The English We Speak

no fear

absolutely not, no way A: Fancy that Justin Bieber concert? B: _____! I can't stand him. A: Why don't we stay in tonight and watch golf on the TV. B: Golf?! ____. I'd do anything other than watch golf.

close, but no cigar

almost succeeds, but doesn't quite A: How old do you think I am? B: 36? A: Nope - 35. ___________

keep a lid on smt

to keep something under control - to stop the situation getting worse/ keep it secret I couldn't _____ my feelings about the rota so I shouted at the boss! With rising food prices, it's hard to ___ how much I spend at the supermarket. I've heard that Daisy is expecting a baby - but _____ until it's official!

bust a gut

to make a huge effort to achieve something We're going to have to ____________to get this report done by tomorrow. We're only half-way through and it's already 7pm

turn smt upside down

to make the place really messy because you're trying to search thoroughly for something I ____ my house ______ and I still couldn't find my car keys.

cat got your tongue

means 'you're very quiet' or 'you've got nothing to say' A: Has the __________? You usually go on about how amazing your boyfriend is. B: We split up.

won't wash

means it won't work - or nobody will believe you Your excuses for not finishing your essay ______ with me - you've missed your deadline and that's that. The boss's idea to work an extra hour everyday ______with the team - they'll be furious.

bring one's A game

perform one's best, at or in one's top form Claus ____________ to the meeting and sealed the deal. That team won the match easily. They ___ Erica didn't ____ to the quiz, and we lost by a point.

cramp one's style

someone or something is preventing someone from behaving the way they want. I don't want to ____, but could you wear a shirt and tie to work rather than a T-shirt? I had to move out of the house share. I didn't feel free there, and my old housemates were ____. I don't want to go to the party. I'm worried she thinks I'm uncool and that I'll ____

buzzkill

something that kills your happy mood My holiday was amazing, but on the way back my plane was delayed for over six hours. That was a major ____! Jim was excited to move into his new apartment. But it was a huge ____ when he discovered mice in the bedroom. I scored three goals last week but then got a really nasty injury in the last minute. The doctor said I can't play for two months now. Bit of a _____!

burn a hole in one's pocket

something unexpected costs a lot of money A: My daughter is getting married next year. B: Oh that's fantastic news. A: Yes, it is. But I think the cost of the wedding will _____.

vanish into thin air

suddenly, mysteriously and completely disappear I can't remember where I've parked the car! I think it's ___. Have you seen the boss? Someone important needs to talk to him but I can't find him anywhere. It's like he's _____.

that'll teach sbd

suggest that sbd should learn the bad effects of doing something and not repeat it in the future You lent some money to Dan and he didn't pay you back - ______ My brother got a speeding ticket for driving too fast down the High Street - ____!

shout it from the rooftops

tell everyone your good news Congratulations for getting a first in your degree, you should go and ______! I know you won the lottery but don't _____; otherwise everyone will be after your money! We all know Ming is in love with JiYuen, he's been _____!

couch surf

temporarily stay in other people's houses for free - often sleeping on the sofa or couch - because they don't have their own home I've been ___ around the world. It's a great way to meet other people and it makes travelling affordable. I've had an argument with my girlfriend, so I'm moving out. Do you mind if I ___with you guys for a few weeks? Please!

plastic footprint

the amount of plastic that we use in our everyday life. I've tried to avoid buying things that use too much plastic packaging because I'm very aware of my ____. The shop has starting using paper bags to reduce its _____.

waffle on

to talk and talk without saying anything very useful or interesting I think I did really badly in the interview. I wasn't sure how to answer the questions, so I just ___. Meetings with Frank are frustrating. He always ____ about unimportant things. Someone needs to have a word with him. I used to find her blog really interesting and inspiring, but these days she just ____ about her pet tortoise.

fall at the first hurdle

to fail right at the start His dream of marrying Julie______when he discovered she was already married.

make a song and dance about smt

to make a lot of unnecessary fuss about something My boyfriend ___ doing the housework - but to be honest, it's not that hard! I can't believe they lost your suitcase at the airport; you should ____ this and get a proper apology.

on fire

to say someone is experiencing a series of successes, one after another I can't believe my team have won ten games in a row - they're ______ The actor was ____ in the early 2000s, but his recent performances haven't been to the same standard.

creatively bankrupt

to say there is a lack of creativity in something that should normally feel innovative, like the story of a film or a video game. We can also use it to describe someone who's not original or out of good ideas Margaret's third novel didn't do anything new and it just felt ___. The singer's new album felt ___ All the songs sounded boring and unoriginal. The film is ___. It's like the director repeated things he did in his last movie.

smash it

to succeed or do something very well My favourite football team has ___ and won the cup! She's ___in her exams and passed every single one. You've trained so hard for the race; you're going to___.

milk it

to take full advantage of a situation usually to gain sympathy, respect or kindness. Sometimes, you fake something to get attention OK, don't _____, Sam! You've told me a hundred times you've got tickets for the World Cup final. Tom's had a week off work with a cold - I think he's _______ now. Since her promotion, Freya keeps bossing us around and telling us to call her 'Miss Brown' - she's really _______!

talk shop

to talk to people you work with about work, even when you're not at work We went to the pub to celebrate Rob's birthday but inevitably we started ___! I bumped into my boss on the train home tonight and he ___ all the way to my stop. We've been at work all day, let's all have some fun and not ___please!

chew on it

to think about something before making a decision Our extension plans are great but we need to ____ it before we give them the go-ahead. Hmm, it's very expensive to fly to Australia for a holiday. Let's ____ it shall we?

clever clogs

used to describe someone who is annoying because they think they know more than everyone else, or they always think they're right My brother's such a _____. He always comes first in the pub quiz. We got lost in the city because Neil, being such a clever clogs, insisted he knew the right way to go. He didn't!

as sick as a parrot

very disappointed about something I was ____when I saw someone had scratched my new car! He was ____ when he saw how much litter had been left in the park. When I heard my colleague got a promotion over me, I was ____.

bone idle

very lazy he doctor has told my brother to do more exercise, but he won't do it, he's______. My boyfriend's _______ - he won't even get off the sofa to answer the phone.

an old hand

very skilled and experienced Let's get Mike in to solve our IT problem, shall we? He's _____at fixing computers. Miguel is _____ at map reading, so let's make him the leader on our mountain trek.

dead

very/really (to emphasize) Is it lunch time yet? I'm _____ hungry! The man sat next to me on the train this morning kept falling asleep on my shoulder - it was ____ annoying! I was ____ happy when I passed my driving test!

generation snowflake

young adults who are too sensitive to handle criticism of their opinions

freegan

someone who only eats food that has been wasted or thrown away. I'm trying to do my bit for the environment by reducing food that's thrown away - so I'm becoming a _____. Thrown away food isn't rubbish, it's free food! That's why I'm a ______.

take the biscuit

surprised or annoyed by someone's actions I can't believe she copied my work and pretended it was her own - now that really _____. You're really ____ if you're expecting me to take you to the match and wait outside until it's finished! Your plan to turn the spare bedroom into a snooker room really ______!

bitten by the bug

to become interested and excited in doing something Ballroom dancing is back in fashion and Catherina's been ____ - she's bought a sequin dress to wear at her lessons. Lyn's been ____ fitness _____- he spends hours at the gym every day. I've been___ travel ____- I'm always looking for new destinations to visit.

