1. Hobby-horse: Favourite notion or private idea which one is constantly referring toThe manager has been riding his hobby-horse about efficiency again.
2. Hornet's nest: A lot of trouble and anger between people.
• He has stirred up a hornet's rest by accusing the opposition leader of a conspiracy against the government.
3. Play fast and loose: Act irresponsibly, and without regard to one's duties.
• If you think you can play fast and loose with the agreement we made, you are mistaken.
4. Heart-to-heart: Frank and intimate.
• We had a heart-to-heart talk.
5. In person: Personally.
• The Queen will open the Parliament in person.
6. Red herring: An attempt to divert attention from the chief facts by introducing some detail of no importance.
• The Prime Minister’s speech was a mere red herring.
7. Out-and-out: Complete or in every way.
• He is an out-and-out genius.
8. For the most part: In most circumstances, usually.
• For the most part, we go away at weekends.
9. Apply one's mind to: Consider carefully; concentrate one's attention upon.
• You will never succeed until you apply your mind to your work.
10. The very image: Exactly alike.
• The baby is the very image of his father.
11. After a fashion: In an amateurish and ineffective way.
• He writes poetry after a fashion.
12. Of sorts: Not fully deserving the name.
• He is a poet of sorts.
13. Within striking distance of: Near enough to.
• If we leave early we should be within striking distance of Multan by lunch-time.
14. In so many words: Verbally and explicitly.
• He told me, in so many words, that he did not trust her.
15. Take stock of: Examine thoroughly and in detail.
• He decided to take stock of the present state of affairs.
16. Behind the scenes: Not in the public eye.
• This treaty would not have been possible without a lot of work behind the scenes.
17. Hard put to it: Confronted with difficulties; pressed.
• He was hard put to it to decide whether to stay in Pakistan or go abroad.
18. Carry conviction: Be very persuasive.
• His arguments don't carry much conviction.
19. A bone to pick: A matter for reproof or blame.
• I have a bone to pick with you in connection with your unpunc-tuality.
20. Close shave : A narrow escape; an event which just missed disaster.
• I can’t quite believe the close shave I had yesterday.
21. No love lost: Dislike; unfriendliness
• There is no love lost between the two sisters.
22. In the main: Chiefly.
• The letters, in the main, were from his mother.
23. Pay the penalty: Suffer what is due and inevitable as the result of an action.
• If you smoke when you are young, wou'll pay the penalty in your old age.
24. Point-blank: Direct; without any qualification.
• He denied point-blank that he had ever entered my room.
25. Proof against: Able to resist.
• This coat is proof against the severest weather.
26. Out of all proportion: Far more than is deserved.
• The cost is out of all proportion to the benefits we should get.
27. Run counter to: Be in opposition to.
• Your suggestions run counter to what we arranged yesterday.
28. Think better of it: Abandon an unwise decision.
• He was going to argue with the traffic-sergeant, but thought better of it.
29. Sleep over a matter: Allow a time to pass before finally deciding.
• I'll sleep over the matter, and write to you next week.
30. Pin one's hopes on: Attach one's hopes to; concentrate one's hopes on.
• We are pinning our hopes on winning the elections.
• He has stirred up a hornet's rest by accusing the opposition leader of a conspiracy against the government.
3. Play fast and loose: Act irresponsibly, and without regard to one's duties.
• If you think you can play fast and loose with the agreement we made, you are mistaken.
4. Heart-to-heart: Frank and intimate.
• We had a heart-to-heart talk.
5. In person: Personally.
• The Queen will open the Parliament in person.
6. Red herring: An attempt to divert attention from the chief facts by introducing some detail of no importance.
• The Prime Minister’s speech was a mere red herring.
7. Out-and-out: Complete or in every way.
• He is an out-and-out genius.
8. For the most part: In most circumstances, usually.
• For the most part, we go away at weekends.
9. Apply one's mind to: Consider carefully; concentrate one's attention upon.
• You will never succeed until you apply your mind to your work.
10. The very image: Exactly alike.
• The baby is the very image of his father.
11. After a fashion: In an amateurish and ineffective way.
• He writes poetry after a fashion.
12. Of sorts: Not fully deserving the name.
• He is a poet of sorts.
13. Within striking distance of: Near enough to.
• If we leave early we should be within striking distance of Multan by lunch-time.
14. In so many words: Verbally and explicitly.
• He told me, in so many words, that he did not trust her.
15. Take stock of: Examine thoroughly and in detail.
• He decided to take stock of the present state of affairs.
16. Behind the scenes: Not in the public eye.
• This treaty would not have been possible without a lot of work behind the scenes.
17. Hard put to it: Confronted with difficulties; pressed.
• He was hard put to it to decide whether to stay in Pakistan or go abroad.
18. Carry conviction: Be very persuasive.
• His arguments don't carry much conviction.
19. A bone to pick: A matter for reproof or blame.
• I have a bone to pick with you in connection with your unpunc-tuality.
20. Close shave : A narrow escape; an event which just missed disaster.
• I can’t quite believe the close shave I had yesterday.
21. No love lost: Dislike; unfriendliness
• There is no love lost between the two sisters.
22. In the main: Chiefly.
• The letters, in the main, were from his mother.
23. Pay the penalty: Suffer what is due and inevitable as the result of an action.
• If you smoke when you are young, wou'll pay the penalty in your old age.
24. Point-blank: Direct; without any qualification.
• He denied point-blank that he had ever entered my room.
25. Proof against: Able to resist.
• This coat is proof against the severest weather.
26. Out of all proportion: Far more than is deserved.
• The cost is out of all proportion to the benefits we should get.
27. Run counter to: Be in opposition to.
• Your suggestions run counter to what we arranged yesterday.
28. Think better of it: Abandon an unwise decision.
• He was going to argue with the traffic-sergeant, but thought better of it.
29. Sleep over a matter: Allow a time to pass before finally deciding.
• I'll sleep over the matter, and write to you next week.
30. Pin one's hopes on: Attach one's hopes to; concentrate one's hopes on.
• We are pinning our hopes on winning the elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment