Copyright co by Zoze Murgoski

All rights reserved; no part of this book may be stored in any

retrieval system, reproduced, copied, or recorded by any
means, withot the prior written permission of the author.

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CIP -
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811.163.3'373.72(038) = 111

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- = Macedo
nian English Dictionary of Idioms / . - 3 .
= 3rd ed. - ; : " ", 2002 - 272 . ; 20
.
ISBN 9989-724-27-X
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COBISS-ID 48725514

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. . ,
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: () =
; ; () =
; .

inf (informal = ),

(, , , , .), si (slang = ). taboo () , , ,
, , .
,
.
, , , , ,
,
( - ) , . , ,
, /
/ ,
: ; . sb (somebo
dy = ) visth (something = ) .

. one, one's oneself ce
: save one' s bacon = he saved his bacon, you saved
your bacon, * saved my bacon.
One me, you, him, us, them;
one's co my, your, his, our, their; oneself co myself, yourself,
himself, ourselves, yourselves, themeselves. Sb, sb's himself
ce : the time
is not on sb's side = the time is not on my/your/his/John's side.
BO ce imper (imperative = ).

A
a
A LU
fromAtoZ o through and through
all the way
a ( ) inf
shut one's mouth o stop one's
mouth o reduce sb to silence o
not a word did he/she utter

inf
have no (faintest) idea (about it) o
not by a long chalk/shot
inf
break the news
// inf
send a message/word

inf
a latrine lawyer o a pettifogger
()
the devil's advocate

hire a lawyer

inf
such is the custom

()
( ) inf
pump up sb's adrenaline

ce /

be on the wrong track o bark up

the wrong tree o bring one's hogs
to the wrong market come to the

wrong shop
inf
ce
it will pass in a crowd
come to the right place o apply to
ce () inf
the proper quarter
stick out a mile o be as plain as the
nose on your face
()

have/hold all the aces

pull rank (on sb)

a trump o a leading card

()
//
have a shot (left) in the/one's lock
from another/this/different angle
er

an ace up one's sleeve o one's
last card
(as) old as the Bible

inf
simple Simon

a bear market a bearish market

a
bull
market
o a bullish market
?
inf

it's no use o it's useless/pointless
lose one's good name/standing o
lose credit

sb's fortunes are rising o sb's star
is on the rise o one's stock is go
let's o supposing o suppose
ing up o come up in the world

si
(as) bold as a coot

let's go shares
, ()
take three guesses

! inf
you don't say (so)! o come off it!

(())
come as you are

co ' si
use one's loaf

! /! inf
Bravo! o Good for you! o Con
gratulations! o that's the stuff!
that's the stuff to give the troops o
Right on! o Nice work!

what is a workman without his tools
o a carpenter is as good as his
tools o the right tool for the job

AKO
. . . e . . . , . . .
() inf
inf
sell like hot cakes
(then) I'm a Dutchman
AKT

an act of aggression

like Alice in Wonderland

/
dirty linen/laundry
get up steam c recharge the/one's batteries
(
)

wash one's dirty linen in public o

hang out dirty washing in public
lay stress on

an accent you could cut with a
the missing link
knife

APHO

/
carry one's liquor
( )
in drink

be off one's food
()
whet one's appetite

the rich uncle (from America)

an Angel of peace

the ministering angel o the guard
ian angel

an angel, not a man o kindness
itself

be no angel/saint o butter
wouldn't melt in his mouth
inf
men/boys in blue

APEH
, si
one gets what's coming to one
it serves him right u may he rest in
peace
inf
I'm all right o there's nothing
wrong with me
inf
feel one degree under u be off
colour o be/feel under par o be a
bit under the weather o (be) off
one's oats o be out of sorts

(give sb) a big hand (for)

inf
alpha and omega o the be-all and
end-all
bring the house down

AMAHET
receive a standing ovation
inf
entrust with o charge with o leave

sth in sb's custody/safekeeping

---! inf
April fool!, April fool! <, April gawk
/gowk!
ja inf
invent gunpowder

inf / /
reinvent the wheel
(as) neat as a (new) pin
()

have a mind like a steel trap

() inf
have a wolf in one's stomach

APHO
/ (/)
for good or evil

never better
,

out of the frying pan, (and) into the

fire

APO

for better (or) for worse

co /

a tense atmosphere o a heavy
by fair means or foul
scene
APO
inf

dirty old man c sugar daddy o an

old fart
fall into disgrace :> be in the dog
house o make a faux pas

()
(apply) double standards

gossip o blab o jammer chatter

o wag one's tongue

-

stop gossiping

inf
Jack Frost
inf
in March many weathers
' inf
it's apples and oranges
inf
tall tales o an old wife's tale
/ inf
anybody can do it o a piece of
cake
,
harp on the same string
,
ce , ce inf
fiddle while Rome burns
() () inf
mutton dressed (up) as a lamb

mix apples and oranges
inf
pigs might fly (if they had wings) a
square the circle

() ,
inf
too many cooks spoil the broth

/ si
a shot in the dark o a wild guess

suck eggs

inf
dirt chip o for a song o a mere
song .-, for nothing in vain o of
no use o a steal o a (dead) bar
gain

BO
like a fairy tale

the kiss of Judas

inf
be out of luck o bejinxed o be on
a losing streak

trial run
ce () inf
put on airs o put on the dog o act
the cock of the walk
ce inf
run out of steam

ce ( ) inf
slip on a banana skin

be turning thirty/forty

/ inf
/ inf
teach your grandfather how to
(as) safe as houses

leave much/a lot/a great deal to
be desired
inf
stand no chance (in hell)
inf
be asking for it o make a rod for
one's own back
!
that's the stuff! e that's (just) it -just the job
, inf
get/receive one's just deserts

on demand o on request


the prince of liars

skin of one's nose<> not give a

monkey's fart

just now - this minute
! inf
thanks for nothing
/ !
Exactly! o Precisely! o Right on!
(/)
not much of

not exactly ... not quite

be expecting o in the club o have
a bun in the oven
BO . ()
inf
a babe in arms

()
()
take to one's heels o run for one's
life o show a clean pair of heels

() inf
get away from it all
forget it c no can do

get lost! t. go away o come off it!

/
o you don't say so o tell me ano
get up steam o recharge one's
ther
batteries

ce
( )
take to flight
everything in the garden is lovely
BO
()

(be)
on the run
you are a (right) one

()
(the last) bastion of

.
! si

don't give a damn o couldn't care
bear evidence of
less o don't care a fig o don't care
a brass farthing o not give/care a
sod n do not care a straw o no
leave/make one's mark on

()
it can be better o there is room for
improvement
be on pins and needles o be at a
loss o be on tenterhooks
!
! inf
EEC
Damn it! <>
- Blast it! <-, Hang it!

no
take it out on sb o vent one's
(All right,) have it your way
spleen on sb
!,
inf
So be it! o Be it so!
for kicks/fun a for the hell of it
!
,
from the frying pan, into the fire c
Damn you!
out of the frying pan, (and) into the inf
fire
to be fair o to be honest o give the
co /
devil his due
(be) full of bile

,

come what may/might c what will

be, will be o let the chips fall where
;nd up on the gallows
they may o come hell or high wat
er
1

ap () inf
as) old as the hills (as) old as ro inf
Methuselah o (as) old as Adam
be good at sth o be a dab hand at

inf
1
it's
no use/go o I don't agree
; /
inf
inf
be good for nothing
lungry dogs will eat dirty puddings
- a hungry horse makes a clean
nanger

take stock
1


si
i black hen lays a white egg
play pocket billiards

inf

i

idd insult to injury -, compound
it's all over and done with -. what's
he felony < make bad trouble
done cannot be undone o it's (all)
vorse ,, and to make it worse
water under the bridge o nothing
| ce
can be done about it o things past
o be or not to be o a question of
cannot be recalled o forgive and
ife and death o do or die
forget o no use crying over spilled


milk o that's water over the dam
( ) -
no matter where o everywhere o
anywhere c ever and anon

How about (doing sth) o What
about (doing sth)

just anyhow o any which way o
any old how
,
be it as it may o however it may be
in any event .- in any case
whether or not -. anyhow _ come
what may o come hell or high wat
er

as if nothing had happened

whenever o anytime
()
either one of you

whoever o any anybody n
whichever
,
better anything than nothing

shame on you!
, inf
if wishes were horses, beggars
would ride
,
let bygones be bygones o forgive
and forget that's (all) water
under the bridge
UJTO ( )

anything n whichever

it won't hurt your dignity

co
work against the clock

fight a losing battle c play a losing
game
co
a race/fight against time

carry /win the day
/
a running battle/fight

battle royal . a pitched battle
( )
half the battle

owe a debt of gratitude

gain sb's favour/ear
/
play upon sb's sympathy/feelings

be in one's favour -_ be in good
with sb

give one's blessings

inf
lucky you! o good for you! o you
lucky devil!

no
drag into the mire

a flash in the pan

co
be close with o be intimate with

a
so near and yet so far

May he lie/rest in peace
in/
May he rot in hell

Lord only knows o God knows
who/what/where/how
!
since God knows when!
, si
silent but deadly (SBD)
in/
a little tin God ,- a jack-in-office

honest to God o honestly
!
from your lips to God's ears!

heavensent c godsend

waiting for manna from heaven

meet one's maker o breath one's
last

thank God o thank my lucky stars
!
God help us
()

the haves and the have-nots o

9
high and low

,
the rich may eat when he will, the
poor man when he may o poor
men seek meat for their stomach,
rich men stomach for their meat
in/
stinking rich o (as) rich as Croesus

best is cheapest o the dearer it is,
the cheaper ill ware is never
cheap o a good bargain is a pickpurse

()
cost a (small) fortune o cost a
bomb

nothing to write home about o be
no great shakes

,

God defend me from my friends,
from my enemies I can defend my
self
03
- si
(as) easy as shelling peas o (as)
easy as falling of a log o a piece of
cake

the colours do not match
() in/
have more than one trick up one's
sleeve o foxy o a sly dog o know
all the tricks

vivid colours

get a (sun)tan

change colour o turn pale o turn
all the colours of the rainbow
ce
show one's true colours o reveal
one's true self

10

inf
no bones are broken

()
inf
look as if/though sth has been
stirred with a stick

come as a bombshell

sex
bomb
make a mountain out of a molehill

0 pick holes in sth
a time bomb

inf
only a sick man needs to be asked
a David and Goliath situation
()

()
a life-and-death battle o war to the
knife o dog eat dog
(have) growing pains o (have)

teething troubles

a power struggle
a diplomatic illness
inf
take the fight out of sb

ce ()
,

take up arms (against)

a creaking gate hangs long

move into action o take the field

/
Titanic struggle
(as) neat as a (new) pin

si
a champion of justice
not give/care a sod o do not give / inf
a damn (about) o not give/care a
an armchair fighter
pin/two pins (for) o not care a

tinker's cuss for

no
(/)
walk into a buzz saw
1 have a headache/toothache

ce
I'm sore all over o it hurts me all inf
over
have had it o be deep in trouble o

V\

(to do it) o Now you're talking

be for the high jump be on the
inf
rocks o be in the shit
a gay o a queer

preach to the converted o teach
your grandfather howto suck eggs
,
,
inf
! inf
business is business
Bravo! o Well done! o Good for
you! - Congratulations!

groW a beard

/
once/twice removed

()

blood brothers

break (new/fresh) ground o cut

the first turf

inf

give in *. come to one's senses o

backdown c pull in one's horns o

eat humble pie o knuckle down/trial marriage
under o come to heel o take one's

medicine
a marriage of convenience


be on bad terms with sb
the/a marriage of true minds
BO inf

there is no wheat without chaff o
(a marriage over) the broomstick
there is no garden without its
r a broomstick marriage living
weeds - there is a black sheep in
in sin
every flock

()
Ej ! inf
series of (strikes)
(impolite address - only to males)
si
Hey you!
don't make waves
Koj ? inf

Well, who are you? o Who do you

think you are!?
,

blood is thicker than water

,
the Big Brother

if the mountain will not come to
! inf
Mahomet, Mahomet must go to
That's my boy! 0 That's more like
the mountain
rt o That's better o That's the way


inf
(be) out of the woods

be pregnant o be with a child

! inf
not so fast!
,
haste make waste
!
take your time o Don't rush! o No
hurry!
()! imper
Get a move on! a Hurry up! o
make it snappy!
ce
be in a hurry

easy does it o take it easy
/
in a hurry o at a gallop Q in haste

12
no , no

inf
pull a fast one o make a monkey
out of sb o make a fool of sb

taboo

dip one's wick

a sinking ship o a lost cause

inf
the rats are the first to leave a sink
ing ship o like rats leaving the sink
ing ship

be shipwrecked o fall through

a good/great many o a lot of o
lots of ^ any number of

/ . . .

gather speed r. speed up
keep/lose count of
() . . . inf

let's have a quickie/quick . ..
a number of


reduce speed o slow down
in number c to the number
co si

at full speed c at full lick
untold numbers
co inf
no
at breakneck speed
by number
BO inf

at full speed <: full steam ahead
have (got) one's marbles
co
BO
at breakneck speed
for the most part

, -
have one's number

13

.
/
live on/off the fat of the land have one's bread buttered on both
sides o live in clover
live like a
king :; (as) snug as a bug in a rug
in the lap of luxury

a dead-letter

//
/
make a fool of oneself o make an
ass of oneself

like mad/crazy
,
()
once a fool, always a fool a fools
will be fools still
OH
he's nobody's fool

play a trick on sb c make a fool of
sb
inf
any old fool o any Tom, Dick and
Harry
ce
play the innocent < pretend ig
norance
ce
laugh one's head off

take sb for a fool

stupid arse
! inf
what a fool you are!

fortune favours fools
,

fools are wise as long as silent o if
the fool knew how to be silent he
could sit amongst the wise

.
inf
send sb off/away with a flea in his
ear
/
teach sb a lesson give sb a piece
of one's mind o rub one's nose in
(the dirt)

() inf
read sb like a book

hoist with his own petard o be
hoisted with one's own petard o
foul one's (own) nest

inf
a bottomless pit o money down
the drain

plough the sands .; whistle for the
wind o beat the air o a dead-end
job

the fat is in the fire

when the storm blows over

receive a standing ovation o raise
the roof

,
money makes the world go round

14

sound shallow streams make

the most din
powder keg o tinder

sit o n a

Pwder keg
empty vessel make the most

! inf
Agreed! o O.k. o I'm your man!
He
No dice o No can do o be out of
date

no longer holds good

still holds good

!
so what!? o big deal!

it doesn't matter o make no dif
ference o be off the point o not to
worry c that/it makes no odds o
don't give it another thought

it's important o it matters it car
ries weight

there are no two ways about it

have a second string (to one's
bow) o have two strings to one's
bow

next best thing

variations on a theme

grass widower

. . .
don't look now, but. ..

as soon as o the moment (that) o
the minute (that)

next to o next-door to
make much of sth attach weight no
to -, attach importance to
hot on the heels of
( r'c) inf
BAKA
within spitting distance

in either event o whether or not/no
o betwixt and between half-and- , inf
half
live from hand to mouth o a bot-

BEK
tomless pit o a day-to-day affair
BEK
,
while there's life, there's hope

at the turn of the century
inf
not on your life o over my dead
body o pigs might fly
ce
what's the world coming to?
co
short-lived

be long-lived

be short-lived

as the saying goes

ce . . . ?
How do you say . . . ?
ce
it is said that o the story goes that
?
How about that? o What do you
say?

