Idioms in Use 

Unit 1  16 September 2010

drive/send sb round the bend informal (doprowadzac kogoś do szału)
to make someone very angry, especially by continuing to do something annoying 
You're driving me round the bend with your constant complaining.

kill two birds with one stone – upiec 2 pieczenie na jednym ogniu
to manage to do two things at the same time instead of just one, because it is convenient to do both 
I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends while I was in Leeds visiting my parents.

in the blink of an eye - w mgnieniu oka
extremely quickly 
In the blink of an eye the handsome prince was transformed into an ugly frog.

a bone of contention – kość niezgody (contention – spór, niezgoda)
something that people argue about for a long time 
The main bone of contention was deciding who would take care of the children after the divorce.

be as dry as a bone – wysuszony na kość
to be extremely dry 
I don't think he's been watering these plants - the soil's as dry as a bone.

rough and ready - zrobiony na szybko, na pretce, prowizoryczny
if you do something in a rough and ready way, you do it quickly and without preparing it carefully 
I've done a rough and ready translation of the instructions. I hope it's clear enough.
not very polite or well educated 
Just a warning about the men who work for him, they're a bit rough and ready.

cool, calm and collected - spokojny, zrelaksowany, odprężony

Relaxed, in control not nervous

to cut a long story short British & Australian, American to make a long story short
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 
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we left at midnight and James left somewhat later.

pass the buck
to blame someone or to make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with yourself 
In the card game poker, the buck is an object passed to the person who wins in order to remind them that they must be the first person to give money for the prize in the next game. [sometimes + to]
Parents often try to pass the buck to teachers when children misbehave in school.
Bus companies are just passing the buck by saying their drivers are responsible for delays.

act/play the fool
to behave in a silly way, often in order to make people laugh 
Come on guys, stop acting the fool and pay attention.

act/play the goat informal
to behave in a silly way, sometimes in order to make people laugh 
Insecure and lonely, he resorted to acting the goat to get people's attention.

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 
I decided that I was going to get that job by hook or by crook.

be at loggerheads
if two people or groups are at loggerheads, they disagree strongly about something 
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]

pay through the nose informal
to pay too much for something 
If you want a decent wine in a restaurant, you have to pay through the nose for it. [usually + for]

the pros and cons
the good and bad parts of a situation, or the reasons why you should or should not do something 
This phrase comes from the Latin words 'pro', which means 'for' and 'contra' which means 'against'. [often + of]
We've been discussing the pros and cons of buying a house.

have second thoughts
if you have second thoughts about something, you change your opinion or start to have doubts about it 
You're not having second thoughts about coming to Brighton with me, are you? [often + about]
on second thoughts British & Australian, American & Australian on second thought
I'll have tea, please - on second thoughts, make that coffee.

as free as a bird
completely free to do what you want and without any worries 
She'd been travelling alone round the Greek islands for a year - free as a bird.

give sb a free hand
to allow someone to do whatever they think is necessary in a particular situation 
His manager had given him a free hand to make whatever changes he felt necessary. [often + to do sth]
have a free hand
The editor said I could have a free hand in designing the cover page. [sometimes + in + doing sth]

well-to-do
rich 
In Johannesburg's well-to-do suburbs, residents are hiring security guards to protect their homes.

out of the blue British, American & Australian, American & Australian out of a clear (blue) sky
if something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and you are not expecting it 
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.

put your 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.
When Anna came home drunk one afternoon I decided it was time to put my foot down.
(mainly British, informal) to suddenly increase your speed when you are driving 
The road ahead was clear, so I put my foot down and tried to overtake the car in front.

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

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

lie through your teeth
to tell someone something that you know is completely false 
The man's lying through his teeth. He never said anything of the sort

Unit ii

let the cat out of the bag

to allow a secret to be known, usually without intending to

I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

drive/send sb round the bend UK informal

to make someone very bored or very angry

My mother's been driving me round the bend.

Staying at home all day was driving her round the bend.

pick up the bill/tab

(US also pick up the check) informal

to pay for what has been bought, especially a meal in a restaurant

come back down to Earth

(also bring sb back down to Earth)

to start dealing with life and problems again after you have had a very exciting time, or to make someone do this

The realization of how little work I'd done for the exams brought me abruptly back down to Earth.

stand your ground

to refuse to be pushed backwards, or to continue in your beliefs in an argument

The battalion stood its ground in the face of repeated attacks.

Clare stood her ground in the meeting and refused to be intimidated even when Michael got angry.

put/stick the knife into sb

(also put/stick the knife in)

to be unpleasant about someone or try to harm them

The reviewer in the magazine that I read really put the knife in.

be banging, etc. your head against a brick wall

informal

to try to do something that is very difficult or impossible to achieve and therefore causes you to feel annoyed

I keep asking her not to park there but it's like banging your head against a brick wall.

frighten/scare, etc. the (living) daylights out of sb informal

to frighten someone very much

Don't jump out on me like that! You scared the living daylights out of me!

against (all) the odds/against all odds

If you do or achieve something against (all) the odds/against all odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed

Against all the odds, he recovered

hit sb where it hurts

to do or say something to someone that will upset them as much as possible

He's always worrying about his weight, so if you want to hit him where it hurts, tell him he's looking a bit fat.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. saying

said to advise someone not to refuse something good that is being offered

be pushing up (the) daisies humorous

to be dead

I'll be pushing up the daisies long before it happens.

tie sb (up) in knots informal

to confuse someone

The Director of Studies tied me up in knots by asking tricky questions.

be man enough to do sth

to be brave enough to do something

He was man enough to admit he had made a mistake.

slime ball noun n [C usually singular] informal

a very unpleasant person whose friendly manner is not sincere

How can she go out with him? He's such a slime ball!

There's no rest/peace for the wicked. saying

said when you must continue with your work or other activity although you are very tired

from/since time immemorial

literary for a very long time

Her family had farmed that land since time immemorial.

formal existing or traditional for an extremely long time

She said it was the immemorial custom of the villagers to have a feast after the harvesting.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. saying

This means that eating an apple each day can help to keep you healthy.

stuff your face informal

to eat a lot

I've been stuffing my face all morning.

give sb pause (for thought)formal

to cause someone to stop and think about what they were doing or intending to do

UNIT 1

be/feel under the weather informal

to be or feel ill

I'm feeling a bit under the weather - I think I've caught a cold.

look/feel like death warmed up

UK (US look/feel like death warmed over) informal

to look or feel very ill

He shouldn't be working when he's so ill - he looks like death warmed up!

recharge your batteries

to have a period of rest and relaxation so that you feel energetic again

She took a trip to the South of France to recharge her batteries.

Feel off-colour adjective

[after verb] informal slightly ill

I'm feeling a bit off-colour today.

On the road to recovery

Getting better

be on the mend informal

to be getting better after an illness or injury

She's been ill with flu but she's on the mend now.

be (as) fit as a fiddle

(UK also be (as) fit as a flea)

to be very healthy and strong

My grandmother's 89, but she's as fit as a fiddle.

be as right as rain informal

to be healthy, especially after having been ill for a period of time

be not all there

informal

to be slightly stupid or strange

off your trolley

UK informal

behaving in an extremely unusual way or doing something very silly

Anyone who saw us doing this would think we were off our trolleys.

Have you gone completely off your trolley? You'll never get away with it!

be not (quite) right in the head

informal

to not have one or more of the mental abilities that most people have

have a screw loose informal

If you say that someone has a screw loose, you mean that they behave in a strange way and seem slightly mentally ill.

basket case informal

someone who is extremely nervous or anxious and is therefore unable to organize their life

By the end of the course I was a complete basket case.

off your rocker informal

If you say that someone is off their rocker, you mean that they are behaving in a very strange or silly way.

be (as) nutty as a fruitcake informal

to be a very strange or mad person

pop your clogs UK humorous

to die

I think I'll leave all my money to charity when I pop my clogs.

bite the dust

• to fall so that your body hits the ground heavily

As they came round the bend several riders bit the dust.

• to die

• to end in failure

His career bit the dust when he lost his job.

give up the ghost

• to die

• humorous If a machine gives up the ghost, it stops working

We've had the same TV for over ten years and it's just given up the ghost.

• to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed

All I'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost.

fall off your perch  (British old-fashioned, humorous)

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

kick the bucket

(US kick off) informal

to die

sore point/spot noun

[C usually singular]

a subject that someone prefers not to talk about because it makes them angry or embarrassed

"So how are your job applications going?" "Oh, it's a bit of a sore point, I'm afraid."

give sb a dose/taste of their own medicine

to treat someone as badly as they have treated you

a bitter pill (to swallow)

something that is very unpleasant but which must be accepted

Losing to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.

sugar the pill

UK (US sweeten the pill)

to make something bad seem less unpleasant

Plans to improve public services are a way of sugaring the pill of increased taxation

Have/get itchy feet

UK informal

to start to want to travel or do something different

After three years in the job she began to get itchy feet.

Unit 2. Happiness and sadness  

thrilled to bits informal

extremely pleased

She was thrilled to bits with her present.

on top of the world

extremely happy

She was feeling on top of the world.

be on cloud nine

informal

to be extremely happy and excited

"Was Helen pleased about getting that job?" "Pleased? She was on cloud nine!"

be over the moon

to be very pleased

She was over the moon about/with her new bike.

be in seventh heaven

informal humorous

to be extremely happy

Since they got married, they've been in seventh heaven.

Get a kick out of something informal

Very much enjoy doing something

I get a (real) kick out of going for a run first thing in the morning before anyone else is up.

Do sth for kicks – informal

Do sth because it is exciting, usually something dangerous

Sandra is keent to have a go at bungee-jumping – just for kicks

jump for joy

to be extremely happy

"So how did Robert take the news?" "He didn't exactly jump for joy."

be floating/walking on air

mainly UK

to be very happy

When he got his exam results he was floating on air.

make sb's day

to make someone happy

Seeing Adrian again after such a long time really made my day.

be out of sorts

slightly old-fashioned

to be slightly ill or slightly unhappy

I've been feeling tired and headachy and generally out of sorts.

(down) in the dumps

unhappy

She's a bit down in the dumps because she's got to take her exams again.

not be the end of the world informal

If something is not the end of the world, it will not cause very serious problems

I'm really hoping to win, but it won't be the end of the world if I don't.

grin and bear it

to accept something bad without complaining

I really don't want to go but I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it.

misery guts

someone who is often very unhappy and is always complaining about things

Oh come on, don't be such a misery!

Stop being such an old misery guts!

sour grapes

If you describe someone's behaviour or opinion as sour grapes, you mean that they are angry because they have not got or achieved something that they wanted

I don't think it's such a great job - and that's not just sour grapes because I didn't get it.

put a damper/dampener on sth

to stop an occasion from being enjoyable

Both the kids were ill while we were in Boston, so that rather put a damper on things.

Unit 3 ANGER 23.09.2010

fed up to the back teeth

mainly UK informal

very fed up

I'm fed up to the back teeth with/of being criticized all the time.

At your wits’ end

Very worried, because you have tried everything you can think of to solve a problem

Please help me, I don’t want to cause a family row, but I’m at my wits’ end about what to do.

have had it (up to here) with

to have suffered because of someone or something and to be no longer able to bear them

I've had it up to here with you - get out!

I've had it with foreign holidays.

have/throw a fit informal

to become very angry or worried, often shouting a lot

She'll throw a fit when she sees the mess you've made.

go off the deep end informal

to get very angry about something or lose control of yourself

go spare UK informal

to get very upset or angry

She goes spare if I'm so much as five minutes late.

do your nut

UK slang

to become extremely angry

She'll do her nut when she sees the mess.

blow a fuse/gasket

old-fashioned informal

to become very angry

When he told her how much it cost, she blew a gasket.

drive sb up the wall

to make someone extremely angry

My flat-mate is driving me up the wall at the moment.

drive/send sb round the bend / twist

UK informal

to make someone very bored or very angry

My mother's been driving me round the bend.

Staying at home all day was driving her round the bend

rub sb up the wrong way

UK (US rub sb the wrong way)

to annoy someone without intending to

As soon as they met they started to rub each other up the wrong way.

put/get sb's back up informal

to annoy someone

Just ignore him - he's only trying to put your back up.

ruffle sb's feathers

to upset or annoy someone

She knows how to ruffle his feathers.

put/set the cat among the pigeons

UK

to say or do something that causes trouble or makes a lot of people very angry

not be on speaking terms

If you are not on speaking terms with someone, you refuse to speak to them because you are angry with them

They had a quarrel last night and now they're not on speaking terms (with each other).

give sb an earful

to angrily complain to someone

give sb a piece of your mind

informal

to speak angrily to someone about something they have done wrong

I'm going to give that mechanic a piece of my mind if the car's not fixed this time.

Unit 4. Knowing and understanding

know sth inside out informal

to know everything about a subject

He knows the system inside out.

know your stuff

(old-fashioned know your onions) informal

to have good practical skills and knowledge in a particular activity or subject

sth has a familiar ring to sth

sth sounds familiar

That book title has a familiar ring to it. I thing I read it a long time ago.

ring a bell

(also ring any bells)

to sound familiar

The name rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before.

No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me.

not have a clue

informal

to be completely unable to guess, understand, or deal with something

"Who invented algebra?" "I haven't a clue."

Don't ask your father which key to press - he hasn't got a clue about computers.

not have the faintest idea informal

used to emphasize that you do not know something

"Is she going to stay?" "I haven't the faintest idea."

