idioms for css

8/12/2019 idioms for css

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- to the extent or degree of something

As far as I know, the movie will start in a few minutes.

as for

- with regard to, concerning

As for myself, I think that I will return home now.

as if

- in the same way that something would be, that

The drink tastes as if it were made with orange #uice.It seemed as if the whole school came to the concert.

as long as

- provided that, on condition that

As long as you promise to be careful, you can borrow my car.

as soon as

- #ust after something, when

I phoned my friend as soon as I finished dinner.

as to

- with regard to, according to

As to your $uestion, I will answer it tomorrow.The players were put into groups as to their ability.

as well

- in addition, also, too

I plan to take swimming lessons this summer. I plan to take a computer course as well.

as well as (someone or something)

- in addition to someone or something


3/66

%lease bring your swimming suit as well as your towel.

BIdioms

back and forth

- backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way

The argument with the lawyer went back and forth before the #udge made a decision.

better off

- to be in a better situation than before

&y friend would be better off if he sold his old car and bought a new one.

break down (something) orbreak (something) down

- to divide something into parts, to separate something into simpler substances

We tried to break down the problem for further study.The sugar began to break down soon after it was swallowed.

break up orbreak up (something) orbreak (something) up

- to separate, to divide into groups or pieces, to put an end to something

I hope that my favorite band does not break up.The students did not want to break up their groups.The coach decided to break the team up into small groups.

by the way

- incidentally

'y the way, could you please bring your laptop computer tomorrow.

CIdioms

carry out (something) orcarry (something) out


4/66

- to put something into action, to accomplish something, to do something

The scientist wanted to carry out more experiments before discussing the new medicine.

come on!

- please, hurry, go faster

(ome on, I only have a few minutes before I must go.(ome on, stop doing that.

come up

- to happen unexpectedly

I will not be able to go to the party if something else comes up.

come up with (something)

- to produce or find a thought or idea or answer

I tried to come up with a name for the new maga)ine.

DIdioms

deal with (something)

- to be concerned with something, to take action about something

We will deal with the boxes tomorrow.

EIdioms

end up (doing something or going somewhere)

- to do something that one had not planned to do, to go somewhere one had not plannedto go

We ended up watching a movie last night.We ended up going to a restaurant after the movie last night.


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FIdioms

figure out (someone or something) orfigure (someone or something) out

- to try to understand someone or something, to solve something

I finally figured out how to use the new computer software.

fill in (something) orfill (something) in

- to write words in blank spaces

%lease fill in this form and give it to the receptionist.I filled the form in and gave it to the receptionist.

find out (something)

- to learn or discover something

&y mother is angry with me because she found out that I had $uit my *rench class.

first of all

- the very first thing

*irst of all, we prepared the garden and then we planted the seeds.

for good

- permanently

The city plans to close the public swimming pool for good.

for sure

- without doubt, certainly, surely

I will go to the movie with you for sure next week.

GIdioms


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get back to (something)

- to return to something

I was happy to get back to my work after my holiday.

get into (something)

- to become interested or involved in something

I do not want to get into an argument with my friend.We will get into the details of the plan tomorrow.

get into (somewhere)

- to enter somewhere

&y friend wants to get into a good university.I bumped my head as I was getting into the car.

get out of (somewhere)

- to leave somewhere, to escape from somewhere

I have an appointment and I want to get out of my house $uickly.

get rid of (something)

- to give or throw something away, to sell or destroy something, to make a cold or feverdisappear

I bought a new television so I want to get rid of my old one.

get through (something)

- to complete something, to finish something

&y friend is having trouble getting through her final exams.I have much reading that I must get through before tomorrow.

go ahead

- to begin to do something

+ets go ahead and start now. We cant wait any longer.


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go on

- to continue

The game will probably go on for an hour after we leave.

go over (something)

- to examine or review something

The accountant will go over our books tomorrow.We plan to go over that $uestion tomorrow.

go through (something)

- to discuss something, to look at something, to do something

The teacher decided to go through the exercise before the test.

go with (something)

- to choose one thing rather than another

We decided to go with the small rental car rather than the large one.

HIdioms

hang out (somewhere or with someone)

- to spend ones time with no great purpose, to spend leisure time with friends

ecently, my friend has been hanging out with a bad group of people.

have (something) to do with (something)

- to be about something, to be on the sub#ect of something, to be related to something

The book has something to do with cooking but I am not sure if you will like it.That problem has nothing to do with me.

hold on

- to wait a minute, to stop, to wait and not hang up the phone


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%lease hold on for a minute while I lock the door.old on, don"t say anything, I can"t hear the speaker.

IIdioms

in a way

- to a certain extent, a little, somewhat

In a way, I want to go to the new restaurant, but in a way I do not really care.

in case

- if, if something should happen

I will take my umbrella in case it rains.

in common

- shared together or e$ually, in use or ownership by all

I had nothing in common with the other members of the class.

in detail

- giving all the details, item by item

The saleswoman explained the new product in detail.

in effect

- for practical purposes, basically

The man"s silence was in effect a way of disagreeing with the other people in the meeting.

in fact

- actually, the truth is

The man has been to (hina before. In fact, he has been there three times.

in favor of (someone or something)


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- to approve or support someone or something

/verybody is in favor of the new police chief.&y company is not in favor of changing our holiday schedule.

in general

- in most situations or circumstances

In general, most of the people are happy with the new manager.

in order to

- for the purpose of

They have decided to close down the school for the summer in order to do some ma#or

repairs.

in other words

- in a different 0usually more direct1 way

In other words, if you do not finish the assignment by Wednesday, you will not pass thecourse.

in place

- in the proper place or location

/verything in the room was in place when we arrived for the meeting.

in some ways

- in some unspecified way or manner, by some unspecified means

In some ways, I know what my friend wants to say but in other ways, I do not.

in terms of (something)

- with regard to something

In terms of our agreement with the other company, we are not allowed to sell theproducts online.

in time


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- with enough time to do something, within a certain time, before a time limit expires

I did not arrive home in time to meet my cousin.The girl is working hard to finish her homework in time to go to a movie.

KIdioms

keep (someone or something) in mind

- to remember and think about someone or something

I told my friend to keep the time that I must leave for work in mind.If I need someone to help fix my computer, I usually keep my friend in mind.

kind of

- somewhat, more or less, moderately

I was kind of tired when I arrived home last night.

LIdioms

look for (something)

- to try to find something, to hunt or search for something

&y friend has been looking for her credit card all morning but she cannot find it.

look up (something) orlook (something) up

- to search for something in a dictionary or other book

I will look up my friend"s name in the telephone book.

I looked the word up in the dictionary.

MIdioms

make a difference


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- to cause a change in a situation, to change the nature of something

It does not make a difference whether our boss comes to the meeting or not.If I study hard this weekend, it should make a difference in my test results next week.

make sense

- to seem reasonable

The manager"s new proposal makes sense.

make sure

- to make certain, to establish something without a doubt

I want to make sure that my friend will meet me tomorrow.

more or less

- somewhat, to some extent

I more or less have decided to study business next year.

NIdioms

no matter

- regardless

2o matter how hard that I try, my music teacher is never satisfied.

not at all

- certainly not, absolutely not

I am not at all happy with my new computer.

OIdioms

of course


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- certainly, definitely, naturally

3f course you can use my car if you want to.

on the other hand

- however, in contrast, looking at the opposite side of a matter

e is very intelligent but on the other hand he is la)y and always gets low marks atschool.

on time

- at the scheduled time, exactly at the correct time, punctually

3ur train arrived exactly on time.

once again

- again, one more time, once more

I tried once again to phone my boss at his home .

open to (something)

- to be agreeable to learn or hear about new ideas or suggestions

&ost members of the class were open to the teacher"s ideas.3ur boss is always open to new ideas.

PIdioms

pick up (something) orpick (something) up

- to get or receive something

I will pick up my dry cleaning tomorrow.I picked up a copy of the newspaper at the station.

point out (someone or something) orpoint (someone or something) out

- to explain or call attention to someone or something


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&y teacher was very kind when she pointed out the mistakes that I had made.

put out (something) orput (something) out

- to produce or make something 0a product or brochure or report or (4 or movie or

paper1

The company puts out a newsletter every month for the employees.