/
His/Your Majesty/Excellency

laurel wreath

15

BETAP

break one's word/promise

inf
put your trust in God and keep your
powder dry o paddle your own
canoe

have faith in

, inf
cash and carry o business is busi
ness
inf
on tick o on the nod

ce Koj ! !
Would you believe it! o Isn't it
amazing!

I don't believe it I must be hear
ing things
ce / ()
the odds are (that) o it's expected/believed (that)

have blind faith in
.

believe it or not

bad news travels fast

BEPA
!
BETAP
Well done! o Good for you! o
Right on! o Nice work!
like a gust of wind

,
a rogue o a scoundrel o a son-ofsow the wind and reap the whirl
a-bitch
wind



what wind blows you hither
inf
piss against/into the wind

a fair wind
inf
break wind
ce no
swim with the stream
inf
a straw man o a broken reed
, inf
a storm in a teacup
a tempest in
a teacup .- much ado about noth
ing
BO
down the drain
BO
whistle in the wind = preach to the
wind = speaktothewinds o waste
one's breath
, inf
a wild goose chase
()
(sail) against the wind
.

see which way the wind is blowing

-. see which way the cat jumps

ce co
tilt at windmills

promises are like pie-crust
ro /

fulfil one's promise a deliver the

goods

16

go back on one's promise o break
faith with sb

a whole eternity a forever and a
day -.: a month of Sundays
(inf)
(for) donkey's years

it's ages since I haven't seen you

/
have a good command of o be
versed in o be good at

the noble art

good vibrations

BO
in the form/shape of

lose sight of

have sth in view

breathe down sb's neck

in any shape of form

()
let's/let me see

you ain't seen nothing yet
(ce /)
at long last, eventually (he accept-

edit)
,
turn a blind eye on/to o hear no
evil, see no evil, speak no evil
mum's the word

(i'll/we'll) be seeing you c se you
later o catch you later
ro ! imper
don't get smart with me!
()!
Mind you!

you look like nothing on earth

see above

I'll/we'll see o it remains to be
seen

/
bring/come to light

in sight
ce
heave in sight

() inf
(as) fleet as (a) deer

7_

d'you-call-him/her/it/them?
?
What's your name?

a good fairy

() inf
(have) a glass jaw
no inf
sock sb on the jaw
.
talk nineteen to the dozen r- have
a big mouth

.
( )
lay the blame at sb's door o pinsth
on sb

plead guilty
()
blame the other fellow
/
we/you're to be blamed it's our/your fault

water down the wine

see you soon

old friends, and old wine, and old
gold are the best old fish, old oil,
knowsb by sight
and an old friend are the best

HOBO
ce
inf
put new wine in/into old bottles
or I'm a Dutchman
BO
() ce . . . . ?
in vino Veritas <>
. what soberness
what's his/her/its name <> whatconceals, drunkenness reveals

18

number one o top m a n / d o g
fish

the truth will out
big

inf
like a bullet out/from a gun o like
a bat out of hell o at a rate of knots

be up to the mark o be up to
expectations o be equal to the
occasion o rise to the occasion

be up to the mark/task

Your Highness

/
a grain of truth

inf
have enough of sth to last sb

vote no confidence in government

( ) /
carry a no-confidence notion
just the thing o the real McCoy
BO
(a/the) shadow cabinet

tell/crack yokes
()
inf
it's not a joke
BO inf
that's the catch/point

inf
more than you can shake a stick at
J more of sth than you/they have
had hot dinners

inf
in bad taste
split hairs . be a nitpicker/quib
bler .. pick holes (in)
(/ ) no
/ inf
/

BKyC inf
the naked truth = nothing but the
(Elena/Marija is a girl) after my
win/lose by a (short) neck
truth
heart
inf


by a hair's breadth - a close call
get at the truth
exquisite taste for
(ce
)


have a narrow escape o by a hair's
you've got a point there
breadth c within a hair's breath ,.-.
an acquired taste
ja
by a whisker o bythe skin of one's
no

teeth
be not after one's own heart be
take/lift the lid of sth

not to sb's taste o it's not one's
()
be (very) outspoken o air one's
cup of tea
there is nothing in o not have a
views .-. say what is on one's mind

word of truth in sth
leave a bad taste in the mouth

,
no
nothing but the truth

to
sb's
taste
o
to
one's
liking
be
-
authority shows the man . if you
after one's own heart

wish to know a man, give him
truth will out o truth will come to . authority

light

everyone to his taste o there's

fall from power
(simply) no accounting for tastes
give the devil his due o fair's fair o

to be honest u frankly speaking o co
under the heels of
one has to admit (that)
in good taste

19

( /)
come and go

co inf
be fooling around with sb o be
messing about with sb

/
a b a d / g o o d influence

on the strength of o under the
influence of

a safe bet

chip in

BO
be in love with

fond of

/
not want any part of (it) sth
() BO
be involved in
be mixed up in

keep an eye out for o keep one's
ears/eyes open o keep a/one's
weather eyes open
! imper
Beware! ,, Mind (out)! c Watch it!
o Mind your eye
! imper
Watch your mouth/tongue!
! i
don't strain yourself!
, !
Mind the dog!



Watch out for o Look out for a Pay
attention/heed to
inf
mind one's P's and Q's -. mind
one's manners

look after o take care o give an
eye to o take heed of o watch
one's step

watch one's step

be engrossed in a zero in on

give/pay no attention to o laugh
at - take no notice of

keep/maintain a low profile

call sb's attention to sth

20

inf
dripping wet
sweat

() inf

draw water to one s mill

be drenched v
, ,f
mj

it doesn't hold water

TecT*
'

()
come with the wind,
go w i t h , (as) poor as a church mouse
water
BO
,
carry/bring coals to Newcastle
fall
haste trips over its own heels inf
fall short
haste makes waste
more ha: go phut . go up in smokes
less speed o good and quic to the ground o fall flat o *=>'
seldom meet
... come to grief


hard to believe
o take sth with pour/throw cold water on
grain/pinch
of salt
/

by water o by sea o overseas

not let the grass grow under one's

feet o burn the candle at both
ends
,

servants make the worst masters
o fire is a good servant but a bad
master

( ) ()
inf
talk nineteen to the dozen
talk
the hind leg(s) off a donkey

()
lead (sb) nowhere

be dying of thirst
inf

ja ()
take sb for a ride o throw dust in
lead
sb
by
the
nose

muddy the waters
one's eyes
Adam's ale
. pull a fast one
,

taboo

old habits die hard

shake hands with an old friend c
shake hands with women's best
in return o in compensation

friend
consideration of o in reward
when the chips are down

imper
Watch out for o Look out for o Pay
attention to
KO inf

(as) easy as ABC r. (as) easy a:
give/pay attention to , turn one's
pie o (as) easy as anything
mind to
BO . i
inf

t i c k l e / c a t c h / t a k e sb's fancy .fish in muddy/troubled waters

c a t c h / d r a w s b ' s attention arouse sb's interest o gain sb's ()
muddy the waters
ear

co
with due regard n with due de
whistle for the wind a beat the i
ference
inf

come into notice . steal the show

thanks for calling o thanks for as
king a thanks for your concern

draw sb's attention on

21

' e a d s b U P t h e garden path
inf
make/pass water c take a leak
tease sb
pull sb's leg
-
(as) poor as Lazarus
/

still waters run deep

,
easy c o m e , easy go o lightly
not fit to wash one's feet
come, lightly go

up
to
one

inf
be in dire straits .- (
not fit to hold a candle to <> be not
neck) in trouble
a patch on

(success) has gone to stJ's heac /, (/

>

in

inf
be a slow coach

live on fresh air r> live on love and
fresh air

out of breath breathless

/
blow up o blow sky-high

take the air
ce ()
it's in the air
BO
han

in t h e

air balance

at the age of o aged

22

praise without profit puts little in the
pot o fine words butter no pars
nips o he who gives you fair words
BOJHA
feeds you with an empty spoon o
BO co
wish can never fill a sack
at war (with)

/
there is honour among thieves o
declare war against/on
one thief will not rob another o

dog does not eat dog
psychological warfare


a lone wolf
cold war
() inf

as hungry as a wolf/bear c (as)

, a hungry
as a hunter
inf

an ox is taken by the horns and a

a sea dog o Jack Tar
man by his word
inf

eat like a horse o as greedy as a

wolf/pig/dog
take one's life in one's hands < put
one's head in a noose -. risk one's
()
neck o stick one's neck out .-?
work for peanuts
place/put one's head in the lion's

mouth
( )


at the wheel
you can't have your cake and eat it

r: you cannot sell the cow and sup
be drunk in charge
the milk o one/you cannot make
an omelette without breaking eggs

(a )

speak of the devil (and he will ap
an iron will
pear)

get one's own way
set a thief to catch a thief

BO
inf
a wolf in sheep's clothing
split hairs o be a nitpicker/quib para
bler
the apple never falls far from the
tree

,

,

be under the impression that o get
the leopard can't change its spots
the feeling that

23

- HOC inf

head over heels
no , no inf

six of one and half a dozen of the

other o it's much of a muchness

can't help feeling that ?, can't get
rid of the impression that
take a load off one's mind o get it

over with o have sth taken off
leave strong impression - go with
one's hands
a bang
() ! imper inf

Get lost! o Bugger off! o Go to
make one's presence felt a cut a
hell!
(fine) figure
ce ! imper

Get off my back! o Get off my
first impression
case!
ce
( ) inf
one cannot help feeling that
crane forward
/

inf
throw one's arms around sb
it's common knowledge o every

schoolboy knows
put/lay the blame on sb for sth o

lay sth at sb's door
eat like a bird o eat like a titmouse
BPATA
inf

a little bird told me
knock on an open door
,

beg at the wrong door o knock at
a bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush => better a sparrow in the a deaf man's door bring one's
hogs to the wrong market o come
hand than a pigeon on the roof o
to the wrong shop
a feather in hand is better than a
()
bird in the air
see (sb) to the door
BPAT
ja inf
/
kiss the post
wring sb's neck
ja


leave a door open
drive a nail into sb's coffin o cook
sb's goose o cause sb's downfall
kick one's heels outside sb's door

jump down sb'sthroat snapsb's
head off
put/set one's own house in order
/

have sb/sth on one's back
in a grand manner o for all the
world to see o with a flourish

24

be at one's tongue's end

go/walk on tip-toe
ce /
come/climb up to the top

bring/come to the top/a head

drive sb up the wall o drive sb mad
o be a pain in the neck
HOC)

slam the door in sb's face . give
at the zenith of o at the top of
sb a cold shoulder o leave sb out
in the cold
reach the top

( )
behind the door
(this banknote) is not valid
,
/
by the back door o in a round
about way

he keeps open doors

show sb the door send sb pack
ing
()
at one's doorstep
(

money for jam/old rope

send sb packing

open the flood/sluice gates for

leave the door open

behind closed doors o behind the
scene

the doors are wide open

inf
when hell freezes over
not in a
million years n pigs may/might fly

BPBKA
inf
be in a (real) mess o have had it o
up a gum tree o up a creek (with
out a paddle) > get into a fix

naval string

BPEBA
()
without much/more /further ado o
without fuss
inf
make noises -. kick up a din
/ inf
raise/create/kick up a big/real
BPB
stink about sth


up to the top o (up) to the brim o
a storm in a tea-cup
brim-full

() ,
come out/be on top
it's not worth mentioning o noth
ing to speak of

BPEME

does not bear repeating
in/
you've hit the nail on the head o
you've hit the bull's eye o I
couldn't agree more! you've
said it! c, full marks!

it's worth a try
/
it's worth reading/seeing
!
What's the use/good?! o What's
the point?! o a wild goose chase

25

BPEME

get round to doing sth o make
time n take time off (to)

on time o in good time o on the
dot
/
in the short run - in the short term

be out of time
have no time (to)

have no time to lose o I have no
time to waste c, haven't got the
whole day o have no time for

