Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 281 gone to meet one's maker - to be dead The car accident was terrible and the driver has gone to meet his maker. gone with the wind - to be gone The woman is gone with the wind and we will probably never see her again. good deal - a product of good quality and a cheap price You can usually get a good deal on stereos at that discount store. a good deal of (something) - much of something, a lot of something We had a good deal of paint remaining after we finished painting the room. good-for-nothing - to be worthless The man is a good-for-nothing and lazy worker. Good grief! - used to show surprise (good or bad) "Good grief! It`s 6:00 and I still have not finished this job." good old days - earlier times which everyone remembers as being better than the present In the good old days people could buy a house easier than today. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 282 good riddance - used to express happiness when you lose/break something that you do not like or want, used when someone that you don't like leaves I said good riddance when my old computer stopped working and I had to buy a new one. good riddance to bad rubbish - used to show that you are happy that someone or something has been taken or sent away "Good riddance to bad rubbish! I don't like him and I am glad that he has left." good sport - a person who loses a competition/game without complaining My friend is a good sport and he never complains about losing. goof off - to fool around, to not work or be serious He has been goofing off all afternoon and has not done any work. gospel truth - the undeniable truth The man told the gospel truth at the court trial. got/have a thing going (with someone) - engaged in an activity with someone (in romance or business) The man has got a thing going with his neighbor. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 283 grab a bite (to eat) - to get something to eat We stopped at a small restaurant to grab a bite to eat. grace (someone or something) with one's presence - to honor someone or something by being present The Queen graced the opening of the hospital with her presence. grain of truth - the smallest amount of truth There was not a grain of truth in what the man said. grasp at straws - to try something with little hope of success The man is grasping at straws with his weak excuse for his bad behavior. grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence) - a place or situation that is far away or different seems better than one's present situation My cousin is always changing jobs because she thinks that the grass is always greener on the other side. grate on (someone's) nerves - to annoy/bother someone The woman's singing is beginning to grate on my nerves. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 284 gravy train - a job that gives one much money compared with what you do The cleaning contract was a gravy train. We worked for 3 hours but we got paid for 8 hours. gray area - something difficult to define or put into a particular category, something that is not clear Some of the legal issues were in a gray area. grease (someone`s) palm - to pay money to someone for some special favor We had to grease the border guard`s palm in order to enter the country. greasy spoon - a small and cheap eating place with basic but not great food We went to a greasy spoon for breakfast because the other restaurants were closed. a great deal of (something) - much or a lot of something There was a great deal of water in our house after the flood. greatest thing since sliced bread - the best thing that there ever was The new digital camera is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 285 green - to be inexperienced or immature The new employee is green and does not know his job very well. a green thumb - the skill to make plants grow The man has a green thumb and has a very beautiful garden. green with envy - to be very jealous, to be full of envy The little girl was green with envy when she saw her friend`s new bicycle. grin and bear it - to endure something unpleasant with good humor I have to grin and bear it when my supervisor becomes angry with me. grind to a halt - to slow down and stop (like a machine when it is turned off) The city ground to a halt when the electric power was off for five hours. grist for the mill - something that can be used for one's advantage The information was grist for the mill of the salesman. grit one's teeth - to grind one's teeth together in anger and determination and reluctance I grit my teeth and phoned my father to ask if I could borrow some money. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 286 gross out (someone) - to make someone sick or disgusted The movie was very violent and grossed out my sister. ground floor - the first or best chance (especially in a business) The video store was a good investment and I was happy to get in on the ground floor. ground (someone) - to take away someone's privileges (usually used for teenagers) The girl was grounded by her parents because she came home late too often. grounds for (something) - the basis/reason for legal action or a complaint The fact that the man stole the money was grounds for his dismissal from the company. grow on (someone) - to become acceptable to someone or liked by someone At first I did not like the strange music but it is beginning to grow on me. grow out of (something) - to abandon something as one matures or becomes older The little boy is beginning to grow out of his baby chair. grow to do/like (something) - to gradually begin to do something or like someone or something I am growing to like the people who live next door to me. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 287 grunt work - hard and thankless work I am often forced to do the grunt work at my company. guard against (someone or something) - to take care to avoid someone or something When we go to the beach we must guard against the hot sun. guest of honor - the special person for whom a party or ceremony is held My father was the guest of honor at the company banquet. gulp for air - to desperately try to get air or a breath The man began gulping for air after he fell into the lake. gum up - to cause something not to work, to make something go wrong The computer printer became gummed up as I was trying to print my resume. gun for (someone) - to look hard for a chance to harm or defeat someone My supervisor has been gunning for me for a long time and I do not know why. gun for (something) - to try very hard to get a prize or promotion etc. I have been gunning for the sales job for a long time. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 288 gung-ho - to be enthusiastic, to be full of eagerness My friend is gung-ho about her new job at the library. gut feeling/reaction - a personal/intuitive feeling or response I had a gut feeling that my friend would not get the job that he wanted. gyp (someone) out of (something) - to cheat someone The woman at the store gypped the man out of some money. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 289 H had best (do something) - should do something, ought to do something I had best go home soon as I want to get up early tomorrow morning. had better (do something) - should do something, ought to do something I had better go now or I will be late for class. hail from (somewhere) - originally come from somewhere My father hails from a small farming community. the hair of the dog that bit you - a drink of alcohol taken when one is recovering from drinking too much My friend got up early and had the hair of the dog that bit him to start the day. (one's) hair stands on end - become frightened or afraid of something My hair stood on end when I saw the scene after the automobile accident. (to be) hale and hearty - to be in very good health, to be well and strong My uncle is a hale and hearty fellow who never gets sick. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 290 half-baked - an idea or plan that is not thought about carefully or not studied carefully I do not like my supervisor's half-baked idea about the new delivery system. (to be) half the battle - to be a large part of the work Writing the letters will be half the battle. We can finish the rest of the work next week. (to be) halfhearted about (someone or something) - (to be) unenthusiastic about someone or something I was halfhearted about joining the group to go hiking. ham it up - do something silly or try to exaggerate something in a funny way I was hamming it up with my friend in front of the principal's office. hammer away at (someone or something) - be persistent in trying to do something I worked all weekend to hammer away at my final essay for university. hammer out (something) - work something out by discussion and debate The union and managers were able to hammer out an agreement before midnight last night. . Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 282 good riddance - used to express happiness when you lose/break something that you do not like or want, used when someone that you don't like leaves I. good-for-nothing - to be worthless The man is a good-for-nothing and lazy worker. Good grief! - used to show surprise (good or bad) "Good grief! It`s 6:00 and I still have not finished this. my old computer stopped working and I had to buy a new one. good riddance to bad rubbish - used to show that you are happy that someone or something has been taken or sent away "Good