 Be on top of – be in control of a  Lose one’s head – become

situation or subject confused or panicked

 Find one’s feet – become  Come to a head = bring sth to a
comfortable or confident in a new head – reach a critical or climax
situation point
 Know the ropes – understand how  From top to toe = from head to foot
to do a particular job or activity – completely
 Spread one’s wings – start to do  At the top of your voice/lungs –
new or more challenging things very loudly
 Come into one’s own – to perform  Jump the gun – act too soon
well and be appreciated  Clear the air – remove tension
 Give a good account of oneself –  Clear up sth – resolve something
perform well or impressively  Far into sth – deeply involved in
 Go/be/pass over/above my head – something
be too difficult to understand  Far and wide = all over the place =
 Lose the hang/knack of sth/doing – every nook and cranny –
forget how to do something everywhere
 Lose one’s touch – no longer be  Home and dry – succeed in
able to do something as well as something
before  Pay through the nose for sth – pay
 Not have it in one – not possess the a lot more than necessary
ability or courage to do something  Keep one’s hand in – practice so as
 Be all fingers and thumbs – be very not to lose a skill
clumsy  Keep your chin up – stay cheerful
 Can’t teach an old dog new tricks –  A great design behind the creation
old people find it hard to learn new of the universe – belief in
skills intelligent design
 DECISION  By design >< by chance –
 Jump to/come/reach the conclusion intentionally vs accidentally
– decide something quickly  The word is that = the rumor is that
 Come to/arrive at/reach a decision – people are saying that
– make a choice after considering  Have a word with sb – talk to
 Take it into one’s head to do – someone briefly
suddenly decide to do something  A man of his word – someone who
 Clinch it for sb – make the final keeps promises
decision or settle something  Be on/be sent on a wild-goose
 The ball is in your court – it’s your chase – search for something that
turn to act or decide doesn’t exist
 Be up to sb – be someone’s  Bite his head off – reply angrily
responsibility to decide  Bite the bullet – endure something
 Come down in favor of – choose or unpleasant
support one option over others  White lie – a harmless or small lie
 Keep one’s options open – delay  Sullenly – in a gloomy or sulky
making a decision way
 If/when it comes to the crunch/it –  Evasively – not directly answering
when a decision or action is needed
 Think through = think over –  Be subject to = be affected by –
consider carefully under the influence of
 Outright – complete; direct  Personal liability = personal
 Whereabouts – location responsibility – legal obligation
 Frustrating – causing annoyance or  Out-of-pocket expenses – costs you
dissatisfaction pay yourself
 Ties = bonds – strong relationships  Make claim: asking for
 Get sb into a corner – put someone compensation – request money for
in a difficult situation a loss
 Founded on – based on  Spaniard – a person from Spain
 Erode – gradually destroy  Befriend – make friends with
 Tactic – strategy  A comforting thought – a thought
 Recur – happen again that reassures
 Truthful – honest  That is to say – in other words
 Closeness – emotional intimacy  Be regarded as – considered as
 Intimacy – close personal  MIND & AGEING
relationship  Primitive – basic or early
 Be steeped in history = be rich in  Describe sth in word >< by word
history – have a lot of historical of mouth – written vs spoken
significance description
 Opulent – luxurious  Acute – sharp or intense
 Boulevard – wide street  Ageing advances – signs of
 Oases – green spots in deserts growing old
 Tavern – old-style pub  Decode – interpret
 Buzz – lively atmosphere  Change with age – evolve over
 Grandeur – impressive beauty or time
power  Recite – repeat aloud
 Marvel at – admire  Interfere with – get in the way
 Soak up – absorb (information or  Decay – rot or decline
atmosphere)  Deprive sb of – take away from
 Backdrop – background  Rob of = steal from – take
 Refinement – elegance something from someone
 While away – spend time in a  Decide on = opt of – choose
relaxed way  Occur to = think of – come to mind
 Discerning people – people who  In charge of – responsible for
have good judgment  Call of = in demand – wanted or
 Statistically – according to data needed
 Read the small print – check details  Give sb a new lease of life (to) –
