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If something ..., it is useful in a particular situation. start learning
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The $20 check came in very handy
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If you do something on the ... of someone else, you are able to do it because of the other person's success, and not because of your own efforts. start learning
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They accused him of riding on the coattails of the president.
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start learning
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the video has sold 30,000 copies in no time
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If you do something to no ... or to little..., what you do fails to achieve what you want. start learning
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His efforts were to no avail.
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If you do something in..., you do not succeed in achieving what you intend. start learning
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He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence
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You use ... when you want to say that a statement, decision, or action seems reasonable to a certain extent, but that perhaps there is more to be said or done. spoken start learning
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If you don't like it, fair enough, but that's hardly a justification to attack the whole thing.
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If you have or bear a ... against someone, you have unfriendly feelings towards them because of something they did in the past. start learning
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bear a grudge/ nurse resentment
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used to say that one has not experienced something start learning
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That restaurant has the best desserts!" "I wouldn't know." [cause I've never been there.]
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You can say '... ' when you want someone to believe that you are telling the truth. You can also ask '...?', when you are asking someone if they are really telling the truth. start learning
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I won't tell the girls anything you tell me about it. I promise, cross my heart
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If someone does you ..., they treat you very well, for example by welcoming you and giving you good food and entertainment. informal start learning
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The hotel has indeed done them proud.
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If you are ... to doing something, you often do it. formal On nie był człowiekiem z większą skłonnością do współczucia start learning
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He was not a man much given to compassion.
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When you ... the door, you go and open the door because a visitor has knocked on it or rung the bell. start learning
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Carol answered the door as soon as I knocked.
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to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten, e. g. knowledge of foreign language start learning
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I thought I'd brush up on my French before going to Paris.
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If something ... to a particular total, all the parts of it add up to that total. start learning
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Consumer spending on sports-related items amounted to £9.75 billion.
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to go to a bar; to have a glass of something with others (usually alcohol start learning
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get a drink / have a drink
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The same to you; used as a response start learning
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It was very nice meeting you, Samantha. ― Likewise, Mr Thompson.
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If someone says to you '...', they are advising you to be cautious, because there are risks that you may not have thought about. start learning
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But be warned: this is not a cheap option.
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You use ... when you mention something to indicate that it is the first item or point in a series. start learning
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For starters, he doesn't even know how to drive
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the best of a group of people or things start learning
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There were lots of very amusing entries, but the pick of the bunch came from John Robinson
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If you ... for a particular activity or person, you arrange to have some free time so that you can do the activity or spend time with the person. start learning
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Before leaving the city, be sure to make time for a shopping trip
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If you want someone to ... it, or let it..., you want them to stop talking about something, often because you are annoyed that they keep talking about it. start learning
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It's not important now. Drop it.
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If you talk about a characteristic or situation ... on something, usually something that you consider bad, you mean that it is almost that thing. start learning
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Your confidence borders on arrogance.
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If you ... someone..., you phone them again or in return for a phone call that they have made to you. start learning
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I'll call you back in a couple of minutes.
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When you ..., you start sleeping. start learning
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I fell asleep watching TV.
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If you are ... +... someone has parked their car in such a way that you cannot drive yours away. start learning
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Our cars get blocked in and we can't leave for ages
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If you tell someone to get..., you are telling them to start doing something immediately. 🇬🇧 start learning
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Get cracking! You're already late.
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used for saying that you do not want or need someone or something because they could never be helpful to you start learning
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have no use for something You can take the ring you gave me - I have no use for it now.
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If you do something on someone's ..., they tell you to do it or they give you permission to do it. start learning
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Directors call the shots and nothing happens on set without their say-so.
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You can use... to indicate that someone has two particular emotions or qualities, one after the other. start learning
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His tone was by turns angry and aggrieved
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Killed; attacked; some sort of hostile action done to a person. start learning
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Get out of my face bitch before you get got
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... roads or vehicles lead to or are travelling towards the west. start learning
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Traffic is slow on the westbound carriageway of the M4.