I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about!

not have the foggiest (idea) informal

to not know or understand something at all

I hadn't the foggiest idea what he was talking about.

for the life of you informal

although you are trying very hard

I can't remember her name for the life of me.

be in/out of touch

If you are in touch/out of touch with a subject, activity or situation, your knowledge about it is recent/not recent

He's not really in touch with what young people are interested in.

I didn't look at a newspaper all the time I was on holiday, so I'm completely out of touch.

STH does not ring any bell with me

Sth is unfamiliar

I’m sorry, that name doesn’t ring any bell with me.

put two and two together informal

to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard

"How did you know they were having an affair?" "I'd seen them out together a couple of times so I just put two and two together."

get the wrong end of the stick informal

to not understand a situation correctly

Her friend saw us arrive at the party together and got the wrong end of the stick.

Unit 5. Experience and perception

put it down to experience

to decide that instead of being upset about something bad that has happened or that you have done, you will learn from it

Okay, so you made a mistake - you just have to put it down to experience and carry on with your life.

know where you stand

to know what your opinion or situation is

I know where I stand on this issue - I'm against the war.

When we've paid all our debts we'll know where we stand.

give sb food for thought

to make someone think seriously about something

Your suggestions have certainly given me food for thought.

learn your lesson

to suffer a bad experience and know not to do it again

I got horribly drunk once at college and that was enough - I learnt my lesson.

teach sb a lesson

A person or experience that teaches you a lesson improves your future behaviour by making you experience the bad effects of your actions

Having my car stolen really taught me a lesson - I'll never leave it unlocked again.

She decided to teach the boy a lesson.

get the message informal

to understand what someone is trying to tell you, even if they are not expressing themselves directly

I never answer his calls and I ignore him every time I see him, so you'd think he'd get the message.

set/put the record straight

to write or say something in order to make the true facts known

She's decided to write her memoirs to set the record straight once and for all.

hear (sth) on/through the grapevine

to hear news from someone who heard the news from someone else

I heard on the grapevine that he was leaving - is it true?

a figment of sb's imagination

something which seems real but is not

Was it just a figment of my imagination or did I hear John's voice in the other room?

lose sight of sth

to forget about an important idea or fact because you are thinking too much about other things

I'm worried that we're losing sight of our original objectives.

it beats me

(also what beats me) slang

said when you do not understand a situation or someone's behaviour

It beats me how she got the job.

What beats me is why she stays with him.

second thought about

to decide sth and then no longer be sure about it

I’m having a second thought about moving house. I like this part of the city and I’m not sure I’d be happy anywhere else.

the ins and outs of

the detailed or complicated facts of something

I know how to use computers, but I don't really understand the ins and outs of how they work.

I don’t know the ins and outs of the situation, but it seems that david has decided to move out of the flat he shares with Ruth and Monica.

Unit 6. Success and failure

make a (big) difference (also make all the difference)

to improve a situation (a lot)

Exercise can make a big difference to your state of health.

Putting up some new wallpaper has made all the difference to the place.

work/go like a dream

to work or go extremely well, without any problems

The whole plan went like a dream.

He let me drive his new car last night - it goes like a dream.

work like a charm

(also work like magic)

to be very effective, possibly in a surprising way

Flattery usually works like a charm with him.

go from strength to strength

mainly UK

to gradually become more successful

The firm's gone from strength to strength since the new factory was built.

do the trick informal

If something does the trick, it has the necessary or wanted effect

This sauce needs a bit of flavour - I know, some lemon juice should/ought to do the trick.

the be-all and end-all

the most important thing

We all agreed that winning was not the be-all and end-all.

It was the period when everyone saw men in space as the be-all and end-all of space exploration.

a blessing in disguise

something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later

Losing that job was a blessing in disguise really.

be a victim of your own success

to have problems because of your success

The school has become a victim of its own success as parents with children who have special needs now actively seek it out.

not have a/the ghost of a chance informal

to have no chance at all

They haven't got a ghost of a chance of winning.

give up the ghost

to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed

All I'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost.

leave your/its mark on sb/sth

to have an effect that changes someone or something, usually in a bad way

The experience had left its mark on her.

go places informal

to be likely to be successful in the future

They said that the group was clearly going places.

Hit the big time

To be successful nationally or internationally and maka lots of money

He’s a good writher, but he hasn’t really hit the big time.

make a go of sth (US usually try)

to try to make something succeed, usually by working hard

She's really making a go of her new antique shop.

I can't see him ever making a go of accountancy

Unit 7. Having problems 25. IX 2010

be/come up against a brick wall

to be unable to make more progress with a plan or discussion because someone is stopping you

put your foot in it

(mainly US put your foot in your mouth) informal

to say something by accident which embarrasses or upsets someone

I really put my foot in it with Alison. I had no idea she was divorced

straits

a difficult and troubled situation, especially because of financial problems

So many companies are in such dire/difficult straits that their prices have come right down.

dig yourself into a hole informal

to get yourself into a difficult situation

The government has really dug itself into a hole with its economic policies.

spread yourself too thin

to try to do too many things at the same time, so that you cannot give enough time or attention to any of them

I realised I'd been spreading myself too thin so I resigned as secretary of the golf club.

be left holding the baby

(US be left holding the bag)

to suddenly have to deal with a difficult situation because others have decided that they do not want the responsibility

The other investors pulled out of the project and we were left holding the baby.

have sb over a barrel informal

to put someone in a very difficult situation in which they have no choice about what they do

She knows I need the work so she's got me over a barrel in terms of what she pays me.

stumbling block noun

something which prevents action or agreement

Lack of willingness to compromise on both sides is the main/major stumbling block to reaching a settlement.

clutch/grasp at straws

to be willing to try anything to improve a difficult or unsatisfactory situation, even if it has little chance of success

She offered to take a pay cut to keep her job, but she was just clutching at straws.

draw a blank informal

to fail to get an answer or a result

He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank - I just couldn't remember it.

face the music

to accept criticism or punishment for something you have done

So now we are all going to have to face the music.

a fact of life

something unpleasant which cannot be avoided

Going bald is just a fact of life.

Taxes are, unfortunately, a fact of life.

the facts of life

details about sexual activity and the way that babies are born

the birds and the bees humorous

the basic facts about sex and reproduction

She's only six, but she already knows about the birds and the bees.

easier said than done informal

said when something seems like a good idea but it would be difficult to do

"Why don't you just ask Simon to pay?" "That's easier said than done."

Unit 8. Dealing with problems.

make do

to manage to live without things that you would like to have or with things of a worse quality than you would like

We didn't have cupboards so we made do with boxes.

give it a whirl /shotinformal

to attempt to do something, often for the first time

I've never danced salsa before but I'll give it a whirl.

come/get to grips with sth

to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation

The government have failed to come to grips with the two most important social issues of our time.

I can't seem to get to grips with this problem.

(just) to be on the safe side

being especially careful in order to avoid something unpleasant

I'm sure it won't rain, but I'll take an umbrella (just) to be on the safe side (= to be ready if it does rain).

get to the bottom of sth

to discover the truth about a situation

I'm not sure what is causing the problem, but I'm determined to get to the bottom of it.

Bring sth to light

To do sth that makes people understand or hear about new information

Historical research brings tolight interesting facts about specific cause of events

I hope my execution will bring to light the injustice of capital punishment and need to abolish it

Come to light

The jury were told the details of the attack came to light after a second girl had made claims against the defendant

Shed/throw (new) light on sth

Help people to understand a situation

To provide new information that makes a difficult subject or problem easier to understand

Our first witness is likely to shed some light on the events just before Hazelwood’s disappearance.

The study certainly throws new light on the capabilities of these elderly patients.

be in the bag informal

If something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it

Once we'd scored the third goal, the match was pretty much in the bag.

The answer to my prayers

Sth or sb that you have needed for a long time

I was in despair until Christ turned up – the answer to my prayers

Wave a magic wand

Find an easy way to solve a problem

I want to wave a magic wand and make thinks better

To tie up a few loose ends

To deal with the last few things that need to be donne before sth is completed

I’ve got to tie up with a few loose ends before I go on holiday.

Fall into place

You understand sth that you didn’t understand before, or everything goes well

Once Sheila explained why she acted as she did everything will fall into place

Pick up the pieces

Try to return to normal

After the flood, it took us some time to pick up the pieces.

Unit 9. Power and authority

take the law into your own hands

to do something illegal and often violent in order to punish someone because you know the law will not punish that person

One day, after years of violent abuse from her husband, she took the law into her own hands.

be a law unto yourself

disapproving

to behave in a way which is independent and does not follow the usual rules for a situation

Charlie, of course, never fills in the record forms but then he's a law unto himself.

lay down the law

informal

to forcefully make known what you think should happen

She can't just come into this office and start laying down the law.

bend the law/rules

to change the rules in a way that is considered to be not important or not harmful

Can't you bend the rules a little? I was only a few minutes late.

carry the can

UK informal

to take the blame or responsibility for something that is wrong or has not succeeded

As usual, I was left to carry the can.

(get/let sb)off the hook

• If you leave the telephone off the hook, you do not put the part of it that you talk with back correctly and it will not ring.

• If you are off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult situation

John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook.

leave sb to their own devices

to allow someone to make their own decisions about what to do

He seemed to be a responsible person, so I left him to his own devices.

be at/on the receiving end

If you are at/on the receiving end of something unpleasant that someone does, you suffer because of it

Sales assistants are often at the receiving end of verbal abuse from customers.

at sb's beck and call

always willing and able to do whatever someone asks

Go and get it yourself! I'm not at your beck and call, you know.

get your own way

to persuade other people to allow you to do what you want

My little brother always gets his own way.

Go to the polls – iść do urn ( wyborczych)

Vote In a general election

People of Sweden go to the polls next Sunday

spin doctor

n [C] mainly disapproving

someone whose job is to make ideas, events, etc. seem better than they really are, especially in politics

hidden agenda

n [C]

a secret reason for doing something

[+ to infinitive] The prime minister denied that the new visa requirements were part of a hidden agenda to reduce immigration.

Unit 10. Structuring and talking about arguments 27.IX. 2010

on the one hand ... on the other hand

used when you are comparing two different facts or two opposite ways of thinking about a situation

On the one hand I'd like a job which pays more, but on the other hand I enjoy the work I'm doing at the moment.

be that as it may slightly formal

used to mean that you accept that a piece of information is true but it does not change your opinion of the subject you are discussing

Building a new children's home will cost a lot of money but, be that as it may, there is an urgent need for the facility.

in a nutshell

using as few words as possible

Well, to put it in a nutshell, we're lost.

vicious circle n [S]

a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse

Many people get caught/trapped in a vicious circle of dieting and weight gain.

can of worms informal

a situation which causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it

Corruption is a serious problem, but nobody has yet been willing to open up that can of worms.

the acid test n [S]

the true test of the value of something

It looks good, but will people buy it? That's the acid test.

the other side of the coin

a different way of considering a situation, making it seem either better or worse than it did originally

I like having a white car, but the other side of the coin is that it soon gets dirty.

tie sb/yourself (up) in knots informal

to confuse someone/yourself (when you thy to explain sth)

The Director of Studies tied me up in knots by asking tricky questions.

Fiona tryied to explain the problem, but sho soon tied herself uyp in knots.

be brought/called to account

mainly UK

to be forced to explain something you did wrong, and usually to be punished

We must ensure that the people responsible for the violence are brought to account.

give sb the benefit of the doubt

to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either

I didn't know whether his story was true or not, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Go round in circles

Make no progress in an argument or discussion

We are going round in circles. I wish you’d come up with a new idea

not give/budge/move an inch

to not change your opinion

She's definite that she wants to do it, and she'll not give an inch, however hard you try to persuade her

Unit 11. Conversational response

thanks a million informal

thank you very much

"I've done what you asked." "Thanks a million!"

no such luck informal

said after an event or result that would be very good has been suggested, to show disappointment that it cannot or did not happen

I was rather hoping it would rain today and I wouldn't have to go on the walk, but no such luck.

the more the merrier

used to say an occasion will be more enjoyable if a lot of people are there

"Do you mind if I bring a couple of friends to your party?" "Not at all - the more the merrier!"

You can say that again!

used to show that you completely agree with what someone has said

No way !

informal

used to say 'no' in a forceful way

"Go on, lend me your bike." "No way!"

There’s (be) nothing to it

used to say something is very easy

Windsurfing is easy - there's nothing to it.

Don't make me laugh! informal

said to someone to show that you cannot take their suggestion seriously

You'll pay? Don't make me laugh!

Time flies.

saying

used to mean that time passes very and surprisingly quickly

Time flies when you're having fun.

It’s nearly the end of the holiday. How time flies!

It's a small world.

saying

said to show your surprise that people or events in different places are connected

So you know my old science teacher! Well, it's certainly a small world, isn't it?

be neither here nor there

to not be important

It's essential that she has this medicine, and the cost is neither here nor there.

six of one and half a dozen of the other

informal saying

said when you think that neither of two choices is better than the other

"Shall we go by car or train?" "I don't know, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other."

can take it or leave it

said about something that you quite like, but that you do not love or need strongly

My sister's absolutely crazy about chocolate whereas I can take it or leave it.

you name it

used to say there are many things to choose from

Gin, vodka, whisky, beer - you name it, I've got it.

