IDIOMS AND PHRASES

1. Cast aspersions on someone:

To make a rude and insulting remark.

I resent your casting aspersions on my brother and his ability! It is rude to cast aspersions on
people in general.

2. A false economy:

Something that you think will save you money but which means you will have to spend a lot
more money later.

She told me that buying a cheap washing machine was a false economy because it was more
likely to break down.

3. Fuel up

To fill one's tank with fuel.

Let's stop here and fuel up. I need to fuel up at the next little town.

4. In the ballpark

Within an acceptable or similar range.

We weren't even in the ballpark – we offered $170 million, but the offer they accepted was for
$350 million.

5. Pretty as a picture

Very pretty.

Sweet little Mary is as pretty as a picture. Their new house is pretty as a picture.

6. Induct someone into something

To conscript someone into the armed services; to bring a no volunteer into the armed services.

They inducted Wally into the army in a little ceremony.

7. Bring someone or something into disrepute

To dishonor or discredit someone or something.

This embarrassing incident will bring the entire committee into disrepute. My bankruptcy
brought me into disrepute.
8. A clean bill of health

1. News that you are healthy or well.

Johnson was given a clean bill of health by his doctors earlier this month.

9. Inject something into something

To squirt something, such as oil, water, etc., into something.

The pump injected the oil into the wheel bearings when I squeezed the lever. The mechanic
injected a solvent into the lock.

10. Pry something off

To use a lever to get something off something.

Tom pried the top off the jelly jar. He pried off the jar top.

11. Set one's house in order

To make certain that one's affairs are in proper legal order.

Before we can ask for a bank loan, we have to set our house in order. I found an accountant
who would help me set my house in order.

12. What's cooking?

Something that you say in order to ask someone what is happening.

Hey, you guys, what's cooking? Are we going out for a drink or not?

13. Get something in (to) someone

To make something enter someone or something.

Get that morphine into her before she goes into shock. Let's get some food into him. He looks
starved.

14. Sock someone or something in

To cause someone or something to remain in place.

The heavy fog socked us in for six hours. The fog socked in the airport for an hour.

15. Move up to

Advance; to go higher.
Isn't it about time that I move up? I've been an office clerk for over a year. I had hoped that I
would move up faster than this.

16. Come on strong

To speak to someone in a way that shows you have a strong sexual interest in them.

Towards the end of the evening he was coming on strong and I knew it was time to leave.

17. Mad enough to chew nails

Very angry, as if to be able to bite through metal nails.

I am mad enough to chew nails! Who took my checkbook? Her sudden tirade made him
angry enough to chew nails. He stomped in, mad enough to chew nails and spit
rivets.

18. Long and the short of it

The most important point; the summary of the matter.

Jill: Is there some reason that you've spent the last half hour complaining about Fred? Jane:
The long and the short of it is, I hate working with him so much that I'm going to resign. Dad
keeps saying that he can't spend the rest of his life in mourning for Mother. I finally asked him if
he was thinking of getting married again. "That's the long and the short of it," he admitted.

19. Switch someone or something over to something

To reassign, change, or convert someone or something to something.

They switched me over to a later flight. I want to switch my furnace over to gas.

20. lousy with someone or something

Having lots of someone or something. (Like an infestation of lice.).

Old Mr. Wilson is lousy with money. Tiffany is lousy with jewels and furs, but she's got bad
teeth.

21. Have a screw loose (informal)

To be crazy.
I think that woman has a screw loose - she goes out in her slippers.

22. Don’t let someone or something get you down.

Do not allow yourself to be overcome or disappointed by someone or something.

Don't let their constant teasing get you down. Don't let Tom get you down. He's not always
unpleasant

23. Comply with something

To conform to something; to obey guidelines or regulations; to agree to something.

I hope you decide to comply with our rules. I am happy to comply with your request.

24. An inside job

A crime committed by someone against the organization that they work for (not used with the).

The computers were taken from a locked room, which makes it look like an inside job.

25. Pleased with someone or something

Happy and satisfied with someone or something.

