CT Thành ngữ, tục ngữ
a contract out on
a contract that pays to have someone killed There's a contract out on Mike. The boss doesn't like him.
a perfect stranger
a person you have never seen, a total stranger In New York, a perfect stranger asked her to sleep with him.
a picture is worth a thousand words
a picture is easier to understand than a report or essay Instead of more talk, I'll draw thousand words a diagram. A picture is worth a thousand words.
a piece of the action
a share of the profit or prize or loot Those who paid for the winning ticket get a piece of the action.
a tough act to follow
a performance that is not easy to equal Gail danced very well. That is a tough act to follow.
act out
explain by movement and gestures Watch - I'll act out the meaning of pacifist.
act up
not work right, give pain or problems My stomach is acting up today. I don't feel well.
actions speak louder than words
people judge by actions more than words, practice what you preach Parents should remember that actions speak louder than words. Kids imitate their parents.
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
eat one apple each day for good health "Mom gave me an apple, saying, ""An apple a day... ."""
as a matter of fact
to state a fact, in fact, to be perfectly honest The burrowing owl is a protected species. As a matter of fact, it's an endangered species.
big picture
(See the big picture)
bring some new facts to light
discover some new facts, make some new facts known The lawyers were able to bring some new facts to light in the trial of the killer.
caught in the act
caught doing a crime, caught with his pants down Two of the boys were caught in the act of vandalism. They were breaking car windows.
chain reaction
one event causing a sequence of events Abe sold his shares, causing a chain reaction in the market.
character assassination
saying things that ruin a person's reputation, muckrake """What did they say about him?"" ""It was mainly gossip and character assassination."""
character density
number of dense people, number of dummies If I join your company, the character density will decrease.
chicken (adjective or noun)
cowardly.
clean up your act
do it better, do it legally, get your act together I've missed classes, failed tests. I need to clean up my act.
collect my thoughts
think calmly and clearly, organize my thoughts She was glad when the kids left so she could collect her thoughts.
collecting dust
not used for a long time, idle, gathering dust """Where's the silver tray?"" ""On the shelf, collecting dust."""
contract out on
(See a contract out on)
couch doctor
a psychoanalyst who puts his patients on a couch He was sent to see a couch doctor after his continued problems at work.
drive you to distraction
cause you to lose thoughts, drive me up the wall Her continual chatter will drive you to distraction.
electronic superhighway
a computer network, Internet We can find more information on the electronic superhighway.
face facts
accept the truth, deal with reality, come to grips If we face facts, we can see that one salary is not enough.
facts of life
what one should know about sex, marriage and birth He seems to be a little too young to know about the facts of life.
get the picture
understand, see the way it is "After Jack explained his plan, he said, ""Get the picture?"""
get your act together
become organized, get it together Bill is getting his act together. He's not late anymore.
hell bent for election
going fast, determined to get somewhere There goes Joe, driving hell bent for election - always in a hurry.
if my memory serves me correctly
if I can remember well, if I have a good memory Your name is Jose - if my memory serves me correctly.
in character
as usual, typical, in the way that a person usually behaves Supporting the other members of the staff is in character with her usual actions.
in fact
actually, the truth is He
in point of fact
(See in fact)
in the picture
part of the scene, a factor As Mr. Martin lost the election, he's not in the picture.
just what the doctor ordered
exactly what is needed or wanted Having the extra day off from work was just what the doctor ordered and he was able to get his many errands finished.
killer instinct
wanting to defeat the opponent Mel is a fine tennis player, but he lacks the killer instinct.
look the picture of health
be in good health My uncle was looking the picture of health when I saw him last week.
matter of fact
something that is really true, something that can be proved As a matter of fact I saw him last night and he asked me how you were.
out of the picture
not a factor, not competing or playing Mario returned to Italy, so he's out of the picture. He's gone.
paint a picture
describe in detail, portray with words The speaker painted a picture of a ghetto with kids on the streets.
pay my respects
attend a ceremony or send a symbol of your respect for someone Remembrance Day allows us to pay our respects to the people who defended our country.
perfect stranger
(See a perfect stranger)
picture is worth a thousand words
(See a picture is worth a thousand words)
piece/slice of the action
a share in the activity or the profits of something The inventor wanted a large piece of the action of the profits from the new computer that he had invented.
plug the product
(See put in a plug for)
politically correct
appropriate, not racist or sexist Advertise for a salesperson. Use the politically correct term.
practice what you preach
do what you say people should do If you want to hear truth, tell the truth. Practice what you preach.
pretty as a picture
very pretty, beautiful """How do I look in my new dress?"" ""Pretty as a picture, my dear."""
put someone in the picture
tell someone what the situation is They have finally decided to put me in the picture about the new work procedures.
put things in perspective
see things as they are, see the actual size A few days after the flood, I was able to put things in perspective.
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