IDIOMS AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS (PART 2)
IDIOMS
AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS (PART 2)
Meaning
To be very angry.
27. To be
in the black
Meaning
If a person or business is in the
black, they have money in the bank, and are not in debt.
28. To be in the red
If
a person or business’ bank account(s) are in the red, they have no money in
the
bank, and in debt..
29. Throw in the towel
Meaning
(1) To stop trying to do something
because you have realised that you cannot succeed.
(2) To admit defeat.
30. To wash dirty linen in the public
Meaning
To discuss or allow the discussion
of private matters in the public.
31. To
draw a veil over something/matter
Meaning
To avoid speaking about
something/matter because it is unpleasant.
32. Sit on the fence
Meaning
To delay making a decision (on a
matter or situation).
33. Square up to something/somebody
Meaning
To deal with a problem or a difficult
person bravely and with determination.
34. By/with the skin of (one’s) teeth
Meaning
If you do something by the skin of
your teeth, you only just manage to succeed in doing it.
35. Get along/on like a house on fire
Meaning
If two people get along/on like a
house on fire, they like each other very much and become friends very quickly.
36. A
cut above
Meaning
Someone who is of a higher social
class or something that is of a higher quality (than others).
37. Tongue-in-cheek; or
With your tongue in your cheek
Meaning
To say something that is meant to be
understood as a joke, although it might appear to be serious.
38. Be lost for words
Meaning
To be so shocked, overwhelmed, surprised or full of
admiration that you cannot
speak.
39. Infectious smile; or
Contagious smile
Meaning
Smiling ways (of humorous persons) that catch
on quickly, and make others around them to smile too.
40. Cold comfort
Meaning
(1) Comfort which does not make one feel better, although it is intended
to.
(2) An unhelpful aid or assistance.
41. Born with a silver spoon in one’s
mouth
Meaning
To be born
into a very rich family and have a high social position.
42. Hit the roof; or
Go through the roof
Meaning
To become
very angry (at a situation or development) and start shouting.
43. Cut
(somebody) to the quick
Meaning
Hurt somebody’s
feelings or offend somebody deeply.
44. Ring true; or
Ring of truth
Meaning
If something
that someone says/writes rings true, or has a ring of truth, it seems to be
true.
45. By
a hair’s breath
Meaning
To narrowly
escape from danger.
46. On
tenterhooks
Meaning
To be worried
or nervous about something that is going to happen.
47. Blaze
a trail
Meaning
(1) To do
something that has never been done before.
(2) To set
an example.
48. Turn
the corner
Meaning
To
have/experience an improved situation after a difficult period.
49. To hold the fort; or
To hold down the fort
Meaning
(1) To have
responsibility for something while someone is absent.
(2) To look
after a place/office/business in the absence of the person who is normally in
charge.
50. Be
the last word (in something)
Meaning
To be the best or most modern
example of something.
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