I've tried every diet going - you name it, I've tried it.

LIFE

Get a life!

informal

something you say to a boring person when you want them to do more exciting things

Don't tell me you're cleaning the house on a Saturday night? Get a life, Hannah!

This is the life!

informal

said to mean that you are very much enjoying the situation you are in

It's/That's the story of my life.

humorous

said when something bad happens to you that has happened to you many times before

Honestly, it's the story of my life - I meet a totally gorgeous bloke and he's leaving for Australia the next day!

that's life

informal

said after something bad or unlucky has happened, to express your feeling that such events will sometimes happen and have to be accepted

No, I didn't get the job but that's life, isn't it?

You haven’t lived ( humorous)

Something someone has not experienced is very good or exciting and they should try it.

Unit 12. Praise and criticism 28.IX.2010

out of this world

informal

extremely good

What a restaurant - the food was out of this world!

second to none

better than everything else. This is an excellent car—second to none. Her suggestion was second to none, and the manager accepted it eagerly.

be a hard/tough act to follow

informal

to be so good it is not likely that anyone or anything that comes after will be as good

His presidency was very successful - it'll be a hard act to follow.

give as good as you get

to be strong and confident enough to treat people in the same way that they treat you, especially in an argument or a fight

There's a lot of teasing and fighting among the crew, and you have to be able to give as good as you get.

like gold dust

mainly UK

said about something that is very difficult to get because a lot of people want it

Tickets for the concert are like gold dust.

ground-breaking adj

If something is ground-breaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type

His latest film is interesting, but not ground-breaking

be (all) sweetness and light

to be very peaceful and friendly

They'd had a big argument yesterday, but by this morning it was all sweetness and light again.

Get/grate on sb's nerves

to annoy someone a lot

We really got on each other's nerves when we were living together.

Please stop making that noise! It really gets on my nerves.

give sb a hard time

informal

to make things difficult or unpleasant for someone

Her kids always give her a hard time when she takes them shopping.

My mother gave me a really hard time (= was angry with me) about staying out late.

poke fun at sb

to make someone seem stupid by making jokes about them or laughing unkindly at them

to add insult to injury

said when you feel that someone has made a bad situation worse by doing something else to upset you

They told me I was too old for the job, and then to add insult to injury, they refused to pay my expenses!

Cast/throw aspersions on sb/sth (aspersion – oszczerstwo)

formal to criticize or make damaging remarks or judgments about someone or something

His opponents cast aspersions on his patriotism.

out-and-out

adj [before noun]

complete or in every way, used to emphasize an unpleasant quality of a person or thing

That's an out-and-out lie!

The whole project was an out-and-out disaster.

be asking for it/trouble

to be behaving stupidly in a way that is likely to cause problems for you

Drinking alcohol before driving is really asking for trouble.

I'm not surprised she lost her job - she was really asking for it.

Unit 13. Opinions on people and actions

have a lot to answer for

to be the main cause of a problem or an unpleasant situation

People who sell drugs to kids have a lot to answer for.

not be all it's cracked up to be

informal

to not be as good as people say

This new radio station's not all it's cracked up to be.

Sb/sth has the edge over

Is slightly better than

This computer has the edge over other models because it has such a huge hard drive

Leave a lot to be desired ( always in simple tense form)

Is not as good as it should be/ as we may expect

Her spoken English lives a lot to be desired

have (all) the makings of sth

to seem likely to develop into something

She has the makings of a great violinist.

On the big/expensive side

Heavier than you it want to be

This suitcase is a bit on the heavy side

Dead lose

Completely useless

This bottle opener is a dead lose

Rough and ready

Crude and lacking sophistication

The accommodation was a bit rough and ready

throw the baby out with the bath-water

to lose valuable ideas or things in your attempt to get rid of what is not wanted

jump/climb/get on the bandwagon

to become involved in an activity which is successful so that you can get the advantages of it yourself

The success of the product led many firms to try to jump on the bandwagon.

devil's advocate

someone who pretends, in an argument or discussion, to be against an idea or plan which a lot of people support, in order to make people discuss and consider it in more detail

I don't really believe all that - I was just playing devil's advocate.

Drives someone to distraction

Make someone very angry or very bored

That dreadful noise is driving me to distraction.

make an exhibition of yourself

disapproving

to do something stupid in public

I hope I didn't make an exhibition of myself last night.

under false pretences disapproving

If you do something under false pretences, you lie about who you are, what you are doing, or what you intend to do, in order to get something

He was deported for entering the country under false pretences.

If you're not going to offer me a job, then you've brought me here under false pretences (= you have deceived me in order to make me come here).

not do things by halves

humorous

If someone does not do things by halves, they put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into doing things, often more than is necessary

"I didn't realize you were decorating the whole house." "Oh, we don't do things by halves round here."

laughing stock

someone or something which seems stupid or silly, especially by trying to be serious or important and not succeeding

Another performance like that and this team will be the laughing stock of the league.

Unit 14. Behaviour and attitudes

look straight/right through sb

UK

to look at someone as if you cannot see them, either intentionally or because you are thinking about something else

I said hello but she looked straight through me.

leave sb in the lurch

to leave someone at a time when they need you to stay and help them

give sb a hard/rough/tough time

informal

to make things difficult or unpleasant for someone

Her kids always give her a hard time when she takes them shopping.

My mother gave me a really hard time (= was angry with me) about staying out late.

keep the lid on sth

informal

to control the level of something in order to stop it increasing

The government have intervened to keep a lid on inflation.

let yourself go

• informal to allow yourself to become less attractive or healthy

It's easy to let yourself go when you've got small kids.

• to relax completely and enjoy yourself

It's a party - let yourself go!

blow sth out of proportion

to treat a particular event or problem far too seriously

It's ridiculous - we have a tiny disagreement and you blow the whole thing out of proportion!

Of course, when the papers get hold of a story, it's blown out of all proportion.

think nothing of sth

to consider that an activity is easy and not unusual

When I was younger, I thought nothing of cycling 50 miles in a day.

bring a lump to your throat

to give you a tight feeling in your throat because you want to cry

It was quite a moving speech - it almost brought a lump to my throat.

make the most of sth

to take full advantage of something because it may not last long

It's a lovely day - we must make the most of it.

Hanging in the balance

If a situation is in the balance it has reached a stage where it will soon be decided one way or another

The game hung in the balance until the last minute when an exciting point decided it.

pale into insignificance

to seem not important when compared with something else

Everything else that happened in my life pales into insignificance beside that one event.

wouldn't dream of sth/doing sth

used to say that you would not do something because you think it is wrong or silly

My father is very generous, but I wouldn't dream of actually asking him for money!

come to terms with sth

to gradually accept a sad situation, often the death of someone you love

I think he's still coming to terms with the death of his wife.

Unit 15. Reacting to what others say

You could have fooled me!

You do not believe what someone says about sth that you saw or experienced yourself

There's no accounting for taste.

saying

said when it is difficult to explain why different people like different things, especially things which you do not like

"I love working at weekends." "Well, there's no accounting for taste, is there!"

if all else fails

if none of our plans succeed

If all else fails, we can always spend the holidays at home.

one thing leads to another

If one thing leads to another, there is a series of events in which each event was caused by the previous one

At first, we were just dancing together, but one thing led to another, and I ended up in bed with him.

I’ll never live it down

You think that you have done sth bad or embarrassing that people will never forget.

the lesser of two evils

the less unpleasant of two choices, neither of which are good

But allowing a criminal to go free is perhaps the lesser of two evils if the alternative is imprisoning an innocent person.

strike while the iron is hot

to take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it exists, in case the opportunity goes away and does not return

He doesn't often make such offers - I'd strike while the iron is hot if I were you.

one way or another

• in some way that is not stated

Everyone at the party was related (in) one way or another.

• in any way that is possible

These bills have to be paid one way or another.

We have to make a decision one way or another about what needs to be done.

over the top

(abbreviation OTT) UK informal

too extreme and not suitable, or demanding too much attention or effort, especially in an uncontrolled way

I thought the decorations were way (= very) over the top.

The speech was a bit OTT.

I think he realised he'd gone over the top with the seating arrangements.

be not on

mainly UK

Something that is not on is unacceptable and should not happen

You can't be expected to work for nothing - it's not on.

be in sb's shoes informal

to be in the situation, usually a bad or difficult situation, that another person is in

I wouldn't like to be in Mike's shoes when the boss hears what he's done!

At the top of your agenda

The most important priority to you

It wouldn’t be at the top of my agenda!

Unit 16. Danger 30 IX 2010

catch sb napping

informal

If someone is caught napping, something happens to them which they are not prepared for

The goalkeeper was caught napping and the ball went straight in

get into trouble because you are not paying enough attention napping=sleeping

The soldiers were caught napping

(go)out on a limb

having an opinion which is different from most people's and is unpopular

She's going out on a limb in criticizing her own party leadership.

Out on a limp – you are alone and lacking support from anyone else (limp=branch of a tree)

Led astray

Influenced so that you do things

John was a weak man, easily led astray by others

leave well alone

to allow something to stay as it is because doing more might make things worse

It's going to get in a muddle if you carry on. I should just leave well alone if I were you.

panic stations

UK informal

a situation in which people feel worried and nervous because things need to be done quickly

Two weeks before an exam it's always panic stations as I realise how much I still have to do.

necessary evil

n [C]

something you do not like doing but which you know must be done, or something you do not like but which you must accept

I think he regards work as a necessary evil.

safe and sound

completely safe and without injury or damage

After three days lost in the mountains, all the climbers arrived home safe and sound.

Have a narrow escape

Just manage to avoid dander or trouble

The crew had a narrow escape when the pilot made a crash landing

by the skin of your teeth

If you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed in doing it

He escaped from the secret police by the skin of his teeth.

be too close for comfort

humorous

to be so close to you that you feel worried or frightened

His mother lives in the next street to us, which is a little too close for comfort.

cut it/things fine

to allow very little time for something

She arrived ten minutes before her flight, so she was cutting it a bit fine.

ring/sound alarm bells

If something rings/sounds alarm bells, it makes you start to worry because it is a sign that there may be a problem

The name rang alarm bells in her mind.

take your life in your hands

to do something that is very dangerous, especially where you risk death

Every time you go parachuting you're taking your life in your hands.

Your life is in someone’s hands

That person can affect whether you live or die

When you go into hospital you put your life in the hands of strangers

Hanging by a thread

Likely to fail in the near future

The economy is hanging by thread

On a knife-edge

In a very difficult situation and there are worries about the future

The business is on a financial knife-edge and may bankrupt.

Unit 17. Effort 2 10 2010

Give something your all

Use all your energy and effort to do something

I gave it my all, but only manage to come second in the race

go all out

to put all your energy or enthusiasm into what you are doing

The team went all out for a win.

Jack is going all out to win the contract – I hope he will succeed

go out of your way

to try very hard to do something, especially for someone else/ usually something nice

They really went out of their way to make us feel welcome by giving us the best room in the house.

Maggie always goes out of her way to put new employees at their ease.

pull your weight

to work as hard as other people in a group

The others had complained that Sarah wasn't pulling her weight.

If Sarah pulled her weight , we would easily be able to complete the project on time.

by hook or by crook

by any method possible

I decided I was going to get that job by hook or by crook

Our football team is determined to win the championship, by hook or by crook.

pull/get your finger out

UK informal

to start working hard, especially after a period of low activity

She's really going to have to pull her finger out if she wants to finish before Friday.

If you don’t pull your finger out, you will get the sack.

at a push

UK

If you can do something at a push, you can do it but it will be difficult

At a push I could be there by eight o'clock.

I could finish the project by Wednesday – at a push, Tuesday.

Have a go

Try to do sth

You are not having much luck threading the neddle, are you? Let me have a go.

have a bash UK informal

to try to do something you have not done before ( more informal than have a go)

I've never been skiing before, but I'm prepared to have a bash (at it).

go through the motions

informal disapproving

to do something without thinking it is very important or having much interest in it

He says he's been investigating my complaint, but I feel he's just going through the motions.

I went through the motions of tiding the house, but my thoughts were far away.

be child's play

informal

to be very easy

Using computers nowadays is child's play compared to how difficult they were to use twenty

years ago.

piece of cake

informal

something which is very easy to do

The exam was a piece of cake.

doddle

noun singular UK informal

something that is very easy to do

The exam was a doddle.

(as) easy as pie/ABC/anything/falling off a log

informal

extremely easy

be like taking candy from a baby

(also be as easy as taking candy from a baby) US informal

to be very easy

Beating them was the easiest thing in the world - it was like taking candy from a baby.

heavy going adjective

adj difficult to read or understand

I liked the film but the book was rather heavy going.

I'm finding the advanced physics a bit heavy going.

Unit 18. Necessity and desirability.

amiss adjective

adj [after verb]

wrong; not suitable or not as expected

I could see by the look on their faces that something was amiss.

not go amiss informal

If something might/would not go amiss, it would be useful and might help to improve a situation

A word of apology might not go amiss.

A sense of proportion would not go amiss in all of this.

take sth amiss

to be offended by something that someone has said to you

I was worried that he might take my remark amiss.

if/when push comes to shove

If something can be done if push comes to shove, it can be done if the situation becomes so bad that you have to do it

If push comes to shove, we can always sell the car.

