Flo-Joe - Preparation for CPE: Use of English (Part 1)

Collocations, Phrasal Verbs, Idiomatic Expressions, Binomials, Similies

Collocations, Phrasal Verbs, Idiomatic Expressions, Binomials, Similies


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Karten 40
Sprache English
Kategorie Englisch
Stufe Mittelschule
Erstellt / Aktualisiert 19.08.2014 / 18.12.2021
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Not getting the promotion felt like a real kick in the ........ as I'd put in so much hard work for the company.

 

If you receive 'a kick in the teeth' it means you have been treated badly or have received disappointing news.

Could somebody please help me as I am at the end of my ........ over next door's barking dog.

 

If you are 'at the end of your tether' you have reached the limit of your patience.

I hope readers have enjoyed this article and that it has offered some ........ for thought.
 

If something is 'food for thought' it provides mental stimulus.

I went ........ on a limb for you, and this is how you thank me!

 

If you 'go out on a limb for someone' you put yourself in a disadvantaged position to support them.

He ran up three flights of stairs and wasn't the slightest bit out of breath even though he's no ........ chicken.
 

To be 'no spring chicken' means not to be young anymore.

My husband just won't be told. He'll argue about something till he's .......... in the face.
 

To do something until you are 'blue in the face' means to do it for a long time.

An old warehouse in Brighton has been given a new ........ of life as a youth centre following government funding.
 

'To give something a new lease of life' means to improve something that was old or out of fashion.

The athlete had been dropped from the team the previous year and clearly had an axe to ......... as she felt this had been totally unjustified.
 

If you 'have an axe to grind' you have a strong opinion about a subject which you express whenever you have the chance.

The two young fighters fought toe to toe and both showed ........ determination.
 

'Grim determination' means totally determined.

I would like to welcome you all on this auspicious ........, the 25th anniversary of the founding of our company.
 

An 'auspicious occasion' is a very special occasion.

As a conservative ........ I think we need to put aside £4,000 for the wedding.
 

A 'conservative estimate' is one that is cautious.

Both parents were unemployed and the family had a ......... lifestyle.
 

If you live 'a frugal lifestyle' you are very careful with food or money.

The car screeched to a ........ at the junction and two men jumped out and ran down the street.
 

If a vehicle 'screeches to a halt' it stops very suddenly with the sound of screeching brakes or tyres.

The two former business partners have been sworn ........ since one of them left the company in debt and fled abroad.
 

If people are'sworn enemies' they have always hated each other.

I'd been in ........ pain with toothache all weekend and was desperate to find a dentist.
 

'To be in excruciating pain' means to suffer severe pain.

I was ........ tempted to report his incompetence to my line manager otherwise the whole team would suffer.
 

'To be sorely tempted' means to be very tempted indeed.

The team have been slogging ........ at developing the new software and some unbelievable apps for our clients.

If you 'slog away at something' you work very hard at it.

Why have some states in the east of the country ........ behind others in improving agricultural production?

'To lag behind' means to fail to keep up.

Ever since he got a job in that restaurant he comes home reeking ........ fried food.

'To reek of something' means to smell strongly of it.

It took me a while to ........ on to the pleasures of spicy food but now I love it.

If you 'cotton on' to something you get to know or understand it.

When someone goaded her ....... quitting an activity she would go out of her way to do it even more.

'To goad someone into doing something' means to urge or incite them to do it.

Talks are continuing between the two countries to try to ........ out details of the cease-fire.

'To flesh something out' means to give it more substance.

Somehow I managed to muddle ........ my exams and got the grades I needed to get to university.

If you 'muddle through' something you manage to get through it but without being organized or with a clear idea of what you are doing.

Growth in the economy may have ........ out, but inflation will remain a persistent problem.

'To bottom out' means to reach the lowest point of a changing situation with the prospect of the situation improving.

The project has progressed in ........ and starts due to a constant change in funding.

If something happens 'in fits and starts' it stops and then starts again.

The strike at the bank left customers high and ........ over the weekend, with many unable to make withdrawals.

If you are 'high and dry' you are in a helpless or abandoned situation.

The rank and ........ are totally against the new working practices and trade union leaders are to meet management to discuss the matter.

The 'rank and file' are the ordinary members of a workforce as opposed to the management.

Every ........ and cranny of their place is full of ornaments, photo frames and paintings.

'Every nook and cranny' is every part of a place.

The contract will be ........ and void until signed and dated by both parties.

If something is 'null and void' it has no legal force.

The appliance has suffered a normal amount of ........ and tear over the years but is still in perfect working order.

'Wear and tear' refers to the damage caused to an object through ordinary everyday use.

They ........ and saved all year and finally had enough to pay for a family holiday.

If you 'scrimp and save' you save money by spending less on things that you would normally buy or pay for.

Steve won the bet fair and ........ so I think you should give him the money.

If you win something 'fair and square' you do it honestly.

I was the only one who turned up at the party in fancy dress and I stood out like a ........ thumb.

If something 'stands out like a sore thumb' it is very noticeable because of being different.

My joke about the alcoholic went down like a lead ......... There was just an embarrassed silence.

If something 'goes down like a lead balloon' it is not liked at all.

His father always smoked like a ........ and yet always seemed to be in good health.

If you 'smoke like a chimney' you are a heavy smoker.

Our teacher at school used to have eyes like a(n) ........ and would always spot if someone was misbehaving in class.

If you have 'eyes like a hawk' you have excellent eyesight and notice everything.

It might not be the most popular tourist destination but the country is thought to be as safe as ........ for visitors.

To be 'as safe as houses' means to be very safe indeed.

Physically John is as ........ as nails but suffers from a lack of confidence.

If someone is 'as hard as nails' they are very tough.

The film was as ........ as dishwater and we decided to leave before the end.

'To be as dull as dishwater' means to be very boring.

We'll need to make sure the car is as ........ as a whistle on the day of the wedding.

'To be as clean as a whistle' means to be very clean.