BPEME
/

he always takes long to finish/eat
while the going is good


ever after . since
the time has come (for sb) to (do
sth)
from time to time > (every) now
,
and again/then o every so often
o once in a while o in dribs and
other times, other manners
drabs


a sign of the times
waste sb's time


waste of time fun and games
ahead of one's time

fritter away one's time

other times, other manners o

everything is good in its season
playfortime o play a waiting game
()

keep regular ours
have the time o bide one's time
ce BO

time lost cannot be recalled
all in good time
( )
ce
(all) in good time
it's a matter of seconds

co
't's high time o it's about time
in/on time o in the long run


wretched times o hard times
good old days


bad weather o bad/hard times
dead on time



that's all past/ancient history

kill time

prime time

die before one's time o come to
an untimely end
BO
these days > nowadays o in this
day and age
BO
in the foreseeable future
()
there was a time when
BO
any day (of the week)
BO
in the dead hours of the night a in
the dead of the night
BO
lately o of late
BO
at any time
BO
in one's spare/leisure time
BO
then o at the time
BO
in the time/age of o during

time will tell

time tries truth o time is the father
of truth a truth is time's daughter

time is on one's side

time is money
/
the time is ripe to

26

the time has passed him by

time is a great healer o time is the
greatest healer r. time cures all
things o time tames the strongest
grief
/
time flies


time is not on sb's side o the
sands (of time) are running out for
sb

time (and tide) wait for no man

time devours all things o time is a
file that wears and makes no noise
o time works wonders o time
tames the strongest grief o time
has taken its toll Q circumstances
alter cases

all the while

for a while o for some time

in nothing flat

be/lag behind the times

there's a time (and a place) for
everything

during o in the course of

be behind times

waste no time

troubled times

BPEKA

27

(
)
mismatch o bad line
go down memory lane
() si
not know beans about sth
not

know the first thing about sth <> be
those were the days
not good at o not have the fog
BO
giest (idea!) o have nothing to do
with o have nothing in common
at a time like this
with o have no bearing on be
ce
off the point
times change (and we with them) ! inf
I don't have the faintest/foggiest

idea o search me!

inf

punch ball/bag
be in touch with o carry on a love
inf
affair with have an affair with
spendthrift o a bottomless pit o
money down the drain o money BO co
burns in his pocket c spend mon
be on to sb o be in touch with sb
ey like a drunken sailor
BO co
in connection with as far as sth

is concerned , inrespectto ; with

respect to o as for to
come to the boil
i
BPCT
BPHE
( )
inf
(we're) of the same age
(in) fair (weather) and/or foul

BPCKA
ce ( )
/
feel giddy
pull (the) strings/wires

( )

get through
as recently as yesterday o just the

other day just yesterday
have connections o be well-con
nected

it seems like only yesterday
/
inf
go steady with sb
not be born yesterday o have
been around

bear on/upon o has to do with o inf
"e m connection with
I wasn't bom yesterday
ce

28

( ) si
(as) ugly as sin

,
inf
birds of a feather flock together .
like attracts/calls to like
co
dog does not eat dog o one thief
will not rob another there's ho
nour among thieves
inf
when hell freezes over pigsmay/might fly

(//)

a bastard o a bad egg

inf
have no guts o show white feather

() si
have an itching palm
() inf
you're asking for it let sleeping
dogs lie .-. be/keep quiet - be
have yourself! c don't tempt fate/Providence o don't push it
inf
have dirty hands
r'c inf
head over heels ., arse over tip
/' e co r'c
ce si
be like Siamese twins be like salt
and paper a be like bread and
butter o be like a horse and car
riage o be thick as thieves o be
(in) thick with sb o be finger and
thumb with o pee in the same pot

I am disgusted o it makes me sick r'c inf
-> I find it revolting/repugnant
be taken aback
(),
si
have (got) the devil's own luck
si
lick sb's arse/boots
() ( )
(as) smooth as a baby's bottom
imper inf

Get your arse (over here/there) o

Shake a leg
inf

be drag-arsed be nigerish

r'c inf
look after number one
r'c si
save one's bacon

( )
wear the trousers/breeches

show who's boss

*
be one's own boss/master o call
one's soul one's own

on one's own a standing on one's

own two feet o a self-employed
businessman

29

one's heels o make a run for it o

step on the gas o step on the juice

rac inf

tipsy c have had a few

rac

at full tilt/pelt , flat out -: at full

5 !
stretch
I don't care/give a damn! o I
couldn't care less! > I don't care a
straw o I don't care a brass far . inf
thing o no skin of my nose
fill one's pants o shake/shiver in

one's shoes/boots - shit a brickbe worried
/bricks o be scared shitless - be
imper
scared stiff
be scared to death
Don't you worry (about a thing)
o be scared out of one's wits/boots .-> show the white feather
() . ()
() inf
inf
lose one's shirt
couldn't care less - be no skin of
sb'snose o care nothing for - not

give two pins for

si
() ()
make a goof o drop a brick/clang
er o put one's foot in it - put one's
. ()
foot in one's mouth
mf
it's none of your business mind
your own business - keep off the ( )
grass! o don't worry : don't you
inf
worry 'bout a thing n lay assured
look like a wet weekend o down in
- trust me o leave it to me .-, don't
the dumps o in the doldrums o
give it another thought
be/feel down in the mouth o be in
low
spirits .. feeling low o look/
feel blue

under warranty

take down sb's particulars

()
keep one's guard

drop one's guard

inf
the old guard

generation gap

inf
a peg in a round hole

() rac
( )
s
Peed off o take off o take to
a sign of (good-will)

inf
you're in for it o you've had it

inf
woman > a dumb broad
co
hold one's head high
inf
I'll break your neck

bury one's head in the sand

if he had half an eye
inf
a nit-wit

seal sb's doom - be the death of
sb , cook sb's goose
si
lean/bend over backwards to help
sb o fall over backwards to do sth
to sb fall over oneself to

heads or tails

the head of the family
()
keep one's nose to the grindstone
-> burn the midnight oil
/!
I'll knock your block off!

a matter of life and death o it's
touch and go
() inf
my head is like a beehive o I have
a splitting headache
BO ( )
be thin on top

lose one's life r. lose one's head
o be out of one's mind o lose

30

one's cool o lose one's bottle o

lose heart
/ inf
be dead from the neck up

knock sth out of sb's head

get out of harm's way o have a
narrow escape > save one's neck/skin
ja ( )
be overbearing a hold one's head
high
,

little wit makes much travel

! imper

Get lost! o Bugger off! o Go to

hell!
inf
a cool hand

weak/soft in the head
inf
madcap o nutcase

the breadwinner o man of the
house o ruler of the roost

eye sb from head to foot o look at
sb up and down
co
use one's own head/judg(e)ment
o stand one's ground u use one's
own loaf o think for oneself

give sb an earful

pass through one's mind
BO
go to sb's head

hang over sb's head
inf
get sth into one's head
si
drum sth into sb o stuff sth down
sb's throat
, / inf
bite the hand that feeds one

hang one's head (in shame)

have sth on the brain
! inf
Good riddance (to bad rubbish)! o
To hell with him/it!
/

have nothing/something between

one's ears

you can't kick against the pricks

be in a maze o be at a loss . not
know if one is coming or going
not know if one is on one's head or
one's heels
(/
)
no one is any worse for it
inf
not on your life o no way o on no
account c under no circumstan
ces r, no for all the tea in China o
n
ot in a hundred years not for
lo
ve nor money

stick one's neck out o live danger
ously o tempt fate
inf
1 the tips of one's /sb's fingers
t0
one's fingertips

31

/ co
walk tall
inf
the spitting image of o a carbon
copy
inf
a wise guy smart pants
/
pay for sth with one's life - be put
to death

brainwash sb a put a flea into sb's
ear o drum sth into sb o put ideas
into sb's head

sb's head is empty c have nothing
between one's ears

head over ears/heels

have a/one's bellyful (of sb/sth)
ce
get in sb's hair
()
beat one's brains out - rack about
() /
bang/knock one's head against a
brick wall
inf
get lost/stuffed o (he/she/it) dis
appeared
co
run one's head against/into a brick
wall

co
on bent knee o hang one's head
in shame

save one's neck/skin/bacon

stick one's neck out o tempt fate
o risk one's life



take one's life in one's hands put
one's head in a noose .> risk one's
neck
stick one's neck out
place/put one's head in the lion's
mouth

breathe down sb's neck
inf
a nit-wit
inf
hard-headed o headstrong
stubborn as a mule o slow-witted
inf
an egghead
co inf
bang/bash/knock one's head
against a brick wall -, kick against
the pricks

a hot head . hot-headed
/ co
shake one's head

be up to the ears in

head and shoulders above

have a splitting headache

it beats me o it escapes me o it's
beyond me

not know whether one is (standing)
on one's head or one's heels

32

! imper
Come to the point!
Get to the
point!

get to the point get down to
business o get down to the nittygritty/brass tacks

I'm starving

modern Gladiators

cast one's voice for sb
, a

good news travel fast, bad even
faster

the worm of conscience o the
voice of conscience
ro
have/get a bad name

listen to reason

get/become hoarse
()
raise one's voice (against) <speak out o give voice to

I've lost my voice

make one's voice heard

heads will roll
at the top of one's voice o loud
enough to wake the dead*

,
/

that's the point o that's about the
size of it
give a dog a bad name and hang


him
inf
shout/scream/cry blue/bloody
murder

world-famous o of world fame/renown

gain fame

fall in/into disrepute -: acquire a
bad name

have a good name o enjoy a good
reputation

be known for ^ be notorious for

raise one's voice
ce /
the rumour goes that o rumour
has it o people say

inf
wag one's tongue
(
)
fly a kite

si
stick out a mile

see double

look on the dark side of sth o take
a gloomy/pessimistic view of sth
! imper
Look!
, !, ! inf
look what the cat's d r a g g e d / brought in
'

33
( )!
Just listen to that! ., Just look at
him!
!
Mind your eye!

look askance (at)
inf
give sb a blank look/stare o look
through sb

look down upon sb
/
as you (can) see

with my own eyes -, in the flesh o
as I live and breathe

see more of sb
(/)
(the window/garden) give onto the
,

now you see him, now you don't

ce -
see everything in black and white

make (sheep's) eyes at
inf
turn a blind eye to
! imper
don't look at me like that!

!
Goodbye!
Farewell!
So long!
()
not much to look at

scene that offends the eye o a blot
on the landscape

34

()
, inf
the wound matters
throw/set a sprat to catch a mack
erel/whale

give/deliver a speech o hold a

sermon o hold the floor o hold

forth
like rats leaving a sinking ship

free speech
()

(stuff and) nonsense!

()
inf
not agree with o be no good for
and that kind of thing o and all that

jazz

infimper
hungry years
don't talk daft o stop making a fool

of yourself
a/one year
/
()
suffers fools gladly
time has taken its toll
inf
talk nonsence -. talk through
one's hat
the lost years

() ?
inf
How old do you think I am?
a pen-pusher c a white-collar

worker
one's salad days c (a/one's) cal
() inf
low youth
as wet as a drowned rat
20/30
()
reach the age of 20/30 > be 20/30
(as) poor as a church mouse
years old

at a ripe age o in one's declining

mac inf
it makes me sick o I can't stand the years
()
sight of
he doesn't look his age

100/1000
co

(be) full of bile

not if one lives to be a hundred
*

few and far between
wasp's nest
BO
from one's year's end to another

35

year by year .? year in year out

it's a long way that has no turning

seven hungry years . seven thin
cows

every year > yearly r, annually

BO
large as life o life-size

(CO)

() si
I'll eat my hat!
( ) si
spill the beans o sing - blow the
gaff
BO si
in the shit
( )
( ) taboo
don't stir (it up)

year by year o for years (on end)

co ()
for many years
/

be cut off in one's prime

! inf
like hell! c pigs might fly <-, when
hell freezes over

be a bit long in the tooth getting
on in years get old
BO
in years
BO
late in life
BO ( ) () inf
(be) in one's teens
!
many happy returns of the day! cheers!

for/in one's declining years

years/age of discretion

inf
this is too much .- enough is
enough o (be) enough to try the
patience of Job o (be) enough to
make a saint swear

it tastes bitter o it has a bitter taste

inf
pot luck o what's in the larder

God willing with luck -> with a bit
of luck


whom God will destroy he first
makes mad

may you . . . may it please God

it could be/(have been) worse

down and out o down at the heels
thank(s) God < praise be (to God)
without a shirt to one's back

/
- . ,
go
to one's master .-, be gathered
the pot calls the kettle black
to one's fathers n pass away o


breathe one's last

God rest his soul
( ( )
)
heaven forbid!