RIdioms

regardless of (something)

- without considering or thinking about something, without regard to something, in spiteof something

egardless of the weather, we are going to go fishing tomorrow morning.

right away

- immediately

I forgot my book at home but I will go and get it right away.

rule out (someone or something)or

rule (someone or something) out

- to decide against or eliminate someone or something

The police ruled out the man as a possible bank robber.We decided to rule &onday out as the day to have our meeting.

run into (something - a fact or trouble or problems or difficulty)

- to experience something, to encounter something

The mechanic ran into trouble when he was fixing my car.I ran into some interesting facts while I was researching my essay.

SIdioms


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- to use someone or something for one"s own benefit

We took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach.

take care of (someone or something)

- to look after or give attention to someone or something

It is good to take care of your health or you will become sick.

take out (something) ortake (something) out

- to remove something from somewhere

The teacher told us to take out our books.I took out some onions from the refridgerator.

take over (something) ortake (something) over

- to take control of something, to take command of something

The large company wants to take over the small company in our town.

take place

- to happen, to occur

The soccer game took place on the coldest day of the year.

to the extent that

- to the degree that, in so far as

I plan to provide information about the new company policy, to the extent that I amfamiliar with it.

turn in (something) orturn (something) in

- to give something to someone, to hand something to someone

I arrived at school early so that I could turn in my essay.

turn out

- to be found or known, to prove to be true


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It turned out that more people came to the meeting than we had expected.

UIdioms

up to

- until, as far as a certain point, approaching a certain point

7p to last week, I had never been inside a bowling alley.There were probably up to thirty people at the meeting.

up to (someone) to decide (something) or do (something)

- to be responsible to choose or decide something

It is up to the company president to decide when the meeting will start.

used to (something)

- accustomed to something

&y friend is not used to living in such a big city.

WIdioms

with respect to (something)

- referring to something, concerning something

I do not know what the company will do with respect to the old computer system.

work out

- to end successfully

I hope that everything will work out for my friend when she moves next month.


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A 'abe In The WoodsWhat do you know5 !ou are #ust a babe in the woods.

A 'ed 3f osesWorking here is no bed of roses.

A 'ig *ish In A 6mall %onde"s #ust a big fish in a small pond.

A 'ig *rog In A 6mall %onde"s #ust a big frog in a small pond

A 'ird"s /ye 8iewThis photo, taken from an airplane, gives you a bird"s eye view.

A 'itter %ill To 6wallow

6pending a week in the psychiatric hospital was a bitter pill to swallow, but 9ake reallyneeded to do it.

A 'lessing In 4isguiseWhen I first lost that #ob, I was upset. 'ut it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

A 'reath 3f *resh AirI love having this new student in my class. is positive attitude is a breath of fresh air.

A 'undle 3f 2ervesI have to give a speech tomorrow, and I am a bundle of nerves.

A (ard&y uncle 'ob is a real card.

A (ase In %oint9ane called. 6he will be late for this morning"s meeting. eply: (ase in point. Wereally cannot rely on her.

A (ase 3f &istaken IdentityAre you sure you are not 4on 9ohnson5 eply: eally, I am not. It must be a case ofmistaken identity.

A (hange 3f %aceWhat would you like me to make for dinner5 eply: +et"s have sushi, for a change ofpace.

A (hange 3f 6ceneryI #ust got back from *lorida. eply: That must have been a change of scenery.


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A (hip 3ff The 3ld 'lock4id you meet 'ill"s son at the picnic yesterday5 e"s #ust like 'ill; eply: e"s a chipoff the old block.

A (hip 3n !our 6houlder

e lost his game this morning, and now he has a chip on his shoulder.

A (opycat6top copying my answers. !ou copycat; 0rude1

A (ut AboveI love this restaurant. It is a cut above.

A 4en 3f Ini$uityI don"t want you going over to that house. It is a den of ini$uity.

A 4evil 3f A 9obI cleaned your car for you, and it was a devil of a #ob.

A 4iamond In The oughave you spoken with 9ean before5 Isn"t she a diamond in the rough.

A 4ream (ome True'ecoming a movie star was a dream come true.

A *an 3f isAre you a 4odgers" fan5 eply: 2o, I don"t like baseball.

A *ool And is &oney Are /asily %artedow is it that you left home with as4id you have a good time at the party5 eply: It was a gas.

A >host 3f A (hance


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4o you think he has a chance to win5 eply: e doesn"t have a ghost of a chance.

A >ivenI always knew that we would get married. It was a given.

A earbeat AwayIf the president dies, who becomes the new president5 eply: The vice president. e"sa heartbeat away from the presidency.

A eartbeat AwayIf the president dies, who becomes the new president5 eply: The vice president. e"sa heartbeat away from the presidency.

A ?ind 3f A 6omething!ou know, the "do-do". It"s a kind of a bird.

A ?ink In &y 2eckI slept in my car last night, so I have a kink in my neck.

A ?nown *actThat guy is a gangster5 Are you sure5 eply: 3f course I"m sure. It"s a known fact.

A +abor 3f +ove!ou don"t mind taking care of that dog5 eply: It is a labor of love.

A +ast 4itch /ffortI thought for sure we would lose but we made one last ditch effort and tied the game.

A +eading @uestionThat is a leading $uestion. I am not going to answer it.

A +ick 3f Worke was born wealthy, and he has never done a lick of work in his life.

A +ittle 'itAre you hungry5 eply: A little bit. !ou5

A +ost (ause&y uncle 'ob fails at everything he does. e is a lost cause.

A %ack 3f +iese"s the one who took the money. I saw him. eply: That"s a pack of lies;

A %ain In The 2eckI don"t want to work with him. e"s a pain in the neck.


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A %ast &aster At 6omething!ou"ve heard of 9ack 2icklaus, right5 e"s a past master at golf.

A %enny 6aved Is A %enny /arned!ou need to stop wasting money. A penny saved is a penny earned.

A %iece 3f (ake(an you finish your homework in ten minutes5 eply: It will be a piece of cake.

A %iece 3f The ActionI heard you guys are going to play a #oke on 9im. I want a piece of the action.

A %iercing 6creamI was walking down 'road 6treet when suddenly I heard this piercing scream.

A %illar 3f 6trength

&y mother is a pillar of strength.

A %ipe 4reamI"ve always had this pipe dream to start my own coffee shop.

A %lace To (all !our 3wnAfter renting for all these years, I really want a place to call my own.

A %lay 'y %lay 4escription'ob 9enkins will be announcing this game. e does the play-by-play.

A %relude To 6omething/verything we did that evening was a prelude to a kiss.

A ipe 3ld AgeAt the ripe old age of B, I feel like I am #ust starting my life.

A ipple 3f /xcitement3n election day you could feel a ripple of excitement.

A olling 6tone >athers 2o &ossWhy don"t you get married and have a family5 eply: A rolling stone gathers nomoss.

A ule 3f ThumbI don"t invite people to my home unless I know them well, as a rule of thumb.

A 6hot In The ArmWe were really falling apart, but that goal gave us a shot in the arm.


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A 6how 3f ands6tudents, lets have a show of hands from everyone who would like to go to themuseum.

A 6lap In The *ace

They took away all of my responsibilities, then the fired me. It was a real slap in theface.

A 6lap 3n The Wriste should be in #ail for what he did, but he got off with #ust a slap on the wrist.

A 6lip 3f The Tongue3ops, I did not mean to tell you that. It was a slip of the tongue.

A 6tanding 3ffer!ou have a standing offer to #oin us for dinner whenever you like.

A 6truggle To The 4eathe got cancer, and it was a struggle to the death.

A Taste 3f !our 3wn &edicine4id you see those two people cutting in front of us in line #ust now5 +et"s cut in front ofthem and give them a taste of their own medicine;

A 8ote 3f (onfidenceI thought you would like to lead the meeting tomorrow. eply: Thank you for the voteof confidence.

A Word To The Wiseere"s a word to the wise: 4o not go down that street at night.

Abide 'y 6omethingI am your father. !ou must abide by my words.

Above And 'eyond The (all 3f 4utyWhat that police officer did to save her life was above and beyond the call of duty.

Above AverageAre you a very good tennis player5 eply: I"m above average.

Above 6uspicionIn this case, no one person is above suspicion. 2ot even the president.

Absence &akes The eart >row *onder4oes it bother you that your husband goes away on long business trips5 eply: 2o.The time we have spent apart has been good for us. Absence makes the heart grow


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fonder.

