Anthony's Fifty Useful English Phrases Plus 25 common phrasal verbs Anthony Gurling

i-Phrase 5

Fifty Useful English Phrases Plus Twenty Five
Commonly Used Phrasal Verbs

Anthony Gurling

Speak like a native

Each phrase has its origins explained, followed by
the literal meaning.
Then a sentence or two with everyday examples of
usage.
Volume Five

How to use this book.

Each phrase on the list below is explained in detail, firstly, where
possible, the source of the phrase is explained. Then the literal or
metaphorical meaning is explained. Following the explanations are one
or two sentences using the phrase in context.

Next to many of the phrases you will see other numbers and letters, such
as this:

1. Come to fruition. Bk 2/60 OPP. Bk 2/93 OPP. Bk 3/101 SYN.

OPP = Opposite where the link to phrase number 2/60 shows another
phrase in book 2, item number 60, with an opposing meaning.

SYN = Synonym where the link shows another phrase with a similar
meaning. 3/101 = Bk 3, item 101.

COMP = Compare where the link shows a comparable phrase not with a
direct similarity.

Book 5 Phrases

201. Follow suit
202. Throw your weight around
203. Scrimp and scrape
204. Keep your feet on the ground
205. Get your fingers burnt
206. In the driving seat
207. Take it on the chin
208.Bury the hatchet
209. Come clean
210. Dip your toe in the water
211. A needle in a haystack
212. Tip of the iceberg
213. Like a duck to water
214. Cost an arm and a leg
215. Get on your high horse
216. Nip in the bud
217. Get your teeth into
218. A bad taste in your mouth
219. Room for manoeuvre
220. Fine tuning
221. Take exception to something
222. To be kept in the dark
223. Get along like a house on fire
224. Put on a brave face
225. Get the upper hand
226. Up to your eyes in something 227. Turn a blind eye
228. A steep learning curve
229. Run the gauntlet
230. Grasp the meaning

231. Make a killing
232. Come unstuck
233. Let your hair down
234. Something in the offing 235. A clean sweep
236. Hand over fist
237. Take the wind out of your sails 238. Water off a duck’s back
239. In at the deep end
240. Dribs and drabs
241. Throw in the towel
242. Go for broke
243. Out of the blue
244. Money where your mouth is 245. Suck it and see
246. Up at the crack of dawn 247. Iron something out
248. On the way out
249. Under the weather
250. Cast a shadow

25 more phrasal verbs follow the 50 phrases, all with many example of
usage.

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Follow suit.

Source:
In a game of cards you have four suits: Hearts, clubs, diamonds and
spades.
In some games, one player lays down a card and the following players
need to try to lay a card of the same suit.

Meaning:
This refers to when one person follows the actions of another, in a
similar way, usually because it is a good idea.

Examples:
“I made a profit by investing in shares, if you follow suit you could
make some money too.”

“I like your new clothes, you look smart.”

“You should follow suit and smarten yourself up.”

Bk 1/9. (Buck the trend. OPP.) Bk 3/146. (Go against the grain. OPP.)

No. 202

Throw your weight around.

Source:
Not your physical weight but here we are talking about the power of
your position.

Meaning:
By throwing your weight around it says that you are using your position
in a very authorative way, more than you perhaps should.

Examples:
“The new boss that has taken over isn’t very popular, she throws her
weight around and makes people feel uncomfortable.”

“With a big majority the government is starting to throw its weight
around by introducing new laws.”

Scrimp and scrape.

Source:
To scrimp is to spend as little money as possible because you don’t have
much. To scrape (up some money) is to find some cash from different
sources somehow, to pay a particular bill.

Meaning:
When you are very short of money you try to find some any way
possible to pay for your shopping or bills.

Examples:
“I lost my job and had to scrimp and scrape to survive until I got a new
job.”

“How could you afford your new car?”

“We scrimped and scraped until we had saved enough to buy it.”

Bk 2/69. (Push the boat out. OPP.) Bk 3/105. (Make ends meet. SYN.)

No. 204

Keep your feet on the ground.

Source:
When you are excited about something you could be jumping in the air
with being so happy.

Meaning:
If you tell someone to keep their feet on the ground you are suggesting
they are getting too excited and they need to calm down.

Examples:
“I’m hoping to get a new job next week but I’m keeping my feet on the
ground until I get confirmation.”

“I hear you have sold 1,00o books now, soon you will be famous.” “I’m
not so sure, I’m keeping my feet firmly on the ground.”

Bk 2/75. (A pipe dream. COMP.) Bk 2/82. (Head in the clouds.
COMP.)

Get your fingers burnt.

Source:
If you are handling something hot, you should wear protective gloves or
you may burn your fingers.

Meaning:
This refers to any actions you may be looking at which could be risky or
dangerous.

Examples:
“I invested in a new company starting up but it failed, I got my fingers
burnt there and lost all my money.”

“Did you buy that painting you were telling me about?” “Yes but it
turned out to be a fake and I got my fingers burnt.”

Bk 3/101. (Come up trumps. OPP.) Bk 6/266. (Play with fire. SYN.)

No. 206

In the driving seat.

Source:

In a car there is only one seat for the driver who is in control of the car.

Meaning:
Anyone said to be in the driving seat is in control of whatever they are
doing.

Examples:
“At the boy scouts meeting one young lad showed clear leadership
skills. The scout leader put him in charge of the day’s events and told
him ‘you are in the driving seat, let’s see how you do’.”