God help us

God bless you
,
the mills of God grind slowly but
they grind exceedingly small
, a

when one door shuts, another
opens

get one's just deserts o a poetic
justice

so help me God

God is a sure paymaster

charity begins at home

,
between the devil and the deep
blue sea
!
God knows!
/ / in/
think that one is God's gift

/ si
think the sun shines out of sb's
arse/arsehole

meet one's maker

36

God helps those that help themsel

ves

in front of God and everybody
!
(May) God forgive me!

heaven only knows
co
God be with us o God help us o
God bless you
! ()
!
thank God - praise be to God
thank heaven!

little knowledge is a dangerous
thing

be one's own man/master

war lords

fish and guests stink after three

days o the first day a guest, the
second day a guest, the third day
a calamity


who comes uncalled sits unserved
o an unbidden guest knows not
where to sit
x

(a) gatecrasher

do the honours

play host to

play away

!
finished! end! o that's it! o are
you finished? c. have you finish
ed?
co ()
have had it o it's curtains for <= be
done for o be up a gum tree
inf
reap w h a t / w h e r e one has not
sown

give up an asset for a liability ..
throw good money after bad
ce e
be all over (bar the shouting)

inf
come down with
() inf
(as) light as a cork - as dumb as
a fish
() inf
(as) easy as falling of a log o a
piece of cake

it's the talk of the town

()
hand-to-hand (fighting)
ce
beat one's breast o beat one's
own drum o blow one's own trum
pet

no limit(s) o the sky is the limit

ln
/ t o the extreme -> to excess

37

within limits o to some extent
ja
shoot the mark
/
on the brink of . on the point/verge of

know no bounds o know not when
to stop

set the limit draw the line

() inf
go beyond/outside the pale o
overstep the mark > overshoot the
mark . go too far .- get carried
away c. go over the top

margin of safety
ce
one can only take so much
BO
within reason , within the limits of
reason
within bounds

reach (one's) limit

don't cut the bough you're sitting
on

fall on hard times , come down in
the world

hold out an/the olive branch

he has just climbed down from the
trees

cut the bough one is sitting on o
make a rod for one's own back

38

,

dogs that bark at a distance bite
live by the sweat of other men's
not at hand
brows

ro inf
be asking for it o be looking for
trouble
/ ro
.
inf
beat the devil out of sb < beat the
living daylights out of sb -> lick the
hell out of sb o dust sb's jacket =
tan sb's hide o tan the hide off sb
o knock the stuffing out of sb
co
back to back
( ) () (/)
have enough on one's plate
/
have sb/sth on one's back

have eyes in the back of one's
head

see the back of sb

be a burden to sb
/
put one's back into
(/)
(do/say) behind sb's back
/
get sb/sth off one's back

turn one's back on

cut the ground (out) from under sb
u pull the carpet/rug (out) from
under sb
leave sb standing c
pass by on the other side

BO
don't poke/put your nose into
other people's affairs

( )
be a free loader

ro si
mind your own business o keep
off the grass!
save your breath
to cool your porridge

(as) grasping as a miser
/
l/he felt sorry for

be merciless - have no heart o
have a heart of stone
()
wash sb's sin(s)

the seven deadly sins

mortal/deadly sin

a skeleton in the cupboard

(
) inf
%
one may be hanged for a sheep as
a lamb

that's where you are wrong

to err is human (to forgive, divine)

g e 3
first class .- above/beyond re
proach
g e 3 ()
done to a turn c done to a T

catch sb on the hop catch sb on
the wrong foot o catch sb napping

a Freudian slip
BO
the fault lies with
BO
a move in wrong direction
() /
make hay from sb's mistake

make a mistake
no
in mistake for o by mistake

stand corrected

learn from one's mistakes o learn
by triai and error

forced error

unforced error

take/pick up a fault
/

not have/without a care in the
world

one care the less -. one less worry

n
ave guilty conscience one's
conscience pricks one

39

get gray (hair)
( )
it's the last of my worries o it's
none of my business
(CE)

not to worry o care nothing o not
to care/give a fig -. imper don't
worry!

ce ( /)
eat one's heart out

(I) fear the Greeks, even when they
bring gifts

inf
wet one's whistle
inf
be as dry as bone

(a/the) bottleneck

ce ,

the pot calls the kettle black

.

have (got) one foot in the grave
be far gone -.> be on one's last lay
o be not long for this world o be
on one's last legs o lie at death's
door
()
(as) silent as the grave o (as) silent
as the dead

40

,

the deed comes back upon the
doer o the biter is sometimes bit
u the biter bit

youcan'ttakeitwithyou (when you
die)

be the dead of sb . seal sb's
doom .. drive sb to an early grave
o be the death of sb

lay sb to rest
()
dig one's own grave
ce
turn over in one's grave
()
till death do us part o fidelity unto
death

()
inf
give sb the cold shoulder o cutsb
dead

sour grapes
(ce ) inf
be up the creek (without a paddle
o be taken short o be at a loss o
be caught with one's pants down

the grass is greener on the other
side of the fence

lighting never strikes in the same
place twice
()
out of the blue <, like a bolt from

the blue :.-. out of the clear blue sky

thunderstruck ., like hit between
the eyes

the best go first o only the good
die young

() inf
live like a lord

inf
chicken out o show a white feather
c have no guts (to)

( )
(have) a lump in one's throat

native soil o native heath

'

Ce

(I) fear the Greeks, even when they
bring gifts

lose by a neck

ce! si imper
Get lost! o Get along with you! Shove off! o Bugger off! o Buzz
off!
%

like a couple of lovebirds

()
a French letter

inf
it was a close call > it was touch
and go
()
when it comes to the crunch/blows o when the crunch comes
when the shit hits the fan

ankle deep in mud o knee-high in
mud
()
a double chin

41

inf
be more than one can take/bear
() ()
knee-deep - up to the/one's chin/ears/el bow/eyes/eyeballs/neck
in o hard at it n head over heels
in
()
jump down sb's throat
() si
(be) full to the scuppers
ce
eat till/until it comes out of one's
ears . eat one's head off
ce
cut each other's throats

42

- ,
-
w h e n in R o m e d o what the
Romans do o swim with the tide/stream

hold the field o keep trying/fight
ing u take a hard line
ce (/)
be on (film/show)
,
the more he gives, the less he gets
-
- - in/
give-and-take

a drowning man will clutch at a
straw J any port in a storm

() He ! imper si
You're a (real) pain in the arse! o
Cut the crap!

ce inf
wallow in

/ si
a real pain in the arse o a real drag

far from it o not at all o I wouldn't
dream of it o no such thing o

nothing of the kind/sort

Ladies and Gentlemen

ladies' choice/dance
!
ladies first!

nothing of the lady
. . .
the first lady of the . . .

a blot on one's escutcheon
skeleton in the cupboard

BO

(in times) of old o in days of yore

ce

(I) fear the Greeks, even when they
bring gifts o Beware of Greeks
bearing gifts

ro ()
take its tool
/
pay the price for

()
have a (natural) bent for


BO

moving o on the move o on the

(/) inf
march o be on the jump
a dog's dinner o a pretty kettle of
fish

ninety-nine times out of a hundred

si
(all) Lombard Street to a China
step on the juice < step on it
orange

Koja ?

What's the date today?
one-night stand

maid of all work
two and two make four

just as two and two is four
go into action

BO
inf
in force o operative in operation
a thin audience/attendance
o valid
,

one or two
! inf
/ , inf
So what! - Big deal!
a gatecrasher > turn up like a bad
shilling

, BO

for the most part

two dogs strive for a bone, and a
no
third one runs away with it
bit by bit o inch by inch
ce ()

it takes two to (tango)
get a fair share .; get a fair whack

do one's bit
eleventh hour

the lion's share of

na , inf
the best/better part of the bulk
in a slapdash manner o jerrybuilt
of
,
(fall between two stools
/)

the tip of the iceberg

-/

set in motion
integral part of o part and parcel


of
/
it's all in day's work
BO
in a split second

go halves
/

deeds are fruits, words are but
leaves .-, actions speak louder
than words -. fine words butter no
parsnips

life achievement

the truth will out it'll come to light
- murder will out

a man of action
/
catch sb in the act
catch/nab sb
red-handed
inf
be caught with one's hands in the
till

in/into action

be sb's doing

work of art
()

testing times

his days are numbered

a red-letter day
,

()

44

a strong town is not won in an hour

o no man is his craft's master the
first day

count the days
/
hard times

day by day o from day to day
.

the day of days o a red-letter day

good day
() inf
good as gold
/
g o o d / b a d days
.
to this (very) day o even now

till Doomsday .1 forever and ever
forever and a day
/
two/four times a day

someday a one day

a day or two
-
to this very day
( )
have all day
<
() ()

tomorrow is another day

as clear/plain as day = an open
and shut case
, inf
a day-to-day affair

____

sb's day

make

45

every second/other day ., on al
ternate days

ce para
it's dawning o it's daybreak
inf

never - pigs might fly a when hell
the next/following day
freezes over
co

/
m broad daylight
for days (on end)
sb's days are over c be past it

a hard day's work

the day of sb is over/finished
()
a black day (for sb)

the day is not (so) far off/distant
when
inf
we don't kill a pig every day

not to see the light of day .. burn
the midnight oil

some day or other . one day

it's not my day

none knows what will happen to
him before sunset o a man's des
tiny is always dark

day by day
every single day
from day to day r all the time
OH
oj
the other day

(just) the other day o a few days
ago

every day
each day .-. day in
(and) day out

they don't make them like that any
more

to a/the day

die before one's time
an untimely end

come to

,
in a day or two -- in the near future
c in a few days o before long

take time off

turn a honest shilling o make a
honest buck
inf
penniless o flat/dead broke
/ ,

not have/be unable to rub two
pennies together
inf
I haven't got a bean o I'm broke/skint
inf
not have a penny o be broke/skint
o not have/be unable to rub two
pennies together r without a red
cent
not have a red cent <.- have
no nickel to one's name

()

46

be down to one's last dollar

spend one's bottom dollar
better an egg today than a hen

tomorrow r, better a sparrow in the

hand than a pigeon on the roof
watch every penny > stretch pen

nies
let's call it a day o let's call it quits
()
for today
/
not know where one's next meal/-
penny is coming from -. a day-to -
night and day o day and night
day affair o live from one day to
the next live from hand to mouth
, inf

skin sb alive
never put off/leave till tomorrow ce .
what you can do today - there's
inf
no time like the present o a stitch
shout/scream blue murder
in time saves nine

-
any day now o pretty soon o one inf
it's hopeless o (be) beyond help
of these days
o be up against the wall
,
chop and change o blow hot and
cold

, inf
in every particular/in all particulars
today you, tomorrow me .-, today BO
me, tomorrow you
scratch my
to the letter o in details - in depth
back and I'll scratch yours

. no

a month from today o a month off
be pregnant o be in the family way


thisdayweek ;> a week from today
a whizz kid
,
()
here today, gone tomorrow
(as) helpless as a newborn baby
ce

anything goes nowadays
a child of nature
/ ()

she/he is not herself today

the child is the father of the man

,
up to now o so far
inf

nothing seek, nothing find o spare
a day-to-day affair


to seek and spare to speed
()
weep unashamedly
ce
act like a child

a four-leaved clover

second childhood

throw sb on the defensive

one's/sb's vehicle breaks down

()
boys will be boys

47

BO
in the wild

taboo
put lead in sb's pencil
inf
stop bragging about
ce /
look down upon everybody

be on a diet

/
make a diagnosis

a dialogue of the deaf

negotiate with u argue with
change words with

ex-

flower children
() , ()

feed/provide for your children so

as not to feed/provide for doctors
,

children when they are little make
their parents fools, when they are
great they make them mad o a
ittle child weighs on your knee, a
big one on your heart

(there are) no two ways about it o
make no bones about
ce
find oneself on the horns of a
dilemma
BO
be in two minds about o be of two
minds o be in a quandary (about/whether to)

o / ce
/
he who goes into a mill comes out
powdered

,
where there is smoke there is fire
c there is no smoke without fire

/
nave a steady boyfriend/girlfriend

the fourth dimension

a futile discussion

there's no question about it

read sb's palm

eat out of sb's hand

(as) plain as a pikestaff (as) plain
as the nose on your face
BO
put one's back into .,, get down to
n get cracking n take the bit be
tween one's teeth n buckle down/to sth c. grasp the nettle


do away with :. put an end to

! in}
bottoms up! o down the hatch

( ) , . .
it's not up to me ( t o ) . . . o it does
not depend on me
(/)
I don't feel like (eating/drinking)

48

the dead of (the) night c. the witch
ing hour

the golden age r golden days &
halcyon days

good looks
/ BO ()
good/bad at (numbers)

()
he helps little that helps not himself
-> be a friend to thyself and others
will befriend thee

not feel one's usual self o be off
colour
(/)
not much of a (teacher/doctor)
( /)
not much good at

!
Welcome! o Join the club (we're
in the same situation)

take advantage*of sb's good na

ture c encroach (up)on one's
come in handy/useful o be wel
kindness
come o do good v, stand one in
good stead

BO / ?
what is the good of?
in the dead hours of the night o in
the dead of the night
go through thick and thin


until the small hours
I'm all right o there's nothing

BO

0)__

49

w rong with me

one good turn deserves another

E ! inf
'Weil, that's all right!
c o BO
b e with sb through fair and foul o
be/stay with sb through thick and
thin be with sb through good
and bad times

for better (or) for worse a come
what may

common good

for sb's sake <= for sb's own good
o to sb's credit

it's not good to o it doesn't do to
/ ?
What can I do for you? o What
brings you here?
()
()
get/take what's coming to one
inf
don't push it o you'll catch it

confide in swear by

justify sb faith
so
in confidence

enough of a fool to
to

fool enough

united we stand, divided we fall
()
a bargain's a bargain
no
as if by agreement

under engagement

come to an agreement o come to
an understanding

break an agreement u break ranks
ce
keep one's side of the bargain

a gentleman's agreement

it looks like rain

welcome as flowers in May o (as)
welcome as the flowers of spring

it began to rain

we're in for a rain .. it looks/smells
like rain
,
from the frying pan, into the fire o

out of the frying pan, into the fire

/
f
op secret o classified o in strict
it's raining
confidence
no

the darkest hour comes before the

dawn o if winter comes can spring
enough and to spare
be far away

with a certain amount of
BO
in small dozes

50

()

inf
at full length

- inf
long hair, short wit

/
/

with your permission .. If you ex

inf
cuse the liberty ,-. If you pardon the
it's a long story
liberty = If you allow/let me

take liberties with o get carried

away
to make a long story short o in a
nutshell
() () (//)

can afford (to) (buy/sell/have)

() inf
(
on the same wave-length as o
)
speak the same language (as)
cannot afford to

( )
give permission
I owe you one

establish oneself as
take over c-, take office


express oneself in o make one's
the daily round
name in

si
it'll ill become sb to do sth
an expert in o a dab hand

()
(/)

down with (the rich/poverty)
pay off old debts
-
/
up and down o back and forth
be in debt up to one's neck/ears
()
be deep in debt
/ ,
inf

in debt
incur debts => run into between the devil and the deep
(blue) sea
debt o go to the wall

51

/
(/)
omeward(s)

(be)
homewards
h
be up to o be a good match for
bound

HHUJTO

there's no place like home o home
be no match for o be one too
sweet home
many for sb
c e ()
feel at home . make oneself at
si
home
eat sb for breakfast

(a) home from home

play host to

in/
homebody - home bird

! inf
I don't like it (at all)!

inf
(as) dry as dust o (as) dull as ditchwater

be bored out of one's mind ._ be
bored stiff

(co)
(with) clean sheet/slates

co ()
with a long criminal record

?
how do you like it?

