word-of-mouth
By word of mouth: in speech but not in writing:
All the orders were given by word of mouth so that no written evidence could be discovered later
Something that you heard from other people you know by word of mouth
Example: "How did you hear about this party"
Reply: "Word of mouth."
When you say that you heard something word of mouth, you are not being specific about whose mouth you heard it from; just that you heard it from another person.
Example: "There has been talk at school about cancelling the concert."
Reply: "Really? Who did you hear that from?" Answer: "Just word of mouth."
We do rely on what other people tell us, so word of mouth is one important way that we learn things. If something is "only" (or "just") word of mouth then you might not know where the "word" really started or how it changed as it went from "mouth" to "mouth".
Example: "Did you hear they finally arrested that guy?"
Reply: "Yes, but that's only word of mouth."Example: "Where did you hear that?"
Reply: "Just word of mouth."
on the back burner
If something is on the back burner, it is temporarily not being dealt with or considered, especially because it is not urgent or important:
We've all had to put our plans on the back burner for a while.
A condition of low priority or temporary deferment (usually used in the phrase on the back burner):
Put other issues on the back burner until after the election.
Reduced priority.
Dozens of cases were put on the back burner.
to add fuel to the fire
You add fuel to the fire when you do something that makes a bad situation worse.
Example: "When those two are fighting, I don't get involved. It only adds fuel to the fire."
A conflict between two people is like a fire, with both people adding "fuel" to the fire. You add fuel to the fire when you do something that makes the conflict worse.
Example: "I wanted to help, but I was afraid I would add fuel to the fire."
Adding "fuel" (such as wood or gas) to a burning "fire" makes the flames burn even higher and brighter. Sometimes you get involved because you want to help, but your involvement only makes the problem worse, adding fuel to the fire.
Example: "Please don't talk to him when he's in a bad mood. It just adds fuel to the fire."
a taste of your own medicine
Someone gives you "a taste of your own medicine" when they act towards you the same way you act towards others in order to teach you a lesson about the way you are acting.
If a man acts rudely to others, for example, acting rudely back to him would be giving him "a taste of his own medicine."
Example: "Did you see those two people cutting in front of us in line just now? Let's cut in front of them and give them a taste of their own medicine!"
Most "medicine" does not taste good; "your own medicine" is the way you act towards other people; you get "a taste of your own medicine" when you "taste" what it feels like for others to have you act towards them the way you do.
Example (this is aggressive): "I saw you pushing my brother yesterday... maybe I should give you a taste of your own medicine!"
It is like medicine because you think it is good for the other person to learn that they are treating others unfairly, even if the lesson does not taste good.
Example: "He's always interrupting people when they are talking; what he deserves is a taste of his own medicine!"
Example: "It looks like she got a taste of her own medicine."
THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK
The straw that broke the camel's back is the last thing you are willing to accept after which you will not put up with any more.
Example: "You broke a lot of rules and we tried to ignore it. But stealing money from us was the straw that broke the camel's back. We're sending you home to your parents."
You are at the last straw when you are just about to lose your patience. The straw that broke the camel's back is the last thing that that happened that finally made you upset.
Example: "He came to work late every day that week. Then on Friday, he didn't show up at all." Reply: "That was the straw that broke the camel's back."
There is a limit to how much straw (long yellow grass) a camel can carry on its back. If you keep putting more straw on top, it will finally break the camel's back. When you are at the last straw you are finally angry and will not take any more.
Example: "You have been rude to me all day. I've had it. That's the last straw!"
PULLING SOMEONE'S LEG
When someone makes a joke by lying to you and pretending that the lie is true, they are "pulling your leg".
Example: "Look; your shoes are untied... Ha! Just pulling your leg."
When you trick a person into believing a lie as a way of making a joke, you are pulling their leg.
Example: "Really? That store is closed on Sunday? Are you sure?"
Answer: "Don't listen to him; he is just pulling your leg."
When you are the person who is being tricked, your leg is being pulled.
Example: "I want to ask you a question and I would like an honest answer; no pulling my leg."
ALL BARK (AND NO BITE
People who are all bark and no bite threaten to do things that they are not really willing or able to do.
Example: "That new manager threatened to fire me again, but I know he won't do it. He's all bark and no bite."
They are like dogs that bark to make you afraid, but they will not bite you.
Example: "Yesterday that guy said he wanted to fight, but today he's all quiet and polite." Reply: "All bark and no bite."
Some people are not strong enough or brave enough to actually hurt you, but they still use words to try to make you afraid. All they can do is bark, but they have no teeth to bite.
Example: "Don't listen to my brother when he gets angry; he's all bark and no bite."
WITH YOUR BACK UP AGAINST THE WALL
When we are in a defensive position and have to make choices that we would not like to make, we say that we have our "back up against the wall".
The wall represents an external force that causes us to act in a way that we would not like. This force may also prevent us from acting when we would like to.
"I'm sorry I can't help you; I've got my back up against the wall."
To have very serious problems which limit the ways in which you can act:
"He owes money to everyone - he's really got his back to the wall now."
OVER MY DEAD BODY
When you absolutely will not allow a person to do something you might say "over my dead body." The [literal] meaning is that you will stand in the way of that person and only if they kill you and walk over your dead body will they be able to do what they want.
Example: "Children, you are not going out in the cold without your jackets! Not over my dead body!"
Parents say "over my dead body" often because they are in a position of authority and they are much bigger than their children.
Example: "All of my friends are going out to the lake tonight and I'm going too!" Answer: "Over my dead body you are!"
If you say something will happen over your dead body, you mean that you will do everything you can to prevent it:
Example: "Joe says he's going to buy a motorbike." Reply:"Over my dead body!"
EASY DOES IT'E asy does it' is used to tell someone to do something slowly and carefully. Go carefully, don't hurry.
Example: That chest is heavy, so easy does it.
It is something that you say in order to tell someone to do something carefully.
Example: 'Easy does it!' Bob shouted, as I steered the boat into the dock.
TO KEEP YOUR HEAD
to stay calm, especially in difficult or dangerous situations.
Can you keep your head at times of pressure and stress?
TO LOSE YOUR HEAD
to suddenly become very angry or upset .
He usually stays quite calm in stressful situations but this time he really lost his head.
To be worth its/your weight in gold
to be extremely useful or valuable.
A book that could tell me in simple language how to use this computer would be worth its weight in gold.
Really good experienced singers are worth their weight in gold to the choir.
TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
When you look on the bright side you find good things in a bad situation.
Despite all his difficulties he always looks on the bright side of things.
Look on the bright side - no one was badly hurt.
right, left and centre
(US right and left)
all the time or everywhere
He spends money right, left and centre
right and left
on every side; in all directions:
He was throwing his clothes right and left.
Members are resigning right and left.
جای قلم توانای شما در oko.ir خالی ست...