If need be

If sth is really necessary, if you have no choice

be duty bound to do sth

to have to do something because it is your duty

We are duty bound to justify how we spend our funds.

need sth like you need a hole in the head

humorous

to not need or want something at all

Extra work? I need that like I need a hole in the head.

be dying for/to do sth

to be extremely eager to have or do something

I'm dying to hear your news.

I'm dying for a cup of tea.

wouldn't be seen dead

informal

If someone wouldn't be seen dead in a particular place or doing a particular thing, they would never do it, usually because it would be too embarrassing

I wouldn't be seen dead wearing a dress like that.

do your own thing

informal

to do what you want without worrying about what anyone else thinks of you

would give anything/a lot

(also I would give my eye teeth/right arm)

used to say that you would like to have or to do something very much

I'd give anything to see the Taj Mahal.

Janice would give her eye teeth for a house like that.

in/out of keeping (with sth)

suitable or not suitable for a particular situation

In keeping with tradition, they always have turkey on Christmas Day.

The modern furniture was out of keeping with the old house.

wouldn't touch sth with a barge pole

UK (US also wouldn't touch sth with a ten-foot pole) informal

used to mean that you certainly do not want to buy something or be involved with something

be in/out of luck

informal

to be able/unable to have or do what you want

"Do you have any tuna sandwiches?" "You're in luck - there's one left."

be worth your while

to be an activity or action that you will get an advantage from

It's worth your while taking out travel insurance before you travel.

take your pick

to choose the one(s) you want from the different types available

The shirts come in five different colours - just take your pick.

Unit 19 Probability and luck

on the off chance

hoping that something may be possible, although it is not likely

I applied for the job on the off chance, but I didn't seriously expect to get it.

against (all) the odds/against all odds

If you do or achieve something against (all) the odds/against all odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed

Against all the odds, he recovered.

take sth or sb for granted

If you take situations or people for granted, you do not realise or show that you are grateful for how much you get from them

One of the problems with relationships is that after a while you just take each other for granted.

foregone conclusion

C usually singular]

a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens

The result of the election seems to be a foregone conclusion.

a mile off

If you can see or realize something a mile off, you notice it easily and quickly

She's lying - you can tell it a mile off.

touch-and-go

adj informal

describes a situation which is uncertain

The doctor says that it's touch-and-go whether Mary will be okay.

no prizes for guessing sth

something you say when it is very easy to guess something

No prizes for guessing where Daniel is.

have the odds/cards stacked against you

to be very unlikely to succeed because you are not in an good position

chance your arm

to take a risk in order to get something that you want

Aren't you chancing your arm a bit giving up a secure job to start up a business?

in the lap of the gods

UK

describes a situation that cannot be controlled and which depends only on good luck

The doctors have done everything possible for him, so his recovery now is in the lap of the gods.

push your luck

(also push it)

to try too hard to get a particular result and risk losing what you have achieved

She's agreed to look after her on Saturday, but I think I'd be pushing my luck if I asked her to have charge of her the whole weekend.

pot luck noun

• [U] anything that is available or is found by chance, rather than something chosen, planned or prepared

We had no idea which hotel would be best, so we just took pot luck with the first one on the list.

Mary's welcome to stay for dinner if she doesn't mind taking pot luck (= having whatever is available).

• [C] mainly US an informal meal where guests bring a different dish which is then shared with the other guests

a pot luck dinner

We're having a pot luck on Saturday.

be the luck of the draw

to be the result of chance and something that you have no control over

You can't choose who you play against - it's just the luck of the draw.

Just my luck!

something that you say when something bad happens to you

They sold the last ticket five minutes before I got there - just my luck!

no such luck

informal

said after an event or result that would be very good has been suggested, to show disappointment that it cannot or did not happen

I was rather hoping it would rain today and I wouldn't have to go on the walk, but no such luck.

I should be so lucky!

informal

said when what you want is extremely unlikely to happen

"You might win first prize." "I should be so lucky."

Unit 20. Social status 8.10.2010

toffee-nosed

adj UK informal disapproving

People who are toffee-nosed consider themselves to be better than other people, especially than people of a lower social class

He's a toffee-nosed git - take no notice of him!

airs and graces

false ways of behaving that are intended to make other people feel that you are important and belong to a high social class

He was always putting on airs and graces.

She's got no reason to give herself airs and graces.

pillar of sth

a very important member or part of a group, organization, system, etc

Mrs Maple is a pillar of the local church.

Equality is one of the pillars of socialism.

rough diamond

n [C] UK (US diamond in the rough)

a person who is kinder and more pleasant than they seem to be from their appearance and manner

down-and-outs

people who have no home, no money and no job, who live on the streets.

She’s always giving money to down-and-outs and anyone who begs in the street

keep up appearances

to pretend to be happier, less poor, etc. than you really are, because you do not want people to know how bad your situation is

They were very unhappily married but kept up appearances for the sake of their children.

high-flyer

n (also  high-flier) [C] someone who has a lot of ability and a strong wish to be successful and is therefore expected to achieve a lot

High-flyers in the industry typically earn 25% more than their colleagues.

make a name for yourself

to become famous or respected by a lot of people

He's made a name for himself as a talented journalist.

work your way up/to the top

to make progress in a process or structure

He started as an office junior and worked his way up through the company to become a director.

up-and-coming

adj [usually before noun]

likely to achieve success soon or in the near future

up-and-coming young actresses

new blood

n [U]

people with a lot of energy or fresh ideas who are brought into an organization in order to improve it

The new blood in the team should improve our chances of victory in next week's match.

keep a low profile

to avoid attracting attention to yourself

He's been in a bit of trouble recently so he's trying to keep a low profile.

Anybody who is anybody

All the important people

the odd one out

(also the odd man out)

a person or thing that is different from or kept apart from others that form a group or set

Guess which number of the following sequence is the odd one out.

She was always the odd one out at school - she didn't have many friends.

politically correct adjective

adj (abbreviation PC)

• describes someone who believes that language and actions which could be offensive to others, especially those relating to sex and race, should be avoided

• describes a word or expression that is used instead of another one to avoid being offensive

Some people think that 'fireman' is a sexist term, and prefer the politically correct term 'firefighter'.

Unit 21. Feelings 12.10. 2010

on top of the world

extremely happy

She was feeling on top of the world.

thrilled to bits

informal

extremely pleased

She was thrilled to bits with her present.

jump for joy

to be extremely happy

"So how did Robert take the news?" "He didn't exactly jump for joy."

(down) in the dumps

unhappy

She's a bit down in the dumps because she's got to take her exams again.

on edge

nervous and not relaxed

Is something wrong? You seem a bit on edge this morning.

at the end of your tether

having no strength or patience left

By 6 o'clock after a busy day I'm at the end of my tether.

To have your fill of sth

Have enough (often in a negative sense)

I’ve had my fill of exams. I hope I never do another one for the rest of my life.

Sick and tired

Have had enough (always negative, much stronger than have your fill)

I’m sick and tired of studing. I just want to get a job and earn money.

take sb's breath away

be extremely beautiful or surprising

The beauty of the Taj Mahal took my breath away.

not know what hit you

to feel shocked or confused because something bad has happened to you suddenly when you were not expecting it

not know where to put yourself

informal

to feel very embarrassed

And then he started to sing. Well, I didn't know where to put myself.

not take kindly to sth

to not like something

After years of being looked after by his mother, he didn't take kindly to being told to cook for himself.

mixed feelings plural noun

If you have mixed feelings about something, you feel both pleased and not pleased about it at the same time

I had mixed feelings about leaving home. I was excited but at the same time, I knew I would miss my family.

not know where/which way to turn

to not know what to do or who to ask for help

When both her parents died, she didn't know which way to turn.

Unit 22. Human relationship. 13.10.2010

be in sb's good/bad books

If you are in someone's good/bad books, they are pleased/not pleased with you

He's in Melanie's bad books because he arrived 2 hours late.

I cleaned the bathroom yesterday so I'm in Mum's good books.

get on like a house on fire

informal

If two people get on like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become friends very quickly

I was worried that they wouldn't like each other but in fact they're getting on like a house on fire.

be/get/keep, etc. in touch

to communicate or continue to communicate with someone by using a telephone or writing to them

Are you still in touch with any of your old school friends?

No, Jane and I never kept in touch after college.

We're in close touch with our office in Spain.

make it up to sb - wynagrodzić

to do something good for someone you have upset, in order to become friends with them again

I'm sorry we can't take you with us, but I promise I'll make it up to you somehow.

take a shine to sb

informal

to like someone immediately

I think he's taken a bit of a shine to you.

have a soft spot for sb

to feel that you like someone very much, often without knowing why

She'd always had a soft spot for her younger nephew.

be at loggerheads (with sb)

to strongly disagree (with someone)

The Chancellor is at loggerheads with the Prime Minister over public spending.

Be (talking) at cross-purposses

Not understand each other because they are trying to do or say different things.

We’re talking at cross-purposes. I was referring to my brother and you’re talking about my father.

have it in for sb

informal

to be determined to harm or criticize someone

She's always had it in for me.

have it out with sb

to talk to someone about something they have done which makes you angry, in order to try to solve the problem

She'd been late for work every morning that week and I thought I'd better have it out with her.

rub sb up the wrong way

UK (US rub sb the wrong way)

to annoy someone without intending to

As soon as they met they started to rub each other up the wrong way.

two-time verb [T] informal

A person who two-times someone they are having a relationship with deceives them by having a secret sexual relationship with someone else at the same time

I finished with him when I found out he was two-timing me.

hold/keep sth/sb at bay

to prevent someone or something unpleasant from harming you

Exercise can help keep fat at bay.

keep yourself to yourself phrasal verb

phrasal verb

to not talk to other people very much

He's a very private person - he keeps himself to himself.

Unit 23. Size and position 13.10.2010

make it big

informal

to become famous or successful

she’s a great singer. She’ll make it big one day.

make a big thing (out) of sth

informal

to give something too much importance

I want a party, but I don't want to make a big thing of it.

It’s my birthday on Saturday. But I don’t want to make a big thing of it, so don’t tell anyone.

think big

to have plans to be very successful or powerful

You need to think big if you want to succeed.

If you are going to invest your money, you should think big. Put twenty thousand into oil shares.

Big deal!

informal

said when you do not think that what someone has said or done is important or special

"I ran five miles this morning." "Big deal! I ran ten."

So? You won ten pounds on the lottery. Big deal!

larger than life

If someone is larger than life, they attract a lot of attention because they are more exciting or interesting than most people

Most characters in his films are somewhat larger than life.

This characters in his films are always larger than life.

loom large

If something looms large, it becomes very important and often causes worry

The issue of pay will loom large at this Easter's teacher conference.

a mile off

If you can see or realize something a mile off, you notice it easily and quickly

She's lying - you can tell it a mile off.

stand/stick out a mile

to be very obvious or easy to see

His lack of experience sticks out a mile.

be a far cry from sth

to be completely different from something

This flat is a far cry from the house they had before.

be miles away

mainly UK

to not be conscious of what is happening around you because you are thinking about something else

You could tell by the expression on her face that she was miles away, thinking about home.

not give/budge/move an inch

to not change your opinion

She's definite that she wants to do it, and she'll not give an inch, however hard you try to persuade her.

in small doses

for short periods of time

I can only stand opera in small doses.

a small fortune

informal

a large sum of money

You'll have to spend a small fortune in legal fees if you decide to sue for compensation.

all shapes and sizes

many different types

We sell all shapes and sizes of teddy bear.

Cars come in all shapes and sizes.

unknown quantity

n [C usually singular]

a person or a thing whose abilities, powers or effects are not yet known

The third candidate for the party leadership is a relatively unknown quantity.

Unit 24. Money. 14.10.2010

Be on the breadline

Be very poor

More people in Britain are on the breadline now than thirty years ago

Live in the lap of luxury

Life an extremely comfortable life, because you are very rich

We live simply during the year, but enjoy living in the lap of luxury in a nice hotel for our summer holiday

well-off /well-to-do/ well-heeled

rich

Her family was very well-off.

Most of the people living here are clearly very well-to-do, but there are a few poorer families.

Spend money like water

Spend too much, often without thinking about it

He spends money like water – I wander where he gets it all from.

Tighten your belt

Spend less than you did before because you have less money

I’m afraid we’ll have to tighten our belts now there’s another mouth to feed.

make a killing

informal

to earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort

They made a killing with the sale of their London house.

(be) a money-maker

n [C] (also money-spinner)

a product or activity which produces a lot of money

be a successful way of making moneyMy dog-walking business was quite a money spinner when I was at college.

pay through the nose

informal

to pay too much money for something, pay a lot of mone

We paid through the nose to get the car fixed and it still doesn't go properly.

rip-off noun - zdzierstwo

[C usually singular]

something that is not worth what you pay for it

$300 for that shirt? - That's a complete rip-off.

a small fortune

informal

a large sum of money, you can also say that sth cost a small fortune

You'll have to spend a small fortune in legal fees if you decide to sue for compensation.

Someone can also make a small fortune out of a business or they can lose a small fortune.

Pick up the tab/bill (informal)

Pay for something, often something that is not your responsibility

Bill is a generous man who is happy to pick up the tab/bill for anything.

A considerable price

By sacrificing a lot or by doing something unpleasant in order to get it.

Bill managed to rise to the top of his profession in the police force, but it was at a considerable price. His marriage suffered as a result.

put paid to sth

UK

to finish or destroy something

A knee injury has put paid to her chances of getting into the final.

pay the price (for)

to experience the bad result of something you have done

If you abuse your body now, you'll pay the price when you're older.