Bk 4/182. (Take a back seat. OPP.) Bk 6/251. (Call the shots. SYN.)

Take it on the chin.

Source:
In boxing each opponent tries to punch the other. A punch to the head is
more effective.

Meaning:
By saying that someone takes it on the chin, it refers to accepting

something unpleasant but unavoidable.

Examples:
“My first version of this book was full of mistakes and a student
criticised me heavily, I took it on the chin and went back to the drawing
board.”

“The politician was heavily criticised for his racist remarks but he took
it on the chin and apologised.”

Bk 3/107. (A pinch of salt. OPP.) Bk 5/238. (Water off a duck’s back.
COMP.)

No. 208

Bury the hatchet.

Source:
In olden days of warring tribes, when two opposing leaders reached
agreement, they buried their hatchets (axes) in the ground as a sign of
peace.

Meaning:
When you want to end a (long-standing) argument, you can suggest you
bury the hatchet.

Examples:
“I was fighting for years over the boundary of my property with my
neighbour but when I threatened to go to court he relented and we
buried the hatchet.”

BK 2/55. (See eye to eye. SYN.) Bk 5/247. (Iron something out. SYN.)

Come clean.

Source:

‘Clean’ in this context, means being honest.

Meaning:
To come clean means to be honest about something you have been
keeping secret for some time.

Examples:
Manager to a member of staff:

“I think you have been fiddling your expenses, if you come clean I won’t
take disciplinary action.”

Teacher to pupils:
“Some students’ homework look very similar, if anyone has been
cheating, come clean now and I won’t take it any further.”

Bk 6/292. (Keep under wraps. OPP.)

No. 210

Dip you toe in the water.

Source:
When you plan to have a bath, first you put a toe in the water to make
sure it is not too hot.

Meaning:
Anytime you want to try something new and may need to be careful, it’s
like trying the water in a bath.

Examples:
“I had some spare cash and thought about investing in the stock market,
firstly I dipped my toe in the water to see if I could make money.”

BK 3/149. (Play by ear. SYN.) Bk 5/239. (In at the deep end. OPP.) Bk
5/245. (Suck it and see. SYN.) Bk 6/260. (In feet first. OPP.)

Section

one review.

Fill each gap with one of the phrases from 201 - 210

The word in brackets is an approximate synonym.

Make sure it is in the correct grammatical form.

Thinking of holidays if I am to go away for a while this summer I'm
going to have to
............................................................................ (save) and even though
I want to travel
extensively I'm ....................................................................................
(realistic) for now.
I made a mistake this week but I ............................................... (honest)
and although I
upset my boss I took her criticism .................................................
(openly) and we have
............................................................................................. (make peace)
and moved on.
I wanted to ...................................................................................... (try)
and get into the
driving seat but
............................................................................................. .(suffer loss)
Luckily she is not one to
................................................................................. . (be bossy)
Others should ........................................................... (copy) and end
arguments quickly.

A needle in a haystack.

Source:
A needle is small and if lost, difficult to find. A haystack, in

comparison, is much bigger.

Meaning:
Dropping a needle into a haystack would be virtually impossible to find,
metaphorically it refers to anything lost and difficult to find.

Examples:
“I wanted to buy a copy of an old book I read in my school days, but
after searching many book shops and scouring the internet I realised it
was like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

BK 6/297. (As clear as a bell. OPP.)

No. 212

The tip of the iceberg.

Source:

An iceberg is generally huge but only about 1% is seen above the water.

Meaning:
When you see a problem and suspect there may be many more problems
following, it’s like looking at the tip of an iceberg knowing that much
bigger dangers lie out of sight below the water.

Examples:
“The riots on the streets of London last year were just the tip of the
iceberg, the underlying problem is massive social inequality.”

“The economic troubles in Europe are just the tip of the iceberg, more
serious problems are looming.”

Like a duck takes to water.

Source:
Ducks love swimming on water, whether it’s a river or a lake, it comes
very natural to them.

Meaning:
When you start a new job or hobby, and you begin well with no
problems, it’s like a duck walking into water for the first time, i.e.
things such as this coming very natural to you.

Examples:

“I started writing a couple of years ago with no prior experience, I found
it easy and enjoyable and I settled into my new career like a duck takes
to water.”

“My daughter started cycling at the age of 4 and took to it like a duck to
water.”

Bk 2/94. (Fall on your feet. SYN.) Bk 3/114. (Hit the ground running.
SYN.)

No. 214

Cost an arm and a leg.

Source:
You would never sell any part of your body presumably, the cost to you
would be too high.

Meaning:

This phrase describes anything that is ridiculously expensive.

Examples:
“To go to university in England these days costs an arm and a leg and
most students need to borrow heavily and get into debt.”

“There’s a nice new restaurant that’s just opened in the city but a meal
there costs an arm and a leg.”

Bk 2/52. (Break the bank. SYN.)

Get on your high horse.

Source:
In the days when wars were fought with men using horses, the generals
and leaders would always have the biggest horses.

Meaning:
If a person gets bossy and starts to give orders to others, perhaps
without good reason or in return for a slight error, the analogy is that
they are getting on a high horse to show off their powerful position.

Examples:
“I forgot to get the shopping after going to the pub with a friend. When I

got home the wife had a right moan at me, I told her I was sorry and to
get off her high horse.”

Bk 3/107. (Take with a pinch of salt. OPP.) Bk 3/131. (The end of your
tether. COMP.) Bk 5/238. (Water off a duck’s back. COMP.)