Acknowledge eceipt 3f ItAs soon as you get the package, please call me to acknowledge receipt.

Across The 'oardWe will have a C= percent pay cut across the board.

Act As 6omeone(lean yourself up. 4on"t expect me to act as your maid.

Act igh And &ightyWhat are you acting so high and mighty about.

Act 3ne"s AgeI want you kids to stop fooling around and act your age.

Act 6omething 3utere is how the game works: I give you a word, then you act it out.

Add Insult To In#ury*irst he drives into my car. Then, to add insult to in#ury he says I"m parked in the wrongspot.

Address im As !ourI"m not one of your college friends. Address me as your father.

Advise Against 6omething4o you recommend that I talk with the boss5 eply: I would advise against it.

After ours6orry, we don"t see patients after hours.

After The *act4id you tell her what you wanted her to do5 eply: !es, but it was after the fact.

Ahead 3f 6chedule&y software pro#ect is ahead of schedule.

Ahead 3f TimeThe game starts at seven. 6hall we meet ahead of time5

Alive And ?ickingow is your grandfather doing5 eply: e is alive and kicking.

All 'ark 0And 2o 'ite1


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That new manager threatened to fire me again, but I know he won"t do it. e"s all barkand no bite.

All 4ressed 7p4on"t you look nice all dressed up.

All *or 6omethingWould you like to go to the show5 eply: I"m all for it.

All *or The 'est4id you hear they broke up5 eply: It is probably all for the best. They were notgetting along well.

All >oneAre there any more cookies5 eply: All gone.

All >reek(an you read these instructions5 eply: 2o. It"s all >reek to me.

All In 3ne %iece'e careful. I want you home all in one piece.

All In The *amilyI"m going to tell you about your uncle, but let"s keep this all in the family.

All In The 6ame 'oatWe can"t fight against each other. We need to work together. We"re all in the same boat;

All ?idding AsideAll kidding aside, I really do like her.

All 2ight +ongThe baby was up crying all night long.

All 3ut WarIt used to be they occasionally fired a missile. 2ow it"s all out war.

All 3verIs the game still on5 eply: 2o, it"s all over.

All 3ver Again4o you remember 'erlin5 This is the same thing all over again.

All 6etAre you all set for the big game5


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All 6kin And 'onesave you seen ?aren5 6he is all skin and bones.

All 6ystems Are >oAre you ready5 eply: All systems are go.

All Talk And 2o Action9ohn promised he would be here. eply: e is all talk and no action.

All The age4o you like this scarf5 It is all the rage.

All Toldow much money is missing5 eply: All told, D== dollars.

An About *ace

If you ever discover that you are walking down a dangerous street, it is best to do anabout face and walk in the other direction.

An Arm And A +egow much did you pay for that watch5 Answer: An arm and a leg.

An Axe To >rindTell your brother that I have an axe to grind with him;

Arm In ArmThe young lovers walked though the park, arm in arm.

Armed And 4angerousThe bank robber has escaped. e is armed and dangerous.

Around The 'lock4on"t think you can fool me so easily: I have been around the block.

Around The (lockWe are open around the clock.

As An AsideAs an aside: Is anyone hungry5

As 4runk As A 6kunk4on"t go out drinking with enry. e"ll get you as drunk as a skunk.

At 6take!ou would be worried if your life were at stake.


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At The %resent TimeAre you hiring new people5 eply: 2ot at the present time.

At This 9unctureAre you going to buy the A'( company5 eply: 2o. 2ot at this #uncture.

At Wit"s /nd(an you help me to solve this problem5 I"m at wit"s end.

'ack And *orthWhat fun could it be playing tennis5 They #ust hit the ball back and forth all day.

'ack 4own *romIf I were you, I would back down. It is not worth fighting about.

'ack /ast

We #ust can"t wait to move back east.

'ack In (irculation9ohn, where have you been5 It is good to see you back in circulation.

'ack &e 7pI told my mom we were at the baseball game last night. 'ack my up.

'ack 3ffI guess I made her angry. 6he told me to back off and leave her alone.

'ack 3rder ThemWe don"t have them in your si)e today. 'ut I would be glad to back order them for you.

'ack The Wrong orseWho did you bet on in the superbowl5 eply: Ari)ona. Answer: 3uch. !ou backedthe wrong horse.

'ack To 'ackWe have had back to back losses and we need to play better.

'ack To 6$uare 3neAfter all that work, they decided not to hire me. eply: 'ack to s$uare one.

'ad As All ThatI"ve heard it is the worst place to go to school. eply: It"s not as bad as all that.

'ad 'lood 'etween %eople&y brother and I haven"t spoken since childhood. There is a lot of bad blood betweenus.


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'ad &outhing !ou!ou are one of my best friends. I would never bad mouth you.

'ail &e 3ut

e got thrown in #ail for drunk driving, but his father bailed him out.

'ait And 6witchI thought I was buying a new watch. eply: It looks like they gave you the bait andswitch.

'all And (hainI am in medical school now, so that"s my ball and chain.

'ank 3n 6omethingI will be there. !ou can bank on it.

'arking 7p The Wrong TreeIf you are looking for someone to lend you money, don"t talk to me. !ou"re barking upthe wrong tree.

'athed In +ightThere she stood by the window, bathed in light.

'atten 4own The atchesA big rain storm is coming. We need to batten down the hatches.

'attle It 3utI really don"t mind where we go. I"ll let you two battle it out.

'e (urtains *or 6omeone 3r 6omethingIf you lose one more point, it"s curtains for you.

'e 6ickIs it true that you mother has cancer5 eply: !es, she has been sick for three months.

'e 6oIs that so5 eply: !es it is.

'e 6wimming In 6omething4o you have any ketchup left5 eply: We are swimming in it.

'e The 6pitting Image 3f 6omeone%eople say I am the spitting image of my mother.

'e Too


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!ou"re no good at cards. eply: I am too.

'e 7sed To 6omething4oes it bother you that the toilet stops working like that5 eply: 2o, I"m used to it.

'ear A >rudge Against 6omeoneI really do feel bad it happened. eply: 4on"t worry. 6he won"t bear a grudge.

'ear *ruit4id your meeting bear fruit5

'ear In &indWould you like to order dinner5 eply: 'ear in mind that I do not speak *rench.

'ear With 6omeone'ear with me for a moment as I write that down.

'eating A 4ead orseI"d like to talk with you again about what happened. eply: 3h, come on. +et"s notbeat a dead horse.

'eating A %ath To !our 4oorI don"t see anyone beating a path to your door.

'eating Around The 'ush4id he ask you to marry him5 eply: 2o, but he has been beating around the bush.

'eating im At is 3wn >ame6he was the star of our school"s tennis team, and I still beat her. eply: !ou beat her ather own game.

'efore !ou ?now It/n#oy your freedom; 'efore you know it, you"ll be married and settling down withchildren.

'eg To 4iffer!ou think I am old5 I beg to differ.

'ehind The Times&y grandfather wears black socks with his shorts. eply: e is so behind the times.

'ehind !our 'ackThose two went to the boss, and they did it behind my back.

'elaboring The %ointI know we"ve talked about this already, and I hate to belabor the point, but I still don"t


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think you are understanding me.

'end 3ver 'ackwardsWe bent over backwards to help him, and he never even thanked us;

'etter +ate Than 2everere is my final paper. 6orry it is so late. eply: 'etter late than never.

'etter 6afe Than 6orry6hould I bring my umbrella5 eply: 'etter safe than sorry. Answer: 3kay. I"ll go getit.

'ite !our ead 3ffI"m sorry you had a bad day, but you don"t have to bite my head off.

'ite !our Tongue

I wanted to tell her what I really thought of her dress, but I #ust bit my tongue.

'iting 3ff &ore Than !ou (an (hewI thought I could finish this report within a month, but I bit off more than I could chew.

'iting The 'ulleturry mom, I really have to go to the bathroom. eply: We won"t be there for another


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(all A &eetingIf I call a meeting for Thursday, will you be there5

(all A 6pade A 6pade

!ou can call him a nice guy if you want to but I am calling a spade a spadeE that guy is a#erk.

(all It A 4ayIt"s time to go home. +et"s call it a day.

(all It A 2ight!ou guys are going to another bar5 2ot me. I"m calling it a night.