Unit 25. Work 15.10.2010

be on the lowest/bottom rung of the ladder

to be at the lowest level of an organization

I started my life on the bottom rung of the ladder in this company.

Bottom of sb career ladder – in a low possision in a work organisation or hierarchy

dead-end job noun

n [C]

a job in which there is no chance of being raised to a better, more important job

run-of-the-mill adjective

ordinary and not special or exciting in any way

He gave a fairly run-of-the-mill speech.

Get out of a rut

Escape from a monotonous boring situation

pull out all the stops

to do everything you can to make something successful

They pulled out all the stops for their daughter's wedding.

Get the sack/ be given the sack

To be dismissed fromyour job

step into sb's shoes

(also fill sb's shoes)

to take someone's place, often by doing the job they have just left

Who do you think will step into Sarah's shoes when she goes?

rush/run sb off their feet

to cause someone to be very busy

I've been rushed off my feet all morning.

have your work cut out (for you)

to have something very difficult to do

She'll really have her work cut out to finish all those reports by the end of the week.

up-and-coming adjective

adj [usually before noun]

likely to achieve success soon or in the near future

up-and-coming young actresses

headhunt verb

v [T]

to persuade someone to leave their job by offering them another job with more pay and a higher position

She was headhunted by a rival firm.

Climb to the top of the career ladder

Got to a top posision in a work organisation or hierarchy.

be snowed under (with sth)

to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all

I'm absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.

have your hands full

to be so busy that you do not have time to do anything else

I'd love to help but I've got my hands full organizing the school play.

on the go

• very busy

I've been on the go all day and I'm really tired.

Put on hold

Left until a later date (usually used in the passive)

Plans for building the extension have been put on hold until our finances are in a better state.

Sth looks great on paper

When you read about it, but might not turn out to be so

The plans look great on paper, but you never know quite how things will turn out, of course.

behind the scenes

If something happens behind the scenes, it happens without most people knowing about it, especially when something else is happening publicly

A lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes.

talk shop

to talk about your job with those you work with when not at work

Even at a party they have to talk shop!

Unit 26. Speed, distance and intensity 18.10.2010

Speed

By/in leaps and bounds

Very quickly

Club membership has grown by leaps and bounds this year.

Get a move on

Hurry (often used as an order)

Get a move on! You’ll be late for school.

Be on the run

Rey to avoid being caught (especially by the police)

The bank robbers are still on the run ten years after the crime.

Fast and furious

Full of speed and excitement

The car chase at the end of he film fast and furious.

Step by step (step-by-step when used as an adjective before a noun)

Slowly: gradually

Changes need to be introduced step by step,not all at once.

Drag your feet/heels

Deal with sth slowly because you don’t really want to do it.

We mustn’t drag our heels over implementing the new legislation.

Distance and intensity

The word spread

The news went from one person to the next

I told only Joy about it, but the word quickly spread and soon everyone seemed to know.

keep track

to make certain that you know what is happening or has happened to someone or something

My sister has had so many different jobs, I find it hard to keep track (of what she's doing).

The school likes to keep track of it’s former pupils.

Get off to a flying start

Start well

The evening got off to a flying start as everyone was very impressed by the restaurant

on the spot

• at the place where an event is happening or has recently happened

The police were called and they were on the spot within three minutes.

• immediately

You can be sacked on the spot for stealing.

All over the place

In or to many places

I looked for you all over the place.

Left, right and centre

Happening in a lot of places or to a lot of people

People have been coming down with flu left, right and centre.

Reach/be at fever pitch

(used of emotions) to get so strong that people can’t control them

By the end of the match, feelings had reached fever pitch.

Be in full swing

To have been happening for a long time and there is a lot of activity

The party was in full swing by the time we arrived

Get/go beyond a joke

Be/become extremely serious and worrying

The children’s behaviour has gone beyond a joke time.

Unit 27. Communication I: commenting on language

be a pack of lies

(formal be a tissue of lies)

to be completely untrue

The whole report is a pack of lies.

I knew everything bella said was completely untrue. It was all a pack of lies.

(That's) a likely story!

informal

said when you do not believe something

"He said he bought them all very cheaply from some bloke he knows." "That's a likely story!"

off the cuff

If you speak off the cuff, you say something without having prepared or thought about your words first

I hadn't prepared a speech so I just said a few words off the cuff.

an off-the-cuff remark

slip of the tongue

when someone says something that they did not intend to say

I called her new boyfriend by her previous boyfriend's name - it was just a slip of the tongue.

in the same breath

If you say two things in the same breath, you say two things that are so different that if one is true, the other must be false

You say you're bored and frustrated but in the same breath say you're resigned to staying in the same job.

small talk noun

n [U]

conversation about things which are not important, often between people who do not know each other well

I don't enjoy parties where I have to make small talk with complete strangers.

ring true

If something someone says or writes rings true, it seems to be true

Something about his explanation didn't quite ring true.

be lost for words

to be so shocked, surprised, full of admiration etc that you cannot speak

Mary was lost for words when she was awarded the prize.

be on about

UK informal

If you ask someone what they are on about, you are asking them, usually angrily, what they mean

I dunno what you're on about.

in a word

said when you are going to give your opinion about something quickly and directly

In a word, she's lying.

You ask if I think we should help him. In a word, no.

For want of a better word

Not quite the exct or best word, but good enough for the situation

I think he’s behaved very stupidly. He’s an idiot, for want of a better word.

To coin a phrase

Said when you use a phrase that sounds a bit silly

I was, to coin a phrase, as sick as a parrot

Joking and being serious

take the mickey/mick (out of someone) UK informal

to laugh at someone and make them seem silly, by copying their behaviour or tricking them in a funny or unkind way

A group of other boys were taking the mickey out of him.

She's always taking the mick - she's got no respect for the managers at all.

be no laughing matter

to be very serious and not a situation that people should joke about

Being arrested by the police is no laughing matter.

make light of sth

to behave as if a situation, especially a problem, is not serious or important

It is easy to make light of other people's problems.

We shouldn’t make light of her troubles; she’s very upset

be no joke

informal

to be serious or difficult

It's no joke driving on icy roads.

I have to do the work of three people. It’s no joke.

Unit 28. Communication 2: Getting the message across. 23.10.2010

loud and clear

very clear and easy to understand

I can hear you loud and clear.

The message from management came through loud and clear: things would have to change.

The message fropm doctors and researchers has copme through loud and clear : smoking harms your health

speak your mind

to say what you think about something very directly

He's certainly not afraid to speak his mind.

You mustn’t be afraid to speak your mind; it’s important that everyone hears your views.

matter-of-fact adjective

adj

not showing feelings or emotion, especially in a situation when emotion would be expected

He spoke in a very matter-of-fact way about the accident.

She told me the bad news in a very matter-of-fact way.

will not take no for an answer

to not allow someone to refuse what you have offered

I've told Steve I'm not interested, but he keeps asking me out - he won't take no for an answer.

not get a word in edgeways

UK (US not get a word in edgewise) informal

to not be able to say anything because someone else is talking all the time

Roz was talking so much that nobody else could get a word in edgeways!

be beside the point

to be in no way connected to the subject that is being discussed

Let's stick to discussing whether the road should be built at all. The exact cost is beside the point.

miss the point

to not understand something correctly or what is important about it

What you say is true, but you've missed the point of my argument.

not know the meaning of the word

If you are talking about a quality or an activity and you say that someone doesn't know the meaning of the word, you mean they do not have that quality or they have no experience of that activity

Work? He doesn't know the meaning of the word!

And the irony of Phil talking about ethics. He doesn't know the meaning of the word.

word for word

• using exactly the same words

She listened to everything I said and repeated it word for word to her mum.

a word-for-word account

small print

n [U] UK (US fine print)

text in a formal agreement which is printed smaller than the rest of the text, sometimes in the hope that it will not be noticed because it contains rules or information that will not give advantages to the person signing the agreement

Don't sign anything until you've read the small print.

be a tall order

to be something which is difficult to do

Getting the essay done on time will be a tall order.

be a matter of opinion

If something is a matter of opinion, different people have different opinions about it

Both performances were excellent, it's simply a matter of opinion as to whose was better.

Whether is she cleverer than her brother is a matter of opinion.

a question mark over sth

an expression used when doubt exists about a particular thing

A question mark hangs over the future of the company.

There’s a question mark (hanging) over the future of the tennis club.

lingua franca noun

n [C usually singular]

a language which is used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages but which is not used between members of the same group

The international business community sees English as a lingua franca

Unit 29. Life and experience: proverbs.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

saying

This means that when people we love are not with us, we love them even more.

Actions speak louder than words.

saying

said to emphasize that what you do is more important and shows your intentions and feelings more clearly than what you say

There’s no point/ It’s no good/ It's no use crying over spilt milk.

saying

said to emphasize that it is not useful feeling sorry about something which has already happened

It's no use crying over spilt milk - he's spent all the money, and there's nothing you can do about it.

put all your eggs in one basket

informal

it’s not a good idea to put all your effort or all your money into one project as if it fails, you may lose everything.

to depend for your success on a single person or plan of action

I'm applying for several jobs because I don't really want to put all my eggs in one basket.

Many hands make light work

A job is done quickly and easily if plenty of people help.

Blood is thicker than water.

saying

said to emphasize that you believe that family connections are always more important than other types of relationships

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

UK saying (US Too many cooks spoil the soup.)

said when there are too many people doing the same piece of work at the same time, so that the final result will be spoiled

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

saying

This means that you should not criticize other people for bad qualities in their character that you have yourself.

the final/last straw

(also the straw that breaks the camel's back)

the last in a series of unpleasant events which finally makes you feel that you cannot continue to accept a bad situation

Losing my job was bad enough, but being evicted from my house was the final straw.

She's always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she started insulting my mother.

While the cat's away, the mice will play.

saying

said when the person who is in charge of a place is not there, and the people there behave badly

Take care of the pennies/pence and the pounds will take care of themselves

If you don’t waste small sum of money you’ll end up with plenty of money.

Birds of a feather flock together.

saying

said about people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you disapprove, and who often spend time with each other

A bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush).

saying

said when you recognise that you should not risk losing something you already have by trying to get something you think might be better

The grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence).

saying

something that you say which means that other people always seem to be in a better situation than you, although they may not be

I sometimes think I'd be happier teaching in Spain. Oh well, the grass is always greener on the other side!

All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy).

saying

said to warn someone that they will not be an interesting person if they work all the time

Unit 30. Memory.

commit sth to memory

to make certain that you remember something

He never writes phone numbers down – he just commits them to memory.

take a stroll/trip/walk down memory lane

to remember happy times in the past

they went back to the place where they’d spent their honeymoon and took a stroll down memory lane.

jog sb's memory

to make someone remember something

The police showed him a photo to try to jog his memory about what had happened on the night of the robbery.

The police are reconstructing the crime to try to jog the memory of possible witnesses.

within living memory

If something has happened within living memory, it can be remembered by some people who are still alive

There is possibly less chance of another World War while the last one is within living memory.

Streets lit by gas lamps are still within living memory.

spring to mind

to come quickly into your mind

Say the word 'Australia' and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind.

slip sb's memory/mind

to be forgotten

I forgot I'd arranged to meet Richard last night - it completely slipped my mind.

I was going to ring her to wish her happy birthday but it slipped my mind.

bear/keep sth in mind

to remember a piece of information when you are making a decision or thinking about a matter

Bearing in mind how young she is, I thought she did really well.

Of course, repair work is expensive and you have to keep that in mind.

your mind is a blank/goes blank

When your mind is a blank/goes blank, you cannot remember a particular thing, or you cannot remember anything

I tried to remember her name, but my mind went a complete blank.

When I looked at the exam questions, my mind went blank.

cross your mind

If something crosses your mind, you think of it

It crossed my mind yesterday that you must be a bit short of staff - shall I send someone to help out?

It never once crossed my mind that she might be unhappy.

Out of sight, out of mind.

saying

said to emphasize that when something or someone cannot be seen, it is easy to forget them

Annie hasn’t thought of her boyfriend since he went abroad. Out of sight, out of mind.

be on the tip of your tongue

If something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you know it and that you will be able to remember it very soon

Her name is on the tip of my tongue.

ring a bell

(also ring any bells)

to sound familiar

The name rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before.

No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me.

Jill’s face roings a bell, but I don’t think we’ve ever met.

train of thought/events

a series of connected thoughts or events

What amazing train of thought led you from Napoleon to global warming?

The book describes the train of events that led up to the assassination.

Oh no! I’ve lost my train of thought.

rack your brains

to think very hard

I've been racking my brains all day but I can't remember her name

Unit 31. Time I: the past and the future

Looking back

have seen better days

to be old and in bad condition

That jacket's seen better days. Why don't you get a new one?

Out of date

Old and not useful or correct any more

My computer is out of date.

make up for lost time

to enjoy an experience as much as possible because you did not have the opportunity to do it earlier in life

I didn't travel much in my twenties but I'm certainly making up for lost time now.

She didn’t study when she was young, but she’s making up for lost time

from/since the year dot

UK (US from/since the year one) informal

for an extremely long time, from the begining of time

He's been in the local pantomime since the year dot

People have fallen in love with one another since/from the year dot.

Looking forward.

the shape of things to come

the form or style that is likely to develop or be popular in the future

I hope the fashions pictured in this magazine are not the shape of things to come.