No. 216

Nip something in the bud.

Source:
A bud is a small growth on a plant which develops into a flower. To nip
something is to cut it off.

Meaning:
You can cut off small buds to allow one to grow big and produce the
best flower. By cutting off (nipping) the smaller buds, you stop them
from growing and interfering with the best bud.

Examples:
“I usually go to the gym twice a week to keep fit, but I’ve missed three
weeks now. I had better nip this in the bud before I start getting fat and
lazy.”

“I started losing money in a casino but I cashed in my remaining chips to
nip the losses in the bud.”

Get your teeth into something.

Source:
When you have something nice to eat, such as a juicy steak, you chew
on it to get the most flavour out of it.

Meaning:
Anything you like doing and really enjoy, the analogy is like chewing
on a good steak to enjoy it more.

Examples:
“I’ve nearly finished my latest book and I’m getting my teeth into
finishing it by the end of the year.”

“My students told me their homework was too hard. I told them to get
their teeth stuck into it and concentrate.”

Bk 2/83. (Get the bit between your teeth. SYN.)

Bk 6/262. (Err on the side of caution. OPP.)

No. 218

A bad taste in your mouth.

Source:
Something to eat that has perhaps gone bad, and you eat it, you will
have a bad taste in your mouth afterwards.

Meaning:
This refers to anything that happens which afterwards leaves you sad or
unhappy that it has happened.

Examples:
“I took my car in for a service to my usual garage, the workers of which I
regarded as friends. After the service the car did not work properly. I
took the car back to the garage but after they fixed it they asked for
more money. I paid reluctantly and the affair left a bad taste in my
mouth. I won’t use that garage again.”

Bk 6/260. (Cast a shadow. SYN.)

Room for manoeuvre.

Source:

To manoeuvre is to move things about to make more space available.

Meaning:
Having room for manoeuvre is to be flexible and allow yourself space to
accommodate changes in your schedule.

Examples:
“My diary is almost full at the moment but I always keep a few hours
free so that I have room for manoeuvre should any students wish you
change their class times.”

Bk 6/288. (Hands tied. OPP.)

No. 220

Fine tuning.

Source:
To tune, for example a radio, is to set the radio to the station you wish
to listen to. With an engine, tuning means to make adjustments to get
the engine working perfectly.

Meaning:
Fine tuning anything refers to making small changes to what you are
working on to make it as near perfect as possible.

Examples:
“The latest of these phrase books is almost ready, just a bit of fine
tuning and it’s ready.”

“The engine on your car sounds as though it needs a bit of fine tuning.”
. Section two review.

Fill each gap with one of the phrases from 211 - 220

Make sure it is in the correct grammatical form.

Nearly all done now, just some ......................................................
(adjust) and the next
book is ready. Any errors have been
.......................................................... (stop quickly)
and I have some ............................................................................. .
(space) These books
I think are cheap, they are not going to
.......................................................................... .
When I started all these phrases I realised I had taken to them
......................................

..............................................................................................................................
, (easily)
but after I started with the first 50 phrases I realised it was just
....................................
......................................................................................................................
. (beginning)
I hope students ............................................................. (work hard) these
exercises and
don't .................................................................. (complain) saying they
are too difficult.
Searching for the right answers could be like looking
.................................................................................... (difficult to find)
but I really hope
you don't end up with ................................................................ .
(disappoint)

Take exception to something.

Source:
An exception is something different in some way from other people or
things.

Meaning:
To take exception is to dislike something because you feel annoyed or
dislike something.

Examples:
“When my friend gets drunk his language is awful, lots of swearing
which I take exception to.”

“You look as though you are getting fat.”

“I take exception to that remark, compare me with others and you will
see I am in good condition.”

Bk 6/281. (A chip on your shoulder. COMP.)

No. 222

To be kept in the dark.

Source:
If you are in room with no windows and no lights, it is dark and you
cannot see anything.

Meaning:
Keeping someone in the dark about something is to not tell them for
whatever reason, usually because you wish to keep something secret.

Examples:
“I have bought my girlfriend a nice present for her birthday but I am
keeping her in the dark until the time is right”

“Do you like my new car?.”
“How could you afford it?”
“I had a little win on the lottery.”
“Nice, you kept me in the dark about that though.”

Bk 5/209. (Come clean. OPP.)

Get along like a house on fire.

Source:
If a house catches on fire, the fire can spread through the house very
quickly. To get along with someone is to get to like them.

Meaning:
If you get along (like) someone, like a house on fire, your relationship
develops very quickly.

Examples: “How is your new group of students?” “Great, we are getting
on like a house on fire.”

Bk 2/55. (See eye to eye. SYN.) Bk 4/152. (Rub up the wrong way. OPP.)
Bk 4/181. (Burn your bridges. OPP.) Bk 5/208. (Bury the hatchet.
COMP.)

No. 224

Put on a brave face.

Source:
Being brave is to be confident at times when everything seems to be
going wrong.

Meaning:
Making your facial expression in such a way that looks like nothing is
wrong, is to show that even though there are problems, you don’t let
them be seen.

Examples:
“I lost a contract which left me with difficulties in paying staff wages.
At a staff meeting, everyone put on a brave face and assured me of their
loyalty and support and promised to help the business keep going.”

Bk 6/268. (Needs must. SYN.)

......................................................................................................................................................................................................

Get/have the upper hand.

