English Tongue 7

(1) look on the bright side - to find good things in a bad situation.
eg: Look on the bright side - no one was badly hurt.
(2) take the liberty of doing sth - to do something that will have an effect on someone else, without asking their permission.
eg: I took the liberty of booking theatre seats for us.
(3) be at liberty to do sth - to be allowed to do something.
eg: I'm not at liberty to reveal any names.
(4) become of sb/sth - If you ask what became of someone or something, you want to know where they are and what happened to them.
eg: Whatever became of that parcel you sent?
And Mickey Adams - I wonder what became of him.
(5) out of the blue - If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected.
eg: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
a bolt from/out of the blue - something completely unexpected that surprises you very much.
eg: The news of his marriage was a bolt from the blue.
(6) pull (sb/sth) out - to stop being involved in an activity or agreement.
eg: He pulled out of the deal at the last moment.
They've pulled all their athletes out of the competition.
(7) decided - certain, obvious or easy to notice.
eg: She had a decided advantage over her opponent.
decidedly -
eg: He was decidedly (= very obviously) careful about what he told me.
An agreement is looking decidedly difficult according to the newspapers.
decidedly - in a way that shows that you are sure and determined about sth.
eg: ‘I won’t go,’ she said decidedly.

(8) put sb to shame - to make someone feel ashamed.
eg: It puts me to shame that I still haven't replied to David's letter.
put sb/sth to shame - to be much better than sb/sth.
eg: Their presentation put ours to shame.
(9) shame on you - used to tell someone that they should feel sorry for something they did.
eg: Shame on you for being so unkind.
humorous You mean you were in town and you didn't come and see us - shame on you!
(10) to my shame - I feel ashamed because.
eg: To my shame, I never wrote and thanked Mary for her present.
To my shame (= I feel shame that) I refused to listen to her side of the story.
(11) take (to) the floor - to stand and begin to dance.
eg: The Prince and Princess were the first to take the floor.
take the floor - start speaking.
(12) get a move on - to hurry.
eg: Come on, you two, get a move on!
We need to get a move on if we're going to catch that train.
(13) breathe/say a word - to tell other people about something.
eg: Don't say a word about the accident to my mother.
If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll be really upset.
(14) at/on the double - very quickly and without any delay.
(15) see to sth/sb - to deal with a person or task that needs to be dealt with or is waiting to be dealt with.
eg: "These letters need posting." "I'll see to them later."
Mrs Chapman asked for some help with the orders - could you see to it?
Please see to it that no-one comes in without identification.

(16) guest of honour - the most important person at a social occasion.
eg: The Prime Minister was guest of honour at the dinner.
(17) be quick/slow on the uptake - If someone is quick/slow on the uptake they understand things easily/with difficulty.
eg: He's a bit slow on the uptake, so you may have to repeat the instructions a few times.
(18) after you - used to politely say that someone can go in front of you or serve themselves with food before you.
eg: "Can I pour you some coffee?" "Oh no, after you."
(19) Spit it out! - used to tell someone to start speaking or to speak more quickly, when they are unwilling to speak or are speaking slowly.
eg: Come on, spit it out, who told you about this?
(20) for sure - certain or certainly.
eg: I know for sure that I won't be able to go to the party.
One thing's for sure - once the baby's born, your lives will never be the same again.
(21) every now and again/then - sometimes but not often.
eg : Every now and again/then they'll have a beer together.
every so often - sometimes but not often.
eg: Every so often I treat myself to a meal in an expensive restaurant.
(22) no less than - used to show your surprise at a large number.
eg: There were no less than a thousand people there buying tickets.
(23) throw sth away/out - to get rid of something that you do not want any more.
eg: So when are you going to throw away those old magazines?
(24) pronounce on/upon sth - to give a judgement or opinion about something.
eg: I'd rather not go pronouncing on a subject that I know so little about.