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If someone is sitting or standing ..., they are sitting or standing very straight. start learning
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He always sits bolt upright when he poses for photos.
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If you ... or ... in an argument or war, you support one of the sides against the other. start learning
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take sides/ take one's side If you're a judge, you can't take sides.
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start learning
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My wife's just had a baby.
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doing something because a person told (someone) to do something (specified) especially as a way of showing courage start learning
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He ate a whole chili pepper for a dare.
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If you say that someone has no... about doing something, you mean that they do it without feeling ashamed or guilty. disapproval start learning
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have no compunction about doing something
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If something or someone is..., people know that it is true or happens, or that someone is or does something: start learning
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A daily intake of 20 mg of vitamin C is known to be sufficient in most cases to ward off scurvy.
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a pleasant or long-awaited change. start learning
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If someone is... up with jealousy, curiosity, or desire, they feel it very intensely idiom, informal start learning
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Don't waste your time being eaten up with envy
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to stop working especially because of not having electricity start learning
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The phones went dead during the storm.
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If there is not a... of something, there is not even a small amount of it. start learning
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There is not a shred of truth in the story.
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To cancel a prearranged meeting or event, especially at the last minute; to fail to attend or go through with something start learning
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I'm going to stop inviting Samantha to do stuff with me because she always ends up flaking out.
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To collapse, fall asleep or faint from exhaustion or fatigue. start learning
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After the eighth or ninth hour wandering in the woods, George eventually flaked out under a tree.
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If you... fun of someone or something or... fun at them, you laugh at them, tease them, or make jokes about them in a way that causes them to seem ridiculous start learning
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make fun of me/poke fun of me
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If you... a fool of yourself, you behave in a way that... other people think that you are silly or lacking in good judgment. start learning
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He was drinking and making a fool of himself.
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the ability of a person, group, or organization to exert influence over another party in a negotiation in order to achieve a deal which is favourable to themselves start learning
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The closer we get to the deadline the more bargaining power the workers have
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to be two, five, ten etc years younger than someone start learning
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be two/five/ten etc years somebody’s junior She married a man seven years her junior.
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help that you receive that gives you an advantage over other people or makes it possible for you to do something difficult: start learning
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A recent ruling will give terrestrial broadcasters a leg up in competing with satellite radio.
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to suddenly become extremely angry or violent 🇬🇧 idiom start learning
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We took a police officer in case he cut up rough.
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to kill by violence; slaughter start learning
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We shed blood for this piece of land.
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unable to think of anything to say 🇺🇸 start learning
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I was so surprised to see her that I was at a loss for words
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To provide only a few examples, though there are copious amounts from which to choose. start learning
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We have a huge range of exotic teas—assam, pu-erh, guayusa, yerba mate, to name but a few.
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Has a low tolerance for alcohol; becomes drunk after consuming only a small amount of alcohol. opposite of this is also in use start learning
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someone can't (can) hold one's drink 🇬🇧 (liquor 🇺🇸) I don't see some evidence you can hold your liquor, be the last gig you ever play with me.
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If something is... to happen, it is planned to happen at a particular time or on a particular occasion. start learning
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This house is slated for demolition.
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If you say that someone or something is a ..., you think they are very amusing. spoken informal start learning
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Michael is a hoot, a real character.
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said to mean that two or more courses of action seem equally likely to succeed or fail, or that two or more things are equally likely to happen start learning
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It's a toss-up whether oil prices will go up or down over the days ahead.
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to give start learning
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a past history of having done bad things or been in trouble start learning
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The senator has a checkered past.
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(after a quantity) approximately. start learning
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to go to or into a place for shelter or protection from danger or trouble often used figuratively start learning
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1. They sought refuge in another country. 2. After the death of her husband, she took/sought/found refuge in her music.
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One's point of view or opinion makes sense and is worth considering. start learning
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A: "I know you're freaked out, but we can't call Mom and Dad at this hour—it's after midnight!" B: "OK, you have a point there."