(all It 3ff

ow did your party go5 eply: 3h. We had to call it off.

(all The 4ogs 3ffI already gave you your money. (all the dogs off.

(all The &eeting To 3rder/veryone $uiet down so we can call this meeting to order.

(all The oll/veryone be $uiet. I"m going to call the roll.

(all The 6hotsI"m calling the shots here. !ou will do what I say.

(alling It 3ffI thought you had a date tonight5 eply: I did, but we called it off.

(alling %eople 2ames!ou are a #erk; eply: !ou don"t have to call me names.

(alling !our 'luffThey say they will fire me if I skip work today, but I am calling their bluff.

(an I >et A ain (heck5e was going to take me to the park, but it rained, so I got a rain check.

(an !ou Imagine5This car only cost me FB==. (an you imagine5

(an"t (arry A Tune


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6ing with us; eply: 6orry. !ou wouldn"t want me to. I can"t carry a tune.

(an"t (ut The &ustard4id you hear that Williams got fired5 eply: !es. e couldn"t cut the mustard.

(an"t 4o Anything With 6omeone 3r 6omething!our teacher is frustrated. 6he says she can"t do anything with you.

(an"t elp 'ut 4o 6omethingWhen she said that, I couldn"t help but laugh.

(an"t old A (andle To 6omeone!ou are a good tennis player. 'ut you can"t hold a candle to my sister.

(an"t &ake eads 3r Tails 3ut 3f 6omeone 3r 6omethingI"m looking at your computer program right now, but I can"t make heads or tails out of

it.

(annot elp 4oing 6omethingWhen she said that, I couldn"t help laughing.

(ap And >ownI love this photo of you and your friends in cap and gown.

(apable 3f 4oing 6omething4id you hear about the farmhouse murders5 eply: Who could be capable of such athing5

(arried Away!ou cleaned everything. /ven the dog. eply: !es. I got kind of carried away.

(arry A 6ecret To 3ne"s >rave%lease, you must not tell anyone what happened. eply: I will carry your secret to mygrave.

(arry A 6ecret To The >rave%lease, you must not tell anyone what happened. eply: I will carry it to the grave.

(arry 3n Without 6omeone 3r 6omethingIf anything ever happens to me, I want you to carry on without me.

(arry WeightWhat I say carries weight around here.

(arrying It A 'it Too *arIt is okay to make #okes during class, but you are carrying it a bit too far.


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(ash And (arry6orry but there is nowhere to eat here. It is cash and carry.

(aught In The Act

!ou kids were going to take those cookies, weren"t you5 eply: !es, we were caughtin the act.

(ause A 6tir4o you need to talk so loudly5 !ou"re causing a stir.

(ease And 4esist%olice officer says: 6ir, I want you to cease and desist from what you are doing.

(hange 6omeone"s &indI thought you didn"t like her5 eply: Well, I changed my mind.

(hanging !our Tune6he always said she would never get married, but now she"s the one getting married.eply: 6he has changed her tune.

(lear The Table/veryone is done eating. Would you like to clear the table5

(learing The Air!ou"ve been living here for two months and you still don"t have a #ob. We need to clearthe air.

(limbing 3n The 'andwagon+ook who"s climbing on the bandwagon.

(oming (lean!ou ate that piece of cake I was saving, didn"t you5 (ome clean.

(oming In andyI"m glad you brought your knife. eply: !es, it really comes in handy.

(oming To Terms With ItI was upset that I was transfered to the other unit. 'ut I am coming to terms with it.

(oming To The (runchWe have had three weeks to write this paper. 2ow we are coming to the crunch.

(ross !our *ingersI don"t know what I will get for my birthday, but I am crossing my fingers that it will bea bicycle.


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(rying 3ver 6pilled &ilkWe came so close. eally. We almost won that game; eply: There"s no use cryingover spilled milk.

(rying Wolf&om, 4ad; (an you come to my room5 I think there is something under my bed;eply: 6on, you #ust go back to bed, and stop crying wolf.

(utting (ornersThey cut a lot of corners when they built this house. 2ow have so many problems tofix.

(utting !our +ossesI bought this stock at B= dollars a share, and it is down to =. I am going to cut mylosses.

4art In And 3utIs 9ean around the office5 eply: !es, she has been darting in and out all day.

4igging !our 3wn >raveTalking to the boss like that, you are digging your own grave.

4irty Work!ou want me to fire her for you5 ey, do your own dirty work.

4o An /rrandight now I am doing some errands, but I can meet you in a few hours.

4o 3ne"s 3wn Thing&y brother has always been like that. e does his own thing.

4o 3ne"s %artey, I did my part.

4o 6oI would like to take a break. eply: 2ow is a good time. 4o so.

4oing As !ou"re ToldI want to stay up. I am not tired. eply: 4o as you are told and go to bed right now.

4oing The onorsWho cuts the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner at your house5 eply: &y father does thehonors.

4oing The 9ob


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I can"t stop the water from coming out. eply: Turn that switch over there, and thatwill do the #ob.

4oing The Trick&y motorcycle is not running well. eply: Try replacing the oil. That might do the

trick.

4oing WondersWe hired her to clean our house once a week and she has done wonders.

4oing !our omework9ohn is an excellent lawyer. e always does his homework.

4oing !our 6tuffThere are five minutes left in this game. 9ohn, it is time for you to do your stuff.

4on"t 'urn !our 'ridges3n his last day on the #ob he got in a huge fight with his boss. Answer: Why would hewant to go burning his bridges like that5 6omeday he might want to work there again.

4on"t (ount !our (hickens 07ntil They"ve atched14o you think that 'ill is going to offer you a promotion this month5 eply: I won"tcount my chickens until they have hatched.

4on"t %ut All !our /ggs In 3ne 'asket&y father is a very careful investorE he never puts all of his eggs in one basket.

4on"t %ut The (art 'efore The orseey; *irst we attach it, then we put on the chains. 4on"t put the cart before the horse.

4own 3n 6omeone 3r 6omething!ou have been down on me all day;

4own 6outhThese are my friends from down south.

4own The atch!ou want me to drink this whole thing5 eply: That"s right. 4own the hatch;

4own The 6treetWhere does your grandmother live5 eply: 6he"s #ust down the street.

4own The TubesWhat happened to your plans for tonight5 eply: 4own the tubes.

4own To /arth


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!our brother is great. e"s so down to earth.

4own To The WireWhat a close race. eply: It"s down to the wire.

4own With 6ome 4iseaseI can"t come to work today. I"m down with the flu.

4rag 3ne"s *eetI"ve wanted to start yoga for months. I"ve #ust been dragging my feet.

4rastic Times (all *or 4rastic &easures6ales have been slow and we had to let go three of our employeesE drastic times call fordrastic measures.

4raw A 'lank

4o you remember how to say that word in 6panish5 eply: I"m drawing a blank.

4raw 'lood3uch; I cut myself. eply: +et me see. 4id it draw blood5

4rawing Attentione dresses like that because he likes to draw attention.

4riving A ard 'argainTwenty thousand dollars is a lot of money. !ou drive a hard bargain.

4ropping A 'rickThe boss came in and dropped a real brick. e said they are planning to close ouroffice.

4ropping 2amesI dated an actress in 2ew !ork who was constantly dropping names. eply: 3h no, Ican"t stand name-dropping.

4runk As A 6kunk4id you see 9ean last night5 eply: !eah. 6he was as drunk as a skunk.

4ry 6pellWe"ve been having $uite a dry spell latelyE it hasn"t rained in over two weeks.

/arly To 'ed, /arly To ise, &akes A &an ealthy, Wealthy, And WiseAll of his life, my grandfather went to bed early and got up with the sun. eply: /arlyto bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.

/arn 3ne"s ?eep


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!ou did a lot of work today. eply: I"m #ust earning my keep.

/arning !our ?eepey, look who is washing the dishes. eply: I have to earn my keep.

/ase 3ff 3n It/ase off on the breaks a little. !ou"re pushing down too hard.

/ase 7p 3n er/ase up on your mother. 6he"s had a hard day.

/asier 6aid Than 4oneWe should dig a garden in the back yard. That would be great. eply: /asier said thandone.

/asy To (ome 'yAt this time of year, fresh fruit is not easy to come by.

/at A &eal 3utI"ve been cooking way too often. Tonight, let"s eat a meal out.