Source:
Upper - means higher, more powerful, in this context.
Hand - means the way you manage people. (A strong hand, fair hand, an
even hand).

Meaning:
Having the upper hand indicates you are in control of a situation where
other people are trying to get into a better position.

Examples:
“In WWII the UK and allies gained the upper hand when the USA
entered the war on their side.”

“Government troops are gradually gaining the upper hand in the conflict
with rebels.”

Bk 4/161. (Steal a march. SYN.)

No. 226

Up to your eyes.

Source:

Your eyes are high up on your body, almost at the top of your head.

Meaning:
If you have lots of work, or duties to be done, it’s like your body and
mind are so full of thoughts that fill your head - filled to the top.

Examples:
“Hi mate do you fancy a beer tonight?”
“I’d love to but I am up to my eyes in paperwork just now.”

Other things you can be ‘up to your eyes in’:

Housework; jobs around the house; homework.

Bk 2/86. (Have your work cut out. SYN.) Bk 3/113. (At a loose end.
OPP.) Bk 4/198. (Bursting at the seams. COMP.)

Turn a blind eye.

Source:

If your are unfortunately blind, you can see nothing.

Meaning:
By turning your head to one side, literally or metaphorically, to
deliberately not see something, it’s a sign that you are prepared to
ignore something that maybe should be dealt with.

Examples:
“Many people park their cars in shopping-mall car parks for free and
don’t go to the mall to shop. The authorities generally turn a blind eye
to this in the hope that some times the car owners will use the mall in
the future.”

Bk 6/264. (Turn a deaf ear. SYN.)

No. 228

A steep learning curve.

Source:
Steep refers to something that rises quickly. A steep rise in prices, for
example, means prices go up quickly.

Meaning:
When you are studying, or learning something, especially by making
mistakes, a steep learning curve means you don’t make the same
mistakes so easily because you have learnt not to.

Examples:
“I thought getting to work a few minutes late wouldn't be a problem.
When the boss reprimanded me and threatened me with the sack I took
it as a steep learning curve.”

“When I first started motorcycling I crashed many times, that was a
steep learning curve in how not to die young.”

Run the gauntlet.

Source:
The gauntlet, as described in 1/41 and 4/169 is a metal glove. This
phrase has a slightly different meaning.

Meaning:
It refers again to a challenge but it means to go through with the
challenge and see how you perform.

Examples:
“During election time, politicians often have to run the gauntlet of loads
of journalists waiting to interview them.”

“The road through a forest is full of tight turns and dangers,
motorcyclists often run the gauntlet of this road for excitement.”

No. 230

Grasp the meaning.

Source:

To grasp something is to hold it tightly so that you keep it secure.

Meaning:
When you can’t quite understand something it is like not being abe to
hold it in your mind.

Examples:
“My friend invented a new game but I couldn’t grasp the meaning

behind the rules.”

“The new rules of the company are very complicated and many of the
staff couldn’t grasp the meaning for the changes.”

Bk 1/29. (Lose the plot. COMP.) Bk 3/122. (Take on board. SYN.) Bk
6/270. (Get your head around. SYN.)

Section three review.

Fill each gap with one of the phrases from 221 - 230

Make sure it is in the correct grammatical form.

This method of revision has been a
............................................................. (quick lesson)
for me and I have been .....................................................................
(busy) in new ideas.
I won't keep anyone ...................................................... (secret) as I plan
to tell everyone
soon. If my ideas are not well received I shall
..................................................................
and won't ............................................................................ (not like)
criticism, nor will I
...................................................................... (ignore) as any feedback is
good. I hope we
continue to
.................................................................................................... (freinds)

and
although sometimes I feel as though I am
....................................................................... ,
I can ............................................................. of taking
..................................................... .

Make a killing.

Source/Meaning:
To make a killing is to earn a lot of money in a short period of time.
Sometimes this is done illegally or immorally.

Examples:
“I bought my first house just before a property boom set in. I made a
killing when I sold it a year later for a huge profit.”

“You look happy today.”
“Yes I went to the horse races yesterday and made a killing when three
of the horses I backed won their races.”

Bk 3/101. (Come up trumps. SYN.) Bk 5/205. (Get your fingers burnt.
OPP.)

No. 232

Come unstuck.

Source/Meaning:
If a person, or something they are trying to achieve, comes unstuck,
problems appear to make everything go wrong.

Examples:
“Students who do not prepare adequately for exams often come unstuck
and fail.”

“The company’s plans for expansion came unstuck because of the lack
of funding.”

Bk 3/137. (In a pickle. SYN.)

Let your hair down.

Source:
Ladies, in particular, often wear their hair tied up during their working
day, to keep it tidy and easier to manage. After work they usually untie
their hair to relax.

Meaning:
This doesn’t only apply to ladies but metaphorically, anyone ‘letting
their hair down’ is preparing to party.

Examples:
“After working hard all week I usually let my hair down on a Friday
evening and go clubbing.”

“You look a bit stressed my friend, perhaps you should let your hair
down a bit.”

Bk 3/127. (Throw caution to the wind. SYN.)

No. 234

Something in the offing.

Source:
The offing is the area that can be seen at sea, the area between the shore
and the horizon.

Meaning:
Something in the offing is possible or likely to happen in the near
future. In other words, it can be seen as being close.

Examples:
“There are signs that something is in the offing as the Government is
speaking more often of having fresh elections.”