E-commerce seems to be the shape of things to come.

for the time being

for a limited period, temporarily, instead of.

Leave the ironing for the time being - I'll do it later.

Use this room for the time being until your new office is ready

on the threshold of sth

at the start of a new and important time or development, likely to happen very soon

We are on the threshold of a new era in European relations.

We are on the threshold of exciting new developments in medicine.

in the long/medium/short term

for a long, medium or short period of time in the future

Taking this decision will cost us more in the short term, but will be beneficial in the long term.

The economy looks healthy in the short/medium/long term.

be (only) a matter of time

If it is (only) a matter of time until something happens, it is certain to happen but you do not know when it will happen

It's only a matter of time before he's forced to resign.

It’s only a mater of time before we start to colonise other planets.

It's early days.

UK

said when you think it is too soon to make a judgment about the likely result of something because a lot might still happen or change

Our progress has been fairly slow so far, but it's early days.

I can’t say if I like the job or not. It’s early days yet.

in the long run

at a time that is far away in the future

It seems a lot of effort but I'm sure it's the best solution in the long run.

In the long run you’ll see it was the right decision.

like there is/was no tomorrow

informal

If someone does something like there is/was no tomorrow, they do it very fast, in large amounts and without thinking carefully

After his win on the football pools, he began spending money like there was no tomorrow.

He spends money like there’s no tomorrow.

at the end of the day

UK

something that you say before you give the most important fact of a situation

Of course I'll listen to what she has to say but at the end of the day, it's my decision.

At the end of the day, you have to be a little selfish.

sign of the times

usually disapproving

something that is typical of the (bad) way things are now

These riots in the north are a sign of the times.

The fact that he had been dead for a week in his apartment before anybody found him is a sign of the times.

Unit 32 Time 2: Clocks and frequency.

Clocks/time passing

Work against the clock

Work fast because you only have limited time.

Jake worked against the clock to get the report finished before the meeting.

In no time at all

Do sth very quickly.

The homework is very easy. You’ll be able to do it in no time at all.

call it a day

informal

to stop the work you are doing

I'm getting a bit tired now - shall we call it a day?

I’m really tired. Let’s call it a day now and come back to it next week

don't have a minute to call your own

are very busy indeed

Every since the twins were born, I haven’t had a minute to call my own

then and there

(also there and then)

Immediately, right at the moment

I suggested he phone his mother and he did it there and then.

If a new idea is suggested, Allan is always keen to try out there and then

at the crack of dawn

very early in the morning, especially at the time at which the sun first appears

We'll have to leave at the crack of dawn.

As our plane was leaving at 8 a.m. we had to get up at the crack of dawn to be at the airport on time.

Frequency

These idioms refer to how often rarely sth happens.

once in a lifetime

only likely to happen once in a person's life

An opportunity as good as this arises once in a lifetime.

once in a blue moon

not very often

My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon.

once and for all

completely and in a way that will finally solve a problem

Our intention is to destroy their offensive capability once and for all.

on and off

(also off and on)

If something happens on and off during a period of time, it happens sometimes

I've had toothache on and off for a couple of months.

from time to time

sometimes but not often

From time to time I still think of her.

nine times out of ten

(also ninety-nine times out of a hundred)

almost always

Nine times out of ten, you can fix it.

run/go/work like clockwork

to happen exactly as planned, without any trouble

The party went like clockwork.

from scratch – do sth/start sth from scratch

from the beginning, without using anything that already exists

Ben built the shed from scratch.

Unit 33. The elements

be the salt of the Earth

If you say that someone is the salt of the Earth, you mean that they are a very good and honest person.

To go to the ends of the earth

Do anything possible in order to to achieve sth

She’d go to the ends of the earth to save her child

If someone’s been mistreated or discriminated against, Bonner wil go to the ends of the earth to correct it.

I can’t believe you don’t like the Cowboy Junkies! I’d go to the ends of the earth to hear them play.

go/be run to ground

to hide in order to escape someone or something following you

He found the media attention intolerable and went to ground for several months.

fall on stony ground

If a request or a piece of advice falls on stony ground, it is ignored or unpopular.

Her speech about the need for a peaceful solution to the crisis fell on stony ground.

All my warnings fell on stony ground.

pluck sth out of the air

to say something quickly, usually because a reply is expected, without having thought about it or made certain it is correct

"Where did you get those figures from?" "Oh, I just plucked them out of the air."

If you pluck a number out of the air, you choose one at random.

blow hot and cold

często zmieniac zdanie

to sometimes like or be interested in something or someone and sometimes not, so people are confused about how you really feel

He's been blowing hot and cold about the trip to Holland.

get wind of sth

zwietrzyc, zweszyć, podejrzewac

to hear a piece of information that someone else was trying to keep secret

I don't want my colleagues to get wind of the fact that I'm leaving.

way/direction the wind blows

If a person tries to discover which way the wind blows/is blowing, they try to discover information about a situation, especially other people's opinions, before they take action

I think I'll see which way the wind is blowing before I vote at the board meeting.

Be playing with fire

to act in a way that is very dangerous or risky, taking unnecessary risk in a situation you know is dangerous.

Since she had started secretly meeting Lary, she had known she was playing with fire, but she couldn’t stop herself.

You are playing with fire you know. The company won’t be very happy if it’s obvious to everybody that you’re breaking the rules.

spread like wildfire

If disease or news spreads like wildfire, it quickly affects or becomes known by more and more people

Once one child in the school has the infection, it spreads like wildfire.

in the heat of the moment

If you say or do something in the heat of the moment, you say or do it without thinking because you are very angry or excited

He didn't mean it - he said it in the heat of the moment.

There's no smoke without fire.

UK saying (US Where there's smoke, there's fire.)

If unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably a good reason for it

She says the accusations are not true, but there's no smoke without fire.

add fuel to the fire/flames

to make an argument or bad situation worse

The discovery that the government was aware of the cover-up has really added fuel to the fire.

be in deep water

(also get into deep water)

to be in or get into serious trouble

The government is in deep water over its plans for tax increases.

out of your depth

• not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation

I was out of my depth in the advanced class, so I moved to the intermediate class.

jump in at the deep end

(also throw sb in at the deep end)

If you jump or are thrown in at the deep end, you start doing something new and difficult without help or preparation.

be in hot water

(also get into hot water)

to be in or get into a difficult situation in which you are in danger of being criticized or punished

He found himself in hot water over his comments about immigration.

be between the devil and the deep blue sea

to have two choices but both of them are equally unpleasant or not convenient

a drop in the ocean

UK (US a drop in the bucket)

a very small amount compared to the amount needed

My letter of protest was just a drop in the ocean.

Unit 34. Colour. 25.10.2010

red tape noun - biurokracja

n [U] disapproving

official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results

We must cut through the red tape.

There’s a great deal of red tape involved in getting a work permit.

be in the red – mieć debet na koncie

informal

If you or your bank account are in the red, you owe money to the bank.

Compare: be in the black – nie mieć debetu na koncie, być w dobrej kondycji finasowej.

red-handed adjective

catch sb red-handed

to find someone in the act of doing something illegal

he was caught red-handed stealing money from the cash register.

red herring noun zmiana tematu (dosł – sledz wedzony)

a fact, idea or subject that takes people's attention away from the central point being considered

The police investigated many clues, but they were all red herrings.

until you are blue in the face

If you say or shout something until you are blue in the face, you are wasting your efforts because you will get no results, you say the same thing many times but sb refuses to listen.

You can tell her to tidy her room until you are blue in the face, but she won't do it.

I argued with Tim till I was blue in the face.

blue-blooded adjective

describes someone who has been born into a family which belongs to the highest social class

I think there’s blue blood in her family; her great- grandmother was a Russian princess.

blue-collar adjective

[before noun]

describes people who do work needing strength or physical skill rather than office work

Blue-collar workers at the local car factory were on strike for six weeks.

be green with envy – zielony z zawisci

to be very unhappy because someone has something that you want

Ben's heading off to Spain for the week and I'm green with envy

I was green with envy when she got the job.

green fingers plural noun

UK (US green thumb)

the ability to make plants grow

my mother’s got green fingers. Everything she plants in the garden grows well.

green-fingered adjective

give the green light to sth

(informal green-light)

to give permission for someone to do something or for something to happen

The council has given the green light to the new shopping development.

The boss has given the project the green light

green belt noun

n [C usually singular]

a strip of countryside round a city or town where building is not allowed

Our house is in the green belt, so no other houses can be built near it.

white-collar adjective

adj [before noun]

relating to people who work in offices, doing work that needs mental rather than physical effort

white-collar workers/unions

be (down) in black and white – czarno na białym

to be written down

I couldn't believe it was true, but there it was, in black and white.

grey area noun

n [C usually singular]

a situation which is not clear or where the rules are not known

The difference between gross negligence and recklessness is a legal grey area.

black hole noun

n [C]

• specialized a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape

• an imaginary place in which things are lost

The factory owners consider that the plant is a black hole, into which more and more money is disappearing.

Unit 35. Games and sport

start/set/get the ball rolling

to do something which starts an activity, or to start doing something in order to encourage other people to do the same

I decided to set the ball rolling and got up to dance.

the ball is in sb's court

If the ball is in someone's court, they have to do something before any progress can be made in a situation

It's up to you what to do - the ball is in your court now.

be on the ball

to be quick to understand and react to things

I didn't sleep well last night and I'm not really on the ball today.

do sth off your own bat

UK informal

to do something without anyone else telling you or asking you to do it

I didn't ask her to buy them a present - she did it off her own bat.

play ball

informal

to agree to work with or help someone in the way they have suggested

The family wanted him to be looked after at home, but the insurance company refused to play ball.

a level playing field

a situation in which everyone has the same chance of succeeding

If the tax systems are different in each European country, how can industries start on a level playing field?

play your cards right

to behave in the right way so that you get an advantage or succeed in something

If you play your cards right, you could make quite a lot of money out of this.

put /lay your cards on the table

to be honest about your feelings and intentions

I thought it was time I laid my cards on the table, so I told him that I had no intention of marrying him.

pass the buck

mainly disapproving

to blame someone or make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with

She's always trying to pass the buck and I'm sick of it!

follow suit

to do the same thing as someone else

When one airline reduces its prices, the rest soon follow suit.

call sb's bluff

to make someone prove that what they are saying is true, or to make someone prove that they will really do what they say they will do, because you do not believe them

take the plunge

to make a decision to do something, especially after thinking about it for a long time

They're finally taking the plunge and getting married.

go/be back to square one

informal

to be forced to think of a new course of action because your first course of action failed

The deal with the house fell through so I'm afraid we're back to square one.

be wide of the mark

to be wrong

Yesterday's weather forecast was a little wide of the mark, then.

spur-of-the-moment

informal

describes a decision, action, etc. that is sudden and done without any planning

We hadn't planned to go away - it was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions.

We just jumped in a car on the spur of the moment and drove to the seaside.

be on the cards

UK (US be in the cards)

to be likely to happen

"So you think there'll be an election next year." "I think it's on the cards."

be your best bet

to be the best decision or choice

Your best bet would be to take a bus to the airport.

when the chips are down

informal

when you are in a very difficult or dangerous situation, especially that makes you understand the true value of people or things

One day when the chips are down, you will know who your true friends are.

Unit 36. Animals I : describing people

dark horse noun – tajemniczy, nieznany, fuks, przypadkowy zwycięzca na wyścigu

n [C usually singular]

UK a person who keeps their interests and ideas secret, especially someone who has a surprising ability or skill

Anna's such a dark horse - I had no idea she'd published a novel.

loner noun lone Wolf – samotnik (o mężczyżnie)

[C]

a person who likes to do things on their own without other people

He was always a bit of a loner at school.

cold fish noun – niesympatyczny, chłodny

[S]

someone who seems unfriendly and who does not share their feelings

guinea pig noun ( TEST )

n [C]

a person used in a scientific test, usually to discover the effect of a drug on humans

They're asking for students to be guinea pigs in their research into the common cold.

party animal noun

[C] informal

someone who enjoys parties and party activities very much and goes to as many as possible

Sarah's a real party animal - she likes to dance all night.

fly on the wall

If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall on an occasion, you mean that you would like to hear what will be said or see what will happen while not being noticed

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when those two get home!

fly-on-the-wall adjective

adj [before noun] UK

describes a television programme in which the people involved behave normally, as if they are not being filmed

a fly-on-the-wall documentary

There was a fly-on-the-wal documentary on TV last night about hospital waiting rooms.

sb's bark is worse than their bite

If someone's bark is worse than their bite, they are not as unpleasant as they seem, and their actions are not as bad as their threats

Don't let her frighten you, her bark is worse than her bite.

wouldn't harm/hurt a fly

informal

If you say that someone wouldn't harm/hurt a fly, you mean they are gentle and would not do anything to injure or offend anyone.

You don’t need to be afraid of him. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.

The travel bug

A strong desire to travel.

Larry’s really got the travel bug ever since he won that holiday in the Caribbean.

get the bit between your teeth

(US also take the bit between your teeth)

to do what you have decided to do in a forceful and energetic way

She wasn't keen at first, but she loved it once she got the bit between her teeth.

Bit – a piece of metal put between a horse’s teeth to control it.

free rein

the freedom to do, say or feel what you want

The young film-makers were given free rein to experiment with new themes and techniques.