/at And uney, I"m sorry to have to eat and run, but I have a meeting in C= minutes.

/at +ike A orseow was lunch5 eply: >reat. I ate like a horse.

/ating Away At !ouWhat she said this morning has really been eating away at me.

/very 2ook And (rannyI looked all over my apartment for your earring. eply: 4id you check every nook andcranny5

/very Time !ou Turn Around/very time I turn around, she is watching me.

/verything 'ut ?itchen 6inkWow, your suitcase is huge. What do you have in there5 /verything but the kitchensink5

/verything"s (oming 7p oses/verything"s coming up roses; 0from a famous song sung by /thel &ermin1

/xcuse !ourself


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If anyone has to leave early, feel free to excuse yourself.

/xpecting A (hild&y wife and I are expecting our first child. eply: (ongratulations;

/xpense Is 2o 3b#ectThis year I want the company party to be fantastic. /xpense is no ob#ect.

/xplain It Away%eople must have been curious when they found out. eply: 2o, they #ust explained itaway.

/xplain !ourself%lease listen. I am trying to explain myself.

/xpressing !our Anger

I would like to express my anger about what happened last night.

/xtending (reditI want that couch, but I really cannot afford it. eply: We will extend you credit.

/xtending 3ur 6ympathyI would like to extend my sympathy for the recent death of your mother. eply: Iappreciate that very much.

*acing The &usicWe are two hours late and mom is waiting for us. eply: It is time to face the music.

*air And *air Alike%eter is getting two candies but I am only getting one; Answer: !ou had two candiesearlier today, so now you are evenE fair and fair alike.

*air And 6$uare!ou cheated; eply: I did not; I beat you fair and s$uare.

*air >ameyan is getting out of the car here, so the front seat is fair game.

*air Weather *riend%eter may seem like your best friend today, but you will find that he is a fair weatherfriend.

*all In WithAt a very young age, 9ohn fell in with the drug crowd.

*alling *lat 3n !our *ace


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ow did your first day of class go5 eply: I fell flat on my face.

*alling *or !ouWe have only been dating for a week, but I am really falling for you.

*alling *rom >race!ou ask the boss, she loves you. eply: 2o way. I fell from grace with her a long timeago.

*alling IllWhere"s 9anice5 eply: 6he fell ill over the weekend.

*amiliarity 'reeds (ontemptThose two have been living together for too long. They don"t speak a word to eachother. eply: *amiliarity breeds contempt.

*eel +ike ItWhy are you taking off your shirt5 eply: 'ecause I feel like it.

*ield @uestionsAfter the presentation, we are going to field $uestions.

*igure 3n It!ou didn"t figure on that, did you5

*igure 6omeone 3r 6omething 3ut6top trying to figure me out.

*ill 6omeone In 3n 6omeone 3r 6omethingWho can fill me in on what happened last night5

*ill 6omeone"s 6hoesIf you are taking 'ill 9ohnson"s #ob, you have big shoes to fill.

*illed To The 'rim%ut some water in this pot for me, and fill it to the brim.

*ind A appy &edium6ometimes we listen to my music, and sometimes we listen to her music. We have founda happy medium.

*ind *ault With 6omeone 3r 6omethingWhy do you find fault with everything I do5

*ind It In 3ne"s eart To 4o 6omething(ould you find it in your heart to give me a dollar5


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*ind 3ne"s Way Around!ou may feel lost at first, but you will find your way around.

*ind 3neself

When 9ane went to India instead of enrolling in college, she said she wanted to findherself.

*ind 6omeone >uiltyThe #udge found him guilty of murder.

*ind 6omeone InnocentAt the end of a long trial, he was found innocent.

*ind 6omething 3ut The ard WayI told him not to stand in the doorway, but he wouldn"t listen, so he found out the hard

way.

*inders ?eepers, +osers Weepersey; That"s my *ive dollar bill you have there. eply: *inder"s keepers, losersweepers.

*inding !our *eetI"ve only been at this #ob for a few months. I"m #ust finding my feet.

*ine And 4andyow are you feeling today, 8eronica5 eply: 9ust fine and dandy, thank you.

*ire A >unave you ever fired a gun5

*iring 3n All (ylindersWhat a great game tonight. We were firing on all cylinders.

*ish *or 6omething!ou keep asking where I was last night. What are you fishing for5

*ixed In !our WaysI tried many different things when I was young, but I"m older now and more fixed in myways.

*lash In The %anThat was a great paper you wrote. Was it #ust a flash in the pan5 or are you going to beable to do it again and again5

*loat A +oan


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(ome on, I really want to buy that car. %lease, float me a loan.

*ollowing In is *ootsteps&y dad was a doctor, and I am following in his footsteps.

*or (rying 3ut +oud6he is a swimsuit model, for crying out loud. 3f course they are going to stare at her.

*or 4ays 3n /nd6ometimes he doesn"t sleep for days on end.

*or *reeI think we can get in to that concert for free.

*or +ife4id you know that wolves mate for life5

*or 2o >ood easonAnd for no good reason, she walked out the door.

*or The Time 'eingow long are we going to do it this way5 eply: *or the time being.

*orbidden *ruitThe boss"s daughter may be pretty, but remember that she is forbidden fruit.

*orm An 3pinionWhat do you think about 9oan5 eply: I don"t know. I haven"t formed an opinion abouther, yet.

*resh 3ut 3f 6omething6orry, but we are fresh out of tomatoes.

*rom 3verseas!ou have a nice accent. Are you from overseas5

*rom Tip To ToeI was covered in dust, from tip to toe.

>ang 7p 3n 6omeoneThe two of us were walking home alone when they ganged up on us. There were at leastsix of them.

>as 7pIt is a long drive so be sure to gas up before you go.


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>athering A (ase Against !ou&y wife has a lawyer gathering a case against me right now.

>earing &yself 7p *or It&y dad wants to go skiing when he gets to town, so gear yourself up for it.

>enerous To A *ault&y grandfather"s was generous to a fault. e gave away all of his money. eply: 'uthe did help a lot of people.

>entle As A +amb3ur dog is big and looks frightening, but she is as gentle as a lamb.

>et A 'ig 6end 3ffTomorrow is 9an"s last day at work, and we are giving her a big send off.

>et A (harley orseI hit my leg on the table and it gave me this charley horse.

>et A (heckupow are you feeling5 !ou don"t look so good. eply: !es, I need to get a check up.

>et A (lean 'ill 3f ealthI saw my doctor, and he gave me a clean bill of health.

>et A (rush 3n 6omeoneave you seen that new nurse5 I really have a crush on her.

>et A 4irty +ook *rom 6omeoneAre you sure she isn"t bothered about something5 6he #ust gave me a dirty look.

>et A *eel *or 6omethingow is your art class coming along. eply: >ood. I"m starting to get a feel forpainting.

>et A +ifeAre you still here5 Why don"t you get a life5

>et AroundIt is only two weeks since his operation, but your father is getting around very well.

>et At The eart 3f The &atterI asked him to stop wasting time and get at the heart of the matter.

>et 3ver ItI was very sick yesterday, but I have gotten over it.


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>et The WorksI"ll have your biggest hamburger, with the works.

>ive im The 6lip

@uick- there is a police car behind usE let"s give him the slip;

>ive im The Third 4egreeThat #udge really gave that guy the third degree, didn"t she5

>o 'ack To The 4rawing 'oardIt looks like my plan to kill the weeds in the garden has failed. 'ack to the drawingboard.

>o *ly A ?ite3h- not you again; eply: ey, why don"t you go fly a kite

>o Into /ffectWhen does the new policy go into effect5

>o 3n A 'inge6orry about all of the empty pi))a boxes. We went on a binge.

>o 3verboardIt is okay to make #okes. 'ut don"t go overboard.

>o 6cot *reeow could he kill someone, and then go scot free5

>o 6ky ighave you seen the price of milk lately5 It has gone sky high.

>o 6tagWho are you going to invite to the big dance. eply: We"re going stag.

>o 6traightIs your brother still getting in trouble with the police. eply: 2o. e went straight.

>oing Against The >rainWhy can"t you #ust do it the way everyone else does5 Why do you always have to goagainst the grain5

>oing All The WayThe 'ears have a good team this year, but do you think they can go all the way5

>ot A 'ang 3ut 3f It


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4id you like the show5 eply: 6ure; I got a bang out of it.

