

make do

the fridge.

= to survive/get by with what you have at that moment

get sth off your chest

A: Keith, theres something I need Definition to get off my chest. B: Whats bothering you? Tell me. = to say something serious or difficult that you have been thinking about for a while. Takeshi knows the streets of Kyoto like the back of his hand. Definition = to be very familiar with sth

know sth like the back of your hand

in the bag

After scoring their fourth goal, the victory was in the bag.

Definition = certain to be secured/obtained;

be on the ball

Greg isnt on the ball today. He keeps making silly mistakes.

Definition = to be thinking well and reacting quickly

off and on / on and off

Tara and Mike have been seeing each other off and on for a year now.

Definition = intermittently

for the time being

I plan to move into my own apartment in September. For the time being, Im staying with friend Doug.

Definition = just for the present moment

burn your bridges

Jack tried to be kind to his boss when he quit in job because he didnt want to burn his bridges.

Definition = ruin a relationship, resulting in you being unable to return somewhere Definition = to be fired

get/be given the sack Alan got the sack for repeatedly coming into work late. / sack (verb)

on the back burner

The project was put on the back

Definition

burner while the company focused on a more immediate problem. = set as a lower priority

get cold feet

Its normal to get cold feet before your wedding day.

Definition = to become nervous/frightened right before sth you had planned to do

hit rock bottom

After being fired and then kicked out of his apartment, Jake really hit rock bottom.

Definition = to be in the lowest situation, e.g. without money or friends. to be in the unhappiest situation of your life Definition = to talk about work-related things

talk shop

Everyone agreed not to talk shop at the staff party.

start/get the ball rolling

Its time we start the ball rolling on Definition the new project. = to take the first step to begin a process Janice took a position as an Definition administrative assistant to get her foot in the door at the famous = to complete the first step fashion company. towards achieving an opportunity Lloyd comes from a well-to-do family. His friends often ask to borrow money from him. Definition = rich; wealthy

get your foot in the door

well-off / well-to-do

pull your weight

Lisa had to work extra hard because a few members of the team werent pulling their weight.

Definition = to do your share of the work; to contribute your share of effort

a gut feeling

I have a gut feeling that something Definition bad is going to happen today. = an intuitive feeling If need be, we can take a taxi home. Definition = If necessary,..

if need be

in the middle of nowhere

Their car broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Definition = in a place far away from anywhere known to you

go with the flow

Jake didnt want to go to another bar, but everyone else did, so he went with the flow.

Definition = to let yourself to be guided by the choices of others

play your cards right If Linda plays her cards right, she Definition could be the department manager by next year. = make the appropriate moves/choices follow in sbs footsteps Bill chose to follow in his fathers footsteps and become a dentist. Definition = follow someone else's path have your heart set on sth Alan has his heart set on Definition participating in the 2020 Olympics. = to be firmly resolved to do sth A: I met your boss today. Hes a real jerk. B: You can say that again! Definition = expression that means that you definitely agree with what was just said. Definition = I'm listening intently.

You can say that again!

Im all ears

A: Doug, Ive discovered the meaning of life. B: Really? Im all ears.

small talk

After some small talk, the interview began.

Definition

= discussion about light topics such as the weather put sth on hold Greg had to put his weekend Definition plans on hold and go into the office on Saturday for a few hours. = to postpone sth

common ground

The two boys had some common ground: they both loved football.

Definition = something held in common; a common interest or trait

politically (in)correct Marcel told a politically incorrect Definition joke at the company party. No one laughed. = politically correct = worded in a sensitive way that will not harm the audience have had it up to here Ive had it up to here with this mess! Clean your room now! Definition = I'm fed up; I've had enough; something said when you cannot handle anymore of something that is aggravating you have your work cut out If we want to finish this by Friday, then weve really got our work cut out for us. Definition = expression that means you have a lot of work to do in little time Definition = to understand what is being illustrated or explained

get the picture

A: The fight was horrible. One man kept punching the other again and again and again B: OK. Thats enough. I get the picture.

see eye to eye

Mike and his father dont see eye to eye on the issue of abortion.

Definition = to agree on sth; to have the same views on sth

call it a day

Its already 6 pm. Lets call it a day.