carefully refresh someone’s spirit
 Pregnancy – state of being  Give sb the benefit of doubt –
pregnant believe someone without proof
 Deduction – subtraction (or  Give sb an idea of – provide a
reasoning) sense or example
 Baggage – luggage or emotional  Give sb half a/the chance – allow
burden someone the opportunity
 Set foot – enter  Give rise to – cause
 Give one’s word – promise something or someone
 Give a clue to – hint at Goose bumps – small raised areas
 Give sth the seal of approval/one’s on the skin due to cold or strong
seal of approval – officially emotions
approve Scratch a living/the surface –
 Run/be/fall short of – not have barely earn enough to survive /
enough only begin to understand or deal
 Run the risk of doing – risk with something
something Take the sting out of – reduce the
 Run sb’s life/sth – control unpleasantness or pain of
someone/something something
 Run in the/one’s family – be a Twist sb’s words – misrepresent
common trait in the family what someone has said
 Run one’s eye over – glance A clean break – a complete
quickly separation or fresh start
 Run away with the Break the ice – to relieve tension or
idea/impression/notion – wrongly get conversation going
assume Cut sb dead – deliberately ignore
 Fond memories – pleasant someone
recollections Cut to the bone – reduce something
 Stable condition – medically not drastically
worsening Graze – a slight injury where skin
 Field trip – educational excursion is scraped
 Dire need/straits – serious trouble Blister – a small bubble on the skin
or difficulty filled with fluid, often from burns
 Spitting image – someone who or friction
looks exactly like someone else Pull a muscle – injure a muscle by
Pet theory/hate – a personal stretching it too much
favorite idea / something one Cut/gash – an open wound caused
particularly dislikes by something sharp
Standing joke – a long-running Bump one’s head = get a
joke within a group bump/bruise – hit your head and
Track record – a person’s or get a raised mark or injury
organization’s past achievements Scald – burn caused by hot liquid
or performance or steam
Extenuating/mitigating Twist = sprain – injure a joint by
circumstances – conditions that turning it suddenly
lessen the severity of an offense Sting – a sharp, burning pain
Long shot – something that has a Break = fracture – a cracked or
low probability of success broken bone
Close shave/call – a narrow escape There’s nothing in it – it’s totally
from danger untrue
Be on the horizon to do – likely to Think nothing of – consider
happen soon something easy or unimportant
Poison sb’s mind – make someone Give/hand sth to sb on a plate –
think negatively or wrongly about make something very easy for
someone Be worth sb/sth weight in gold – be
Easy come, easy go – something very valuable or useful
gained easily can be lost easily Crawl – move slowly or on hands
Come naturally – be easy or and knees
instinctive to someone One’s hands are tied – be unable to
Be a push over – someone easy to act freely due to external
influence or defeat restrictions
Can do sth with one’s eyes closed – Corruption – dishonest or
be able to do something easily fraudulent conduct by those in
Be a tough nut to crack – be power
difficult to understand or deal with Analytical – relating to analysis or
Have a hard time doing – struggle logical reasoning
to do something Unnecessary – a necessity –
Take some doing – be hard to do something not needed / something
Learn/find out the hard way – learn absolutely needed
from unpleasant experience Mystify – to confuse or puzzle
Teething troubles – early It drives me up the wall – it annoys
difficulties in a new project or me a lot
system Have an obsession with – be overly
Be no picnic – be difficult or fixated on something
unpleasant Revolt – rise in rebellion / cause
Be hard-pressed = be under disgust
pressure – find it difficult to do Stifling – suffocating or
something because of lack of time, oppressively hot or restrictive
money, etc. Not have the means to do – lack
Be a hard/tough row to hoe – a the ability or resources
difficult task or situation The quest for immortal cure – the
At the back of – behind something search for a cure that grants eternal
Be up to – be someone’s life
responsibility Strike a chord with – emotionally
Carry the can for – accept blame or connect or resonate with
responsibility for something A wonderfully liberating effect on
Take the blame – accept – a freeing or empowering impact