(25) align yourself with sb/sth - If you align yourself with an organization or person, you agree with and support their aims.
eg: The party is under pressure to align itself more closely with industry.
(26) glitzy - having a fashionable appearance intended to attract attention.
eg: He celebrated his birthday at a glitzy party in Beverly Hills.
glitz
The party's electoral message may be obscured by the glitz and glamour of its presentation.
the glitz and glamour of the music scene
(27) ties - the friendly feelings that people have for other people, or special connections with places.
eg: Family ties are weaker if you move a long way away.
I no longer feel any ties with my home town.
He urged governments worldwide to break diplomatic ties with the new regime.
(28) sinister - making you feel that something bad or evil might happen.
eg: The ruined house had a sinister appearance.
A sinister-looking man sat in the corner of the room.
(29) set/put the record straight - to write or say something in order to make the true facts known.
eg: She's decided to write her memoirs to set the record straight once and for all.
(30) premonition - a feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going to happen.
eg: He had a premonition that his plane would crash, so he took the train.
She had a sudden premonition of what the future might bring.
(31) hook (sb/sth) up to sth - to connect a machine to a power supply or to another machine, or to connect a person to a piece of medical equipment.
eg: Can we hook up to the electricity supply at the campsite?
Helen was unconscious and hooked up to a life support machine.
(32) win-win - describes a situation, plan, etc. in which you cannot lose, whatever choice of action you make, or in which all the groups involved will gain benefits.
eg: This is a win-win situation for her, because whoever wins this match, she's still going to be champion.
Promoting fairtrade is a win-win option, because everyone, both producers and consumers, benefits.
(33) cut through sth - If you cut through something difficult that usually causes problems, you quickly understand it or deal with it so that it does not cause problems for you.
eg: She always manages to cut through the complex theory and get at the facts.
(34) side with sb - to support one person or group in an argument.
eg: If ever there was any sort of argument, she'd always side with my father against me.
(35) take sb's side - to support someone in an argument.
eg: My mother always take my father's side when I argue with him.
(36) the right way round/up - in the correct position.
eg: The lid has to go on the right way round or it won't fit.
Keep the bottle the right way up.
(37) right away / off - immediately; without delay.
eg: I want it sent right away.
I told him right off what I thought of him.
(38) give sb their due - said when you are praising someone for something good they have done, although you dislike other things about them.
eg: He failed again, but to give him his due, he did try hard.
(39) have time to kill - to have nothing to do for a particular period.
eg: We've got some time to kill before our train arrives - shall we have a drink?
(40) by the look(s) of things (also by the look of it) - judging by the information we have now.
eg: By the look of things, we won't be able to take our holiday till the autumn.
(41) Look who's talking! (also You're a fine one to talk!, also You can/can't talk!, US also You should talk!)
- something you say when someone criticises you for something that they do themselves.
eg: I'm lazy? You're a fine one to talk!
(42) You've got nothing to lose. (also What have you got to lose?) - used to tell someone that they cannot cause any disadvantages for themselves by doing a particular thing.
eg: Why don't you take the job? You've got nothing to lose.
(43) call into question - to cause doubts about something.
eg: The fact that a party can be voted into power by a minority of the electorate calls into question the country's electoral system.
call sth into question - to doubt sth or make others doubt sth.
SYN : question
eg: His honesty has never been called into question.
(44) be out of the question (also be no question of (doing) sth) - to be an event which cannot possibly happen.
eg: A trip to New Zealand is out of the question this year.
There's no question of agreeing to the demands.
out of the question - impossible or not allowed and therefore not worth discussing.
eg: Another trip abroad this year is out of the question.
(45) a question mark over sth - an expression used when doubt exists about a particular thing.
eg: A question mark hangs over the future of the company.
a question mark over / against sth - used to say that sth is not certain.
eg:There’s still a big question mark hanging over his future with the team.
(46) (only) time will/can tell - used to say that the truth or a result will only be known in the future after events have happened.
eg: Only time will tell whether we made the right decision.
