no bed of roses

no bed of roses==not easy  

  Trying to work at two jobs is no bed of roses 

not happening==no go 

weekend are The plans for this no go 

continually==no end 

She cried no end after she lost her job 

no show==absent   

 think that she will be a no show 

difficult==no picnic  

This new job assignment is no picnic 

 not agreed to==no cigar 

He almost bought the car but in the end the sale was no cigar 

an intelligent and independent person==nobody's fool 

She is nobody's fool 

nuts about==enthusiastic 

She is really nuts about watching movies

Colour Idioms - White

black and white 

if we have situation in which it’s easy for someone to understand what’s

wrong and what’s right, we say ‘it’s black and white 

As white as a sheet  

if someone is very pale because they are ill or shocked or scared, we say they’re as

white as a sheet 

A white-knuckle ride 

if something is very exciting or scary, we call it a white-knuckle ride 

know

be in the know

Definition: have inside knowledge about a situation

Talk to Tim. He's in the know
Are you in the know about the current crisis

know better

Definition: have knowledge about how one should behave

You know better than to do that
I wish he had acted differently. He certainly knew better

know-how

Definition: understanding of how a task should be done

I'd call technical support and ask someone with the know-how.
Do you have the know-how to upgrade our servers

know the tricks of the trade

Definition: possess the skills and knowledge to be successful in a particular task

Let's ask Tom. He knows all the tricks of the trade.
I think we need to bring in a specialist who knows the tricks of the trade

know one's ABCs

Definition: to understand and be capable of doing the basics

I don't think he should do this. He doesn't even know his ABCs 

know someone or something like a book

Definition: completely understand someone or something

She knows Jerry like a book 

know someone by sight

Definition: be able to recognize someone

I know Peter by sight. I'll got to the airport 

know something from memory

Definition: have something memorized

She knows the piece from memory
Can you sing "New York, New York" from memory

know something inside out

Definition: have completely knowledge of something

Susan is the expert. She's knows this stuff inside out

know the ropes

Definition: know how to do something

We need to bring somebody in who knows the ropes. 

know the score

Definition: understand the facts about a situation

I know the score. Don't try to fool me

walk on eggs / eggshells

walk on eggs /  eggshells  

  If you are  walking on eggs or eggshells you are being so careful not to offend  someone  or do anything wrong 

when my mother is staying at our house ,I feel like i'm walking on eggshells   

Bite the Dust

Bite the Dust

 went down in defeat, losing to a competitor  

Andy did exceptionally well in all of the track events, but he bit the dust in the high jump competition. Much to the disappointment of his fans, he went down in defeat, losing to a competitor from the visiting team

razor

be on a razor/razor's edge 

be on a razor/razor's edge  British English to be in a 

 difficult position where a mistake could be dangerous  

Politically we are on a razor edge

bone-dry

		bone-dry  Having no trace of moisture
		Believe it or not, I hung out the washing only an hour ago and it is already bone-dry

Up One's Sleeve

Up One's Sleeve 

All right, Sara. We know that you're planning something big for Jean's birthday. Mind telling us just what you have up your sleeve

I wanted to make his birthday a very special event 

Jean has a sister living in France, and I sent her an airplane ticket so that she could be here for his birthday

Boy! That is something special. We kind of guessed that you had some concealed plan and were waiting for the right time to reveal it 

Well, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure she could come

food idioms

apple of her/his eye
MEANING: someone or something that one likes a lot

EXAMPLE
The little girl is the apple of her grandfather’s eye

bad egg

MEANING: a bad person, bum

EXAMPLE
That man is a bad egg so you should try and avoid him if you can

big cheese

MEANING: an important person, a leader

EXAMPLE
He is a big cheese in his company so you should be very nice to him

bread and butter

(MEANING: basic needs of life (food,shelter,clothing

EXAMPLE

The voters are worried about bread and butter issues like jobs and taxes
bring home the bacon

MEANING: earn your family’s living

EXAMPLE
Recently he has been working very hard trying to bring home the bacon. He has no time to do anything else

butter up
MEANING: flatter someone to try to get their favor or friendship

EXAMPLE

He spends most of his free time trying to butter up his boss so that he won’t have to work so hard

carrot and stick
MEANING: promising to reward or punish someone at the same time

EXAMPLE
The government took a carrot and stick approach to the people who were illegally protesting against the construction of the dam

advanced idioms

He's not really doing anything serious at the moment because he's just marking time until hen finds a proper job   

:means  

waiting for the right opportunity 

You mark my words you do as I say and you'll be all right 

 

:means   

 listen to me carefully 

 

 

 

The dancers were marked down in the competition because the man fell over half way through 

 

:means    

lost marks   

 

There wasn't much time to waste and in order to secure a place, you had to be quick off the mark

:means     

 

be first in the queue
 

 

 

When you look back over her lifetime you can see that she will have made her mark

:means  

be remembered  

 

From an early age he was marked out to become leader of his party
 

:means   

destined 

 

They were very fussy about their products and any item not up to the mark was discarded 

:means    

of a high standard 

 

 

 

As they were very slow off the mark, they missed some of the good bargains 

:means     

not ready on time

Time and tide

Time and tide wait for no man  

: Meaning 

No one is so powerful that they can stop the march of time 

coulours in idioms

 to be in the red = to be in debt; to be overdrawn at the bank. The opposite is to be in the black ( = to be in credit at the bank)

   green = inexperienced, not very competent

  to scream blue murder = to shout very loudly, to   

yell

 to be caught red-handed = to be caught committing  a crime  

out of the blue = completely unexpectedly

 to have green fingers = to be a good gardener, to   

be able to make plants grow well

 to paint the town red = to celebrate

 to do something until one is blue in the face = to do it again and again without getting any results

 once in a blue moon = very rarely, hardly ever

 to see red = to be really angry, really mad

 little grey cells = brains

IDIOMS

"crash course" = a course in which you learn the material in a very short time period

"She took a driving crash course before she went on vacation."

---

"black ice" = a coating of ice on the road that is nearly invisible to drivers

"Be careful as you drive home tonight because there are sure to be patches of black ice on the highways"

Idioms

"get back on one's feet" = recover physically, emotionally, or financially

"He lost everything in the accident, but he's slowly getting back on his feet."

---

"hit the ceiling" = get very angry

"My dad hit the ceiling when he found out I wrecked the car." 

Many a little makes a mickle 

Many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount 

An Englishman's home is his castle

Meaning

The English dictum that a man's home is his refuge  

Hedge your bets

Meaning

To avoid committing oneself; to leave a means of retreat open  

Idioms with 'shoulder'

have a chip on your shoulderseem angry all the time because you think you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people

He's got a real chip on his shoulder because he's so short. He thinks he always has to prove how strong manly he is.

head and shoulders above a lot better than

Of course she's going to win – she's head and shoulders above everyone else in the competition.

a shoulder to cry onsomeone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support or help and encouragement

She's a great boss. If ever you've got any problems you can go to her and she'll give you a shoulder to cry on. 

Idioms with 'back'

get someone's back up annoy someone She's late practically every day. It really gets my back up. Why should I always have to come in on time when she doesn't have to? keep your back covereddo something now to make sure that if there is a problem later, you will not be blamed for it I know you don't want to do all this paperwork but you need to keep your back covered in case there's an accident.

Idioms with 'neck'

have to brass neck to do something not be embarrassed to do something I couldn't believe he had the brass neck to ask her how old she was.   stick your neck out for someonedo something risky or take a chance I told the boss that you were a really reliable worker. I stuck my neck out for you, so don't let me down, OK? be up to your neck be very busy or have a lot of work to do I'd love to come to your party this weekend but I don't think I can. I'm up to my neck just now, revising for my exams. get it in the neckbe blamed, criticized or punished for something If I'm late one more time this week, I'll really get it in the neck from the boss.

Vocabulary

Fancy a brew? informalWould you like a cup of tea or coffee our paths cross  we meet each other mates informal   friends hold a grudge  have a strong feeling of anger and dislike for a person who you feel has treated you badly