I like her/him/it - it pleases me

,
enough is as good as a feast

to the touch
He ! imper
Don't touch! o Hands off!

enough -.> that'll do . that's plenty

! !
CO TOa imper
Cut (it) out! .. Shut up! o Enough!
o That settles it! u That'll do! o
That's enough now!

WHory
let oneself go <. know no limits o
take liberties with o get carried
away

have a lot of common ground

never have enough ^ not to know
when to stop o know no limits
, !
Enough is enough!

Pull one's weight . carry one's
snare of the workload . do one's
stuff

beneath sb's dignity

/
so much the better/worse

much less

much more o one more reason

within arm's reach <, to hand o
within easy reach o close at hand

52

inf
catch sb napping > catch sb on
the wrong foot

() inf
(as) fit as a fiddle o (as) sound as
bell o as right as rain o as right as
a trivet

BO
the power behind the throne o a
state within a state

, ( )

come with the wind, go with the /

water - easy come, easy go o ill
this is not public property
gotten, ill spent
lightly come,
lightly go

hold fast to
no
jump down sb's throat o speak ill
keep well o (still) going strong c
of sb o give sb a blast
keep one's head up o keep a stiff
upper lip

a , a
stand on/upon one's dignity
you could talk until you're blue in
the face
*

stand on one's dignity

! imper inf
Hangontight! o Hang on in there!
hunt for sb high and low
o fasten your seat belt! o hang/ / inf
hold on to your hat!
knock on wood! o touch wood


put up a good fight
keep one's
twist the wand while it is green
head up

inf
nooks and crannies
leave no
sell sb short
stone unturned
ce


keep
sb at arm's length o give st
you can't make a silk purse of a
a
wide
berth
sow's ear
ce . ce "*


you can't teach an old dog new
keep a safe distance o keepon:
tricks


distance o keep off o keep away
.. keep out o steer clear of c
keep/hold/stand aloof from s b / S fh r, keep (oneself) to oneself o
h old back o fight shy of

53

be friends with o mix with

()

()
(still) going strong

for one thing

if he's got the guts

we'll/we'd do the rest

, inf
as you make your bed you must lie
on it o as you sow so you shall
reap > as you bake so you shall
eat
() He ! imp erst
Shut your mouth! o Shut up! o
Cut the crap!

a different story < a far cry from

!
What a nerve/cheek! o What in
solence!
()
/ inf
keep up with the Joneses
inf
be tarred with the same brush

like everybody else

()
nothing else (but) o nothing short
of o little short of
/
among other things
()
,

business is b u s i n e s s o
before pleasure

duty

mixed company

keep bad company

mixed party
()
keep sb company
ce

/
what is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander

inf
feel ill at ease with sb
I won't buy that o do me a favour
ce
BO
come again o tell that to the
marines
move in the best circles

!
the upper crust
Be a friend! o Be a pall!
BO


in company with o accompanied
sworn friend
by

54

/
have (the) presence of mind to

when the dust has settled

evil spirit o goblin
black hole

co
a loophole in the law
absentminded u out to lunch

nara co
lose heart
a lion's den
inf

square the circle o plough the
presence of mind > self-control
sand

pour oil on troubled waters

even if c though granted that c
state of mind
granting that

/ be that as it may
co /

let one's heart rule one's head o
even now
allow the heart rule the head


even then
be at death's door > have one foot
in the grave a be not long for this

world o breatji one's last
not even

BO

in
one's
heart of hearts
only yesterday

a good sort
your fly is undone

a heart of gold o an angel, not a

man n kindness itself

/ inf
spiritless r, tame c lose heart
the time is ripe for o this is the right

moment for
until tempers cool down


the dust settles
go through fire and water for sb

e si
feelings run high
a (regular) brick

flutter the dovecotes
be the moving spirit of

exchange of words

55

one's heart/mind to
/
open one's soul/heart

I feel sick at heart c it breaks my
know sb like the back of one's
heart it hurts me a great deal
hand .. know sb inside out >
,
know sb through and through
the spirit is willing but the flesh is
weak

HOC .
belong to sb with heart and soul o

belong to sb with body and soul
be at death's door o be with one

foot in the grave
a turncoat o a renegade o a
!
snake in the grass
My darling/sweetheart!


breathe one's last o push the boat
be tender hearted J feel sorry for
out
sb
inf

dip into one's pockets o dig into
be as hard as a stone o be as hard
one's purse o push the boat out o
as nails c have no heart o have a
put one's hand in one's pocket
heart of stone
loosen one's purse-strings

have sb on one's conscience o inf
drive a nail into sb's coffin
look after number one
ja

sell one's soul to the devil
get sth off one's chest n make a
inf
clean breast of it
as much as your heart desires o ()
all you want o to one's heart con
open one's heart/mind to a bare
tent
one's soul to


be relieved -. (take a) load off sb's
sell one's soul
mind

v U ja
life and soul (of sth)

bear a heavy burden on one's

mind

a small mind

co

be eager to o be looking forward
n
to
one in sight a not a (living) soul
about
co e co
bleed for sb
A
^ m the bottom of one's heart
co
W|
m all one's heart (and soul)
without remorse/qualms

(>
ve

a word in one's ear o open

a kindred soul/spirit


/

lay the blame on sb o hold sb
responsible for sth

pick on sb a be on sb's case
BO
at heart/bottom
inf
as a treat

take the blame for sth o take it
upon oneself c take the can/rap
inf
cross my heart!
inf
I beseech you

generous soul

be on one's deathbed

56

breathe one's last -. strain every

nerve o be hard put to o be at
pains (to)

break one's heart

to the bitter end <- to the last drop
of blood

you name it, we have it

breathe one's last
HOC

be dead tired
-

meet one's maker

fight with heart and soul o put up
a good fight

57

[OH

go beyond a joke
!
To hell with it/him! o (The) Devil
takesb/sth! < What the hell!
) ,

from the frying pan, into the fire

inf
run a mile shun like the devil
steer clear of sb/sth
() ()
one can never be too careful o the
devil/Satan finds/makes work for
idle hands o the devil is subtle, yet
weaves a coarse web
Koj ? inf
What the devil is the matter with
you? What's got into you?
co . .. inf
he that sups with the devil must
have a long spoon

sell one's soul to the devil
()

the devil is not so black as he is
painted
no !
Go to hell! o Damn you! o Goto
the devil!
!
the Devil! r By Jingo Blast it!
Damn it (all)! For pity's sake! >
Knickers!
KO
inf
grow like a weed o shoot up
inf
tell the truth and shame the devil

co
treat rough o ride roughshod over
() inf
(as) tough as old boots

, inf
a slice off a cut cake is never
missed

every last
/
side by side o huddle together/up
o cheek by jowl

one and only
no
one by one o one after the other
/
each other o one another
,
one for all, and all for one
() inf
as plain as pikestaff

as one (man) -, in unison
,

,

one man's loss is another man's
gain o one man's meat is another
man's poison
,
mother to one, stepmother to
another
()
not the only pebble on the beach

neither one nor the other

be like each other

58

made for each other
/
another you/me

/
knock sb into the middle of the
next week o land sb one

, inf
harp on the same string
( )
neither fish, flesh, fowl,"nor good
red herring o neither fish, nor fowl
o neither flesh nor fowl

, inf
without mincing words => without
beating about/around the bush o
(straight) from the shoulder c off
the cuff
! si
put a sock in it!

fall between two stools

there's one thing one can be sure

of

() , inf
tons of Q lots of o piles

first among equals

equal among equals

once and for all

many's the time many a time o
more than once

not once
. . .
once upon a time . . .

once more o once again o yet
again

59

EKC
! inf
bottoms up! a down the hatch
/ si
(drink) down the hatch

-> /

inf
a flight of fancy

a museum piece

inf
BO
be in hot water ... be for the high
be out of one's element
jump be on the rocks be in the
shit
BO
be in one's element
E3EPO
/ inf
inf
go (and) jump in the lake
(be) dressed like a dog's dinner
EK
EM
BO
. . . , . . .
under way
not only . . . b u t . . . as well
BO
during in the thick of sth
BO
in full swing o in the thick of

high season

a black economy
EKPAH

silv
er screen

the
small screen

a grey eminence

take a sledgehammer to crack/break a walnut .. break a/the but
terfly on a/the wheel
co
full of animal spirits

full of energy o full of beans/pep
()
get one's second wind

a walking encyclopedia

60

reckon without one's host

ecan -

ce

grow/spread like weeds spread
it doesn't count
like a rash/wildfire

the last stage/leg/lap
be up to the mark

break new/fresh grounds

ja

mark an era

works take effect
EPA


herald a new era
have no effect o show no results

play to the gallery/grandstand

, inf
short reckonings make long *"
friends
fall flat c fall as flat as a pancake
ecan -
strain after an effect/effects

>

61

(have) a frog in the throat
have a good mind to o burn with
desire o be all agog

,

if one sheep leaps over the dyke,
with the best will in the world
all the rest will follow
no
from/out of choice o of one's own

free will o of one's own accord o

off one's own bat
lodge a complaint

/
against
one's better judgement
make/reject an appeal

fond hope pie in the sky

(/ . . .)
I'm sorry (but. . .)

HO turn sb off o put sb off sth

I'm afraid I cannot accept it

/ in/

a live wire
strike while the iron is hot <. make
hay while the sun shines
in/
BO
a dark horse
throw sth on the scrap heap o put
inf
out to pasture
(as) sharp as razor (as) keen as
BO
mustard
be thrown to the dogs

thirst for blood

a lady of the town -. woman of
quench one's thirst
easy virtue o good-time girl o
one-night-stand

()
lose heart for o have no appetite
a woman's/wife's place is in the
home

62

marry get married : take the
one can't live on love and fresh air
plunge o get hitched

live and let live

si

well preserved woman

touch sb's sore point o touch/hit

a nerve o touch to the quick

/ inf
reap a rich harvest

be not among the living

() inf
ce
live to seethe day
return to the land of the living
inf
be caught with one's hands in the
till
/
inf
in flesh u live
I'm starving
K

inf
wild
horses
couldn't/
wouldn't
dead or alive
drag
him
there
u
all
the
King's

horses and all the King's men
safe and sound o alive and kicking
can't/couldn't do/make
inf
eat/tear one's heart out o kick ce
everything under the sun o the
oneself o tear one's guts out
(whole) lot o every living thing

dead scared o frightened out of
one's wits/senses < scared stiff .
more dead than alive
I would give the world -. I would
inf
give my right arm
not a soul o nobody under the sun
.
o not a single person
e

life is not a bed of roses

/
live in sin with sb
life goes on o the show must go
?
on
Don't you know?
You're not on
the ball
truth is stranger than fiction


you/we only live once
if one values one's life

?
what do you do for a living?
a Bohemian life

63

ce
make one's way in life o go up
qjve one's life c make the su
preme sacrifice

r 0
bane one's existence/life
devote one's life to o consecrate

one's life to
put into practice/effect

r 0
risk one's life/neck o stick one's

neck out o place/put one's head

such is life o that's life
in the lion's mouth

( )
living conditions
be like a cat with nine lives
()

give a new lease o f / o n life o
breathe new life into sth put life
a dog's life
into sth


between life and death
see life

to the death o to the bitter end o
lead/live/have/follow a double life
a life-and-death struggle
o live a lie
/
BO
way of life
in private life o offstage
()

one's life and times

no quarter was given c take no
prisoners

grant sb his life
BO
bring back to life

risk one's life
()
make ones' own way in life/the
w
r l d o pull oneself up by one's
own bootlaces/bootstraps
c
e
le
ad a hand-to-mouth existence o
smuggle for bare existence
Ce

BO

*esp body and soul together

Ce

ire into obscurity

ret

the world to come

look at the dark side of life
/
sow one's wild oats

lose one's temper/cool .-. be be
side oneself o blow one's top
/
get/grate on sb's nerves o set
sb'steethonedge o put sb's back
up o get up sb's nose o make
sb's hackles rise o raise sb's hack
les
() / inf
have nerves of steel keep one's
head o keep a cool head

64

/
inf
strain every nerve -, p U || out all the
stops

inf
honest Injun/Indian
->
ce! inf
I swear to God! o cross my heart!