>ot A 'ee In er 'onnet6he was so angry today. 6he really got a bee in her bonnet.

>ot A (harge 3ut 3f It4id your grandfather en#oy my kids. eply: !es; e said he really got a charge out ofthem.

>reat &inds Think AlikeI was #ust thinking to call you, then the phone rang and it was you calling me. eply:>reat minds think alike.

ands 4ownThat was hands down the best movie I have seen all year.

ang A +eft6hould I go straight at this intersection5 eply: 2o. ang a left.

ang 3n To It!ou"re lucky to have +aura as a girlfriend. ang on to her.

ang 3n !our /very WordWhen you tell a story, 9ean hangs on your every word.

ang 3ut With &eI really like hanging out with you.

anging 3n To !our (oattails4oesn"t it bother you to have someone like that hanging on to your coattails5

ave A (lose (all4id you see5 6he almost got hit by that bus. eply: That was a close call.

ave A (lue About 6omething9ane doesn"t have a clue about the surprise party we are planning for her.

ave A (onniption *itWhen Anne finds out, she"ll have a conniption fit.

ave A >o At 6omethingWould you like to play goalie today5 eply: 6ure, I"ll have a go at it.

ave A >ood (ommand 3f 6omething&y brother has an excellent command of the >erman language.


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ave A >ood ead 3n 3ne"s 6houlders!our son has a good head on his shoulders.

ave A >reen Thumb&y grandmother has a green thumb. !ou should see her garden.

ave 2o IdeaWhat time is it5 Answer: I have no idea.

ave 6omething 4own %at4id you memori)e the speech5 eply: I""ve got it down pat.

e 'acked 3ut4idn"t 'ob say he was coming5 eply: !es, e backed out.

e 'ailed 3ut

4id the pilot die in the crash5 eply: 2o. e bailed out, and lived.

e >ot A 'lack /ye4an got a black eye at school today. eply: 4id he get in a fight5 Answer: !es.

ead 3ver eelse was running so fast that when he #umped and got hit he went head over heels.

I 4on"t 'elong ereThis is a high school dance and I am ive !ou A ain (heck 3n Thate was going to take me to the park, but it rained, so he gave me a rain check.

I"m All /arsWould you like to hear what I did today. eply: I"m all ears.

I"m >ame4o you want to see a movie5 eply: I"m game.

I"m 3ffave a good day, you guys. I"m off. eply: >oodbye.

Icing 3n The (ake


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Today I was promoted to head of the department; And they decided to raise my pay;Answer: Wow; Icing on the cake;

Idle ands Are The 4evil"s Tools&y mother taught me that children should always be kept busyE idle hands are the devil"s

tools;

If It Ain"t 'roke, 4on"t *ix It!ou think Tiger Woods should change his golf swing5 Are you kidding5 If it ain"t broke,don"t fix it.

If It"s 2ot 3ne Thing, It"s Another*irst the car broke down, and now I can"t find my keys; If it"s not one thing, it"sanother;

If !ou (an"t 'eat Them, 9oin Them

When did you change teams5 eply: ey: If you can"t beat them, #oin them.

If !ou (an"t 6tand The eat, >et 3ut 3f The ?itchenI wanted this #ob at first, but now I don"t know if I can handle it. eply: If you can"tstand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

In A %inchTake this


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47/66

are welcome to start training.

In The &iddle 3f 2owhere!ou are D= minutes late and I have been standing here waiting for you in the middle ofnowhere.

In The &oney2ow he"s a professional basketball player. eply: e"s in the money.

In The 2ear *uture4on"t worry. I will be there in the near future.

In The %ublic /yeWhen you are the mayor of a large city, you live your life in the public eye.

In !our air

!ou"re not going to wear that, are you5 eply: ey, why don"t you get out of myhair5

In !our &ind"s /ye!es, it was such a beautiful place. eply: !ou described it so well. I can picture it inmy mind"s eye.

In !our 3pinionIn my opinion, you should go to college.

In !our %rime!ou should have seen her in her prime.

In !our 6pare TimeWhat do you do in your spare time5

In0s1 And 3ut0s1I"ve been in this business for D= years. I know it in and out.

It 'urns !ou 7p4id you hear what what she did5 That really burns me up.

It *ell 3n 4eaf /arsI told them the truth about what happened, but it fell on deaf ears.

It Takes Two To Tangoe hit me firstE it wasn"t my fault; Answer: It takes two to tango.

It"s A 6mall Worldey, it"s funny seeing you here. eply: It"s a small world.


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Its Anyone"s (allWho do you think will win this election5 Answer: Its anyone"s call.

9ohnny 3n The 6pot

We are #ust ready to start the meeting, and here you are. eply: 9ohnny on the spot.

9oin *orces With &eIf we #oin forces, nothing can stop us.

9oin ands+et"s all #oin hands and say a prayer before we eat.

9oin The (lub3ur car was broken into, and the radio was stolen. eply: 9oin the club. *ive cars werebroken into last night, including mine.

9ump At The (hanceI would #ump at the chance to work at that company.

9ump 'ailWhat happened to the guy who stole all that money5 eply: They arrested him, but he#umped bail.

9ump Through A oopWhat do I have to do to get a date with you5 9ump through a hoop5

9ump Through oopsWhy haven"t you opened your restaurant yet5 eply: They have us #umping throughhoops to get the license.

9ump To (onclusionsThey are never going to let me move over to the other unit. eply: !ou are #umping toconclusions.

9umping 3n The 'andwagon&y grandfather #umped on the bandwagon and got himself an email account.

9ust 'ecauseWhy are you doing that5 eply: 9ust because.

?eep A 6tiff 7pper +ip2o matter what happens, I want you to keep a stiff upper lip.

?eep An /ye 3n imWould you keep an eye on my son for me while I am gone5 eply: 6ure.


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?eep im At Arm"s +ength!ou can work with him if you want, but I would keep him at arms length.

?eeping A 6traight *ace

I don"t trust him because I don"t know what he"s feeling. e always keeps a straightface.

+abor 3f +oveThey always want to pay me for the work I do at the hospital, but I will never accepttheir money. I do it because it is a labor of love. G+abor is work that we do and wedon"t always care for our work, but a labor of love is labor we do because we love dongit, or we do it for someone we love.

+aid 7p'ob wasn"t able to come today5 eply: 2o. e"s laid up in bed.

+end &e !our /ar(ould you lend me your ear for a minute5 I need to talk with you about something.

+et"s (all It @uitsIt is getting dark outside, and we can"t see the tennis balls anymore. +et"s call it $uits.

+etting The (at 3ut 3f The 'ag'ob didn"t want anyone to know he was sick, but his wife let the cat out of the bag.

+ike Two %eas In A %ode and his sister are like two peas in a pod.

+ooking A >ift orse In The &outhThis shirt you gave me is not my favorite brand. eply: 4on"t look a gift horse in themouth; That was the best they had.

+ooking *or TroubleIf you leave your glass on the edge of the table like that, you are looking for trouble.

+osing 6treakWe are on a five game losing streak. eply: +osing five games in a row is not good.

+ost is eadI got so angry yesterday. I completely lost my head.

&aking A &istakeI"m not good at cooking because I am too afraid of making a mistake.

&ethod To &y &adness


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>ive me a moment to explainE there is method to my madness.

&isery +oves (ompany6he"s not happy, so she wants the rest of us to suffer too; eply: &isery lovescompany.

&oney 4oes 2ot >row 3n TreesWhy are you buying such expensive presents5 &oney does not grow on trees, youknow;

2ecessity Is The &other 3f Invention!ou will find a way to do it. When you have to, you do. eply: 2ecessity is themother of invention.

2either A 'orrower, 2or A +ender 'eHfrom amlet by William 6hakespeareE %olonius speaking: 2either a borrower, nor a

lender beE *or loan oft loses both itself and friend J(ould you lend me twentydollars5 Answer: 6orry, neither a borrower nor a lender be.

2ever 'een 6o +uckyI got off the bus in West 6eattle, turned around, and you were there. I"ve never been solucky.

2o Ifs, Ands, 3r 'uts About It!ou are going to bed right now. 2o ifs, ands or buts about it.

2o %ain, 2o >ainTo play at that level, you are going to have to practice all of the time, you know. eply:2o pain, no gain.