“There’s been no news of the crisis in Ukraine for a few days but

journalists say there is something in the offing.”

Bk 1/49. (Light at the end of the tunnel. SYN.) Bk 6/258. (Writing on the
wall. SYN.)

A clean sweep.

Source:
Sweeping the floor with a broom leaves the floor nice and clean. i.e.
leaving nothing behind.

Meaning:
This represents when there is a competition, one player wins everything
and the other competitors are left with nothing.

Examples:
“The Chinese women athletes made a clean sweep of the gymnastic
competition.”

“The ruling party won a clean sweep at the elections winning every seat
in parliament.”

Bk 1/8. (By the skin of your teeth. OPP.)

No. 236

Hand over fist.

Source:
This phrase stems from pulling on a rope, for example on a boat to raise
the sails. One hand goes over the other to make the sails go higher and
the boat can go faster.

Meaning:

Here it refers to making money quickly and in a short period of time.

Examples:
“I opened a stall on the market and my product sold well, I realised that
I was making money hand over fist.”

“Developers who bought land in the recession are now making money
hand over fist by selling their properties post-recession while prices are
high.”

Bk 3/136. (Thick and fast. COMP.) Bk 5/240. (Dribs and drabs. OPP.)

Take the wind out of your sails.

Source:
Sailing boats need wind to propel the boat forward, no wind = no
movement.

Meaning:
If the wind is taken out of your sails, then someone has done something
to take away all your energy and enthusiasm.

Examples:
“I was really looking forward to selling thousands of copies of my book
but negative feedback from some customers took the wind out of my

sails.”

Bk 2/100. (Keep you on your toes. COMP.) Bk 4/176. (Plain sailing.
OPP.)

No. 238

Water off a duck’s back.

Source:
Ducks have so many feathers, and down, the tiny feathers close to the
skin, which makes them waterproof.

Meaning:
This refers to anything that doesn’t stick, for example, accusations,
criticism, or anything bad said against you.

Examples:
“The politician is such an arrogant, self-confident person that to him,
any criticism is like water off a duck’s back.”

“Hi mate did you know that your neighbours have been spreading
rumours about you?”
“Yes but I don’t care any more, it’s water off a duck’s back to me.”

Bk 1/3. (Thick skinned. SYN.) Bk 3/107. (Take with a pinch of salt.
SYN.)

In at the deep end.

Source:
As in 4/163, a swimming pool has two ends, a shallow end and a deep
end. As a beginner you should start swimming in the shallow end to
avoid getting into difficulties.

Meaning:
When you go in ‘at the deep end’ you do something without much
preparation to save time but it is a bit more risky.

Examples:
“I got a chance of a job in Dubai, I didn’t have the exact qualifications
for the job but the salary was fantastic so I jumped in at the deep end
and went for it.”

Bk 4/163. (Out of your depth. SYN.) Bk 5/210. (Dip your toe in the
water. OPP.) Bk 6/260. (In feet first. SYN.)

No. 240

Dribs and drabs.

Source:

Dribs is short for dribbles and drabs are small portions of something.

Meaning:
Anything coming or happening in dribs and drabs happens slowly and in
small amounts.

Examples:
“I advertised for staff in the local paper but enquiries came in only in
dribs and drabs.”

“Thousands of Poles have emigrated to the UK in the last 10 years but
are coming back in dribs and drabs.”

Bk 3/136. (Thick and fast. OPP.) Bk 5/236. (Hand over fist. OPP.)

Section four review.

Fill each gap with one of the phrases from 231 - 240

Make sure it is in the correct grammatical form.

After finishing all six books it will be time to
....................................................... . (party)
I suspect there may be
..................................................................................... . (promises)
although I doubt I'm going to ..................................................................
(lots of money)
Nor will I .............................................................................................
(difficulty) I think.
I suppose I could have
...................................................................................................... ,
but then that's the risk of going
....................................................................................... .
Thinking positively I could make
.................................................................. with this idea
and make some money ................................................................ ,
(quickly) but then again
the books may sell ....................................................................................
, (slowly) but bad
news like that is like
................................................................................................ to me.

Throw in the towel.

Source:
In boxing, if one contestant is doing badly and is at risk of being badly
hurt, his helpers in his corner can throw a towel into the ring which
stops the fight.

Meaning:
In any situation where you throw in the towel, you simply give up what
you are doing.

Examples:
“I tried for ages to learn how to play the piano but eventually I threw in
the towel and tried the guitar instead.”

“Did you finish your course and get the certificate?”

“No, I threw in the towel half way through, it was too difficult.”

Bk 2/71. (Give up the ghost. COMP.) Bk 4/172. (Kicked into touch.
SYN.)

No. 242

Go for broke.

Source:

Being broke means to have no money at all.

Meaning:
To go for broke means you are prepared to risk everything to achieve
success.

Examples:
“I was thinking of printing just a few books to guage the response but
then I had so many phrases in my mind I thought I would go for broke
and complete all six.”

“I was cycling with a friend and after 10 kms we were both tired. My
friend suggested we head for home but I said let’s go for broke and do
another 10 kms.”

Bk 4/199. (Back to square one. OPP.) Bk 6/252. (Everything to play for.
SYN.)

Out of the blue.

Source:
The sky is blue - at least you can see the blueness when there are no
clouds.

Meaning:
If something comes out of the blue it comes as a complete surprise

almost as if it has dropped out of the sky without warning.

Examples:
“News of the prime minister resigning from his position came out of the
blue as no one had been suspecting it.”

