Commonly used english part 86 docx

Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 851 stumbling block - something that prevents or obstructs progress The issue of salary was a stumbling block in the negotiations between the company and the union. subject to (something) - depending on something, likely to have something The purchase of the house was subject to several conditions that we wanted to talk about. subscribe to (something) - to have a standing order for a magazine or something similar, to give support or consent to something I subscribe to several magazines but I do not have time to read them. I do not subscribe to our teacher's ideas about many topics. such and such - someone or something whose name has been forgotten or should not be said My friend is always trying to borrow such and such from me but I always say no. such as - of a particular kind, for example I need various tools such as a hammer and a saw in order to complete the job. such as it is - in the less-than-perfect condition in which one finds something I received the old car such as it is but it is not worth very much. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 852 suck (someone) in - to deceive someone The man always sucks me in with his long and strange stories. sucker list - a list of people who can be easily persuaded to buy something The salesman used a sucker list to try and get people to buy his new product. sugar daddy - a rich older man who gives money to a younger woman for her companionship The woman went on a nice winter holiday with her sugar daddy. suggestive of (something) - to be reminiscent of something The movie was suggestive of a time that disappeared many years ago. suit oneself - to do something one's own way to please oneself I was able to do everything to suit myself while I stayed with my uncle. suit/fit (someone) to a T - to be very appropriate for someone My new job suits me to a T. sum and substance - a summary, the gist of something The sum and substance of what the speaker said was very interesting. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 853 sum (something) up - to put something into a few words, to summarize something The speaker summed up his presentation and asked the audience for questions. sunny-side up - eggs that are fried on one side only We asked for our eggs to be fried sunny-side up at the restaurant. supply and demand - the availability of something compared to the need or demand for something The supply and demand for used sporting equipment is always very tight. supposed to do (something) - to be expected or intend to do something I was supposed to meet my friend but I forgot. a sure thing - something that is sure to happen, something about which there is no doubt My promotion to manager is a sure thing according to the president. Sure thing. - of course, certainly "Sure thing, I would be happy to help you move next Saturday." survival of the fittest - the idea that the most able or fit will survive It was a matter of the survival of the fittest in the jungle. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 854 susceptable to (something) - to be easily persuaded, to be easily influenced, to likely to become sick The young boy is very susceptable to the influence of the older boys around him. swallow one`s pride - to bring one`s pride under control, to become humble I had to swallow my pride and ask my father for some money. swallow (something) hook, line, and sinker - to believe something completely I swallowed everything hook, line, and sinker when my friend told me the story about how he lost his car keys. swamped with (something) - to be overwhelmed with something "I am swamped with work at the moment so I can`t meet you tonight." swan song - a final appearance He was a big hit during his swan song at the company last week. swear by (something) - to have complete confidence in something, to be sure of something My father swears by the walk that he takes every morning. swear off (something) - to decide to give up something that you are in the habit of using My friend swore off tobacco several years ago. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 855 swear on a stack of Bibles - to promise solemnly that what one is about to say is true The man swore on a stack of Bibles that he did not take any money from the cash register. swear on (something) - to use something as the support or authority that what one is saying is the truth The accused criminal was asked to swear on a religious text at the trial to make sure that he was telling the truth. swear (someone) in - to have a person promise to do his duty as a member of an organization or in a formal position. The new mayor of the city was sworn in at a large ceremony last evening. sweat bullets/blood - to be nervous, to be very worried I was sweating bullets during the job interview. sweat (something) out - to wait anxiously for something, to worry about something I spent the day sweating out whether or not I would get the job. sweep out of (somewhere) - to leave somewhere in a dramatic way The actress swept out of the room after her performance was over. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 856 sweep (someone) off his or her feet - to overcome someone with strong feelings We were both swept off our feet by the excitement of the ceremony. sweep (something) under the rug/carpet - to hide or dismiss something casually The couple always sweep their problems under the rug and never want to discuss them. sweet and sour - a combination of sweet and sour tastes (found in many Chinese dishes) The dish had a sweet and sour taste that was very delicious. sweet nothings - affectionate but unimportant words that you say to a loved one The boy in the movie whispered sweet nothings into the ear of his girlfriend. sweet on (someone) - to be in love with someone, to be very fond of someone The boy was sweet on his next door neighbor when he was a child. sweet-talk (someone) - to praise or flatter someone to get what you want My sister tried to sweet-talk our father into giving her the car but he said no. sweetie pie - darling, sweetheart The young man always calls his girlfriend sweetie pie. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 857 swelled head - a feeling that one is more important than one really is The man has a swelled head since he got the new position in his company. swift and sure - fast and certain I made a complaint to the bank manager and I knew that the answer would come back swift and sure. swim against the tide/current - to do the opposite of what most people want to do My friend likes to swim against the tide and never wants to do what others are doing. swing into action - to start doing something The members of the rugby team swung into action and cleaned the room after the party. swing (something) - to make something happen I do not know if I can swing buying an expensive present for my girlfriend. switched on - to be in tune with the latest fads/ideas/fashions My aunt is switched on and knows everything about many recent movies. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 858 T table a motion - to postpone the discussion of something during a meeting We tabled a motion to discuss the safety issue at another time. tag along with (someone) - to go with someone, to follow along with someone The little boy tagged along with his older brother when they went to the beach. tail between one`s legs - feeling ashamed or beaten The salesman resigned from his company with his tail between his legs after he told a lie about his expense account. tail wagging the dog - a situation where a small part controls the whole thing It is like the tail wagging the dog when the receptionist is able to control everything in the office. take Idioms take a backseat to (someone or something) - to accept a poorer or lower position than someone, to be second to someone or something I had to take a backseat to my boss when we went on the business trip. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 859 take a bath (on something) - to come to financial ruin, to lose much money on something My aunt took a bath on the stock market last year and she is afraid to buy stocks now. take a beating - to lose money My father took a beating when he sold his car. take a bow - to bow and receive credit for a good performance The violinist stopped to take a bow before she went backstage with the orchestra. take a break - to have a short rest period in one's work I stopped to take a break after working all morning. take a chance/risk - to try something where failure or bad fortune is likely I plan to take a chance and visit my friend without phoning first. take a course in (something) - to enroll in a class to study/learn something I am planning to take a course in photography next year. take a crack at (something) - to try/attempt to do something "Have you decided to take a crack at writing the entrance examination?" Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 860 take a dig at (someone) - to criticize someone, to say something that will irritate someone The man is always taking a dig at his wife. take a dim view of (something) - to be against something, to disapprove of something Our company takes a dim view of people who do not wear a suit and tie. take a fancy/liking to (someone or something) - to develop a fondness or a preference for someone or something The woman took a fancy to the new person who she was working with. take a gander at (someone or something) - to examine someone or something I asked the car mechanic to take a gander at the steering system on my car. take a hand in (something) - to help plan or do something The man is always ready to take a hand in any work that needs to be done. take a hard line (with someone) - to be firm with someone, to have a firm policy for dealing with someone The company takes a hard line with people who come to work late. take a hint - to understand what is hinted at and behave accordingly The man is unable to take a hint and does not notice when people are angry at him. . friend is always trying to borrow such and such from me but I always say no. such as - of a particular kind, for example I need various tools such as a hammer and a saw in order to complete. sucker list - a list of people who can be easily persuaded to buy something The salesman used a sucker list to try and get people to buy his new product. sugar daddy - a rich older. availability of something compared to the need or demand for something The supply and demand for used sporting equipment is always very tight. supposed to do (something) - to be expected or