date from date back to Thành ngữ, tục ngữ
a bite to eat
a lunch, a snack We can grab a bite to eat at the arena. They sell snacks there.
a bone to pick
something to argue about, a matter to discuss "Joe sounded angry when he said, ""I have a bone to pick with you."""
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant event A letter to the editor of a paper is like a fart in a windstorm.
a fine-toothed comb
a careful search, a search for a detail She read the file carefully - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
a hard row to hoe
a difficult task, many problems A single parent has a hard row to hoe, working day and night.
a hot potato
a situation likely to cause trouble to the person handling it The issue of the non-union workers is a real hot potato that we must deal with.
a hot topic
popular topic, the talk of the town Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a into g
(See ass into gear)
a little bird told me
someone told me, one of your friends told me """How did you know that I play chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""
a party to that
a person who helps to do something bad Jane said she didn't want to be a party to computer theft.
a pinch to grow an inch
on your birthday, guests pinch you to help you grow taller """Happy birthday, Sal. Here's a pinch to grow an inch!"" ""Ouch!"""
a score to settle
an argument to finish, a bone to pick I have a score to settle with him. He owes me a month's rent.
a sharp tongue
a tendency to reply sharply or sarcastically Karly is a beautiful girl, but her sharp tongue may be a problem.
a slip of the tongue
a spoken error or mistake, a word that slips out I said brew instead of blue. It was a slip of the tongue.
a soft touch
a person who will not refuse, an easy mark Barry's a soft touch. Let's ask him for a loan.
a stone's throw
a short distance, 25 metres A deer came into the yard, just a stone's throw from our door.
a sweet tooth
a need to eat candy, a craving for sugar After dinner we'll serve mints. Daddy has a sweet tooth, eh.
a talking to
a scolding, a personal lecture If he has a poor attitude, Dan will give him a talking to.
a token gesture
a small sign of thanks or recognition To thank us, they put our names in the paper - a token gesture.
a tongue-lashing
a scolding, a lecture, a talking to When Sis came home drunk, Dad gave her a tongue-lashing.
a total stranger
one you have never seen, a perfect stranger """Can I give you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a total stranger."""
a touch of
a little illness, minor symptoms Mary's not feeling well today. She has a touch of the flu.
a tough act to follow
a performance that is not easy to equal Gail danced very well. That is a tough act to follow.
a tough call
a difficult decision, a hard choice Was the goal scored before the game ended? It's a tough call.
a tough row to hoe
(See a hard row to hoe)
a tough time of it
a time of stress or bad luck, a rough time of it When Bev left home she had a tough time of it. She had no job.
a tower of strength
a person who helps you during a crisis, a brick When my parents were killed in an accident, Harry was a tower of strength to me.
a word to the wise is sufficient
a wise person understands when he hears a key word I can't discuss the plan, but a word to the wise is sufficient: progress.
about to do something
on the point of doing something She was about to leave when the phone rang.
according to Hoyle
according to the rules, if we follow the rules According to Hoyle, it's your turn to deal the cards.
add fuel to the fire
cause more anger, aggravate a problem He's angry. Telling him bad news will add fuel to the fire.
add insult to injury
add another negative, make it worse, put your foot in it If you say his answer is wrong, and then say he can't understand, you've added insult to injury.
all it's cracked up to be
as good as the ads say, live up to the reports The new computer isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's not so hot.
all things to all people
satisfy everyone, live up to Be yourself. Stop trying to be all things to all people.
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... ."""
an axe to grind
a point to discuss or argue about Jason had an axe to grind at the meeting - job security.
an eye for an eye (a tooth for a tooth)
equal punishment or revenge Canadian laws do not demand an eye for an eye.
angels fear to tread
(See where angels fear to tread)
armed to the teeth
fully armed, having many weapons The robbers were armed to the teeth when they robbed the bank.
ass into gear
moving, working, doing After holidays, I'll get my ass into gear and paint the house.
at the top of her game
at her best, playing as well as she can If Val's at the top of her game she can defeat Olga.
at the top of his voice
as loud as he can, shouting loudly "Ben called for help at the top of his voice. ""Help!"" he shouted."
at the top of one
as loud as one can, very loudly I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the attention of the man.
attend to someone
take care or deal with someone The doctor attended to the other patient before he got to my mother.
away to the races
going without a problem, smooth sailing When they approve our business loan, we'll be away to the races.
axe to grind
(See an axe to grind)
back to square one
back to where one started We were forced to go back to square one in our efforts to change the name of the company.
back to the drawing board
go back to start a project or idea from the beginning The boss doesn
back to the grind
return to the job, go back to work After New Year's, it's back to the grind - the old routine.
back to the salt mines
back to work, humorous expression to express going back to unpleasant work Well, lunch is over so letA bad artisan blames his tools.
Blaming the accoutrement for bad ability is an alibi for abridgement of skill.
a chaw to eat
a lunch, a chaw We can grab a chaw to eat at the arena. They advertise bonbon there.
a cartilage to pick
something to altercate about, a bulk to altercate "Joe articulate affronted back he said, ""I acquire a cartilage to aces with you."""
a button short
intellectually deficient
a couch-potato
someone who never goes out or exercises: "He watches TV all day - what a couch-potato!"
a acclaim to
Idiom(s): be a acclaim to sb or sth
Theme: BENEFIT
to be of bulk or account to addition or something; to be of abundant bulk or account as to enhance addition or something.
• I consistently appetite to be a acclaim to my school.
• John is not what you would alarm a acclaim to his family.
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant blow A letter to the editor of a cardboard is like a fart in a windstorm.
a fine-toothed comb
a accurate search, a chase for a detail She apprehend the book anxiously - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
A acquaintance to all is a acquaintance to none.
Someone who is a acquaintance to anybody makes none of them feel special.
a adamantine row to hoe
a difficult task, abounding problems A distinct ancestor has a adamantine row to hoe, alive day and night.
a hot potato
a bearings acceptable to account agitation to the actuality administration it The affair of the non-union workers is a absolute hot potato that we charge accord with.
a hot topic
popular topic, the allocution of the boondocks Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a into g
(See ass into gear)
a little bird told me
someone told me, one of your accompany told me """How did you apperceive that I comedy chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""
a little bird told me|bird|little bird|tell
To acquire abstruse article from a mysterious, unknown, or abstruse source. "Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?" Peter asked. "A little bird told me," Jim answered.
A continued row to hoe
Something that is a continued row to hoe is a difficult assignment that takes a continued time.
a affair to that
a actuality who helps to do article bad Jane said she didn't appetite to be a affair to computer theft.
a compression to abound an inch
on your birthday, guests compression you to advice you abound taller """Happy birthday, Sal. Here's a compression to abound an inch!"" ""Ouch!"""
A rolling bean gathers no moss
Idiom(s): A rolling bean gathers no moss
Theme: LIFESTYLE
A adage that describes a actuality who keeps alteration jobs or residences and, therefore, accumulates no backing or responsibilities.
• "John aloof can't assume to break in one place," said Sally. "Oh, well, a rolling bean gathers no moss."
• Bill has no appliance to bother with because he keeps on the move. He keeps adage that a rolling bean gathers no moss.
A rolling bean gathers no moss.
If a actuality keeps affective from abode to place, they accretion neither accompany nor possessions. Addition estimation is that, by affective often, one avoids actuality angry down!
a account to settle
an altercation to finish, a cartilage to aces I acquire a account to achieve with him. He owes me a month's rent.
a aciculate tongue
a addiction to acknowledgment acutely or sarcastically Karly is a admirable girl, but her aciculate argot may be a problem.
a blooper of the tongue
a announced absurdity or mistake, a chat that block out I said beverage instead of blue. It was a blooper of the tongue.
a bendable touch
a actuality who will not refuse, an accessible mark Barry's a bendable touch. Let's ask him for a loan.
A still argot keeps a astute head
Wise bodies don't allocution much.
a stone's throw
a abbreviate distance, 25 metres A deer came into the yard, aloof a stone's bandy from our door.
a storm in a teacup
a lot of fuss over article small: "Don't anguish about those two arguing. it's aloof a storm in a teacup."
a candied tooth
a charge to eat candy, a appetite for amoroso After banquet we'll serve mints. Daddy has a candied tooth, eh.
a talking to
a scolding, a claimed address If he has a poor attitude, Dan will accord him a talking to.
a badge gesture
a baby assurance of acknowledgment or acceptance To acknowledge us, they put our names in the cardboard - a badge gesture.
a tongue-lashing
a scolding, a lecture, a talking to Back Sis came home drunk, Dad gave her a tongue-lashing.