Not half

very much A: That party was awesome! B: ___________, mate. The music was incredible. I just got back from Singapore. It's ______________ expensive.

white-collar worker

People who worked in offices, doing administration or managerial tasks

The best of both worlds

means you have the benefits of two different things and none of the disadvantages Working part-time means I get _____: time with the kids and a steady income. Our hotel is by the beach and just a short train ride away from the city, so we get _____. We get ___with our new car: excellent fuel efficiency and great acceleration and speed.

blue-collar worker

someone who does manual work

hypochondriac

someone who imagines illnesses that they don't have

have a go at sbd

to criticise someone The boss really ______ Michaela after she offended our clients. Susie _____ her husband last night. He'd forgotten all about her birthday. Why do you always _____me? Why can't you say something nice?

pull the wool over sbd's eyes

to trick or deceive someone to stop them discovering something You can't ___! I know you've been smoking. I can smell it! He tried to ____ of the shareholders and not tell them the company was bankrupt. But they soon found out.

fight tooth and nail

use all your effort and determination to get something you want or to stop something from happening We're going to ____ to stop them building a new motorway going right past our house. After ___, I finally managed to get the pay rise I felt I deserved. My football team needs to ___ to stay in the top division. They have to win today's match!

leave on read

use this when someone has read a message, but hasn't replied I can't believe I was___. I sent him a message and I can see he's looked at the message, but he hasn't replied! My partner always ___. They get really distracted and then don't message me back. You shouldn't assume the worst if you get ___. If someone reads your message and doesn't reply, they might be really busy and planning to respond later.

buyer's remourse

a particular kind of regret people can feel after a big purchase like a house or a car. They feel they've made a bad decision. A: I made a terrible decision buying this house. It's in a bad location and it needs a lot of repairs. What was I thinking?B: Sounds like ____, my friend. Relax. The repairs aren't serious and it only takes five minutes to get to the train station. A: Lovely new car!B: Thanks, but I'm feeling terrible ____ right now. It was so expensive. What if I lose my job? A: Why did I order lobster soup? Your potato soup was half the price, and it is tastier.B: I know the feeling - I always order the wrong thing then get some serious ____. Let's share.

fat chance

a small chance, or possibility, of something happening. It can be used in a full sentence, and also as a standalone phrase. A: I hope it's warm this weekend - I want to go fishing. B: Well, ______ of that. It's the middle of November! I auditioned for a role in a movie, but there is ______ of me getting the role - I saw loads of famous actors auditioning too.

dad dancing

a way of dancing which is a bit awkward, not very cool, maybe trying too hard. Wow, look at Ernesto. Is he swinging a cat? What a ___ (dancer)! Katka's dad was hilarious at the wedding. Everyone had stopped dancing, but he was still up there ____, showing off all his moves. I used to think Dad's ____ was funny. But after he injured his ankle really badly last time, I think it's time he slowed down.

ish

add it to some adjectives to mean 'not precisely' or use it as a word on its own - usually to answer questions. We can also add it to a number to mean it's not precisely that number. For example, time or age. I didn't love the film, but it was good---. It was OK. When she asked me if I was OK, I just said '---'. I think she knows I'm not happy. I might be a little late to the meeting, but I should arrive by about 5---.

crunch time

an important or critical time when a decisive or difficult decision has to be made We've reached ____ in our relationship - I'm going to ask my boyfriend to move in with me. I wonder what he'll say? The team are doing well but come ____, will they score that vital goal? It's ______ for us tomorrow - that's when we find out if our building plans have been approved.

sheeple

describes people who just follow the crowd, without much thought I can't believe all these ___who've paid lots of money for the latest smartphone - they'll be half price in a few months' time! My brother's one of those ___ who has to follow the latest fashions - he's now wearing ripped jeans, but so is everyone else at his college! Although nearly everyone in my class has one of those smartwatches, I'm not going to be one of those ____ - I'm going to stick with the old watch my grandmother gave me instead!

peacocking

describes someone showing off to attract attention and impress people. Why does Dev have to wear that bright shirt and walk around the office talking and laughing loudly? It's obvious that he's ____, but to me, he's just annoying. When we first met, I was impressed by John's flashy clothes and constant jokes. But he was obviously ____because now he just wears jeans and never says anything funny! I thought my ____skills would work wonders on our blind date. Unfortunately, she told me I was just showing off, and I just needed to be myself. I don't think I'll be seeing her again.

a walk in the park

easy, especially when compared to other activities I've been studying for so long, this exam should be ____ Oh don't worry about me, I've trekked in the Himalayas, this hill will be _______ The job at the bank will be _____ - you studied economics at university!

donkey's years

for a long time I'm so bored; I've been doing this job for ____! I haven't driven a car for _____; I hope I can remember what to do. We've got to go to Lily's party; I haven't seen her for ______ so it'll be great to catch up.

get the short straw

get the most unpleasant or difficult outcome in a situation It looks like I've _____ - I'm doing the late shift while everyone else goes to the pub! We were given free tickets to the theatre, but I ____ because my seat was right at the back - I couldn't see a thing!

give us a bell

give me a call In informal English we tend to say 'us' even when there's just one of us - just me

cough up

give someone money, especially if you don't want to I waited two whole weeks for my new TV to be delivered. And then I had to ___ an extra £15 for the delivery! I can't believe it. My last trip to the library was expensive. I had to ___ for the fines for all the books I returned late. Whoops. When I sat on my colleague's glasses he asked me to ____£100 to buy a new pair. I must admit, the new ones are an improvement.

full of the joys of spring

happy Raj seems_______ today - he must have some good news about his exam results.

have a pop

have a go at doing something, I'm going to _____ at doing this online application for a passport - apparently it's really easy. We _____ at making a cake but we baked it for too long and it burnt! Why not ____ at yoga? I've heard it's good for your mind, body and soul.

a memory like a sieve

have a very bad memory and forget things easily I've been making my own lunch to take to work, but I've got a memory like a sieve and I keep leaving it at home! My husband's got a memory like a sieve - he keeps going out and leaving the iron switched on. I've got a memory like a sieve - I left the house without my keys this morning and now I'm locked out!

raise/up sbd's game

improve I never finish novels. I need to _____reading ____. I badly need to work on my interview______before my big interview next week. You could do with a bit more exercise, mate. You should _______ running ______!

wing it

improvise Mary spent all weekend partying instead of studying. When I asked her why she wasn't concerned about the exam, she told me she'd just ____. The minister is a great orator. He's never had a speech ready, he just ____ and people love it.

mardy

in a bad mood, moans a lot and gets annoyed easily There are no desks for Pedro to work at today, so he has to sit on the sofa - no wonder he is so ___. My boyfriend is always so ___ - nothing seems to please him. Maybe I shouldn't have come home drunk last night! Steer clear of me today. I only had four hours sleep last night and I'm really ____ today.

rub it in

keep mentioning something another person wants to forget. Don't ___. I know you beat me at tennis but you don't have to keep mentioning the score. Carlos got into Oxford but I didn't. That's bad enough, but he keeps ____by talking about it all the time.

do a runner

leave a place quickly in order to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation The new trainee ____ after the first day - I don't think he could cope with the high-pressure environment. When they started to blame me for the mistake, I felt it best to ____and keep out of the way.

on fleek

look good or are stylish or elegant I love what you're wearing to the party - you're ____! That hair style is ______ - where did you get it done? She's just back from the beauty salon and her eyebrows are _____!

doule down

make extra effort or focus on doing something I need to ___ on my revision - I've got an exam tomorrow. We're going to ___ on our work and finish the project by Friday. You need to ___ on your exercise regime - you're getting unfit!

knees-up

an informal way of saying a lively party where there's usually dancing Sorry I'm a bit sleepy today, we had a big ____ last night. It was great! Now our exams have finished, let's have a _____ at my house tonight!

a slap in the face

an insult - or an action that causes offence or disappointment After all the extra work we put in, it was a ______ not to win the contract.

lose your bottle

to lose your confidence and fail to do something, or decide not to do it He was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him but ______ at the last minute. She asked him instead.

bottle it

to lose your courage and fail to do something I thought about painting my front door bright green but I _______. I went for a conservative grey instead.

the royal treatment

treat sbd very well - as if they were a king or a queen. I met my boyfriend's parents for the first time last week and they gave me ___. We went out for a beautiful meal and then the theatre afterwards. You get the ___when you book hospitality tickets in the Premier League. Free food and drinks and an amazing view of the match. I can't stand the new boss. He really expects the___ from everyone. He's not THAT important.