I am quite pleased with you. You did a fine job. We are pleased with your work.

26. Red as blood

Bright red.

When she came in from ice-skating, Clara's nose was as red as a cherry. When her boss
praised her in front of the whole office, Emily turned red as a poppy. I would like to make a
dress out of that beautiful velvet that is red as a rose. Jane painted her fingernails with polish as
red as a ruby. I want to have my car painted red as blood

27. along these lines

Of a similar quality or type.

I want to buy an SUV or something along those lines.

28. Restore someone's faith in something

To reinstate someone's belief, faith, trust, etc., in something.

I knew that a good performance on the test would restore my parents' belief in me. Her faith
was restored in the government

29. in the rear

Located in the space or area behind someone or something.

The waiter told me that the bathrooms were in the rear. All deliveries must be made in the rear.

30. Tighten the reins

To start to control something or someone more carefully.

She has tightened the reins on her younger sons in an effort to curb their wild behaviour before
it's too late.

31. Slop out (of something)

[For a liquid] to spill or splash out of a container.

Some of the orange juice slopped out of the container, making a mess on the table. some milk
slopped out. Please clean it up.

32. Tip someone with something

To pay a tip of a certain amount to someone.

I tipped the headwaiter with a twenty or we would still be waiting. How much did you tip the
waitress with?

33. Grow into something

[for a child] to develop into a particular type of person.

The child grew into a tall, powerful athlete. I hope I have grown into a person my parents can be
proud of.

34. Turn someone or something over to someone or something

To release or assign someone or something to someone or something; to transfer or deliver

someone or something to someone or something.

The deputy turned the bank robber over to the sheriff. I turned over the money I found to the
police.
35. A match made in heaven

A perfect combination of two people or things a marriage made in heaven.

They needed a Spanish teacher as badly as Hayes needed a job, so you could say it was a
match made in heaven.

36. since when?

When was that decided?; That's news to me.; When was that done?

Tom: You've been assigned to the night Shift. John: since when? Jane: Fred is now the
assistant manager. Pete: Since when? Jane: since I appointed him, that's when.

37. Go begging

To be available.

Good jobs still go begging in the health care and teaching fields.

38. (It's been) nice talking to you.

A polite phrase said upon departure, at the end of a conversation.

Mary (as the elevator stops): Well, this is my floor. I've got to get off. John: Bye, Mary. It's been
good talking to you. John: It's been good talking to you, Fred. See you around. Fred: Yeah. See
you.

39. Deck out somebody/something

To decorate someone or something in something special.

The stewards were decked out in beautiful new uniforms. Some salesman had decked the car
out, giving it racing wheels and stripes on the sides

40. Almost lost it

To nearly lose one's temper, composure, or control, as out of anger.

I was so mad, I almost lost it. When he saw the dent in his fender, he almost lost it.

41. Drop somebody/something like a hot brick/potato (informal)

To suddenly get rid of someone or something that you have been involved with because you do
not want them anymore or you are worried they may cause problems.
The government dropped the plan like a hot brick when they realized the bad feeling it was
causing.

42. Mr. Right

A man who would be the perfect husband for a particular woman because he has all the
qualities that she wants.

I'm sure she'll settle down with a nice man one day soon. She just hasn't found Mr Right yet.

43. Have the inside track

To have a special position within an organization or a special relationship with a person that
gives you advantages that other people do not have.

He thinks I have the inside track with the director so he keeps hassling me for information.

44. A narrow escape

A situation in which you were lucky because you just managed to avoid danger or trouble.

He only just got out of the vehicle before the whole thing blew up. It was a narrow escape.

45. Clutter something up

To mess something up; to fill something or some place up with too many things.

Heaps of newspapers cluttered the room up and made it a fire hazard. Who cluttered up this
house?

46. Bang for your buck

Value in exchange for money or effort.

This is a great little red wine that gives you plenty of bang for the buck

47. Have a weakness for someone or something

To be unable to resist someone or something; to be (figuratively) powerless against someone or

something.