responsibility for something bad Express your ideas with
Shoulder the blame – take confidence/confidently – speak
responsibility for something wrong clearly and assertively / She told
The onus is on – the responsibility me her issues in confidence – she
lies with told me secretly or privately
Pull one’s weight – do one’s fair Come under = come in for – be
share of work subjected to
Hold the fort – take care of things Grammar describes words in action
while someone else is away – grammar shows how words
Wash one’s hands of – refuse function
responsibility for something Classify sth into – group or
Pass the buck – shift responsibility categorize something
to someone else In contact with – in communication
with Fall into decay/disrepair – become
Classificatory cages – restrictive broken or ruined
categories Fall from grace/favor – lose
Inertia – resistance to change approval or status
Unambiguous – clear and not open Fall on deaf ears – be ignored
to interpretation Stand trial for = be sued for – be
Let sleeping dogs lie – don’t judged in court
interfere in a settled matter Stand the strain – endure stress or
In due course – at the appropriate pressure
time Stand in sb’s way/path – obstruct
Beneath contempt – utterly someone
despicable Stand the test of time – remain
At liberty – free or allowed to do valuable or strong over time
something Stand on one’s own two feet – be
In turmoil – in a state of confusion independent
or disorder Stand to win/lose/gain – be likely
On the right track – progressing to experience something
correctly Stand a good chance of doing –
In line with – in agreement with have a strong possibility of
In the interest of – for the benefit It stood out a mile that – it was
of very obvious
In (the) light of – considering High spot/life – the best or most
something exciting part
For the time being – for now Soft option/spot/touch – easier
In retrospect – looking back choice / emotional vulnerability /
With regard to – concerning someone easy to fool
On impulse – without planning or Inside job/information – a crime
thinking committed by someone from
Be offended by = take offence at – within / confidential detail
feel insulted or hurt by Dead easy/simple/tired – extremely
Be against = raise/voice objections easy/simple/tired
to – disagree with Prime example/rate – the best or
Considerate towards = show most typical case/quality
consideration for – thoughtful of Untold harm/damage – a huge
others amount of harm
Plenty of = in abundance – a lot of Flying visit/start – very short visit /
Convince sb of >< dissuade sb quick beginning
from – persuade someone / Unknown quantity – a person or
persuade not to do thing whose qualities are not yet
Fall foul of – get into trouble with known
Fall into arrears – be behind in Drastic change – significant and
payments extreme change
Fall flat – fail to be funny or Stark naked – completely
effective unclothed
Fall to pieces/bits – break down Bone lazy/idle/dry – extremely
emotionally or physically lazy/unproductive/lacking flavor or
 excitement one’s thing – not what one enjoys
Necessary evil – something bad Have it in for – want to harm or
that must be accepted for a good criticize
result Not relish the thought/prospect of –
Hijacker – person who takes not look forward to
control of a vehicle by force Take pleasure / (a) delight in –
Vandal/hooligan – person who enjoy doing
damages property / behaves Get a kick out of – enjoy or be
violently or disruptively amused by
 Kidnapper – someone who takes a Get a lot of pleasure out of/from –
person by force enjoy something a lot
Arsonist – person who sets fire Get a lot out of – benefit or enjoy
deliberately something
Arson – the crime of setting fire Have fun / a good time – enjoy
Stowaway – person hiding on oneself
transport to travel secretly Live it up – enjoy life luxuriously
Smuggler – someone who brings Have the time of your life – enjoy
goods illegally something very much
Deserter – someone who abandons Have a whale of a time – have a
military duty great time
 It’s murder on one’s feet/back/etc – Have / be a good laugh – fun or
very tiring or painful funny person/situation
Scream/cry blue murder – shout Be in your element – be very
loudly in anger or fear comfortable doing something
Daylight robbery – something too  Have a heart of gold – be very kind
expensive or unfair Your heart is in the right place –
Rob Peter to pay Paul – take from have good intentions
one to pay another Go easy on = take pity on – be
Rats deserting a sinking ship – gentle or forgiving
