play favorites

 play favorites  

================ 

treat one person better than others 

The manager insisted he doesn't play favorites 

blue -eyed boy /girl 

================ 

someone who is liked and treated better than others by a teacher or parent

like a red rag to a bull

like a red rag to a bull 

==================== 

very likely to make someone angry or upset 

Just mentioning his ex-wife's name was like a red rag to a bull 

bird's-eye view

bird's-eye view  

=================== 

a view of something from high above it 

Visitors can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the area from the castle turrets 

fire

burn out period 

=============== 

If a person works too hard and doesn't make time for rest and relaxation, he/she may experience a burn out period 

 burn the midnight oil   

=====================

to work or study until late at night

My friend is in medical school and she burns the midnight oil a lot  

a smoke detector  

======================== 

This is a sensitive device that is able to detect smoke. If the device detects smoke, a loud alarm/siren goes off in order to notify even sleeping residents 

  

burn the candle at both ends  

========================= 

  to get very tired by doing things until very late at night and    

getting up early in the mornings 

 

a forest fire 

================== 

A large fire that takes place and spreads quickly in nature is called a forest fire 

 

 play with fire  

===============

 to do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result  

Dating the boss's daughter is playing with fire 

 

fireworks 

=============== 

a small container filled with powder that burns or explodes to produce coloured lights and noise in the sky 

Jeff and David were in the back yard setting off fireworks  

(sth) 

set city hall on fire 

==================== 

make something start burning  

The arsonist set city hall on fire. Luckily, firefighters were able to put out the fire before any real damage occurred, and the arsonist is going to jail 

 

 Fire away 

============== 

used to tell someone that you are ready to answer questions 

fire alarm  

================ 

a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise to warn people of a fire in a building  

The fire alarm went off at school today. The teachers made us line-up and then they led us all out of the building. Luckily, there was no fire; it was just a drill 

catch a flick

catch a flick 

============

to see movie

set the world on fire

set the world on fire/alight   

=================================

to have a big effect or be very successful  

Those recent vampire-inspired books have set the world on fire! Everyone is talking about the stories and the characters

prick yourself/prick your finger

prick yourself/prick your finger   

===================================== 

accidentally make a hole in your skin 

toffee_ nosed

 toffee_ nosed  

====================== 

snobbish - stuck up

از دماغ فیل افتاده  

 

Lady Snobbish by  

Negative aspects of relationships

Javed has been disloyal to me on a number of occasions. (unfaithful, treacherous)

Jane is always critical of her friends. I do not like that. (serious, grave etc)

OK, I was dishonest with you. I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to hurt you. (lying, untruthful, fraudulent)

Breakdowns: Expressions and Collocations

Relationships can break down due to genuine misunderstandings

A rift (serious disagreement that divides people) can develop between two people

There’s been a lot of discord (disagreement and discontent) in the office lately

My father and I don’t see eye to eye (have different opinions) on most things

His relation with Mary has turned sour (become bad). I think they will split up (separate)

Our marriage has had its ups and downs (had good and bad moments), but basically we are OK

Some more phrases and their meanings:

A bumpy relationship (up and down like a car on road with bumps)

A broken home (a family split up by divorce)

A family feud (quarrel in a family causing bad feeling for many years)

Some Words for Positive Relationships

When Kevin met Christine it was love at first sight. (love beg an the first moment they saw each other)

He fell head over heels in love with her. (feel deeply in love)

Peter only has eyes for Lara. (is only attracted to)

Their relation is purely platonic. (affectionate relationship between people)

Selena was more than infatuated (romantically obsessed), she was completely besotted with him (blindly and stupidly in love)

Phrases/Words that describe friendships and other positive relationships

Ramya and I hit off immediately (liked each other the moment we met). We are true soul mates (people who feel very close to each other).

