idioms

[Tan]

ace: make an "A" on a test, homework assignment, project,
etc.

"Somebody said you aced the test, Dave. That's great!"



all right (1): expression of reluctant agreement.



A: "Come to the party with me. Please!"


B: "Oh, all right. I don't want to, but I will."

all right (2): fair; not particularly good.

A: "How's your chemistry class?"


B: "It's all right, I guess, but it's not the best class I've
ever had."

all right (3): unharmed; in satisfactory condition.



A: "You don't look normal. Are you all
right?"


B: "Yes, but I have a headache."

and then some: and much more besides.



A: "I'd guess your new computer cost about $2,000.
"


B: "It cost that much and then some because I also bought
extra RAM and VRAM."

antsy: restless; impatient and tired of waiting.



"I hope Katy calls soon. Just sitting around and
waiting is making me antsy."

as easy as pie: very easy.



"I thought you said this was a difficult problem. It
isn't. In fact, it's as easy as pie."

at the eleventh hour: at the last minute; almost too late.

"Yes, I got the work done in time. I finished it at
the eleventh hour, but I wasn't late.

and we shall try to use these words whenevr we speak..

Edited by: cishawsharma

[meera]

very informative[img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]

[Tan]

bad-mouth: say unkind, unflattering, embarrassing (and
probably untrue) things about someone.

A: "I don't believe what Bob said. Why is he
bad-mouthing me?"


B: "He's probably jealous of your success."

be a piece of cake: be very easy.

A: "Bob said the test was difficult, but I thought it was
a piece of cake.""

be all ears: be eager to hear what someone has to say.

A: "I just got an e-mail message from our old friend
Sally."


B: "Tell me what she said. I'm all ears!"

be broke: be without money.

"No, I can't lend you ten dollars. I'm
completely broke until payday."

be fed up with (with someone or something): be out of patience
(with someone or something);
be very tired of someone or something.

"Bill, you're too careless with your
work. I'm fed up with
apologizing for your mistakes!"

be in and out: be at and away from a place during a
particular time.

"Could we postpone our meeting until tomorrow? I
expect to


be in and out of the office most of the day today."

be on the go: be very busy (going from one thing or project
to another).

"I'm really tired. I've been on the go all week
long."

be on the road: be traveling.

"You won't be able to contact me tomorrow because I'll
be on the road."

be over: be finished; end.

"I can't see you until around 4 o'clock. My meetings
won't be over until then."

be up and running: (for a technological process) be
operational; be ready to use .

"Dave's ESL Cafe on the Web has been up and
running since December 1995."

be used to (+Ving/noun): be accustomed to; not
uncomfortable with.

"It won't be hard to get up at 5:00 AM. I'm used
to getting up early."

beat: exhausted; very tired (adj.).

"This has been a long day. I'm beat!"

beat around the bush: evade an issue; avoid giving a direct
answer.

"Quit beating around the bush! If you don't
want to go with me, just tell me!"

beat one's brains out: try very hard to understand or do
something.

"Can you help me with this problem? I've been
beating my brains out with it,


but I just can't solve it."

Beats me: I have no idea.

A: "What time's the party?"


B: "Beats me!"

[Tan]

before long: soon.

A: "I'm really tired of working."


B: "Just be patient. The weekend will be here before long."

bent out of shape: needlessly worried about something.

"I know you're worried about your job interview, but
don't get bent out of shape.
You'll do just fine."

bite off more than one can chew: take responsibility for
more than one can manage.

"I'm really behind with my project. Can you help me?
I'm afraid I


bit off more than I could chew!"

blabbermouth: a very talkative person--especially one who
says things that should be kept secret.

"Don't say anything to Bob unless you want the whole
office to know.


Bob's quite a blabbermouth."

blow one's top: become extremely angry.

A: "Was your father upset when you came home at 3
AM?"


B: "He was more than upset. He blew his top!"

boom box: portable cassette/CD player.

"Don't forget to bring your boom box to the
picnic!"

the bottom line: the most essential information.

"The discussion lasted many hours. The bottom
line was that


the XYZ Company isn't for sale."

Break a leg!: Good luck!

"I understand you have a job interview tomorrow.
Break a leg!"

break someone's heart: make someone feel very
disappointed/discouraged/sad.

"Joe broke his mother's heart when he dropped
out of school."

broke: without money.

A: "Can you lend me 10 dollars?"


B: "I'm afraid not. I'm broke."

buck(s): dollar(s).

"The cheapest tickets for the concert cost 25
bucks. Do you still want to go?"

bug: annoy; bother.

"I'm trying to concentrate! Don't bug me!"

bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.

"Don't be so bull-headed. Why can't you admit
that others' opinions are just as good as yours?"

a bundle: a lot of money.

A: "Your new car is really nice."


B: "It should be. It cost me a bundle!"

burn the midnight oil: study/work all night or until very,
very late at night.

"I'm not ready for the test tomorrow. I guess I'll
have to
burn the the midnight oil."

bushed: very tired; exhausted.

"I'm going to lie down for a while. I'm really
bushed."

by oneself: alone and without help.

"I can't do this by myself. Can you help me?"

by the skin of one's teeth: barely succeed in doing
something.

"I'll have to start earlier the next time. This time I
only finished by the skin of my teeth."

[keerthi]

Hi sharma,[img]smileys/smiley32.gif[/img]


good going.But i want to suggest u some thing.To make this topic more active and useful.U give some questions first.Then post ur answers next day.[img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]What do u say?

[keerthi]

I want to know the meanings for these phrases.


Can uhelp me please.

2. Digging ones heels:


3. Knocked out:

[Tan]

knocekd out means pushed out or remove.
digging ones heel means reluctant to change ones opinion or plans

[Tan]

yeah even i got that idea to keep a test on the each and evry topic..
thank you..

[keerthi]

[img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]Thanku sharma.

[keerthi]

yes ur idea is good.U better keep a test daily with 5 Idioms/Phrases.I will be the first to answer them.[img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]

[Tan]

thank you keerthi..
in this process i will aso learn some new things.