ee Ete) ett ‘a drop in the ocean a very small amount that will not have ‘much effect: The cost of a hotel for one night is a drop in the ocean for a big compary lke that. ‘a home from home a place where you feel as relaxed as you do in your own home: Everyone knows me at tis hte! so it’s 2 real home trom home. a leopard can't change its spots used for saying that someone wil never change their beheviour or character: Jimmy says he’s changed, but a leopard can’t change its spots, you know. a sight for sore eyes someone or something that you are vary pleased to see: You're a sight for sore eyes! Thank goodness you're here! a stitch in time (saves nine) used for saying that itis better to solve a problem now, rather then leave it unt later when it may be more difficult to deal with: If there’s a problem with your ca, it’s better to get it looked at now. You know what they say: a stitch ia time ..." a stone's throw (away/from) very close (i): Where we lve is only a stone's throw trom the park. Achilles’ heel 2 weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure or be attacked: She's an extremely talented poiticien, but her Achiles’ heel may be her iabilty to prioritise. add fuel to the fire make a bad situation worse: Your refusing to discuss this with Coln is just adding fuel to the fre, n my opinion all in good time used for teling someone to wait for ‘something anc not try to make you hurry: Youtl get the report when i's finished, Allin good time! all mod cons all modern conveniences, the machines and pieces of equpment in your house that make life easy ‘and comfortable: quite like to move to a place that has all md cons. an act of God an event such as a flood, lightning or an ‘earthquake that is produced by natural forces, and thet ‘people have no contral aver: The insurance doesn't Cover acts of God. a the crow flies in a straight ine (used for measuring distance: t's about 200 miles as the crow fies. at a loose end with nothing in particular todo: If you're at ‘a loose end this weekend, why dont we get together? at the drop of a hat immedictely or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing something: Let me now i you need help and fl be there a! the drop of ana! ‘be born with a silver spoon in your mouth have advantages because you come from a rch farnly: Ive always had to work hard because | wasn't born with 2 silver spoon in my mouth. be on the same wavelength understand the wey another Person thinks because you often have the same ideas and opinions they do: It as a dificult meeting because David and I dcn’t seem to be on the same wavelength, before your time used for saying that something happened or existed before you wore born or before you lived or worked somewhere: When Iwas a gir, we ‘idn't have mobile phones. That was before your time, of course. below/under par below the usual or expected standard Your essays have been abit below par recently. is anything wrong? big mouth used as a criticism of someone when they say things they should not: Dont tell Jamie anything you want to remain secret ~ he’s got a big mouth! blot on the landscape soxnething that makes a place look less attrectve, for example an ualy building: Many People in the town think thatthe old factory isa blot on the landscape. break even ita person or business breaks even, they neither meke @ profit nor lose money: We didn't make a profi last yer, but we oid break even. break the mould change a situation by doing something that is very different from what most people usvally do or have done in the past: thought her last movie realy broke the mou. bury your head in the sand ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it wil disappear: We shoulda just bury our heads in the sand and hope that this probiem goes away. ‘change your tune change your opinion or atitude: Tom often criticised Nadia untl he met ner, but now he's changed his tune. clean as a whistle completely honest or legal: 'm not worried about the tax inspection. This company's accounts are clean as a viniste. ‘lean as a whistle extremely clean: My mum's coming to visit tomorrow so I want the house to be as clean as a inhstle when she gets here. ‘come clean (about sth) tel the truth about something that you have kept secret: You'd better come clean and tell Mum it was you who broke the flowerpot. ‘come rain oF shine used for saying that something alvays happens or someone always does something despite bad weather or difficult conditions: fm determined t0 finish bulking the house by the end of the month, come rain or shine | commuter belt area surrounding a large city where many | people who workin that city ve: Towns in the comaruter belt often seem to lack charactor. ‘concrete jungle unpleasant part of a city where there are a lot of ugly buildings close together: Whare we used to live was abit ofa concrete jungle. ‘couch potato somenne vino spends a lot of time sitting at home watching television: "ve become a bit of a couch potato since | stopped playing footbal. cory over spilt milk waste time feeling upset about something bad that nas happened ard cennot be changed: | know your CD player's broken, but there's no point crying over spilt mi, is there? do sth on a whim do because of a sudden feeling that you must have or do something: Wendy decided on a whim to redecorate the whole house. down on your luck having a long period of dificult finding ‘work and earning money: The man was obviously down Om his luck, so gave him a ile money. 