Listen & Learn

English
Vocabulary Master
for Intermediate & Advanced Learners

© DIM Nauka i Multimedia 2016

Course writer: Dorota Guzik, Dominika Tkaczyk

Voices: Maybe Theatre Company
Recorded & mastered: Mariusz Zaczkowski MTS Studio

ISBN: 978-83-8006-135-4

© Reading Booklet DIM Nauka i Multimedia 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system,
without the written permission of DIM Nauka i Multimedia, ul. Milskiego 1, 80-809 Gdansk, Poland.

© DIM Nauka i Multimedia

ul. Milskiego 1; 80-809 Gdansk, Poland
www.audiokursy.pl
e-mail: [email protected]
Contents
Page Track

PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS

Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY 3 1-4
Lesson 2. WORK 7 5-8
Lesson 3. TIME 11 9-12
Lesson 4. CONVERSATION 15 13-16
Lesson 5. DISCUSSION 19 17-20
Lesson 6. PROBLEMS 24 21-24
Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR 29 25-28
Lesson 8. FEELINGS 32 29-32
Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH 35 33-36
Lesson 10. CRIME 39 37-40
Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT 43 41-44
Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL 47 45-48
Lesson 13. FAMILY 51 49-52
PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
Lesson 14. ANIMALS 55 53-56
Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY 59 57-60
Lesson 16. COLOURS 63 61-64
Lesson 17. COMPARISON 67 65-67
Lesson 18. BINOMINALS 70 68-71
Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS 74 72-74
Lesson 20. PROVERBS 79 75

Glossary French / Glossaire 80

German / Wörterbuch 90
Spanish / Glosario 100
Polish / Słowniczek 110
Russian / Словарик 120
Japanese / 表現集 130
PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS

Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

1. 1

Listen.

A BUSINESS RUNS AT A PROFIT /

a business makes money / a business loses money
A BUSINESS RUNS AT A LOSS

The beginnings of our family shop were quite difficult and we ran at a loss, but as we are getting
more and more customers now, we are beginning to run at a profit.

FINANCES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE /

to have a lot of / not to have enough money
FINANCES ARE IN BAD SHAPE

I’m afraid this company will go bankrupt as its finances are in very bad shape.

A FALLING MARKET a market which is moving in a downward direction

It is a falling market now with no perspectives and I wouldn’t invest in it.

TO PUT MONEY INTO BUSINESS to invest in a business

You will have to find another partner because I’m not going to put any more money into this business.

TO CLOSE A DEAL / TO CLOSE

to complete a deal successfully
A BARGAIN

After long negotiations we were finally ready to establish all the details and close the deal.

SHARP PRACTICES behaviour which is dishonest but not illegal

When it comes to business he doesn’t have any scruples and uses illegal methods. He’s known for
his sharp practices.

someone who invests money in a business but

A SLEEPING PARTNER
does not help to manage it

Jack invests some money in the family business but he’s not actively involved in running it. He’s
just a sleeping partner.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 1. Business and money

A TAKEOVER the change of ownership or control of a company

Our little firm was too weak to survive on the market and so we couldn’t avoid a takeover by
a bigger company.

to admit that you have no money and cannot pay

TO GO BANKRUPT / TO BE BANKRUPT
your debts

Two years ago their little company went bankrupt as it wasn’t able to pay its debts.

TO MAKE MONEY to earn money

He became a rich man after he made a lot of money in property speculation.

TO BE IN THE MONEY suddenly have a lot of money

When Peter found that old painting in his attic and it turned out to be very valuable, he knew he was
in the money.

TO BE A WAGE EARNER / TO BE
to have a job and be paid weekly / monthly
A SALARY EARNER

In our family my husband is the only wage earner. We all wait for the money he brings at the end of
the week.

TO MAKE A LIVING to earn money

Nobody knew how Sue made a living and it was quite a surprise when she said she worked as
a writer.

TO BE WELL-OFF to be rich

You have to be well-off to afford holidays in exotic places. Such luxuries cost a lot.

to spend less money in the time of financial

TO TIGHTEN ONE’S BELT
difficulty

Susan lost her job so she had to tighten her belt and cut down on unnecessary things.

2. 2

Listen and repeat.

Our shop ran at a loss at first but now it runs at a profit.

Our finances are in a very bad shape.
I wouldn’t invest in a falling market.
I’m going to put some money into this business.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 1. Business and money

After long negotiations we closed the deal.

Our manager is known for his sharp practices.
Jack is just a sleeping partner in this company.
We couldn’t avoid a takeover by a bigger company.
The company went bankrupt as it didn’t pay off its debts.
He made a lot of money in property speculations.
Unexpectedly Peter was in the money.
In our family my husband is the only wage earner.
Susan made her living as a writer.
You have to be well-off to afford holidays in exotic places.
Susan tightened her belt and cut down on unnecessary things.

3. 3

Listen.

When Joe and Susan got married, they were very poor. Joe was the only wage-earner in the family
and they had to think how they would make a living. They decided to start their own business but it
wasn’t easy to find someone who would like to put money into it. Thus they planned to tighten the
belt and save some money to open a greengrocer’s. Susan’s father warned them that it was a falling
market in their area as there were already four greengrocers in the neighbourhood but they wanted
to take a chance. After some time, when their business started to run at a profit, Sue’s father
wanted to participate and he became a sleeping partner. Later, Joe’s brother wanted to join them
and they were just about to close the deal, when Sue found out that he was known for his sharp
practices and the plan didn’t work out. Sue and Joe were doing fine and they made a lot of money
but after two years things got worse. There was a terrible drought in the country and the prices of
vegetables and fruit rose drastically. They knew they were going bankrupt. Their finances were
in a really bad shape and a takeover by a bigger company was just a matter of time.

4. 4

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- John was the only one who brought the money at the end of the week.
- …
John was the only wage-earner.

- They thought about how to earn money.

- …
They thought about how to make a living.

- They wanted someone to invest in the business.

- …
They wanted someone to put money in the business.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 1. Business and money

- They decided to spend less money.

- …
They decided to tighten the belt.

- A greengrocer’s was a business with no perspectives.

- …
A greengrocer’s was a falling market.

- The business started to bring money.

- …
The business started to run at a profit.

- Sue’s father didn’t join the business but he invested some money into it.
- …
Sue’s father became a sleeping partner.

- They nearly completed the deal with Joe’s brother.

- …
They nearly closed the deal with him.

- Joe’s brother was known for dishonest actions.

- …
He was known for his sharp practices.

- Sue and Joe earned a lot of money.

- …
Sue and Joe made a lot of money.

- They had no money and couldn’t pay the debts.

- …
They went bankrupt.

- They didn’t have enough money.

- …
Their finances were in a bad shape.

- They couldn’t avoid the change of ownership of the company.

- …
They couldn’t avoid a takeover.

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Lesson 2. WORK
1. 5

Listen.

TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS to start doing something

OK, the job has to be done very quickly so let’s get down to business.

TO ROLL ONE’S SLEEVES UP to start doing a job even though it’s difficult

It’s time to roll our sleeves up and clean this mess. It can’t wait!

to be for the purpose of doing business, not for

TO BE ON BUSINESS
pleasure

Everybody thought George flew to Hawaii to relax but actually he went on business.

TO WORK IN THE FIELD to work outside the office, laboratory or classroom

Joan spent years in libraries studying tribal languages so when she was asked to go to Africa and
work in the field, she accepted the offer immediately.

A WHITE-COLLAR WORKER /
a worker who does an office job / a manual worker
A BLUE-COLLAR WORKER

A career of a white-collar worker in the office is much more popular among young people than the
hard and dirty work of blue-collar workers.

TO BE ON DUTY / TO BE OFF DUTY to be working / not working at a particular time

When we got to the hospital, the nurse on duty called for the doctor.

TO DO OVERTIME / TO WORK
to work after the usual hours for extra pay
OVERTIME

Since Jane’s divorce, she’s been working a lot of overtime to earn some extra money. She stays at
work much longer and is starting to feel very tired.

to receive payment for the number of things

TO BE ON PIECE WORK
produced

We were on piece work and we were paid for the number of products we made so if you were fast
you could earn a lot of money.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 2. Work

TO BE ON SHIFTS (TO BE ON THE

to start work as another group finishes
NIGHT SHIFT / TO BE ON NIGHTS)

Our daughter wanted to become a nurse but the thought of working night shifts discouraged her.

TO BE ON CALL be available at any time

Don’t worry. There is a doctor on call 24 hours a day.

TO FIRE SOMEBODY to dismiss somebody from employment

I warn you! If you don’t do the job by tomorrow, you will be fired and you’ll have to start looking
for another job.

TO GIVE SOMEBODY THE SACK / TO to dismiss somebody from employment / to be

GET THE SACK dismissed

He got the sack when they found out he’d lied about his qualifications. Now he’s unemployed again.

to be unemployed and receive money from the

TO GO ON THE DOLE
government

When Joe lost his job last December he went on the dole. Now he’s still unemployed and he gets
money from the government.

TO GO ON STRIKE to stop working as a protest against something

After the negotiations with the government had failed, the miners decided to go on strike. They
stopped working and started their protest.

A BLACKLEG a strikebreaker

As Smith continued to work when all his colleagues went on strike, he was considered a blackleg.

2. 6

Listen and repeat.

The job has to be done fast so let’s get down to business.

It’s time to roll our sleeves up and clean this mess.
George went to Hawaii on business.
Joan went to Africa to study tribal languages in the field.
A white-collar worker works in the office.
A blue-collar worker does a manual job.
The nurse on duty called the doctor.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 2. Work

Joan worked overtime to earn some extra money.

When we worked on the farm we were on piece work.
Nurses have to be on night shifts.
There is a doctor on call 24 hours a day.
If you don’t do the job properly, you’ll be fired.
He got the sack and now he’s unemployed again.
Joe lost his job and went on the dole.
The miners decided to go on strike.
Smith didn’t join the strike and was a blackleg.

3. 7

Listen.

For many years Meg was a white collar worker and spent her days in the office from nine to five.
She used to work overtime as she wanted to save enough money to travel. She had already been on
business to Germany and France but she dreamed of going somewhere exotic. In order to earn some
extra money, she agreed to be on call even at weekends.
Last year her company was going through a difficult time and there were rumours that some people
would have to be fired. Meg was a hard-working and loyal employee but when her colleagues
decided to go on strike she didn’t want to be a blackleg and joined the protest. Unfortunately, the
firm went bankrupt and everybody got the sack. Meg didn’t want to go on the dole so she started
to look for a new job right away. For some time she worked in a supermarket but she didn’t like
being on night shifts and she quit. At that point Meg lost her hope that she would ever travel
anywhere. However, after two weeks she came across an advertisement of some charity
organisation which was looking for volunteers who would like to work in India. Meg didn’t think
much. She got down to business right away, rolled her sleeves up and wrote an application letter
and a CV. After two months she was in India. She finally felt she was in the right place.

4. 8

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Meg did an office job.

- …
Meg was a white-collar worker.

- She worked after the usual hours for extra pay.

- …
She worked overtime.

- She went abroad for the purpose of doing business.

- …
She went abroad on business.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 2. Work

- She agreed to be available at any time.

- …
She agreed to be on call.

- Some people had to be dismissed from employment.

- …
Some people had to be fired.

- Her colleagues decided to stop working as a protest.

- …
Her colleagues decided to go on strike.

- She didn’t want to be a strikebreaker.

- …
She didn’t want to be a blackleg.

- Everybody was dismissed from work.

- …
Everybody got the sack.

- Meg didn’t want to receive money from the government

- …
Meg didn’t want to go on the dole.

- She didn’t like working at night.

- …
She didn’t like being on night shifts.

- She started doing something.

- …
She got down to business.

- She was determined to do something and started writing a CV.

- …
She rolled her sleeves up and started writing a CV.

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Lesson 3. TIME
1. 9

Listen.

TO BE ON TIME to be punctual

The traffic on my way to work was so heavy that I worried if I would be on time.

TO BE BEHIND TIME to be late

The train was delayed and it left twenty minutes behind time.

TO TAKE ONE’S TIME not to hurry

You don’t need to hurry to leave so early. Take your time and relax before the journey.

TO DO STH AT THE LAST MINUTE to do something at the latest possible time

They had a sudden change of plans and cancelled the trip to Egypt at the last minute.

TO DO STH ON THE SPUR OF THE

to do something spontaneously, without hesitation
MOMENT

They didn’t plan to get married in Las Vegas but they suddenly found the idea so fascinating that
they did it on the spur of the moment.

to include all the latest information / to be too

TO BE UP-TO-DATE / OUT-OF-DATE
old, not recent

If you want to be up-to-date with the latest technology, you have to upgrade your computer quite
often.
Unfortunately, some street names in this town have been changed and this tourist guide is out-of-
date.

IT’S HIGH TIME something must be done without delay

Tom is thirty years old and his parents think it’s high time he moved out and started his own family.
So he shouldn’t wait any longer but get married fast.

TO HAVE A MINUTE to be available to do something

Are you very busy after lunch or will you have a minute to talk to me?

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 3. Time

AT ANY MOMENT very soon

They are evacuating people in a hurry because the volcano is ready to erupt at any minute.

EVERY NOW AND THEN occasionally, not very often

Jennifer is too busy to visit her family quite often but every now and then she at least finds some
time to have dinner with them.

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON very seldom

That theatre doesn’t have a good reputation as it puts on an interesting performance only once in
a blue moon.

ONCE IN A WHILE sometimes

I’m not very keen on cooking and I don’t do it often but once in a while I feel tempted to prepare
something special for dinner.

A NIGHT-BIRD a person who likes to stay up late at night

Joe never goes to sleep before midnight. He’s a real night bird.

AN EARLY BIRD a person who gets up very early in the morning

My sister is an early bird so she’s the one who walks the dog in the mornings.

to do something in order to make time pass more

TO KILL TIME
quickly

On the train to Warsaw I read this magazine from cover to cover just to kill the time, and in fact the
journey passed very quickly.

2. 10

Listen and repeat.

The traffic was so heavy that I couldn’t be on time.

The train left twenty minutes behind time.
Take your time and relax before the journey.
They cancelled their trip to Egypt at the last minute.
They got married in Las Vegas on the spur of the moment.
I wanted to be up-to-date with the latest technology.
This tourist guide is out-of-date so we can’t use it.
It’s high time Tom moved out and started his own family.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 3. Time

Will you have a minute to talk to me after lunch?

The volcano is ready to erupt at any minute.
Every now and then Jennifer has dinner with her parents.
This theatre puts on a good performance only once in a blue moon.
I prepare something special for dinner once in a while.
Joe is a night-bird and he doesn’t go to bed before midnight.
My sister is an early bird and she walks the dog in the mornings.
I read the magazine from cover to cover just to kill the time.

3. 11

Listen.

It was a Saturday night and Julie was sitting alone in her flat reading newspapers just to kill the
time. She was a night-bird and she was used to spending evenings by herself. That day, however,
she felt very lonely and knew she would burst into tears at any moment. Looking in the mirror she
saw an almost thirty-year-old woman in out-of-date clothes and hairstyle. Julie wasn’t a party-
goer. She saw her parents every now and then and once in a blue moon she went out with Susan –
her only friend. It was her birthday coming soon and Julie felt it was high time to change
something in her daily routine. Yes, her life was boring. Every day she did the same things and
performed the same duties always on time, like a robot.
Julie felt she had to do something. On the spur of the moment, without thinking, she called her
boss and asked him if he would have a minute to talk to her. Mr. Brown was surprised but when
Julie explained the situation and asked him for a week off, he agreed and told her to take her time
and relax.
There was no time to lose now. Julie packed her clothes and decided to take the first plane to Paris.
Luckily, when she came to the airport it turned out that the plane to Paris was twenty minutes
behind time due to some technical problems and so she bought the ticket at the last minute. There
she was, flying to a faraway country, all by herself, ready to meet the unknown.

4. 12

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Julie was reading the newspapers to make the time pass more quickly.
- …
Julie was reading the newspapers to kill the time.

- She liked to stay up late at night.

- …
She was a night bird.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 3. Time

- She knew she would burst into tears very soon.

- …
She knew she would burst into tears at any moment.

- Julie was wearing old-fashioned clothes.

- …
Julie was wearing out-of-date clothes.

- She saw her parents occasionally.

- …
She saw her parents every now and then.

- She seldom went out with Susan.

- …
She went out with Susan once in a blue moon.

- She had to change her life without delay.

- …
It was high time to change something in her life.

- She performed all her duties punctually.

- …
She performed all her duties on time.

- She called her boss spontaneously.

- …
She called her boss on the spur of the moment.

- She asked her boss to spare her some time.

- …
She asked her boss to have a minute for her.

- Mr Brown told her not to hurry.

- …
Mr Brown told her to take her time.

- The plane to Paris was twenty five minutes late.

- …
The plane to Paris was twenty five minutes behind time.

- Julie bought the ticket at the latest possible time.

- …
Julie bought the ticket at the last minute.

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Lesson 4. CONVERSATION
1. 13

Listen.

TO TALK AT CROSS PURPOSES not to understand each other

Let’s stop arguing. The point is that we are talking at cross purposes and we just don’t understand
each other.

TO GET HOLD OF THE WRONG END

to misunderstand the meaning or intention totally
OF THE STICK

People who think the author of this book wanted to offend someone get the wrong end of the stick.
It is sometimes quite easy to misinterpret the author’s intention.

to be able to say something although the other

TO GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS
person talks all the time

Helen can talk all the time. Once she starts talking it’s difficult to get a word in edgeways.

TO TALK BEHIND SOMEBODY’S BACK to talk about somebody secretively

I don’t want to talk about it behind his back. He must know what we think.

TO GIVE SOMEBODY A TALKING-TO to talk to somebody angrily

When Peter was late for work again, his boss gave him a long talking-to and decided to punish him
severely the next time.

TO PUT IT IN A NUTSHELL to state the main facts in a short, clear way

These are our plans in a nutshell. We will go into details later.

TO BE LONG-WINDED to talk for too long in a way that is too boring

Our headmaster’s speeches tend to be rather long-winded. Everyone stops paying attention after
a few minutes.

TO SPEAK ONE’S MIND to be honest to people about your opinion

It’s not easy to be honest about your opinions but Jerry always speaks his mind, even if it upsets
people.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 4. Conversation

TO TALK RUBBISH to say silly things

Don’t talk rubbish! It is very silly to spend all our money on the trip and remain without a penny for
the rest of the holidays.

TO TALK SENSE to say things that are reasonable

John is the only person in this group who can talk sense on the subject. We can always rely on his
reasonable opinions.

to understand what is meant, without it being

TO TAKE THE HINT
said directly

I didn’t have to tell him directly to go away and leave us alone. He took the hint and left
immediately.

TO TAKE SOMETHING INTO to consider something when you are making

ACCOUNT a decision

I hope they will take her qualifications into account when they consider her application for the
position of managing director.

to give the main points of something, not the

TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT
details

I will save you the details. To cut a long story short, it took me two months to recover from the
shock.

to avoid or delay talking about something

TO BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
unpleasant

OK, OK, … stop beating about the bush and tell me who is responsible for all this mess.

TO HAVE A WORD WITH SOMEBODY to talk to somebody quickly

Could I have a word with you? I need your advice.

2. 14

Listen and repeat.

Parents and teenagers often talk at cross purposes.

I didn’t mean to offend you. You got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
Once she starts talking, it’s difficult to get a word in edgeways.
I think we should stop talking behind his back.
My boss gave me a long talking-to in front of all the staff members.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 4. Conversation

These are our plans in a nutshell.

Our headmaster’s speeches are rather long-winded.
It’s sometimes dangerous to speak one’s mind.
Don’t talk rubbish! I can’t listen to it anymore.
Now you are talking sense!
He took the hint and left without a word.
I’m sure they will take her qualifications into account.
I won’t go into details and I’ll cut a long story short.
Stop beating about the bush and tell me what happened.
Could I have a word with you?

3. 15

Listen.

On 1st September all the students were gathered in front of the school waiting for the ceremony to
start. Everybody knew that the head teacher’s speech would be boring and long-winded. The
students wouldn’t mind if he talked sense but actually, he did talk rubbish quite often, and instead
of putting it in a nutshell, he went on talking for ages.
In fact, everybody started to get impatient and talked behind his back. However, when one of the
students stepped aside and spoke his mind quite loudly about how boring the whole ceremony was,
Mrs Thomas, our form teacher, approached him quickly and asked angrily if she could have a word
with him.
Paul’s rude behaviour was too much for Mrs Thomas. When the ceremony ended, she gave him
a long talking-to in front of the whole class. She didn’t beat about the bush and accused him of
offending the head teacher. Although he tried to explain that she must have got hold of the wrong
end of the stick as he hadn’t meant to offend anybody, they seemed to be talking at cross
purposes.
To cut a long story short, Mrs Thomas didn’t want to take his explanation into account and
asked Paul to bring his parents to school the next day. No, it wasn’t a happy beginning. Paul knew
he was in trouble.

4. 16

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- The headmaster’s speech was boring and too long.

- …
The headmaster’s speech was long-winded.

- The students knew he wouldn’t talk reasonably.

- …
The students knew he wouldn’t talk sense.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 4. Conversation

- He often said silly things.

- …
He often talked rubbish.

- The headmaster didn’t consider the students’ needs.

- …
The headmaster didn’t take the students’ needs into account.

- He should have stated the main facts in a short and clear way.
- …
He should have put it in a nutshell.

- Everybody started to talk about him secretively.

- …
Everybody started to talk behind his back.

- Mrs Thomas wanted to talk to Paul quickly.

- …
Mrs Thomas wanted to have a word with Paul.

- Paul was honest about his opinion.

- …
Paul spoke his mind.

- He didn’t avoid saying what he was thinking about.

- …
He didn’t beat about the bush.

- The form teacher talked to Paul angrily.

- …
The form teacher gave Paul a long talking-to.

- The teacher misunderstood Paul’s intentions.

- …
The teacher got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

- They didn’t understand each other.

- …
They talked at cross purposes.

- The teacher didn’t consider Paul’s explanations.

- …
The teacher didn’t take his explanations into account.

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Lesson 5. DISCUSSION
1. 17

Listen.

AN OPEN QUESTION a matter for discussion

They have agreed on most of the details concerning the wedding ceremony but the colour of the
bride’s dress is still an open question.

A STORM IN A TEACUP a lot of excitement about a trivial matter

The whole discussion about the bird flu in our country is only a storm in a teacup. There’s probably
no danger to public health at all.

TO CROSS SWORDS to argue

Susan and her mother-in-law argue a lot. They recently crossed swords on what to cook for dinner.

TO DROP THE SUBJECT to stop talking about something

I don’t think we will find a compromise on this matter now so let’s drop the subject. We will talk
about it another time.

TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND to change a decision or an opinion

Judy was about to express her opinion but then she changed her mind and didn’t say a word.

to remember something that could be useful in

TO BEAR SOMETHING IN MIND
the future

When you speak to Becky, please bear in mind that she is very sensitive to criticism. Remember to
be careful not to hurt her.

TO MAKE UP ONE’S MIND to take a decision

Susan has always taken decisions easily in life. She made up her mind to become a singer when she
was only five years old.

to believe that something is true without first

TO TAKE SOMETHING FOR GRANTED
thinking about it or making sure that it is true

Judy and Sarah looked so alike that I was sure they were sisters. I just took it for granted and it was
quite a shock to find out they were not.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 5. Discussion

TO COME TO THE POINT / TO GET TO

to reach the most important thing one has to say
THE POINT / TO REACH THE POINT

Our manager enjoys speaking in public and it always takes him a long time to get to the point.

TO FAIL TO SEE THE POINT / TO

not to understand the purpose of something
MISS THE POINT

To tell you the truth, I wasn’t listening carefully. I’m afraid I missed the point of your argument so
please clarify your position briefly.

TO GET THE POINT / TO SEE THE

to understand the purpose of something
POINT

To be honest, I can’t see the point of your asking her for help. I don’t understand why you insist on
talking to her. She won’t even listen to you.

TO MAKE ONE’S POINT to explain clearly one’s argument or an idea

OK, you’ve made your point. Now please listen to what I have to say.

