IDIOMS AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS (PART 3)

 

IDIOMS AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS (PART 3)

 51.     On need-to-know basis

Meaning

If you tell a person/people something on a need-to-know basis, you only tell them the facts they need to know at the time they need to know them, and nothing more.

52.     To a degree; or

To some degree

Meaning

Partly; not fully; not completely.

53.     Doves and hawks

Meaning

Those who prefer peace and those who wish to use military force.  A dove in this idiom, refers to someone who is against the use of military force in resolving a dispute, while a hawk is someone who favours using war or military force to do so.

54.     Break new ground; or

Break fresh ground

Meaning

To do or discover something new.

55.     By hook or by crook

Meaning

To do something by any means or method possible, whether it is honest or not.

56.     Fall for (something) hook, sink and liner

Meaning

To completely believe something that someone tells you, which is not true.

57.     Go with the crowd; or

Follow the crowd

Meaning

Be unduly influenced by others.  To do what most other people do.

58.     Be out of the woods

Meaning

To no longer be in danger or difficulty.

59.     Not see the wood for the trees; or

Can’t see the forest for the trees

Meaning

Be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details.

(2) To fail to understand or appreciate a larger situation or problem because one is focusing only on a small part or few parts of it.

60.     Out of the blue

Meaning

For something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly.

61.     Pluck out of the air

Meaning

To say a name, date, number etc, spontaneously or suddenly, without thinking about it.

62.     Play (something) by ear

 

Meaning

To decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier.

63.     Play your cards right

Meaning

To behave in the right way so that you get an advantage or succeed in something.

64.     Play along (with)

Meaning

To do what someone/people ask you to do, for a limited period of time.  To pretend to agree with someone/people for a while. 

(Please note that this idiom is also a phrasal verb).

65.     Play cat and mouse

Meaning

To try to defeat someone/people by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them.

66.     Set great store by (something)

Meaning

To consider something to be of great importance or value.

67.     Set little store by (something)

Meaning

To consider something to be of little significance or value.

68.     Equal to the task

Meaning

To have the necessary ability, talent, qualities or capability to accomplish a given role or to manage a situation.

69.     Down to earth

Meaning

To be practical and realistic, with no illusions or pretensions (on a matter or situation).

70.     Come back down to earth

(2) Bring somebody back to earth

 Meaning

To start dealing with life and problems again after you have had a very exciting time.

(2) To make someone to start dealing with life and problems again after having had a very exciting time.

 

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