De Larissa, le 01/12/2011 08:58:49 - 3 commentaires
If something gets on your nerves, it annoys or irritates you.
“That girl is so loud, she really gets on my nerves.”
“I’ll stop talking now since I can see I’m getting on your nerves.”
De Larissa, le 01/12/2011 08:58:44 - 0 commentaires
If you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.
“You’ll live to 100 – you’re fit as a fiddle!”
“Are you feeling better?” “Yep – fit as a fiddle.”
De Larissa, le 01/12/2011 08:58:38 - 0 commentaires
If you have to face the music, you have to accept the negative consequences of something you have done wrong.
“Sarah found out I was gossiping about her, and now I have to face the music.”
“He spent the weekend playing games instead of studying, but when he gets to school he’ll have to face the music.”
De Larissa, le 29/11/2011 05:09:17 - 1 commentaire
If you want to ask someone a question and they tell you to fire away, they mean that you are free to ask what you want.
“Nicole, can I ask you a question?” “Sure, fire away.”
“I have some questions about the Maxwell account. Is now a good time to ask?” “Fire away.”
De Larissa, le 29/11/2011 05:09:13 - 0 commentaires
When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.
“Margaret was dressed to kill on Saturday, everyone was staring at her.”
“The interview was great – I was quick, I was qualified, and I was dressed to kill!”
De Larissa, le 29/11/2011 05:09:11 - 0 commentaires
When you draw the line, you set out limits of what you find acceptable, beyond which you will not go.
“My son wants to stay out until 3am, but I’m drawing the line at 1am.”
“My girlfriend wants me to stay home and watch movies on Saturday night. It’s time I drew the line!”
De Larissa, le 25/11/2011 06:58:41 - 0 commentaires
(USA) If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
“Oh she’s pretty enough, but dark-haired dark-eyed girls are a dime a dozen here. I like blondes.”
“Let her quit if she wants to… typists are a dime a dozen.”
De Larissa, le 25/11/2011 06:58:36 - 0 commentaires
If you dig your heels in, you resist something.
“The rest of the team are ready to go, but Jane is digging her heels in.”
“I’m going to dig my heels in until they give me the conditions I want.”
De Larissa, le 25/11/2011 06:58:31 - 0 commentaires
This is used as a prediction there is no chance it will ever happen.
“It will be a cold day in hell before he gets that job.”
“I’ll go out with him when hell freezes over.”
De Larissa, le 22/11/2011 03:23:10 - 0 commentaires
To make money.
“We need to get a good job to make a decent living.”
“She makes a living selling homemade quilts.”
De Larissa, le 22/11/2011 03:23:04 - 0 commentaires
If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy.
“She’s been on cloud nine since she met her new boyfriend.”
“We found out we got the house we wanted – we’re on cloud nine!”
De Larissa, le 22/11/2011 03:23:00 - 0 commentaires
If you bite someone's head off, you criticise them angrily.
“OK, OK, I’m sorry I said that… no need to bite my head off!”
“All I said was that I wasn’t interested in rock music, and she bit my head off!”
De Larissa, le 17/11/2011 10:55:46 - 0 commentaires
A big fish in a small pond is an important person in a small place or organisation.
“He won’t leave the small company for the big ones – he prefers to be a big fish in a small pond.”
“She was a big fish in a small pond in her last job, now she’s having trouble adjusting to the huge multinational corporation.”
De Larissa, le 17/11/2011 10:55:39 - 0 commentaires
If you are caught between a rock and a hard place, you are in a position where you have to choose between unpleasant alternatives, and your choice might cause you problems.
“Do I fire the new girl, or cut everyone’s salaries? I’m between a rock and a hard place!”
“She found herself between a rock and a hard place when she had to choose between
De Larissa, le 17/11/2011 10:55:33 - 0 commentaires
This is the shortened form of the full idiom, 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't', and means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if they are not ideal, than take a risk with an unknown person or thing.
“I know my boyfriend doesn’t treat me very well, but I figure, better the devil you know…”
“This isn’t the perfect neighbourhood, but then, neither is the other. I guess we’ll stay here… better the devil you know!”
De Larissa, le 15/11/2011 11:26:38 - 1 commentaire
If something is part and parcel of your job, say, it is an essential and unavoidable part that has to be accepted.
“I’m tired, stressed, and overworked, but it’s all part and parcel of studying medicine.”
“I worked late every night last week, but I guess that’s part and parcel of being a manager.”
De Larissa, le 15/11/2011 11:26:35 - 2 commentaires
If someone is very annoying and always disturbing you, they are a pain in the neck.
“Maria talks all day long about her private life, she’s such a pain in the neck.”
“My 6 year old is a real pain in the neck lately – won’t sleep at nights, and getting in trouble at school.”
De Larissa, le 15/11/2011 11:26:30 - 0 commentaires
If someone is up on their soapbox about something, they are very overtly and verbally passionate about the topic.
“Eugene was really on his soapbox this morning when the topic of affirmative action came up. He wouldn’t shut up for half an hour!”
“OK, get off your soapbox – we agree with you!”
De Larissa, le 10/11/2011 00:21:05 - 0 commentaires
If someone or something is on their last legs, they're close to dying.
“This computer is on its last legs – we should look at getting a new one.”
“Our dog is on his last legs – he’s 15 years old and can barely stand up.”
De Larissa, le 10/11/2011 00:20:58 - 1 commentaire
When someone is on their high horse, they are in a mood or attitude of stubborn arrogance, superiority, indignation or contempt:
“Oh get off your high horse – everyone had to work late this week.”
“Joe was really on his high horse last night when he discovered he was right about the merger.”
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