I have a weakness for chocolate. John has a weakness for Mary. I think he's in love

48. Doors open up

(To someone) opportunities become available to someone.

After Ann made a few inquiries, doors began to open up to me. An agent helps. After I got one,
all sorts of doors opened up.

49. Scrape something away (from something)

To scratch or rasp something off something.

Ted scraped the rough places away from the fender he was repairing. Ted scraped away the
rough places.

50. Work some fat off

Get rid of body fat by doing strenuous work.

I was able to work a lot of weight off by jogging. I need to work off some fat.

51. Who knows?

Who knows the answer to that question?

Tom: When will this train get in? Rachel: Who knows? Andy: Why can't someone put this stuff
away? Rachel: Who knows? Why don't you put it away?

52. Hold something for someone

To keep something safe for someone.

I will hold your money for you. Do you want me to hold your wallet for you while you swim?
53. Fall in on someone or something

To cave in on someone or something; to collapse on someone or something.

The roof of the mine fell in on the workers. The ceiling fell in on the diners.

54. Live high off/on the hog

To have a lot of money and live in comfort, especially eating and drinking a lot.

He was a millionaire who lived high on the hog at all times.

55. Don't waste your time.

You will not get anywhere with it, so don't waste time trying.
Mary: Should I ask Tom if he wants to go to the convention, or is he still in a bad mood? Sally:
Don't waste your time. Mary: Bad mood, huh? Jane: I'm having trouble fixing this doorknob.
Mary: Don't waste your time. I've ordered a new one.

56. Praise someone or something to the skies

To give someone or something much praise.

He wasn't very good, but his friends praised him to the skies. They liked your pie. Everyone
praised it to the skies.

57. Let someone get by with something

To allow someone to do something wrong and not be punished or reprimanded.

She lets those kids get by with anything. They won't let you get by with that!

58. Rustle something up

To manage to prepare a meal, perhaps on short notice.

I think I can rustle something up for dinner. Please rustle up something to eat.

59. Jump in

To become involved in something very quickly.

I made a big mistake when I jumped in the middle of the discussion.

60. Suit (oneself) up

To get into one's uniform, especially an athletic uniform.

The coach told the team to suit up for the game by three o'clock. It's time to suit up! She suited
herself up and went out on the court.

61. Tell somebody where to get off

To angrily refuse to do what someone wants you to do, usually using direct or rude language.

She wanted to borrow money again so I told her where to get off.

62. Hustle up

To hurry up.

Hustle up, you guys. We have to get moving. Hustle up. We are almost late.
63. Best do something

Ought to do something, had better do something.

Mary had best learn to mind her manners. You best listen to what I say.

64. Piddle around

To waste time doing little or nothing.

Stop piddling around and get busy. I'm not piddling around. I am experimenting.

65. Behind schedule

Happening or done later than the time that was planned.

The project is behind schedule because several people are off sick

66. Work up to something

To build or progress to something. (Usually concerning the weather.).

The sky is working up to some kind of storm. The weather is working up to something severe.

67. never mind something

Without considering something.

Top executive salaries are huge, never mind that ordinary employees are having their pensions
cut.

68. Shoot the shit

To chat and gossip.

Let's get together sometime and shoot the bull. You spend too much time shooting the crap.

69. What's buzzin'?

What's happening?

Hey, chum! What's buzzin' cousin? What's buzzin' around here?

70. without question

Certainly.

The Lightning are the team that without question will be embarrassed in their opening game.
71. Cost a bomb

To be very expensive Strawberries cost a bomb at this time of year.

72. Laugh at somebody

To ridicule someone.

A lot of kids laughed at me because of the way I dressed, but it never bothered me.

73. The rough and tumble of something

The part of an activity that involves fighting or competing.

He enjoys the rough and tumble of politics.

74. Read someone's lips

To manage to understand speech by watching and interpreting the movements of the speaker's
lips.

I couldn't hear her but I could read her lips.

75. In over your head

Involved in a situation that is too difficult for you to deal with.

Historians say that as president, Harding was a man who was in over his head.