., so help me (God)!
Injun/Indian

honest

an easy mark c> a soft/easy touch
- easy meat

fall victim to

co
grind one's teeth o gnash one's
teeth

/ *
grit one's teeth o take the bit be
tween one's teeth

HOB
cut a tooth

the show is over

armed to the teeth/hilt
()
have a down on sb o have one's
knife in sb > have it in for sb o be
on sb's case o pick on sb

speak through clenched teeth .mumble

run rings around sb
,
a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an
eye c fight fire with fire

the tooth of time . wear and tear

show one's teeth
teeth

bare one's

have a good time o enjoy oneself
/
have a whale of a time .-. paint the
town red
go bananas
ce inf
have a rare time
ce co ()
go (steady) with

! si
I don't give a shit about it! <-. (kiss)
my arse! - tough shit!
() si
It's none of your bloody business

65

save from oblivion

conspiracy of silence

fall into oblivion o go by the board

draw/throw a veil over
cast a
curtain over
/

let bygones be bygones

/
(a) thankless task

there is no law against (it)

/
be thankful for small mercies

forbidden fruit is sweetest

there's no mistaking

creature comforts

BO
be mistaken about .; be under a
misapprehension about

so
in the lee of

according as o it depends on

9 the way of sb/sth

si
when the balloon goes up o when
the chips are down o when the shit
hits the fan

ja /
do one's homework

don't forget to -> be sure to

3ABEPA
/
conspire w i t h / a g a i n s t
against ; set up a plot

plot

have the pleasure of
do one's
heart good to
get a pleasure/kick out of
()
to the joy of

take delight in J find pleasure in o
get one's kicks out of

as a labour of love
out of sheer
pleasure

give sb pleasure o give sb a kick

!? taboo
would I shit you!?
taboo
no shit!

have sth in common

66

oath of allegiance
/
take an oath

inf

it's mouthwatering > one's mouth ,

waters
I can't swear to it, but a I can't put
my finger on it, but
3AJAK
ce
inf
I wouldn't swear to it
where the shoe pinches
ce
KO inf
swear/take an oath

(as) timid as a rabbit
put on/under oath
() inf
run like a hare
! inf
So that's the (name of the) game!
; That's the catch!
no ,

fall between two stools

ce () inf
breed like rabbits
3AJKO
inf
a smart Alec(k)
3AKAHA

empty threat o hot air

inf
at the drop of one's/a hat

inf
spoil for a fight

be on/under oath
/
oath of office

3AKOH

(a) divine law

Draconian law

take the law into one's hands o a
law into oneself

an unwritten law

ignorance of the law is no excuse

n ignorance of the law excuses no
man/one
/

there should be a law against it

everybody is equal under the law

take sth as gospel

natural law
BO
in the name of the law

the law of the jungle



/
no man is above the law

67

inf
setup hot up . gather momen
tum get into one's stride

3AMEHA

BO
under sb's wing .-. under the cover
instead of o in exchange of
of

,

a creaking gate hangs long
let's not kid ourselves

/


imagine o make believe
beapenny-pincher o watch every

penny
inf
be/live in each other's pockets
( )
be beyond one's compass - bite
off more that one can chew - too
hot to handle
,

look before you leap -. hear twice

before you speak once

be off one's food

!
not so fast!

no
be crazy about o be nuts about
have a crush on

be
not for nothing o be worth it
3

be
no use/good o be hopeless

Bo

"Hull swing

! imper
Shut up! o Keep your mouth shut!
3AHAET

become master of one's trade
3AHEC
nara BO
be in/go into/be thrown into ecs
tasy about

() () inf
don't get smart with me! - don't
give me that! . don't get any
ideas!

straight from the shoulder o with
out mincing words

all quiet on the Western front/Poto
mac

have constipation

70

be struck dumb
/

waste one's breath a kick against

the pricks

last word o the latest thing c, state
of the art

take my word or it o take my tip

empty words o trash -> wind ... hot
air

take sb short c pull sb up

take sth on trust

exchange words
co
have words with
bandy words
with exchange words with
ce /
inf
pay lip service to

eat one's words
()
break one's word
inf
take my word for it .> believe (you)
me
co
in other words o that is to say o to
be exact o strictly speaking
co , !
in a word, no!
co ce e
easier said than done

four-letter words o obscenities

it's a question of it's a matter of

keep one's word

a man of few words

hard words

take sb up short
ynara BO
get a word in edgeways

take the words out of sb's mouth

take sb at his word o take sb's
word for it
BO
in sum o in short u to make a long
story short

Certainly o Of course r, By ail
means o No question about it
no
one word leads to another

take the floor
-
a word or two
/
the floor is yours

&
have the floor

give sb the floor

break one's word/promise

fine words butter no parsnips
.
.
keep one's word o be as good as
one's word
!
Honestly! o On my word of ho-


nour! o Upon my word/soul o
Cross my heart
BO
in the broader sense of the word

give one's word

leave a message
. . .
what I was trying to say .. .

answer back

be talking

not to mention o say nothing of o
let alone
,
play a double game
() /
look who's talking

come to that o if it comes to that
o while we're on the subject of
,
in many words the truth goes by o
in many words a lie or two may
escape
,
talk much and err much ., say well
or be still
, /
easier said than done .. actions
speak louder than words o deeds
are fruits, words are but leaves it
is better to do well than to say well
the effect speaks, the tongue
need not
/ ()
something tells me J I feel (it) in
rny bones o I know in my bones

71

he's not as black as he is painted

He imper
Save your breath u Don't waste
your breath

not be on speaking terms with

not to put too fine a point on it o
frankly speaking o to be honest o
give the devil his due
no
speak for itself/themselves
ce
it's said that o the story goes that
() imper
Speak for yourself
() in/
talk nineteen to the dozen o be all
mouth and trousers o talk a mile a
minute

be talking to the wind r, kick
against the pricks

tell against

that says it all

within earshot

out of earshot

sound unconvincing
/
ring hollow

ring a bell o sound familiar o have
a familiar ring


/
ring true

it makes/made me sick

72

to the last breath o to the last drop
of blood
co ()
be short-lived

to crown it all o furthermore o
further o besides o over and
above o and what is more o on
top of it/sth
- - inf
slapdash o jerrybuilt > in a slap
dash manner

not give sb breathing space

to our health

safe and sound -. alive and kicking
out of harm's way

full of beans o sound in wind and
limb o hale and health o clean bill
get one's second wind
of health

have no breath left a run out of
health is better than wealth
steam o lose one's wind
/

be scared stiff/to death
be
he that wants health wants all .
scared out of one's wits .:. be
health and money go far
astonished/flabbergasted/stupef
/

ied
enjoy
bad/good
health

Ha
!
not give sb breathing space
To your health! o Cheers! o kiss

it goodbye o (blagoslov pri kivcatch one's breath c recover
nuvawe) God bless you!
one's wind > get one's breath
back

ce
drink sb's health u drink a health
grasp for breath
to sb
BO
/ in one breath o (straight) off the
! inf
reel
they don't come any better/worse

o all is gas and gaiters
catch one's breath
inf

be in fine/good fettle <> be in the
(get one's) second
take breath
pink -, be a picture of health
wind
co
be ailing/sickly o not up to snuff


Co !
Good-bye! o Good riddance (to
bad rubbish)
BO /
to your health o cheers!

.
health is better than wealth o
health is not valued till sickness
comes o he that wants health
wants all

/
take sth/sb for granted

he/she sends you his/her regards

inf
don't you just stand there, (do sth)

inf
be green (as grass)

ja . inf
drop a brick/clanger
3EME

it depends how one looks at it o
that is as it may be

inf
a nit-wit o a jerk

*e inf
kiss it goodbye

3EMJA

73

3EMJA

up and down the country
,
so many countries, so many cus
toms .-> every land has its own laws
inf
six feet under
(
) inf

lay sb low

vanish/disappear/melt into thin air
o vanish/disappear from the face
of the earth go off into the blue

may he rest in peace .-. God rest
his soul -.- may the earth be light to
him
inf
have (got) one foot in the grave Q
be far gone be on one's last lay
o be not long.for this world <-, be
on one's last legs

no man's land
- inf
blind drunk o blind to the world o
dead drunk o be three sheets to/in the wind o pissed out of one's
mind/head
inf
rivet sb to the ground/spot
( )
sinkthroughthefloor - dieathousand deaths be put to the blush
o have egg on one's face c have
jam all over one's face
ce
come back/down to earth

bring sb down/back to earth

the Promised Land o never-never-

_ _ _ ^ _ _ 74

land

wipe sth off the face of the earth o
raze sth to the ground o leave no
trace/vestige of sth
inf
never-never-land o a land of milk
and honey
()
(in) wonderland
, / /
I could have died o Was my face
red?! o I didn't know whereto put
myself o How can I live this down?
o I could have sunk through the
floor! o I wish I was anywhere else
(in the world) but here

be on pins and needles o be on
tenterhooks

BO
at the zenith

/ ()

treasure sb/sth like the apple of
one's eye o nurse with tender care

stand aghast o be horhfied/shocked gape with surprise
inf
curiosity killed the cat o ask no
question and hear no lies o
wouldn't you like to know
!?
What are you staring at!?
3JAE

loom empty

choose the lesser of two evils o of
two mischiefs choose the least o
better the devil you know than the
devil you don't know

be on the horns of a dilemma ,

oil

be no angel/saint

all that glitters/glistens is not gold

pay the earth o pay a pocket
pay through the nose

be worth one's weight in gold
worth a fortune
inf
a heart of gold an angel (not a
man) o kindness itself

the winter set in
inf
we haven't/ain't seen nothing yet
inf
no problem! o not to worry o
everything is under control o it's
cool o I'm o.k.

no

if winter comes, can spring be far
knock on wood o touch wood
away

necessary evil

every cloud has a silver lining

gO

through fair and foul o through

thick and thin
(
)
never trouble trouble till trouble
troubles you a he that seeks
trouble never misses

op. ()
out of (pure) malice

a drowning person will clutch to a

straw
,

once bitten, twice shy o a scalded
cat fears hot water -, a burnt child
dreads the fire

nurse a viper in one's bosom
3HAE

for the record

let it be said once and for all
/
and I don't know what/who else
() /
as you (already) know

who knows o it's anybody's guess
, ()
who knows much will suffer much

,
he's not as green as he's cabbage

75

looking butter wouldn't melt in

his mouth a pretend innocence
appearances are deceptive u you
can't tell a book by its covers

to the best of my ability

as far as I know a to (the best of)
my knowledge o for all I know

know best

do not know how much two and
two are i not have enough im
agination/intelligence/sense to
come out of the rain


he'll never know what hit him

can't say no

not know any better
, ,
in/
the left hand doesn't know what the
right hand is doing ^ one doesn't
know whether one is coming or
going

be at a loose end o not know what
to do with oneself o not know
which way to turn o be put out of
countenance

not know what one is missing

not know what way to look/turn
one's eyes

no man can tell o dear (only)
knows
( )



there is no telling/knowing r, one
never knows .. you never know
Ce !
It's (well) known o It goes without
saying o It stands to reason o Of
course! c- Certainly!

76

()
your guess is as good as mine

take note of o take notice of
ce
air/parade one's knowledge
inf
you'd better believe it o take my ()
make it plain o serve notice that, o
word for it
give sb to understand (that)
() ?

Do you know what?! < I'll tell you
knowledge is power
what o I say! <> (Do) You know
something? o You know o you 3HAK
see

sign/signal to sb o motion at/to
. . . ?
sb o tip sb a/the wink
Do you know that. . . ?

/
give/raise the alarm/alert
know one's mind
()

it's a big question o be open to

know what is what in sth
question
/
/
BO
as a sign of o as a mark of o in
know right from wrong
token
of

know what one is doing <> know BO
one's stuff/onions
as a mark of respect
(/-
)
trademark o middle name
know what it is to be (ill/hungry)


question mark
know where one is going
()
BO
show signs of (life)
know what is what in sth
/

/
know as well as I do
hang out/show a white flag ... haul
down/strike one's colours
/
know one's wind know where
flags fly at half-mast
one stands

be nothing to sb
know sth backwards

77

/
()
a ray of hope
that is not to say (that)
?
3PHO
What cloes this mean? What
does this stand for? o What are
hail stone
you trying to do/say/prove?
/
30PA
a ray of hope
ce
no -
the day breaks
penny and penny laid up will be
many o grain by grain the hen fills

her belly o many a mickle makes

a muckle
every why has a wherefore

3PAK

the fast glimmer/flicker of hope

78

a star is born

stargaze <. (be) daydream(ing)
/
praise sb to the skies sing sb's
praises



see stars

promise sb the moon/world

the bigger they are, the harderthey
fall o higher standing, lower fall
ce co

be born under a lucky star o be
born with a silver spoon in one's
mouth

sb's star is on the vein

SBEPKA
inf
big shot a a big noise o a big
bug/cheese o a big wheel o big
wig o the big banana o top ba
nana

a , a

like talking to a brisk wall o you
could talk until you're blue in the
face o like water off a duck's back
o fall on stony ground
( )
knock sb into the middle of the
next week

walls have ears o little pitchers/pigs have long ears

like the walls of Jericho
()
(break) the sound barrier

inf
I'll break your neck

79

ja
lead the field
no
(be) force of circumstances o by
some quirk of fate
()
play sb's game o playthegameof
sb

a deep game

a dirty game
BO
bring into play

come into play o enter/join the

fray
child's play o anybody can do it o
BO () inf
a piece of cake
(be) in the running/race
/
leap in the dark o take the plunge ()
know what sb's game is


be a double-dealer
a strange twist of faith

play a leading role o be a ring
, inf
leader o be in the first flight
it's no use (flogging a dead horse)

?
play for high stakes
how is it going? o how are things?
/
play it safe
(/ )

I feel like (crying/laughing)
Play it straight

ingenious idea a brainstorm
(be) out of the race

ja
the idea is to
have the game in one's hands

.

look/search a needle in a haystack

be packed o burst at the seams

everything form soup to nuts

make a mountain out of a molehill
()
be on pins and needles o be on
tenterhooks o be like a cat on hot
bricks

inf
moth-eaten ideas

bring up an idea o bring sth up
!
What an idea!
/
a half-baked idea
( . . . )
I've no idea (how to . . . ) o I don't
know how to . . .

have a bee in one's bonnet <- have
a fixation
have a hang-up - be
obsessed by an idea
ce ()
run away with the idea/notion

.
have a great future o have a lot/plenty going for one
BO
in (the) future

there is no future for sb

80

/
Excuse me with
/
if you'll excuse sb's/one's French

(ro) () si
give one a miss .-> stand sb up
()
/
the seat of the trouble

from reliable sources

gather life's roses

stand no chance a/one chance

in a million o not have a hope (in
hell) n without chance o on a hid
ing to nothing o out of the running
( )
stand a chance
()
(have) a fighting chance

()? si
who cut the cheese?
the chances are next to nil o the
prospects are zilch

things are looking black
have no option/choice

. . .
appearances are deceptive
I have no alternative but to . . .
HOB
no
new look
by choice o of one's own choice

slim chances o long odds
random choice

! o Ce
by the look of it o on the face of it
Excuse me o (I beg your) Pardon!
o judging by/from appearance

81

( )
looks
like (rain)
it

he doesn't look his age

the way I figure
a s far as I can see
it
?
What is she/he like? o What does
it look like?

look bad <-, look not good

there's more to it than meets the
eye
no ce
in all likelihood o the odds are (on)
o as likely as not o by all ap
pearances o by the looks of it o a
pound to a penny o by/from all
accounts

so it seems
3

/
put up a good/bad show o give a
good/poor account of oneself
ce

put one's best foot forward

to the last breath
()
the/one's last gasp

in/
it's the cutest thing ever c you
want to eat him/her up
in/
it will not eat you

() ce! imper
Make up your mind! o Out with it!

have no option <, there's no way
out

in excuse of


it seems that
lame excuse

/
make/play a fool of oneself o cut
under the clock of o on the pretext
a poor figure (in front of)
that . under colour of

(be) not at home

. . .