(47) smell a rat - to recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening.
eg: He's been working late with her every night this week - I smell a rat!
smell a rat - to suspect that sth is wrong about a situation.
(48) take the bull by the horns - to do something difficult in a brave and determined way.
eg: Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?
(49) (straight) from the horse's mouth - If you hear something (straight) from the horse's mouth, you hear it from the person who has direct personal knowledge of the matter.

(50) horse around/about - to behave in a silly and noisy way.
eg: He was horsing around in the kitchen and broke my favourite bowl.
(51) Has the cat got your tongue? - something you say to someone when you are annoyed because they will not speak.
eg: What's the matter? Has the cat got your tongue?
(has the) cat got your tongue? - said to sb, especially a child, who stays silent when expected to speak, for example after being asked a question.
(52) tongue in cheek (also with your tongue in your cheek) - If you say something tongue in cheek, you intend it to be understood as a joke, although you might appear to be serious.
eg: He said that he was America's greatest lover, although I suspect it was tongue in cheek.
with your tongue in your cheek | with tongue in cheek - if you say sth with your tongue in your cheek, you are not being serious and mean it as a joke.
(53) leave sb high and dry - to do something which is very inconvenient for someone and put them in a very difficult situation.
eg: They pulled out of the deal at the last minute leaving us high and dry.
(54) hunt/search high and low - to search everywhere for something.
eg: I've been hunting high and low for that certificate and I still can't find it!
(55) bend/lean over backwards - to try very hard to do something.
eg: I've been bending over backwards trying to help you and this is all the thanks I get!
(56) What's eating sb? - used to ask why someone seems angry or upset.
eg: Jack's in a strange mood - I wonder what's eating him?
(57) The early bird catches the worm - said to advise someone that they will gain an advantage if they do something immediately or before anyone else does it.
(58) break the ice - to make people who have not met before feel more relaxed with each other.
eg: Someone suggested that we play a party game to break the ice.
(59) keep to sth - to do what you have promised or planned to do.
eg: I think we should keep to our original plan.

(60) keep sth to yourself - to keep something secret.
eg: I don't want everyone to know, so if you could keep it to yourself I'd appreciate it.
(61) keep to sth - If you keep to a particular subject, you only talk about that subject.
eg: For heaven's sake let's keep to the point or we'll never reach any decisions.
(62) slip into sth (also slip sth on) - to quickly put on a piece of clothing.
eg: If you could wait two minutes, I'm just going to slip into a smarter dress.
You don't need to go into the changing rooms - just slip the jacket on over your sweater.
(63) in the face of sth - despite having to deal with a difficult situation or problem.
eg: She left home in the face of strong opposition from her parents.
(64) be laughing on the other side of your face - used to tell someone that although they are pleased now, they will not be pleased later when things do not happen as they expected or planned.
eg: She's pleased with her promotion but she'll be laughing on the other side of her face when she sees the extra work.
(65) flying start - in a race, when one competitor starts more quickly than the others.
eg: She's got off to a flying start (= has begun very well) in her new job.
(66) laugh your head off - to laugh a lot, loudly.
eg: You laughed your head off when I fell!
(67) off the top of your head - from the knowledge you have in your memory.
eg: "What's the capital of Mauritania?" "I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but I could go and look it up."
(68) offhand - without looking for information and without thinking carefully; immediately.
eg: I can't quote the exact statistics for you offhand, but they're there for you to see in the report.
(69) having said that - despite what has just been said.
eg: He forgets most things, but having said that, he always remembers my birthday.
(70) snap out of sth - to force yourself to stop feeling sad and upset.
eg: He just can't snap out of the depression he's had since his wife died.
Now come on, snap out of it. Losing that money isn't the end of the world.
(71)so-so - between average quality and low quality; not good or well.
eg: a so-so performance
"How are you getting on with your new boss?" "So-so."
(72) hit the hay/sack - to go to bed in order to sleep.
eg: I've got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I'll hit the sack.