FOMO

'fear of missing out'. It's a worried feeling you have that other people are doing fun things when you are not - you're missing out! I know Martha's got _____, she's been moaning about not being invited to Wang's karaoke party - but she doesn't even like karaoke! All my friends are going on holiday together but I can't afford it so I've got ______ There's a message on Facebook that all the tickets to that gig are sold out - now I have a feeling of _____

barking up the wrong tree

1- making a wrong assumption 2- doing something in a way that will not work - you're basically wasting your time If you think I have enough spare cash to pay for your holiday, then you're ___. You're ___ if you think I was the one who said you were leaving. It wasn't me! You're ____ if you think I'm going to lend you my car. I've seen how you drive!

hot potato

a phrase we use to refer to difficult or tricky situations, or even people The shortage of housing supply is fast becoming a __________ for the council.

it's the thought that counts

a polite way of saying you appreciate the effort and the kind thought a person had when they bought you a present - but you don't like what they bought A: Wow! That Elvis Presley onesie you're wearing is pretty weird. B: Thanks. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas. _____, I suppose. A: I have no idea what to get my auntie for her birthday. B: Get her anything. _____

cherry-pick

choose the best or most desirable things from a group

bright spark

clever, intelligent with lots of energy OR STUPID (sarcastically) Which ___ suggested we go for a walk on the wettest day of the year?! Come on, own up - who's the ____ who turned the power off and caused everything in the freezer to melt?

That'll be the day

expression to say that we don't think something will happen

freecycle

give things away for free When we installed our new kitchen, I ___ all the old pots and pans. I was going to buy a big, shiny monitor for my computer, but then I found someone was ____their old one. Win win! Our apartment is tiny and my bike was taking up so much space. I couldn't face all the effort of selling it, so I just ___it. Easy.

you do you

mean they always behave in the same way and they won't change Look, we can't agree on this - _____and we'll talk about this again later. I told my girlfriend to do more exercise but she wouldn't listen, so I told her '______', I'm off for a run! I like the way _____ - you stick to what you think is right and are not influenced by other people's comments.

I've got your number

means you understand what someone it trying to do or why they are behaving in a certain way You can't fool me, I've _________ - you're never going to pay me back

have a good nose for smt

naturally good at finding and recognising something We need to sell more newspapers, so we need to find a reporter with ______ a story. I have _______ learning languages and was fluent in Spanish in just a year! My mum's ________ bargains and booked us all flights to Italy for just fifty pounds each.

hater

negative people who dislike someone or something, and sometimes without good reason I'm a real ___of restaurants adding a fixed service charge to the bill. Why can't I choose how much to tip? My wife's a ___ of horror films, so we had to go and see a romcom at the cinema instead!

running on fumes

to describe when someone is very tired and has used all their energy He's been working so hard at work recently. He's ___. I'm worried about him. Towards the end of the match, the footballer said she was ___. I was ___ yesterday. I couldn't concentrate in the meeting.

get the wrong end of the stick

to misunderstand something

Like riding a bike

to say once you learn how to do something, you never forget it Though it's been a while since I made a video, I managed to do it easily - it was ____ I used to do a lot of baking with my mother as a child, and recently I've got back in to it. It's ___ really.

happy days

we use informally to respond to good or happy news A: Have you heard? Everyone in the team is getting a bonus.B: ____! ____ - the school holidays are here! A: We've saved enough money to go on holiday!B: ____!

tone deaf

unable to hear the difference between different musical notes; can't understand the sensitive nature of a situation. People who say they've enjoyed lockdown can sound a bit _____. So many people have lost their jobs. We've all been working so hard - the boss seemed ______ when he rejected our pay rise. I can't believe Sarah said she doesn't believe in global warming to those activists. She's ______.

a thing

'a trend' or 'something recognisable in popular culture'. they've become fashionable: lots of people have them. You know parkour: the sport of running and jumping across buildings? Why is that such ______? Organic powdered food. Since when has that been ________?

air kiss

A kiss in which the two people's lips do not touch, cheek to cheek and a big kissing noise into the air Charles, so wonderful to see you, mwah! Mwah! Charles?! No lips, please. Let's stick to _____.

clickbait

A link on a website designed to draw your attention and make you click I should have known that article wasn't really going to be about Justin Bieber. They're just using his image as __________!

mash-up

A new combination of two already made pieces of material. So I've got these two great pieces of film. One's a romance and one's a horror film. I'm going to ____ them ____ to make a romantic horror!

It beats me

I don't know or I don't understand It_____ how Jen can afford a new sports car when she only works part-time.

a leopard can't change its spots

People never change bad habits I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but ______________ - she won't do it.

going forward

(in office) in the future Boss: I've noticed you chatting on your mobile quite a lot during the working day. ______, can you keep the private conversations to your lunch breaks?

bumper-to-bumper

When there is a lot of traffic on the road and it's moving very slowly or not at all Traffic on the northbound A12 near Greenwich Junction is bumper-to-bumper. Best to avoid the area if you can.

a crash course

a course that you learn about something in a very short period of time Julie took __________ in cooking to prepare for her wedding.

la-la land

a fantasy world where they believe impossible things might happen - but they are being unreasonable and not being realistic She's clearly living in ________ - how can we ever afford to buy a house with the little money we earn?

pot luck

a situation that isn't planned or prepared, you just take a chance and hope that the result will be good or acceptable We didn't know which restaurant to eat at, so took ____ and chose the one recommended in the guide book. If you can't decide which book to pick, take ____, I'm sure they'll all be good to read. I'm going to take ____, and I'm sure the course I choose will be the right one for me.

echo chamber

a situation where people only hear, see or read opinions they agree with Social media's a dangerous ____ - you never get a variety of opinion because all your friends think the same way. A: How on earth did SHE win The Z Factor? Literally no one liked her on my social media feed. B: Yeah well you should try moving away from your ________ and listening to people who don't agree with you!

hangry

angry - or irritable - as a result of being hungry My boyfriend is a nightmare whenever he misses a meal; he gets so _______!

the heat is on

can use to describe a high-pressure situation The deadline's tomorrow and we haven't even started! The________ now. The __________for United. If they don't win their last 5 matches they'll lose their place in the Premier League.

a different kettle of fish

completely different from something or someone else that has been talked about Heating a ready meal in the microwave is one thing but preparing a freshly cooked meal is ___ Camping on the beach would be amazing but camping in the rain would be a ____!

