Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 721 result in (something) - to cause something to happen The bad road conditions resulted in many small accidents this morning. return the compliment - to pay a compliment to someone who has paid you a compliment I returned the compliment to my colleague who began to praise my work. return the favor - to do a good deed for someone who has done a good deed for you I returned the favor to my friend who had recently helped me to move from my apartment. rev (something) up - to make an engine run very fast The young man began to rev the motor of his car up while he was waiting for his friend. rhyme or reason - a good plan or reason, a reasonable purpose or explanation (usually used in negative/interrogative/conditional sentences) There was no rhyme or reason as to why my friend suddenly decided to quit his job. rich in (something) - to have valuable resources/characteristics/traditions/history Many vegetables are rich in important vitamins. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 722 ride herd on (someone) - to watch closely and control someone The new supervisor likes to ride herd on the people who work for him. ride off in all directions - to try to do everything at once, to behave in a totally confused manner After the meeting everyone seemed to ride off in all directions and we did not know where anyone was going. ride on (someone's) coattails - to have one's fortune or success depend on another person The sales manager was riding on the coattails of his boss and hoped to achieve success in the company. ride roughshod over (someone or something) - to treat someone or something with disdain or scorn The new teacher is riding roughshod over the wants and needs of the students. ride (something) out - to endure something unpleasant, to survive something safely We were able to ride out the bad storm by staying in a small restaurant. ride the gravy train - to exploit something for easy profit or advantage, to experience excessive success or profit without deserving it We have been able to ride the gravy train and make a lot of money at our job recently. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 723 riding for a fall - to be risking failure or an accident due to overconfidence My friend is riding for a fall if he continues his present attitude at his job. riding high - to be attracting attention, to be enjoying great popularity The new government has been riding high in the opinion polls for several months now. right Idioms right and left - on both sides, on all sides, everywhere The child looked right and left before he crossed the road. right as rain - to be correct, to be genuine The figures that I gave to my supervisor are as right as rain. right at (a specific time/place) - to be exactly at a specific time/place The concert started right at 9:00 PM. right away - immediately "I forgot to bring my book but I will go home and get it right away." Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 724 right down/up (someone's) alley - to be ideally suited to someone's interests or abilities The homepage development project was right down my alley and I was very happy to do it. right off the bat - immediately, from the beginning I told my boss right off the bat that we did not need a new computer for the office. right on - that`s right, yes (indicates approval for something) The man yelled "right on" every time the politician promised a new program to lower taxes. right on time - to be exactly at the correct time The train arrived at the station right on time. right out - to say or tell something plainly or in a way that hides nothing I told the new supervisor right out that I did not like him. right side up - with the correct side upwards The bus drove off the highway and rolled over but it landed right side up when it stopped. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 725 right under one`s nose - to be in an obvious or nearby place I found the calculator right under my nose after searching for it for an hour. . ring a bell - to remind someone of something The name does not ring a bell and I am sure that I have never heard of the man. ring down the curtain on (something) - to bring something to an end The famous singer rang down the curtain on an evening of wonderful music. ring in the New Year - to celebrate the beginning of the new year We decided to ring in the New Year at a party at my parent's house. ring true - to sound or seem true or likely The predictions by the scientists are beginning to ring true. ring up (someone) - to telephone someone You should ring up the police if you see a strange person around your house. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 726 ring up (something) - to add and record a sale on a cash register I went to the cash register so the clerk could ring up the items that I had bought. rip into (someone or something) - to attack someone or something physically or verbally My mother ripped into me when I came home late from the party. rip off (someone or something) - to cheat/rob someone or something I was ripped off by the mechanic at the gas station. ripe old age - a very old age My uncle was able to live to a ripe old age. a ripple of excitement - a series of quiet but excited whispers There was a ripple of excitement in the concert hall when the singer walked onto the stage. a ripple of protest - a small amount of quiet protest There was only a ripple of protest when the government raised the gasoline tax. Rise and shine! - Get out of bed and begin the day! "Rise and shine!" my father called to me in the morning. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 727 rise to the bait - to be lured by some kind of bait/enticement My friend rose to the bait when I offered to help him if he would help me to do something much more difficult. rise to the occasion - to meet the challenge of something Our teacher rose to the occasion and was able to give a very good speech at the banquet. a risk of rain/showers/thunderstorms - a chance of rain/showers/thunderstorms There was a risk of showers so we decided not to go on a picnic today. risk one's neck to (do something) - to risk physical harm in order to do something I risked my neck in order to rescue the cat that was on the roof. rivet (someone's) attention - to keep someone's attention fixed on something The man on the side of the tall building riveted our attention as he continued to climb up. a road-hog - a car driver who uses more than his share of the road My father became angry at the road-hog who was in front of our car. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 728 rob Peter to pay Paul - to take from one person or thing to pay another When the government began to take money from the education system to pay for the medical system it was like robbing Peter to pay Paul. rob the cradle - to marry a person much younger than oneself People said that my boss was robbing the cradle when he married the young woman at our company. rock the boat - to upset the way things are The woman is a very quiet worker and never likes to rock the boat at work. roll around - to return at a regular or usual time, to come back Every time that his birthday rolls around he has a big party. roll back (a price) - to reduce a price to a previous amount The prices at the computer store were rolled back during the big sale. roll in - to arrive in great numbers or quantity The money has been rolling in since we started the new franchise. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 729 roll out the red carpet - to welcome an important guest by putting a red carpet down for him or her to walk on They rolled out the red carpet when the Queen came for a visit. roll out the red carpet - to make a big effort to greet and entertain someone Whenever I visit my aunt she rolls out the red carpet for me. roll up one`s sleeves - to prepare to work hard or seriously at something Everybody in our club rolled up their sleeves to help prepare for the party. to be rolling in (something) - to have large amounts of something (usually money) My friend is rolling in money and never has to work. a rolling stone - a person who does not live or work in one place The man is a rolling stone and I never know where to find him. room and board - food to eat and a place to live The young man received room and board as part of his salary at the restaurant. root for (someone or something) - to cheer and encourage someone or something I have been rooting for our hometown team since I was a child. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 730 root (something) out - to get rid of something completely The new city government is trying to root out the wasteful practices of the previous government. rooted in (something) - to be based on something The popularity of the politician is rooted in his strong moral values and honesty. rooted to the spot - to be unable to move because of fear or surprise The boy was rooted to the spot as he watched the dog attack the rabbit. rope (someone) into (doing something) - to persuade or pressure someone to do something I did not want to help with the dinner but I was roped into helping by my best friend. rotten to the core - to be completely no good and worthless The local government was rotten to the core and everyone was happy when they were voted out of office. rough-and-ready - to be rough or crude but to be ready for something The boat was rough-and-ready so we decided to take it for a ride. . his strong moral values and honesty. rooted to the spot - to be unable to move because of fear or surprise The boy was rooted to the spot as he watched the dog attack the rabbit. rope. friend. rhyme or reason - a good plan or reason, a reasonable purpose or explanation (usually used in negative/interrogative/conditional sentences) There was no rhyme or reason as to why my. him. ride off in all directions - to try to do everything at once, to behave in a totally confused manner After the meeting everyone seemed to ride off in all directions and we did not know