TO HOLD ONE’S TONGUE to stop talking

Although George felt deeply insulted, he held his tongue and said nothing.

to produce a statement to which no one else can

TO HAVE THE LAST WORD
make a reply or objection

It’s no use arguing with my parents. They must always have the last word.

IN A WAY / IN SOME WAYS in a sense, to a certain extent

It’s sad but, in a way, you understand me better than my own parents. To a certain extent, I feel
much more at home here with you than with my family.

ALL IN ALL when everything is considered

It’s true we wasted some time quarrelling but, all in all, I think it was a very fruitful discussion.

FOR ONE THING for one reason

Well, there are so many reasons for his rude behaviour. For one thing, his parents have never paid
any attention to it so don’t be surprised.

TO BE OUT OF PLACE to be inappropriate, awkward

Your remark was absolutely out of place. It’s inappropriate to be so straightforward when you meet
someone for the first time.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 5. Discussion

TO BE OUT OF THE QUESTION something is definitely not a possibility

You will definitely not get more pocket money this year – it’s out of the question!

TO WRAP UP THE DISCUSSION to finish the discussion

As we were in a hurry to catch the last plane we were hoping to wrap up the discussion before
lunchtime.

2. 18

Listen and repeat.

The colour of the dress is still an open question

This whole discussion was only a storm in a teacup.
Susan and her mother-in-law often cross swords.
Let’s drop the subject. We’ll talk about it later.
Judy wanted to say something but she changed her mind.
Please, bear in mind she is very sensitive.
Susan made up her mind to become a singer.
I took it for granted that they were twins.
It takes him a long time to get to the point.
I’m afraid I missed the point of your argument.
I can’t see the point of asking her for help.
You’ve made your point and now let me make mine.
Adam held his tongue and said nothing.
They must always have the last word.
In a way, you know me better than my parents.
All in all, it was a very fruitful discussion.
For one thing, his parents didn’t teach him anything.
Your remark was out of place.
You won’t get it! It’s out of the question!
We had to wrap up the discussion very quickly.

3. 19

Listen.

Politics is a very risky topic at social gatherings and family meetings. People often take it for
granted that others share their views and sometimes a casual remark turns out to be absolutely out
of place. Then, instead of a nice chat at the table people start to cross swords.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 5. Discussion

Those with opposite views try to make each other change their minds. They do all they can to
make their points and have the last word. If the opponent fails to see the point, people start to
shout at each other and the atmosphere of the meeting is spoiled.
Should we avoid discussing politics altogether then? Well, for one thing, there are plenty of much
more interesting subjects. What’s more, we should bear in mind that our misbehaviour may hurt
others’ feelings.
Sometimes when things get out of hand, and somebody tries to wrap up the discussion, we should
hold our tongues and drop the subject immediately. All in all, although politics is an exciting
issue, we should remember that sometimes it can be dangerous as well.

4. 20

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- People often assume things.

- …
People often take things for granted.

- Your remark is inappropriate.

- …
Your remark is out of place.

- People often start to quarrel.

- …
People often start to cross swords.

- They try to persuade each other.

- …
They try to make each other change their minds.

- Everybody wants to say what they consider important.

- …
Everybody wants to make their points.

- All of them want to say something no one else would beat.

- …
All of them want to have the last word.

- He doesn’t understand me.

- …
He fails to see my point.

- For one reason, there are more interesting subjects.

- …
For one thing, there are more interesting subjects.

- This is something you should remember.

- …
This is something you should bear in mind.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 5. Discussion

- Everybody has a right to finish the discussion.

- …
Everybody has a right to wrap up the discussion.

- You should stop talking now.

- …
You should hold your tongue.

- They must stop discussing this subject.

- …
They must drop the subject.

- Summing up, politics is a tricky subject.

- …
All in all, politics is a tricky subject.

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Lesson 6. PROBLEMS
1. 21

Listen.

TO STIR THINGS UP to deliberately try to have arguments

Melanie is a real troublemaker. She stirs things up wherever she appears.

TO POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS to try to make an angry situation calmer

Sue was really mad at Steve so he tried to pour oil on troubled waters by offering to take her out for
a meal.

to tell somebody honestly what you think or plan

TO LAY ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE
to do

Chris decided to lay his cards on the table and inform Betty he was in love with someone else.

TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS to discover the truth about the situation

It is difficult for the police to get to the bottom of this crime as there are no witnesses who could
confirm what really happened.

TO GET A GRASP to get the ability to understand something

Sue had few language skills before she left Poland. After she had spent a year in London, they really
developed and she got a good grasp of English.

TO SEE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE

to believe that a difficult situation will end
TUNNEL

Inflation is still rising but analysts say there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will start falling
before the end of the year.

TO SWEEP UNDER THE CARPET to try to hide a problem instead of dealing with it

When some people don’t know how to deal with a problem they prefer to sweep it under the carpet
and pretend not to bother about it.

TO BE IN A FIX to be in a difficult situation

I’m in a real fix. The car doors are locked and the keys are inside.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 6. Problems

TO BE AT A CROSSROADS to be at a crisis, at a turning point in one’s life

When Julie divorced her husband, she found herself at a crossroads. She wasn’t sure whether she
should stay in Spain or go back to Britain.

to find a way that is not extreme but is

TO FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM
somewhere between two possible choices

Nowadays it’s very difficult for young women to find a happy medium between having a family and
a career.

TO SKATE ON THIN ICE to take a big risk

John’s position at work was not very stable so he knew he was skating on thin ice when he asked his
boss for a pay rise. He risked losing his job.

TO PUT ONESELF IN SOMEONE

to be in the same situation as someone else
ELSE’S SHOES

In order to understand what Joan is going through right now, you would have to put yourself in her
shoes.

TO TAKE SOMETHING TO HEART to think about something seriously

When Steve told us about the burglaries in this area, we took his warning to heart and installed an
alarm system in our house.

to look serious and not laugh although you are in

TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE
a funny situation

Although pupils in this class play jokes constantly, Mrs Smith manages to keep a straight face and
remain serious no matter how hard they try to make her laugh.

TO BURN ONE’S FINGERS to suffer unpleasant results of an action

I once invested some money on the stock market but I burned my fingers, lost almost all of it and
decided never to try again.

TO BURN ONE’S BOATS / TO BURN to do something which cannot be reversed or

ONE’S BRIDGES changed later

After Jerry told his boss to go to hell, he knew he would be fired. He had burnt his boats and it was
too late to reverse it.

TO GET INTO HOT WATER / TO GET

to get into trouble / to get into a difficult situation
INTO A MESS

You get into trouble too often and you will get into hot water again when your teacher finds out you
were cheating during the test.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 6. Problems

TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS not to ask questions or show interest in something

I wish he’d mind his own business and stop telling me what I should do.

to understand something that you didn’t

TO SEE DAYLIGHT
understand before

I thought I would never understand how the computer works but after a few classes with Mr Black
I saw daylight and realised it wasn’t so difficult.

to accept criticism or punishment for something

TO FACE THE MUSIC
that you’ve done

When they found out that Jane was the one who had taken the money, she had to face the music and
couldn’t avoid punishment that time.

2. 22

Listen and repeat.

Melanie likes to stir things up.

Steve tried to pour oil on troubled waters but it didn’t help.
Chris decided to lay his cards on the table.
It’s difficult to get to the bottom of this crime.
She got a good grasp of English when she was in London.
The analysts saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
People often sweep their problems under the carpet.
When I found the car doors locked, I was in a fix.
After her divorce, Julie was at a crossroads.
It was hard to find a happy medium in that situation.
John was skating on thin ice when he asked for a pay rise.
Put yourself in my shoes and you’ll know what I feel.
He finally took my advice to heart.
He kept a straight face and didn’t laugh.
I burnt my fingers once and will never try again.
He burnt his boats and there was no turning back.
We’ll get into hot water when the teacher finds out.
Just mind your own business, OK?
After a few classes I saw daylight.
I’m afraid it’s time to face the music.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 6. Problems

3. 23

Listen.

John and Lucy had two children and when Lucy got pregnant again, they knew they were in a fix.
They had had financial problems before but both of them preferred to sweep them under the
carpet rather than get to the bottom of things and change anything. The atmosphere at home was
really tense. Lucy tried to pour oil on troubled waters for the sake of the kids but finally they got
a grasp of the fact that they were at a crossroads. When Lucy suggested that John should look for
another job, he took her advice to heart. He tried hard but with no success. He spent days thinking
what to do and then suddenly he saw daylight. Why couldn’t he confront his boss for the first time
and ask him for a pay rise? That could be a happy medium.
The next day John knocked at his boss’s door. He knew he was skating on thin ice but there was no
way back. In a calm voice, he laid his cards on the table. Realising he could burn his bridges, he
said he would have to quit if he didn’t get more money. When the manager asked for some time to
think it over, John saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Later that day, when he finally got
a promotion and a pay rise, he was really happy but he managed to keep a straight face in front of
his colleagues.

4. 24

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- John and Lucy were in a difficult situation.

- …
John and Lucy were in a fix.

- They preferred to hide their problems.

- …
They preferred to sweep their problems under the carpet.

- They didn’t want to discover the truth.

- …
They didn’t want to get to the bottom of things.

- Lucy tried to calm down the situation.

- …
Lucy tried to pour oil on troubled waters.

- Finally they understood their problem.

- …
Finally they got a grasp of their problem.

- They were at a crisis.

- …
They were at a crossroads.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 6. Problems

- John thought about Lucy’s suggestion seriously.

- …
John took Lucy’s suggestion to heart.

- Suddenly, he understood what he couldn’t see before.

- …
Suddenly, he saw daylight.

- John found a perfect solution to his problem.

- …
John found a happy medium.

- He was risking a lot.

- …
He was skating on thin ice.

- John said honestly what he thought.

- …
John laid his cards on the table.

- He could say something that couldn’t be reversed.

- …
He could burn his bridges.

- He started to believe that there was some hope.

- …
He saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

- He managed to look serious.

- …
He managed to keep a straight face.

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Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR
1. 25

Listen.

TO BE OUT OF ONE’S MIND be mad, crazy

Don’t be crazy! You must be out of your mind if you want to climb Mount Everest on your own.

TO BE AS THICK AS THIEVES of two people - very friendly

Jack and Jim are as thick as thieves. They’ve been friends for years and they can always count on
each other.

TO BLOW ONE’S OWN TRUMPET praise one’s own successes

Oh, come on! Stop blowing your own trumpet. We know how successful you are and you don’t
need to talk about it all the time.

TO GO ONE’S OWN WAY to act independently

We had been partners until Joe decided to go his own way and set up a new business.

TO BE A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP to be awkward, tactless

Mary can be so tactless! She acted like a bull in a china shop when she criticised the way I looked at
my own birthday party.

TO BE A SNAKE IN THE GRASS to pretend to be a friend

It’s very sad to discover that someone you once viewed as a friend turns out to be a snake in the grass.

TO DRIVE SOMEONE MAD to irritate or anger somebody

My kids really drive me mad. It’s so irritating that they keep forgetting their front-door keys.

TO LOSE ONE’S TEMPER to become very angry

Mary is so patient with the twins. I’ve never seen her lose her temper.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 7. Behaviour

TO LOSE ONE’S HEAD to lose the ability to think clearly

She can usually think clearly in stressful situations but this time she lost her head and stood there
helplessly.

TO LOSE ONE’S TONGUE to say nothing because of shyness

When Judy asked her husband where he had spent the previous night, he lost his tongue and
couldn’t say a word.

TO KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP to stay brave and optimistic in a difficult situation

We really admire Sue for keeping her chin up despite all the trouble she’s going through right now.

to behave in a silly way especially to make

TO PLAY THE FOOL
people laugh

Stop playing the fool! You will fall off that ladder!

TO SHOW ONE’S TEETH to show anger or aggression

This time you have to express how angry you are – show your teeth!

TO GET ON SOMEONE’S NERVES to irritate

Joanna can be really irritating and if I was to spend more time with her, she would really get on my
nerves.

TO HIT BELOW THE BELT to act unfairly or cruelly

He was really hitting below the belt when he said those nasty things about Judy.

2. 26

Listen and repeat.

You must be out of your mind! Think clearly and don’t lose your head!
Mark and Paul are as thick as thieves. He lost his tongue and couldn’t say a word.
Oh, come on! Stop blowing your own Don’t lose your optimism and keep your
trumpet. chin up.
They separated and Joe went his own way. Calm down and stop playing the fool!
Mary acted like a bull in a china shop. Gwen got really angry and showed her teeth.
He turned out to be a snake in the grass. You are getting on my nerves!
My kids really drive me mad! He hit me below the belt and hurt me deeply.
She never loses her temper.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 7. Behaviour

3. 27

Listen.

Paul and Steve have always been close friends. They were as thick as thieves and when they found
themselves wives, their families started to share a big house. They lived in harmony until Steve’s
children were born. The kids started to get on Paul’s nerves as the noise they made really drove
him mad.
When one day Paul asked Steve to do something about it, he heard that he was tactless. Just a bull
in a china shop. Next time, when the noise was unbearable, Paul really got angry and showed his
teeth. Then he heard that he must be out of his mind and that he would understand the situation if
he had his own kids. That was enough for Paul. He and his wife couldn’t have children so with this
remark Steve hit below the belt. Paul felt betrayed .He lost his tongue and realised his best friend
had turned out to be a snake in the grass.
Although it made him sad, he managed to keep his chin up. Paul didn’t lose his temper and calmly
approached Steve, saying it was high time for them to go their own ways.

4. 28

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Paul and Steve were close friends. - Steve’s words were cruel.
- … - …
Paul and Steve were as thick as thieves. Steve hit below the belt.

- The kids started to irritate Paul. - Paul couldn’t say a word.

- … - …
The kids started to get on Paul’s nerves. Paul lost his tongue.

- The noise made him really angry. - Steve only pretended to be a friend.
- … - …
The noise drove him mad. Steve was a snake in the grass.

- Paul was awkward and tactless. - Paul managed to stay optimistic.

- … - …
Paul acted like a bull in a china shop. Paul kept his chin up.

- Paul finally showed his anger. - Paul stayed calm.

- … - …
Paul showed his teeth. Paul didn’t lose his temper.

- Paul heard he must be crazy - It was time for them to separate.

- … - …
Paul heard he must be out of his mind. It was time to go their own ways.

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Lesson 8. FEELINGS
1. 29
Listen.

TO BE ON CLOUD NINE to be very happy

I was on cloud nine when I finally passed the last exam and could go on my holiday.

TO BE IN HIGH SPIRITS to be excited and happy

The whole school was very excited when one of the pupils won the race but they were only really in
high spirits when he was shown on TV.

TO BE IN SEVENTH HEAVEN to be extremely happy

Paul was in seventh heaven when he found out he had won the lottery.

TO BE AT EASE to feel relaxed

Before taking an important exam, it’s best to take some rest and relax in order to feel more at ease.

TO BE IN A BLACK MOOD to be irritable, angry

This rain puts me in a black mood. I really feel depressed.

TO HAVE SOMETHING ON ONE’S

to think or worry about something
MIND

I can see that something is worrying you. Tell me, what’s on your mind?

TO BE ABLE TO EAT A HORSE to be very hungry

After a long swim in the sea, he felt so hungry that he could eat a horse.

TO BE SHAKING IN ONE’S SHOES to be very frightened or anxious

I was shaking in my shoes when I heard a scream in the middle of the night. It was so terrifying that
I hid under my bed.

TO JUMP OUT OF ONE’S SKIN to be very surprised or shocked

I’m afraid of mice so when I saw this little creature running across my room, I almost jumped out of
my skin.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 8. Feelings

to feel awkward because you are not familiar

TO BE LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER
with the situation

All the other guests arrived in casual clothes so she felt like a fish out of water in her fancy dress.

TO BE ON EDGE to be very nervous or worried about something

The footballers were all on edge before the final match. The pressure was too big to handle.

to nervously wait to find out what’s going to

TO BE ON TENTERHOOKS
happen

We were all on tenterhooks waiting for the exam results.

TO BE OVER THE MOON to be extremely pleased

Joe had been trying to find a job for six months so when he was offered the post of the vice
president of the company, he was over the moon.

TO SEE RED to become very angry

When Matt accused me in front of my workmates, I just saw red. I got so furious that I grabbed him
and pushed him against the wall.

TO BE FULL OF BEANS to be very energetic

After a long nap the kids were so full of beans that I could hardly control them.

2. 30

Listen and repeat.

I was on cloud nine when I passed the exam.

After winning the race, the students were in high spirits.
He was in seventh heaven when he won the lottery.
At the end of the day I could finally feel at ease.
This rain puts me in a black mood.
He had other things on his mind.
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
I was shaking in my shoes when I heard the scream.
The noise made me almost jump out of my skin.
In her casual clothes she felt like a fish out of water.
We were on edge before the final match.
They were on tenterhooks waiting for the results.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 8. Feelings

I was over the moon when I finally found a job.

The teacher got furious and saw red.
The kids were full of beans as usual.

3. 31
Listen.

It was a gloomy November afternoon. The kids were sitting in a classroom waiting on tenterhooks
for the bell to ring and end the lesson. The teacher, usually nice and at ease, seemed to be in
a black mood. You could see he had something else on his mind and he was really on edge. Only
little Tom in the back row was full of beans as usual. He was in high spirits because he had
a birthday party later that day. Tom couldn’t sit in one place, and when Mr Morris saw him wander
around, the teacher saw red. He shouted so loudly that Tom almost jumped out of his skin.
Everybody felt like a fish out of water as Mr Morris never shouted at us. Tom was shaking in his
shoes but luckily, the bell rang and we could go home at last.
Later that day, Tom forgot about everything. His birthday party started at five and he was on cloud
nine when he saw all the gifts. However, the biggest surprise was yet to come. At nine o’clock
Tom’s grandparents turned up with a little puppy as a present. Tom was in seventh heaven as he
had always dreamt of his own dog.

4. 32
Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- The kids were waiting impatiently. - He was excited and happy.

- … - …
The kids were on tenterhooks. He was in high spirits.

- The teacher didn’t seem relaxed. - The teacher got very angry.
- … - …
The teacher didn’t seem at ease. The teacher saw red.

- Mr Morris was angry. - Tom was very surprised and shocked.

- … - …
Mr Morris was in a black mood. Tom almost jumped out of his skin.

- There was something worrying him. - We all felt very awkward.

- … - …
He had something on his mind. We felt like a fish out of water.

- He was very nervous. - Tom was very frightened.

- … - …
He was on edge. Tom was shaking in his shoes.

- Tom was full of energy. - The child was very happy.

- … - …
Tom was full of beans. The child was on cloud nine. /
The child was in seventh heaven.

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Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH
1. 33

Listen.

NOT TO LOOK ONE’S AGE to appear to be younger than one is

Barbara! It’s been ages since I last saw you and you haven’t changed at all! You certainly don’t
look your age!

TO LOOK YOUNG FOR ONE’S YEARS to seem younger than one is, to be youthful

Wearing jeans and t-shirts, Mrs Johnson looks incredibly young for her years. Nobody believes she
has turned sixty.

TO BE GETTING ON IN YEARS to be getting old

Since his wife died, poor Henry has been getting on in years quite fast. He looks older each day.

TO BE IN THE AUTUMN OF ONE’S

to live one’s last years
LIFE

Sometimes people find true love in the autumn of their lives and even get married when they are
very old.

TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH / TO BE IN
to be in good condition
GOOD SHAPE

She’s bought an exercise bike because she promised herself to be fit and in good shape before
summer begins.

TO BE IN POOR HEALTH / TO BE IN
to be in bad condition
POOR SHAPE

I’ve heard Steve is in poor health and can’t leave his bed. Let’s visit him and cheer him up a bit.

TO FEEL UNDER THE WEATHER / TO

to feel ill, to look a bit ill
LOOK A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER

I feel a little under the weather – I think I’ve caught a cold.

TO BE OFF COLOUR to feel slightly ill

My grandfather has been off colour for a few days. He looks so miserable that I think I’ll call the
doctor.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 9. Health / Illness / Death

TO LOOK RUN-DOWN to look tired and not healthy

When we finished redecorating our flat, we were run-down. We were so exhausted that we took
a few days off just to rest.

TO CATCH A DISEASE to become ill

If you don’t sleep long enough, your organism gets weak and you can easily catch a disease.

TO BE ON ONE’S LAST LEGS to be old or in very bad condition

It looks as if his father is on his last legs. I’m afraid he will die soon.

TO BE ON ONE’S DEATHBED to be close to death

On her deathbed, Fred’s mother revealed that he was adopted. It’s amazing that she managed to
keep it a secret until the day she died.

TO HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE to be very old and very ill (humorous)

Oh, come on Jack! If you don’t stop complaining about your health, we’ll think that you have one
foot in the grave. You’re not dying!

TO KICK THE BUCKET to die

Didn’t you hear? Old Mrs Smith has kicked the bucket. She had a heart attack.

TO DIE BEFORE ONE’S TIME to die young

Poor Linda was only twenty-seven when they discovered she had cancer. She died much before her
time.

2. 34

Listen and repeat.

Barbara doesn’t look her age.

In these jeans you look young for your age.
Henry is getting on in years quite fast.
People may find happiness in the autumn of their lives.
She exercises in order to be in good shape.
Steve doesn’t leave his bed any more.
I feel a little under the weather today.
My grandpa has been off colour for a few days.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 9. Health / Illness / Death

You look run down and you need to rest.

Dress warmly or you’ll catch a disease.
His father is on his last legs.
On her deathbed, she revealed the secret.
Jack jokes that he has one foot in the grave.
Old Mrs Smith has kicked the bucket.
Poor Linda died much before her time.

3. 35

Listen.

Getting on in years is a natural process no one can stop. With age we all get weaker, catch diseases
more easily and tend to feel under the weather quite often. Some people are of an opinion that it’s
better to die before one’s time than to live and suffer all the illnesses and sadness which old age
brings.
I think they are wrong. My grandfather is a living example of a happy elderly gentleman who is in
good shape despite being in the autumn of his life. Grandpa is eighty-five years old but doesn’t look
his age. He’s very active and although he sometimes looks run down at the end of the day, he would
never admit he is on his last legs. He keeps telling us he has one foot in the grave but everyone
knows it’s a joke. Grandpa loves our visits. He calls us and asks if we will find the time to see him
before he kicks the bucket. His sense of humour and active lifestyle keep him in good health.

4. 36

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Getting old is a natural process.

- …
Getting on in years is a natural process.

- With age we get ill more easily.

- …
With age we catch diseases more easily.

- We tend to feel ill more often.

- …
We tend to feel under the weather more often.

- Some people wish they could die young.

- …
Some people wish they could die before their time.

- My grandpa is in good condition.

- …
My grandpa is in good shape.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 9. Health / Illness / Death

- He is very old.
- …
He is in the autumn of his life.

- He appears to be younger.
- …
He doesn’t look his age.

- He sometimes looks tired.

- …
He sometimes looks run down.

- He is sometimes tired and in very bad condition.

- …
He is sometimes on his last legs.

- He says he is almost dead.

- …
He says he has one foot in the grave.

- He asks us to visit him before he dies.

- …
He asks us to visit him before he kicks the bucket.

- His sense of humour keeps him in good physical condition.

- …
His sense of humour keeps him in good health.

© DIM Nauka i Multimedia 38

Lesson 10. CRIME
1. 37

Listen.

to develop in a criminal way and suffer the

TO COME TO A BAD END
consequences (eg. prison)

When Jim turned to drugs I warned him he would come to a bad end and I was right. Now he’s in
prison for drug dealing.

A CAPITAL OFFENCE / A CAPITAL

an offence which is punished by death
CRIME

The judge found her guilty of a capital offence and she was hanged a year later.

A JAIL BIRD somebody who has been in prison more than once

The villain in this movie is a jail bird who spent fifteen years in four different prisons.

TO SERVE TIME / TO DO TIME to be in prison

John Smith is still serving time after murdering his wife. I don’t think he’ll be released soon.

to be free (of a criminal who escaped or is before

TO BE AT LARGE
arrest)

In today’s newspaper we could read that the escaped prisoners haven’t been caught yet and are still
at large.