brass neck

confident and say or do what they want but doesn't understand their behaviour might be unacceptable to others The customer has a ______ asking for a refund when it was obvious he had already worn the shoes.

potty

crazy or going crazy My boss wants me to work on New Year's day for no extra money. He must be _________. really keen on something I'm __________about music and drawing.

wash one's dirty linen in public

discuss private matters in public Don't _____________ , save your argument for when you get home!

jiggery-pokery

dishonest behaviour that is intended to trick people The company is being investigated after some shareholders accused it of _____. I was surprised that the businessman got away with so much _____before he was finally caught and sent to prison.

pull smt out of the hat

do something that is not expected and it makes a bad situation better We thought we'd never complete the project on time but somehow, Javeed managed to ___it ______. Our team has had a bad season but they still managed to ____ a cup victory ___ by the end of it.

cheap and nasty

doesn't cost much and low quality Everything in this shop is__________. Don't buy anything.

cheap and cheerful

doesn't cost much but it serves its purpose He made a lot of money from designing ________ toys for children.

left, right, and centre

everywhere or all the time I'm not surprised the cafe closed. It's been losing customers left and right over the past couple of years. You can't miss that new film; they've been promoting it left, right, and centre.

part of the furniture

expression we use to describe someone or something that's been in the same place for a very long time. You almost that think they'll be there forever. John has been the school caretaker for nearly twenty years. He's become _____________. We come here so often, it's almost as if we are ________.

in good nick

in good condition I picked up a set of silver plates from an antique shop and they were _____pretty______________________ My grandpa loves his 1960s motorbike and has worked very hard to kept it _________________. My grandmother, she's 96 and still does her own shopping, she's ____________.

fuddy-duddy

informal phrase to describe someone who is boring, dull and has old-fashioned attitudes Ling thinks I'm an old ____ because I don't drive a flashy sports car. My dad's a bit of a ______ - he still listens to music on cassette tapes. The bank has lost many customers over the years, probably due to its______ image.

on the cards

likely to happen My son might be ready to settle down. He's had lots of girlfriends but now he's going steady with a colleague and a wedding might be_______

make a mountain out of a molehill

make a big issue out of a small issue, overact It's only a 2000-word essay - stop ___________!

That'll put hairs on your chest

mean something that is good for you and makes you strong Why don't you try the spicy fish dish? That'll ________ I was told eating dates everyday would ________________

no picnic

mean there was nothing easy or pleasant about it Having no job and trying to pay the bills is ___. It's ___ going on a camping holiday with the kids - they moan all the time! Living on the fifth floor without a lift is _____; I have to carry everything up the stairs.

one good turn does deserve another

mean when someone does something to help you, you should do something helpful in return A: Do you mind doing the washing up? I did do all the cooking and _________! B: Oh, OK then.

all over the shop

means 'everywhere' - when describing a search for something, or an untidy arrangement of things describe someone or something very disorganised Where were you? We looked ___________ for you. He left his dirty washing______. Our house was a real mess! Sorry, I'm a bit ___________ this morning. I forgot my ticket, my phone... I left my laptop at home. What's wrong with me?

the coast is clear

means it's safe to do something because nobody is watching - so we won't get caught I really wanted to know what my birthday present was, so when __________, I unwrapped it - I guess I've spoilt my surprise now! ____________ so make a run for it before you get caught!

come/go with the territory

means it's something that is expected as part of the position or situation The job involves a lot of travelling, but I guess that _______. If you're gonna play rugby, you're gonna get hurt - injuries _________!

until I'm blue in the face

means telling someone something is a waste of time because nothing will happen or change I've told him to get here on time ____________ but still he continues to arrive late.

There's method to my madness

means that although what I'm doing looks like madness I'm doing it deliberately; I have a reason for doing it A: What are you doing putting all the books on the floor? B: ____________________. I'm taking a photo of the books I'm putting away. The photos will help me locate the books more easily. A: Oh, that's clever.

test the water

means to test the idea, try it out and see if it works Woman A) Have you started on your new book? Woman B) Yes, I've written three chapters and I've sent it to the publishers to ______________ Woman A) Oh, what perfume are you wearing? It's lovely. Woman B) Oh thanks. It's just a sample a company sent me. They're __________________to see if people like it.

no great shakes

not very good or not very impressive That new singer has a great voice but he's _____________at playing the guitar. The film sequel is ______________ compared with the first one - there was no story and the special effects were awful!

old-school

old-fashioned, or something from the past that you admire, feel nostalgic about. Our new teacher is a bit ____ in his approach, but he always gets good results. I love your new coat - it's so___________!

on the box

on TV A: What are you up to tonight? B: Not much, just gonna relax in front of the box.

jack-of-all-trades

someone who can do many kinds of jobs, is multi-skilled Jane's got a great business - she runs a cafe where she makes and sells the cakes, she does the marketing and her own accounting - she really is a __________________

snowflake

someone who gets offended or upset too easily A so-called friend of mine deleted a comment I made on his social media page just because I didn't agree with him. What a __________. There are so many places you can express yourself these days but at the same time everyone gets offended so easily. You can see why it's called 'generation ___________'.

eye candy

someone who is attractive, but not very interesting things which look good but are not very useful. I was going out with this gorgeous footballer but it didn't last. He was just ___________. This illustrated cookbook looks good but you can never find the ingredients for the recipes. These pictures are just _____________!

frenemy

someone who pretends to be her friend but is really her enemy She seems so false, I wouldn't trust her - she's just a _______.

pain in the neck

something or someone is annoying, actually very annoying for a long time Completing this tax form is a real ___________, there are so many boxes to fill in

the last/final straw

the last thing or event that caused the total melt down A: I've never seen you so angry. B: I have had such a bad day. I woke up late and rushed out of the house, then missed my bus by seconds, got in to work and was told there would be no pay rise this year. When the dinner lady said I put too much salad on my plate, it was the ____

go down the pan

things are going completely wrong and a lot of effort is wasted Jason had great dreams of becoming a football player, but they ______________when he broke his leg. I'm afraid all that careful preparation we did for Jemma's surprise birthday party _______when her brother told her about it.

pull a fast one on/with sbd

to deceive or play a trick on someone the shopkeeper tried to _________ on me. He gave me a £5 note as change instead of a £20 note. Don't you try and ________ with me! I know you're not really sick. Get back to work.

pull sbd's leg

to fool or trick them but in a fun way I was ________when I said I was going to marry Jenny but he believed me and bought me a present!

clean up one's act

to improve one's behaviour or performance He turned up late for work every day looking a real mess, so they told him to ____________or face losing his job.

lie through one's teeth

to tell someone something that's completely untrue He ________________ when he said he bought her an expensive engagement ring - it was just a cheap one from the catalogue.

reinvent the wheel

to waste time trying to create something that has already been made Don't ________; we already have a plan that seems to work well.

make a monkey/fool out of sbd

try to make sbd look foolish or to humiliate Mary _________ by telling to me to ask her best friend out on a date - she said no!