Razia was my mother’s lifelong companion. (a friend who has been with her all her life)

The moment I met Prasoon, I could see he was a man after my own heart.(someone who thinks exactly the way you think)

Sridevi and I get on like a house on fire. (have an enjoyable relationship)

Amit and Sreedhar have been bosom friends/buddies/pals for years. (very close friends)

Anam and Aparna are inseparable. (always want to be together)

There’s always been a close bond between Kirsten and her aunt. (a feeling of togetherness)

One word substitutes for positive relationships

To be very similar to someone- the way you think and look at life

Kindred spirits

To be perfect for each other

Well-matched couple

Feeling a bond for brothers and sisters

Family ties

one's head is swimming

 feel giddy==dizzy == one's head is swimming 

============================= 

feeling unsteady or unable to balance 

Friends 

----------------  

friendly  

============= 

behaving towards someone in a way that shows you like them and are ready to talk to them or help them ≠ unfriendly

 

She is a very friendly person. She is kind and easygoing. I like her a lot 

 

 

 

friendship  

============ 

a relationship between friends 

I really value your friendship. I don't know what I'd do without you, and I want to be your friend for a long time  

 

 

 

 eco-friendly ===environmentally-friendly   

======================== 

products that are environmentally friendly do not harm the environment when they are made or when you use them 

That detergent is environmentally-friendly because it's made from natural ingredients. It's a green product; it doesn't have harsh chemicals in it 

 

 

unfriendly   

============ 

not kind or friendly

Thomas is an unfriendly person. He never smiles and it seems like he's always in a bad mood 

 

 

friendly fire  

==================== 

 bombs, bullets etc that accidentally kill people who are fighting on  

 the same side 

 

The military unit took part in a friendly fire exercise yesterday. All of the weaponry they tested worked well 

 

 

user-friendly  

============== 

easy to use, understand, or operate

 

That computer program is very user-friendly. It's easy to use and I'm glad we bought it 

 

 

 

friendless  

==============

having no friends and no one to help you  

 

I feel like I'm friendless these days. I'm so busy with work that I've lost touch with many old friends. I don't have any time for socializing. I wish I had the time to make more friends
 

 

 

befriend   

to behave in a friendly way towards someone, especially someone who is younger or needs help 

Kevin befriended Sam when Sam really needed it. Sam was going through a difficult time, and really needed a friend to talk to about his problems 

 

 

fair weather friend  

================ 

someone who only wants to be your friend when you are successful

 

Martha is a fair weather friend. She is never there when I have a problem. If I call her to talk about my problems, she tells me that she is busy and hangs up quickly 

 

foe  

========== 

an enemy

 

The opposite of a friend is a foe

======================  

Dressing up

 Dressing up 

=========== 

Dressing up is putting on more formal clothes 

Dressing down 

================= 

 Dressing down is putting on more casual clothes  

 

Ways of agreeing

Ways of agreeing 

======== 

I'm certainly with you on that 

I'm of a like mind on that, too   

  we definitely see eye to eye on that one  

In that respect we are of target mind on that 

I can't argue with that 

Let's handle on that 

There's only one word I can use now to show my agreement and that's -- execute 

There's absolutely no doubt whatsoever that you're right 

I'll establish that in writing to show my acceptance 

The tendencies seem eminently suitable to me 

Time

Tell someone time and again 

================= 

 do this repeatedly 

Bags of time  

 ====== 

a lot of time 

 To have time to kill  

=========== 

have plenty of time 

have time to spare 

============ 

have enough time available in order to relax

have time on your hands  

=============== 

have a lot of time available and have nothing to do 

It's about time 

========
that the time has now come  

For the time being  

============ 

at the present time but not for always 

Time flies 

=========

it passes rapidly 

Time will tell    

========== 

understand 

in good time  

========= 

you are not in a rush or late

earth

  

 earth

======= 

to make electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire = ground  

Make sure that the machine is properly earthed  

down-to-earth 

========= 

practical and direct in a sensible honest way  

Fran's a friendly, down-to-earth person 

a chef with a down-to-earth approach to cooking 

   earth mother  

==============

a woman who has all the qualities expected of a mother and is especially interested in simple, natural ways of living 

Mother Earth  

=========== 

the world, considered as the place or thing from which all life comes

earth-shattering   

============== 

surprising or shocking and very important 

an earth-shattering event

pass the buck

pass the buck 

========= 

to make someone else them responsible for something that you should deal with 

fuddy-duddy

fuddy-duddy 

========= 

someone who has old-fashioned ideas and attitudes  

You're such an old fuddy-duddy 

dress sense

dress sense    

==========

the ability to dress well in attractive combinations of clothes that suit you 

  

have had your chips

have had your chips  

============ 

to be in a situation in which you no longer have any hope of improvement