(of a prisoner) to have been released from prison

TO BE ON PAROLE
for a short time

The prisoner has been released on condition that he will not commit a crime or try to escape. He’s
on parole.

TO BREAK PRISON to escape from prison

Yesterday two prisoners broke prison in our town, but luckily they were caught five hours later.

TO GO TO LAW to take up court proceedings against someone

After years of violent abuse from her husband, Amy finally decided to go to law. I hope he’ll be
found guilty and put in jail.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 10. Crime

TO HAVE CLEAN HANDS to be innocent

I swear I haven’t stolen this money! I have clean hands and I can prove I’m innocent!

to discover someone doing something illegal or

TO CATCH SOMEONE RED-HANDED
wrong

The police caught him red-handed trying to take out the wallet from that woman’s pocket. They saw
the whole thing.

if you do something illegal, you’ll probably be

CRIME DOESN’T PAY
caught and punished

Crime doesn’t pay and sooner or later those who break the law end up in prison.

a situation in which you are charged much more

DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
for something than you think you should pay

Four pounds for a glass of apple juice? It’s daylight robbery! I will certainly not pay that much.

IN COLD BLOOD in a cruel and deliberate way

It was not an accident but a planned, deliberate action. Those unarmed civilians were just shot in
cold blood.

TO SET A THIEF / TO CATCH A THIEF to arrest a thief

My family decided to stay up all night to try to catch the thief who was stealing plants from our
back garden.

TO BE ON THE ALERT to be prepared to act immediately

Over one hundred policemen were put on the alert and they were ready to act immediately when
they saw something suspicious.

2. 38

Listen.

Jim came to a bad end.

She was found guilty of a capital offence.
He is a jail bird who has spent years in many prisons.
John Smith is still serving time.
Two prisoners have escaped and are at large now.
He’s been released on parole.
They broke prison but were caught a day later.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 10. Crime

Finally Amy decided to go to law.

I swear I have clean hands.
The police caught him red-handed.
We all know that crime doesn’t pay.
Five pounds for this is just daylight robbery!
Those people were shot in cold blood.
Everybody wanted to catch this thief.
Many policemen were put on the alert.

3. 39

Listen.

A. Have you heard? Tom Silverblade, the jail bird from our district, has broken prison again!
B. You can’t be serious! People say he’s guilty of a capital offence. Everyone knows he’s the one
who killed poor Mrs Hogan last year.
A. Yes, someone murdered her in cold blood but as Tom wasn’t caught red-handed, he claims
he has clean hands.
B. Well, we have to be on the alert. Do you remember? Last time he was on parole, he tried to
steal Mr Grey’s car but the police caught him.
A. Yes, the Greys went to law and he was imprisoned for twelve months. I remember that. Well,
when Tom was a little boy he was a real troublemaker. Somehow I knew he would come to
a bad end.
B. I had the same feeling about him. Look, he has spent half his life in prison but apparently he
hasn’t learnt that crime doesn’t pay.

4. 40

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Tom Silverblade has spent years in various prisons.

- …
Tom Silverblade is a jail bird.

- He has escaped from prison.

- …
He has broken prison.

- This offence is punished by death.

- …
This is a capital offence.
- Someone murdered her deliberately.
- …
Someone murdered her in cold blood.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 10. Crime

- He wasn’t discovered doing it.

- …
He wasn’t caught red-handed.

- Tom claims he’s innocent.

- …
Tom claims he has clean hands.

- We have to watch out.

- …
We have to be on the alert.

- He was released from prison for a short time.

- …
He was on parole.

- The police arrested the thief.

- …
The police caught the thief.

- The Greys took the case to court.

- …
The Greys went to law.

- I knew he would end up in prison

- …
I knew he would come to a bad end.

- If you commit a crime, you’ll be punished.

- …
Crime doesn’t pay.

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Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT
1. 41

Listen.

TO HAVE A NIGHT OUT to go out for an evening of entertainment

Let’s go somewhere tonight! We haven’t had a night out for months and I really can’t sit at home
any longer.

TO MAKE A DAY OF SOMETHING to spend the whole day enjoying oneself

Yesterday we rented some movies and made a day of watching our favourite films on video. We
spent all day in front of the TV screen.

TO HAVE A GOOD TIME / TO HAVE

to enjoy oneself
A GREAT TIME

It was the best wedding I had ever been to. I had a great time and I’m sure all the other guests
enjoyed it too.

TO GO OUT ON THE TOWN to go out and enjoy oneself in the town

When Susan passed her last exam, she and her boyfriend went out on the town and enjoyed
themselves all night long.

TO WEAR ONE’S SUNDAY BEST to wear one’s best clothes

The Grey family, in their Sunday best, set out to church. Even little Betty was wearing her best pink
dress and shining white shoes.

an arranged meeting for two people who have

A BLIND DATE
never met each other before

I would never go on a blind date. I think it’s quite risky to spend an evening with someone you’ve
never seen before.

TO THROW A PARTY to organise a party and invite people

When Joe turned eighteen, he threw a huge party in a pub and invited almost forty people.

TO BE THE LIFE AND SOUL OF THE to be someone who enjoys social occasions and
PARTY is fun to be with

Let’s invite Bob! He’s the life and soul of the party and people always enjoy his company.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 11. Entertainment

HARD DRINKS strong drinks

Joe promised his parents they wouldn’t have any hard drinks during the party, just beer and some wine.

to be extremely high-spirited after taking alcohol

TO BE HIGH
or drugs

After five glasses of vodka he was so high that he started singing and we had to leave the restaurant.

THIN BEER weak or watery beer

The food at the party was a disappointment. All we had was thin beer in plastic cups and some fatty
snacks on our tables.

TO STAND SOMEONE A DRINK to pay for someone’s drink

When we broke the news to Jack, he was so happy that he stood us all a drink. Later he even paid
for the snacks.

TO GO DUTCH to share the cost of something, especially a meal

Mary insisted on paying for the meal but we decided to go Dutch and everyone paid for themselves.

TO FEEL LIKE DOING SOMETHING to have a desire to do something

Carol is tired and she doesn’t feel like going out tonight so let’s stay at home and prepare something
special for supper.

TO BE KEEN ON to like

My flatmates would like to have a party but I have to study so I’m not very keen on the idea.

2. 42

Listen and repeat.

We haven’t had a night out for months.

Yesterday we made a day of watching films on DVD.
I had a great time at the party last night.
Let’s go out on the town and have some fun.
Little Betty was wearing her Sunday best.
I would never go on a blind date.
When he turned eighteen, he threw a huge party.
Bob is the life and soul of the party.
No hard drinks are allowed at this party.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 11. Entertainment

He was so high that he fell asleep on the table.

All we drank was thin beer in plastic cups.
Let me stand you a drink.
After the dinner we decided to go Dutch.
I feel like watching a good comedy tonight.
I’m not very keen on horror movies.

3. 43

Listen.

People think I’m a bore. Let’s face it – it’s not typical of a teenager to be keen on classical music
and ballet. Yesterday, for example, I made a day of watching my favourite ballets on video. My
friends know I’m not the life and soul of the party so they have stopped inviting me and I haven’t
had a night out for months.
Last week, however, Monica was throwing a party and asked me to come. She even arranged
a blind date for me and assured me I would have a great time. I didn’t feel like going at all but
I couldn’t disappoint Monica. In the evening I wore my Sunday best and met Susan – my date at
the pub. I stood us a drink so we could feel more at ease and then we went to Monica’s place.
There were lots of hard drinks on the tables and many guests were already high. After a while
I got so dizzy that I had to leave. Susan left with me. We went to a small café and had supper
together. I insisted on paying for it but finally we went Dutch. It was a fantastic evening and I hope
I will see her again.

4. 44

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- I like classical music.

- …
I’m keen on classical music.

- I spent a day watching ballets.

- …
I made a day of watching ballets.

- I don’t enjoy social occasions.

- …
I’m not the life and soul of the party.

- I haven’t gone out for an evening for months.

- …
I haven’t had a night out for months.

- Monika was organising a party.

- …
Monika was throwing a party.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 11. Entertainment

- She arranged a meeting for two people who had never met before.
- …
She arranged a blind date.

- She said I would enjoy myself.

- …
She said I would have a great time.

- I didn’t want to go.

- …
I didn’t feel like going.

- I wore my best clothes.

- …
I wore my Sunday best.

- I paid for our drinks.

- …
I stood us some drinks.

- There were strong drinks on the tables.

- …
There were hard drinks on the tables.

- Many guests were drunk.

- …
Many guests were high.

- We shared the cost of the supper.

- …
We went Dutch.

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Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL
1. 45

Listen.

a tour arranged by a travel agent; transportation,

A PACKAGE HOLIDAY food and lodging are all provided at an inclusive
price

If you don’t want to worry about the details of your trip to Greece, I suggest taking a package
holiday. The travel agent will arrange everything for you.

a group of people travelling on an organised

A COACH PARTY
journey or excursion on a private bus

It’s quite expensive to visit this museum individually but coach parties of over twenty people are
offered big discounts.

TO SLEEP IN THE OPEN to sleep out of doors

The night was so beautiful that we didn’t put up our tents and slept in the open.

TO TRAVEL LIGHT to travel without much luggage

My car is very small so we can’t take much luggage with us. We will have to travel light.

TO BE ON THE ROAD to travel to different places

The band gives a lot of concerts all over the country and it spends four months a year on the road.

TO HIT THE ROAD to start a journey

I don’t like driving when it’s dark so I’d better hit the road before it gets too late.

TO MAKE A TRIP THROUGH THE

to go around the country and return to the
COUNTRY / TO GO ON A ROUND TRIP
starting point
THROUGH THE COUNTRY

We are planning to rent a caravan and make a round trip through America to show the kids as much
as possible. We start and finish in Seattle.

TO BREAK THE JOURNEY to stop somewhere on the way to somewhere else

David was getting tired of driving so we had to break the journey and have some sleep.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 12. Holiday / Travel

TO TRAVEL THROUGH / TO TRAVEL

to travel without any breaks
NON-STOP

Although we had to cover five hundred kilometres, we decided to travel through and we didn’t even
stop for coffee.

TO CROSS A BORDER to enter another country

When you cross the border and enter another country, you must go through customs control.

to stand at the roadside and ask a car driver for

TO HITCH A RIDE / TO HITCH-HIKE
a ride

Many young people choose to hitch-hike during their holidays because it’s cheap. They don’t
realise that asking a stranger for a ride can be dangerous.

to have a very strong or irresistible impulse to

TO GET ITCHY FEET
travel

Why have you bought all these travel brochures? Are you getting itchy feet and planning a new journey?

TO GO ON A GUIDED TOUR to do the sights with a guide

When we came to London for the first time, we didn’t know our way around so we contacted
a travel agency and went on a guided tour around the city.

TO DO A SIGHT-SEEING TOUR to look round buildings, museums, etc.

Betty wanted to see the most important buildings and monuments in Gdansk so we decided to do
a sight–seeing tour with her.

to choose a quicker and more direct way of

TO TAKE A SHORTCUT
getting somewhere than the usual one

We thought we would be late for the show so we took a shortcut through the park and this route
turned out to be much quicker.

2. 46

Listen and repeat.

I advise you to take a package holiday.

Coach parties are offered big discounts.
The night was warm and we slept in the open.
We will travel light this time.
I spend four months a year on the road.
It’s time for me to hit the road.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 12. Holiday / Travel

We want to go on a round trip through Spain.

David had to break the journey and have some rest.
We travelled through and didn’t stop at all.
They crossed the border at midnight.
Many young people hitch-hike during their holidays.
I’m getting itchy feet again.
We went on a guided tour around the city.
Betty did a sight-seeing tour with her cousin.
We took a shortcut through the park.

3. 47

Listen.

A. I can see you’re getting itchy feet again!

B. Yes, I’m planning to make a round trip through Slovakia this time.
A. How are you going to get there?
B. I’m taking a train and travelling through till I cross the border. Then I’m going to hitch-
hike. In this way I can break the journey whenever I want.
A. Wouldn’t you prefer to go a package holiday?
B. Oh, no. I tried to go on a guided tour once and coach parties are just not for me.
A. How long will you be away?
B. Well, I’m going to be on the road for four weeks.
A. Is this all your luggage?
B. Yes, I like to travel light.
A. Fine, but where are you going to sleep?
B. I will sleep in the open if the weather is good enough.
A. So when are you leaving?
B. I’m hitting the road at 5 a.m. tomorrow.
A. Well, good luck and send me a postcard.

4. 48

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- I have a strong desire to travel again.

- …
I’m getting itchy feet again.

- I’ll go around Slovakia.

- …
I’ll make a round trip through Slovakia.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 12. Holiday / Travel

- I’ll travel without a break.

- …
I’ll travel through.

- I’ll stop when I enter Slovakia.

- …
I’ll stop when I cross the border.

- I’m going to ask drivers for a lift.

- …
I’m going to hitch-hike.

- I can stop whenever I want.

- …
I can break the journey whenever I want.

- I don’t like arranged tours.

- …
I don’t like package holidays.

- Organised groups of tourists are not for me.

- …
Coach parties are not for me.

- I’ll travel for four weeks.

- …
I’ll be on the road for four weeks.

- I like travelling with little luggage.

- …
I like travelling light.

- I’ll sleep out of doors.

- …
I’ll sleep in the open.

- I’m starting the journey tomorrow.

- …
I’m hitting the road tomorrow.

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Lesson 13. FAMILY
1. 49

Listen.

a woman who spends a lot of time alone, often

A GRASS WIDOW
because her husband is working in another place

Since my husband got a new job far away from home, I’ve become a grass widow and I admit I feel
very lonely at times.

a man who is always being told what to do by his

A HENPECKED HUSBAND
wife

Chris is too afraid to disagree with his wife and he always does what she wants so no wonder his
friends call him a henpecked husband.

to be the person in a relationship who makes all

TO WEAR THE TROUSERS
the important decisions

Ann is the one who wears the trousers in this family. She decides about the family budget and other
most important things.

AN OLD MAID a woman who has never married

My neighbour is an old maid. After her fiancé died in a car accident many years ago, she decided
never to get married.

TO LEAD A WOMAN TO THE ALTAR to marry a woman

After years of friendship, Dave finally led Denise to the altar. They got married in a beautiful old
church in Oxford.

A CONFIRMED BACHELOR a man who doesn’t want to get married

It’s no use trying to find Kevin a wife. He’s a confirmed bachelor and he said he would never get
married.

TO HAVE AN AFFAIR to have a secret sexual relationship with someone

When Mallory found out that her husband had cheated on her and had an affair with his secretary,
she kicked him out of the house.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 13. Family

FLESH AND BLOOD relative

How can you be so cruel to your son? He’s your own flesh and blood! You shouldn’t treat your
family members in this way.

TO RUN THE STREETS (of children) to be unattended by parents

Nowadays many parents are too busy to notice that their children are running the streets unattended,
asking for trouble.

TO PLAY TRUANT to stay away from school without permission

Nick played truant nine days last month so the headmaster had to call his mother to inform her
about her son’s absences.

TO BE THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE to be someone who is regarded by other members

FAMILY of a family as a failure or embarrassment

My mother was the black sheep of the family – she ran away at seventeen to marry a painter and her
parents never forgave her.

TO FOLLOW IN SOMEONE’S to do the same job or the same things in life as

FOOTSTEPS someone else, especially a member of your family

My father is an actor and when I decided to follow in his footsteps and become an actress myself, he
was very supportive.

the lack of understanding between older and

THE GENERATION GAP
younger people

Despite a big age difference between me and my mother, we’ve never felt any generation gap. We
understand each other perfectly.

TO BE BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON

to be the son or daughter of a very rich family
IN ONE’S MOUTH

He’s never been concerned with money, which is quite natural of someone who was born with
a silver spoon in their mouth. His parents are rich enough to provide for all his needs.

BLUE BLOOD royal or noble ancestry

When she was studying her family tree, she discovered that her great grandmother belonged to
a noble family and so she has a bit of blue blood coursing through her veins.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 13. Family

2. 50

Listen and repeat.

My husband works abroad and I’m a grass widow.

Chris is a henpecked husband.
Ann is the one who wears the trousers in this family.
My neighbour is an old maid.
Dave has finally led Denise to the altar.
Kevin is a confirmed bachelor and he’ll never marry.
Her husband had an affair with his secretary.
Tommy is your own flesh and blood.
Many children run the streets unattended.
I never played truant when I was at school.
Uncle Steve was the black sheep of the family.
I will follow in my father’s footsteps some day.
The generation gap causes big problems in every family.
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
I discovered there is blue blood in my family.

3. 51

Listen.

My grandma told me once that there is blue blood in our veins. Well, to me my family seems quite
common and I can’t trace any nobility in the way we live. My mother is practically a grass widow
as my father spends eight months a year at sea. When he’s home, he turns into a quiet henpecked
husband and it’s my mum who wears the trousers in my family.
My brother Leo is a confirmed bachelor and he swears he will never lead any woman to the
altar. He is said to be the black sheep of the family. He played truant a lot when he was at school
and now refuses to find himself a job. There are fights between him and our mother but Leo claims
it’s all because of the generation gap.
My sister Clair was afraid of becoming an old maid so when she turned twenty she married our
next-door neighbour. They have three children now and they usually run the streets completely
unattended.
Thus, as you can see, my family is quite ordinary. Sometimes I can’t believe they are my own flesh
and blood.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 13. Family

4. 52
Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Our family is of noble origin.

- …
Our family has blue blood in their veins.

- My mother is often alone as my father works far away from home.

- …
My mother is a grass widow.

- My father does what my mum tells him.

- …
My father is a henpecked husband.

- My mother makes all the important decisions in the family.

- …
My mother wears the trousers in my family.

- Leo doesn’t want to get married.

- …
Leo is a confirmed bachelor.

- He will never marry anybody.

- …
He will never lead a woman to the altar.

- Leo is a failure and a disappointment.

- …
Leo is the black sheep of the family.

- He stayed away from school without permission.

- …
He played truant.

- They fight because of a big difference in age.

- …
They fight because of the generation gap.

- Clair was afraid she would never get married.

- …
Clair was afraid she would become an old maid.

- The kids are often unattended by their parents.

- …
Their kids often run the streets.

- I can’t believe they are my relatives.

- …
I can’t believe they are my flesh and blood.

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PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC
EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

1. 53

Listen.

TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE

to achieve two aims with only one effort
STONE

I killed two birds with one stone and saw some old friends when I was in Brighton on business.

TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS to decide to face a problem rather than avoid it

Whenever Sue has a problem, she doesn’t just sit and wait but takes the bull by the horns and tries
to solve it one way or the other.

TO HAVE BUTTERFLIES IN ONE’S to feel physical discomfort in one’s stomach

STOMACH because of nervousness

When Joe proposed to me, I was so excited and nervous that I felt butterflies in my stomach

TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG to reveal a secret

I asked her not to tell anyone but of course she let the cat out of the bag and now everybody knows
I’m in love.

TO GO TO THE DOGS to decline into a very bad state

Nobody took care of the building so after twenty years it went to the dogs completely. Now it’s
a ruin.

to avoid mentioning the subject as it could cause

TO LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE
trouble

George felt he should confront his brother and tell him he was a liar but this would cause a fight so
he didn’t say a word and let sleeping dogs lie.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 14. Animals

TO HAVE OTHER FISH TO FRY to have more important tasks to attend to

Whenever Helen asks her husband to help her with the kids, he says he has other fish to fry. I think
all these important tasks he has to attend to are just an excuse.

TO TAKE THE LION’S SHARE to take the largest part

After winning a lottery we were planning to share the money equally but Steve took the lion’s share
and left the country. We were left with just a small part of what we had won.

to buy or accept something without first seeing it

TO BUY A PIG IN A POKE
or knowing what it’s like

I never buy clothes from a catalogue. Without trying them on first, it’s like buying a pig in a poke.

TO SMELL A RAT to detect something suspicious

We were planning to play a trick on Peter but he detected there was something suspicious going on.
He smelled a rat immediately.

to spoil someone’s plans either intentionally or

TO COOK SOMEONE’S GOOSE
unintentionally

My little brother really cooked my goose when he told my parents what present I had for them. He
ruined my chance to surprise them.

TO HAVE A BEE IN ONE’S BONNET to keep talking about something again and again

She’s got a real bee in her bonnet about saving electricity and keeps telling us to switch off the
lights, turn off the TV and so on.

TO RAIN CATS AND DOGS to rain heavily

It’s raining cats and dogs! If you are planning to leave, you’d better wait until it stops raining so
heavily.

TO GO AT A SNAIL’S PACE to go extremely slowly

Thousands of people were driving to spend the weekend outside New York so we were moving very
slowly as the traffic was going at a snail’s pace.

TO BE A WOLF IN SHEEP’S to seem to be pleasant and friendly but be in fact

CLOTHING dangerous or evil

Tom can be dangerous so be careful with him. On the surface warm and charming, he might prove
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 14. Animals

2. 54

Listen and repeat.

I killed two birds with one stone.

He didn’t wait and took the bull by the horns.
I have butterflies in my stomach before each exam.
She let the cat out of the bag and spoiled the surprise.
This building has gone to the dogs lately.
He didn’t say a word and let sleeping dogs lie.
He had other fish to fry and left.
Steve took the lion’s share of the money.
I would never buy a pig in a poke.
Peter smelled a rat immediately.
I wanted to surprise him but he cooked my goose.
She has a bee in her bonnet about having a baby.
It’s raining cats and dogs again!
We were moving at a snail’s pace.
Tom proved to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

3. 55

Listen.
Ben seemed to have a bee in his bonnet about having a little cottage somewhere in the country.
When he finally found a perfect offer on the Internet, he decided to see the place. He wouldn’t like
to buy a pig in a poke.
It was raining cats and dogs when he and his business partner, Matthew, were sitting on the train
to a small village near London. They had some business to do there so Ben decided to kill two
birds with one stone and see the cottage as well. The train went at a snail’s pace so they had time
to talk. Matthew didn’t know about Ben’s plans. At the end of the journey, however, Ben let the cat
out of the bag.
Later, when they were about to take a train back, Matthew said that he had other fish to fry and he
stayed in the village. At that point Ben could smell a rat but he let the sleeping dogs lie and didn’t
say a word. He had butterflies in his stomach on his way back. Having reached the office, he
decided to take the bull by the horns and confront Matthew openly.
After a short telephone conversation Ben found out that Matthew had cooked his goose as he had
bought the cottage for himself. He turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing and Ben wished he
had kept his mouth shut.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 14. Animals

4. 56
Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.
- Ben kept talking about buying a cottage.
- …
Ben had a bee in his bonnet about buying a cottage.
- He didn’t want to buy it without seeing it first.
- …
He didn’t want to buy a pig in a poke.
- It was raining heavily.
- …
It was raining cats and dogs.
- Ben did some business and saw the cottage as well.
- …
Ben killed two birds with one stone.
- The train went very slowly.
- …
The train went at a snail’s pace.
- Ben revealed his secret.
- …
Ben let the cat out of the bag.
- Matthew had other tasks to attend to.
- …
Mathew had other fish to fry.
- Ben detected something suspicious.
- …
Ben smelled a rat.
- He didn’t mention the subject to avoid trouble.
- …
He let sleeping dogs lie.
- He was very worried.
- …
He had butterflies in his stomach.
- He decided to face the problem.
- …
He decided to take the bull by the horns.
- Matthew spoiled Ben’s plans.
- …
Matthew cooked Ben’s goose.

- Matthew turned out not to be a real friend.

- …
Matthew turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

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Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY
1. 57

Listen.

TO DO SOMETHING BEHIND to do something without one’s knowledge, in

SOMEONE’S BACK a way which is unfair

Ben must be informed about our plans. I don’t want to do anything behind his back.

TO MAKE NO BONES ABOUT to say clearly what you think or feel although
SOMETHING you may embarrass or offend somebody

My mother-in-law admits quite openly that she doesn’t like me. At family meetings she makes no
bones about how much she hates me.

TO GET SOMETHING OFF ONE’S to tell someone about something that has been
CHEST worrying you in order to make you feel better

Come on! Tell me what’s troubling you. You will feel better once you get it off your chest.

to be very eager to hear what someone’s going to

TO BE ALL EARS
say

Mary was very curious to find out what had happened at the party so when I started talking, she was
all ears.

to be an experience from which you learn

TO BE AN EYE-OPENER
something surprising or new

This film has changed the way I see mother-daughter relationships. It was a real eye-opener.