257draw the line (at) say that you wil defintely not alow or ‘accept something: I dont mind you askng if you can borrow some money, but I draw the neat you taking it Cut of my purse without asking fst. draw the short straw be chosen to do something unpleasant: Somebody has to stay home to (00k after the dog. and Im afraid youve drawn the short straw. fall short not reach a particular level or to fail to achieve something you were tying to do: We tried to raise 1,000 euros for charity, but we fll short by about 50 euros. fitty-fity equal, or into two equal parts: We split the cost of the meal ityfity. fly off the handle suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason: Whatever she says, don't fy off the handle. Stay calm! follow your nose do what you fea is right in a particular situation, ahough you are not certain: The detective had learned to folow his nose in situations lke ths. follow your nose go straight forward, without tuning: ‘Once you go past the traffic lights, ust follow your nose. for good permanently, without the possiblity of change in the future: Have Don and Jenny split up for good, ca you think, ori it only temporary? for the time being for now: Im staying in rented accommodation for the tine beng, but hope to buy place early next year from time to time sometimes, but not often: We see Brian from time to time, but not regularly gain/get/have/take the upper hand gairy/gel/ave/ take control or advantage over a person or situation: It looked ike lvor was going to win the game, but | soon ot the unper hand get on like a house on fire become good friends very ‘uickly and have a lotto talk to each other about: George and Isabelle seem to be getting on fke a house cn fire, don’ they? get sth off your chest tak to someone about something that has been worrying you, so that you feel better about it It feels such a relief to have got ths off my chest. get the wrong end of the stick understand something completely wronaly: Don said he mas going to France and | got the wrong end of the stick and thought he was moving there for ever. get/catch sb’s drift understand the basic meaning: Doreen and I have been having some problems recently, it you catch my anit. get/have your way be allowed to have or do what you want: If had my way, | would stay at home this summer. ive sb a taste/dose of their own medicine treat someone in the same bad way they treat other peonle: He got me into trouble, so fm going to give him a taste of his onn medicine! ‘give sb your word promise to do something: I give you my word I wont tel anyone. ve sth a miss decice not to do something that you Usually do: I think Il gwe the office party a miss this year. | 0 halves share the cost of something with someone so that you each pay 50%: Let's go halves on the meal, shall we? 0 to your head if success goes to your head, it makes you think that you are better or more important than you realy are: Ihope getting that scholarship doesnt go to Cera's head grin and bear it accoot a citficut situation without complaining or showing how you feel: An author just has to grin and bear it when a book gets @ bad revew. have a change of heart change your opinion ebout something or decige not to do someting you were planning to do: Wiliams had a change of heart and decided not to go to unwversity aftr al have green fingers be good at growing plants: My wife's always had green fingers, whereas | don't know anything about growing plants hhave time on your hands have more tine availabe than ‘you need: Julie has a lot more time on her hands now that her chidren have all eft home, hhave your wits about you be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions: You've got to have your wits about you when dealing with pushy salespeople. (hear sth) on/through the grapevine tne way in which information spreads quickly from one person to another through conversation: / heard through the gravevine you night be getting married soon. home sweet home used for saying that you are happy to be back in your own home: It was a good trip, but there’s nothing ike home sweet home. infor donkey's years an extremely long time: I haven't been swimming in donkey's years in sb’s bad/good books used for saving that someone is annoyery/pleased with you: I dont think fm in Mrs Patterson's good books at the moment. in the dark (about) not knowing very much about something, because other people are keeping it secret from you: The Prime Minister kept even his closest colleagues in the dark about when he would calla ‘general election. in the middle of nowhere a long way from any town or city: The car broke down and we realised we were in the ‘midle of nowhere in the nick of time justin time to prevent something bad happening: The swimmers were rescued inthe nick of tine in the sticks in an area for trom the town or city | dont think | could lve so far out in te sticks. its as broad as it’s long used for saying that you cannot Choose between tno things or actions because they are equal: ifs as broad as i's long whether we get there on Saturday night or on Sunday morning, keop a straight face remain serious end not laugh: | couldn't heep a straight face when I saw Mike's now haircut keep sb posted regularly give someone information about something they are interested in, for example how a situation is changing or developing: Do please keep me posted about any develooments keep sth under your hat keep something secret: Keep itundor your hat, but we're thinking of buying a new house.keep up with the Joneses try to be as ric, successful, ‘etc a8 your neighbours: I don't need a nev car, and