Definition = expression said near the end of a day which means "That's enough for today. Let's end and go home."

twist sbs arm

I really had to twist my sisters arm Definition to get her to pick me up from the airport. = to make a great effort to convince sb to do sth for you The report brought some previously unknown facts to light about the causes of cancer. Definition = to make something previously unknown become known Definition = to be uninformed; to not be told know what's happening

bring sth to light

be in the dark / keep sb in the dark

Most of the employees were kept in the dark about the merger until the last minute.

go up in smoke

After breaking his leg, Darryls Definition dream to play professional hockey went up in smoke. = to be wasted; to become impossible; when the chances of sth happening burn away After his wife divorced him, Victors life really went downhill. Definition = decline; become worse

go downhill

at your fingertips

With the World Wide Web, people Definition have a vast amount of information at their fingertips. = directly accessible

poke fun at

The kids poked fun at George because he was wearing his tshirt backwards.

Definition = to make fun of sb

Easier said than done.

A: You should get a girlfriend whos beautiful AND kind. B: Easier said than done.

Definition = expression that means that sth is much easier to SAY than actually accomplish.

the bottom line

A: Doctor, whats the bottom line? Definition B: If you dont quit smoking, youll die within a year. = the final result

call the shots

The boss told Janet to call the shots while he was away.

Definition = to make the decisions

know/learn sth by heart

Hank knows every Elvis song by heart.

Definition = to memorize sth

get a move on

If we dont get a move on, well miss the bus.

Definition = to start moving; to start going

miss the point

You missed the point. The book was about the problems of capitalism, not how to make money.

Definition = to fail to grasp the most important part of sth

hold/stand your ground

Although their enemy outnumbered them, the soldiers stood their ground.

Definition = to stay in your position without running away.

be childs play

The tennis match was childs play Definition for Ben. = a piece of cake; something so easy a child could do it The scientist said its only a matter Definition of time before a big earthquake hits California. = used to say that sth will inevitably happen (sooner or

be only a matter of time

later) push your luck A: Dad, can I have another ice cream cone? B: Dont push your luck, kid. Definition = to expect continued good fortune

raise (a few) eyebrows

Francines short skirt raised a few Definition eyebrows. = to make people slightly shocked or surprised The best restaurant in Europe is, of course, a matter of opinion. Definition = sth that is subjective

a matter of opinion

be that as it may

A: Tyler is such a selfish guy. B: Be that as it may, hes your brother. You have to love him.

Definition = expression that means "even though that is true" / "even so, .." Definition = if/when the situation becomes difficult/intense

if/when push comes to shove

If push comes to shove, Ill be here to support you.

against your better judgement

Against his better judgement, Jim let his friend drive home drunk.

Definition = sth you did even though, at that time, you thought it was wrong thing to do

add insult to injury

To add insult to injury, Gregs wife Definition left him for his best friend. = to make an insulting situation even worse When the boss told me to come in Definition to work on Saturday, that was the last straw. = the final thing that causes sth to collapse or sb to lose their temper/get angry Jims vacation plans were still up in the air. Definition

the last straw

be up in the air

= for sth to be undecided; undetermined not have the I dont have the faintest idea faintest/foggiest idea where Wollongong is. Definition = to not know sth at all the icing on the cake Paula enjoyed the concert, and getting to meet the artist backstage after the show was the icing on the cake. Definition = an additional thing that makes sth good become great Definition = to join the crowd; to do what most other people are doing Definition = the information typed in a smaller font, usually on a contract stuck/be in a rut The singer was stuck in a rut. All of her recent songs sounded the same. Definition = to be in a situation in which you cannot make any progress

get/jump/leap on the Janet doesnt normally watch hockey but she jumped on the bandwagon bandwagon because her citys team was in the playoffs.

the fine/small print

My father reads the fine print on every contract he signs.

run-of-the-mill

Kate is a waitress at a run-of-the- Definition mill bar and restaurant in London. = typical Tina knew that one day her Definition parents would see her tattoo and then shed have to face the music. = to take responsibility for what you have done

face the music

to keep sth/sb at bay Bodyguards kept the reporters at Definition bay while the movie stars entered the theatre. = to keep a threat away from coming too near be up in arms People were up in arms Definition

[about/over] the governments plan to raise the retirement age.