TO HAVE AN EYE FOR SOMETHING to be good at noticing something

Helen has an eye for details so when we met yesterday she immediately noticed my new make-up.

TO HAVE SOMETHING AT ONE’S to have knowledge or information ready and

FINGERTIPS available to use very easily

If you need any more information, it’s ready and available. We have all the facts and figures at our
fingertips.

TO MAKE ONE’S HAIR STAND ON

to make someone feel very frightened
END

I’m afraid of heights and the thought of trying bungee-jumping is so terrifying that it makes my hair
stand on end.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 15. Parts of the body

TO LEARN SOMETHING BY HEART to memorise something

The teacher asked us to learn the poem by heart so I spent all evening memorising it.

to tell someone something that is not true as a

TO PULL SOMEONE’S LEG
way of joking with them

I thought she was pulling my leg when she told me about her engagement but she wasn’t joking at all.

TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE TIP

to want to say something but cannot remember it
OF ONE’S TONGUE

I had her surname on the tip of my tongue but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember it.

to give an opinion which other people may not

TO STICK ONE’S NECK OUT
like or are frightened to give

All the staff members were of an opinion that the manager had made a mistake but nobody wanted
to stick their neck out and say it out loud. They were afraid of losing their jobs.

TO BE GETTING OUT OF HAND to be getting out of control

When they started arguing, things got a little out of hand and the neighbours called the police to get
the situation under control.

TO SPLIT HAIRS to argue or worry about small, unimportant details

Oh, stop splitting hairs! It’s natural for a teenager to spend more time with his friends instead of his
parents. There is really nothing to worry about.

TO HAVE A CHIP ON ONE’S to easily become offended or angry because you

SHOULDER think you’ve been treated unfairly in the past

She has a chip on her shoulder about her height so, please, don’t mention this subject because she
might get offended.

2. 58

Listen and repeat.

We mustn’t do anything behind his back.

He made no bones about what he really thought.
Tell me! Just get it off your chest!
Go on. I’m all ears.
This film was a real eye-opener.
You have an eye for details.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 15. Parts of the body

The information you need is at your fingertips.

The scream made my hair stand on end.
The students must learn the poem by heart.
I don’t like such jokes so stop pulling my leg!
I had her name on the tip of my tongue.
Only Paul was brave enough to stick his neck out.
The situation is getting out of hand.
There is no need to worry so stop splitting hairs!
He has a chip on his shoulder about his height.

3. 59

Listen.

I have a chip on my shoulder about loyalty in a marriage. I always suspect my husband of doing
something behind my back. Whenever he’s late from work I make no bones about how jealous
I am. I tell him “OK, what is it this time? I’m all ears!” I can see he is getting tired of this. He says
I’m splitting hairs.
But I really suffer! One day I broke down and I wanted to get it off my chest so I called my friend
Lucy. She has an eye for details so I asked her if she had noticed that the situation in my marriage
was getting out of hand. At first she refused to talk to me because she didn’t want to stick her
neck out. I assured her that I needed her honest opinion. What I heard made my hair stand on end.
At first I thought she was pulling my leg but she was serious when she told me I was the one who
was destroying my marriage. We talked for hours and this conversation was a real eye-opener.
I decided to go to therapy.

4. 60

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- I’m very sensitive about loyalty.

- …
I have a chip on my shoulder about loyalty.

- I suspect that my husband is cheating on me.

- …
I suspect my husband is doing something behind my back.

- I’m quite open about how jealous I am.

- …
I make no bones about how jealous I am.

- I’m ready to listen to him.

- …
I’m all ears!

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 15. Parts of the body

- I’m arguing about unimportant things.

- …
I’m splitting hairs.

- I wanted to share my pain with someone.

- …
I wanted to get it off my chest.

- Lucy is good at noticing details.

- …
Lucy has an eye for details.

- The situation was getting out of control.

- …
The situation was getting out of hand.

- Lucy was afraid to express what she really thought.

- …
Lucy didn’t want to stick her neck out.

- The truth frightened me.

- …
The truth made my hair stand on end.

- At first I thought she was joking.

- …
At first I thought she was pulling my leg.

- This conversation helped me learn new things.

- …
This conversation was a real eye-opener.

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Lesson 16. COLOURS
1. 61

Listen.

TO BEAT SOMEBODY BLACK AND

to beat him so that he has many bruises
BLUE

He was beaten black and blue in school yesterday. There are bruises all over his body.

TO FEEL BLUE to be sad or miserable

Autumn always makes me feel blue. I get sad and depressed when it rains too often.

TO HAVE GREEN FINGERS to be good at gardening

My mother is very good at gardening and her plants look really impressive. People say she has
green fingers.

TO BE GREEN to be too trusting, inexperienced

Tom is very young and inexperienced and I think he is too green to be responsible for this project.

TO BE IN THE RED to owe money to one’s bank

We won’t get a loan from this bank as we’re already in the red. We owe it two thousand pounds.

not to be in debt, to have more assets than

TO BE IN THE BLACK
liabilities

The Browns will pay off all their debts by March and then they will be in the black again.

A BLACKOUT a sudden loss of consciousness or memory

Unfortunately, she had a blackout and doesn’t remember who hit her and what happened next. She
was unconscious for half an hour.

OUT OF THE BLUE suddenly

I got a bit of a shock when, out of the blue, after twenty years, he turned up on my doorstep.

A WHITE LIE a small lie which does not harm anybody

People sometimes tell white lies just to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 16. Colours

WHITE COFFEE coffee with milk

Sharon popped in this morning to borrow some milk because she won’t leave the house before
having a white coffee for breakfast.

TO SEE SOMETHING THROUGH

to think something is more pleasant than it really is
ROSE-COLOURED SPECTACLES

She has only nice memories from her childhood but I’m afraid she sees it through rose-coloured
spectacles as her early years weren’t really so happy.

TO PAINT THE TOWN RED to celebrate wildly and noisily in public places

When Jack graduated from college, he and his friends went out to paint the town red. They had fun
in pubs and restaurants all night long.

TO SEE THE RED LIGHT to recognise danger

We were just about to jump into the lake when John saw the red light and stopped us. He probably
saved our lives as the water in that place was very shallow.

TO PUT OUT THE RED CARPET (FOR

to welcome him in a special way
SOMEONE)

Every time we visit aunt Grace she puts out the red carpet for us. She always gives us such a warm
welcome.

something that takes people’s attention away

A RED HERRING
from the main subject

His comment on the political situation was just a red herring as he tried to avoid talking about his
problems and to divert our attention to another subject.

2. 62

Listen and repeat.

He was beaten black and blue in school yesterday.

Autumn always makes me feel blue.
My mother has green fingers.
He is too green to be held responsible for this.
We are in the red so we won’t get this loan.
They’ve paid off their debts and are in the black again.
She had a blackout and doesn’t remember a thing.
He turned up out of the blue.
People often tell white lies.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 16. Colours

I love white coffee.

She sees her boyfriend through rose-coloured spectacles.
We painted the town red last weekend.
John saw the red light and didn’t jump.
Aunt Grace always puts out a red carpet for us.
His last comment was just a red herring.

3. 63

Listen.

I almost had a blackout when I saw Sue Thorn on my doorstep yesterday. It was a shock as she
appeared out of the blue after five years with a little girl beside her.
We were a couple once. I admit we had a lot of fun together. We used to paint the town red every
weekend and although we both worked, we were always in the red. We were too green to start
saving up. I remember our little flat that we rented. It was full of plants as Sue had green fingers.
Whenever she felt blue, I used to make her white coffee and assure her I would never leave her. It
was a white lie. She saw me through rose-coloured spectacles so she couldn’t notice that I was
not ready to commit. When she started to talk about having a baby, I saw the red light. I moved out
the next day and we haven’t met since then.
And now, seeing her after so long, I was too surprised to put out the red carpet for her, I just
didn’t know what to say.

4. 64

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- This conversation helped me learn new things.

- …
This conversation was a real eye-opener.

- I almost lost consciousness.

- …
I almost had a blackout.

- She appeared suddenly.

- …
She appeared out of the blue.

- We used to go out and celebrate.

- …
We used to paint the town red.

- We were always in debt.

- …
We were always in the red.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 16. Colours

- We were very inexperienced.

- …
We were green.

- Sue was good at taking care of plants.

- …
Sue had green fingers.

- She sometimes felt sad.

- …
She sometimes felt blue.

- I made her coffee with milk.

- …
I made her white coffee.

- I told her small lies.

- …
I told her white lies.

- She thought I was better than I really was.

- …
She saw me through rose-coloured spectacles.

- I recognised the danger.

- …
I saw the red light.

- I was too surprised to welcome her warmly.

- …
I was too surprised to put out the red carpet for her.

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Lesson 17. COMPARISON
1. 65
Listen.

AS BOLD AS A LION very brave

Little Frank is as bold as a lion. He is very brave and has announced he will become a fire-fighter in
the future.

AS BRITTLE AS GLASS fragile

Judy is very sensitive and fragile. In fact she is as brittle as glass so be careful not to hurt her.

AS BUSY AS A BEE very busy

With this huge house and four kids around, Mary has a lot of work. She is as busy as a bee all day long.

AS CHANGEABLE AS THE WEATHER somebody who changes his moods very often

It is quite natural for Henry to be happy at one moment and very sad or depressed an hour later. He
is as changeable as the weather.

AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER calm at a time of difficulty or danger

Everyone panicked when they saw the bear. Only Paul stayed as cool as a cucumber and distracted
its attention calmly and cleverly.

AS CUNNING AS A FOX clever and deceitful

Becky is very clever and deceitful. Remember she can be as cunning as a fox so don’t let her fool you.

AS DIFFERENT AS CHALK AND

very different
CHEESE

Although they are twins, they don’t look alike. In fact they are as different as chalk and cheese both
in appearance and character.

AS EASY AS ABC very easy

When I tried horse-riding, I soon found out that it was as easy as ABC. I learned it quite fast.

AS FIT AS A FIDDLE very fit, of excellent physical health

Agnes is as fit as a fiddle. She’s always enjoyed an excellent physical condition.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 17. Comparison

AS FIRM AS A ROCK resolute

It’s no use trying to make him change his mind. He’s as firm as a rock and I’m sure he’ll stick to
what he has decided.

AS GOOD AS GOLD of a well-behaved child or an orderly person

Her children are as good as gold. She’s never had any problems with them.

AS LIGHT AS A FEATHER of very little weight

When little Sue broke her leg, I had to carry her to hospital. Thanks God she’s as light as a feather.

AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS IN A POD very much alike in appearance or character

Mary and Ashley are like two peas in a pod. They are so similar that I never know which one I’m
talking to.

AS POOR AS A CHURCH MOUSE very poor

When Jane divorced her husband, she was left without a penny. Now she’s as poor as a church mouse.

AS QUICK AS LIGHTNING very fast

When it comes to cooking, James is as quick as lightning! He can prepare delicious food within
minutes!

2. 66
Listen and repeat.

Frank is little but he’s as bold as a lion.

Judy is as brittle as glass so be careful with her.
With all this housework she is as busy as a bee.
Henry can be as changeable as the weather.
Only Paul stayed as cool as a cucumber when panic broke out.
Betty is clever and as cunning as a fox.
Those brothers are as different as chalk and cheese.
Horse-riding is as easy as ABC.
Agnes is slim and as fit as a fiddle.
He’s as firm as a rock and won’t change his mind.
Her children are as good as gold.
Little Sue is as light as a feather.
These twins are like two peas in a pod.
He left her and now she’s as poor as a church mouse.
When it comes to cooking, James is as quick as lightning.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 17. Comparison

3. 67
Finish the sentences.

- When you are very brave, you are as bold as… (a lion).
You are as bold as a lion.

- When something is fragile it’s as brittle as… (glass).

It’s as brittle as glass

- A hard-working person is as busy as… (a bee).

A person is as busy as a bee.

- Somebody who changes his moods very often is as changeable as… (the weather).
They are as changeable as the weather.

- If someone remains calm when in danger, he is as cool as… (a cucumber).

He is as cool as a cucumber.

- A deceitful person tends to be as cunning as… (a fox).

A person is as cunning as a fox.

- Sometimes siblings can be as different as… (chalk and cheese).

Siblings can be as different as chalk and cheese.

- I found horse-riding as easy as… (ABC).

Horse-riding is as easy as ABC.

- Somebody who enjoys an excellent physical condition is as fit as… (a fiddle).

He is as fit as a fiddle.

- If you are resolute, you are as firm as… (a rock).

You are as firm as a rock.

- A well-behaved child is as good as… (gold).

A child is as good as gold.

- When a person weighs very little, she’s as light as… (a feather).

She is as light as a feather.

- If twins are very much alike, they are like … (two peas in a pod).
The twins are like two peas in a pod.

- When someone is very poor, he’s as poor as… (a church mouse).

He’s as poor as a church mouse.

- If someone is very quick, we say he’s as quick as … (lightning).

He is as quick as lightning.

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Lesson 18. BINOMINALS
1. 68

Listen.

ODDS AND ENDS small, unimportant things

We have little time now. Let’s pack only the most important things and we‘ll come back to get the
odds and ends later.

GIVE AND TAKE a spirit of compromise

Partners need to give and take. Every relationship must be based on compromise.

PART AND PARCEL part

Don’t blame yourself! Teenagers have a right to make mistakes. It’s just part and parcel of growing up.

TO GO TO RACK AND RUIN to get ruined decayed

Nobody looks after this house so sooner or later it’ll go to rack and ruin.

TO BE PRIM AND PROPER rather formal and fussy

The atmosphere at work is very formal now as our new boss is so prim and proper.

TO BE ROUGH AND READY of poor standard

The room we rented was a bit rough and ready but we couldn’t afford a better standard.

TO PICK AND CHOOSE to have a wide choice

Our school offers a variety of courses for everyone. You are free to pick and choose.

LEAPS AND BOUNDS big jumps

Since she moved to Paris, her French has been progressing in leaps and bounds. She’s made huge
progress very fast.

PEACE AND QUIET calm

When Paul and Mary retired, they moved to the country to find some peace and quiet. They were
tired of the noisy city.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 18. Binominals

HERE AND THERE scattered round

The area was really empty. Only a few huts were scattered here and there across the fields.

ON AND OFF occasionally

Although our families don’t meet very often, we call each other on and off just to say what’s new.

BACK AND FORTH to and from somewhere

Since my husband got a job in Great Britain, we’ve been travelling back and forth between London
and Warsaw.

DOWN AND OUT without a home or money

When I last saw him he was a down and out with no home, no money and no chances for a job.

UP AND DOWN in both directions

When she entered the room, she immediately attracted the attention of all the guests. Especially the
men eyed her up and down as she looked really gorgeous.

BACK TO FRONT the wrong way

I was embarrassed to discover right in the middle of the meeting that I had my blouse on back to
front. I must have been in a hurry and put it on the wrong way.

2. 69

Listen and repeat.

We’ll come back later to pack the odds and ends.

Good partners have to learn how to give and take.
Making mistakes is part and parcel of growing up.
This old house has gone to rack and ruin.
Our new boss is very prim and proper.
The room we rented was rather rough and ready.
They offered a wide selection so we could pick and choose.
My English is progressing in leaps and bounds.
We moved to the country to find peace and quiet.
I saw some huts scattered here and there.
We love each other but we argue on and off.
I have two homes so I travel back and forth.
When he lost his job he was a down and out.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 18. Binominals

She looked good so all the men eyed her up and down.
I put my blouse on back to front.

3. 70

Listen.

Arguments with parents are part and parcel of growing up. Parents need peace and quiet and young
people want to have fun. On and off every teenager has to manifest his or her independence. Peter
Jones was no exception. He lived in a village where there were only a few houses scattered here and
there. There was nothing to do there for a young person so he used to travel back and forth to the
town which was 20 kilometres away from his village. His parents disapproved of this and finally Peter
ran away from home. He moved to his girlfriend’s flat which was very rough and ready but enough
for a start. Peter started to look for a job but as he was 18 and with no education he couldn’t pick and
choose. Soon the couple ran out of money. The flat went to rack and ruin and so did their
relationship. Peter realised he was a down and out and couldn’t see any way out of this situation. He
was walking up and down an empty street one night when he realised that it was time to go back to
his village. His parents were very prim and proper for a few days but then their hearts melted. Peter
had learned his lesson and he understood that in order to finish school he would have to live with his
parents and this would be a give and take process. Now he was ready to accept it.

4. 71

Paraphrase the sentences using the idiomatic expressions.

- Arguments are an integral part of growing up.

- …
Arguments are part and parcel of growing up.

- Parents need calm.

- …
Parents need peace and quiet.

- Occasionally every teenager must rebel.

- …
On and off every teenager must rebel.

- There were houses scattered around.

- …
There were houses scattered here and there.

- He used to travel to and from the town.

- …
He used to travel back and forth.

- The flat was of poor standard.

- …
The flat was rough and ready.

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English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Lesson 18. Binominals

- He didn’t have a wide choice.

- …
He couldn’t pick and choose.

- The flat went into decay.

- …
The flat went to rack and ruin.

- He was without a home or money.

- …
He was a down and out.

- He was walking in both directions.

- …
He was walking up and down.

- His parents were very formal and fussy.

- …
His parents were very prim and proper.

- They will have to learn to compromise.

- …
They will have to learn to give and take.

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Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
1. 72

Listen.

HOW COME? Why? / How does it happen? / How did it happen?

A. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten to pay the last electricity bill.

B. How come? How was that possible? Please explain that to me now!

HOW’S THAT? Why? / What’s the reason for it?

A. We can’t go to the show tonight.

B. How’s that? What’s the reason?
C. I’ve lost the tickets.

SO WHAT? What does it matter?

A. Oh no! I’ve spilt some ketchup on my shirt.

B. So what? It is not a problem. Just take it off and wash it in hot water.

WHAT’S UP? What’s the matter?

A. Have you heard about Sue’s problems?

B. No, what’s up?

WHAT OF IT? What does it matter?

A. Peter didn’t accept our invitation.

B. What of it? For me it doesn’t matter at all. We will have fun without him.

WHAT IF…? what will happen if…?

A. Do you have any idea how to solve the problem?

B. What if we ask someone?

COME ON! used to tell someone to hurry

A. Have you seen my glasses? I can’t find them anywhere.

B. Come on, we’ll miss the train!

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 COME ON! used to encourage someone to do something

A. I‘m helpless. I don’t know how to do it.

B. Come on, you can do it! Don’t give up so easily.

used to tell someone that you know that what

COME ON!
they have just said was not true or right

A. Do you know my girlfriend’s got a Porsche?

B. Oh come on, don’t lie!

NO WAY! / IN NO WAY! Certainly not.

A. Will you apologise to her?

B. No way! She is the one to blame.

IT’S TOO BAD! / THAT’S TOO BAD! It’s a pity.

A. I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you for the weekend.

B. That’s too bad. We really wish you could come.

TIME’S UP There is no more time allowed.

A. Can I finish writing the last question?

B. Unfortunately not. Time is up! Please, stop writing now and leave your test on my desk.

TIME FLIES Time is passing very quickly.

A. I can’t believe it’s been seven years since we last met.

B. Oh yes, you’re right. Time flies! Those years have passed so fast!

TAKE IT EASY Be calm.

A. I’m so worried about the exams.

B. Take it easy! I’m sure everything will be all right.

SO LONG! a friendly way to say goodbye

A. OK, now I really have to go. So long!

B. See you tomorrow then.

GO AHEAD! Start! Begin!

A. May I start my presentation now?

B. Go ahead! Everybody’s waiting.

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 NEVER MIND! Don’t worry or be upset about something.

A. I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten the money I owe you.

B. Never mind! You can pay me later.

used when you lift a glass of alcohol in order to

CHEERS!
express good wishes

A. Let’s drink to our dear host! Cheers!

B. Cheers!

used to refer to other things of the type you have

AND SO ON / AND SO FORTH
already mentioned

A. So how is it to be a young mother?

B. Well, every day looks the same: nappies, soups and so on.

used to say that an action will not achieve what

IT’S NO GOOD
it’s intended to achieve

A. Do you think we can win the race?

B. It’s no good trying! We are not fit enough.

GOOD HEAVENS! used to express surprise

A. How do you like my new hairstyle?

B. Good Heavens! What have you done? It looks terrible!

BLESS YOU! something you say when someone sneezes

A. Atishoo!
B. Bless you!

2. 73

Listen and repeat.

How come you’ve forgotten to pay the bill?

How is that? What’s the reason?
You’ve spilled some ketchup? So what?
What’s up? I haven’t heard from you for ages.
What of it? It really doesn’t matter.
What if we ask someone?
Come on, hurry up!
Come on, you can do it!

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 Oh, come on, don’t lie!
I will never apologise to her! No way!
It’s too bad you can’t join us.
Time is up! You must stop writing!
Time flies! It really passes very quickly.
Try to stay calm and just take it easy.
So long! See you later!
You start first so go ahead!
Never mind! You really don’t have to worry!
Let’s drink to our host! Cheers!
Taking care of a little baby is just soups, nappies and so on.
It’s no good trying as we have no chance of winning.
Good heavens! Your hair looks terrible!
Atishoo! – Bless you!

3. 7

Reply to the speaker in the following situations.

- I’m afraid I’ve forgotten my homework. - I really don’t know how to do it

- … - …
How come? Come on! You can do it!

- We can’t do the shopping today. - We’ve won €1,000, 000.

- … - …
How’s that? Come on! You’re joking!

- Oh, no! I’ve broken the glass. - Will you lend me your car for the
- … weekend?
So what? - …
No way!
- Have you heard the latest news?
- … - I’m afraid I can’t go with you to the
No, what’s up? party.
- …
- Peter didn’t accept our invitation. That’s too bad.
- …
What of it? - Do we have some more time?
- …
- Do you have any idea how to solve the No, time is up.
problem?
- … - So many years have passed since our first
What if we ask someone? meeting.
- …
- I can’t find the keys anywhere. Time flies.
- …
Come on! Hurry up!

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- I’m really worried now. - My life is soups, nappies…
- … - …
Take it easy! And so on.

- See you tomorrow then! - Is there any sense in trying?

- … - …
So long!! It’s no good.

- May I start now? - Mary had a car accident.

- … - …
Go ahead. Good Heavens!

- I’m so sorry I’ve forgotten your book. - Atishoo!

- … - …
Never mind. Bless you!

- Cheers!
- …
Cheers!