Im realy not interested in keeping up with the Joneses. keep your hair on used for teling someone not to get ‘angry or upset: Keep your hair on! There's n0 need to get annoyed! kick yourself be very annoyed because you have made ‘a mistake, missed an opportunty, ete: ! could have kicked myself when I realised I'd left my walt in the restaurant knee-high to a grasshopper very small, because you were very young: When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, | used to believe that a monster lived under my bed, know sth inside out be very fair with: Maria's been in the business for years and she knows advertising inside out know what's what know the important facts about @ situation: Ask Tony about the proposed changes. He snows wiat’s what last word in the newest and best type of something: The 22000 isthe last word in mobile phones. ley/put your cards on the table tell people exactly what Yyou are thinking or what you are intending to dor fm oing to lay my cards on the table and offer you an extra £1,000, But that’s my fina offer! let nature take its course alow someting to develop without trying to influence a: 'm sure sales wll morove it we just let nature take its course. let off steam shout or do something that allows you to get rid of anger: | was so annoyed I had to go for along walk to let off steam let sleeping dogs lie leave a person or situation alone i they might couse you trouble: | know you think your parents are being unfair, but i's probably best to let sleeping dogs lie and not make it worse by arguing. {et your hair down relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a comfortable envrorment: t's good to let your hair down after @ hard week at work life and soul of the party someone who is very ively at social events: Hary’s so much fun and everyone says he's the lite and sout ofthe party. like two peas in a pod used for saying that wo people look, behave or thnk exactly te same: Irene and her sister are ike two peas in a pod, line your pocket{s) obtan money, especially by acting dishonesty: He'd been ning his pockets for years before he was finaly caught live and let live used for saying that you should accept ‘other people’s belts and way ofife, even f they are very different from your own: | don’t agree with what he's doing, but live and fet lve, | say lock, stock and barrel including every part of 2 particuar thing, situation, place, etc: Theyve sold al their possessions, lock, stock and barrel lose your bearings become confused about where you are and where other things are: lost my bearings for a ‘moment, but then realised whore I was. make a beeline for go towards someone or something in the quickest and mast direct way. As soon as we arrived at the hotel, Molly made a beeline for the ‘manager to complain, make yourself at home foe! roizxed and betiave in the samme way as you do in your own home: Charles wil be down in a moment, 50 please make yourselves at home. never/don't look a gift horse in the mouth if you are given something good, you should not compiain about it Or try to find things that are wrong with it: The flat wasn't in very g00d condition, but we were stay there ‘entree, and you shouid never look a gift horse in the ‘mouth, should you? tno thyme or reason used for emphasising that there is ro Teason or explanation for something: There seems to be ro thyme or reason forthe decision. not have a leg to stand on nat have any way of proving that you are right about something: George tried to argue that the world was flat, but ofcourse he didnt have a leg to stand on not see the wood for the troes used for saying that someone cannot understand vat is important in a situation because they are thinking too much about ‘smal detals: Many people can't see the wood forthe trees when talking about joining the eurozone; they just think about what's on the notes and coins and dort think about the economic benefits off the beaten track aviay from populated areas or areas ooular with tourists: We lke to get off the beaten track when we go cn hola. ‘on good terms (with) have a good relationship with Someone: When | eft the ob, | was stil on good terms vith everyone inthe office. ‘on the spur of the moment i you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly and do not take time to plan itor think carefuly about it: We Dooked the hafday on the spur of the moment. We hadht been planning to take a break at af th’s summer. ‘on the street with no place to lve: Life is hard on the street. ‘on the town spending the evening enjoying yourself in bars, clubs, theatres, etc: Did you go out on the town on your birthday? ‘once in a blue moon very rarely: To be honest, only go to museums once ina blue moon. just don’t have time usualy, ‘out of the blue happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem connected with anything that happened before: Then, suddenly, out of the blue, she said she wanted a divorce. ‘out ofthis world extremely good or impressive: The food at that restaurant is out ofthis world ‘over the top more than what is considered normal or suitable: Don't you think spending 500 euros on a pair Of shoes was a bit over the too? pride of place in the place that is most central or important: This stamp's extremely rare, and takes pride of place im my stamp collection, pull (a few) strings use your infuence in order to get something you want orto helo someone, especially ‘when this is unfair: I dont think i's far to pul strings in order to get a job. put sth in perspective provice a sensible way of judging