people leaving something failing My heart goes out to = feel sorry
Steal the show – attract most for – show sympathy
attention Have a lot of sympathy for –
Steal sb’s heart – make someone deeply understand someone’s pain
fall in love A shoulder to cry on – someone to
 Dislike – not like comfort
Not take kindly to – not welcome My heart bleeds for you –
or accept well sarcastically express fake sympathy
Have sth against sb – hold a grudge Give sb the cold shoulder – ignore
or dislike someone
Give me the creeps – make me feel Have a chip on one’s shoulder – be
uneasy or scared angry about unfair treatment
Sb’s name is mud – someone is in  An element of truth – part of it is
disgrace true
Turn against sb – stop supporting Take a dim view of it – disapprove
someone Take a stand against the bad –
Not be to one’s liking / not be oppose something wrong
 At short notice – with little  That is courting disaster – risking
warning something bad
It escapes my notice that – I didn’t Engender insecurity – create
notice feelings of instability
Raise the alarm – warn of danger Stick to = adhere to – follow or
Raise your voice – speak louder obey
(usually angrily) On the run – escaping or avoiding
Have one’s ear to the ground – stay capture
informed Lapse – short failure or drop in
Go in one ear and out the other – performance
not remembered Traction – grip or progress
Play it by ear – improvise Skid – slide without control
Draw closer – get nearer Ease off – reduce or slow down
Draw level – become equal in Refrain from – avoid doing
position  Exhaustion – extreme tiredness
Overtake sb – go ahead of someone Darken – make darker or gloomier
 Bear sb ill-will – feel hostility or Mirage – optical illusion
dislike Invalids – sick or disabled people
Trivial – not important Wear on – pass slowly (time)
Immaculate uniform – perfectly Physical exertion – effort using the
clean or neat clothing body
Retain an enormous amount of  My blood ran cold – feel very
factual information – remember a scared
lot of facts Do sb a good turn – help someone
Retain the heat – keep warmth At every turn – constantly
Insulate – prevent heat or sound Get your act together – become
escaping organized and effective
 Head the ball – hit the ball with  By a long way / by a long chalk –
your head by far
Head an investigation – lead an Get a bit long in the tooth to do –
inquiry getting too old
 Disciplinarian – strict person His heart wasn’t in it – lacked
enforcing rules interest
Adventurousness – willingness to My heart was in my mouth – felt
try new things nervous or scared
Assert opinions – state beliefs A change of heart – change of
strongly opinion or feeling
Argumentative – often arguing  Laid out – arranged neatly
 Divorce – end a marriage Left to chance – not planned,
Aggression – hostile or violent random
behavior Passageway – narrow hallway or
Approach = deal with – handle a corridor
situation Catch sb’s attention – attract notice
Wrap up = finish off – end Profit margin – difference between
something cost and price
With apparent free will – seeming
 to choose freely  Run up a large bill – accumulate
Be eye-catching – very noticeable big expenses
Cross-merchandising – placing Run down the boss – criticize the
related products together boss
At the far end – furthest point Can’t take a joke – easily offended
Toiletries – personal care items It’s an open secret that – widely
Glossy that tempt you – shiny, known but not admitted
attractive materials Keep an open mind on the problem
At sb’s peril = at sb’s own risk – – consider all sides
taking the risk yourself Be open to criticism – accept
Pay a premium for = pay through feedback
the nose for – pay more than usual Be held against sb – used as blame
 Lure (v) – attract or tempt Be held over – postponed
Mark-ups – added charges Give a sigh of relief – feel relieved
Insomnia – sleeplessness  A jolly widow – cheerful woman
Tossing and turning – moving whose spouse died
restlessly in bed Malfunction – fail to work
Nod off = doze = fall asleep – fall Sit on a large fault – lie on a
asleep lightly geological crack
Be run down = be in poor health – An electrical fault – power system
feeling weak or sick problem
Raucous – loud and harsh Be wide of the mark – be
The fractured sleep – broken or inaccurate
interrupted sleep Set eyes on – see for the first time
Drift in – enter slowly or quietly Set my sights on being great – aim
Syndrome – group of symptoms to be great
Debilitating – weakening Set fire to the house – cause a fire