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75

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN what people actually do is more important than
WORDS. what they say
an event with a good ending is good even if
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
some things went wrong along the way
appearances can be deceptive and things that
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.
look or sound valuable can be worthless
an unskilled, careless or irresponsible person will
A BAD WORKMAN ALWAYS BLAMES not take the responsibility or admit that he has
HIS TOOLS. done wrong, but will blame everything on his
tools or materials
some people are not as unpleasant or rude as
BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITE.
they seem to be when they talk to you
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. it’s better to do something late than never
A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO something you already have is better you might
IN THE BUSH. get
DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS don’t make plans depending on something
BEFORE THEY HATCH advantageous which has not yet happened
DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS INTO don’t depend completely on the success of one
ONE BASKET. thing
DON’T PUT THE CART BEFORE THE
don’t do or put things in the wrong order
HORSE.
THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE a person who gets up or arrives early will get the
WORM. reward
HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. it is always sensible and wise to act honestly
IT’S NO USE CRYING OVER SPILT it’s no use being unhappy or sorry about
MILK. something which cannot now be changed
problems do not happen one at a time but all
IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
together
MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES /
make the most of good times
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF
our needs make us think of new solutions
INVENTION.
NO GAIN WITHOUT PAIN. wealth cannot be acquired without much effort
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS. if there were bad news we should hear it
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. by constantly practicing, you will become better
THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH people often make a situation much worse when
GOOD INTENTIONS. they intended to make it better
ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. important things don’t happen overnight
TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE too many people trying to manage something
BROTH. simply spoil it
YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND you can’t have the advantages of something
EAT IT. without the disadvantages that go with it

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PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs at une affaire rapporte de l’argent / fait perdre de
a loss l’argent
finances are in good shape / finances are in les finances vont bien / les finances vont mal
bad shape
a falling market un marché en baisse
to put money into business mettre de l’argent dans une affaire
to close a deal / to close a bargain conclure un accord / un deal
sharp practices des pratiques douteuses
a sleeping partner un commanditaire / un partenaire dormant
a take over une prise de contrôle / un raid
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt faire faillite
to make money gagner de l’argent
to be in the money faire fortune
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner être salarié
to make a living gagner sa vie
to be well-off être riche
to tighten one’s belt se serrer la ceinture

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business se mettre au travail

to roll one’s sleeves up remonter ses manches
to be on business être dans les affaires
to work in the field travailler sur le terrain
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar worker un col blanc / un col bleu
to be on duty / to be off duty être en service / être de repos
to do overtime / to work overtime faire des heures supplémentaires
to be on piece work être aux pièces
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be on le travail posté (en 3-8 ou en 2-8)
nights)
to be on call être d’astreinte
to fire somebody licencier quelqu’un
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack mettre quelqu’un à la porte
to go on the dole se retrouver aux ASSEDIC
to go on strike faire grêve
a blackleg un briseur de grêve

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time être à l’heure

to be behind time être en retard
to take one’s time prendre son temps
to do sth at the last minute faire quelque chose à la dernière minute
to do sth on the spur of the moment faire quelque chose sur un coup de tête
to be up-to-date / out-of-date être à la page / être dépassé
it’s high time il est grand temps de
to have a minute avoir une minute
at any moment a n’importe quel moment
every now and then de temps en temps
once in a blue moon tous les trente-six du mois
once in a while parfois
a night-bird un oiseau de nuit
an early bird un lève-tôt
to kill time tuer le temps

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes (mener) un dialogue de sourd

to get hold of the wrong end of the stick comprendre quelque chose (tout) de travers
to get a word in edgeways glisser un mot
to talk behind somebody’s back parler derrière le dos de quelqu’un
to give somebody a talking-to faire des reproches à quelqu’un
to put it in a nutshell dire quelque chose en un mot
to be long-winded être bavard et ennuyeux
to speak one’s mind parler franchement
to talk rubbish dire des bêtises
to talk sense parler de façon sensée
to take the hint comprendre une allusion
to take something into account prendre en compte quelque chose
to cut a long story short bref
to beat about the bush tourner autour du pot
to have a word with somebody dire un mot à quelqu’un

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question une question en suspens

a storm in a teacup une tempête dans un verre d’eau
to cross swords croiser le fer avec quelqu’un (dans une
discussion)
to drop the subject laisser tomber un sujet
to change one’s mind changer d’avis

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to bear something in mind avoir quelque chose à l’esprit

to make up one’s mind se décider à
to take something for granted prendre quelque chose pour argent comptant
to come to the point / to get to the point / to aller à l’essentiel
reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point ne pas saisir le fond du problème
to get the point / to see the point comprendre le but de quelque chose
to make one’s point exprimer son point de vue
to hold one’s tongue tenir sa langue
to have the last word else can make a reply or objection avoir le
dernier mot
in a way / in some ways dans un sens
all in all l’un dans l’autre
for one thing en premier lieu
to be out of place être déplacé
to be out of the question être hors de question
to wrap up the discussion conclure une discussion

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up provoquer sciemment des problèmes

to pour oil on troubled waters ramener le calme
to lay one’s cards on the table mettre cartes sur la tables
to get to the bottom of things aller jusqu’au fond des choses
to get a grasp commencer à comprendre
to see a light at the end of the tunnel voir une lumière au bout du tunnel
to sweep under the carpet passer sous silence
to be in a fix être dans le pétrin
to be at a crossroads être à la croisée des chemins / à un moment
décisif
to find a happy medium trouver le juste milieu
to skate on thin ice avancer en terrain miné
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes se mettre à la place de quelqu’un
to take something to heart prendre quelque chose à cœur
to keep a straight face garder son sérieux
to burn one’s fingers se brûler les doigts
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges couper les ponts
to get into hot water / to get into a mess s’attirer des ennuis
to mind your own business s’occuper de ses oignons / de ses pieds
to see daylight voir le bout du tunnel
to face the music accepter les conséquences

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Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind perdre la tête

to be as thick as thieves être copain comme cochons
to blow one’s own trumpet vanter ses mérites
to go one’s own way suivre son propre chemin
to be a bull in a china shop être comme un éléphant dans un magasin de
porcelaine
to be a snake in the grass être un faux frère
to drive someone mad rendre fou quelqu’un
to lose one’s temper se mettre en colère
to lose one’s head perdre la tête
to lose one’s tongue perdre sa langue
to keep one’s chin up garder le front haut
to play the fool jouer les imbéciles
to show one’s teeth montrer les dents
to get on someone’s nerves taper sur les nerfs de quelqu’un
to hit below the belt donner un coup / frapper sous la ceinture

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine être très heureux

to be in high spirits être plein d’entrain
to be in seventh heaven être au septième ciel
to be at ease être à l’aise
to be in a black mood être dans une humeur noire
to have something on one’s mind être tracassé par quelque chose
to be able to eat a horse avoir une faim de loup
to be shaking in one’s shoes trembler dans ses chaussures
to jump out of one’s skin être hors de soi
to be like a fish out of water ne pas être dans son élément
to be on edge être à crans
to be on tenterhooks être sur des charbons ardents
to be over the moon être aux anges
to see red voir rouge
to be full of beans être plein de jus

Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH

not to look one’s age ne pas faire son âge

to look young for one’s years faire jeune pour son âge
to be getting on in years prendre de l’âge
to be in the autumn of one’s life être à l’automne de sa vie
to be in good health / to be in good shape être en bonne santé / en bonne forme

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to be in poor health / to be in poor shape être en mauvaise santé / en mauvaise forme

to feel under the weather / to look a bit under
se sentir mal fichu
the weather
to be off colour ne pas se sentir très bien
to look run-down avoir l’air fatigué, être à plat
to catch a disease attraper mal
to be on one’s last legs être sur son déclin
to be on one’s deathbed être sur son lit de mort
to have one foot in the grave avoir un pied dans la tombe
to kick the bucket casser sa pipe
to die before one’s time mourir avant l’heure

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end mal finir

a capital offence / a capital crime un crime passible de la peine de mort
a jail bird un repris de justice
to serve time / to do time faire sa peine
to be at large être en cavale
to be on parole être en liberté surveillée
to break prison s’évader de prison
to go to law aller au tribunal
to have clean hands avoir les mains propres
to catch someone red-handed attraper quelqu’un en flagrant délit
crime doesn’t pay le crime ne paie pas
daylight robbery une arnaque
in cold blood de sang froid
to set a thief / to catch a thief attraper un voleur
to be on the alert être en alerte

Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out sortir le soir

to make a day of something passer la journée à s’amuser
to have a good time / to have a great time passer du bon temps
to go out on the town sortir en ville
to wear one’s Sunday best mettre ses habits du dimanche
to throw a party donner une fête
to be the life and soul of the party mettre de l’ambiance dans une fête
hard drinks des boissons fortes
to be high être ivre (alcool), planer (drogues)
thin beer bière peu alcoolisée
to stand someone a drink payer un verre à quelqu’un
to go Dutch partager les frais

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to feel like doing something avoir envie de faire quelque chose

to be keen on aimer

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

a package holiday and lodging are all provided at an inclusive

price un voyage organisé
a coach party une excursion en car
to sleep in the open dormir à la belle étoile
to travel light voyager léger
to be on the road être sur la route
to hit the road prendre la route
to make a trip through the country / to go on point faire le tour d’un pays
a round trip through the country
to break the journey faire une étape / s’arrêter
to travel through / to travel non-stop voyager sans faire d’étape
to cross a border passer une frontière
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike faire de l’auto-stop
to get itchy feet avoir la bougeotte
to go on a guided tour faire une visite guidée
to do a sight-seeing tour visiter
to take a shortcut prendre un racourci

Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow une femme passant beaucoup de temps seule,

souvent délaissée par son mari qui travaille loin
a henpecked husband un homme dominé par sa femme
to wear the trousers porter le pantalon
an old maid une vieille fille
to lead a woman to the altar mener une femme à l’autel
a confirmed bachelor un célibataire endurci
to have an affair avoir une aventure
flesh and blood la chair et le sang
to run the streets (of children) courir les rues
to play truant faire l’école buissonière
to be the black sheep of the family être le mouton noir de la famille
to follow in someone’s footsteps suivre les traces de quelqu’un
the generation gap le fossé des générations
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth être né avec une cuillère d’argent dans la
bouche
blue blood le sang bleu

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PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone faire d’une pierre deux coups
to take the bull by the horns prendre le taureau par les cornes
to have butterflies in one’s stomach avoir des papillons dans l’estomac
to let the cat out of the bag cracher le morceau
to go to the dogs mal tourner / Tomber en ruines
to let sleeping dogs lie ne pas réveiller l’eau qui dort
to have other fish to fry avoir d’autres chats à fouetter
to take the lion’s share prendre la part du lion
to buy a pig in a poke acheter un chat en poche
to smell a rat flairer un piège
to cook someone’s goose faire capoter les plans de quelqu’un
to have a bee in one’s bonnet être obsédé par quelque chose
to rain cats and dogs pleuvoir des cordes
to go at a snail’s pace aller à une vitesse d’escargot
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing être un loup déguisé en brebis

Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back faire quelque chose derrière le dos de

quelqu’un
to make no bones about something ne pas prendre de gants (pour dire quelque
chose)
to get something off one’s chest dire ce qu’on a sur le cœur
to be all ears être tout ouïe
to be an eye-opener ouvrir les yeux à quelqu’un
to have an eye for something avoir l’œil pour quelque chose
to have something at one’s fingertips bien maîtriser son sujet
to make one’s hair stand on end faire dresser les cheveux sur la tête
to learn something by heart apprendre quelque chose par cœur
to pull someone’s leg faire marcher quelqu’un
to have something on the tip of one’s tongue avoir quelque chose sur le bout de la langue
to stick one’s neck out prendre des risques
to be getting out of hand echapper à tout contrôle
to split hairs couper les cheveux en quatre
to have a chip on one’s shoulder en vouloir à tout le monde

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue battre quelqu’un comme plâtre

to feel blue avoir le blues

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to have green fingers avoir la main verte

to be green être inexpérimenté
to be in the red être dans le rouge
to be in the black ne pas être endetté
a blackout un blackout, un perte soudaine de conscience
out of the blue soudainement
a white lie un petit mensonge
white coffee café au lait
to see something through rose-coloured voir tout en rose
spectacles
to paint the town red faire la bringue
to see the red light sentir le danger
to put out the red carpet (for someone) dérouler le tapis rouge (pour quelqu’un)
a red herring quelque chose pour brouiller les pistes

Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion courageux comme un lion

as brittle as glass fragile comme du verre
as busy as a bee très occupé
as changeable as the weather être d’humeur changeante
as cool as a cucumber garder son sang-froid
as cunning as a fox rusé comme un renard
as different as chalk and cheese c’est le jour et la nuit
as easy as ABC facile comme bonjour
as fit as a fiddle se porter comme un charme
as firm as a rock dur comme un roc
as good as gold bon comme le bon pain
as light as a feather léger comme une plume
as like as two peas in a pod se ressembler comme deux gouttes d’eau
as poor as a church mouse pauvre comme job
as quick as lightning rapide comme l’éclair

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends le bric-à-brac

give and take des concessions mutuelles
part and parcel partie intégrante (de)
to go to rack and ruin tomber en ruines
to be prim and proper être très guindé
to be rough and ready rudimentaire, frustre (une personne)
to pick and choose avoir l’embarras du choix
leaps and bounds a pas de géant
peace and quiet avoir la paix

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here and there ici et là

on and off de temps en temps
back and forth le va-et-vient
down and out une épave
up and down de haut en bas
back to front à l’envers

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? Comment ça se fait que ?

How’s that? Pourquoi ça ?
So what? Et alors ?
What’s up? Quoi de neuf ?
What of it? Et alors ?
What if…? Et si... ?
Come on! Allez ! / Vas-y !
No way! / In no way! Pas question !
It’s too bad! / That’s too bad! Dommage !
Time’s up. C’est fini.
Time flies. Le temps passe.
Take it easy. Du calme.
So long! Salut !
Go ahead! Vas-y !
Never mind! Ne t’en fais pas !
Cheers! Santé !
And so on / And so forth. Et caetera...
It’s no good. Pas la peine.
Good heavens! Mon dieu !
Bless you! À tes souhaits !

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. Les actes en disent plus long que les mots.
All’s well that ends well. Tout est bien qui finit bien.
All that glitters is not gold. Tout ce qui brille n’est pas d’or.
A bad workman always blames his tools. À mauvais ouvrier point de bons outils.
Barking dogs seldom bite. Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
Better late than never. Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Un bon tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant
de l’avoir tué.
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le
même panier.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les
bœufs.

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The early bird catches the worm. L’avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
Honesty is the best policy. L’honnêteté est toujours récompensée.
It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Ce qui est fait est fait.
It never rains but it pours. Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul.
Make hay while the sun shines. / Strike while Il faut battre le fer tant qu’il est chaud.
the iron is hot.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Nécessité est mère d’industrie.
No gain without pain. Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l’amande.
No news is good news. Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles.
Practice makes perfect. C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. L’enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions.
Rome was not built in a day. Rome ne s’est pas faire en un jour.
Too many cooks spoil the broth. Trop de cuisinières gâtent la sauce.
You can’t have your cake and eat it. On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l’argent du
beurre.

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Glossary – Wörterbuch
PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs at das Geschäft bringt Gewinne / Verluste
a loss
finances are in good shape / finances are in die finanzielle Lage ist gut / schlecht
bad shape
a falling market (wirtschaftlich) heruntergekommener Markt
to put money into business in ein Geschäft Geld investieren
to close a deal / to close a bargain ein Geschäft zu Ende bringen
sharp practices nicht ganz redliche (jedoch legale) Praktiken
a sleeping partner stiller Gesellschafter
a take over Übernahme (z.B. Firmenübernahme)
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt bankrott werden / sein, bankrottgehen
to make money Geld verdienen
to be in the money (plötzlich) an Geld kommen, gut bei Kasse sein
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner einen Wochenlohn / Monatslohn (Gehalt) haben
to make a living seinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen
to be well-off wohlhabend sein
to tighten one’s belt den Gürtel enger schnallen

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business zur Sache kommen, an die Arbeit gehen

to roll one’s sleeves up die Ärmel hochkrempeln
to be on business im Geschäft sein
to work in the field im Außendienst tätig sein
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar worker Angestellter / Arbeiter
to be on duty / to be off duty Dienst haben/Feierabend haben
to do overtime / to work overtime Überstunden machen
to be on piece work im Akkord arbeiten (Stückarbeit)
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be on in Schichten arbeiten, im Schichtsystem
nights) arbeiten
to be on call zur Verfügung stehen
to fire somebody jmdn. entlassen, jmdm. kündigen
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack jmdm. kündigen / gekündigt werden
to go on the dole Arbeitslosengeld bekommen
to go on strike beginnen zu streiken
a blackleg Streikbrecher

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time pünktlich sein

to be behind time zu spät kommen
to take one’s time sich nicht beeilen
to do sth at the last minute etw. auf die letzte Minute machen
to do sth on the spur of the moment spontan handeln, kurz entschlossen etw. tun
to be up-to-date / out-of-date aktuell sein / nicht aktuell sein
it’s high time Es ist höchste Zeit, dass …
to have a minute einen Moment Zeit haben (für jmdn.)
at any moment Jederzeit / jeden Augenblick
every now and then hin und wieder
once in a blue moon sehr selten
once in a while gelegentlich
a night-bird ein Nachtvogel sein
an early bird Frühaufsteher
to kill time sich die Zeit vertreiben, die Zeit totschlagen

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes aneinander vorbeireden

to get hold of the wrong end of the stick etw. völlig verkehrt auffassen, missverstehen
to get a word in edgeways zu Wort kommen, sich einmischen
to talk behind somebody’s back hinter jmds. Rücken tuscheln
to give somebody a talking-to jmdn. zurechtweisen, zur Rede stellen, tadeln
to put it in a nutshell etwas kurz und bündig sagen
to be long-winded weitschweifig, langatmig, ausführlich
to speak one’s mind offen sagen, ehrlich sein
to talk rubbish Quatsch / Unsinn reden
to talk sense vernünftig/sachlich reden
to take the hint etwas sofort begreifen, Anspielungen verstehen
to take something into account etw. beachten, berücksichtigen
to cut a long story short kurz gesagt
to beat about the bush um den heißen Brei herumreden
to have a word with somebody mit jmdm. kurz sprechen/ reden/ ein paar
Worte wechseln

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question offene Frage

a storm in a teacup viel Lärm um nichts, viel Aufregung wegen
einer Kleinigkeit
to cross swords an einem Wortgefecht teilnehmen, mit jmdm.
eine Auseinandersetzung haben, sich streiten

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to drop the subject das Thema lassen, nicht mehr über etw.
sprechen
to change one’s mind die Meinung ändern, jmdn. umstimmen
to bear something in mind beachten, etw. vor Augen haben,
berücksichtigen
to make up one’s mind sich entscheiden
to take something for granted etw. für selbstverständlich / sicher halten
to come to the point / to get to the point / zur Sache kommen, auf den Punkt kommen
to reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point nicht verstehen, worauf es ankommt
to get the point / to see the point (es) verstehen
to make one’s point den eigenen Standpunkt klar machen, die
eigene Sichtweise schildern
to hold one’s tongue nichts sagen, nicht das Wort ergreifen
to have the last word das letzte Wort haben
in a way / in some ways in gewisser Hinsicht, bis zu einem gewissen
Maße
all in all resümierend, alles in allem
for one thing erstens
to be out of place unangebracht sein, fehl am Platz sein
to be out of the question keinesfalls, kommt nicht in Frage
to wrap up the discussion die Diskussion beenden

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up für Aufruhr sorgen

to pour oil on troubled waters die Gemüter beruhigen
to lay one’s cards on the table seine Karten auf den Tisch legen
to get to the bottom of things den Dingen auf den Grund gehen
to get a grasp etw. in den Griff bekommen (geistig),
verstehen
to see a light at the end of the tunnel Licht am Ende des Tunnels sehen (in schlechten
Zeiten optimistisch in die Zukunft blicken)
to sweep under the carpet etw. unter den Teppich kehren, etw.
verschweigen, vertuschen
to be in a fix in der Klemme sein
to be at a crossroads am Scheideweg stehen
to find a happy medium die goldene Mitte finden
to skate on thin ice sich auf dünnem Eis bewegen
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes sich in jmdn. hineinversetzen
to take something to heart sich etw. zu Herzen nehmen
to keep a straight face Ernst bleiben, keine Miene verziehen
to burn one’s fingers sich die Finger verbrennen (sich selbst
schaden)
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges die Brücken hinter sich abbrechen (jeden
Kontakt abbrechen)

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to get into hot water / to get into a mess in Schwierigkeiten geraten

to mind your own business sich um seine eigenen Angelegenheiten
kümmern
to see daylight jmdm. geht ein Licht auf
to face the music die Konsequenzen ziehen / tragen

Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind den Verstand verlieren

to be as thick as thieves zusammenhalten, unzertrennlich sein, mit
jmdm. eng befreundet sein
to blow one’s own trumpet sich selbst loben
to go one’s own way seinen eigenen Weg gehen
to be a bull in a china shop wie ein Elefant im Porzellanladen
to be a snake in the grass falsche Schlange, verborgene Gefahr
to drive someone mad jmdn. verrückt machen
to lose one’s temper außer sich geraten, die Beherrschung verlieren
to lose one’s head den Kopf verlieren, jmdm. zu Kopfe steigen
to lose one’s tongue die Sprache verlieren, sprachlos sein
to keep one’s chin up Kopf hoch, die Ohren steif halten
to play the fool den Narren spielen, verrückt spielen, Quatsch
machen
to show one’s teeth die Zähne blecken, wütend sein
to get on someone’s nerves jmdm. auf die Nerven gehen
to hit below the belt jmdn. unter die Gürtellinie schlagen

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine sehr glücklich sein, im siebten Himmel sein

to be in high spirits in guter Stimmung sein, aufgeregt sein
to be in seventh heaven im siebten Himmel sein
to be at ease locker, entspannt sein
to be in a black mood deprimiert sein, in mieser Laune sein, gereizt
sein
to have something on one’s mind etw. auf dem Herzen haben, ein Anliegen
haben, etw. beschäftigt jmdn.
to be able to eat a horse sehr hungrig sein, viel und schnell essen,
Unmengen essen
to be shaking in one’s shoes entsetzt sein, erschrocken sein
to jump out of one’s skin aus der Haut fahren, die Beherrschung
verlieren
to be like a fish out of water sich wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen führen,
sich hilflos / unsicher fühlen
to be on edge genervt / aufgeregt / angespannt sein
to be on tenterhooks (wie) auf glühenden Kohlen sitzen, gespannt,
ungeduldig auf etw. Wichtiges warten

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to be over the moon von etw. hin und weg sein, überglücklich
sein, zufrieden sein
to see red sehr wütend, zornig werden
to be full of beans voller Tatendrang, putzmunter sein (ugs.)

Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH

not to look one’s age jünger aussehen

to look young for one’s years jünger aussehen
to be getting on in years älter werden
to be in the autumn of one’s life im Herbst seines Lebens sein
to be in good health / to be in good shape bei guter Gesundheit sein, gut in Form/fit sein
to be in poor health / to be in poor shape bei schlechter Gesundheit sein, schlecht in
Form sein
to feel under the weather / to look a bit under nicht auf dem Damm sein, krank sein
the weather
to be off colour sich unwohl fühlen, kränklich
to look run-down sich erschöpft fühlen / erschöpft aussehen
to catch a disease sich eine Krankheit holen
to be on one’s last legs erschöpft sein
to be on one’s deathbed auf dem Sterbebett
to have one foot in the grave mit einem Fuß im Grabe stehen
to kick the bucket verrecken
to die before one’s time jung sterben

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end zu einem schlimmen Ende führen, schlimm

enden
a capital offence / a capital crime Kapitalverbrechen
a jail bird (Gewohnheits) Verbrecher, Rückfalltäter
to serve time / to do time eine Strafe (z.B.im Gefängnis) verbüßen /
absitzen
to be at large auf freiem Fuß sein
to be on parole auf Bewährung draußen sein
to break prison aus dem Gefängnis ausbrechen
to go to law vor Gericht gehen, den Rechtsweg
beschreiten
to have clean hands unschuldig sein, eine saubere Weste haben
to catch someone red-handed jmdn. auf frischer Tat ertappen
crime doesn’t pay Verbrechen macht sich nicht bezahlt
daylight robbery Ausbeutung, Wucher
in cold blood mit voller Überlegung, kaltblütig
to set a thief / to catch a thief einen Dieb fangen
to be on the alert auf der Hut sein, wachsam sein

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Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out am Abend ausgehen (den Abend außer Haus

verbringen)
to make a day of something sich den ganzen Tag gut amüsieren
to have a good time / to have a great time sich blendend amüsieren
to go out on the town sich in der Stadt amüsieren
to wear one’s Sunday best die Sonntagssachen / den besten
Sonntagsanzug anziehen / tragen
a blind date Verabredung mit einem Unbekannten
to throw a party eine Party geben
to be the life and soul of the party eine Stimmungskanone sein
hard drinks hochprozentige Getränke
to be high im Rausch sein, betrunken sein, unter
Drogeneinfluss stehen
thin beer Leichtbier
to stand someone a drink jmdm. einen Drink spendieren / ausgeben
to go Dutch für sich selbst zahlen
to feel like doing something Lust auf etw. haben
to be keen on von etw. angetan sein, mögen

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

a package holiday Pauschalreise

a coach party Reisegruppe
to sleep in the open im Freien schlafen
to travel light mit wenig Gepäck reisen
to be on the road auf Reisen sein, unterwegs sein
to hit the road losfahren, aufbrechen
to make a trip through the country / to go on Rundfahrt, Rundreise
a round trip through the country
to break the journey die Reise unterbrechen, Fahrtunterbrechung,
Pause machen
to travel through / to travel non-stop durchfahren, durchreisen, ohne Pause reisen
to cross a border die Grenze überschreiten
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike trampen, per Anhalter fahren
to get itchy feet nicht ruhig an einer Stelle sitzen können,
reisen wollen
to go on a guided tour eine Führung mitmachen
to do a sight-seeing tour besichtigen, sich die Sehenswürdigkeiten
anschauen
to take a shortcut eine Abkürzung nehmen

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Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow Strohwitwe

a henpecked husband Pantoffelheld
to wear the trousers die Hosen anhaben, mächtig sein, etw. zu
sagen haben
an old maid alte Jungfer
to lead a woman to the altar eine Frau zum Altar führen
a confirmed bachelor eingefleischter Junggeselle
to have an affair fremdgehen
flesh and blood Fleisch und Blut, eigene Familie
to run the streets (of children) auf den Straßen herumlungern, sich
herumtreiben
to play truant Schule schwänzen
to be the black sheep of the family das schwarze Schaf in der Familie sein, der
Sündenbock / Prügelknabe sein
to follow in someone’s footsteps in jmds. Fußstapfen treten
the generation gap Generationskonflikt
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth mit dem Silberlöffel im Mund geboren sein,
mit einer Glückhaube geboren sein
blue blood blaues Blut, von hoher / adliger Abstammung

PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
to take the bull by the horns den Stier bei den Hörnern packen
to have butterflies in one’s stomach Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben, glücklich /
aufgeregt sein, verliebt sein
to let the cat out of the bag die Katze aus dem Sack lassen, ein Geheimnis
verraten
to go to the dogs mit etwas bergab gehen, vor die Hunde gehen
to let sleeping dogs lie Schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken,
nicht unnötig Aufsehen erregen
to have other fish to fry etwas Wichtigeres zu tun haben
to take the lion’s share sich den Löwenanteil sichern
to buy a pig in a poke die Katze im Sack kaufen
to smell a rat eine Ratte riechen, Verdacht schöpfen
to cook someone’s goose jmdn. die Suppe versalzen, jmdn. in die
Pfanne hauen
to have a bee in one’s bonnet einen Floh ins Ohr setzen, eine fixe Idee
haben
to rain cats and dogs es regnet in Strömen
to go at a snail’s pace im Schneckentempo gehen
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing ein Wolf im Schafspelz sein

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Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back hinter jmds. Rücken etw. machen

to make no bones about something kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen, keinen
Hehl aus etw. machen
to get something off one’s chest sich etwas von der Seele reden
to be all ears ganz Ohr sein
to be an eye-opener eine Überraschung sein, Augenöffner
to have an eye for something ein (sicheres / geübtes) Auge für etwas haben
to have something at one’s fingertips etw. genau kennen / wissen
to make one’s hair stand on end verursachen, dass jmd. Gänsehaut bekommt
to learn something by heart auswendig lernen
to pull someone’s leg jmdn. auf den Arm nehmen, veralbern
to have something on the tip of one’s tongue jmdm. liegt etw. auf der Zunge
to stick one’s neck out den Kopf riskieren
to be getting out of hand außer Kontrolle geraten
to split hairs Haarspalterei betreiben, über banale Sachen
streiten
to have a chip on one’s shoulder überempfindlich sein, die gekränkte /
beleidigte Leberwurst spielen

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue jmdn. windelweich prügeln

to feel blue deprimiert sein
to have green fingers einen grünen Daumen haben, eine Vorliebe
für Pflanzen haben
to be green gutgläubig / unerfahren sein
to be in the red rote Zahlen schreiben, verschuldet sein,
Schulden haben
to be in the black schwarze Zahlen schreiben, mit Gewinn
arbeiten
a blackout Bewusstseinsverlust, Ohnmacht
out of the blue aus dem Nichts heraus / aus heiterem Himmel
a white lie harmlose Lüge / Notlüge
white coffee Milchkaffee
to see something through rose-coloured etwas durch die rosarote Brille betrachten /
spectacles sehen
to paint the town red die Puppen tanzen lassen, die Stadt unsicher
machen, einen draufmachen
to see the red light die Gefahr erkennen
den roten Teppich ausrollen, jmdn. mit den
to put out the red carpet (for someone)
höchsten Ehren empfangen
a red herring eine Bemerkung, um das Gespräch in eine
andere Richtung zu lenken (vom Thema
abkommen / abgehen / ablenken)

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Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion mutig wie ein Löwe

as brittle as glass zerbrechlich wie Glas
as busy as a bee emsig wie eine Biene
as changeable as the weather wechselhaft wie das Wetter
as cool as a cucumber die Ruhe selbst
as cunning as a fox schlau wie ein Fuchs
as different as chalk and cheese verschieden wie Tag und Nacht
as easy as ABC kinderleicht
as fit as a fiddle kerngesund und topfit
as firm as a rock wie ein Fels in der Brandung (unerbittlich)
as good as gold Schatz (Mensch), sehr gut, brav
as light as a feather federleicht
as like as two peas in a pod sich gleichen wie ein Ei dem anderen
as poor as a church mouse arm wie eine Kirchenmaus
as quick as lightning blitzschnell

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends Kleinigkeiten/Kram, Siebensachen
give and take nehmen und geben
part and parcel fester Bestandteil von etw. sein
to go to rack and ruin verkommen, vor die Hunde gehen
to be prim and proper sehr offiziell sein, etepetete sein
to be rough and ready einfach, schlicht
to pick and choose sich die Rosinen herauspicken, wählerisch sein
leaps and bounds rasant, sprunghaft
peace and quiet Ruhe und Frieden
here and there da und dort, hier und da
on and off ab und zu, hin und wieder
back and forth auf und ab, hin und zurück
down and out Penner, heruntergekommen
up and down rauf und runter, auf und ab
back to front verkehrt herum

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? Wieso? Wie ist das passiert?
How’s that? Weshalb? Aus Welchem Grund?
So what? Na und?
What’s up? Was ist los? / Was gibt es?
What of it? Na und?
What if…? Und was, wenn…?
Come on! Ach komm! / Mach schon!

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No way! / In no way! Keineswegs!

It’s too bad! / That’s too bad! Schade!
Time’s up. Die Zeit ist um!
Time flies. Die Zeit vergeht (im Fluge)!
Take it easy. Immer mit der Ruhe!
So long! Bis bald! Bis dann!
Go ahead! Beginne! Mach schon! Geh voran!
Never mind! Was soll's!
Cheers! Zum Wohl!
And so on. / And so forth. Und so weiter und so fort
It’s no good. Es hat keinen Sinn!
Good heavens! Du lieber Gott!
Bless you! Gesundheit.

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. Taten sagen mehr als Worte.
All’s well that ends well. Ende Gut, alles Gut.
All that glitters is not gold. Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.
A bad workman always blames his tools. Wenn der Reiter nichts taugt, hat das Pferd
schuld.
Barking dogs seldom bite. Bellende Hunde beißen nicht.
Better late than never. Besser spät als nie!
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Besser den Spatz in der Hand als die Taube
auf dem Dach.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben.
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Setze nicht alles auf eine Karte.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. Man soll das Pferd nicht beim Schwanz
aufzäumen.
The early bird catches the worm. Morgenstunde hat Gold im Munde.
Honesty is the best policy. Ehrlich währt am längsten.
It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Was geschehen ist, ist geschehen.
It never rains but it pours. Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.
Make hay while the sun shine. / Strike while Man soll das Eisen schmieden, solange es
the iron is hot. heiß ist.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Not macht erfinderisch!
No gain without pain. Ohne Fleiß kein Preis!
No news is good news. Keine Nachricht ist eine gute Nachricht!
Practice makes perfect. Übung macht den Meister.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Der Weg zur Hölle ist mit guten Vorsätzen
gepflastert.
Rome was not built in a day. Gut Ding braucht Weile.
Too many cooks spoil the broth. Zu viele Köche verderben den Brei.
You can’t have your cake and eat it. Man kann nicht alles haben, man kann nicht
auf zwei Hochzeiten gleichzeitig tanzen.

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PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs at un negocio produce beneficios / pérdidas

a loss
finances are in good shape / finances are in las finanzas están en buena forma / en mala
bad shape forma
a falling market mercado decreciente, mercado con tendencia
a la baja
to put money into business invertir dinero en un negocio
to close a deal / to close a bargain cerrar un trato
sharp practices métodos dudosos (pero no ilegales)
a sleeping partner socio comanditario
a take over adquisición
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt quebrar, estar en bancarrota
to make money ganar dinero
to be in the money ser rico, tener mucho dinero
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner ser un asalariado
to make a living ganarse la vida
to be well-off estar bien económicamente
to tighten one’s belt apretarse el cinturón

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business ponerse a trabajar en serio

to roll one’s sleeves up prepararse para trabajar
to be on business estar en el negocio
to work in the field trabajar en el terreno
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar worker un empleado administrativo / un obrero
to be on duty / to be off duty estar de servicio / estar fuera de servicio
to do overtime / to work overtime trabajar horas extras
to be on piece work trabajar a destajo
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be on trabajar a turnos
nights)
to be on call estar localizable
to fire somebody despedir a alguien
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack despedir a alguien
to go on the dole ir al paro
to go on strike estar en huelga
a blackleg esquirol

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time ser puntual / llegar a tiempo

to be behind time retrasarse
to take one’s time tomarse su tiempo
to do sth at the last minute hacer algo en el último momento
to do sth on the spur of the moment hacer algo impulsivamente, hacer algo de
repente
to be up-to-date / out-of-date estar a la útima, ser moderno / estar
anticuado, estar pasado de moda
it’s high time ya es hora
to have a minute tener un minuto (para alguien)
at any moment en cualquier momento / de un momento a otro
every now and then de vez en cuando
once in a blue moon muy de vez en cuando / raramente
once in a while de vez en cuando
a night-bird ave nocturna / un búho
an early bird un madrugador
to kill time matar el tiempo

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes hablar de cosas distintas, tener un diálogo de

besugos
to get hold of the wrong end of the stick malinterpretar algo
to get a word in edgeways meter baza
to talk behind somebody’s back hablar a espaldas de alguien
to give somebody a talking-to regañar a alguien, darle a alguien una charla
to put it in a nutshell resumir algo, decir algo brevemente
to be long-winded ser interminable en explicaciones, ser prolijo
en explicaciones
to speak one’s mind hablar con franqueza
to talk rubbish decir tonterías, decir disparates
to talk sense hablar con sensatez
to take the hint darse por aludido
to take something into account tener algo en cuenta, tomar algo en
consideración
to cut a long story short abreviar, ser breve
to beat about the bush andarse por las ramas, andarse con rodeos
to have a word with somebody tener cuatro palabras con alguien

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question pregunta abierta

a storm in a teacup una tormenta en un vaso de agua

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to cross swords vérselas con alguien

to drop the subject cambiar el tema
to change one’s mind cambiar de opinión
to bear something in mind tener algo en cuenta
to make up one’s mind tomar una decisión
to take something for granted dar algo por supuesto
to come to the point / to get to the point / ir al grano, ir al asunto
to reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point no entender el asunto
to get the point / to see the point entender el asunto
to make one’s point hacerse entender
to hold one’s tongue morderse la lengua
to have the last word tener la última palabra
in a way / in some ways en cierto modo, en cierta manera
all in all en definitiva, en resumen
for one thing en primer lugar
to be out of place estar fuera de lugar, ser inadecuado
to be out of the question imposible, de ningún modo
to wrap up the discussion finalizar el debate

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up revolver las cosas

to pour oil on troubled waters tranquilizar los ánimos, apaciguar los ánimos
to lay one’s cards on the table poner las cartas sobre la mesa
to get to the bottom of things llegar al fondo del asunto
to get a grasp entender algo
to see a light at the end of the tunnel ver la luz al final del túnel
to sweep under the carpet esconder el problema
to be in a fix estar en un apuro, estar en un aprieto
to be at a crossroads encontrarse en una encrucijada, estar ante una
difícil situación
to find a happy medium encontrar una solución intermedia
to skate on thin ice pisar en terreno peligroso
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes ponerse en la posición de alguien
to take something to heart tomarse algo a pecho
to keep a straight face mostrarse impasible, quedarse como si nada
to burn one’s fingers quemarse los dedos
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges tirar piedras sobre el propio tejado de uno
to get into hot water / to get into a mess meterse en líos
to mind your own business preocuparse de los propios asuntos de uno
to see daylight ver la luz, empezar a ver la luz
to face the music hacer frente a las consecuencias

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Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind perder el juicio

to be as thick as thieves ser uña y carne
to blow one’s own trumpet presumir, echarse flores
to go one’s own way seguir su propio camino
to be a bull in a china shop ser como un elefante en una cacharrería
to be a snake in the grass ser un traicionero, ser un enemigo oculto
to drive someone mad volver loco a uno
to lose one’s temper perder la calma
to lose one’s head perder la cabeza
to lose one’s tongue quedarse mudo
to keep one’s chin up poner al mal tiempo buena cara
to play the fool hacerse el tonto
to show one’s teeth enseñar los dientes, enseñar las garras
to get on someone’s nerves poner a alguien de los nervios
to hit below the belt dar un golpe bajo

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine estar en la nubes, estar muy feliz

to be in high spirits estar muy animado
to be in seventh heaven estar en el séptimo cielo, estar muy feliz
to be at ease estar cómodo, estar relajado
to be in a black mood estar de mal humor
to have something on one’s mind tener algo en la cabeza, preocuparse por algo
to be able to eat a horse ser capaz de comerse una vaca
to be shaking in one’s shoes temblar de miedo
to jump out of one’s skin morirse de miedo, llevarse un gran susto
to be like a fish out of water estar como pez fuera del agua,
to be on edge tener los nervios de punta
to be on tenterhooks estar en ascuas, estar con el alma en vilo
to be over the moon estar encantado de la vida
to see red ponerse rojo de ira
to be full of beans rebosar de vitalidad

Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH

not to look one’s age no aparentar la edad de uno

to look young for one’s years aparentar joven para la edad de uno
to be getting on in years entrar en años
to be in the autumn of one’s life estar en el otoño de la vida de uno
to be in good health / to be in good shape estar bien de salud, estar en plena forma
to be in poor health / to be in poor shape estar mal de salud, estar en baja forma

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to feel under the weather / to look a bit under sentirse mal, sentirse enfermo
the weather
to be off colour no encontrarse bien, estar destemplado
to look run-down parecer agotado
to catch a disease coger una enfermedad
to be on one’s last legs estar en las últimas
to be on one’s deathbed estar en el lecho de muerte
to have one foot in the grave tener un pie en la tumba
to kick the bucket estirar la pata
to die before one’s time morir antes de tiempo

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end acabar mal

a capital offence / a capital crime delito punible con pena de muerte / crimen
con mayúsculas
a jail bird reincidente
to serve time / to do time estar en prisión, purgar una condena
to be at large estar libre
to be on parole estar en libertad bajo palabra de honor
to break prison escapar de prisión
to go to law poner un pleito
to have clean hands tener las manos limpias, ser inocente
to catch someone red-handed coger a alguien con las manos en la masa
crime doesn’t pay los delitos no benefician a nadie
daylight robbery robo a mano armada
in cold blood a sangre fría
to set a thief / to catch a thief atrapar a un ladrón
to be on the alert estar sobre aviso, estar en alerta

Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out salir por la noche

to make a day of something pasárselo bien todo el día
to have a good time / to have a great time divertirse de lo lindo, pasárselo a tope
to go out on the town salir una noche de marcha
to wear one’s Sunday best vestirse de gala
a blind date una cita a ciegas
to throw a party dar una fiesta
to be the life and soul of the party ser el alma de la fiesta
hard drinks bebidas alcohólicas
to be high estar drogado, estar colocado
thin beer cerveza ligera
to stand someone a drink invitar a alguien a un trago
to go Dutch pagar cada uno lo suyo

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to feel like doing something apetecer hacer algo

to be keen on gustar

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

a package holiday paquete de vacaciones, viaje organizado

a coach party grupo organizado
to sleep in the open dormir al aire libre
to travel light viajar con poco equipaje
to be on the road ponerse en camino
to hit the road salir en coche, tirar millas
to make a trip through the country / to go on hacer un viaje por todo el país
a round trip through the country
to break the journey hacer una parada en el camino
to travel through / to travel non-stop viajar sin parar
to cross a border cruzar una frontera
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike hacer autoestop
to get itchy feet tener ansias de viajar
to go on a guided tour ir con guía turístico
to do a sight-seeing tour hacer una excursion turística
to take a shortcut tomar un atajo, tirar por un atajo

Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow mujer cuyo marido está ausente

a henpecked husband calzonazos
to wear the trousers llevar los pantalones, mandar
an old maid una solterona
to lead a woman to the altar llevar a una mujer al altar
a confirmed bachelor un solterón empedernido
to have an affair tener una aventura amorosa
flesh and blood carne y hueso,la familia
to run the streets (of children) correr por las calles
to play truant hacer novillos
to be the black sheep of the family ser la oveja negra de la familia
to follow in someone’s footsteps seguir los pasos de alguien
the generation gap brecha generacional

PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone matar dos pájaros de un tiro
to take the bull by the horns coger el toro por los cuernos

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to have butterflies in one’s stomach tener un cosquilleo en el estómago ( por los

nervios)
to let the cat out of the bag revelar un secreto, chivarse de algo
to go to the dogs echarse a perder, descarriarse
to let sleeping dogs lie dejar las cosas como están, no avivar el fuego
to have other fish to fry tener algo mejor que hacer
to take the lion’s share llevarse la mejor tajada
to buy a pig in a poke comprar a ciegas
to smell a rat darse cuenta que hay gato encerrado
to cook someone’s goose arruinar las posibilidades de alguien
to have a bee in one’s bonnet tener una cosa metida en la cabeza, estar
obsesionado con una sola idea
to rain cats and dogs llover a cántaros
to go at a snail’s pace ir lento como una tortuga
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing ser un lobo con piel de oveja

Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back hacer algo a espaldas de alguien

to make no bones about something ir directo al grano, no vacilar en hacer algo
to get something off one’s chest desahogarse
to be all ears ser todo oídos
to be an eye-opener ser muy revelador
to have an eye for something tener buen ojo para algo
to have something at one’s fingertips tener algo en la mano
to make one’s hair stand on end ponérsele a uno el pelo de punta
to learn something by heart aprender algo de memoria
to pull someone’s leg tomar el pelo a alguien
to have something on the tip of one’s tongue tener algo en la punta de la lengua
to stick one’s neck out arriesgarse
to be getting out of hand estar fuera de control
to split hairs ser un tiquismiquis, discutir sobre detalles
mínimos
to have a chip on one’s shoulder guardar rencor

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue poner a alguien morado, dar a alguien una
paliza
to feel blue sertirse deprimido
to have green fingers tener habilidad para la jardinería
to be green estar verde, sin experiencia
to be in the red estar en números rojos, deber dinero
to be in the black ganar dinero, hacer pasta
a blackout desmayo, un apagón (de luz)

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out of the blue como llovido del cielo, por sorpresa

a white lie una mentira piadosa
white coffee café con leche
to see something through rose-coloured ver algo de color de rosa
spectacles
to paint the town red irse de juerga
to see the red light ver el peligro
to put out the red carpet (for someone) dar a alguien la bienvenida con honores
a red herring cambiar de tema, algo que distrae del tema
que se discute

Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion orgulloso como león

as brittle as glass frágil como la porcelana
as busy as a bee ocupadísimo, muy metido en el trabajo
as changeable as the weather cambiante como el tiempo
as cool as a cucumber tan pancho, tan fresco
as cunning as a fox astuto como un zorro
as different as chalk and cheese se parecen como un huevo a una castaña
as easy as ABC tan fácil como que dos y dos son cuatro
as fit as a fiddle sano como una rosa
as firm as a rock firme como una roca
as good as gold buenísimo, un angelito
as light as a feather ligero como una pluma
as like as two peas in a pod parecidos como dos gotas de agua
as poor as a church mouse más pobre que uno que se está bañando, no
tiene dónde caerse muerto
as quick as lightning rápido como un rayo

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends puntas y cabos, restos

give and take toma y daca, concesiones mutuas
part and parcel la parte esencial, la parte integral
to go to rack and ruin echarse a perder, arruinarse
to be prim and proper de comportamiento impecable, correcto y
formal
to be rough and ready provisional, por encima (datos, cifras, etc..)
to pick and choose seleccionar de un abanico grande de
posibilidades
leaps and bounds a pasos agigantados
peace and quiet paz y tranquilidad
here and there aquí y allá
on and off de vez en cuando

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back and forth de acá para allá

down and out derrotado, pobrecito
up and down de arriba a abajo
back to front al revés

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? ¿Por qué? / ¿Cómo es eso? / ¿Cómo pasó?/

¿Y eso?
How’s that? ¿Por qué?
So what? ¿Y qué? ¿Qué más da?
What’s up? ¿Qué pasa? ¿Que hay de nuevo? ¿Qué ocurre?
What of it? ¿Y qué?
What if…? ¿Qué tal si…? / ¿Qué pasa si…?
Come on! ¡VENGA!
No way! / In no way! De ninguna manera, de ningún modo.
It’s too bad! /That’s too bad! ¡Qué pena!, ¡Es una lástima!
Time’s up. Se acabó el tiempo.
Time flies. El tiempo vuela.
Take it easy. Cálmate, tranquil.
So long! ¡Hasta luego!
Go ahead! ¡Adelante!
Never mind! No te preocupes. No importa.
Cheers! ¡Salud!
And so on. / And so forth. Etcétera / Y así sucesivamente.
It’s no good. Es inútil, no tiene sentido.
Good heavens! ¡Santo cielo!
Bless you! ¡Jesús!

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. Obras son amores y no buenas razones
All’s well that ends well. Bien está lo que bien acaba
All that glitters is not gold. No es oro todo lo que reluce
A bad workman always blames his tools. Un mal trabajador siempre culpa sus
herramientas
Barking dogs seldom bite. Perro ladrador, poco mordedor
Better late than never. Más vale tarde que nunca
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. No te adelantes antes que haya terminado
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. No pongas todos los huevos en la misma cesta
Don’t put the cart before the horse. Todo a su debido tiempo
The early bird catches the worm. Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda
Honesty is the best policy. La honradez es la mejor política. Hay que ir
siempre con la verdad por delante

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It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Lo hecho, hecho está. A lo hecho pecho
It never rains but it pours. Las penas vienen en cadena. Todo lo malo
siempre viene junto
Make hay while the sun shines. / Strike while
Aprovecha la oportunidad. Carpe diem
the iron is hot.
Necessity is the mother of invention. La necesidad es la madre de los inventos
No gain without pain. Quien no arriesga, no gana
No news is good news. Ningunas noticias son buenas noticias
Practice makes perfect. La práctica hace al maestro
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Las buenas intenciones no bastan
Rome was not built in a day. Zamora no se ganó en un día
Too many cooks spoil the broth. Muchas manos en un plato hacen mucho
garabato.
You can’t have your cake and eat it. No puedes estar en misa y repicando.