It takes two to tango

two people - not just one - are responsible for that bad situation Everyone blames Charlie for their break up but Lizzy was just as bad. ____________

in the blink of an eye

very quickly Sarah couldn't believe that the first two years of university went in the _____

rolling in it

very rich Carlos is always moaning about lack of money but his parents are _____, so he should just ask them for some

not a sausage

'nothing at all' (informal and friendly) A: Did the boss say anything about my project? B: No, sorry, ___________

have/get an axe to grind

1/ to have an opinion you want other people to accept Oh no here comes Roger. He's got __________ about smoking, so you'd better put that cigarette out or he'll be talking to you for hours about your health. 2/ to be angry or upset about something, want some kind of revenge Don't suggest getting dinner from Yummy Chicken. Jim's had ________ since they fired him last month.

long

British street slang which we use to talk about a task which is boring and not really worth it I can't believe you're cleaning the whole house. That's___________, bro. Come out and enjoy the sun. A: Why don't you stick with your diet? B: Dieting is___________. I just eat what I want and go to the gym instead.

wet weekend

a boring and disappointing time, boring people My cousin's a bit of a ______, he's got no personality and nothing to say. I had to do my accounts yesterday - it was like a _______in a paint factory!

a recipe for disaster

a combination of things that will, at some point, go wrong and cause harm, damage My doctor says drinking too much, not exercising enough, and having a stressful job are _____. He says I might die young!

cut one's teeth

acquire initial practice or experience in a particular job or activity. We could say it's where you get your basic skills He __________ running the junior football club before becoming a professional referee. Dan ________ on a local newspaper before landing a job on a national daily.

knee-jerk reaction

act after an event without thinking carefully After the terrorist attack, the government should be careful to avoid a _________. A declaration of war could lead to even bigger problems later

at the drop of a hat

immediately without even thinking about it My wife's expecting a baby so I might have to rush to the hospital __________

pink-collar worker

low-paid jobs performed mostly by women - jobs such as a secretary or a nurse

cyberchondriac

someone who looks up medical advice on the internet for every symptom they have and then gets really anxious because they think they have a serious illness

slow TV

A: What are you watching? It looks just like a fireplace with a big piece of wood burning.B: It is! Isn't ____ fantastic? It takes about four hours for the wood to burn completely. I recently discovered ____. My friends think it's really dull, but I find it helps clear my head after a stressful day.

it escapes me

I temporarily can't remember I went shopping for something, but ____ what I wanted to buy! When you get there, speak to the manager - her name ____ but you'll know who she is. The keys are somewhere in the house, but ___ where I put them.

small change

Something that is insignificant or trivial, meaning not important I've only got a cold so my health problems are ____ compared with your broken leg. Eating out every night is ____ to Molly - she can afford it with the huge salary she's on. Where I sit on the plane is ___ to me, as long as we arrive on time.

cool cat

a person who is exceptionally fashionable and trendy. It is also used to describe someone who is funny, charming, and quite often relaxed. It's thought to originate from the jazz scene. Jethro is such a ___! He always dresses in the latest fashion. Yuqing is so awesome to work with. She's funny and never gets stressed out. She's one ___! I met Tano at a jazz music performance! He plays the saxophone and he's such ___.

smombie

a person who walks around with their head bowed down, writing messages or playing games on their phone and not paying any attention to the world around them! I'm too terrified to drive past the college these days. You never know when a ____'s going step out into the road in front of the car! I was knocked flying the other day by a ____ as I was trying to get a bus. I don't even think she knew she'd bumped into me!

game face

a serious or intense facial expression that someone has when they're determined to win something You could tell by his ___ that he was going to win! Look at Jaya's ___ - you can tell she is determined to win the race. Put your ____ on when you go to the bank and ask to borrow some money.

dumbphone

a simple, old-fashioned style mobile phone which can only make calls and send text messages Get yourself a ____, like me. There's nothing to check! My sleep has improved so much since I got rid of my smartphone. There's no temptation to stare at this ____ in bed! I'm sick of being bullied by my smartphone. I'm going to join the ______ revolution!

catch-22

a situation where you can't win. Basically, you can't do one thing until you have done another thing which you can't do until you have done the first thing I need my parent's car, but my mum says I need permission from my dad, then my dad says I need permission from my mum. I can't get permission from either. So I'm in a _____ situation. you can't get a new job without some experience of doing it but you can't get the experience with doing the job. So it's _____

brain fade

a slang term meaning a short period when you can't think clearly or remember things. I saw an old colleague on the street last week. Completely forgot her name! A serious case of ___. Really embarrassing. I'm sure I did terribly in the exam. I had a major ___. I hate doing job interviews. It's not that the questions are difficult, I just get ____as soon as I walk into the room. Can't even remember my own name!

a punch above one's weight

achieve beyond what is expected of sbd Croatia ____ when it comes to football. It has a population of under 5 million, but came second in the World Cup. Even as a small business, you can ____ if you focus on quality and build a strong brand. Some of the cheaper smartphones are really ____ - they're a fraction of the price but have got some great features.

all that jazz

and so on/and other similar things I had a super lazy weekend. I woke up late, got some coffee, went for a walk, watched a couple of movies, _____. It was great. I don't read celebrity gossip. You know: who's going out with who, who got plastic surgery, ___. I'm just not interested!

put sbd/smt on the map

become famous or become more prominent Her first exhibition at the Tate gallery has___ her _____ as a serious modern artist. . This great tasting food has really ____this new restaurant _______.

play a blinder

describe an amazing display of skill, usually in sports, but also in other areas in life Theresa ___ today in the final. What a simply amazing performance on the tennis court. Did you see Mexico beating Germany in the World Cup? Mexican forward Hirving Lozano ____ absolute ______ ! Darren, what an awesome presentation! You _____ . I'm pretty sure we've just won some new clients.

living in cloud cuckoo land

describes a situation where someone thinks doing something impossible is possible If my teacher thinks I can do my grammar homework and learn all my new vocabulary tonight, then he's ____! If you think we're going to win this match with only ten players, then you're ___! He's clearly ____ - how can we ever afford to buy a house with the little money we earn?

take one for the team

give something up for the benefit of others - usually for your friends or colleagues, or your sports team, for example. There wasn't enough space in the car for all of us, so Johnny ____ and walked. Valentyna injured her foot in the first half of the game. She wanted to continue playing, but we decided that someone else should play in the second half to give us the best chance of winning. Valentyna t_____. Sometimes you have to ____. Last week I spent the day clearing out the kitchen while the rest of the family went to the beach.

leave a bad taste in sbd's mouth

have a negative experience and feel bad or angry about it afterwards I refuse to go back to that hotel. They were so rude! It _____ When my boss sent me that angry email last thing on Friday, it _____.

out of sbd's depth

in a difficult situation that you cannot cope with - it could be because a task exceeds your knowledge or ability. So it's a bit like drowning in a situation - but not literally I'm so ___ in this new job. I haven't got a clue what to do! When everyone started talking about politics I knew I was ___, so I politely made my excuses and went home. He was clearly ____ in the match - he lacked any skill and couldn't even pass the ball!

doddle

it's easy to do (informal) According to the instructions, building this bookshelf should be a ___. Getting to the museum is a ___; you only need to take one train straight there. The test was a ___, and I got full marks.

nothing to shout about

it's nothing special. It's average or unremarkable. So you wouldn't make an effort to tell anyone about it. This year's bonus is ____ but I guess it's better than last year. My job is _____but at least it pays the bills. Her clothes are _____ - brown, cotton, cheap-looking, not very fashionable!

out with the old, in with the new

leave old things or old ideas behind and start fresh with new things or ideas It's time for me to get rid of my old boots and buy a new pair. ___! The tech company released their new range last week. I've already bought something. It's ____ chunky phone and ____ lightweight touch screen one. Last year I spent too much time eating cake - but now for 2020, I'm going to join a gym and get fit - it's ___ body and ____ one!

