100 English Expressions – & Idioms –51 to 75 – B2 English, How to Speak like a Native!
Comprehension Exercise
100 English Expressions – & Idioms –51 to 75 – B2 English
Sink your teeth into.
Doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
I’d like you to sink your teeth into this new project I’m developing.
Make headway.
Progress in what you are trying to achieve.
I’m going to wait to take a break until I make some headway on my project.
Punch above one’s weight.
Performing beyond your ability.
My friend Reuben was not the best swimmer around but he could win the gold
medal at the state swimming competition by working hard and punching above his
weight in the finals.
Going places.
Exhibiting talent and ability that will lead to a successful future.
Alice is definitely going to go places with that singing voice of hers.
Have one’s heart set on.
Possessing a determination to obtain something.
When Janny sets her heart on a new toy she won’t give us a moment’s peace until
we buy it for her.
First out of the gate.
Being the first one to make a start at something.
John and his friends had decided to voice their opinion against the new
economic policy John was the first one to be out of the gate.
Buckle down.
Doing some hard work with determination and full attention.
If you want to get a passing grade this semester you will really need to buckle
down and study hard.
Pull out all the stops.
Doing everything you can to make something successful.
The senator is going to have to pull out all of the stops if he’s to have any
chance of winning this election.
Hang on by fingernails.
Continuing to do something in a very difficult situation.
The stranded hiker was hanging on by her fingernails until the rescue crew
arrived.
Lick one’s wounds.
Trying to regain their confidence or boost up the spirits after a defeat
I think the senator will be licking his wounds for a while after that disastrous
debate performance.
Tongue-tied.
Difficulty in expressing yourself because of nervousness or embarrassment.
Why do you get tongue-tied in front of a crowd do you get really nervous.
Proud as a peacock.
Refers to an extremely proud person.
Tom’s been as proud as a peacock ever since he found out he came in top of the
class he hasn’t missed a single opportunity to remind us.
Look on the bright side.
View an unpleasant situation in a positive light.
Looking on the bright side then he will have plenty of time to start his own
business now that he is unemployed.
Makes your flesh crawl.
Something that makes you feel disgusted or nervous.
The mere mention of cockroaches makes her flesh crawl she cannot stand the
sight of those insects.
Swallow once pride.
Accepting something humiliating or embarrassing.
I don’t have any other job offers so I guess I just have to swallow my pride
and accept this entry-level position.
Speak volumes.
Expresses a reaction without words.
How you react to challenges speaks volumes about your character.
Not turn a hair.
Refers to not exhibiting any emotion where it is expected.
You have to give Jane credit she didn’t turn a hair when the customer started
shouting in her face.
Make or break.
Circumstances causing total success or total ruin.
When you’re young you often think that big obstacles will either make or break
you but as you get older you realize that it’s not that simple.
Let’s slip through fingers.
Failing to obtain or key good opportunity.
This opportunity can be your breakthrough in the industry don’t let
it slip through your fingers.
Landslide victory.
Overwhelming victory received by a candidate of political party at an
election.
The younger candidate won a landslide victory in the presidential election.
Rags to riches.
Becoming very rich while starting very poor.
People who rise from rags to riches are often afraid the good life will be
snatched away from them.
Miss the boat.
Failing to take advantage of an opportunity because of slow actions.
If you don’t call the recruiter back right away you’re going to miss the boat.
On the pigs back.
Refers to a person in successful and good situation.
We found ourselves on the pigs back after our product gained such widespread
success across the country.
Smash hit.
Refers to music, novels and films which are very successful.
After the smash hit of her first novel Mary was under a lot of pressure for her
second effort to be just as successful
Murphy’s Law.
Means that if anything can go wrong it will.
The manager always tries to anticipate Murphy’s Law having us prepare for
anything that could possibly go wrong on a project.
Be the first to comment