how good, bac, important, etc something is in comparison with other things: My dness has certainty put everything else in perspectiveput two and two together guess what is heppening or ‘what something means based on what you have seen or heard: He didnt tell us ne was retiring, but we could all put to and two together. put your feet up sit dovin and rota, especialy with your feet raised off the ground: Put your feet up and Ii ‘make dinner. uick/slow on the uptake teking a very short/long time to understand or realise something: m sure Chad understood what you were suggesting: fe's very quick (on the uptake. recharge your batteries rest after being very busy, 50 that you will be ready to start working again: Why don't you fake a week off work to recharge your batteries? ted tape documents, rules or processes thet cause delays: Is there a lot of red tape involved in getting ‘a passport? reinvent the wheel waste time and effort trying to do ‘Something that someone else tas already done well Just use the same document you used last time, because there's no point reinventing the wheel. ring a bell something thet rings a bell sounds familiar to ‘you, although you cannot remember the exact details: ‘The name rings a bell but Fm not sure if fve ever met her, round the bend crazy: That noise is diving me round the bend! satellite town tovn or city that is close to and depends on a larger city: Brentwood is 2 satelite town just cutside London only human used for saying someone has been weak in the ways most people are weak and should Nt be blamed for their behavour: Im sorry made a mistake, but only human. see eye to eye (with sb) agree with someone or have the same opinion as them: Imogen and I have never really seen eye t0 eye. set your heart on decide thet you want something very much: Ihad set my heart on getting maried on the beach, but the bad weather meant we couldh't. six of one (and) half a dozen of the other used for saying that two things are equally good or bad: We Could get there on Saturday right or Sunday morning; its six of one and half a dozen of the other, real. speak volumes provide alot of information, especially in ‘an indirect way: What he said to Mendy speaks volumes ‘about the way ne treats his staff split hairs argue or worry about very small deta or ifferences that are not important: Whether you call them ‘terrorists’ or freedom fighters’ is just splitting hairs - the point is that theyre iling people! steal the show receive a lt of attention because you ave the best performance in a show or other event: There was one comedian who really stole the show. She was fantastic! stick to your guns refuse to change what you are saying ‘or doing despite the oppositon or criticism of other people: | admire Kelly forthe way she always sticks to her guns. 260 stop dead in your tracks sudden stop, for exemple because you are surprised: When | heard the gunshot, stopped dead in my tracks. take a short cut to follow 2 path that is quicker and shorter than the usual nay: | walked to school and | used fo take a short cut along the canal take stock (of) spend some time thinking about the situation you ate in before you decide what to do next: Let's take a couple of days to take stock ofthe situation and then well make a decision. take the law into your own hands purish someone in ‘your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing something ilegal yourself: know you're angry, but that's a0 reason to take the law into your own hands. take the scenic route follow a longer nati than the usual one because itis more atractve: Were not lost - were Just taking the scenic rout. ‘tell tales tell someone in authority about bad things that someone else has done, because you want them to be punished: Toby, stop telng tales about your classmates. the edge over an advantage that makes someone or something more successful than other people or things: Our product’s got the edge over the competition because it’s so lightweight. the luck of the draw used for seying peonle have limited control over what Ife brings them: I never wanted to become a butcher, but I guess that's the luck of the drew. the other day recently: There was an interesting item on the news the other day. | the powers that be the people who control a situation: | | don't know if the poner that be wil agree to that. the tools ofthe trade the skls and equipment that you need in order to do your job: A good bedside manner is (ne ofthe tools ofthe trade for ¢ doctor. throw the book at sb punish someone very severely: They/t really throw the book a him ths time tidy sum/amount large sum/amount: Ive managed to put ‘away a tidy sum this year. ‘touch wood used wien you have sai that you have had ‘good luck in order to prevent bad luck from happening to you: I'l find @ new job before too long, touch wood. | turn over a new leaf change your if by starting to be a better person or stopping a bad habit: Raloh Seems to hhave turned over a new leaf this term under sb's thumb completely controled by someone else ‘became seltemployed because I was sick of being under someone's thumb. up in arms about engry and complaining about | something: Everyone in the office is up in arms about raving to work next weekend variety isthe spico of life used for saying that cifferent experiences and situations make life enjoyable or interesting: | do a milion different things at work, but suppose varity isthe spice of ie your flesh and blood your relative: My familys very important ta me because, afterall, they're my flesh and blood.