Devour bacteria and invaders – intentionally
destroy harmful organisms He stops at nothing to be rich – do
Lay sb low – make someone very anything to be rich
sick Cheer sb on – support sb loudly
Stumble over – trip or speak with Cheer madly – shout in excitement
hesitation I make a point of doing – do
Incapacitating – disabling deliberately
 Frankness – honesty Up to a point – to some extent
Psychiatrists – mental health Nausea = vomit – urge to throw up
doctors Alleviate = mitigate = relieve –
Knowingly – deliberately reduce pain/symptoms
Crippling – severely damaging Itchiness = have an itch for – need
Misguide – lead wrongly to scratch
Falter – lose strength Irritated – inflamed or annoyed
Self-assurance – confidence Vapour – gas or steam
Boldness – courage Staples – basic needs
Analogy – comparison Minor ailments/illnesses – small
A parallel – similarity health issues
Rashes – red, itchy spots
 Tepid – lukewarm/unenthusiastic Be a household name – be widely
Scatter – spread around known
Acupuncture – needle therapy Know all the ins and outs of –
Queasiness – slight nausea know all details
Charisma – personal charm Know sth inside out – know
Inhibit – prevent or hold back thoroughly
Symptoms – signs of illness Have a working knowledge of –
Groove – narrow channel basic functional skill
Clogged – blocked Know it like the back of one’s hand
Persistent in = insist on – not give – know very well
up It beats me – I don’t understand
Yield – give in or produce Out of touch – unaware,
Groomed – neat and tidy disconnected
Patrol the slopes – watch mountain Search me – I have no idea
areas Lose track of – forget or not follow
 Fair game – legitimate target Cut sb dead – ignore intentionally
Carbon copy – exact duplicate Be in the dark – be unaware
Dog tired – extremely tired Not be in on / not be up on – not
Bitter pill – hard to accept informed about
Spout off – speak loudly, Plead ignorance – claim no
annoyingly knowledge
Water down – make weaker Fall on deaf ears – be ignored
Hold water – be logical, valid Anybody’s guess – unknown
Pour with rain – rain heavily Unbeknownst to sb – without sb
Soaking wet – very wet knowing
Spill the beans – reveal secret Not make heads or tails of – not
A security bank – trusted backup understand
In deep/hot water – in trouble Not have a clue about – know
A splash of color – bit of nothing about
brightness Turn a blind eye / deaf ear to –
A gushing speech – overly ignore deliberately
emotional praise Bury your head in the sand – avoid
Pour cold water on – discourage facing reality
Water under the bridge – past and Not know the first thing about –
forgotten know absolutely nothing
Keep track of – monitor Your guess is as good as mine – I
continuously don’t know either
Keep abreast of – stay informed Make a name for oneself – become
Get the message – understand famous
meaning Pay sb back – return
Read sb like a book – understand money/revenge
sb clearly Run up debts – accumulate debt
Be well versed in – be highly Pay off – succeed / repay
knowledgeable Have no head for heights – afraid
At one’s fingertips – readily of heights
available knowledge Aerial – in the air
 Cut a tooth = grow a tooth – baby Of the essence = of paramount
starts teething importance – very important
For the sake of someone / for Sizeable = considerable – fairly
someone's sake – for their benefit large
A riot of color – vibrant mix of Tandem – working together
colors Rehabilitation – restore to normal
Splash = noise – loud water sound life
Take a leaf out of sb’s book – copy Blare out – play loudly
sb's example
Take second place – be less
important
Credit (3 meanings) – praise /
money / course unit
Force the pace – increase speed
Put sb in mind = bring to mind –
remind someone
Have a mind of my own –
independent thinker
Come of age and be an adult –
become legally adult
 Gratification – satisfaction
Ideology – set of beliefs
Authoritarianism – strict control
Regimes – governments
Provocative – causing strong
reaction
Juvenile offenders – young
lawbreakers
Fragment – small piece
Harsh = strict – severe
Undermine = weaken – reduce
strength
Incarcerate – imprison
Press charges – accuse formally
Bail – money for release before
trial
Halfway house – transition housing
Mandatory – required by law
Institute – begin officially
Descent – decline / ancestry
Firm – strong or solid
Far-flung – distant or remote
Master – learn completely
Jolts – sudden shocks
Terrain – land surface
Rut – groove from wheels