2ose 3ut 3f 9ointWhat"s wrong with him5 Answer: is nose is out of #oint because we forgot to invitehim to the party.

2ot A (hance4o you think you will be able to finish your report by five o"clock today5 Answer: 2ota chance. I"ll be busy in meetings all day.

3ff Again, 3n AgainWith this rain today, our baseball game has been off again, on again.

3ff And 3n4o you play tennis much5 eply: 3ff and on. It depends on the weather.

3ff And unningThe race is #ust about ready to begin.. and now: They"re off and running.


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3ff 4uty6ee that guy5 e"s an off duty policeman.

3ff +ike A 6hot

The race started, and you were off like a shot.

3ff +imitsWe can play anywhere we like, except my father"s office. That"s off limits.

3ff 3n The Wrong *ootTomorrow is our first meeting with this client so let"s not get off on the wrong foot.

3ff 3ne"s ockerI"ve decided I"m going to fight him. eply: Are you off your rocker5 e"ll kill you;

3ff 6easonWe should go fishing. eply: We can"t. *ishing is off season.

3ff The (uff'ob, could you come up here and make a few remarks off the cuff.

3ff The ookWe"ve caught you again, but this time you won"t get off the hook so easily;

3ff The ecord3ff the record, I think he"s guilty.

3ff The 6ub#ectI know this is off the sub#ect, but does anyone want to order some food5 I"m hungry.

3ld As The illsI love your grandfather"s house. It"s as old as the hills.

3ld /nough To 'e 6omeone"s *ather4on"t you talk to me like that. I"m old enough to be your father.

3ld at?eith can show you how to do it. e"s an old hat.

3n A 4iet+et"s have a pi))a for dinner. eply: I can"t. I"m on a diet.

3n A *irst 2ame 'asis With 6omeone4o you know 9ohn oberts5 eply: Well, I know him. 'ut we are not on a first namebasis.


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3n A +arkThey went to awaii, on a lark. eply: Wow. They must be rich.

3n Active 4uty

Isn"t your brother in the army5 eply: e is, but he is not on active duty.

3n 'oardI don"t want to go ahead with this pro#ect unless everyone is on board.

3n (allWe have an emergency. 4o you know which doctor is on call tonight5

3n (loud 2ine4id you hear that 9ean is getting married5 eply: !es. 6he"s been on cloud nine allweek.

3n /dgeI"ve been on edge all week, with this trouble at work.

3n 3ne"s 3wn'ob has been on his own since his wife died two years ago.

3n 3ne"s %ersonWhere did you leave your plane ticket5 eply: It"s on my person.

3n 3rder4id they fix your motorcycle5 eply: 2ot yet. We are waiting for the tires. They areon order.

3n The *enceWhich school do you prefer5 Answer: I don"t knowE I"m on the fence.

3n The 6ame %age'efore we make any decisions today, I"d like to make sure that everyone is on the samepage.

3n !our +ast +eg3ur old family dog is on her last leg 0meaning tired, near death1.

3n !our &indThat tennis match is still on my mind.

3n !our ToesIn ice hockey you have to be agressive and stay on your toes.


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3ne *or The oad(ome on, let"s play one more game of pool for the road.

3ut 3f %rintWhy is it so hard to find this book5 eply: It is out of print.

3ut 3f 6erviceI would like an ice cream, please. eply: 6orry, but the ice cream machine is out ofservice.

3ut 3f The *rying %an 0And Into The *ire1I worked too hard on that last pro#ect. 'ut on this new pro#ect I am working evenharder; eply: 3ut of the frying pan and into the fire.

3ut 3f !our /lementI often feel out of my element when traveling in a non-/nglish speaking country.

3ver &y ead4id you get that last $uestion on the test5 eply: 2o, it was over my head.

3ver The ill*ace it, 4ad. !ou"re over the hill.

%ack A %unch4on"t fight with him. e can really pack a punch.

%ass AwayI was so sorry to to learn that your grandfather passed away.

%aying The %riceIf you drink and drive, you will pay the price.

%enny-Wise, %ound-*oolishWe"ve worked so hard to save money that if we took a vacation now it would be penny-wise, pound-foolish.

%eople Who +ive In >lass ouses 6hould 2ot Throw 6tones+ook at that shirt you are wearing; 4id you buy that back in the "K=s5; Answer: ey,you"re not so young yourselfE people who live in glass houses should not throw stones;

%in 6omething 3n 6omeoneThe coffee machine is broken again. eply: I didn"t touch it, so don"t pin it on me.

%ractice &akes %erfect6ee how fast you are getting better at the piano5 %ractice makes perfect.


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6ame ereI got a C== on my test; eply: eally5 6ame here;

6aving >raceIt was a horrible day. 'ut at least I met you. eply: That was the saving grace.

6econd 2ature6he started playing the piano when she was very youngE now it is like second nature toher.

6econd ateThat restaurant last night was really second rate. eply: 3h, that"s too bad.

6ee 4oubleWhat"s wrong with your grandfather5 eply: e feel down, and now he is seeingdouble.

6et 3ne"s eart 3n 6omethingI had my heart set on getting into arvard.

6et 6omeone 'ack 6ome Amount 3f &oney2ice suit; ow much did that set you back5

6et 6omeone 3r 6omething 3n *ireWhat set him on fire5 eply: I don"t know. e"s been this way all morning.

6et 6omeone 3r 6omething 6traight!ou seem to think that everyone is against you. I want to set you straight...

6hake A +egThe party is starting in ten minutes. 6hake a leg;

6he 'alled &e 3utI asked her if she could stay late, and she bawled me out.

6he 6poke ighly 3f !ouI met your teacher. e speaks highly of you.

6houting &atchTwo players were having a shouting match, so we had to stop the game.

6ide Against 6omeoneI thought 9enny was my best friend. 2ow I find she has sided against me.

6ide With 6omeoneIn that war, America sided with /ngland.


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6ign 3n The 4otted +ineere is your credit card back, sir. And I #ust need you to sign on the dotted line.

6ign 3n With 6omeone

What year did &ichael 9ordan sign on with the 'ulls5

6it In 3n 6omething4o you mind if I sit in on your class5

6it 3n The *ence6o which movie would you like to see5 eply: I"m still sitting on the fence.

6it 6omething 3ut+et"s play another game. eply: I"m going to sit this one out.

6it Through 6omethingow was the concert5 eply: >reat. The kids were able to sit through the wholething.

6it 7p And Take 2oticeAfter I read my paper for the class. That is when everyone sat up and took notice.

6it 7p With 6omeoneow was our patient last night. The nurses sat up with him all night.

6itting %rettyIf we can win next week"s match, we will be sitting pretty.

6ix 3f 3ne, A alf 4o)en 3f The 3therI say she"s a stewardess. 6he says she"s a flight attendant. It"s six of one, a half-do)en ofthe other.

6ixth 6enseow did you know they would come5 eply: I don"t know. I #ust have a sixth sense.

6keletons In The (losete"s a very popular senator but he will never be elected presidentE he has too manyskeletons in the closet.

6kin And 'onesave you seen 9ennifer, lately5 eply: !es, she is all skin and bones.

6lated *or 6omethingI have you slated for tomorrow at KA&. Is that time okay for you5


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6leep InI won"t be at the early meeting tomorrow. I"m sleeping in.

6leep +ike A 'abyow was last night5 eply: *ine. I slept like a baby.

6low As &olasses In 9anuaryWould you hurry up and get ready5 !ou are as slow as molasses in 9anuary.

6o +ong6o long. 6ee you guys tomorrow.

6plit 4own The &iddleThe election is split down the middle with no clear winner at the moment.

6plit 7p

4id you hear that 9im and 9udy split up5

6wallowing It ook +ine And 6inkerI told him we were going to the )oo. eply: 4id he believe you5 Answer: eswallowed it hook, line and sinker.

Tag Along6ure, I"d love to go to a movie tonight. 4o you mind if my brother tags along5

Take A 'ath4id you see how much our stock price dropped5 eply: !es, I really took a bath.

Take A +ook At ThatTake a look at that car. Isn"t it beautiful5

Take A +ook *or Itave you seen my watch5 eply: I haven"t seen it, but I will take a look for it aroundmy house.

Take A 2ap/very day after lunch my grandfather takes a nap.

Take A ain (heck 3n ThatWe were planning to go to the park, but it rained, so we took a rain check.

