Useful Idioms – part 40
Wouldn’t hurt a fly = totally harmless and would never hurt anyone. You needn’t to be afraid of him. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Give someone free rein = give someone complete freedom.( reins are what you hold in your hands to control a horse when riding) They’ve given me free rein to do whatever I like in this new job. Make a beeline for = go quickly and directly to. As soon the meeting was over, we all made a beeline for the food.
Useful Idioms – part39
One’s best bet = the best thing one can do to achieve the results one wants; the action or idea that is most likely to be successful. At this hour, taking the highway is your best bet if you want to get there on time. The pilot’s best bet was to make an emergency landing. This method of testing is the best bet for getting an unconditional result. When the chips are down = when you are in a difficult situation, especially one which tests…
Useful Idioms – part 38
Be wide of the mark = be wrong or miss what you were trying to hit; incorrect or not accurate. Yesterday’s weather forecast was a little wide of the mark Watch out, the arrow is going wide of the mark! I thought I knew what real estate costs around here, but I was wide of the mark. Do something on the spur of the moment = do something suddenly without planning; on impulse. ( spur= metal on boot which makes horse go faster – related…
Useful Idioms – part 37
Follow suit = do the same as everyone else has just done. If you keep your things tidy, the others may follow suit. If you sign the contract, others will soon follow suit. When one airline reduces its ticket prices, the rest usually follow suit. Take the plunge = to make a decision or do something important or difficult that you have been thinking or doing for a long time. She wondered whether to enter for the race, but decided to take the plunge. If…
Useful Idioms – part 36
Play one’s cards right/well = behave in the right way to achieve what you want ; make the best use of one’s assets and opportunities. You have a chance of success if you play your cards right. she didn’t play her cards well , and she ended up with something less than what she wanted. Put/lay one’s cards on the table = tell someone honestly what one thinks or what one plans to do . He has been very frank and he has put his…
Useful Idioms – part 35
Off one’s own bat = on one’s own initiative; without being asked to do by anyone else. Whatever she did she did off her own bat. No one asked him to help; he did it off his own bat. Rozanne didn’t wait for her parents to tell her to take out the garbage. She did it off her own bat. Play ball = co-operate in order to achieve something ( usually used in negative context) Because he refused to play ball with these criminals, he…
Useful Idioms – part 34
Start the ball rolling =start an activity and encourage others to join in. I decided to start the ball rolling and got up to dance. To start the ball rolling , the government was asked to contribute a million dollars to the fund. I would like you each to tell us why you have decided to do a creative writing course; Marie, would you start the ball rolling, please? The ball is in your court = It is your responsibility now; it’s up to you. …
Useful idioms – part 33
The green belt = an area of land with fields or parks around a town or city, where people are not allowed to build houses or factories by law. The green belt has a valuable role in stopping urban sprawl and providing a green lung around towns and cities. The green belt and open spaces in our urban and suburban areas must be preserved at all cost for reasons too many to list. White collar worker = a person who performs professional, managerial or administrative…
Useful Idioms – part 32
Green with envy = very envious or jealous. Renz is heading off to Dubai for a week, and I am green with envy. Singapore’s economy turned the world green with envy. Get green fingers or have green thumb = be good at gardening or planting seedlings. My mother has got green fingers. Everything she plants in the garden grows well. My husband has green thumb. His sister can keep any plant alive, even the ones that he’s nearly killed; she seriously has green fingers. Green…
Council vs. Counsel
Council = (noun) a formally constituted body of people meeting for administrative or advisory purposes; governing body; legislative body etc. Their party won the majority of seats to the local council elections. The municipal council awarded special privileges to the school buses for children up to 5th standard. The United Nations Security Council. The council is planning ways of controlling plastic waste left on roadsides by travellers. Counsel = (noun, verb) guidance, advice, instruction etc especially that given formally. Experts have come forward to counsel…