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Glossary – Słowniczek
PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs at interes przynosi zyski / straty

a loss
finances are in good shape / finances are in finanse są w dobrej / złej kondycji
bad shape
a falling market podupadający rynek
to put money into business inwestować pieniądze w interes
to close a deal / to close a bargain sfinalizować interes
sharp practices nie całkiem uczciwe (jednak legalne) praktyki
a sleeping partner cichy wspólnik
a take over przejęcie (np. firmy)
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt zbankrutować
to make money zarabiać pieniądze
to be in the money być przy pieniądzach (nagle)
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner mieć pensję tygodniową / miesięczną
to make a living zarabiać na życie
to be well-off być dobrze sytuowanym
to tighten one’s belt zacisnąć pasa

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business wziąć się do roboty

to roll one’s sleeves up zakasać rękawy
to be on business być w interesach
to work in the field pracować w terenie
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar worker pracownik umysłowy / pracownik fizyczny
to be on duty / to be off duty być n służbie (dyżurze) / być po służbie
(dyżurze)
to do overtime / to work overtime pracować nadgodziny
to be on piece work pracować na akord
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be on pracować na zmiany
nights)
to be on call być do dyspozycji
to fire somebody zwolnić kogoś z pracy
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack zwolnić kogoś / zostać zwolnionym
to go on the dole zacząć pobierać zasiłek dla bezrobotnych
to go on strike zacząć strajkować
a blackleg łamistrajk

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time być punktualnie

to be behind time spóźnić się
to take one’s time nie spieszyć się
to do sth at the last minute zrobić coś na ostatnią chwilę
to do sth on the spur of the moment zrobić coś pod wpływem chwili
to be up-to-date / out-of-date być na czasie, być aktualnym / być
nieaktualnym
it’s high time najwyższy czas, aby
to have a minute mieć minutę (dla kogoś)
at any moment w każdej chwili, lada moment
every now and then od czasu do czasu
once in a blue moon bardzo rzadko
once in a while raz na jakiś czas
a night-bird nocny Marek
an early bird ranny ptaszek
to kill time zabić czas

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes nie rozumieć się nawzajem

to get hold of the wrong end of the stick zrozumieć coś niewłaściwie
to get a word in edgeways wtrącić słowo
to talk behind somebody’s back mówić za czyimiś plecami
to give somebody a talking-to nagadać komuś
to put it in a nutshell powiedzieć coś zwięźle
to be long-winded gadatliwy, rozwlekły
to speak one’s mind mówić otwarcie, szczerze
to talk rubbish gadać bzdury
to talk sense mówić do rzeczy
to take the hint zrozumieć w lot, pojąć aluzję
to take something into account wziąć coś pod uwagę
to cut a long story short krótko mówiąc
to beat about the bush owijać w bawełnę
to have a word with somebody zamienić z kimś słowo

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question otwarta kwestia

a storm in a teacup burza w szklance wody
to cross swords skrzyżować miecze (w dyskusji)
to drop the subject przestać mówić na jakiś temat
to change one’s mind zmienić zdanie

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to bear something in mind mieć coś na uwadze

to make up one’s mind zdecydować się
to take something for granted brać coś za pewnik
to come to the point / to get to the point / dojść do sedna sprawy
to reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point nie rozumieć celu, sedna sprawy
to get the point / to see the point zrozumieć cel
to make one’s point wyjaśnić swój punkt widzenia
to hold one’s tongue powstrzymać się od powiedzenia czegoś
to have the last word mieć ostatnie słowo
in a way / in some ways w pewnym sensie, do pewnego stopnia
all in all podsumowując, biorąc wszystko pod uwagę
for one thing po pierwsze
to be out of place być nie na miejscu
to be out of the question nie ma mowy
to wrap up the discussion zakończyć dyskusję

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up umyślnie powodować zamęt, zamieszanie

to pour oil on troubled waters łagodzić sytuację
to lay one’s cards on the table wyłożyć karty na stół
to get to the bottom of things dotrzeć do sedna, do prawdy
to get a grasp pojąć coś
to see a light at the end of the tunnel zobaczyć światło w tunelu
to sweep under the carpet ukrywać problem, zamiast stawić mu czoło
to be in a fix być w potrzasku
to be at a crossroads być na rozdrożach
to find a happy medium znaleźć złoty środek
to skate on thin ice stąpać po kruchym lodzie
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes postawić się w czyjejś sytuacji
to take something to heart wziąć sobie coś do serca
to keep a straight face utrzymać powagę
to burn one’s fingers sparzyć sobie palce
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges palić za sobą mosty
to get into hot water / to get into a mess wpaść w kłopoty, wpaść w tarapaty
to mind your own business pilnować własnego nosa
to see daylight doznać olśnienia
to face the music ponieść konsekwencje

Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind stracić rozum

to be as thick as thieves być z kimś w wielkiej przyjaźni

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to blow one’s own trumpet przechwalać się

to go one’s own way pójść własną drogą
to be a bull in a china shop być jak słoń w składzie porcelany (niezdarny)
to be a snake in the grass okazać się wężem, udawać przyjaciela
to drive someone mad doprowadzać kogoś do szału
to lose one’s temper stracić panowanie nad sobą
to lose one’s head stracić głowę, stracić umiejętność logicznego
myślenia
to lose one’s tongue zaniemówić
to keep one’s chin up trzymać głowę do góry, myśleć pozytywnie
to play the fool wygłupiać się
to show one’s teeth pokazać wściekłość
to get on someone’s nerves działać komuś na nerwy
to hit below the belt uderzać poniżej pasa

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine być bardzo szczęśliwym

być w dobrym nastroju, być
to be in high spirits
podekscytowanym
to be in seventh heaven być w siódmym niebie
to be at ease czuć się na luzie, być zrelaksowanym
to be in a black mood być rozdrażnionym
to have something on one’s mind mieć coś na głowie, martwić się czymś
to be able to eat a horse móc zjeść konia z kopytami, być bardzo
głodnym
to be shaking in one’s shoes być przerażonym
to jump out of one’s skin wyskoczyć ze skóry (ze zdziwienia, z
zaskoczenia)
to be like a fish out of water czuć się nieswojo, niepewnie
to be on edge być bardzo napiętym
to be on tenterhooks siedzieć jak na szpilkach
to be over the moon być bardzo zadowolonym
to see red wściec się
to be full of beans być pełnym energii

Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH

not to look one’s age nie wyglądać na swój wiek

to look young for one’s years wyglądać młodo, jak na swoje lata
to be getting on in years posuwać się w latach, starzeć się
to be in the autumn of one’s life być w jesieni życia
to be in good health / to be in good shape być w dobrym zdrowiu, w dobrej formie
to be in poor health / to be in poor shape być słabego zdrowia, być w złej formie

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to feel under the weather / to look a bit under czuć się chorym, wyglądać na chorego
the weather
to be off colour czuć się niewyraźnie
to look run-down wyglądać na zmęczonego
to catch a disease złapać chorobę
to be on one’s last legs być starym lub w bardzo złej kondycji
to be on one’s deathbed być na łożu śmierci
to have one foot in the grave być jedną nogą w grobie
to kick the bucket kopnąć w kalendarz
to die before one’s time umrzeć młodo

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end źle skończyć

a capital offence / a capital crime przestępstwo karane śmiercią
a jail bird recydywista
to serve time / to do time odsiadywać karę
to be at large być na wolności
to be on parole być na warunkowym zwolnieniu
to break prison uciec z więzienia
to go to law oddać sprawę do sądu
to have clean hands mieć czyste ręce, być niewinnym
to catch someone red-handed złapać kogoś na gorącym uczynku
crime doesn’t pay przestępstwo nie popłaca
daylight robbery zdzierstwo
in cold blood z zimną krwią
to set a thief / to catch a thief złapać złodzieja
to be on the alert być w pogotowiu

Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out wyjść wieczorem, spędzić wieczór poza

domem
to make a day of something spędzić cały dzień dobrze się bawiąc
to have a good time / to have a great time dobrze się bawić
to go out on the town bawić się na mieście
to wear one’s Sunday best ubrać się w najlepsze ciuchy
a blind date randka w ciemno
to throw a party urządzić imprezę
to be the life and soul of the party być duszą towarzystwa
hard drinks mocne alkohole
to be high być pijanym, być naćpanym
thin beer słabe piwo
to stand someone a drink postawić komuś drinka
to go Dutch płacić każdy za siebie

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to feel like doing something mieć na coś ochotę

to be keen on lubić

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

a package holiday wycieczka zorganizowana, w której transport,

wyżywienie i zakwaterowanie są zapewnione
i zawarte w cenie
a coach party grupa zorganizowana
to sleep in the open spać pod gołym niebem
to travel light podróżować bez większego bagażu
to be on the road być w podróży
to hit the road ruszyć w drogę
to make a trip through the country / to go on objechać cały kraj
a round trip through the country
to break the journey zrobić przerwę w podróży
to travel through / to travel non-stop podróżować bez przystanku
to cross a border przekroczyć granicę
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike podróżować autostopem
to get itchy feet czuć nieodpartą potrzebę udania się w podróż
to go on a guided tour zwiedzać z przewodnikiem
to do a sight-seeing tour zwiedzać
to take a shortcut pójść na skróty

Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow słomiana wdowa

a henpecked husband pantoflarz
to wear the trousers nosić spodnie, być mężczyzną
an old maid stara panna
to lead a woman to the altar zaprowadzić kobietę do ołtarza
a confirmed bachelor zatwardziały kawaler
to have an affair mieć romans
flesh and blood własna rodzina
to run the streets (of children) wałęsać się po ulicach bez opieki (o
dzieciach)
to play truant wagarować
to be the black sheep of the family być czarną owcą w rodzinie
to follow in someone’s footsteps pójść w czyjeś ślady
the generation gap różnica pokoleń
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth być w czepku urodzonym
blue blood błękitna krew

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PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone upiec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu
to take the bull by the horns złapać byka za rogi
to have butterflies in one’s stomach czuć nerwowy ucisk w żołądku
to let the cat out of the bag zdradzić sekret
to go to the dogs zejść na psy
to let sleeping dogs lie nie wywoływać wilka z lasu
to have other fish to fry mieć coś ważniejszego do zrobienia.
to take the lion’s share zabrać lwią część
to buy a pig in a poke kupić kota w worku
to smell a rat węszyć podstęp
to cook someone’s goose zniweczyć czyjeś plany
to have a bee in one’s bonnet mieć obsesję na jakimś punkcie
to rain cats and dogs (o deszczu) leje jak z cebra
to go at a snail’s pace wlec się jak ślimak
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing być wilkiem w owczej skórze

Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back robić coś za czyimiś plecami

to make no bones about something nie owijać w bawełnę
to get something off one’s chest zrzucić ciężar z serca
to be all ears zamieniać się w słuch
to be an eye-opener być rewelacją, czymś, co zmienia nasze
widzenie świata
to have an eye for something być spostrzegawczym w jakiejś dziedzinie
to have something at one’s fingertips mieć coś w małym palcu
to make one’s hair stand on end powodować, że włos staje na głowie,
przerażać
to learn something by heart nauczyć się czegoś na pamięć
to pull someone’s leg żartować sobie z kogoś
to have something on the tip of one’s tongue mieć coś na końcu języka
to stick one’s neck out nadstawiać karku, narażać się
to be getting out of hand wymykać się spod kontroli
to split hairs dzielić włos na czworo
to have a chip on one’s shoulder być przeczulonym na jakimś punkcie

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue zbić kogoś na kwaśne jabłko

to feel blue być przygnębionym
to have green fingers mieć rękę do roślin

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to be green być łatwowiernym, niedoświadczonym

to be in the red być zadłużonym
to be in the black być do przodu z pieniędzmi (nie być
zadłużonym)
a blackout utrata przytomności
out of the blue niespodziewanie
a white lie białe (nieszkodliwe) kłamstwo
white coffee biała kawa
to see something through rose-coloured widzieć coś przez różowe okulary
spectacles
to paint the town red zaszaleć na mieście
to see the red light rozpoznać niebezpieczeństwo
to put out the red carpet (for someone) przywitać kogoś godnie
a red herring uwaga wypowiedziana po to, aby skierować
rozmowę na inny tor

Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion odważny jak lew

as brittle as glass kruchy jak szkło
as busy as a bee pracowity jak pszczółka
as changeable as the weather zmienny jak pogoda
as cool as a cucumber opanowany
as cunning as a fox przebiegły jak lis
as different as chalk and cheese zupełnie niepodobni
as easy as ABC łatwy jak abecadło
as fit as a fiddle bardzo sprawny i wysportowany
as firm as a rock twardy jak skała (nieugięty, zdecydowany)
as good as gold bardzo dobry (o człowieku)
as light as a feather lekki jak piórko
as like as two peas in a pod podobny jak dwie krople wody
as poor as a church mouse biedny jak mysz kościelna
as quick as lightning szybki jak błyskawica

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends resztki, drobiazgi

give and take kompromis, wzajemne ustępstwa
part and parcel część integralna
to go to rack and ruin popaść w ruinę
to be prim and proper bardzo oficjalny (sztywny)
to be rough and ready prosty, niewyszukany
to pick and choose wybierać z wielu możliwości
leaps and bounds szybko, wielkimi krokami
peace and quiet cisza i spokój

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here and there tu i ówdzie, gdzieniegdzie

on and off od czasu do czasu
back and forth tam i z powrotem
down and out rozbitek życiowy, wykolejeniec
up and down w górę i w dół
back to front tyłem naprzód

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? Dlaczego?/ Jak to się stało?

How’s that? Dlaczego? / Jaka jest tego przyczyna?
So what? I co z tego?
What’s up? Co się dzieje? / Co słychać?
What of it? I co z tego?
What if…? A co jeśli…?
Come on! Pospiesz się! / Przestań!
No way! / In no way! Nie ma mowy.
It’s too bad! / That’s too bad! Szkoda.
Time’s up. Czas dobiegł końca.
Time flies. Czas leci.
Take it easy. Spokojnie, nie denerwuj się.
So long! Na razie!
Go ahead! Zaczynaj!
Never mind! Nie przejmuj się.
Cheers! Na zdrowie!
And so on. / And so forth. I tak dalej. / I tym podobne.
It’s no good. Nie ma sensu.
Good heavens! Wielkie nieba!
Bless you! Na zdrowie (gdy ktoś kichnie).

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. Czyny przemawiają głośniej niż słowa.
All’s well that ends well. Wszystko dobre, co się dobrze kończy.
All that glitters is not gold. Nie wszystko złoto, co się świeci.
A bad workman always blames his tools. Złej baletnicy przeszkadza rąbek u spódnicy.
Barking dogs seldom bite. Pies, który szczeka, rzadko gryzie.
Better late than never. Lepiej późno, niż wcale.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu.
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Nie stawiaj wszystkiego na jedną kartę.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. Nie stawiaj rzeczy na głowie.
The early bird catches the worm. Kto rano wstaje, temu Pan Bóg daje.
Honesty is the best policy. Uczciwość popłaca.

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It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Co się stało to się nie odstanie.
It never rains but it pours. Nieszczęścia chodzą parami.
Make hay while the sun shines. / Strike while Kuj żelazo, póki gorące.
the iron is hot.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Potrzeba matką wynalazku.
No gain without pain. Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy.
No news is good news. Brak wiadomości to dobra wiadomość.
Practice makes perfect. Praktyka czyni mistrza.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Dobrymi chęciami jest piekło wybrukowane.
Rome was not built in a day. Nie od razu Rzym zbudowano.
Too many cooks spoil the broth. Gdzie kucharek sześć tam nie ma co jeść.
You can’t have your cake and eat it. Nie można zjeść ciastka i mieć ciastko.

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Glossary – Словарик
PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs at бизнес приносит прибыль / убытки

a loss
finances are in good shape / finances are in финансы находятся в хорошем / плохом
bad shape состоянии
a falling market рынок падающих цен
to put money into business вложить капитал в бизнес
to close a deal / to close a bargain заключить сделку
sharp practices нечистые действия
a sleeping partner компаньон, не участвующий в ведении дел
a take over поглощение (например, фирмы)
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt объявить банкротство
to make money зарабатывать деньги
to be in the money получить большие деньги
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner быть наемным работником с
еженедельным / ежемесячным окладом
to make a living зарабатывать на жизнь
to be well-off быть состоятельным
to tighten one’s belt затянуть потуже пояс

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business взяться за работу

to roll one’s sleeves up засучить рукава
to be on business заниматься бизнесом
to work in the field работать на месте; на выезде
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar worker "белый воротничок"; офисный работник /
"синий воротничок"; рабочий
быть при исполнении обязанностей;
to be on duty / to be off duty
дежурить / быть вне службы
to do overtime / to work overtime работать сверхурочно
to be on piece work работать сдельно
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be on работать в смены
nights)
to be on call работать по вызову; дежурить
to fire somebody уволить кого-либо
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack уволить кого-либо / быть уволенным
to go on the dole получать пособие по безработице
to go on strike бастовать
a blackleg штрейкбрехер

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time успевать
to be behind time опаздывать
to take one’s time не спешить
to do sth at the last minute сделать что-либо в последнюю минуту
to do sth on the spur of the moment сделать что-либо в порыве, без раздумий
to be up-to-date / out-of-date содержать или обладать новейшими
данными / содержать устаревшие данные
it’s high time самое время для чего-либо
to have a minute посвятить минуту
at any moment в любой момент
every now and then время от времени
once in a blue moon очень редко
once in a while изредка
a night-bird полуночник; "сова"
an early bird ранняя пташка; "жаворонок"
to kill time убить время

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes говорить на разных языках (перен.); не

понимать друг друга
to get hold of the wrong end of the stick превратно истолковать что-либо
to get a word in edgeways ввернуть словечко
to talk behind somebody’s back говорить за чьей-либо спиной; злословить
на чей-либо счет
to give somebody a talking-to выговаривать; сделать выговор
to put it in a nutshell резюмировать все сказанное; вкратце
to be long-winded быть многословным, многоречивым,
нудным
to speak one’s mind говорить откровенно; открыто
высказываться
to talk rubbish нести чушь, чепуху
to talk sense говорить по существу, дельно
to take the hint понять намек
to take something into account принять что-либо во внимание; учесть
to cut a long story short короче говоря
to beat about the bush говорить обиняками; ходить вокруг да
около
to have a word with somebody поговорить с кем-либо

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question нерешенный, открытый вопрос

a storm in a teacup буря в стакане воды

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to cross swords скрестить мечи, шпаги; схлестнуться (в

споре)
to drop the subject оставить тему
to change one’s mind передумать
to bear something in mind иметь что-либо в виду; принимать во
внимание
to make up one’s mind принять решение
to take something for granted принять на веру; считать само собой
разумеющимся
to come to the point / to get to the point / дойти до сути дела; говорить по существу
to reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point не понять сути
to get the point / to see the point понять смысл
to make one’s point изложить свою точку зрения
to hold one’s tongue держать язык за зубами
to have the last word сказать последнее слово
in a way / in some ways в некотором роде; в некоторой степени
all in all в целом; в итоге
for one thing во-первых, прежде всего
to be out of place быть неуместным
to be out of the question это исключено; об этом не может быть и
речи
to wrap up the discussion завершить дискуссию

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up заварить кашу

to pour oil on troubled waters успокаивать волнение; умерять страсти
to lay one’s cards on the table открывать свои карты
to get to the bottom of things добраться до сути чего-либо
to get a grasp постичь
to see a light at the end of the tunnel видеть свет в конце туннеля
to sweep under the carpet замалчивать
to be in a fix оказаться в тупике, в затруднении
to be at a crossroads быть на перепутье
to find a happy medium найти золотую середину
to skate on thin ice ходить по краю пропасти; находиться в
шатком положении
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes побывать в чьей-либо шкуре
to take something to heart принимать что-либо близко к сердцу
to keep a straight face сохранять серьезность, невозмутимый вид
to burn one’s fingers обжечься на чем-либо
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges сжигать свои корабли / сжигать свои
мосты
to get into hot water / to get into a mess попасть в переплет, вляпаться в историю
to mind your own business не вмешиваться в чужие дела

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to see daylight постичь; найти выход из положения

to face the music пожинать плоды; расхлебывать кашу;
нести ответственность

Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind быть не в своем уме

to be as thick as thieves закадычные друзья; водой не разольешь
to blow one’s own trumpet бахвалиться; нахваливать себя; хвастаться
to go one’s own way идти своей дорогой; идти своим путем
to be a bull in a china shop быть как слон в посудной лавке
to be a snake in the grass быть змеей подколодной
to drive someone mad сводить кого-либо с ума; доводить до
безумия
to lose one’s temper выйти из себя; потерять самообладание
to lose one’s head потерять голову
to lose one’s tongue проглотить язык
to keep one’s chin up не вешать носа; не унывать; не падать
духом
to play the fool валять дурака; паясничать
to show one’s teeth показывать когти; огрызаться
to get on someone’s nerves играть на нервах у кого-либо
to hit below the belt нанести удар ниже пояса

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine быть на седьмом небе

to be in high spirits быть в приподнятом настроении
to be in seventh heaven быть на седьмом небе
to be at ease чувствовать себя непринужденно
to be in a black mood быть подавленным, в плохом настроении
to have something on one’s mind беспокоиться о чем-либо
to be able to eat a horse быть голодным как волк
to be shaking in one’s shoes дрожать от страха
to jump out of one’s skin быть вне себя (от радости, удивления и т.
п.); подпрыгнуть на месте
to be like a fish out of water чувствовать себя не в своей тарелке
to be on edge волноваться; нервничать
to be on tenterhooks сидеть как на углях
to be over the moon быть наверху блаженства
to see red обезуметь; прийти в ярость
to be full of beans быть энергичным, жизнерадостным

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Lesson 9. HEALTH / ILLNESS / DEATH

not to look one’s age не выглядеть на свои годы

to look young for one’s years хорошо сохраниться
to be getting on in years не первой молодости
to be in the autumn of one’s life быть в пожилом возрасте
to be in good health / to be in good shape быть в добром здравии / в хорошей форме
to be in poor health / to be in poor shape иметь слабое здоровье / быть в плохой
форме
to feel under the weather / to look a bit under хандрить, неважно себя чувствовать
the weather
to be off colour иметь нездоровый вид
to look run-down выглядеть устало
to catch a disease подхватить болезнь
to be on one’s last legs быть на последнем издыхании
to be on one’s deathbed быть на смертном ложе
to have one foot in the grave стоять одной ногой в могиле
to kick the bucket сыграть в ящик
to die before one’s time безвременно скончаться

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end плохо кончить

a capital offence / a capital crime тяжкое преступление; преступление,
наказуемое смертной казнью
a jail bird рецидивист
to serve time / to do time отбывать срок наказания; сидеть
to be at large быть на свободе
to be on parole быть на условно-досрочном освобождении
to break prison бежать из тюрьмы
to go to law обращаться в суд; подавать иск
to have clean hands быть честным, быть невиновным
to catch someone red-handed захватить с поличным; поймать на месте
преступления
crime doesn’t pay преступление не окупается
daylight robbery грабеж средь бела дня
in cold blood хладнокровно
to set a thief / to catch a thief поймать вора
быть наготове, настороже; быть
to be on the alert
бдительным

Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out прокутить всю ночь

to make a day of something провести весь день на одном развлечении

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to have a good time / to have a great time приятно провести время

to go out on the town развлекаться в городе
to wear one’s Sunday best надеть праздничную одежду
a blind date свидание вслепую
to throw a party закатить вечеринку
to be the life and soul of the party быть душой компании
hard drinks крепкие напитки
to be high быть навеселе, торчать
thin beer слабое пиво
to stand someone a drink поставить кому-либо стаканчик; угостить
to go Dutch платить за себя; устроить складчину
to feel like doing something иметь желание сделать что-либо
to be keen on любить; увлекаться

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

комплексное турне; отдых с полным
a package holiday
комплексом услуг
a coach party организованная группа
to sleep in the open спать на открытом воздухе, под открытым
небом
to travel light путешествовать налегке
to be on the road совершать турне; быть в пути
to hit the road отправиться в путь
to make a trip through the country / to go on проехать по всей стране
a round trip through the country
to break the journey прервать путешествие
to travel through / to travel non-stop путешествовать без остановки
to cross a border пересекать границу
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike путешествовать на попутных машинах
to get itchy feet испытывать тягу к путешествию
to go on a guided tour участвовать в организованной экскурсии
to do a sight-seeing tour экскурсия по городу
to take a shortcut избрать кратчайший путь; срезать

Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow соломенная вдова

a henpecked husband подкаблучник
to wear the trousers верховодить в семье; быть главным
(дословно – носить брюки)
an old maid старая дева
to lead a woman to the altar вести женщину к алтарю; жениться
a confirmed bachelor убежденный холостяк
to have an affair иметь роман

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flesh and blood плоть и кровь

to run the streets (of children) бегать по улицам без надзора (о детях)
to play truant прогуливать
to be the black sheep of the family быть паршивой овцой в семье, отщепенцем
to follow in someone’s footsteps идти по чьим-либо стопам
the generation gap конфликт поколений
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth родиться в рубашке
blue blood голубая кровь; белая кость;
аристократическое происхождение

