English Tongue 4

100 ENGLISH TONGUE

(1) have no option (but to do something) - to not have the possibility of doing something else.
eg: After her appalling behaviour, we had no option but to dismiss her.
(2) have/keep your options open - to wait before making a choice.
eg: I'm going to keep my options open while I find out about college courses abroad.
(3) far from sth / from doing sth - almost the opposite of sth or of what is expected.
eg: It is far from clear (= it is not clear) what he intends to do.
Computers, far from destroying jobs, can create employment.
far from sth - certainly not something.
eg: The situation is far from clear.
far from it - certainly not.
eg: He's not handsome - far from it.
‘You’re not angry then?’ ‘Far from it. I’ve never laughed so much in my life.’
(4) You've got me there! - something that you say when you do not know the answer to a question.
eg: 'How many miles is five kilometres?' 'You've got me there.'
(5) as you go along - as you are doing a job or activity.
eg: We have a flexible approach to what we're doing that allows us to make any necessary changes as we go along.
(6) save your own skin/hide - to protect yourself from danger or difficulty, without trying to help other people.
eg: A monarch willing to kill his own people to save his skin.
To save his own skin, he lied and blamed the accident on his friend.
(7) you can bet your life (also you can bet your bottom dollar) - used to say that you are completely certain that something is true or will happen.
eg: You can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be the next president.
You can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be late.

(8) the sixty-four thousand dollar question - the thing that people most want to know, or that is most important.
eg: Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson calls the disconnect between the upbeat economic news and the public’s downbeat attitude "the sixty-four thousand dollar question."
$64,000 question (also million dollar question) - an important or difficult question, on which a lot depends.
eg: The $64, 000 dollar question is, can we repeat last year's success?
(9) knock it off - used to tell someone to stop doing something which annoys you.
eg: Oh, knock it off Alex, I'm really not in the mood for your jokes.
(10) set sb to work - to give someone work to do.
eg: I was set to work tidying the bookshelves.
(11) set an example - to behave in a way that other people should copy.
eg: You should be setting a good example to your younger brother.
(12) get/set to work - to start doing a job or a piece of work.
eg: We'd better get to work on stacking this wood if we want to finish before it gets dark.
(13) fall behind schedule - to do less work than you planned to do by a particular point in time.
We’re behind schedule (= late).
(14) shower - a place, usually in a bathroom, where a shower is situated.
He's in the shower at the moment. Would you like him to phone you back?
(15) be of concern - to be important.
eg: The results of the election are of concern to us all.
(16) give sb the creeps - to make sb feel nervous and slightly frightened, especially because sb/sth is unpleasant or strange.
(17) for all I care - used to say that you are not interested in or worried about what someone else is doing.
eg: You can go to the match with Paula, for all I care.

