... ver-
bal collocations, idioms, idiomatic expressions,
clichés, proverbs, set phrases, fixed phrases,
phrasal verbs, common phrases, prepositional
verbs, and phrasal/ prepositional verbs. They all
offer ... on me.
backhanded compliment and left-handed compli-
ment
an unintended or ambiguous compliment. ᮀ Back-
handed compliments are the only kind he ever gives! ᮀ And
I think his left-handed compliments ... abbreviations and symbols are
used, and these are explained in the section
“Terms and Symbols.” The user who understands
the meaning of entry head, variable, and wild
card term is equipped to understand...
...
The taxes increased across the board and everyone must pay more.
act high and mighty
- to act proud and powerful
The woman always acts high and mighty and nobody likes her.
act one's ... energy
The man stood up and belted out several old songs.
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B
back Idioms
back and forth
- backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way ...
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assault and battery
- a criminal charge where one violently attacks and beats someone
The man was arrested for assault and battery after the fight.
at Idioms
at a loss
-...
... clothing and you should be very careful when you deal with
him.
word for word
- in exactly the same words
I described word for word exactly what had happened before the accident.
word of ... sequence of cause and effect with bad results
He had fallen into a vicious circle of drinking too much and then losing his job and
then drinking even more.
vim and vigor
- energy and enthusiasm ... doesn't have the ways and means to give her children a good education.
wear Idioms
wear and tear
- damage as a result of ordinary use
They put a lot of wear and tear on their car during...
...
Commonly-Used Idioms, Sayings andphrasalverbs
What is the meaning of idioms?
Words that come together and change the whole meaning of the statement like "it
rains cats and dogs", ...
The taxes increased across the board and everyone must pay more.
act high and mighty
- to act proud and powerful
The woman always acts high and mighty and nobody likes her.
act one's ... something easily and quickly
The car was easy to fix and we were able to do it blindfolded.
able to do (something) standing on one's head
- to be able to do something easily and quickly...
...
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B
back Idioms
back and forth
- backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way
The argument went back and forth before the judge made a decision. ... you ask your father he is bound to try and help you with your problem."
bow and scrape
- to be very humble and subservient
I was forced to bow and scrape to get some money from my parents. ... Minister in effigy.
burn the candle at both ends
- to work or play too hard without enough rest
The man has been burning the candle at both ends with his work and he is now sick.
burn the...
... account.
cloak -and- dagger
- involving secercy and plotting
The agents were involved in cloak -and- dagger diplomacy over the spy scandal.
close Idioms
close at hand
- to be within ...
call it a day/night
- to quit work and go home
I called it a day and decided to go home early.
call it quits
- to stop, to finish
I called it quits and went home for the day.
call of ... new students come from Mexico.
come from far and wide
- to come from many different places
The people came from far and wide to hear the new band.
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cut...
...
.
deaf and dumb
- to be unable to hear or speak
The man was deaf and dumb and could not communicate with the woman on the train.
deal in (something)
- to buy and sell something ... your health.
.
dog and pony show
- a display or demonstration of something
The politicians put on a dog and pony show to make everyone forget about the
scandal.
dog-eat-dog
- ... deceive someone, to promise one thing and then do another
The man tried to double-cross his partner but was caught and sent to jail.
double-talk
- talk or words that appear to mean something...
... (someone's) hand
- to do what someone else wants
The secretary had her boss eating out of her hand and she could do whatever she
wanted.
eat (someone) out of house and home
- to eat ... 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 ... 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...
... understand (something)
- to understand something plainly and clearly
I was given to understand that I could rent an apartment very cheaply in this area.
glad hand
- to shake hands in ... off his high horse and act better toward the employees.
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get-up -and- go
- energy, enthusiasm, drive
The man has lots of get-up -and- go and it is difficult ... of the gab and is fun at a party.
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go at it tooth and nail
- to fight or argue with great strength or energy
The couple were going at it tooth and nail when...
... woman had a hand in getting her friend fired from her job.
have a handle on (something)
- have control or an understanding of something
I finally have a handle on my work and it is going ... to hide his face in shame after he lost his job.
high Idioms
high and dry
- stranded, abandoned
They left the manager high and dry when they moved the company to Europe.
Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com ... minute while I go and get some paper and a pen."
hang on (someone's) every word
- listen with complete attention to everything someone says
The audience hung on every word of the speaker....
... business.
jump bail
- run away and fail to come to trial and therefore give up the money that you have
already paid to the court
The man jumped bail and went to live in a foreign country. ... about the new
schedules.
jump/climb/get on the bandwagon
- join a popular activity/campaign
Everybody jumped on the bandwagon to try and stop smoking in the workplace.
jump out of one`s ... try and raise money for the city library
expansion.
join hands
- hold hands with other people
Everybody in the group joined hands at the end of the meeting.
Join the club!
- an expression...
...
kit and caboodle
- the entire amount, everything
I brought the whole kit and caboodle of my fishing supplies when I went fishing.
kith and kin
- friends and relatives
All of our kith and ... the same mistakes over and over.
keep on an even keel
- remain cool and calm
I was very busy with my job and school but I tried very hard to keep on an even keel
and get everything done. ... the town and nobody agreed with the
decision.
Katie bar the door
- get ready for trouble, a desperate situation is at hand
The gang arrived at the hotel and were ready to come in and fight....
... for the moment and has no money saved for the future.
live from hand to mouth
- live on little money and in poor circumstances
Her brother is an artist and must live from hand to mouth because ... situation
We landed up in the suburbs although we were trying to go downtown.
landslide victory
- a very substantial victory (usually in an election)
My favorite candidate won a landslide victory ...
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the lay of the land
- the features of an area of land or of an organization
We checked out the lay of the land before we put up our tent and made a camping
site.
lay off...
... ticket and not anyone else.
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meat and potatoes
- basic and strong, have simple tastes in food and other things
My friend's taste in food and ...
The boy was forced to stay home and spent the morning moping around the house.
more Idioms
more and more
- increasingly, an increasing number
More and more people are buying laptop ... believe that money is the root of all evil and causes most problems in
the world.
Money talks
- money gives one power and influence
Money talks and whenever the wealthy banker goes to his...
... almost fell from his bicycle.
near at hand
- to be close or handy (to someone)
I looked for a pair of scissors that were near at hand.
neck and neck
- to be equal or nearly equal in ... we threw it in the garbage.
nothing Idioms
nothing but skin and bones
- to be very thin or emaciated
The young man was nothing but skin and bones when he returned from the camping ... determination and courage
He is a nervous Nellie and is afraid of the other students in the school.
a nest egg
- money that someone has saved up
He has a large nest egg and will have no...