I'm starving/dying f o r . . .

go window-shopping
c
e

show one's true colours c throw

off one's mask - come to one's
much to one's surprise
own worth

c
e / be hardly surprising

in abundance o thick on
the ground

come to the fore c leave one's
mark make one's presence felt

find expression in

If you'll pardon the expression
-
-
either-or o make or mar
. . .

either... or
( // . . . )
(or) else (pay/work/prepare . ..
( )
or something

inf
don't cheat

have a way with one
,
he that has a goose will have a
goose o you can't keep a good
man down

honesty is best policy


be worthy of one's name


what's in a name

82

under the name of o by the name
of o under the banner of
no
in name only
ce
answer to the name of
ce ce
pass by/under the name of
. /
get/have a good name o enjoy a
good reputation o win one's co
lours o make/win a name for one
self a put on the map o make
one's mark o earn/gain reputa
tion
BO
in the name of the law
/
in the name of o in/on behalf of <
in the interest of to the memory
of

name no names

by name
/
act for/on behalf of sb
BO
speak for sb o be the mouth-piece
of sb

a bad name

a name to conjure with

inf
a castle in the air o a pipe dream

a parody of .. an apology for

()
what a nuisance! o just my luck o
t 0 make matters worse o as luck
would have it
0
out of spite

kick against the pricks o fly in the
face/teeth of

inf
be part of the furniture/furnishings

a white elephant

()
a shot in the arm

give/take initiative
ja
take the initiative < take the lead n
come to the fore lead the way o
steal a march on sb o turn the
tables on sb
no
on one's own initiative

take action/measures

83

have no interest


have no axe to grind

for one's own end o look after
number one

have political/nationalistic over

tones

, si
can dish it out but can't take it o
bottle out o lose one's bottle o
punk out

()
(drink) down the hatch

an exception to the rule

the exception proves the rule

by way of exception o as an ex
ception

make an exception o stretch a
point o bend the rules

()
ce no
without exception o bar none
follow one's nose
co
except for o with the exception of
()
o apart from o aside from short

of


look after/take care of number one
-' have an axe to grind
make the best of o turn/put sth to

/
good account
/

a ray of hope

foam at the mouth

84

be not worth it .> the game is not
worth the candle
ce
it pays to o be worth it
( )
pay for itself

to be honest o not to put too fine ce
a point on it
face (up to) > stand up to

it just slipped/popped out

experience is the best teacher
he made a slip of the tongue/lip o

break wind

come off well . turn out well

inf
co
get lost! o get off my back!
go out with sb o date sb

(ro) ()
live up to expectations o pass the
(acid) test o pass the muster o
pass an examination

give an examination

fail to live up to expectations o fail
to pass muster o fail the/a test o
fail an/the examination

sit/take an examination

take (sb) to test put to proof o
put on trial

inf
what you lose on the swings, you
gain on the roundabouts

change the course of history

history repeats itself there is
nothing new under the sun

make the history
/
the rest is history
/
that's all past/ancient history

/

get one's money worth o be in sb
favour o be to sb's advantage ce si
go off at a half cock
suit/fit sb's/one's book

85

()
beyond (all) expectations
()
according to (all) expectations
()
against all/contrary to (all) expec
tations
BO
in anticipation of

give/drop a hint o tip sb the/a
wink

it's urgent

it's not urgent o there's no hurry

() inf
he gets carried away o not know
when to stop o go/carry to ex
tremes

inf
wag one's tongue

- inf
make or mar

Adam's apple

an apple of discord a bone of
contention

,
all that glitters is not gold . fair
without, false within o fair face, foul
heart o appearances are decep
tive

a rotten apple
JABE

in reality

into the open

be off-the-record

inf
great demand for c sell like hot
cakes

/ () inf
(as) quiet as a lamb/mouse

,
deeds are fruits, words are but
leaves

JABHOCT
ce () inf
()
give public airing to sth o bring
(be as) slippery as an ell

86

/
eat like a horse
( ) /
(let's) eat, drink, and be merry (for
tomorrow we die)

I'm hungry
() taboo
(you're a real) bullshit! > you talk
a lot of bullshit cut the crap! o
knock it off!
, inf
if the cap fits, wear it
() si
(be) fair to middling
() inf
this is too much o I can't take it any
longer v enough is enough a it
will not do
ce /
be eaten up with jealousy/envy

ramble on o chew the rag

be dying/itching to say sth

have a caustic/cutting tongue
have a rough edge to one's tongut

the tongue is not steel yet it cuts
words cut more than swords o a
good tongue is a good weapon o
the tongue is more venomous than
a serpent's sting o hurtful words
are more painful than an inflicted
wound
,

a word spoken is past recalling ,

least said, soonest mended

find sth a mouthful to say <> ge;
one's tongue round sth

wagging tongues

put a gag on sb

wining and dining
find one's tongue o loosen up


I'm starving/famished
be tongue-tied o lose one's
tongue . be at loss for words

remain speechless


inf
see eye to eye with o share/find
take/swallowthebait o raise to the
common ground with
bait
inf
look before you leap o don't jump
JA3
into conclusions <> think twice

an unbridgeable gap
hold one's tongue - keep one's
mouth shut o keep one's tongue

between one's teeth

()
have a loose tongue/mouth o
bite one's tongue
have a big mouth

inf
shoot the breeze

egg sb (to say something)

speak the same language

you have a big mouth
imper

hold your tongue

ro
you have a big mouth
/
it's on the tip of my tongue
(
)
cannot punch one's way out of a
paper bag
-

87

JATQ

-, stay on one's case

Easter egg
taboo

lick sb's arse

inf
you must be wrong -> you're
wrong o two and two make five in
your case
JAPEM
(ro) ()
throw off the yoke

a scapegoat <> a whipping boy

JAC
jac

have a strong personality o stand

one's ground o stand upon one's

dignity - call one's soul one's own
cut the Gordian knot
jac , inf

give and take c you scratch my

back and I'll scratch yours o today

me, tomorrow you

put all one's eggs into one basket
jac
! taboo
one's second self
Big deal! o Bullocks!
jac
inf
to my knowledge - for all I know
as if treading on eggs
jac
KO

as like as two beans alike to a

to the best of my memory
hair o like two peas in a pod > the
spitting image of o the spit and JACHO
image of o a carbon copy


in no uncertain terms -> in plain
a cuckoo in the nest
English c loud(ly) and clear(ly)

JATO
be a dead ringer for sb
ce
() taboo
come back/return to the fold
break one's balls c grip sb's shit

88

diamond cut diamond

a big mouth

man of the hour

take by storm

star of the night

be at sword's points

pick up a quarrel/fight

don't give me that tell me anoth
er n I wasn't born yesterday

just say the word

be past it
?
!
Where from? o How come?
You're telling me! o It's none of
, (/)!
your business o Who do you think
far and away so much better/you are? o Look who's talking
bigger

needless to say
,

()
be judge and jury in one's own
something tells me o I feel (it) in
case c a kangaroo court
my bones Q I know in my bones
//

. . .
it's hard to say/tell

if I say/tell you that... I've told you KA3HA
()
nothing new
do time

to tell the truth o frankly speaking

execute o put to death
0 to be honest o to put it bluntly
! imper
a poetic justice
Say it! o Out with it! o spit it out

inf
get away with (blue murder)
1 have no idea/clue n curiosity

killed the cat

as a punishment o for one's sins

KAJMAK
(ro)
one get what one deserves

89

KAMEH

-
(just) any old . . . will do

KAJMAK

(ro) () inf
()
skim the cream off sth o pick the
fling/sling/throw mud at
cream of the crop o take the
bloom of
come to sb's rescue bail sb out
lend a helping hand
KAKO

()
()
leave
sb
in the lurch
suit sb down to the ground
()

as well as > every (single/last) bit .

as < same as
()
?
cast in the same mould o of the
How come? o Come again! o
same stripe
What did you say? .- Pardon!

?

How are you? o (pri zapoznava
we) How do you do
united we stand, divided we fall o

union is strength
just as
KAMATA


in order to o so that
pay sb back with interest

as if
KAMEH
,
! inf
my eye! like hell it is o a likely

story! come off it
turn the other cheek

a ,
be it as it may o anyway

you could talk until you're blue in

HOB
the face
in mint condition

. . .
a/the milestone around/round/what ever. . .
about sb's neck
/! inf

and how! o Are you kidding!
/
,
KAKOB

a rolling stone gathers no moss
any o anything o any kind

?
(take a) load off sb's mind
What's he like?
.

90

ja
bare one's head
between the devil and the deep
(blue) sea - between Scylla and
Charybdis - between the rock and
inf
the hard place
have nothing between one's ears

! inf imp er
a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an
Don't worry! o Don't you worry
eye
'bout a thing c feel free and easy

inf
leave no stone unturned
more than enough


lay the corner-stone
take one's hat off to sb o raise

one's hat to sb
a touchstone
() inf
inf
cook sb's goose
(as) hard as nails o (as) hard as

flint/stone
inf

to crown it all o to cap it all
stumbling block

it's freezing cold

a
not to mention o much less o let
alone

go through (the) proper channels

no
through diplomatic channels
KAHTAP

put st on the scales a try it in the
balance

give/make earnest o make a lay
by

ja
throw one's hat in the air

dead/idle capital

capitalize on

()

cherish/treasure sth like the apple

of one's eye

die in the last ditch
() inf
as fresh as a daisy
no
little by little o bit by bit

no -
no ,
many a mickle makes a muckle o
penny and penny laid up will be
many o grain by grain the hen fills
her belly

a drop in the ocean o a drop in the


bucket

last straw o the straw that broke
the camel's back
( ) ( )
(this is) the last straw
c e
fight to the last drop of blood o
fight tooth and nail -> fight to the
bitter end

/
put/keep in quarantine

make a career o do well
/
inf
throw one's cards

lay/put one's cards on the table o
lay down one's cards
,
lucky in cards, unlucky in love

full house .- a ticket sold by a
scalper

keep one's cards close to the chest

stack the cards against sb
()

be on a winning streak
inf
hold/keep/play one's cards/hand
close to one's chest o keep one's
own counsel
He ro
be on a losing streak

91

lay down one's cards o put/lay
one's cards on the table - show
one's hand

last chance o the last card o the
last resort

shuffle the cards
ce
put one's shirt on sth = have/put
all (one's) eggs in one basket
KAPTOH
inf
be shown the yellow card
inf
be shown the red card
KACA

out of the public purse c out of the
taxpayer's money
KATA
//
every night/day/year
KATA

the pot calls the kettle black
KATPAH
()
as black as coal o (as) black as the
Ace of Spades o (as) black as soot

()
read a tea cup c read the tea
leaves
ce ,

once bitten, twice shy

ce (///-

92

)
board go aboard -, go on board

get sb off the hook

leave sb to stew in (in his own juice)
inf
a fine kettle offish
BO inf
in the same boat
BO inf
be in a mess o be in dire straits o
be in hot water o be on the rocks
o be up against the wall o be in a
jam o be in the soup

self scarce

inf
work for peanuts
inf
you scratch my back and I'll
scratch yours

/ inf
run to fat put on flesh

sweep sth under the carpet

red carpet

() inf
not to be sneezed at .. not to be inf
have a grudge against - bear ma
sniffed at
lice against
have it in for sb

have a down on sb
() inf
feel pleased with oneself o put on
the dog o act the cock of the walk () ()
I'll bet (that) o I'll bet you (that)
o (be) like a dog with two tails o
be as pleased as Punch
() ce
()

bet sb anything/what he likes

cera inf
(that)
we're square now
ce

make (a) book on put one's shirt

on sth
come/turn up trumps o suit sb ce
down to the ground o hit the spot
I'll bet my bottom dollar
> just what the doctor ordered

/
ce si
of the first order u first class o top
flutter one's eyelashes at
class o of the first magnitude o of
the first order o firsthand

ja
world class
beat a (hasty) retreat make one



be in a class of its own

(a) cut above

while the going is good

change of air/climate

93

adunce'scap the stool of repen
tance

end up in the dock

put sb in the dock

(
co
)
one nail drives out another >-. take
the key to (the problem)
a hair of the dog that bit you

, inf
behind bars ~ under lock and key
get one's wires crossed u be at
no
cross purposes
according to roster o on a pro rata
/
basis
, -
put up the shutters
,
penny wise, pound foolish

a golden key opens every door o

inf
a silver key can open an iron lock
be chilled to the marrow

things started untangling .. the
the book sells well
tangle started to unravel

the book is our best friend

inf
be black-listed
get the boot o get the chop o get
the push o get the axe o get the
bum's rush
speak like a book
/ inf
give sb the boot c send sb pack
ing , give sb the chop . give sb
debit against
the push dumpsb give sb the
bum's rush

si
each man is the workman of his
get a quick bite o have a snack
fortune

if only o I wish

come to that o if it comes to that

o come to think of it
in this
connection o when it comes down
to o speaking of which

sooner or later

be out of time o have no time (to
spare)

seldom o once in a while o hardly
ever o only now and then

94

_KOj

give sb the willies


get into sb's good grace o butter
sb up o curry favour with sb
worm one's way into sb's con
fidence
inf
look like a drowned rat o be
drenched/soaked to the skin