He deliberately gave his emotions free rein as he played the sonata.

Reins – lejce

a little bird told me

said if you know who gave you the information being discussed but will not say who it was

"How did you know he was leaving?" "Oh, let's just say a little bird told me."

beeline noun

make a beeline for

to go directly and quickly towards

At parties he always makes a beeline for the prettiest woman in the room.

As soon as the meeting over we all made a beeline for the food.

have butterflies (in your stomach)

informal

to feel very nervous, usually about something you are going to do

I had terrible butterflies before I gave that talk in Venice.

I always have butterflies in my stomach just before an exam.

make a pig of yourself

disapproving

to eat too much

They made complete pigs of themselves at the dinner.

be chasing your tail

to be busy doing a lot of things but achieving very little

I have so much work to do these days. I’m just chasing my tail trying to catch up.

Unit 37. Animals 2: describing situations.

go to the dogs

If a country or organization is going to the dogs, it is becoming very much less successful than it was in the past.

let the cat out of the bag

to allow a secret to be known, usually without intending to

I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

We didn’t tell anyone the news, but she let the cat out of the bag and everyone knows.

put/set the cat among the pigeons

UK

to say or do something that causes trouble or makes a lot of people very angry

There's no/not enough room to swing a cat.

saying

said about a place or space that is very small

there’s not enough room to swing a cat in our flat so I don’t think a party is a good idea.

the law of the jungle

the idea that people who care only about themselves will be most likely to succeed in a society or organization

We hope for a world where the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs the conduct of nations.

can of worms

informal

a situation which causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it

Corruption is a serious problem, but nobody has yet been willing to open up that can of worms.

water off a duck's back

spływa jak po kaczce

mainly disapproving

criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person

I've told him that he's heading for trouble, but he doesn't listen - it's just water off a duck's back.

run round like a headless chicken

to be very busy doing a lot of things, but in a way that is not very effective

snail mail noun

[U] informal humorous

letters or messages that are not sent by email, but by regular post

We agreed the deal online, but we'll have to wait for snail mail to get the paperwork.

put out feelers

to make informal suggestions as a way of testing other people's opinions on something before any decisions are made

Unit 38. War and weapons.

bite the bullet

to force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situation

I hate going to the dentist, but I suppose I'll just have to bite the bullet.

jump the gun

to do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it

They've only just met - isn't it jumping the gun to be talking about marriage already?

stick to your guns

to continue to have your beliefs or continue with a plan of action, even if other people disagree with you

Despite harsh criticism, she's sticking to her guns on this issue.

look daggers at sb

patrzeć na kogos ze złością

informal

to look angrily at someone

dagger – sztylet

put/stick the knife into sb

(also put/stick the knife in)

to be unpleasant about someone or try to harm them

The reviewer in the magazine that I read really put the knife in.

twist/turn the knife (in the wound)

to make someone who is annoyed, worried or upset feel even worse

Just to turn the knife a little, he told me he'd seen my old girlfriend with her new man.

shot noun ( ATTEMPT )

have a shot at

[C usually singular] informal an attempt to do or achieve something that you have not done before

I thought I'd have a shot at making my own wine.

I've never tried bowling before, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

in the firing line

(also in the line of fire , US also on the firing line)

likely to be criticized, attacked or got rid of

He found himself in the firing line for his sexist remarks.

call your shot

US

to state clearly your intentions

caught in the crossfire

to be involved in a situation where people around you are arguing

The Health Minister, who resigned today, claims she is an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of the current battle over inflation.

hang/hold fire

UK

to delay making a decision

Ideally we would settle the matter now, but I think we should hang fire until the general situation becomes clearer.

be up in arms

informal

to be very angry

They're up in arms about/over the new management scheme.

be your own worst enemy

to cause most of your problems or most of the bad things that happen to you yourself, because of your character

Carrie is her own worst enemy - she's always falling out with people.

fight a losing battle

to try hard to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed

burn your boats/bridges

If you are in a situation and you burn your boats/bridges, you destroy all possible ways of going back to that situation.

have an axe to grind

to have a strong opinion about something, which you often try to persuade other people is correct

Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.

if/when it comes to the crunch

when a situation becomes extremely serious and a decision must be made

If it comes to the crunch and you and your husband do split up, you can always stay with us.

chink in sb's armour

a fault in someone's character or argument that may cause problems for them

A single chink in our armour at the negotiating table means we could lose out badly.

Unit 39. Food

make sb's mouth water

If the smell or sight of food makes your mouth water, it makes you want to eat it

The smell of that bacon cooking is making my mouth water.

One look at those makes my mouth water.

sweet tooth noun [S]

If you have a sweet tooth, you like eating sweet foods, especially sweets and chocolate.

whet sb's appetite

to increase someone's interest in and wish for something, usually by giving them a small experience of it

I've read an excerpt of the book on the Web and it's whetted my appetite.

That one kiss had whetted his appetite.

Cinemas use trailers to whet viewers’ appetites and make them want to see the whole film.

the icing on the cake British,

American & Australian, American the frosting on the cake

something which makes a good situation even better 
I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable relationship but a grandchild, that was really the icing on the cake.

have your cake and eat it (too)
to have or do two good things that it is usually impossible to have or do at the same time 
He wants to have his cake and eat it. He wants the security of marriage and the excitement of affairs.
You can't have your cake and eat it. If you want better local services, you have to pay more tax.

leave a Bad/sour taste in your mouth
if an experience leaves a bad taste in your mouth, you have an unpleasant memory of it 
I think we all felt that he'd been treated unfairly and it left a bad taste in people's mouths.

to the bitter end
if you do something to the bitter end, you continue it until it is finished, although it is difficult and takes a long time 
Many climbers gave up before they reached the summit, but I was determined to stick it out to the bitter end.

have egg on your face informal
to seem stupid because of something you have done 
You'll be the one who has egg on your face if it goes wrong.

the best/greatest thing since sliced bread humorous
if someone or something is described as the best thing since sliced bread, people think they are extremely good, often better than they really are 
Portable phones are marketed as the best thing since sliced bread, but to me they're just another expensive gadget.
The way he goes on about her - you'd think she was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

sb's bread and butter informal
a job or activity that provides you with the money you need to live 
Teaching at the local college is his bread and butter.

bear fruit
if something someone does bears fruit, it produces successful results 
The work he began did not bear fruit until after his death.

the flavour of the month British & Australian, American & Australian the flavor of the month
someone or something that has suddenly become very popular, but may not remain popular for long 
Role-playing games are suddenly the flavour of the month.

be past your sell-by date
if someone is past their sell-by date, they are not wanted or useful any more because they are too old 
A sell-by date is a date put on food products to show the latest date that they can be sold.
There's plenty of time to have a baby, I'm not past my sell-by date yet.

Unit 40. Roads.

cross sb's path
to meet someone, especially by accident 
If he ever crosses my path again, I'll kill him.

Goodbye. I hope our paths cross again.

be (stuck) in a rut
to do the same things all the time so that you become bored, or to be in a situation where it is impossible to make progress 
At forty my life was in a rut, so I gave up work and travelled to India.
It's clear the economy is still stuck in a rut.

get in/into a rut
When you have to cook dinner every night it's easy to get into a rut.

drag/get/lift etc. sb/sth out of a/their rut
to help someone or something to change their situation and to make progress 
The president has to get his election campaign out of a rut.

drive/send sb round the bend informal

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

be (right) up sb's alley/street

informal, American & Australian, informal be (right) down sb's alley
if something is right up someone's alley, it is exactly the type of thing that they know about or like to do 
The job should be right up Steve's alley - working with computers, software and stuff.

middle-of-the-road
- not extreme politically 
Neither party is exactly radical - they're both fairly middle-of-the-road.
- entertainment that is middle-of-the-road is ordinary and acceptable to most people but it is not exciting or special in any way 
Most of the music they play is pretty middle-of-the-road.

be on the right/wrong track

to be doing something in a way that will bring good/bad results 
Our success in the opinion polls proves we're on the right track.

I think the government's on the wrong track with this latest policy.

go downhill
to gradually become worse 
The area has started to go downhill economically in the last ten years.
We started to argue soon after we got married, and things went downhill from there.

be off the beaten track British, American & Australian, American be off the beaten path
if a place is off the beaten track, not many people go there 
Unfortunately, because the gallery's a bit off the beaten track, it doesn't get many visitors

be at a crossroads

In a decisive moment In sb’s history.

The Conservative Party is at a crossroads.

a dead end
a situation in which no progress can be made 
A dead end is also a road which is closed at one end and does not lead anywhere.
Negotiators have reached a dead end in their attempts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

get/go from A to B
to travel from one place to another place 
When I'm travelling, I try to work out the quickest way of getting from A to B.

put swh/sth/sb on the map
to make a place, thing, or person famous 
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 put Seattle on the map.
If Newcastle United win the championship it will really put them back on the map as far as European football is concerned.

hit the road

to start a journey 
It's getting late - I'd better hit the road.

Road rage

Violent incidents resulting from traffic desputies

Road rage is increasing in many countries.

Unit 41. Houses and household objects. 27.10.2010

be/feel at home

to feel comfortable and relaxed

By the end of the week she was beginning to feel at home in her new job.

make yourself at home

to relax and make yourself comfortable in someone else's home

as safe as houses

UK

very safe

come home to sb

If something comes home to someone, they understand it clearly

The danger really came home to me when I saw the pictures on TV.

bring sth home (to sb)

to make someone understand something much more clearly than they did before, especially something unpleasant

When I saw for myself the damage that had been caused, that really brought home to me the scale of the disaster.

get a/your foot in the door

to enter a business or organization at a low level, but with a chance of being more successful in the future

Making contacts can help you get a foot in the door when it comes to getting a job.

hold the key

to have control of something

Because the two main parties have won almost the same number of votes, the minority group holds the key to the result.

fly off the handle

to react in a very angry way to something that someone says or does

He's extremely irritable - he flies off the handle at the slightest thing.

sit on the fence

to delay making a decision

You can't sit on the fence any longer - you have decide whose side you're on.

come down on one side of the fence or the other

to make a decision between two opposing points of view

The election is next week, so you'll have to come down on one side of the fence or other by then.

hit the ceiling/roof

to become extremely angry

Dad'll hit the ceiling when he finds out I've left school.

get out of bed (on) the wrong side

(US get up on the wrong side of the bed)

to be in a bad mood and to be easily annoyed all day

burn the candle at both ends

to work or do other things from early in the morning until late at night and so get very little rest

put sb in the picture

to tell someone the facts about a situation

His lawyer put him in the picture about what had happened since his arrest.

take a leaf out of sb's book

to copy something that someone else does because it will bring you advantages

Maybe I should take a leaf out of Rick's book and start coming in at ten every morning.

Unit 43. Nature

in the air

If something is in the air, you feel that it is happening or about to happen

Love/Change/Spring is in the air.

a breath of fresh air

someone or something that is new and different and makes everything seem more exciting

Angela's so cheerful and lively - she's like a breath of fresh air when she visits.

up in the air

If a matter is up in the air, it is uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided first

The whole future of the project is still up in the air.

out of the blue

If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected

One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.

clear the air

to remove the bad feelings between people

I had a massive argument with Sue, but at least it has cleared the air.

down-to-earth adjective

adj approving

practical and sensible

She's a down-to-earth sort of woman with no pretensions.

come back down to Earth

(also bring sb back down to Earth)

to start dealing with life and problems again after you have had a very exciting time, or to make someone do this

The realization of how little work I'd done for the exams brought me abruptly back down to Earth.

bite the dust

• to fall so that your body hits the ground heavily

As they came round the bend several riders bit the dust.

• to die

• to end in failure

His career bit the dust when he lost his job.

Be/live on another planet

informal

to not give attention to what is happening around you and to think differently from other people

Some days that girl seems as if she's on another planet.

be over the moon

to be very pleased

She was over the moon about/with her new bike.

rock bottom noun ( LOW )

[U] informal

the lowest possible level

Confidence in the government is at rock bottom.

Prices have reached rock bottom.

The prime minister's opinion poll ratings have hit rock bottom.

find out/see how the land lies

to wait until you have all the available information about a situation before you take any action

the upper crust noun

[S + singular or plural verb]

people who have the highest social position and are usually rich

Many treasures were brought back to Britain because its upper crust was wealthy and liked travelling abroad.

be in the dark

to not know about something that other people know about

if you are in the dark or someone keeps you in the dark, you are not told important things that other people know.

be in your element

to be happy because you are doing what you like or can do best

Kate, of course, was in her element, making all the arrangements.

be out of your element

to be unhappy and feel uncomfortable in a particular situation

Unit 43. Boats and sailing. 30.10.2010

push the boat out

UK informal

to spend a lot of money on celebrating something

They really pushed the boat out for Annie's wedding.

Bill was happy to push the boat out for his daughter’s wedding.

rock the boat

informal

If you rock the boat, you do or say something that will upset people or cause problems

Don't rock the boat until the negotiations are finished.

Party members were told firmly not to rock the boat by publicity criticising the government just before the election.

miss the boat

to lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act

There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to buy some.

Can I still get tickets for the concert or have I already missed the boat!

burn your boats/bridges

If you are in a situation and you burn your boats/bridges, you destroy all possible ways of going back to that situation.

Don’t sell your house to finance your business – that would be burning your boat.

be in the same boat

to be in the same unpleasant situation as other people

She's always complaining that she doesn't have enough money, but we're all in the same boat.