let sleeping dogs lie

leave things as they are to avoid causing trouble or restarting an old argument I was going to mention the argument we had last night, but decided to ____. Let's not go over last night's performance: _____ and move on.

eke out

make the supply of something last a bit longer, by using it carefully. It's what you do when you only have a small quantity of something, and you want it to last as long as possible. Because of the storm, we had to ___ food supplies before we could get to the shops again. Our crops have failed this year so we can hardly ___ a living. I've lost my job, so I need to ___ what savings I have to survive

the joke is on sbd

means the person who has tried to make you look silly has ended up looking silly themselves. The joke has backfired Daisy laughed at my 'terrible' dress sense, until she found out I was wearing a designer dress - I guess _____ now! Ha, you thought I'd never beat your time for completing the marathon. But I have, so _____ you! I know you were trying to be funny by saying I'd never pass my exam. But now you're the only one who hasn't, so ____ you, I'm afraid!

if the cap fits

means you agree with someone's criticism or an opinion about someone else - and they should accept it. A: My boyfriend calls me messy and untidy - what a cheek! B: Well, _______. You say your teacher thinks you're lazy because you never do your homework? Well, ______ A: They think I ate all the biscuits because I was the only one in the kitchen last night. B: Well, ________

mind your P's and Q's

means you should remember to be polite in a social situation, and to be careful about what you say or do. Gang, Gang, Gang! How many times have I told you to ____ when you're with your grandparents? Grandma doesn't like that kind of language! Last week's meeting with our new clients was super frustrating. But I had to mind my _____. As they say, the customer is always right! Lan always says the first thing that comes into her head. I just hope she ____ at lunch today.

from pillar to post

move from one place to another in a disorganised and chaotic way We got moved ____ on our tour so we started to complain - it's not what was promised in the holiday brochure! As a child, both my parents worked, so I got dragged ___ trying to find someone to look after me. I was passed ____ when I phoned the bank to try and pay my credit card bill.

eat your heart out

people often use it: as a joke. After doing something impressive, they say it followed by someone who is famous for doing that thing. A: What a goal! How did you score that?! B: Not bad huh? ____________, Ronaldo! I've been practising all month and think I'm getting pretty good. Want to hear me sing? OK, here goes... _____________, Beyoncé!

frontliner

people who work in an advanced position during a pandemic, such as doctors and nurses Ahmed is a ____ and works in the hospital as a doctor helping patients recover from diseases. Wellington's mother is a _______ and attends many accidents as a first responder.

friends in high places

people you know who are powerful and in an important position and are able to help you. Wang managed to get a promotion but I'm sure it's only because he knows people _____ Thanks to his friends ______, my boyfriend managed to get tickets for the sold-out rock concert. Yeah! Despite failing her exams, Jane still managed to get a place at university - I'm sure she has friends _____

hard-nosed

practical, determined, stubborn and unforgiving She's a ____ reporter - she got the scoop that none of the other TV channels managed to get. When my son was ill I asked my boss for time off but he's so _____ he said 'no'!

ping

send email/text I need to know the details of the contract. Could you ____them over to me as soon as possible. please. My friend's just____ me to say she can't go out tonight, so I suppose I'll have to stay in and watch TV. I'll ____ you over the address of the party and hopefully I'll see you there later.

sharenting

share way too many photos of their children He needs to stop _____ - I see so many photos of his daughter. Eric, I'm tired of your constant ____. Aren't you worried that your son won't be happy about this in the future?

snackable

short online articles, videos and other content that are quick and easy to read or watch Because my free time is short, it's good to find some snackable videos I can watch on my smartphone while I wait for the bus. The short city guides I found on the internet are very snackable and great for planning my trip around Africa. These days videos are often less than a minute long so that they're snackable and appeal to a younger audience.

Goldilocks

slow to decide, trying to find the perfect one Ling, can you stop ____ and just decide what to drink? Happy hour is almost finished! Juan took a ____ approach to decorating his apartment - everything had to be just right. They say our planet is in the ____ zone - it's not too hot and not too cold to support life. It's just the right temperature.

a taste of one's own medicine

someone receiving the same treatment that they have given to somebody else Our boss is so rude to us but finally somebody has answered back and now he's got ___. When I meet up with my boyfriend, he's always late so this time I'm going to give him __ and turn up late as well. Deepak is always rude to the teacher but he was really offended when she ___ and was rude back to him!

as if

something is obviously untrue or will never happen You think her second novel was better than her first? __! She thinks she could win the award for best short film. ___! It's rubbish!

just the ticket

something that exactly what is wanted or needed Oh I feel terrible: I've got a cold and my nose it blocked but a drink of hot honey and lemon would be ______ to make me feel better. I think a new art gallery will be_____for improving the image of the town and encouraging more people to visit. Our car has got seven seats, so it's ____ for taking all the kids to football practice every week.

a sting in the tail

something unpleasant comes with something that is meant to be pleasurable We had a great holiday but it had _____ - when we got home we discovered our house had been broken into. I love her new book - the story is funny and romantic - but there's ______when someone dies.

ghost

suddenly stop all communication with them, with no explanation Katia felt awful for weeks after being ____ by a guy she really liked. Keiko wanted to break up with her boyfriend but didn't want to upset him. So when he suddenly started ____ her, she actually felt relieved. Jorge and Rafa used to hang out all the time at school. But once they started university, Jorge just ____ Rafa.

carbon footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide you produce through your activities - things like how much electricity you use... I used the air conditioning non-stop all summer. My ___ must be huge. Martina has the highest ____ of all her colleagues. She drives everywhere, flies every weekend, and eats nothing but red meat. I downloaded an app to calculate my ____. The results are pretty shocking.

nomophobia

the fear of not having or not being able to use your mobile phone My brother has definitely got ____- he never switches his phone off, even when we're at the cinema. My phone is being fixed and I'm feeling quite anxious - maybe I've got ____?! Calling all ____(phobes) - it's time to switch off your phones, have a digital detox and start talking to people rather than staring at a small screen!

onboarding

the process of a new employee getting used to the job at the business We're ___some new recruits today, so please make them welcome. The ___process includes learning this new computer software program. A familiarisation day is part of our ___strategy for all new employees.

the plot thickens

the situation has become more mysterious and more complicated Despite accusing him of stealing, it turns out he wasn't around when the crime was committed - ___! The woman I saw him with at the theatre wasn't his wife - ____! I thought he'd lost his job, but I still see him leave for work every morning - _____!

thereby hangs a tale

there is more to say about what I have already told you A: Why are you covered in mud?B: Well, ___ I won that medal for bravery - and ___ What a journey! All the main roads were closed so we had to drive cross-country - and ____

all downhill

things are going to be easy. Sometimes it is used to describe situations that get worse Yeah! Our building plans have been approved. It's ___ from here on. Once I've completed this final assignment, it'll be ____ until I get my qualification. The film's opening scene was amazing, but it was ____ after that - there was no story and the acting was appalling!

throw in the towel

to admit defeat. The phrase comes from boxing. If a boxer is being hit too much, and is losing the fight, sometimes his coach will throw a towel into the boxing ring to signal the fight is over. He's been defeated. I've tried my best but this job is just too hard - I'm afraid I'm going to have to ___ and quit. I know the race is tough, but don't ___, keep going and you might actually win!