PART 2. DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone убить двух зайцев

to take the bull by the horns взять быка за рога
to have butterflies in one’s stomach сосать под ложечкой
to let the cat out of the bag выболтать секрет; проговориться
to go to the dogs пойти псу под хвост; идти к чертям
to let sleeping dogs lie не будить лихо, пока спит тихо, не
касаться неприятных вопросов
to have other fish to fry иметь дела поважнее
to take the lion’s share взять львиную долю
to buy a pig in a poke купить кота в мешке
to smell a rat чуять неладное
to cook someone’s goose разрушить чьи-то планы
to have a bee in one’s bonnet быть помешанным на чем-либо
to rain cats and dogs лить как из ведра
to go at a snail’s pace двигаться с черепашьей скоростью
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing быть волком в овечьей шкуре

Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back делать что-то за чьей-то спиной

to make no bones about something называть вещи своими именами
to get something off one’s chest облегчить душу; чистосердечно
признаться в чем-либо
to be all ears обратиться в слух
to be an eye-opener открыть кому-либо глаза; быть сенсацией,
откровением, разочарованием
to have an eye for something внимательно следить за чем-либо; держать
ухо востро; смотреть в оба
to have something at one’s fingertips съесть собаку на чем-либо
to make one’s hair stand on end испугать так, что волосы встанут дыбом
to learn something by heart выучить что-либо наизусть

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to pull someone’s leg вешать кому-либо лапшу на уши, пудрить

мозги
to have something on the tip of one’s tongue вертеться на языке; иметь на кончике
языка
высовываться; лезть на рожон; ставить
to stick one’s neck out
себя под удар
to be getting out of hand отбиться от рук
to split hairs придираться, вдаваться в тонкости,
спорить по пустякам, "ловить блох"
to have a chip on one’s shoulder быть чрезмерно чувствительным насчет
чего-либо

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue живого места не оставить

to feel blue быть подавленным
to have green fingers уметь разводить растения
to be green быть наивным, неопытным
to be in the red быть должником
to be in the black быть платежеспособным
a blackout провал памяти; временная потеря сознания
out of the blue как гром среди ясного неба
a white lie безобидная ложь
white coffee кофе с молоком
to see something through rose-coloured видеть что-либо в розовом свете; смотреть
spectacles на что-либо сквозь розовые очки
to paint the town red загулять в городе
to see the red light предчувствовать приближение опасности
to put out the red carpet (for someone) принять кого-либо с почетом
a red herring ложный маневр; "копченая селедка"; вопрос,
уводящий в сторону от главной темы

Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion храбрый как лев

as brittle as glass хрупкий как стекло
as busy as a bee трудолюбивый как пчела
as changeable as the weather изменчивый как погода
as cool as a cucumber невозмутимый; хладнокровный
as cunning as a fox хитрый как лиса
as different as chalk and cheese ничего общего
as easy as ABC простой как дважды два
as fit as a fiddle как огурчик
as firm as a rock твердый как скала
as good as gold золото, а не человек (ребенок)
as light as a feather легкий как перышко

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as like as two peas in a pod похожи как две капли воды

as poor as a church mouse бедный как церковная мышь
as quick as lightning быстрый как молния

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends всякая всячина, остатки

give and take компромисс; взаимные уступки
part and parcel неотъемлемая часть
to go to rack and ruin обветшать; развалиться
to be prim and proper официальный
to be rough and ready сделанный кое-как
to pick and choose быть разборчивым; иметь большой выбор
leaps and bounds семимильными шагами; скачками
peace and quiet тишь да гладь; тишина и покой
here and there изредка; там и сям; везде и повсюду
on and off время от времени, периодически
back and forth туда и сюда; туда и обратно
down and out бедняк; нищий; опустившийся человек;
разоренный; потерявший все
up and down полностью; туда и сюда
back to front шиворот-навыворот; задом наперед

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? Как же так? Как это вышло?

How’s that? Как так получилось? Почему?
So what? Ну и что?
What’s up? Как дела? Что слышно?
What of it? Что из того?
What if…? Что, если...?
Come on! Давай! Ну! Живей! Да ладно тебе!
No way! / In no way! Ни в коем случае.
It’s too bad! / That’s too bad! Вот беда! Очень жаль.
Time’s up. срок истек; время вышло
Time flies. время бежит
Take it easy. не бери в голову; не принимай близко к
сердцу; относись спокойно; расслабься;
смотри на вещи проще!
So long! Пока! До свидания!
Go ahead! Начинай! Продолжай!
Never mind! не обращайте внимания; ничего; пустяки
Cheers! На здоровье! Будь здоров!
And so on. / And so forth. и так далее; и тому подобное
It’s no good. бесполезно; нет смысла

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Good heavens! Боже мой! мать честная!

Bless you! Будьте здоровы!

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. Не по словам судят, а по делам.

All’s well that ends well. Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
All that glitters is not gold. Не всё то золото, что блестит.
A bad workman always blames his tools. У плохого мастера и пила плохая; плохой
работник с инструментами не в ладу.
Barking dogs seldom bite. Брехливые собаки не кусаются.
Better late than never. Лучше поздно, чем никогда.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Не дели шкуру не убитого медведя.
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. На один гвоздь всего не вешай; не ставь
всего на одну карту.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. Не ставь телегу впереди лошади.
The early bird catches the worm. Ранняя пташка носок прочищает, а поздняя
глазки продирает; кто рано встаёт, тому
бог даёт.
Honesty is the best policy. Честность – лучшая политика.
It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Слезами горю не поможешь; снявши
голову, по волосам не плачут.
It never rains but it pours. Лиха беда начало; несчастья ходят парами.
Make hay while the sun shines. / Strike while Куй железо, пока горячо; коси коса, пока
the iron is hot. роса.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Необходимость – мать изобретательности;
голь на выдумки хитра; нужда всему
научит.
No gain without pain. Без труда не вынешь и рыбку из пруда;
волков бояться – в лес не ходить.
No news is good news. Отсутствие вестей – хорошая весть.
Навык мастера ставит; повторение - мать
Practice makes perfect.
ученья.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Благими намерениями вымощена дорога в
ад.
Rome was not built in a day. Москва не сразу строилась.
Too many cooks spoil the broth. У семи нянек дитя без глазу.
Нельзя иметь и то и другое; приходится
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
выбирать одно из двух.

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Glossary – 表現集
PART 1. IDIOMS IN SITUATIONS
Lesson 1. BUSINESS AND MONEY

a business runs at a profit / a business runs 黒字経営／赤字経営をする

at a loss
finances are in good shape / finances are in （経営は）黒字／赤字である
bad shape
a falling market 下向きの相場
to put money into business 投資する
to close a deal / to close a bargain （契約などを）取り決める
sharp practices （不法すれすれの）ずるい取引（行為）
a sleeping partner 匿名社員
a take over 企業取得、買収
to go bankrupt / to be bankrupt 倒産、破綻する
to make money 儲ける
to be in the money 金が有り余っている
to be a wage earner / to be a salary earner 賃金労働者、給料生活者
to make a living （～として）働く、稼ぐ
to be well-off 富裕、金持ちである
to tighten one’s belt 耐乏生活をする

Lesson 2. WORK

to get down to business （本腰を入れて）仕事に取りかかる

to roll one’s sleeves up 腕をまくる
to be on business 仕事で（旅行する）、出張する
to work in the field 野良仕事をする
a white-collar worker / a blue-collar
俸給生活者、サラリーマン／肉体労働者
worker
to be on duty / to be off duty 当直で、当番の（で）、勤務時間中で／非直で、非
番の（で）、勤務時間外で
to do overtime / to work overtime 残業をする
to be on piece work でき高払いの仕事をする
to be on shifts (be on the night shift / to be
～交代で働く
on nights)
to be on call いつでも待機する、いつでも働ける
to fire somebody 首にする
to give somebody the sack / to get the sack 首にする／首になる
to go on the dole 失業手当を受けている
to go on strike ストに入る
a blackleg スト破り

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Lesson 3. TIME

to be on time 時間どおりに、定刻に
to be behind time 予定（定刻）に遅れて
to take one’s time ゆっくり（急がずに）やる
to do sth at the last minute いよいよという時に、ぎりぎりに
to do sth on the spur of the moment 時のはずみで、出来心で、とっさに
to be up-to-date / out-of-date 最新（式）の、現代的な／時代遅れの、旧式の
it’s high time する時間だ
to have a minute 少し時間がある
at any moment いつ何時、今にも
every now and then 時々
once in a blue moon ごくまれに、めったに…ない
once in a while たまに
a night-bird 夜型の人
an early bird 早起きの人
to kill time 時間を潰す

Lesson 4. CONVERSATION

to talk at cross purposes 話がかみ合わない、お互い理解を得られず

to get hold of the wrong end of the stick 取り違える、すっかり誤解する
to get a word in edgeways 口を挟む
to talk behind somebody’s back 他人の陰口をきく
to give somebody a talking-to 油を絞る
to put it in a nutshell きわめて簡潔に（要約して）言えば、要するに
to be long-winded 長たらしい
to speak one’s mind 思うことをはっきり言う
to talk rubbish つまらないことを言う
to talk sense 物のわかった話し方をする、もっともなことを言う
to take the hint （ほのめかされて）それと感づく、気をきかす
to take something into account 勘定に入れる
to cut a long story short 手短に言えば
to beat about the bush 遠回しに探る、要点に触れない
to have a word with somebody ちょっと（ひと言）お話する

Lesson 5. DISCUSSION

an open question 未解決の問題

a storm in a teacup から騒ぎ
to cross swords …と剣を交える、…と論争する
to drop the subject 話をやめにする
to change one’s mind 気を変える
to bear something in mind 心に留めておく

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to make up one’s mind 心を決める

to take something for granted 当然のことと思う
to come to the point / to get to the point / （前置きなしで）要点を言う
to reach the point
to fail to see the point / to miss the point 要点が理解できない
to get the point / to see the point 要点が理解できる
to make one’s point 主張の正しいことを示す、要点をわかってもらう
to hold one’s tongue 黙っている
to have the last word 決定的な発言権がある
in a way / in some ways ある意味で
all in all 全部で、大体において
for one thing まず…、一つには
to be out of place い（である）
to be out of the question 問題外、無理である
to wrap up the discussion （議論）を終える

Lesson 6. PROBLEMS

to stir things up 揺さぶりをかける

to pour oil on troubled waters 風波を静める
to lay one’s cards on the table 手の内を見せる
to get to the bottom of things 真相を窮める、根底を尋ねる
to get a grasp …をしっかり握る
to see a light at the end of the tunnel （苦難の後）行く手に光が見えてくる、見通しが出て
くる
to sweep under the carpet （ 不都合なもの・こと）を隠す、秘密にする
to be in a fix ピンチに立つ
to be at a crossroads 岐路に立つ
to find a happy medium 中庸を得る
to skate on thin ice （薄氷を踏むように）危険な状態にある、危ない橋を
渡る
to put oneself in someone else’s shoes 人の立場に立って（身になって）考える
to take something to heart 心に留める
to keep a straight face にこりともしない、まじめくさった顔でいる
to burn one’s fingers やけどする
to burn one’s boats / to burn one’s bridges 背水の陣を敷く
to get into hot water / to get into a mess 苦境（窮地）にある（陥る
to mind your own business 大きなお世話だ
to see daylight （難しい事柄などの）解決（終決）の曙光を認める、
やまが見える
to face the music （自分の行為の結果に対して）進んで責任を取る、い
さぎよく（世間の）批判を受ける

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Lesson 7. BEHAVIOUR

to be out of one’s mind 発狂して、気が狂って

to be as thick as thieves とても親密で
to blow one’s own trumpet 自画自賛する
to go one’s own way （自分の）道を進む
to be a bull in a china shop はた迷惑な乱暴者
to be a snake in the grass 信用できない人
to drive someone mad 人を立腹させる
to lose one’s temper 短気を起こす
to lose one’s head 夢中になる
to lose one’s tongue （びっくりした後などで）ものが言えなくなる
to keep one’s chin up 気落ちしない、元気を出す
to play the fool をやる、ばかなことをする
to show one’s teeth 歯をむき出す、威嚇する
to get on someone’s nerves 人の神経にさわる、人をいらいらさせる
to hit below the belt 卑怯なふるまいをする

Lesson 8. FEELINGS

to be on cloud nine 至福の状態である

to be in high spirits とても元気である
to be in seventh heaven 無上の幸福のうちに、有頂天になって
to be at ease 安心する、気持ちが楽になる
to be in a black mood 不機嫌である
to have something on one’s mind 心（気）にかかって、心を悩まして
to be able to eat a horse 食欲がある、腹ぺこである
to be shaking in one’s shoes ぶるぶる震える、びくびくする
to jump out of one’s skin びっくりして跳び上がる
to be like a fish out of water 陸に上がった魚のように、勝手が違って
to be on edge いらいらする
to be on tenterhooks （不安で）はらはらする
to be over the moon 非常に幸せで、大喜びして
to see red 激怒する、かっとなる
to be full of beans 元気いっぱいで

Lesson 9. HEALTH, ILLNESS, DEATH

not to look one’s age 年齢ほどには見えない

to look young for one’s years その歳にしては若く見える
to be getting on in years 歳をとる
to be in the autumn of one’s life 初老期に
to be in good health / to be in good shape である
to be in poor health / to be in poor shape 健康でない

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to feel under the weather / to look a bit の具合が悪くて、 気分が悪くて

under the weather
to be off colour 顔色が悪い、気分がすぐれない
to look run-down 疲労する
to catch a disease 病気にかかる
to be on one’s last legs 弱り（困り、疲れ）果てて
to be on one’s deathbed 末期に臨んで
to have one foot in the grave 棺おけに片足を突っ込んでいる、死にかけている
to kick the bucket 死ぬ、往生する、くたばる
to die before one’s time 早死にする

Lesson 10. CRIME

to come to a bad end 不幸（不名誉）なことになる、みじめな死に方をする

a capital offence / a capital crime 死刑に値する犯罪
a jail bird 再犯者、 常習犯
to serve time / to do time 刑期を務める、服役する
to be at large （犯人・動物など）捕らわれないで、逃走中で、自由
で
to be on parole 仮釈放（中）で
to break prison 脱獄する
to go to law …を起訴（告訴）する
to have clean hands 潔白である
to catch someone red-handed 人の悪事の現場を見つける、人を現行犯で捕らえる
crime doesn’t pay 犯罪は割に合わない
daylight robbery 法外な金を請求すること
in cold blood 冷酷に、平気で
to set a thief / to catch a thief 泥棒を取り押さえる
to be on the alert 油断なく警戒（待機）して、警戒態勢で

Lesson 11. ENTERTAINMENT

to have a night out 一夜を外で遊び明かす

to make a day of something 日楽しませる
to have a good time / to have a great time 愉快に過ごす
to go out on the town （特に夜に）浮かれ楽しんで、歓楽にふけって
to wear one’s Sunday best 晴れ着を着て
a blind date ブラインドデート
to throw a party パーティーを催す
to be the life and soul of the party 一座の中心人物（人気者）
hard drinks アルコール
to be high 酔っ払っている、ハイである
thin beer 弱いビール
to stand someone a drink ドリンクをおごる
to go Dutch 割り勘にする

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to feel like doing something ～したい気持ちになっている

to be keen on ～が好き・得意、（仕事に）熱心

Lesson 12. HOLIDAY / TRAVEL

a package holiday パッケージツアー、パックツアー

a coach party ガイド付きの（観光）旅行
to sleep in the open 野宿する
to travel light （荷物など持たずに）身軽に旅行する
to be on the road 道路上で、（劇団などが）巡業中で
to hit the road 出発する、立ち去る
to make a trip through the country / to go 全国を歩き回る
on a round trip through the country
to break the journey 途中下車する
to travel through / to travel non-stop 泊まらずにずっと走る（旅行する）
to cross a border 国境を越える
to hitch a ride / to hitch-hike ヒッチハイクする
to get itchy feet どこかへ出かけたくてたまらない気持ち
to go on a guided tour ガイド付きの（観光）旅行
to do a sight-seeing tour 観光する
to take a shortcut 近道をする

Lesson 13. FAMILY

a grass widow 夫が長い間不在の妻

a henpecked husband 妻の尻に敷かれた、かかあ天下の夫
to wear the trousers 亭主を尻に敷く
an old maid オールドミス、老嬢
to lead a woman to the altar （女性と）結婚する
a confirmed bachelor どうしても結婚しない男
to have an affair 関係（浮気）する
flesh and blood 自分の肉親、身内
to run the streets (of children) （子どもが）車道で遊ぶ
to play truant 学校をずる休みする、サボる
to be the black sheep of the family （一家の）やっかい者、つらよごし
to follow in someone’s footsteps 人（の例）にならう、人の志を継ぐ
the generation gap 世代間の断絶、ジェネレーションギャップ
to be born with a silver spoon in one’s 裕福な家に生まれる
mouth
blue blood 貴族の血統

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PART TWO DIFFERENT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Lesson 14. ANIMALS

to kill two birds with one stone 一石二鳥

to take the bull by the horns 勇敢に（進んで）難局に当たる
to have butterflies in one’s stomach （心配で）胸がどきどきする、上がる
to let the cat out of the bag （うっかり）秘密を漏らしてしまう
to go to the dogs 落ちぶれる、破滅する、堕落する
to let sleeping dogs lie 面倒になりそうなことはそっとしておく、寝た子は
起こさない、やぶへびにならぬようにする
to have other fish to fry ほかにしなければならない大切な仕事がある
to take the lion’s share いちばん大きな分け前を取る、甘い汁を吸う
to buy a pig in a poke 品物を現物を見ずに買う、衝動買いをする
to smell a rat うさんくさく思う、変だと感づく
to cook someone’s goose 人の機会（計画、希望、評判）を台なしにする
to have a bee in one’s bonnet 奇妙な考え（固定観念）にとりつかれている
to rain cats and dogs （雨が）どしゃ降りに降る
to go at a snail’s pace のろのろと、ゆっくりと走る
to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing 羊の皮を着た狼

Lesson 15. PARTS OF THE BODY

to do something behind someone’s back 人の背後で、ひそかに、陰で（何かをする）

to make no bones about something …を率直に認める、隠し立てをしない
to get something off one’s chest （気になっていたことを）打ち明けてさっぱりする
to be all ears 一心に耳を傾ける
to be an eye-opener 悟りを開かせる
to have an eye for something （何か）を見（分け）るよい目がある
to have something at one’s fingertips …に精通している、…を何でも知っている
to make one’s hair stand on end （恐怖などのため）髪を逆立てる
to learn something by heart 暗記する
to pull someone’s leg （誰かを）馬鹿にする、人をからかう
to have something on the tip of one’s
（のどまで出かかっているのに）思い出せなくて
tongue
to stick one’s neck out 自ら危険な目にあう
to be getting out of hand 事態は）収拾がつかなくなりつつある
to split hairs （特に議論などで）無用の（極端に）細かい区別立
てをする
to have a chip on one’s shoulder （不満などのために）けんか腰である、怒りっぽい

Lesson 16. COLOURS

to beat somebody black and blue たたかれてあざだらけになる

to feel blue 憂うつな気持ちになる

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to have green fingers 園芸の才がある

to be green だまされやすい、軽信する
to be in the red （商売など）赤字である、借金している
to be in the black 黒字である
a blackout 失神
out of the blue 突然（現われる）
a white lie 罪のないうそ
white coffee ミルク入りコーヒー
to see something through rose-coloured …をばら色の眼鏡で見る
spectacles
to paint the town red 底抜けに大騒ぎをする、盛り場を回る、飲み歩く
to see the red light 危険に気づく
to put out the red carpet (for someone) （人）を丁重に迎える（準備をする）、（人）を手
厚くもてなす
a red herring 人の注意を他へそらすもの

Lesson 17. COMPARISON

as bold as a lion 勇猛である

as brittle as glass （人が）扱いにくい、怒りっぽい
as busy as a bee せっせと仕事に精を出して
as changeable as the weather 秋の空のように
as cool as a cucumber あくまで落ち着き払って
as cunning as a fox とてもずるい、悪賢い
as different as chalk and cheese （外見は似ているが本質的には）まったく違った
as easy as ABC 非常にやさしい、たやすい
as fit as a fiddle 元気で、ぴんぴんして
as firm as a rock きわめて堅固な
as good as gold （人が）とてもおとなしくて
as light as a feather とても軽い
as like as two peas in a pod まるでうり二つで
as poor as a church mouse ひどく貧乏で
as quick as lightning うむを言わせないほど速

Lesson 18. BINOMINALS

odds and ends はんぱ物、がらくた、残り物

give and take 公平にやりとりする、互いに譲り合う
part and parcel 重要部分、眼目
to go to rack and ruin 荒廃（破滅）する、だめになる
to be prim and proper 潔癖でお堅い
to be rough and ready 間に合わせ（大ざっぱ、ぞんざい）だけれども目的
にかなう
to pick and choose よりすぐる、えり好みする
leaps and bounds とんとん拍子に、うなぎ登りに

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peace and quiet 平穏無事

here and there あちらこちら
on and off 時々、折々、不規則に
back and forth 前後に、あちこちに
down and out 落ちぶれ果てた人
up and down 上下に
back to front 後ろ前に

Lesson 19. SHORT IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

How come? なぜ？／どうしてですか

How’s that? どうして？／どういう理由で?
So what? それで？
What’s up? どうしたの（ですか）？
What of it? それで？気にすることはない。
What if…? …たらどうなるの（ですか）？
Come on! 早くしてよ！
No way! / In no way! 無理（です）！
It’s too bad! / That’s too bad! 残念（ですね）！
Time’s up. 時間切れですよ。
Time flies. 光陰矢の如し。
Take it easy. 気楽に、あせらないで
So long! では、また！
Go ahead! どうぞ（進んでください）！
Never mind! 気にしないで（ください）！
Cheers! 乾杯！
And so on. / And so forth. などなど…
It’s no good. 無駄です。
Good heavens! （あらまあ！）大変！
Bless you! お大事に! （くしゃみをした人に向かって）

Lesson 20. PROVERBS

Actions speak louder than words. 言葉より行動のほうが雄弁である

All’s well that ends well. 終わりよければすべてよし
All that glitters is not gold. 輝くものすべてが金とは限らない
A bad workman always blames his tools. 下手な職人は道具に難癖をつける、弘法は筆を選ば
ず
Barking dogs seldom bite. 吠える犬はめったに噛まない
Better late than never. 遅くともないよりまし
A bird in the hand is worth two in the 手中の一羽の鳥は茂みの中の二羽の鳥より値打ちが
bush. ある（明日の百より今日の五十）
Don’t count your chickens before they （通例否定の命令法で） 「捕らぬたぬきの皮算用」
hatch. をするな
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. ひとつの事業にすべてをかけるな

© DIM Nauka i Multimedia 138

English Vocabulary Master. 300 Idioms Glossary –表現集

前後（の順序）を誤る、本末転倒、馬の前に荷車を
Don’t put the cart before the horse.
つなぐな
The early bird catches the worm. 早起きは三文の得（徳）
Honesty is the best policy. 正直は最上の策
It’s no use crying over spilt milk. 過ぎ去ったことはくよくよしてもしかたがない（覆
水盆に返らず）
It never rains but it pours. 降れば土砂降り 二度あることは三度ある
Make hay while the sun shines. / Strike 日の照るうちに草を干せ／鉄は熱いうちに打て、好
while the iron is hot. 機を逸するな.
Necessity is the mother of invention. 必要は発明の母
No gain without pain. 骨折りなければ利益なし
No news is good news. 便りのないのはよい便り
Practice makes perfect. 習うより慣れよ
The road to hell is paved with good 地獄への道は善意の石畳で舗装されている（いくら
intentions. 善意があっても実行しなければやはりその人は地獄
へ落ちる
Rome was not built in a day. ローマは一日にしてならず
Too many cooks spoil the broth. 料理人が多ければ吸い物がまずくなる（船頭多くし
て船山に上る）
You can’t have your cake and eat it 一度に二つ良いことは起きない

© DIM Nauka i Multimedia 139