It’s a pity you can’t use a dictionary in your exam, but at least everyone’s in the same boat.

steer clear of sb/sth

to avoid someone or something which seems unpleasant, risky or dangerous

Her speech steered clear of controversial issues.

They warned their children to steer clear of drugs.

I’d try to steer clear of Maggie if I were you – she’s trouble.

sail close to the wind

to do something that is dangerous or only just legal or acceptable

You were sailing a bit close to the wind there when you made those remarks about his wife.

You’re sailing a bit close to the wind by speaking to the boss like that!

in the doldrums

• informal unsuccessful or showing no activity or development

Her career was in the doldrums during those years.

His business has been in the doldrums for several years now.

• UK informal sad and with no energy or enthusiasm

put/stick your oar in

informal disapproving

to say or do something which annoys other people because they have not asked you to join their conversation or activity

No-one asked him to help - he's always sticking his oar in.

I hope John has the sense not to stick his oar in at tommorow’s meeting.

show/teach sb the ropes

to show someone how to do a job or activity

Lynn spent an afternoon showing the new girl the ropes.

As it’s your first day at work, Sue will show you the ropes.

Be a nervous wreck

Be mentally and physically exhausted

I’m a nervous wreck after a day with those terrible children.

clear the decks

informal

to remove unnecessary things so that you are ready for action

Let's clear the decks and then we can start cooking dinner.

We’d better clear the deck before we paint the room.

Be (all) at sea

confused

I'm all/completely at sea with the new coins.

I’m all at sea with this computer.

Unit 44. Science, technology and machines

get off your arse

(also get your arse in gear) offensive

to force yourself to start doing something or to make yourself hurry

Tell him to get off his arse and do some work for once.

If she doesn't get her arse in gear she's going to be late.

Get into gear

To get ready to start sth

-We’ll have to get rady to start work on the new system

-Yes, we’ll have to get into gear, I suppose.

back-seat driver noun [C]

a passenger in a car who keeps giving advice to the driver that the driver has not asked for

figurative It is expected that the former prime minister will be a back-seat driver (= have a controlling influence on what happens) in the new government.

put a brake on

(also put the brakes on)

to slow down or stop an activity

The government has put a brake on further spending.

tick over phrasal verb ( ACTIVITY )

phrasal verb

If a business, job or system is ticking over, it continues to work but makes little progress

I'll be able to keep things ticking over in the office until you get back.

let/blow off steam

to do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy

He lifts weights after work to let off steam.

under your own steam

If you do something under your own steam, you do it without help

Do you want a lift or will you get there under your own steam?

get your wires/lines crossed

When people get their wires crossed, they have a different understanding of the same situation

Somehow we got our wires crossed because I'd got the 23rd written down in my diary and Jen had the 16th.

be on the same wavelength

(of two or more people) to think in a similar way and to understand each other well

I can't seem to get on with him - we're just not on the same wavelength.

blow a fuse/gasket

old-fashioned informal

to become very angry

When he told her how much it cost, she blew a gasket.

give sb a buzz

informal

to telephone someone

I'll give you a buzz next week.

backpedal verb ( CHANGE OPINION )

[I] (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-)

to change an opinion that you had expressed before, or do something different from what you had said you would do

As soon as I said I thought she was wrong, she started backpedalling.

He said he'd help, but now he's starting to backpedal (on his promise).

The government is back-pedalling over its plans to lover taxes.

put/throw a spanner in the works

(US throw a (monkey) wrench in the works)

to do something that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding

The funding for the project was withdrawn so that really threw a spanner in the works.

state-of-the-art adjective – to chyba każdy wie 

very modern and using the most recent ideas and methods

a state-of-the-art computer

The control panel uses all the newest technology and is considered state-of-the-art.

in the pipeline

being planned, but not public yet

The theatre company has several new productions in the pipeline for next season.

Plans for a new bridge across the river are in the pipeline.

Unit 45. Finger, thumb, hand.  

at your fingertips

If you have something at your fingertips, you can get it and use it very easily

He has all the latest statistics at his fingertips.

cross your fingers

(also keep your fingers crossed)

to hope that things will happen in the way that you want them to

It's her exam this morning so cross your fingers.

We're just hoping the weather stays nice and keeping our fingers crossed.

put your finger on sth

to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is wrong

There's something odd about him but I can't quite put my finger on it.

not lift/raise a finger

to not make any effort to help

He never lifts a finger to help with the housework.

get/have your fingers burnt

(also burn your fingers) informal

to suffer unpleasant results of an action, especially loss of money, so you do not want to do the same thing again

She'd invested extensively in stocks and got her fingers burnt when the market collapsed.

green fingers plural noun

UK (US green thumb)

the ability to make plants grow

Paula has relly got green fingers, hasn’t she?

green-fingered adjective

(US green-thumbed)

thumbs up/down

informal

used to show approval/disapproval of something

So it's the thumbs up for Brighton's latest night club.

The plan has been given the thumbs up/down.

stand/stick out like a sore thumb

informal (negative)

If someone or something stands/sticks out like a sore thumb, everyone notices them because they are very different from the people or things around them

Everyone else was in jeans and casual gear and I had my office clothes on - I stuck out like a sore thumb.

rule of thumb

a practical and approximate way of doing or measuring something

A good rule of thumb is that a portion of rice is two and a half handfuls.

free hand noun

n [S]

the right or authority to do anything you consider necessary

The company's given me a free hand to negotiate a deal.

turn your hand to sth

If you say that someone could turn their hand to an activity or skill, you mean they could do it well although they have no experience of it

Stella's very talented - she could turn her hand to anything.

Get out of hand

Get out of control

Things got out of hand and the police arrived.

first-hand adverb

(also  firsthand) adv

If you experience something first-hand, you experience it yourself

Most of the older reporters have experienced war first-hand.

first-hand adjective

[before noun]

Most of us have first-hand experience of teaching.

change hands

to go from one owner to another

That Italian restaurant is nowhere near as good since it changed hands.

have your hands full

to be so busy that you do not have time to do anything else

I'd love to help but I've got my hands full organizing the school play.

try your hand at sth

to try doing something for the first time

I might try my hand at a bit of Chinese cookery.

keep your hand in

to practise a skill often enough so that you do not lose the skill

I do a bit of teaching now and then just to keep my hand in.

on hand

(UK also to hand)

near to someone or something, and ready to help or be used if necessary

A 1200-strong military force will be on hand to monitor the ceasefire.

For those of you who don't have an atlas to hand, Newcastle is a city in the north-east of England.

give/lend sb a helping hand

to help someone

These tax cuts will give industry a helping hand.

(W ‘ksiunszce’ jest “give me a hand with this big box, will you?”)

wash your hands of sth

If you wash your hands of something that you were previously responsible for, you intentionally stop being involved in it or connected with it in any way

She couldn't wait to wash her hands of the whole project.

Unit 46. Foot, heel, toe 08.11.2010

Foot:

stand on your own (two) feet

informal

be independent, to be able to provide all of the things you need for living without help from anyone else

She'll have to get a job and learn to stand on her own two feet sooner or later.

You’re an adult now; you have to learn to stand on your own two feet

rush/run sb off their feet

to cause someone to be very busy

I've been rushed off my feet all morning.

I’m rushed off my feet at work.

have/keep your feet on the ground

(also have both feet on the ground)

to be very practical and see things as they really are

He’s famous, but always kept both feet on the ground.

get cold feet

to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important such as getting married

I accepted the job, but then got cold feet.

find your feet

to become familiar with and confident in a new situation

Did it take you long to find your feet when you started your new job?

Don’t worry. It will take you a while to find your feet. It’s always like his in a new job.

under your feet

If someone is under your feet, they are near you in a way that is difficult and prevents you from doing what you want to do

The children were under my feet all day so I couldn't get anything done.

fall/land on your feet

to be successful or lucky, especially after a period of not having success or luck

She's really fallen on her feet with that new job.

get itchy feet

UK informal

to start to want to travel or do something different

After three years in the job she began to get itchy feet.

She lived at home for a while, but got itchy feet again and went off travelling for a year.

get off on the right/wrong foot

to make a successful/unsuccessful start in something

Nancy and I got off on the wrong foot ( our relationship started badly)

put your foot in it

(mainly US put your foot in your mouth) informal

to say something by accident which embarrasses or upsets someone

I really put my foot in it with Alison. I had no idea she was divorced.

put your foot down

• to use your authority to stop something happening

When she started borrowing my clothes without asking, I had to put my foot down.

• UK (US floor it) to increase your speed when you are driving

The road ahead was clear, so I put my foot down.

follow in sb's footsteps

to do the same thing as someone else did previously

She followed in her mother's footsteps, starting her own business

drag your heels/feet

to do something slowly because you do not want to do it

I suspect the government is dragging its heels over this issue.

I don’t think sarah wants to join us; she’s dragging her heels a bit.

dig your heels in

to refuse to change your plans or ideas, especially when someone is trying to persuade you to do so

They’re digging their heels in and refusing to compromise.

on your toes

Someone or something that keeps you on your toes forces you to continue directing all your attention and energy to what you are doing

I work with people who are half my age so that keeps me on my toes

The boss always keeps us on our toes.

toe the line

to do what you are ordered or expected to do

Ministers who wouldn't toe the party line were swiftly got rid of.

come/follow hard/hot on the heels of sth

to happen very soon after something

For Walter, disaster followed hard on the heels of his initial success.

Unit 47. Bones, shoulder, arm, leg.

have a bone to pick with sb

to want to talk to someone about something annoying they have done

I've got a bone to pick with you, - you've been using my shaver again.

feel it in your bones

to believe something strongly although you cannot explain why

It's going to be a good summer - I can feel it in my bones.

a bone of contention

something that two or more people argue about strongly over a long period of time

How to use money we raised has become a bone of contention.

the bare bones plural noun

the most important facts about something, which provide a structure to which more detail might be added later

the bare bones of the story

I don't need all the details - just give me the bare bones.

have a chip on your shoulder

informal

to seem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people

He's got a chip on his shoulder about not having been to university.

a shoulder to cry on

someone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support and encouragement

I wish you'd been here when my mother died and I needed a shoulder to cry on.

Fiona, can I talk to you? I’m having a horrible time and I need a shoulder to cry on.

stand shoulder to shoulder with sb

to give someone or a group of people complete support during a difficult time

You are not alone in your fight against the authorities.. we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you

give sb the cold shoulder

(also cold-shoulder sb)

to be intentionally unfriendly to someone and give them no attention

I tried to be pleasant to her but she gave me the cold shoulder.

twist sb's arm

to persuade someone to do something they do not want to do

I didn't want to go but Linda twisted my arm.

keep sb at arm's length

to not allow someone to become too friendly with you

I always had the feeling she was keeping me at arm's length.

pull sb's leg

informal

to try to persuade someone to believe something which is not true as a joke

Is it really your car or are you pulling my leg?

I haven’t really won the lottery. I was only pulling your leg.

not have a leg to stand on

to be in a situation where you cannot prove something

If you haven't got a witness, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

To cost an arm and a leg

Something is very expensive

The tickets for Michael Jackson concert cost us an arm and a leg; they were the most expensive I have ever bought!

Chance your arm

Take a risk in order to get sth you want

I think I’ll chance my arm and apply for that job. I know I’m not at all qualified, but I’ve got nothing to lose by applying.

48. Head 17.07.2011

Keep your head =Keep a cool head

Keep calm, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation

She kept her head under pressure and went on to win the race.

If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs, you’ll be a man, my son.

Lose your head

Panic or lose control

He usually stays quite calm in meetings but this time he just lost his head.

Laugh/scream/ shout your head off INFORMAL

Laugh/scream/ shout very much and loudly

They were shouting their heads off until late at night and I just couldn’t fall asleep.

Be banging or hitting head against a brick wall

Ask someone to do something which they won’t do

Trying to get the boys to tidy their bedroom is just banging your head against a brick wall.

Bring something to a head/ something comes to a head.

An unpleasant situation is so bad that it has to be dealt with.

Andy and Jill had been upset with each other for some time, but things eventually came to a head last night when they had a terrible row.

Put ideas into someone’s head

Make someone want to do something they had not wanted to do before (usually sth stupid)

Louisa was always quite happy in village until Rex started putting ideas into her head.

Get your head (a)round. usually : Can’t get (my) head (a)round

Come to fully accept or understand sth INFORMAL

I just can’t get my head aroundwhat’s happened. It’s been such a shock!

I just can't get my head around these tax forms.

Off the top of your head

from the knowledge you have in your memory

"What's the capital of Mauritania?" "I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but I could go and look it up."

Turn heads

people notice a person because they look interesting or attractive

Rebecca is so beautiful; she always turns heads whenever she walks into a room.

To knock sth on the head. INFORMAL

To put a stop to sth

My brother is beginning to fall in love with Rebecca, but our parents would like to knock that on the head.

Keep your head above water

to just be able to manage, especially when you have financial difficulties

The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.

This is very busy year for Barney and he is going to have work very hard to keep his head above water.

Bite/snap somebody’s head off

to answer someone in an unreasonably angry way

There's no point trying to discuss anything with him if all he's going to do is snap your head off.

To keep your head down

Say as little as possible in order to avoid arguments; to avoid trouble

He's in a bad mood today - I'm just keeping my head down.

UNIT 49. Face, hair, neck, chest.

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