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If you have no ... about doing something, you are not worried that it may be wrong in some way. start learning
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have no qualms about something Did she see him as capable of murder? She had used the word without a qualm.
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If someone or something is in ..., they are in a dangerous situation where they might fail, be lost, or be destroyed start learning
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be in jeopardy/ be in danger
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To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove risky, dangerous, or damaging. start learning
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put one's (future) in jeopardy 1. The colossal failure of our latest product has put the company's future in jeopardy. 2. I hope you realize that you're putting your children in jeopardy by smoking inside the house like that.
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You can say '... ' to confirm in an emphatic way that what someone has just said is true. start learning
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'Did you find yourself wondering what went wrong?'—'Precisely'
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To demonstrate one's anger, frustration, or annoyance toward someone by raising one's fist and shaking it in their direction Can be used literally or figuratively. start learning
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shake one's fist at somebody The old man sits on his porch shaking his fist at kids who walk on his lawn.
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To interconnect phoner to other person (also through the phone) start learning
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1. When someone calls a company they get patched through to a specific person. 2. If the 911 call center doesn't patch you through to poison control, call 1-800-222-1222 after you are finished with 911.
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If something someone says or writes... true, it seems to be true start learning
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Something about his explanation didn't quite ring true.
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be close to discovering the truth about an illegal or undesirable activity that someone is engaging in. start learning
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in a remote, isolated, or inaccessible area 🇺🇸 start learning
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If you say that you will continue doing something to the..., especially something difficult or unpleasant, you are emphasizing that you will continue doing it until it is completely finished. emphasis start learning
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(fight) to the bitter end The guerrillas would fight to the bitter end, he said, in order to achieve their main goal
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If you say that you have to ..., you mean that you are in a hurry and have to leave immediately. spoken informal start learning
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1. Oh, Tim! I'm sorry but I have to dash. 2. See you tomorrow night. Must dash now.
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If you are... on doing something, you very much want to do it 🇬🇧 start learning
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Both companies were keen on a merger
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If you do something out of ... for someone, you do it because you want them to be happy, safe, and well. start learning
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He had only gone along out of concern for his two grandsons
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You can say '... ' when you are saying goodbye to someone, or at the end of a letter or an email. start learning
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Wish him all the best, and tell him we miss him.
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to ask start learning
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to use start learning
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To force a person or a large, unwieldy object into some place or thing with great difficulty or physical effort. start learning
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wrestle somebody into something The officers managed to wrestle the suspect into the squad car.
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to take someone or something to a particular place, usually by car, as you travel to a different place start learning
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We dropped our luggage off at the hotel and went sightseeing.
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A large quantity of or exclusively (the thing that has just been inquired about). Typically used hyperbolically start learning
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A: "Do you have any extra pens?" B: "Nothing but! Take your pick."
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to do something that needs to be done even though no one has asked one to do it start learning
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Thank you for taking it upon yourself to organize the meeting.
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If a place, event, or situation is in a..., everything is in disorder. start learning
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The economy is in a shambles
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If an action or event is ... to something, it needs something to happen before it can take place: start learning
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The agreement is still subject to approval by the League's 30 teams and the players.
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You use with ... to say what something relates to formal start learning
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with respect to/ in respect of 🇬🇧 There are no limitations with respect to the disposal of the Object to be exchanged
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... things or activities exist or happen every day as part of ordinary life. start learning
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I am a vegetarian and use a lot of lentils in my day-to-day cooking
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You use ... in expressions such as 'I thought ...' and 'I guessed ...' after you have just been told something and you want to say that you already believed or expected it to be true start learning
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"I came to ask you a favour." "I thought as much."
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A place that is the ... of a particular person is one which they often visit because they enjoy going there. start learning
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The Channel Islands are a favourite summer haunt for UK and French tourists alike.
