Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 151 drop Idioms drop a bombshell - to announce some shocking news The government dropped a bombshell when they announced that they were going to close the hospital. drop a hint - to casually make a hint or suggestion about something The clerk dropped a hint that he wanted to transfer to the new department. drop around - to come for a visit My friend plans to drop around for a visit tomorrow. drop back - to move or step backwards, to retreat During the hike my foot began to get sore so I decided to drop back and rest for awhile. drop by - to visit someone My uncle dropped by after work for a visit. drop by the wayside - to give up or fail before the finish of something Many runners dropped by the wayside during the marathon. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 152 drop dead - to die suddenly The bus driver dropped dead while driving the bus. Drop dead! - Go away!, to stop bothering someone I told my brother to drop dead when he came into my room and now he is angry at me. drop everything - to stop doing what you are doing When the fire alarm rang we dropped everything and went outside. drop in (on someone) - to make a short or unplanned visit to someone I decided to drop in on my friend after I finished work for the day. drop in one's tracks - to collapse from exhaustion The runner dropped in his tracks during the last part of the race. drop in the bucket - a small amount The money that my friend repaid me was a drop in the bucket compared to what he owes. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 153 drop names - to mention the names of famous people as if they were your friends Nobody likes the girl because she is always dropping names when she meets her friends. drop out of (something) - to quit school or a course of some kind I dropped out of the class after three months. drop (someone) a line - to write or mail a note or letter to someone My friend promised that she would drop me a line when she gets to Singapore. drop the subject - to stop talking about something My friend was getting angry while we were talking about money so I decided to drop the subject. . drown one`s sorrows - to drink alcohol or do something to forget one`s problems The man is in the bar drowning his sorrows with a drink. drown (someone) out - to make so much noise that it is impossible to hear someone The team captain was drowned out by the cheering fans. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 154 drum up (something) - to encourage something by making an effort The company was able to drum up a lot of business during the summer. drum (something) into (someone's) head - to make someone learn something by force The teacher worked hard to drum the formulas into the heads of the students. dry run - an attempt or rehearsal for something The marriage ceremony was on Saturday so we had a dry run on Thursday night. dry up - to become dry The river began to dry up early in the summer. duck soup - easy, effortless "How was the test last week?" "It was duck soup - no problem at all." dumb bunny - a stupid gullible person He is a dumb bunny and you never know what he will do next. Dutch auction - an auction where you start off with a high price and then reduce it They always sell the flowers at a Dutch auction at the downtown market. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 155 Dutch courage - unusual or artificial courage (often because of alcohol) The man was full of Dutch courage when he began to criticize his boss. Dutch treat - a meal/movie etc. where each person pays his or her own way, to contribute equally to something When he goes out with his girlfriend it is always a Dutch treat as he does not have much money. Dutch uncle - someone who gives you advice like a parent or relative would My friend is like a Dutch uncle and he is always giving me advice about how I should act. duty bound (to do something) - to be forced by duty or honor to do something I was duty bound to talk to my friend about the money that I had lost. dwell on (something) - to think or talk about something all the time I wish that my friend would not dwell on his personal problems. dyed-in-the-wool - permanent, stubborn My father is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative and will never change. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 156 dying to (do something or go somewhere) - to be very anxious to do something or go somewhere I am dying to go and visit my friend in the country. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 157 E each and every - every "I want each and every student to bring his or her textbook tomorrow." eager beaver - a person who is always eager to work hard or do extra work My colleague is an eager beaver and is always ready to work hard when we need him. eagle eye - an eye with sharp visual powers The woman watched her young child with an eagle eye. an ear to the ground - attention that is paid to the way things are going or the way people feel and think The president has an ear to the ground and knows everything that is going on in our company. earful - a scolding, much talking in the form of complaints The man gave his daughter an earful when she came home late. early bird - a person who gets up early or arrives early for something My sister is an early bird and gets up very early every morning. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 158 early bird catches the worm - a person who gets up early in the morning has the best chance of success Our supervisor always goes to work before his colleagues because he knows that the early bird catches the worm. early on - at an early stage We had a meeting early on to try and solve the problem. earn one's keep - to earn one's pay or a place to live by doing some work I work hard in my uncle's garden in order to earn my keep when I stay with him. ease off/up on (someone or something) - to put less pressure on someone or something, to relax The president was asked to ease off on his efforts to cut staff in the company. easier said than done - to be easier to talk about than to do I would like to change jobs but it is easier said than done. easy come, easy go - something that you get easily can be lost easily My cousin does not care if he loses his job or not. For him everything is easy come, easy go. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 159 easy does it - doing something slowly or without sudden movements "Easy does it," I said as we moved the large piano. easy-going - to be tolerant and relaxed Our boss has a very easy-going management style. easy to come by - to be easy to find Money is not easy to come by for many people with no education. eat Idioms eat and run - to eat a meal quickly and then leave We had to eat and run in order to arrive at the soccer field early. eat away at (someone) - to bother someone, to worry someone Money problems have been eating away at the man recently. eat away at (something) - to rot/destroy something The mildew has been eating away at the window frame all year. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 160 eat crow - to admit that one is mistaken or defeated Our boss was forced to eat crow when the figures that he presented at the meeting were wrong. eat dirt - to accept another`s insults or bad treatment The accountant had to eat dirt because of the problems that he had caused. eat humble pie - to admit one`s error and apologize The boy had to eat humble pie when his friends discovered his mistake. eat like a bird - to eat very little He eats like a bird. That is why he cannot gain enough weight to join the football team. eat like a horse - to eat a lot My friend eats like a horse but he never gains any weight. eat one`s cake and have it too - to use or spend something but still keep it The man wants to eat his cake and have it too and he will never give up anything. eat one`s heart out - to be envious, to be very sad "You can eat your heart out. I am going to Hawaii for three weeks!" . or suggestion about something The clerk dropped a hint that he wanted to transfer to the new department. drop around - to come for a visit My friend plans to drop around for a visit tomorrow one's tracks - to collapse from exhaustion The runner dropped in his tracks during the last part of the race. drop in the bucket - a small amount The money that my friend repaid me was. something The mildew has been eating away at the window frame all year. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 160 eat crow - to admit that one is mistaken or defeated Our boss was forced to eat crow when