“My daughter gave me some news which came right out of the blue, she
was pregnant.”

No. 244

Money where your mouth is.

Source:
You use your mouth to speak, if you brag about something or exaggerate
it, all you are doing is talking.

Meaning:
Asking someone to put their money where their mouth is, is to ask them
to prove what they are saying.

Examples:
“So you think you can run the marathon in under four hours, put your
money where your mouth is and prove it this weekend in the city
marathon.”

Bk 4/158. (The colour of your money. SYN.)

Suck it and see.

Source:
When you have something new to eat or drink, usually you taste it first
to see if you like it. You don’t necessarily suck it but you do put it into
your mouth.

Meaning:
This can apply to anything which you should try tentatively before going
fully into it.

Examples:
“I’m taking violin lessons now.”
“I didn’t think you liked the violin.”
“I didn’t think so either but I wanted to suck it and see to see if I like
it.”

Bk 2/70. (Think on your feet. SYN.)

BK 3/149. (Play by ear. SYN.) Bk 5/210. (Dip your toe in the water.
SYN.)

No. 246

The crack of dawn.

Source:

Dawn is when the sun rises first thing in the morning.

Meaning:
At night the sky is dark and when the sun rises it’s like the dark sky
cracking open to let the sun shine through.

Examples:
“When I go fishing with my friends we always get up at the crack of
dawn to get to the river nice and early.”

“You look tired today.”

“Yes I was up at the crack of dawn as my child was sick.”

Iron out.

Source:
When you wash your clothes they get creased and need to be ironed to
make them smooth.

Meaning:
This applies to any difficult situation of misunderstanding, it’s like
smoothing things over to make the peace.

Examples:
“There is an error on my invoice and I need to go to the office again to
iron out the mistakes.”

“The new contract is almost ready to be signed by both parties, just a
few teething problems to be ironed out.”

Bk 4/181. (Burn your bridges. OPP.) Bk 5/208. (Bury the hatchet. SYN.)

No. 248

On the way out.

Source:
From boxing, if you are out, you are finished and cannot continue the
fight.

Meaning:
Anything which is on the way out is likely to be damaged or worn out
beyond repair.

Examples:
“My old watch is not working properly and I can’t find anyone to repair
it, I guess it’s on the way out after all these years.”

“You need a new suit, the one you are wearing looks as though it’s on
the way out.”

Bk 1/1. (Come to fruition. COMP.) Bk 1/6. (Go up in smoke. COMP.)

Under the weather.

Source:
Many people believe our health and wellbeing is affected by changes in
the weather.

Meaning:
If you feel ‘under the weather’ you are feeling a little sick or maybe just
sad or depressed over something.

Examples:
“I had a bit too much to drink last night and this morning I am feeling a
little under the weather.”

“Typically at the end of the winter I feel under the weather and look
forward to spring.”

Bk 4/167. (A spring in your step. OPP.) Bk 4/193. (Down in the dumps.
SYN.)

No. 250

Cast a shadow.

Source:
In full sunlight everything looks bright, clear and sharp. In a shadow
things don’t look so bright.

Meaning:
Anything that casts a shadow over something it means the subject looks
in a sad way or has been affected to make it look worse than it was.

Examples:
“I do like my job but the low salary casts a shadow over the enjoyment
of the job.”

“The racing driver won the race and the championship but a shadow was
cast over the win when he heard news of his colleague crashing.”

Bk 5/218. (Have a bad taste in your mouth. SYN.)

Section five review.

Fill each gap with one of the phrases from 191 - 200

Make sure it is in the correct grammatical form.

.............................................................? (give up) Never, I am
.........................................
and I'm putting my ................................................................................. .
Every day I am
..........................................................................................................

(early) to start work,
after ....................................................................................... (correct) a
few difficulties I
sometimes feel a bit ...........................................................................
(sad) as sometimes
I would rather be on a beach somewhere.
Completely .................................................................................
(surprise) I had another
idea which I thought I would try out, why not
................................................................ .
One small problem, my computer is
.................................................................................
and that has ...................................................................................... over
all my success.

Further practice. Which of the fifty phrases are represented by these
synonyms.

Completely by surprise ...................................................................... To
show who the boss is ...................................................................... Save
hard to buy something ...................................................................... To
lose money in a gamble ...................................................................... To
be in control of a situation ......................................................................
Settle a disagreement ...................................................................... Let
someone know a secret ......................................................................
Copy an idea that seems good
...................................................................... Something difficult to find
...................................................................... A small sign of a bigger
problem ...................................................................... Very expensive
...................................................................... Be bossy and get angry
over something ...................................................................... Stop

something happening early ......................................................................
Make money quickly ...................................................................... Be
determined ...................................................................... Disappointed
and sad ...................................................................... Be unhappy at
something particular ......................................................................
Accept criticism ...................................................................... Deal with
a problem without concern ......................................................................
Gain an advantage over another
...................................................................... Quick lesson learnt
...................................................................... Go through a challenging
situation ...................................................................... Understand
something difficult ...................................................................... Make
lots of money quickly and easily
...................................................................... Get in the mood to party
...................................................................... About to happen soon
...................................................................... Winning everything
...................................................................... Be disappointed and lose
enthusiasm ...................................................................... Have no effect
...................................................................... Do something without
preparation ...................................................................... Slowly in small
amounts ...................................................................... Stop doing
something that’s difficult ......................................................................
Prove what you claim ...................................................................... Start
the day early ...................................................................... Discuss and
solve a problem ...................................................................... Get used
to something easily ...................................................................... Getting
to the end of its useful life ......................................................................
Feeling low ...................................................................... Make
something look worse than it was
...................................................................... Be realistic
......................................................................