(18) for all - despite.
eg: For all her qualifications, she's still useless at the job.
For all its clarity of style, the book is not easy reading.
(19) Enough is enough - something you say when you want something to stop.
eg: Enough is enough - I don't want to argue with you any more.
(20) not nearly enough - much less than you want or need.
eg: There's not nearly enough food for all these people!
(21) in a sense (also in one sense) - thinking about something in one way, but not in every way.
eg: She claims that the system is at fault and she's right, in a sense (= she is partly right), it could be improved.
(22) in no sense - not at all.
eg: We are in no sense obliged to agree to this.
(23) all but - almost.
eg: The game was all but over by the time we arrived.
(24) in all but name - existing as a fact but not officially described that way.
eg: She is vice-president in all but name.
in all but name - used to describe a situation which exists in reality but that is not officially recognized.
eg: He runs the company in all but name.
(25) none but - only.
eg: None but a dedicated scientist would want to read such a detailed report.
(26) have a flick through sth - to quickly look at the pages of a book, magazine, etc.
eg: I've had a flick through their brochure and it looks quite interesting.
(27) through and through - completely.
eg: My mother is Irish through and through.
(28) be wet through - to be completely wet.
eg: Come in quickly - you're wet through.
(29) What's sth in aid of? - said when you want to know the reason for something.
eg: What's all this shouting in aid of?
(30) all in all - considering all the different parts of the situation together.
eg: All in all, I think you've done very well.
(31) in the last/final analysis - something you say when you are talking about what is most important or true in a situation.
eg: In the final analysis, the only people who will benefit are property owners
(32) at/in the back of your mind - If something is at/in the back of your mind, you intend to do it, but are not actively thinking about it.
eg: It's been at the back of my mind to call José for several days now, but I haven't got round to it yet.
(33) be in the bag - If something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it.
eg: Once we'd scored the third goal, the match was pretty much in the bag.
(34) in a body - If people do something in a body, they do it together as a group, in an official way.
eg: The cleaning staff went in a body to the manager to complain.
(35) be in breach of sth - to be breaking a particular law or rule.
eg: The cinema was in breach of the Health and Safety Act for having no fire doors.
(36) be in business - to be ready and able to start doing something that you planned.
eg: Once we get the computer installed we'll be in business.
(37) in the course of time - after a period of time.
eg: I expect they plan to have children in the course of time.
(38) in days gone by - in the past.
eg: The house was a railway station in days gone by.
(39) be in the groove - to be operating or performing successfully.
eg: Alex Popov proved he was back in the groove by winning the 100 metres freestyle.
(40) in all - with everything added together to make a total.
eg: The bill came to £25 in all.
(41) be the making of sb - If something is the making of someone, it develops in them good qualities and characteristics which might not have developed without it.
eg: Five years in the army - that'll be the making of him!
(42) have (all) the makings of sth - to seem likely to develop into something.
eg: She has the makings of a great violinist.
(43) to do with - connected with.
eg: "Why did you want to talk to me?" "Well, it's to do with a complaint that's been made about your work."
"But I didn't have any money." "What has that got to do with it? You still shouldn't have taken my purse without asking me."
She's refused to have anything (more) to do with him since he was arrested for drinking and driving.
"I thought I should tell you I saw your son smoking today." "Mind your own business, would you? It has nothing to do with you what my son does!"
(44) be a bit much - to be a situation, request or behaviour that is unfair, unreasonable, or more than you can deal with.
eg: I thought being asked to miss my lunch was a bit much.
(45) not a bit of it - said when a situation or event is very different from what you expected.
eg: I thought he would be sorry, but not a bit of it.
quite a bit - a lot.
eg: She's got quite a bit of money.
(46) let go - to stop holding something.
eg: Hold on tight and don't let go!
Let go of my hand, you're hurting me!
(47) on the contrary - used to show that you think or feel the opposite of what has just been stated.
eg: "Didn't you find the film exciting?" "On the contrary, I nearly fell asleep half way through it!"
to the contrary - saying or showing the opposite.
eg: For a long time it was thought to be a harmless substance, but we now have proof/evidence to the contrary.
(48) fall on deaf ears - If a suggestion or warning falls on deaf ears, no one listens to it.
eg: Their appeals to release the hostages fell on deaf ears.
(49) getting on for UK (US going on) - almost.
eg: He must be getting on for 80 now.
It was getting on for midnight.
(50) have nothing on sb or sth - to not be as good as someone or something.
eg: He's a good player, but he's got nothing on his brother.
(51) be knocking (on) 60/70, etc. - to have almost reached a particular, usually old, age.
eg: She was knocking on 80 when she died.
(52) on the latch - closed but not fastened.
eg: Don't forget to leave the front door on the latch if you go to bed before I get back.
(53) drop it/the subject - to stop talking about something, especially because it is upsetting or annoying.
eg: I don't want to talk about it anymore - let's drop the subject.
(54) Here today, gone tomorrow - said about something which lasts only a short time.
eg: A lot of new Internet companies are here today and gone tomorrow.
(55) a blessing in disguise - something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later.
eg: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise really.
(56) down to the wire - until the last moment that it is possible to do something.
eg: I think the election will go right down to the wire (= be won at the last moment).
(57) Two can play at that game - something that you say when you intend to harm someone in the same way as they have harmed you.
eg: Well, when I found out that my husband had been having an affair I thought two can play at that game!
(58) sit on the fence - to delay making a decision.
eg: You can't sit on the fence any longer - you have decide whose side you're on.
(59) out and about - active; doing the things you usually do.
eg: The doctor says she's making a good recovery and she should be out and about in a few days' time.
(60) round about - approximately.
eg: "We'll be at your house at round about 9 o'clock, okay?"
(61) without (a) doubt - used to emphasize your opinion.
eg: She is without (a) doubt the best student I have ever taught.
(62) project your voice - to sing or speak loudly and clearly.
eg: It's a big theatre so you really have to project your voice if you're going to be heard at the back.
(63) at the top of your voice - extremely loudly.
eg: She shouted his name at the top of her voice.
She was screaming at the top of her voice.
(64) give voice to sth - to express your thoughts or feelings in words.
eg: I always had doubts about the scheme but I never gave voice to them.
voice (in sth) - the right to express your opinion and influence decisions.
eg: Employees should have a voice in the decision-making process.
voice - to say what you think about a particular subject, especially to express a doubt, complaint, etc. that you have about it.
eg: I have voiced my objections to the plan to management.
(65) with one voice - If a group of people express an opinion or decide something with one voice, they all agree.
eg: The committee decided with one voice to accept the proposal.
with one accord - If people do something with one accord, they do it together and in complete agreement.
eg: With one accord, the delegates walked out of the conference.
(66) not add up - If a situation does not add up, there is no reasonable or likely explanation for it.
eg: Why would she disappear the day before her holiday? It just doesn't add up.