Chip on your shoulder 

:Meaning 

A perceived grievance or sense of inferiority 

All at sea 

:Meaning 

In a state of confusion and disorder 

Come a cropper 

 :Meaning   

                Fall over or fail at some venture                                               

Idiom

	Idiom	Meaning
A	Above and beyond the call of duty	If a person does something which is above and beyond the   call of duty, they show a greater degree of courage or effort   than is usually required or expected in their job.   "The fire-fighter received a medal for his action which went   above and beyond the call of duty
	Have an ace up your sleeve.	If you have an ace up your sleeve, it means that you have   something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage.
	Hold all the aces	A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position   because they have more advantages than anyone else.   "Given the high unemployment figures in some countries,   employers hold all the aces."
	Acid test	To refer to something as the acid test means that it will prove   how effective or useful something is.   "The training course was very interesting but the acid test will come   when I start my new job."
	Get your act together!	If you tell someone to get their act together, you mean   that they need to organize their affairs more effectively   in order to be more successful.
	Add fuel to the flames	If you add fuel to the flames, you say something that makes a   difficult situation  worse.   "He forgot their wedding anniversary, and his apologies only   added fuel to the flames."
	Much ado about nothing.	If people make "much ado about nothing", they make   a lot of fuss about something which is not important.
	Afraid of one's own shadow	A person who is afraid of their own shadow is very nervous   or easily frightened.   "I've never seen anyone so easily scared - she's afraid of her   own shadow."
	All ears	To say that you are all ears means that you are listening very   attentively.   "Of course I want to know - I'm all ears!"
	All hell broke loose	To say that all hell broke loose means that there was a sudden   angry, noisy reaction to something.   "All hell broke loose when it was announced that the plant was going   to close down."
	All thumbs/all fingers and thumbs	If you are all fingers and thumbs, you are awkward and clumsy and   do things incorrectly.   "Would you mind wrapping this for me? I'm all fingers and thumbs!"
	Ambulance chaser	This terms refers to a lawyer who finds work by persuading people   injured in accidents to claim money from the person who caused   the accident.   "Peterson & Scott are well-known ambulance chasers - that's how   they make their money!"
	Ants in one's pants	People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about   something   "I wish he'd relax.  He's got ants in his pants about something today!"
	Any port in a storm	When you have no choice, any port in a storm refers to a solution   you accept, which in normal circumstances you would find unacceptable.   "The hotel was substandard, but it was a case of any port in a storm;   all the others were full."
	The apple of your eye.	If somebody is the apple of your eye, this means that you like   them very much :   "My grandson is the apple of my eye".
	To upset the applecart	To upset (or to overturn) the applecart means to spoil a satisfactory   plan or situation   "I hope Julie doesn't attend the meeting; she could upset the applecart!"
	Apron strings	If one person is tied to another's apron strings, they remain dependent   at an age when they should be independent.   "All his decisions are influenced by his mother.  He's still tied to her   apron strings."
	Give your right arm	If you say "I'd give my right arm for that", you mean that you   want it a lot and would do almost anything to obtain it.   "I'd give my right arm to have a apartment on Central Park."
	Cost an arm and a leg	If something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive!   "The house cost us an arm and a leg, but we have no regrets."
	To be up in arms	If you are up in arms about something, you are very angry.   "The population was up in arms over the demolition of the old theatre."
	Keep someone at arm's length	If you keep someone at arm's length, you do not allow yourself   to become too friendly with them.   "It's not easy to become friends with Sophie; she tends to keep   everyone at arm's length."
	Asking for trouble	Someone who is asking for trouble is behaving stupidly and is likely   to have problems.   "Driving fast on these roads is really asking for trouble!"
	Of no avail	Something which is of no avail is not at all helpful or useful.   "The coffee machine wouldn't work and the instruction leaflet was   of no avail."
	A rude awakening	If you get a rude awakening, you are forced to accept   the unpleasant truth.
	Have an axe to grind	If you have an axe to grind, you have personal reasons for   becoming involved in something or adopting a particular attitude.   "It was decided that the best candidates would be selected by   a recruitment agency who had no axe to grind within the company."

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

 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.

Idioms and Expressions

    Take it or leave it – either to choose something or not to choose it

There’s nothing else for dinner except pasta and vegetables, so take it or leave it.

 

Play ball – to cooperate or work with (usually unwilling to cooperate in the beginning)

            * It would be much easier if you played ball instead of fighting with me.  

So far so good – Until now everything is well or good

            * How is your planning going? So far so good.  

Take it or leave it – either to choose something or not to choose it.

Trick or Treat – A children's Halloween practice of asking for treats from door to door under threat of playing

tricks on householders who refuse.

Not miss a beat– to continue doing something without hesitation

            * When the mike failed, the TV newscaster kept reporting without missing a beat.

In no time – very quickly, not taking much time, also in a flash

                      * The children got ready in no time to go to the zoo.

Jump the gun – to move or act impatiently before the correct time

                      * The politician jumped the gun when he claimed victory before voting ended.

         The lion’s share – the majority, most

                        * The companies chairman kept the lion’s share of stock.

         Hold your horses – to be patient, similar to “keep your shirt on”

                        * Hold your horses! I am not ready to go yet.

         Come up short – to have less than needed, usually refers to money

                        * David came up short when he counted the money.

Idiom or Expression

Blabbermouth: a very talkative person--especially one who says things that should be kept secret.

*"Don't say anything to Bob unless you want the whole office to know.
Bob's quite a blabbermouth."

 

.