(73)infra dig - below what you consider to be socially acceptable.
eg: Diane thinks it's a bit infra dig to do her own housework.
(74) tie sb up (NOT AVAILABLE) - When someone is tied up, they are busy or are prevented from doing something, such as speaking to someone or going somewhere, because they are involved in another event or activity.
eg: I'm afraid we can't meet till Wednesday - I'm tied up on Monday and Tuesday.
Mrs Moran is tied up in a meeting at the moment, but I'll ask her to call you later.
(75) or otherwise - used to refer to the opposite of the word which comes before it.
eg: Hand in your exam papers, finished or otherwise (= or not finished).
(76) to perfection - extremely well.
eg: The fish was cooked to perfection.
(77) shrine - a place for worship which is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object.
eg: Islam's most sacred shrine is at Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
(78) meet your Waterloo - to be defeated by someone who is too strong for you or by a problem which is too difficult for you.
(79) harp on - to talk or complain about something many times.
eg: He's always harping on about lack of discipline.
I know you want to go to Paris. Don't keep harping on (about it)!
(80) bury the hatchet - to stop an argument and become friends again.
eg: Can't you two just bury the hatchet?

(81) tread carefully/gently/lightly - to speak or behave carefully to avoid upsetting or causing offence to anyone.
eg: The government know they have to tread carefully on this issue.
(82) call sb names - If a person, especially a child, calls someone names, he or she addresses that person with a name which is intended to be offensive.
eg: Tom's worried that if he wears glasses at school the other children will call him names.
(83) have a bellyful of sb/sth - to have more than you can deal with of someone or something bad or annoying.
eg : I've had a bellyful of their lies.
(84) into - enthusiastic about or interested in.
Eg: Jackie's really into classical music.
(85) your eyes pop out of your head - a way of describing the way you look when you are extremely surprised to see something or someone.
eg: When she saw the amount written on the cheque, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
(86) poke - to push a finger or other pointed object quickly into someone or something.
eg: You'll poke someone in the eye with that umbrella if you're not careful!
Two kids were poking a stick into the drain.
(87) in your birthday suit - not wearing any clothes.
(88) 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.
(89) make up to sb - to be too friendly to someone or to praise them in order to get advantages.
eg: Have you seen the disgusting way she makes up to the boss?
(90) hold sb/sth responsible - to blame someone or something.
eg: He held me personally responsible whenever anything went wrong in the project.
(91) squeeze sb/sth in - to manage to do something or see someone in a short period of time or when you are very busy.
eg: While we're in Australia, we're hoping to squeeze in a trip to the Barrier Reef.
I'm very busy this week but I could squeeze you in at 2.30 on Tuesday.
(92) have a mind of its own - A machine or other object can be said to have a mind of its own if it seems to be controlling the way it behaves or moves, independently of the person using it.
eg: This shopping trolley has a mind of its own.
(93) on your toes - Someone or something that keeps you on your toes forces you to continue directing all your attention and energy to what you are doing.
eg: I work with people who are half my age so that keeps me on my toes.
(94) Get real! - used for telling someone that they should try to understand the true facts of a situation and not hope for what is impossible.
eg: Get real! He's never going to give you the money.
(95) excuse me - used to politely ask someone to move so that you can walk past them.
eg: Excuse me, can I just get past?
(96) The conditions that these prisoners are kept in are second to none (= better than all others).
(97) keep tabs on sth/sb - to watch something or someone carefully.
eg: I like to keep tabs on my bank account so that I don't overdraw.
(98) give sth/sb the once-over - to look at and examine something or someone briefly.
eg: The security guards gave me the once-over, but they didn't ask me for any identification.
(99) hand in glove (US also hand and glove) - working together, often to do something dishonest.
eg: It was rumoured at the time that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police.
(100) specifics - exact details.
eg: I can't comment on the specifics of the case.
The specifics of the plan still have to be worked out.