Take /ffectI took two sleeping pills but they haven"t taken effect.

Take /xception To 6omethingI take exception to what you said last night.


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Take It 3n The (hin9ohn totally attacked her during that presentation, but she #ust took it on the chin.

Take 3ff 3n 6omething

I was walking the dog and he #ust took off on me.

Take 3ff 3ne"s at To 6omeone2ice #ob on the presentation, 'ill. 6econd person: !es, 'ill. I really take my hat off toyou.

Take 3fficeThe president will take office on 9anuary


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The 'e All And The /nd All!ou will have more and better #obs in your career. This company is not the be all andend all.

The 'est 3f 'oth Worlds!ou can either get up early tomorrow and get a lot of work done, or you can stay outlate tonight and have fun with your friends, but you can"t have the best of both worlds.

The 'igger They Are 0The arder They *all1Are you worried that he might be too strong5 eply: 2o, I"m not. e may be big, butthe bigger they are, the harder they fall.

The 'ottom +ineWe have no money left. That is the bottom line.

The 4evil Is In The 4etailsI thought I would be able to write that article in two hours, but it ended up taking mefive. The devil was in the details.

The /arly 'ird 0(atches The Worm1I always come early to work. The early bird catches the worm;

The /nds 9ustify The &eansI would prefer to do things differently, but in this situation, the ends #ustify the means.

The *irst 6tep Is Always The ardestI have always wanted to write a novel, but I can never decide on a topic. eply: Thefirst step is always the hardest.

The >ame Is Afoot9im #ust saw a beautiful girl he wants to meet. eply: The game is afoot.

The >rass Is Always >reener 3n The 3ther 6ide 3f The *enceI wish our house were as big as theirs. eply: The grass is always greener on the otherside of the fence.

The 9ury Is 3utIts hard to say if what we did was the right thing. The #ury is still out on it.

The %ros And (ons6hould we do it or not5 Answer: *irst let"s look at the pros and cons.

The oad To ell Is %aved With >ood Intentionseally, I never meant to hurt anybody... eply: The road to hell is paved with goodintentions.


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The 6ky Is The +imit*or people who work hard at this company, the sky"s the limit.

The 6$ueaky Wheel >ets The 3il

/very time that baby cries, they #ust run around and give him whatever he wants.eply: The s$ueaky wheel gets the oil.

The 6$ueeky Wheel >ets The 3il/very time that baby cries, they #ust run around and give him whatever he wants.eply: The s$ueeky wheel gets the oil.

The 6tars Were All +ined 7pThat she and I were both at that busstop on that day and met like that.. the stars were alllined up.

The 6traw That 'roke The (amel"s 'ack!ou broke a lot of rules and we tried to ignore it. 'ut stealing money from us was thestraw that broke the camel"s back. We"re sending you home to your parents.

The Writing 3n The WallAt that point, the writing was on the wallE we all knew the company was going out ofbusiness.

There"s 2o %lace +ike omeIt feels so good to be home. eply: There"s no place like home.

They Ate It 7pow did they like the spaghetti I made5 eply: They ate it up.

They ad A *alling 3utAfter my grandfather died, my mom and her brother had a falling out.

They 9umped All 3ver &eI was #ust trying to say what I thought, and they #umped all over me.

Think The World 3f 6omeone 3r 6omethingow could you talk about your mother that way5 6he thinks the world of you;

Third Wheel!ou two go on ahead without me. I don"t want to be the third wheel.

Three 6heets To The WindWhat a cra)y party that was. &y grandfather was three sheets to the wind.

To /rr Is uman, To *orgive 4ivine


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I am still angry about what my manager did yesterday; Answer: It is best to #ust let itgoE to err is human, to forgive divine.

Tooth And 2ailThat woman fought tooth and nail during the war to protect her children.

Tooting !our 3wn orn3h there you go again, tooting your own horn.

Truer Words Were 2ever 6pokenI find that the earlier I get up, the better the day I have. eply: Truer words were neverspoken. The morning hours are definitely the best hours of the day.

Turning 7p !our 2oseWe invited them to dinner but they #ust turned up their nose at us.

Two eads Are 'etter Than 3ne(ome on, we can figure out a way to do this; Two heads are better than one.

Two Wrongs 4on"t &ake A ightThat boy pushed me yesterday and I am going to get him back today; Answer: 2o youare not; Two wrongs do not make a right.

7nder AgeWhat are those kids doing smoking cigarettes5 They are under age.

7nder The >un/veryone at the office has been under the gun since this new manager arrived.

7p Against!ou are up against a tough team. ow do you feel about that5

7p To 2o >ood!ou see those kids on the corner5 They"re up to no good.

8ice 8ersaIf he calls you, let me know. And vice versa: If he calls me, I"ll tell you.

Waiting In The Wings6he may be dating %eter now, but I am waiting in the wings.

Wasting !our 'reath!ou can tell him not to do it, but you are #ust wasting your breath. e will do itanyway.

Wear &ore Than 3ne at


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What is your #ob here5 eply: Actually, I wear more than one hat..

Wear !our eart 3n !our 6leeve6he is kind of player who never hides how she"s feeling. 3ne look at her and you knowif she"s winning or losing. eply: 6he wears her heart on her sleeve.

Weather %ermittingWe are planning to go to the beach this weekend, weather permitting.

Wee ours 3f The 2ightWhen do you find the time to work on your book5 eply: In the wee hours of thenight.

Weed 6omeone 3r 6omething 3utWe need to find which programs are wasting more money, and weed them out.

Welcome !ou With 3pen Arms!ou should definitely go visit my parents. They will welcome you with open arms

Well 3ffIs your uncle rich5 eply: Well, let"s #ust say he is well off.

Well To 4o3ur country club caters to the well to do.

Well 7p In !ears!our grandfather was born before the war5 eply: !es, he"s well up in years.

Wet 'ehind The /ars'ob may be a little bit wet behind the ears, but he"ll make a great salesman someday.

Wet 'lanket+et"s not bring 9ohn to the party. e is such a wet blanket.

Wet 6omeone"s Whistle!ou have been working in the yard all weekend

What Are !ou 7p To56o what have you been up to lately5

What (omes Around >oes Arounde lied to his girlfriend for years. 2ow she is lying to him. eply: What comes aroundgoes around.

What &akes 6omeone Tick*or someone te be as successful as you are, I want to know: What makes you tick5


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What They 4on"t ?now Won"t urt Them4on"t tell your father what happenedE what he doesn"t know won"t hurt him.

What"s 4one Is 4one

The turkey is ruined. What"s done is done. +et"s #ust go out to dinner and forget aboutit.

What"s ?eeping !ou5ey you are ood 3f 6omething5What"s the good of fixing it if it is #ust going to break again, anyway5

What"s 7p5What"s up, 9ay5 eply: 2ot much.

What"s With 6omeone5What"s with 'ob5 eply: is wife left him. Answer: 3h, that"s too bad. I could tellsomething was bothering him.

Wheel And 4eal&y brother likes to wheel and deal. That"s #ust how he is. e sold his first companywhen he was


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I"m sorry I can"t help youE I"ve got my back up against the wall.

Without A 4oubtAre you going to watch the game tomorrow5 Answer: Without a doubt;

Word 3f &outhow did you hear about this party5 eply: Word of mouth.

Work 3ut+et"s go to the gym and work out.

Work 3ut All ight4on"t worry. It will work out all right.

Work 3ut *or The 'estI didn"t win this election, but still I feel that things will work out for the best.

Work 6omeone 3r 6omething In(an you meet with me on Wednesday5 eply: I am $uite busy Wednesday, but this isimportant. I can work you in.

Work 6omeone 3verI heard your brother was robbed. eply: !es, and they worked him over before theytook his wallet.

Work 6omething 3ffIf you can"t pay for your meal, you"ll have to work it off washing dishes.

!ear After !ear!ear after year, you say you are going to move.

!ear ound4o they close for the winter5 eply: 2o,they"re open year round.

!ears unninge has been the mayor of this town for ten years running.

!ield The ight 3f WayThe law says that even if the light are green, drivers must yield the right of way topedestrians.

!ou Are (aving InThe kids wanted to stay up late, and I caved in. 2ow I can"t get them to bed.

!ou 'et !our 'oots


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Lonked 3utIt was a long day, and I"m really )onked out. +et"s #ust go to bed.

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