No
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IDIOMS
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MEANING
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EXAMPLE
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1
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Eat crow
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If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something and apologize.
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“He had no option but to eat crow and admit that his analysis was wrong.”
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2
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Eat one's words
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If you eat your words, you have to admit
that what you said before was wrong.
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“After predicting disastrous results, he had to eat his words with the success of the new product.”
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3
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Time flies
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This expression is used to express surprise at how
quickly time passes (usually in a very active or happy situation).
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"It's hard to believe we've been living here two
years already. Time files, doesn't
it?"
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4
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See the error of
your ways
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When someone sees
the error of their ways, they understand that what they are doing is
wrong and accept to change their behaviour.
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"He talked to a
counsellor who tried to make him see
the error of his ways."
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5
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Swallow one's pride
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If you swallow your pride, you accept something
humiliating or embarrassing, for example having to admit that you are wrong,
or that you have less knowledge than you thought.
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"When Jill failed the exam, she had to swallow her pride and repeat the
course."
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6
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Better late than
never
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When someone does
something late, this remark means that it's better to do it late than not do
it at all.
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"Do you know
what time it is? You promised you'd come early to help me - but better
late than never I suppose!"
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7
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Wide of the mark
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If something is (or falls) wide of the mark, it is
incorrect or inadequate, or it is not what is required or expected.
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"The price offered was wide of the mark - it was sold for
ten times more!" |
8
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At this stage of the
game
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This expression
refers to the current point reached in a process, activity or developing
situation.
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"At this stage of the game I think
any further intervention would be unwise. Let's wait and see how things
develop."
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9
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Live in clover
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Someone who lives in clover has enough money to
lead a very comfortable life.
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"I dream of making an enormous amount of money and
living the rest of my life in clover!"
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10
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Live from hand to
mouth
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If you live from
hand to mouth, you don't have enough money to save. Whatever you earn is
spent on food and other essentials.
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"Most families
in that poor area live from hand to
mouth."
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11
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Live in an ivory tower.
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A person who lives in an ivory tower has a
lifestyle which preserves them from the problems and difficulties experienced
by others.
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"You're completely out of touch - it's time to come
out of your ivory tower and see what's going on!"
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12
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Make the best of
things
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If you make the
best of things, you accept the situation and do what you can in spite of
the difficulties or disadvantages.
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"The apartment
was badly located, but the rent was low, so they decided to make the best of things."
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13
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Seamy side of life
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This expression refers to the most unpleasant,
disreputable or sordid aspects of life that we normally do not see (just as
the stitched seams of clothes are generally not seen).
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"Social workers really see the seamy side of life."
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14
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Weal and woe
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This expression
refers to the good and bad times, joys and sorrows, or prosperity and
misfortune.
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"We all get our
share of weal and woe in life."
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15
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School of hard knocks
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Someone who goes through the school of hard knocks
learns through the positive and negative experiences of life rather than
through a formal classroom education.
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"He never went to college but the school of hard knocks made him a
shrewd businessman."
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16
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A cash cow
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A product or service
which is a regular source of income for a company is called a cash cow.
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"His latest
invention turned out to be a real cash
cow."
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17
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Chicken feed
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An amount of money onsidered small or unimportant is
called chicken feed.
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"I got a job during the holidays but the pay was chicken feed."
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18
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Other side of the
coin
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When you want to
mention a different or contradictory spect of a situation, you refer to the
other side of the coin.
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"The house is
lovely and spacious, but the other side
of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools."
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19
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After the fact
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If something is done after the fact, it is too
late, after something has actually happened, particularly a crime or an
accident.
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"He said he realized he had put
people in danger, but that was of no
help after the fact."
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20
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Keep the wolf from
the door
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In order to keep
the wolf from the door, you need to have enough money to buy food and
other essentials.
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"My
grandparents earned barely enough to keep
the wolf from the door."
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21
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Money burns a hole in your pocket
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To say that money burns a hole in somebody's
pocket means that they are eager to spend it quickly or extravagantly.
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"As soon as she's paid she goes shopping. Money burns a hole in her pocket!"
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22
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More money
than sense
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If you have more
money than sense, you have a lot of money which you waste by spending it
in a foolish manner.
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"He celebrated
the birth of the baby by buying a sports car. He's got more money than sense!"
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23
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Not for love or money
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If you say that you cannot or will not do something for
love or money, you mean that you cannot or will not do it under any
circumstances.
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"I would not try bungee jumping for love
or money!"
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24
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A penny for your
thoughts
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This phrase is used
to ask someone what they are thinking about.
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"You look
pensive. A penny for your thoughts."
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25
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In for a penny, in for a pound
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This expression means that once you start doing
something, you might just as well do it wholeheartedly and not stop at
half-measures.
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"Joe finally accepted to be on the committee, then
he accepted to be the chairman - "in
for a penny, in for a pound" he said!"
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