get hot under the collar

to become very annoyed or angry about something Nick got a little ____when he returned from a meeting to discover his colleagues had eaten all his chocolates. I hate driving in big cities. I just get too ____when others drive badly. I prefer to take a bus and chill out.

skew-whiff

to describe things that aren't quite straight, or not quite as they should be, describe things that don't go according to plan A: There we go! One perfectly hung picture. What do you think? B: Hmm, it's a little ____. Let me hang it straight. This table is ____. One of the legs must be too short. Our journey went a bit _____ after we missed the train this morning. I wanted to spend the whole weekend working on my dissertation, but everything went a bit ____ when my friend arrived in the afternoon.

blow the cobwebs away

to get some fresh air and exercise so that you feel refreshed and can think more clearly, it's about feeling more lively and alert Do you want to go hillwalking this weekend? It might help you_____ . I've been stuck indoors for days, I need to ____and go for a run. I know studying is hard, why don't you go for a walk in the park to_____? It might help you think more clearly.

laugh all the way to the bank

to make lots of money very easily The florist ___ when she signed a deal to supply all the hotels in the chain with flowers. Since we bought it, the price of our house has greatly increased. So when we come to sell it, we'll be _____.

out of order

to say someone has been unfair or inconsiderate The referee in Saturday's football match was totally ____! I couldn't believe he sent off our best player - he was obviously biased! A passenger on the train this morning started shouting at me. She said I pushed her! I thought she was really ___! I couldn't help it. The train stopped abruptly.

say no more

to say we understand what someone is suggesting and there is no need for further explanation. Roger's in a really bad mood?___ - I'll stay out of his way. Thanks for telling me about the big meeting. __ - I'll be there. When I told the decorator I wasn't happy with the colour of the walls, he just said '___' and repainted it.

fib

to tell a small lie, nothing too serious, a lie Marty ____ that he was going to study at his friend Lucio's house, when in fact they went to see a movie. While watching the horror scenes, Marty was so scared he had to close his eyes. But after the film he _____ he was not frightened at all. Marty told Lucio that he knew the main actor from the movie, but that was just another _____. In fact Marty had just met the actor for five seconds and taken a quick selfie together.

to cut a long story short

to tell only the important parts about something that has happened and leaving out all the details So I spoke to the boss and___________ , I'm getting a promotion! There was a technical problem with our plane which they couldn't fix so ___________, we had to wait for another flight and we arrived a day late.

curry favour

try to get someone to like you or even give you something I know what you're up to! You're trying to ___ with the manager by telling her what a great job she's doing! The company tried to___ with its employees by giving them all a pay rise. He's trying to get free tickets to the gig by ___ with the tour manager - it won't work!

down in the dumps

unhappy, fed up and sometimes feels there is no hope Oh it's Monday again, no wonder I feel so _____. Reshma has been so _____ since her boyfriend left her.

gnarly

unpleasant or not nice That coffee I bought tasted really ___. I'm going to complain. He thinks he's a good singer, but the noises he makes are just ___. Getting out of bed early in the morning is ___. I like a lie-in.

not gonna lie

used for honest criticism; we might also use it before something we're very proud of, or something we boast about A: Fancy coming round for dinner tomorrow? B: Absolutely. If you're making your famous roast? A: Oh yes. _______, it's the best roast in town! it's become a popular phrase on social media. Usually accompanied by a photo of someone on holiday at the beach with a post saying "_____, it's stunning here!"

serial returner

used to talk about people who return lots of items they've bought - usually online. Oh no, this customer has sent back an order for the fifth time this month. If we don't block these ____, we're going to go out of business! A: I buy about £400 worth of clothes every month. B: No way! You must be rich. A: Not really. I return about £200 worth. I'm one of those ___ And in business news, online clothes shops are introducing new measures to make it harder for so-called ____ to get refunds on their orders.

suck it and see

used when you do something new and you're not sure whether you will like it or not - like a new job I decided to dye my hair blonde, but I'm still not sure about it. I'll ______________. I can always dye it black again!

don't mind me

'ignore me', 'don't let me interrupt you' Sorry, ____ - I've just come back to get the books I left on the table. Please ___ - I've got to eat this sandwich during the meeting because I haven't had time for lunch. I've just got to fix this light, so ___

there's nothing to it

'it's easy or simple to do'. Making the pancakes is easy - ___- just add milk, eggs and flour. There was ___- all he had to do was collect the documents and deliver them to the office. Unfortunately, he got lost. All you have to do it push this button and the coffee comes out here - there's really ___

humblebrag

False modesty I never thought I was very good at exams, so it's a bit confusing that I got top of the class in all subjects again this year. I somehow made it to the singing competition final this year. Think the judges need their ears testing! Help! I can't believe the cakes in first class aren't sugar-free. I'll be gaining so much weight.

photobomb

When an unexpected person appears in a photo as it's being taken Oh no! My graduation photo has been totally ruined by a _____________er ! Look

money burns a hole in one's pocket.

When sbd spend all the money whenever they have A: I find saving money so difficult. I like to buy the latest gadgets. B: The trouble with you is that __________

bad hair day

a day when you feel and look messy, especially because of your hair. It can also be used to describe a day that doesn't go well Today's a _____ for me - I feel a complete mess. Oh no! I've got an interview today, and it's ___ I'm having a ___ - I think I'll go back to bed!

busman's holiday

a holiday where you do the same thing you do at work instead of just having a rest The taxi driver said he was going on a driving holiday around Europe - it sounds like a _____to me! My mini-break turned into a bit of a ____when I had to use my plumbing skills to fix a leak in the hotel. I decided to take a break from playing in the band and go on holiday but it turned into a _____ when I ended up busking to raise enough money for my plane ticket home.

fireworks

a lot of angry shouting The ____ started when I told her what I really thought about her boyfriend! Argh! I'm going to be late again. The boss is going to be furious when I get to work. There's going to be ____!

a shedload/shedloads

a lot of/lots of We don't need to go out for dinner tonight; we've got a ________ of food in the fridge! He spent __________ on his new car. I can't go anywhere. I've got _______ to do today.

a digital detox

a period of time away from all devices that can connect to the internet My phone broke the day I went on holiday which forced me to have ___. I felt so relaxed. I spend all day and night on Saturdays on social media so I need ____ every Sunday or I'm too tired to go to work on Monday.

a shock to the system

a sudden and unpleasant change from what you have been used to After such a long and hot summer, this cold weather has come as ___. I hope they can fix my car quickly. Walking to work has been a bit of ___. My daughter has found starting secondary school a real ____. She gets so much homework!

whiff

a sudden smell of something a ____ of bad breath I caught a ____ of eau de cologne

curate's egg

a thing that is partly good and partly bad That new film is a ____. Great action, but the story and acting were awful. The day ended up being a bit of a ____. It was nice to see my friends, but after the car broke down and I got wet in the rain, I wasn't happy. I think her new novel is a ____. It has moments of brilliance, but overall it felt a bit of a let-down.

pea-souper

a very thick fog that's hard to see through It looks like our flight is delayed until this ___ clears. It's a real ____ today. When I was driving here I couldn't even see the car in front of me.

give sbd the runaround

behave in an unhelpful way - possibly sending someone from one place to another to get help When I called the bank to ask for a loan, they just ____. She went to the hospital to get the results of her test, but she just got the runaround. Now she's going to make a formal complaint.

