idioms

give somebody the benefit of the doubt

to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either After hearing his explanation, I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

come down with something

to become or to be sick with some illness. Susan came down with a bad cold and had to cancel her trip. I didn't go to work because I came down with the flu.

picture of good health

Sin a very healthy condition. The doctor says I am the picture of good health. Each of the children is the picture of health.

the writing on the wall

the likelihood that something bad will happen Area residents can see the writing on the wall and realize that if they don't cooperate with the police, these crimes will continue. As leaders, they should have seen the handwriting on the wall and come up with an alternative course of action.

pull some strings

to use influence (with someone to get something done). I can get it done easily by pulling a few strings. Is it possible to get anything done around here without pulling some strings?

make a name for yourself

to become famous or respected by a lot of people It was with his third novel, 'The Darkest Hours', that he made a name for himself.

fit as a fiddle

Cliché in very good health. (*Also: as ~.) You may feel sick now, but after a few days of rest and plenty of liquids, you'll be fit as a fiddle. Grandson: Are you sure you'll be able to climb all these stairs? Grandmother: Of course! I feel as fit as a fiddle today.

go cold turkey

to stop (doing something) without tapering off. (Originally drug slang. Now concerned with breaking any habit.) I had to stop smoking, so I went cold turkey. It's awful! When heroin addicts go cold turkey, they get terribly sick.

in the cards

in the future. (*Typically: be ~; see something ~.) Well, what do you think is in the cards for tomorrow? I asked the boss if there was a raise in the cards for me.

not have a chance in hell

not have any possibility It quickly became clear that I didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of finding my lost wallet.
Usage notes: sometimes used in the form have no chance in hell

Your guess is as good as mine

I do not know. Jane: Are there any good movies playing tonight? Alan: Your guess is as good as mine. Jill: How long should we bake this pie? Jane: Your guess is as good as mine.

jack of all trades someone

who can do several different jobs instead of specializing in one. John can do plumbing, carpentry, and roofing—a real jack of all trades. He isn't very good at any of them. Take your car to a certified engine mechanic, not a jack of all trades.

crack the whip

to use your authority to make someone work harder, usually by threatening or punishing them
Usage notes: A whip is a piece of leather or rope fastened to a stick which you hit a horse with in order to make it go faster.
We were already three months behind schedule so I thought it was time to crack the whip.

a one-mad a band

an organization in which one person does all the work or has all the power
Usage notes: A one-man band is a musician who performs alone and plays several instruments at the same time.
It's basically a one-man band. He designs, prints and sells the T-shirts himself. Its critics say that the company has become a one-man band in recent years.

see eye to eye

[for someone] to agree about someone or something with someone else, I'm glad we see eye to eye about Todd with Mary. I see eye to eye with Mary. Will labor and management ever see eye to eye on the new contract?

rub off

[for a characteristic of one person] to seem to transfer to someone else. I'll sit by Ann. She has been lucky all evening. Maybe it'll rub off on me. Sorry. I don't think that luck rubs off.

fight like cat and dog

to argue violently all the time We get on very well as adults but as kids we fought like cat and dog.

be off-colour

to not be feeling as well as usual He had flu a couple of months ago and he's been a bit off-colour ever since.

just what the doctor ordered

exactly what is required, especially for health or comfort. That meal was delicious, Bob. Just what the doctor ordered. Bob: Would you like something to drink? Mary: Yes, a cold glass of water would be just what the doctor ordered.

a clean bill of health

if you give someone or something a clean bill of health, you examine them and state that they are healthy, in good condition, or legal John will have to stay at home until the doctors give him a clean bill of health. Of 30 countries inspected for airline safety only 17 received a clean bill of health.

be (like) chalk and cheese

if two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other I don't have anything in common with my brother. We're like chalk and cheese.

lose contact with someone or something

[for communication with someone or a group] to fail or fade away; to let one's friendship or relationship with someone or a group lapse. I hope I don't lose contact with you. I don't want to lose touch with my old friends.

take a shine to somebody

to like someone immediately I think Andrew has taken a bit of a shine to our new member of staff.

a square meal

a big meal that provides your body with all the different types of food it needs to stay healthy Most of these supermodels don't look like they've had a square meal in their life. If you're only eating a chocolate bar for lunch you need a good square meal in the evening.

have a sweet tooth

to desire to eat many sweet foods-especially candy and pastries. I have a sweet tooth, and if I don't watch it, I'll really get fat. John eats candy all the time. He must have a sweet tooth.

talk shop

to talk about business or work matters at a social event (where such talk is out of place). All right, everyone, we're not here to talk shop. Let's have a good time. Mary and Jane stood by the punch bowl, talking shop.

weed someone or something out

to remove someone or something unwanted or undesirable from a group or collection. (Fig. on removing weeds from the soil.) We had to weed the less productive workers out one by one. The auditions were held to weed out the actors with the least ability. I'm going through my books to weed out those that I don't need anymore.

like a dream

if something or someone does something like a dream, they do it very well Everything had happened as it was meant to. Oscar's plan had worked like a dream. Our new car goes like a dream.

be/go out on the town

to go out and enjoy yourself at bars, restaurants etc. in the evening She stayed in her hotel room while the others went out on the town.

make my day

make me happy by trying to do that You want to fight? Go ahead, make my day.

put one's thinking cap on

to start thinking in a serious manner. (Usually used with children.) It's time to put our thinking caps on, children. All right now, let's put on our thinking caps and do some arithmetic.

pick someone's brain(s)

to talk with someone to find out information about something. I spent the afternoon with Donna, picking her brain for ideas to use in our celebration. Do you mind if I pick your brains? I need some fresh ideas.

your mind goes blank

Subtopiif you are asked a question and your mind goes blank, you cannot think of anything to say I was so nervous during the interview that when I was asked about my experience, my mind went blank.c

pin money

Subta small amount of money that you earn and spend on things for yourself She has a part-time job that gives her pin money for extra treats for herself and the kids.opic

rolling in something

having large amounts of something, usually money. That family is rolling in money. Bob doesn't need to earn money. He's rolling in it.

on a shoestring

with a very small amount of money. We lived on a shoestring for years before I got a good-paying job. John traveled to Florida on a shoestring.

somebody's heart is in the right place

if someone's heart is in the right place, they are a good and kind person even if they do not always seem to be Jerry's a bit annoying sometimes but his heart's in the right place.

a ray of sunshine

someone or something that makes you feel happy, especially in a difficult situation Amid all the gloom, their grandchild has been a real ray of sunshine.

somebody's bark is worse than their bite

if someone's bark is worse than their bite, they are not as unpleasant as they seem, and their actions are not as bad as their threats I wouldn't be scared of her if I were you. Her bark's a lot worse than her bite.

be on cloud nine

Subtopto be very happy For a few days after I heard I'd got the job, I was on cloud nine.ic

head someone or something off

to intercept and divert someone or something. I think I can head her off before she reaches the police station. I hope we can head off trouble. We can head it off. Have no fear.

in the doldrums

sluggish; inactive; in low spirits. (*Typically: be ~; put someone [into] ~.) He's usually in the doldrums in the winter. I had some bad news yesterday, which put me into the doldrums.

get off on the wrong foot

to begin doing something in a way that is likely to fail Holly's new secretary really got off on the wrong foot by being rude to visitors.

put in a good word (for someone)

to say something (to someone) in support of someone else. I hope you get the job. I'll put in a good word for you. Yes, I want the job. If you see the boss, please put in a good word.

miss the point

to fail to understand the important part of something. I'm afraid you missed the point. Let me explain it again. You keep explaining, and I keep missing the point.