(67) not sleep a wink (also not get a wink of sleep) - to not sleep at all.
eg: I didn't sleep a wink last night with all that noise.
(68) flip (your lid) - to become very angry.
eg: She'll flip her lid if I'm late again.
(69) your name is mud - If your name is mud, other people are angry with you because of something you have said or done.
eg: If he doesn't turn up tonight, his name will be mud.
(70) make it up to sb - to do something good for someone you have upset, in order to become friends with them again.
eg: I'm sorry we can't take you with us, but I promise I'll make it up to you somehow.
(71) wear thin - If something such as a joke wears thin, it becomes boring or annoying or stops being amusing or effective, because it has been seen, heard or used too much.
eg: "Tony, the joke is beginning to wear thin now and a lot of us have had enough."
Her standard excuse for being late was beginning to wear thin.
(72) I must be hearing things - said when you cannot believe something because it is so unlikely.
eg: He's offered to wash the dishes - I must be hearing things.
(73) not think much of sb/sth - to have a low opinion of someone or something.
eg: I don't think much of having to work on Saturdays.
(74) I must say - I must admit.
eg: I must say, I don't think much of her dress.
(75) not to say - and possibly even.
eg: It would be unwise, not to say stupid, to leave your first job after only six months.
(76) let it be known - to make certain that people are aware of something.
eg: I let it be known that I was not happy about the decision that had been made.
(77) be going strong - to continue to exist and be successful or work well, after a long period.
eg: After two hundred years, the town's theatre is still going strong.
His father is still going strong (= alive and well) at 94.
(78) strong nerves (also a strong stomach) - an ability to not be upset by unpleasant things.
eg: You need a strong stomach to work in the accident department.
(79) this side of - before reaching a particular age, date, place, etc.
eg: I can't believe she's this side of 50.
We don't expect to see Gideon this side of Christmas.
This is the best pizza I've eaten this side of (= anywhere other than) Rome.
Parenting is the most rewarding thing I will do this side of the grave (= in life).
(80) scale the heights - If you scale the heights of a type of work, you are very successful in it.
eg: At the age of 35, she had already scaled the heights of the acting profession.
(81) get the message across - to make someone understand.
eg: We need to get the message across that too much sun is dangerous.
(82) swing into action - to quickly start working.
eg: The emergency services swung into action as soon as the news of the bomb explosion reached them.
(83) in sb's pocket - in a situation where someone has power or control over you.
eg: The head teacher has the school governors completely in her pocket/The school governors are completely in the head teacher's pocket.
(84) have sth in your pocket - to be certain to win or succeed at something.
eg: Last year's winners again have the championship firmly in their pocket.
(85) on your tod - alone .
eg: Are you on your tod tonight - where's your missus?
(86) couch sth in/as sth - to express something in a particular way.
eg: I don't understand this form - it's all couched in legal terminology.
The letter was deliberately couched in very vague terms.
(87) lousy with sth/sb - having too much of sth or too many people.
eg: This place is lousy with tourists in August.

(88) What's cooking? - used to ask about what is happening or what someone is planning.
eg: I just saw the police arrive - what's cooking?
(89) havoc - confusion and lack of order, especially causing damage or trouble.
eg: The storm wreaked (= caused) havoc in the garden, uprooting trees and blowing a fence down.
The delay played (= caused) havoc with their travel arrangements.
(90) She's worn herself to a frazzle (= made herself very tired and nervous) trying to meet the deadline.
(91) have a/some, etc. say in sth - to be involved in making a decision about something.
eg: When he's 18, he'll begin to have a/some say in the running of the family business.
The staff had little/no say in the restructuring of the company.
(92) zero in on sth - to direct all your attention towards a particular thing.
eg: We must decide on our target market, then zero in on it.
(93) pip - to beat someone either by a very small amount or right at the end of a competition.
eg : I got through to the final interview, but I was pipped at the post (= in the final stage) by a candidate with better qualifications.
(94) bugger all - very little or nothing.
eg: You've done bugger all to help.
"How much do you know about marketing?" "Bugger all."
(95) button it - a rude way of telling someone to stop talking.
eg: Button it, OK! I'm trying to think.
(96) monkey business - behaviour which is not acceptable or is dishonest.
eg: The teacher suspected that there had been some monkey business going on in the class.


(97) words fail me - said to emphasize your surprise or shock, especially at something you have just seen or been told.
eg: "So what did you think of Olive's pink outfit?" "Words fail me, I've never seen anything quite like it!"
(98) be wide of the mark - to be wrong.
eg: Yesterday's weather forecast was a little wide of the mark, then.
(99) water off a duck's back - criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person.
eg: I've told him that he's heading for trouble, but he doesn't listen - it's just water off a duck's back.
(100) not waste words - If someone does not waste words, they talk only about what is important using as few words as possible.
eg: He explained the whole system in about 30 seconds - he doesn't waste words, does he?