all at sea

completely confused or puzzled People are ___with this new one-way system in the city - they're not sure how to get into the centre! I've lost my smartphone and I'm ____ about how to contact my friends. I'm ____with this new rota - I'm not sure what I am doing today.

kick something into the long grass

delay a plan or decision because it is difficult or problematic The decision to ____ the plans for a new railway line _____ means that we'll have to continue to face overcrowding and slow journey times. He hoped by ____ a decision on her marriage proposal _____ she'd soon forget - but she didn't! I've decided to ____ this plan to redecorate the house ____ - we've got more urgent things to do, like fixing the hole in the roof!

barefaced

deliberately bold and shameless John was at the pub last night bragging about his goal-scoring again - but we all know he's a ______ liar.

bleed sbd dry

extract all my money from sbd My old car keeps breaking down. It's ___! John is taking legal action against the company. He wants to ____ for all the pain he has suffered. This divorce has ____ - I can't even afford to go on holiday now.

across

familiar with Professor Zhang is a specialist in the European economy. He's _____ all the latest developments. A: Did you come to last week's meeting? B: Afraid not, no. A: OK, so you're not ____ the new plan. Let me give you a quick summary. A: Pete, I want to make sure you're _____ the food for tomorrow. Now, remember two of our guests are vegetarian. B: Got it.

miffed

feel frustrated or annoyed, usually because of the behaviour of other people You know what? I've been working really late all week to finish this proposal, but my boss hasn't said a word of thanks. Yeah, you could say I'm pretty ____. Laura met this guy on holiday. She told me he was really special, and that they seemed serious about each other. But he hasn't called in weeks. She's really _____ about it. You'd think that when you order a vegetarian pizza, it would come without meat. No wonder Martin was ____ when it arrived with ham on it.

let sbd off the hook

free sbd from an obligation/difficult situation (tha cho) I haven't studied much but my teacher _______ today. She's decided to postpone the test as long as I hit the books this week.

hide nor hair

have not seen someone around for some time - like they have disappeared I haven't seen ___ of Suki all week - maybe she's on holiday? We haven't seen ____ of the builders since we paid them. We didn't see ____of the manager the whole time we were in the office.

have a soft spot for smt

have the feeling of really liking something or someone He always ____ the woman in accounts - and guess what? Now they're getting married! She ___ designer shoes - her cupboard is crammed with hundreds of pairs, some she's never even worn!

take the rough with the smooth

have to accept the bad or unpleasant things in a situation as well as the good things Having kids is very fulfilling but it can be challenging too, especially the lack of sleep - but I guess I have to _____!

all my Christmases have come at once

having lots of good luck Yeah! I got a pay rise and I'm off on holiday tomorrow, and I've won the lottery! It seems like _____ ! The day I got married, I heard I'd passed my exams and got a promotion, so it felt like ____ _____: my parents bought me a new car, I got a place at university and I've got a new girlfriend!

step on it

hurry up Taxi! Could you take me to the station please? And could you ______? Our coach told us to____ if we wanted to get to the match on time. Please _______ otherwise we're going to miss the plane

bug

irritate someone My car is always breaking down. It really ___me that they can't fix it. My friend is ____me about going to the cinema, but I don't want to go. I'm sorry. I don't mean to ___you by asking you again, but I forgot if you wanted tea or coffee.

so done with

irritated and bored by it! Often it's a task that you don't want to do I need a new job. I'm _______ delivering pizza. I need to get to bed earlier. I'm _____ feeling like a zombie every day.

mansplaining

is when a man explains something to a woman as if they are stupid or knows less about a subject simply because she is a woman Man: Push your foot down a bit harder on the clutch before you try to change gear. It'll make it much smoother. Woman: Quit the ________. I'm a taxi driver, OK?

shrinkflation

is where the quantity of something is reduced It appears lots of brands are practising _______ these days, probably to cut costs and maximise their profits. I don't believe it! There used to be 20 biscuits in the packet, but now _________means there are only 16!

a bitter pill to swallow

it's a situation that is unpleasant and difficult to accept When John found out about his wife's affair with his best friend, it was _________________. It was ___________________ knowing that my older sister finished the race quicker than me.

out of the loop

not having, or not being aware of the knowledge a particular group of people do have I've been ___since I went on holiday. I didn't know Geeta and Bilal had got engaged! They kept me ___, so it was a shock to discover that they were moving our sales team to Birmingham! (opposite) Please keep me _____ if you have any more discussions about the building work. Thanks!

willy-nilly

randomly or without order I'm not sure that's art. It looks like you've just thrown colours on the canvas ____ You can't just come into the office ___. We have a set start time! In the morning, I just put on any old clothes ____

talk the talk

refers to people who talk confidently on a topic without necessarily knowing much about it. Oh no, not another meeting chaired by Binh. He can certainly _____ but he actually knows nothing! OK, go in there, _____, and get out before they realise we don't have a clue about marketing! It's one thing ____, but we need action. We need someone who can walk the walk.

drama queen

sbd who becomes very angry or upset over tiny small things I'm not dining out with Peter anymore. If the dish is not cooked exactly the way he likes he makes a big fuss. He's such a ____________!

microworker

sbd who earns money from performing simple, repetitive digital tasks that help develop computer systems. Since the recession, lots of people who lost their jobs have earned cash as ___. Some of the biggest tech giants have use ____to help develop their systems. Some complain it's badly paid, but other like the flexibility of ____(work).

whizz-kid

someone young, very clever and successful at doing something My nephew is a computer ___: he earns a fortune fixing people's laptops! Our new financial ____has come straight from university and he's doing really well. She was a ____at university, so it's no wonder she's now a partner at one of the top legal firms.

a necessary evil

something bad that can't be avoided, and you have to accept it in order to achieve a good result For me, exams are ______ - you have to do them to get a place at university. Sitting in traffic for hours is ______if I want to drive to the seaside on a public holiday! I hate running, but having to exercise is _______if I want to stay fit and healthy.

gathering dust

something has been left for a while without being used When my father sold his house, we discovered an old car in the garage that was ___. It was worth a fortune. You can have my old pictures. They're just ___ If you don't want that tea service, I'll give it to charity. No point it ___ here.

let the dust settle

wait for the situation to calm down We've had lots of complaints about the changes but let's wait until ____ before we respond. We're busy moving house at the moment but I'll give you a call when _____. Now the ____ has _____ after the restructuring, I think we can talk about recruitment.

giant killers

when a strong or skillful player or team is beaten by a less strong opponent (sports) We're celebrating our village cricket team's ___ over a professional county team! There was a ___ at the tennis match today - a brand new player beat the third- seeded player in straight sets! The non-league team have become ____ in the FA Cup - they could go all the way to the final.

get my goat

when something annoys you These queues at the post office really ______. I've been waiting for half an hour!

six of one, half a dozen of the other

when we think there is very little difference between two choices. We also use it when two people are equally responsible for something. A: I don't know whether to give my mum flowers or chocolates for Mother's Day. B: It's__________________ A: They keep blaming each other - whose fault was it really? B: Oh, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I'm game

willing to try something; interested in doing something fun or unusual A: Hey Brian, I'm organising a football match between the managers and the workers, do you want to play? B: Sure, count me in. I'm ___________.

You've sold it to me

you've convinced me A: I lost five pounds after just a week on this new diet. It's definitely worth a try. B: ____________. I need to get in shape for my school reunion.