= in an uproar; very angry

bite your tongue

Jack bit his tongue while his manager criticized his performance.

Definition = to refrain from saying sth because you don't think it would be a good idea Definition = is unsatisfactory

leave a lot to be desired

The design of our office building leaves a lot to be desired.

off the beaten track

Mike and Mary had dinner a quiet restaurant off the beaten track in Paris.

Definition = away from the area most people visit/go

pick sbs brains

Mike is a marketing genius. Definition People often invite him to lunch or dinner so they can pick his brains. = to ask someone many questions so you can learn from him/her The 30-second trailer was designed to whet peoples appetites. Definition = to make people want more; to stimulate your appetite so you desire more

whet your appetite

sour grapes

A: People with nice cars just want Definition attention. B: That sounds like sour grapes = expression that means because you cant afford one. something was said out of jealousy Losing his job turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Afterward, Roger found his dream job. Definition = a good thing that first appears as a bad thing

a blessing in disguise

give sb the benefit of I told the teacher that it wasnt me Definition who broke the window. Thankfully, the doubt he gave me the benefit of the = to choose to believe sth

doubt.

good about sb instead of believing sth bad (when you have the choice to believe either) Definition = to make sb remember sth

jog sbs memory

Jeff said he couldnt remember the songs lyrics, but hearing the first few words jogged his memory.

foot the bill

George agreed to foot the bill for dinner.

Definition = to pay the bill for sth

have it in for sb

A: Why are you hiding from your brother? B: He has it in for me. He knows I lost his football.

Definition = to be very angry at sb

be in the red

The company has been in the red Definition since September. = at a deficit; running at a loss; losing money Definition = to learn about some news;

get/catch wind of sth Once the school principal caught wind of the problem, she called a teachers meeting.

a rule of thumb

As a rule of thumb, I dont eat food Definition that smells bad. = a personal principle The group members were all on the same wavelength, so they were able to finish their project quickly. Definition = to think in a similar way to others

be on the same wavelength

up to speed

After her holiday, it took Kate a Definition few hours to get back up to speed on the recent developments in her = to be updated; to not be company. behind; to have all the

current information play devils advocate Although Jim is against the death penalty, he told his friend he was for it just to play devils advocate. Definition = to argue against sb just so you can hear your opponent's reasoning Definition = to make a great effort to do sth or help sb

bend/lean over backwards

Lisa bent over backwards to get her brother a job in her company, so she was surprised to learn he quit today.

pass the buck

The politician passed the buck onto someone else instead of accepting responsibility for the problem.

Definition = to pass blame onto sb else

take the plunge

Jerry has finally decided to take the plunge. Tomorrow he's going to start looking for an office job.

Definition = begin an important/difficult task that youve been thinking about for a long time (note: to plunge is into dive into something) Definition = to make sb prove that what they are saying is true

call sbs bluff

When Mike heard his friend say she knew all of the worlds capitals, he called her bluff and asked her to name the capital of Mozambique.

have a chip on your shoulder

Tim has had a chip on his shoulder about businesswomen since he lost his job to a woman three years ago.

Definition = to have anger about sth that happened in the past

breathe down sbs neck

Jim found it hard to focus on his Definition work with his boss breathing down his neck. = to watch sb very closely (often in an annoying way)

climb to the top of the career/corporate ladder

Having children can be an obstacle for women who want to climb (to the top of) the corporate ladder.

Definition = to advance in a company by being promoted to the top

red tape

Marks visa application was held up for six months because of red tape.

Definition = rules and regulations that prevent you from achieving sth easily Definition = to give sb full control of sth

give sb free rein

When his father died, Mark was given free rein to do whatever he liked with the family business.

the be-all-and-end-all Getting into Harvard Law School became the be-all-and-end-all of Tonys existence.

Definition = the only thing that matters; sth so good that it will end the search for sth better Definition = exaggerate sth; to make sth seem much more significant that it really is

blow sth out of proportion

The media blew the story out of proportion.

bury the hatchet

Susan and Mike agreed that it Definition was time to bury the hatchet. They apologized and decided to be = to stop fighting and friends again. become friendly. (A hatchet is a small axe.)

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