Book 5 Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verb Direct or similar normal verb

101. Get round to
102. Take on
103. Take to
104. Back up
105. Taken aback
106. Give in
107. Shut down
108. Hold up
109. Pass something on
110. Water down
111. Wear thin
112. Take up
113. Shut up
114. Pass up
115. Back down
116. Reach out
117. Mess about
118. Take someone on
119. Hold onto
120. Give up
121. String out
122. Root out
123. Part with
124. Keep away
125. Fill in for
Find time to do something.
To accept a challenge.
Get used to, like.
Support, make copies.

Be surprised.
Acknowledge your failure.
Close, cease operations.
Keep waiting.
Transfer, bequeath.
Dilute, make less effective.
Reduce in quality, meaning or value. To start a hobby.
Be quiet, close a shop for the day. Forgo an opportunity.
Reverse position, relent.
Approach, seek friendship.
Not take something serious.
To hire, to accept a challenge. Retain temporarily.
Stop hoping or believing.
To make something last longer. To get to the core of a problem. Give
something away - reluctantly. To avoid a person or place.
Substitute.

Please remember, as with normal verbs, phrasal verbs can also be used
in different tenses. Only the verb changes, the preposition always
remains the same.

101. Get round to: (Find time to do something)

“I need to wash the car, I suppose I’ll have to get round to it sometime
today.”

“When are you going to get round to doing the housework?”

102. Take on: (Accept a challenge/responsibility)

“The job looks quite difficult but I am going to take it on and see how it
goes.”

“I have project I should like you to take on.”

103. Take to: (Get used to, like)

“We have a new member of staff in our office but I haven’t taken to
her.”

“I haven’t taken to my new car.”

104. Back up: (Support, make copies)

“Make sure you back up the day’s work onto disk.”

“If you get into trouble with the boss don’t worry, I’ll back you up.”

105. Taken aback: (Be surprised)

“I was taken aback by the resignation of the boss.”

“The news of the disaster really took me aback.”

106. Give in: (Acknowledge your failure)

“I really don’t understand why you did that, I give in.”

“What is the capital of Georgia?”

“I give in, tell me.”

107. Shut down: (Close, cease operations)

“It’s hopeless the business is losing money hand over fist, I’m going to
shut it down.”

“The computer is running too hot, shut it down and let it cool.”

108. Hold up: (Keep someone/something waiting)

“I’ll only be a few minutes, sorry for holding you up.”

“I’m waiting for a delivery before I can go out, it’s holding me up now.”

109. Pass something on: (Transfer, bequeath)

“I have a nice watch passed on to me from my father.”

“I hope my books are successful so that I can pass then on to my
grandson.”

110. Water down: (Dilute, make less effective)

“The whisky is too strong for me, can you water it down?”

“The new regulations were too strict, they had to be watered down
before the unions would accept them.”

111. Wear thin: (Reduce in quality/meaning)

“My trousers are wearing thin, I had better get some new ones.”

“You are late again and your excuses are wearing thin, I don’t believe a
word you say.”

112. Take up: (Start a hobby/activity)

“I’m thinking of taking up painting to fill my spare time.”

“I don’t fancy taking up running at my age.”

113. Shut up: (Be quiet, close a shop)

“Why do you keep moaning, shut up for a while please will you.”

“It’s six o’clock, time to shut up the shop and go home.”

114. Pass up: (Forgo an opportunity)

“I’ve been offered a chance to go to the theatre with a friend, I don’t
have much spare time so I’m going to have to pass up the opportunity
this time.”

115. Back down: (Reverse position, relent)

“The management were insistent on staff cuts but the union opposed and
threatened to strike, eventually the management backed down.”

116. Reach out: (Approach)

“The left political party is reaching out to workers.”

“The church is reaching out to everyone at Easter.”

117. Mess about: (To not take something seriously)

“Are you going to finsh the book or are you just messing about?”

“Children - stop messing about and get on with your class work.”

118. Take someone on: (To hire, to accept a personal challenge)

“The company is taking on lots of new staff for the summer.”

“I’ve been challenged to a game of chess and I’m happy to take anyone
on.”

119. Hold onto: (Retain temporarily)

“I haven’t finished reading your book so is it ok if I hold onto it for a
while?”

“There are some new players in the team who are very good, I don’t
know how much longer I can hold onto my position.”

120. Give up: (Stop hoping/believing, stop a habit)

“I know it’s bad for me but I find it hard to give up smoking.”

“You will never win the lottery so you should give up dreaming of a
home in the Maldives.”

121. String out: (Make last longer)

“I ran out of material in class but I managed to string out a grammar
exercise.”

122. Root out: (Find the reason)

“It is proving difficult rooting out the terrorists from general society.”

“We are going to have to root out the troublemaker in the school.”

123. Part with: (Give something away reluctantly)

“I’ve had my motorcycle for forty years now and will never part with it.”

“After many years it’s time to part with my company and find a new
job.”

124. Keep away: (Avoid a place/person)

“I have a terrible cold so it’s better if you keep away for a while.”

“With all the trouble in Ukraine it’s better to keep away from the region
until things calm down.”