76. Take up residence

Some place to make a residence of a place.

Ed took up residence in a small efficiency apartment. It looks as if a family of mice has taken up
residence in the cupboard.

77. in a world of one's own

Aloof; detached; self-centered.

John lives in a world of his own. He has very few friends. Mary walks around in a world of her
own, but she's very intelligent.

78. at the outset

At the very beginning.

At the outset, we were told everything we had to do. I learned at the outset of the project that I
was to lead it.

79. fork something out

To serve food to someone, using a fork.

He forked out the chicken to everyone. He brought up a big dish of fried chicken and forked it
out.

80. Expose someone or something to someone or something

To show someone or something to someone or something.

You should not expose the children to violent movies at their age. Do not expose the film to the
light.

81. Read the fine print

To know all the information contained in a document read the small print.

This new law will disappoint a lot of voters once they have had a chance to read the fine
print. You should always read the fine print before signing a contract.

82. Lash out (at somebody/something)

To angrily criticize someone or something.

The mayor often lashes out at people who don't agree with him.

83. Rain something out

To spoil something by raining.

Oh, the weather looks awful. I hope it doesn't rain the picnic out. It's starting to sprinkle now. Do
you think it will rain out the ball game?

84. Peace of mind

A tranquility that results from not having worries, guilt, or problems.

If peace of mind is more important to you than earning a lot of money, maybe you should
consider teaching.

85. large as life

In person; actually, and sometimes surprisingly, present at a place.

I thought Jack was away, but there he was as large as life. Jean was not expected to appear,
but she turned up large as life.

86. Be on the right lines

If you are on the right lines, you are doing something in a way that will bring good results.

Do you think we're on the right lines with this project?

87. I'll bite.

Okay, I will answer your question.; Okay, I will listen to your joke or play your little guessing
game.

Bob: Guess what is in this box? Bill: I'll bite. Bob: A new toaster! John: Didyou hear the joke
about the used car salesman? Jane: No, I'll bite.

88. It is high time also it's high time

It should have happened a long time ago.

It was high time someone invited me to lunch. It's high time you got that bad knee of yours
looked at by a doctor!

89. Step back on someone or something

To move back and tread on someone or something in the process.

Jeff stepped back on Judy and made her yelp with pain. Jeff stepped back on the cat.

90. beyond your wildest dreams

Far more than you could have hoped for or imagined.

Twenty years later the company has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Her books have
brought her riches beyond her wildest dreams.

91. by a whisker

By a very small amount.

Last time she raced against the Brazilian she won by a whisker. He missed the goal by a
whisker.

92. Swear something out against someone

To file a criminal complaint against someone.

Walter swore a warrant out against Jeff. He swore out a warrant against Tony.

93. Shake (hands) on something

To clasp and shake the hand of someone as a sign of agreement about something.
The two people didn't sign a contract; they just shook hands on the terms of the agreement. I
think it would be better to sign an agreement than just shake on it.

94. Lose out to someone or something

To lose a competition to someone or something.

Our team lost out to the other team. Bill lost out to Sally in the contest.

95. A blank cheque

As much money to spend as is wanted or needed.

We are not giving the redevelopment project a blank cheque. The organizers will be working
within a strictly limited budget.

96. Speculate about someone or something

To make guesses about someone or something; to hypothesize about someone or something.

I refuse to speculate about Sally. I don't presume to guess what she will do. We don't speculate
about the future.

97. Sway from side to side

To swing or bend from one side to the other.

The car swayed from side to side as we started out, indicating that something was seriously
wrong. He swayed from side to side with the rhythm of the music.

98. Make (out) after someone or something

To run after someone or something; to start out after someone or something.

Paul made out after Fred, who had taken Paul's hat. The police officer made after the robber.

99. Come at a price

To include disadvantages in order to get what you want.

The company's success was made possible by the country's rulers, but their support comes at a
price.

100. Under somebody's/something's thumb also under the thumb

of somebody/something

Completely controlled by someone or something.

That girl is totally under her mother's thumb.