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Is someone already occupying or using this (section of space)? Used especially in reference to a seat in a building or on a vehicle. start learning
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1. Excuse me, sorry to disturb you, but is this seat taken? 2."This compartment taken?" she said to the man going into the adjacent room on the train.
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to meet the same life circumstances as another person earlier start learning
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slang Do you understand? Do you approve start learning
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We're going to start a true people's campaign, for the people, by the people—can you dig it?
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A crime, misdeed, or impropriety that is (hyperbolically) perceived to warrant death by hanging. Primarily heard in 🇺🇸 start learning
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Smuggling is not, like polygamy, a hanging offense. The worst that can happen to us is the confiscation of our merchandise.
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A rhetorical question used to indicate that someone or something shows an extraordinary amount of some negative characteristic or trait. start learning
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how selfish, stupid, ungrateful, etc. can you get? Now the banks are talking about selling off people's mortgages to vulture funds to make a quick buck. How greedy can you get?
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To pursue or continue with some futile task or activity, wasting one's time as a result. Usually used in the continuous tense. start learning
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You're plowing water if you think you're going to change Henry's mind.
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To emotionally prepare oneself to do a frightening or overwhelming task; to bolster one's courage. start learning
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I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's plucking up his courage with a stiff drink.
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Said of someone or something that is lacking in money or funds. start learning
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I ain't long enough for a trip right now, so I could only go if you paid for both of us.
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It can be used when referring to something that has been accepted or known for a long time, such as a fact, truth, or idea. start learning
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It has long been known that ageing wine in oak barrels can add extra flavour.
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to make a situation much more difficult or confusing: start learning
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The snowstorm is really playing havoc with rush-hour traffic.
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You use ....... after a noun to indicate that you are considering that thing on its own, separately from other things or factors. start learning
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Mr Simon said he was not against taxes as such, 'but I do object when taxation is justified on spurious or dishonest grounds,' he says.
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used to say that if someone has the desire and determination to do something, he or she can find a method for accomplishing it start learning
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where there's a will, there's a way
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People who are ... are treated very badly by people with power, and do not have the ability or the energy to do anything about it. start learning
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The owner is making huge profits at the expense of downtrodden peasants.
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If you describe someone as a ... person, you mean that they frequently drink large quantities of alcohol. start learning
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The young Miguel grew up as part of what Gerald Brenan called "a hard-drinking, whoring, horse-loving aristocracy"
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If one thing... another thing that you consider bad, it reminds you of it or is like it. start learning
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The Patriots trading for two backup offensive tackles Sunday smacks of running to the store to buy a shovel after the blizzard already started.
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To know certain information from a reliable source. start learning
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have it on a good authority I have it on good authority that Mom will take us out for ice cream if you finish your vegetables
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If you are ..., you are extremely tired. start learning
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You must be tuckered out after that bus trip across the country
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If you ..., you get some advantage or are successful because you have good luck. start learning
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the US economy lucked out for most of the decade
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Very truthful and reliable. start learning
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honest as the day is long Tom is honest as the day is long—if he promised to help you move, then he'll be here.
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volunteer oneself for a task or post or to give evidence about a crime. start learning
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"two witnesses have come forward with information"
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To rely on one's skill, ability, and perseverance to capitalize on opportunity, rather than relying solely on luck itself. start learning
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way to say that an agreement is in place and it should not be broken for any reaso start learning
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If you say that something is on someone, you mean that it is their responsibility or their fault. start learning
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If it doesn't work out, it's all on me.
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If you ... something such as someone's motives or integrity, you imply that they are not entirely honest or honourable. start learning
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All I can hope is that the good name of the Bank will not be impugned in some way.
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to take without asking or being given; steal start learning
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You can use ... to contrast two people, things, or situations, and show how they are different. start learning
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Unlike a current account, a savings account doesn't allow you to withdraw money before a given period, specified in the agreement.
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to get something, usually something good, as a result of your actions or other people's actions start learning
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Just as, equally, as much/many as, start learning
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