125. Fill in for: (Substitute temporarily)

“When another teacher went sick I was asked to fill in for him.”

“I have to go to England to see my mother so the company will have to
find another teacher to fill in for me.”

Book five exercise key.

Section 1
Thinking of holidays if I am to go away for a while this summer I'm
going to have to scrimp and scrape and even though I want to travel
extensively I'm keeping my feet on the ground for now.
I made a mistake this week but I came clean and although I upset my

boss I took her criticism on the chin and we have buried the hatchet and
moved on. I wanted to dip my toe in the water and get into the driving
seat but got my fingers burnt. Luckily she is not one to throw her
weight around. Others should follow suit and end arguments quickly.

Section 2
Nearly all done now, just some fine tuning and the next book is ready.
Any errors have been nipped in the bud and I have some room for
manoeuvre. These books I think are cheap, they are not going to cost an
arm and a leg. When I started all these phrases I realised I had taken to
them like a duck takes to water, but after I started with the first 50
phrases I realised it was just the tip of the iceberg. I hope students get
their teeth into these exercises and don't get on their high horses saying
they are too difficult. Searching for the right answers could be like
looking for a needle in a haystack but I really hope you don't end up
with a bad taste in your mouth.

Section 3
This method of revision has been a steep learning curve for me and I
have been up to my eyes in new ideas. I won't keep anyone in the dark as
I plan to tell everyone soon. If my ideas are not well received I shall put
on a brave face and won't take exception to criticism, nor will I turn a
blind eye as any feedback is good. I hope we continue to get along like
a house on fire and although sometimes I feel as though I am running
the gauntlet, I can grasp the meaning of taking the upper hand.

Section 4
After finishing all six books it will be time to let my hair down, I
suspect there may be something in the offing although I doubt I'm going
to make a killing. Nor will I come unstuck I think. I suppose I could
have the wind taken out of my sails, but then that's the risk of going in
at the deep end. Thinking positively I could make a clean sweep with

this idea and make some money hand over fist, then again the books
may sell in dribs and drabs, but bad news like that is like water off a
duck's back to me.

Section 5
Throw in the towel? Never, I am going for broke and I'm putting my
money where my mouth is. Every day I am up at the crack of dawn to
start work, after ironing out a few difficulties I sometimes feel a bit
under the weather as sometimes I would rather be on a beach
somewhere. Completely out of the blue I had another idea which I
thought I would try out, why not suck it and see. One small problem, my
computer is on the way out and that has cast a shadow over all my
success.

Further practice.

Key to the phrases questions.

Completely by surprise
To show who the boss is
Save hard to buy something
To lose money in a gamble
To be in control of a situation
Settle a disagreement
Let someone know a secret
Copy an idea that seems good
Something difficult to find
A small sign of a bigger problem Very expensive
Be bossy and get angry over something Stop something happening early
Make money quickly
Be determined

Disappointed and sad
Be unhappy at something particular Accept criticism
Deal with a problem without concern Gain an advantage over another
Quick lesson learnt
Go through a challenging situation Understand something difficult
Make lots of money quickly and easily Get in the mood to party
About to happen soon
Winning everything
Be disappointed and lose enthusiasm Have no effect
Do something without preparation Slowly in small amounts
Stop doing something that’s difficult Prove what you claim
Start the day early
Discuss and solve a problem
Get used to something easily
Getting to the end of its useful life Feeling low
Make something look worse than it was Be realistic

Out of the blue
Throw your weight around Scrimp and scrape
Get your fingers burnt
In the driving seat
Bury the hatchet
Come clean
Follow suit
A needle in a haystack
Tip of the iceberg
Cost an arm and a leg
Get on your high horse
Nip in the bud
Hand over fist
Get your teeth into

A bad taste in your mouth Take exception to something Take it on the
chin
Put on a brave face
Get the upper hand
A steep learning curve
Run the gauntlet
Grasp the meaning
Make a killing
Let your hair down
Something in the offing
A clean sweep
Take the wind out of your sails Water off a duck’s back
In at the deep end
Dribs and drabs
Throw in the towel
Money where your mouth is Up at the crack of dawn
Iron something out
Like a duck to water
On the way out
Under the weather
Cast a shadow
Keep your feet on the ground

This book and many others are available on Amazon to download to any
tablet or smartphone.

They include the following:

Travelling Light: Four books of travelling all over Europe.

Charlie and Trevor: A children’s adventure story book.

Billy Wizz: A vocabulary expansion book and true story.

Simply go to Amazon.co.uk and type in Anthony Gurling onto the
search bar.

In addition to the travelling stories, many photos of the trip are on You
Tube, again simply go to You Tube and type in Anthony Gurling into
the search bar.

Book 6 in this series of phrase books also available.

Anthony Gurling

Although this book has copyright preventing reproduction I, as the
author, am quite happy for students to photocopy any pages for their
friends.

Should you wish to buy further copies please either email me or call.
Each book is just 5 PLN.

enquiries@anthony.com.pl

Tel. 780601454

About the author.

Anthony has been teaching English as a second language for many
years. Prior to teaching, he started working in the City of London in the
business world.
In addition he has owned and run many small businesses, both in
England and abroad.
In addition to his teaching business in Warsaw, he operates an agency
which organises language courses abroad.

With many locations in England for both adults and summer camps for
children to learn English, he also organises courses in French at four
locations in France, Spanish at four locations in Spain and German at
three locations in Germany.

www.anthony.com.pl
www.learn-a-language.eu

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