[...]... the father lost his job I hear that they’re living hand to mouth 279 handful – a lot of trouble My three year old runs around the house and often breaks things He’s a real handful 280 handle with kid gloves – be very careful, tactful His wife gets upset very easily He has to handle her with kid gloves 281 handy – can fix things, useful She’s very handy around the house If anything breaks, she can... give credit, acknowledge I’ve got to hand it to you Your idea to open a store in this location was great 276 hand over fist – rapidly He’s making money hand over fist 277 hand something on a silver platter - give a person something that has not been earned His father is president of the university and his education was handed to him on a silver platter 278 hand to mouth – barely able to cover basic... pinch 339 in a rush – in a hurry I can’t find my wallet and keys and I’m late for a meeting I’m in a rush 340 in a rut – always doing the same thing My job is very boring and uninteresting I’m depressed and think I am in a rut 341 in advance – ahead of time Let’s call the movie theatre in advance and see if they have any tickets left 342 in black and white – in writing The salesman said that he would... party, I was all alone to clean up I was left high and dry 310 high and low – every place I can’t seem to find my keys I’ve looked high and low 311 high-brow – intellectual, cultured person Everyone seemed very high-brow at the cocktail reception 312 hit – a success Her book was a hit and sold a million copies 313 hit below the belt – hurt someone cruelly and unfairly I have been upset ever since she... the road and start getting down to business 236 get to the bottom of – find out the real cause After talking to my friend for an hour, I finally got to the bottom of why he was angry at me 237 get under someone’s skin - annoy, bother, upset He has a difficult and annoying personality and always got under my skin 238 get up and go – ambition, energy, enthusiasm – She always seems so excited and motivated... know-how – experience and knowledge He has been building houses for many years and has a lot of know-how 389 kosher – true, authentic The financial statements say that your business is making a lot of money Are the amounts all kosher? 390 land on one’s feet – come out of a bad situation successfully She just came off of a terrible divorce She’s doing well now and it seems that she landed on her feet... – in love with, enthusiastic about I’m nuts about our new neighbors 471 odds and ends – miscellaneous items I have some odds and ends around my house that I would like to sell 472 off and on – occasionally We are not very good friends anymore I see him off and on 473 off base – inaccurate If you think I paid one thousand dollars for this coat, you are way off base 474 off color - in bad taste,... anyone and keep it on the q.t 495 on the rocks – breaking up, ruined The couple is always fighting © 2005 - 2007 PronunciationWorkshop.com, LLC – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 31 The Pronunciation Workshop Idioms in- America 800 Most Commonly Used Manual Session 1 and I wasn’t surprised to hear that their marriage is on the rocks 496 on the same wavelength – communicating, thinking similarly They didn’t understand... his son stole some candy from the store 193 floor someone – surprise, confuse I was floored when I found out they had made me a surprise birthday party 194 flop – failure – His business ended up being a flop © 2005 - 2007 PronunciationWorkshop.com, LLC – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 12 The Pronunciation Workshop Idioms in- America 800 Most Commonly Used Manual Session 1 195 fly off the handle – get angry Her... was just fuming 209 gall – shameless, insolent attitude She spent all of her money on clothes and music, and then she asked to borrow money for groceries She has gall © 2005 - 2007 PronunciationWorkshop.com, LLC – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 13 The Pronunciation Workshop Idioms in- America 800 Most Commonly Used Manual Session 1 210 game – willing, ready Okay, you want to make plans to go to China? Okay,