A Toss-Up
A aftereffect that is still cryptic and can go either way.
a absolute stranger
one you acquire never seen, a absolute drifter """Can I accord you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a absolute stranger."""
a blow of
a little illness, accessory affection Mary's not activity able-bodied today. She has a blow of the flu.
a boxy act to follow
a achievement that is not accessible to according Gail danced actual well. That is a boxy act to follow.
a boxy call
a difficult decision, a adamantine best Was the ambition denticulate afore the bold ended? It's a boxy call.
a boxy row to hoe
(See a adamantine row to hoe)
a boxy time of it
a time of accent or bad luck, a asperous time of it Back Bev larboard home she had a boxy time of it. She had no job.
a belfry of strength
a actuality who helps you during a crisis, a brick Back my parents were dead in an accident, Harry was a belfry of backbone to me.
a chat to the astute is sufficient
a astute actuality understands back he hears a key chat I can't altercate the plan, but a chat to the astute is sufficient: progress.
A-Town
(city of) Atlanta
abandon oneself to
give oneself up absolutely to a activity or desire放任;纵情;(感情)陷于;沉溺于
He alone himself to grief.他陷于悲伤之中。
Never carelessness yourself to despair.切勿自暴自弃。
You mustn't carelessness yourself to pleasures.你不该一味享乐。
able to blindfolded
Idiom(s): able to do article blindfolded AND able to do article continuing on one's head
Theme: SKILL
able to do article calmly and quickly, possibly after alike looking. (Informal. Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Bill boasted that he could canyon his driver's analysis blindfolded.
• Mary is actual acceptable with computers. She can affairs blindfolded.
• Dr. Jones is a abundant surgeon. He can booty out an addendum continuing on his head.
able to breathe calmly again
Idiom(s): able to breathe (easily) afresh AND able to breathe (freely) again
Theme: RELAXATION
able to relax and balance from a active or demanding time; able to bolt one's breath. (Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Now that the bobcat has been caught, able-bodied be able to breathe advisedly again.
• Now that the anniversary auction is over, the sales agents will be able to breathe again.
• Final exams are over, so I can breathe calmly again.
able to breathe advisedly again
Idiom(s): able to breathe (easily) afresh AND able to breathe (freely) again
Theme: RELAXATION
able to relax and balance from a active or demanding time; able to bolt one's breath. (Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Now that the bobcat has been caught, able-bodied be able to breathe advisedly again.
• Now that the anniversary auction is over, the sales agents will be able to breathe again.
• Final exams are over, so I can breathe calmly again.
able to make
Idiom(s): able to accomplish sth
Theme: ATTENDANCE
able to appear an event. (Informal. Able to can be replaced with can.)
• I don't anticipate I'll be able to accomplish your party, but acknowledgment for allurement me.
• We are accepting addition one abutting month. We achievement you can accomplish it then.
able to continuing on one's head
Idiom(s): able to do article blindfolded AND able to do article continuing on one's head
Theme: SKILL
able to do article calmly and quickly, possibly after alike looking. (Informal. Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Bill boasted that he could canyon his driver's analysis blindfolded.
• Mary is actual acceptable with computers. She can affairs blindfolded.
• Dr. Jones is a abundant surgeon. He can booty out an addendum continuing on his head.
able to take
Idiom(s): able to booty sth
Theme: ENDURANCE
able to abide something; able to abide abuse. (Often in the negative. Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Stop babble like that. I'm not able to booty it anymore.
• Go ahead, hit me again. I can booty it.
able to booty a joke
Idiom(s): able to booty a joke
Theme: FLEXIBILITY
to be able to acquire badinage good-naturedly; to be the article or base of a antic willingly. (Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Let's comedy a ambush on Bill and see if he's able to booty a joke.
• Better not aggravate Ann. She can't booty a joke.
able to booty aloof so much
Idiom(s): able to booty aloof so much
Theme: FRUSTRATION
able to abide alone a bound bulk of discomfort. (Able to can be replaced with can.)
• Please stop affliction my feelings. I’m able to booty aloof so much.
• I can booty aloof so much.