I wouldn't like to be in his shoes :

I wouldn't like to be in his skin

no flying from fate o what must be,

must be

ce

be in sb's shoes
one man's meat is another man's
poison

die in the last ditch put up a good
,
fight
what can you expect from a hog

but a grunt
strip to the buff
co ,

( as a man is, so is his company o

/)
a man is known by his friends o
be taken to the cleaners o b<
(you can) judge/tell a man by the
cleaned out
company he keeps
in

take sb to the cleaners

si
have a skin/hide like a rhinoceros
beat the rap duck the rap

bring home the bacon
burst a blood vessel o go berserk KOJ
inf
,
everything comes/all things comt
skin and bones o a bag of bones
to him who waits
inf
Koj !
will have sb's guts for garters
Fancy that! _? Just imagine!
( ) inf
Would you believe it! <> Isn't it
it gives me the creeps it makes
amazing!
my flesh creep

KQJ3HAE

cyan,
from a foolish judge quick sen
tence
Koj ro ? si
who cut the cheese?
,
give losers leave to speak
,
might before right
inf
may the better man win o the devil
take the hindmost
,
one evil rises out of another . evil
be to him who evil thinks
, ()

the more you get, the more you

want o much would have more
e inf
it's his own fault o he is to be
blamed
/!
look who's talking!
,
no one is irreplaceable
,
()
he helps little that helps not himself
o he that is ill to himself will be
good to nobody
,

nothing have, nothing crave

, .
, ()
no man is infallible
-
better to have than wish o have is
have
,

much haste, less speed o easy

95

does it

ce
ce
he laughs best who laughs last
,
the early bird catches the worm
, ce -

inf
a fault confessed is half redressed
,
the early bird catches the worm <>
first come, first served
, inf
nothing ventured, nothing gained
Koj () !
Well, did you ever! Well, I never!
, inf
a barking dog seldom bites
ce
lovers' quarrels are soon mended
/?
who's behind it?
inf
nobody cares what you do/say o
go to hell Get lost .- Get along
with you! r Shove off! > Bugger
off! o Buzz off!
inf
who cares o who gives a damn

take sb down a peg (or two) o
show one's paces
() inf
sleep around o with the butcher,
the baker, and the candlestick
maker
KOJ3HAE
!
who knows why!

nothing special nothing to write
home about not a big deal o fair


to middling - betwixt and between
nothing to brag about <= no
great shakes

you'll get what's coming to you
you'll get what you deserve o
when my ship comes home/in

castles in Spain (a) pie in the sky
c- wishful thinking


a blind man can sometimes catch
the hare/hit the crow/hit the mark

have the brain of a pigeon
ja /

kill the goose that lays/laid the
golden egg(s)
,

the greatest talkers are the least
doers

()

the other man's grass is always
greener
the grass is always
greener on the other side (of the
fence)/in the other man's field
,
keep early hours

kill not the goose that lays the gold
en egg
-

when I'm not with the girl I love, I

love the girl I'm with

96

, inf
don't push it o don't push your
luck o you're asking for it <> tempt
fate/Providence
inf
make a mountain out of a molehill

be too late to shut the stable door

after the horse has bolted .- be
wise after the event <= a w o r d
before is worth two behind

a slice of the cake

up to one's/the knees o kneedeep Q knee-high o pint-sized
/
ankle deep in mud > knee-high in
mud

seas of blood

beg sb on one's knees

be weak at the knees
()

cap in hand (to) n go down on

one's (hands and) knees o dance
attendance on

inf
cap in hand o dance attendance
on o go down on one's knees

97

handle

()
from generation to generation <-

from father to son o hand down
the Oedipus complex o a mother

complex
a/the blood bath
( )

have an inferiority complex

, inf
rule the roost o call the shots o be
in the driver's seat - run the show
fish for compliments

! inf
pay
(sb)
a
complement
and how!
-

a modicum o sth at least o any

little helps
meet sb halfway - go halfway with
sb c. go halfway to meet sb o split

the difference ^ strike a happy me

BO no
dium
one by one o one after the other
o in Indian file

/ inf
/
keep up with the Joneses
put sb off his stride/stroke o throw
sb off balance

no
go off the rails
dead straight c in a straight row

no
hang by a thread
as one man o in unison
ce no

go without a hitch
under the command of under
( )
the orders of

pull the strings - hold all the
KOMEHTAP
strings a call the shot ->
. call the

tune
it tells its own story o the picture
tells its story

do sb in o cook sb's goose o

upset sb's apple cart o put a
like a ship without a rudder
spoke in sb's wheel o spike sb's
inf
guns o cut the ground from under
lose one's bearings o fly off the
sb's feet o queer sb's pitch

KOHTAKT

98

() inf
inf
(as) strong as an ox ;! have the
kick the bucket
breathe one's
last o bite the dust o be under the
constitution of a horse/an ox
sod c snuff it

,
pull strings
the master's eye makes the horse
fat o one eye of the master sees

more than ten of the servant
put two and two together
,
KOHTAKT
keep a dog and bark oneself


lose touch with
on easy street c in tall cotton in
the saddle o on top (of the heap)

o off the hook o be sitting pretty
get in touch with
o riding on the crest of the wave
BO co

/
be in touch with o keep in touch

with
never look a gift horse in the mouth

() inf

out of the frying pan into the fire
keep under control
keep down
out of God's blessing into the
- hold in check
warm sun c come down in the

world
lose control . lose one's cool o
() inf
go into a flat spin
work like a horse/slave o work like

a Trojan
be in control c take/have in hand


a Trojan horse
be out of control

under the control of o under the inf
heel of
hang up one's boots
ce e

everything is under control it's all

inf
in hand
the spitting image of . a carbon

copy of ^ be a dead ringer for sb
bring under control bring to heel

inf
hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings
the pot calls the kettle black
< a hungry horse makes a clean
manger

() inf
inf
>
[
(as) hungry as a wolf
pack a hard punch

cross swords

99

break a lance

/
be eager to o die for o long for

. . .
at the touch of a button
()
//
take root grow roots ,- put down
roots

by the roots o root and branch

nip sth in the bud
()
be deep rooted

be descended from n stem from
o derive from .> have its roots in

cut sb short

turn sth to (good) account
capitalise on = make capitol (out)
of
()
be no use/good ^ there's no point
o be in vain n there's no percent
age in

to some effect
/
bear/give evidence against/for
BO ?
what is the good of?
BO
in favour of u on/in behalf of

BO
be in sb's interest

on one's own account

from cover to cover
KOPKA

one's daily bread

take charge r come into power

be in charge u be at the helm

take the wheel

at the helm

/ 7
dump sb o give sb the boot
BO ( )
go by the board
KOCA
, inf
long hair, short wit o have more
hair than wit
( )
enough to make your hair curl

one's/sb's hair stands on end o
one's/sb's hair curls ^ make sb's
flesh creep . give sb the creeps
/
tear one's hair out
KOCKA
inf
more than flesh and blood can
bear o reach the end of one's teth
er o all that one can stand

KOCTEH

to the bone

pain in the neck o a thorn in sb's
flesh

proud flesh
inf
dust sb's jacket o give sb beans o
knock the stuffing out of sb o
make mincemeat of sb o cream sb

leave one's bones to bleach

100

KPAJ

make/win a name for oneself o
get/have a good name o enjoy a
good reputation

the die is cast

at stake o in jeopardy o (be) on
the line

lay sth on the line o place/put in
jeopardy _ take chances

ce /
(be) chilled to the marrow
inf
good broth may be made in an old
pot o there is many a tune played
on an old fiddle o the old guard o
a hard nut (to crack)
KOCTEH

pull the chestnuts out of the fire for
sb o do sb's dirty work o hold the
baby for sb

ce
get down to o take to o plunge
into < come to grips with o grasp
the nettle o take the bull by the
horns

BO
in the buff o in one's birthday suit
o in a state of nature

burst at the seams
(/)
like the Black Hole of Calcutta

ce /
lump together

money is not the object c cost
what may
KPABA

a milch cow
! taboo
You silly cow!
KPAJ

to an end . up to the hilt ^ to/till
last
()
keep one's head over water ^
make ends meet o keep the wolf
from the door
() ,
/
last but not least
/
stay the course u go the distance

get the upper end o get the better
of sb o make (both) ends meet

KPAJHOCT

get the worst of it J get the worst
of the bargain o come off second
best

the end of the world doomsday
. the day of doom .. the crack of
doom

all's well that ends well the end
crowns the work o the ending
crowns the day
()
one's number is/has come up
/
at the far end

at the end of the road

at the end of the day o finally o in
the end - lastly -., ultimately

at (long) last . in the end
after
all (is said and done) o when it
comes down to it

at the end of one's rope/tether

to the end of the earth o (to) the
back of beyond/nowhere

it's not the end of the world

not be able to make head or tail of

I wouldn't dream of it - over my
dead body
HO /
the end is not yet
/ inf
stay the course ., go the distance
o go the whole hog

101

KPAJHOCT

from one end to the other
/
on/to the other end/side
()
make (both) ends meet .. eke out
a living - keep one's head above
water
/ (
)
five/ten minutes from time
/
at the end of the road
/
the end is not very far
see the
light at the end of a tunnel
ce
all good things come to an end

put a stop to o put an end to

be at an end of
reach the end

reach the end of the line/road ..
come to an end
(TOa e)
(that's) the end of the story o
(that's) the end of the ball game
(
)
make do with (sth)

there's no end to it

can put up with
KPAJHOCT

to excess o in the extreme
/ HOCT inf

blow hot and cold o go from one

extreme to another/the other

/
/
carry/go to extremes

the opposite/other extreme
/
()
uncrowned king (of)
()
uncrowned queen (of)
ce si
queen it
KPATKO
inf
short and sweet

loud and clear > pure and simple
-> short and to the point

102

vessel

make one's blood boil

be made of flesh and blood

shed sb's blood

shed innocent blood

shed one's blood

blueblood

sb's own flesh and blood

new/fresh blood
() BO
have sth in one's blood o run in
the family

i:
put down in bloodshed

bad blood

hate sb like poison
ce
one's blood runs cold

a blood sucker
KPEBA
(
) inf
higher standing, lower fall
ce / inf
get on one's high horse .-> look
down upon everybody

KPB

be out for blood

be after sb's blood o be out for
sb's blood
( )
have blue blood (in one's veins)

sweat blood
/

have sb's blood on one's hands o
bleed sb white have one's knife
in sb

blood is thicker than water

mixed blood

one's blood runs cold u stop dead
in one's/his tracks
KPEM

see red o get one's blood up fly
the cream of society
off the handle o burst a blood

inf
a scapegoat <. a whipping boy

inf
bunk off <> swing the lead

103

( . . .)
take wings
inf
cut the claws of sb o clip sb's
wings
ce

don't put the cart before the horse

he is to be blamed ; have egg on

one's face
lose every sense of proportion

//
you got me (all) wrong
come under criticism c take the

heat
I'm sorry . I regret it o I blame

myself for it o I feel bad about it

inf
beneath contempt
ill humoured o on edge

() inf
()
take the rap (for) o catch it carry
have nothing to hide - there's
the can
nothing to hide <-> make no bones
about (it)
KPOB
()
ce
there's more to it than meets the
(live) under the same roof
eye

homeless o without a roof over

one's head

()
undergo a crisis
(have a) roof over one's head
ja
weather the storm

inf

look green about the gills o (as)

inf
white as ashes
the last word/thing o the state of
the art
KPCT
co inf

wouldn't hurt a fly butter

wouldn't melt in his mouth
scream/shout blue murder
inf

kiss sth goodbye o write sth off . - put an end to

104

KO inf

inf
as ripe as a cherry
be stricken d u m b o be taken

aback
inf
KPCTEH
a mess o a pretty kettle of fish
( )!? inf

you must be out of your mind!

you have (got) to be joking!

- inf
undergo the baptism of fire o earn
one's combat stripes
be off one's chumps .: have a tile
loose o odd/queer in the head :

be nuts
,
KPT
inf

he who/that fights and runs away
work one's fingers to the bone
lives to fight another day o discre
tion is the better part of valour

come a full circle the wheel has , inf

come a full circle
every man must die

/
vicious circle/spiral
/
ce

playing musical choirs
build castles in the air/Spain
ce BO

g o / r u n (a)round in circles/in a
the/a tower of Babel
circle

ce inf
to crown it all c. to cap it all
/
,
short r e c k o n i n g s m a k e long
friends

the apple never falls far from the
tree

it's apples and oranges c that's a
horse of a different/another colour
//
inf
the devil looks after his own

(ce )
(collapse/fall) like a house of cards

promise (sb) the earth/moon

inf
a lot of o lots of o heap/ocean of

(co) inf
bags o tons o a load of <>
lots of
Q ocean of books/gold o heap of

shoot one's last arrow u shoot
one's bolt


inf
like a bullet out/from a gun .- like
a bat out of hell - like greased
lightning
co i / inf
kill two birds with one stone
|ce
I fight to the last drop of blood .- go
I down with all guns firing

inf
of a new prince, new bondage
()
() inf
don't mind him o don't pay any
attention to him > ignore him

inf
turn the house upside down

a drink on the house

house of cards
inf
bedlam
a lunatic asylum

105
,
every single one

every soul

()
nurse a viper in one's bosom o
bite the hand that feeds one
inf
like a moth (that flies) round a light
inf
barking dogs seldom bite

a dog in the manger

hares may pull dead lions by the
beard
inf
not have a penny to one's name
inf
(have) not a soul
(have) nobody
on earth

once bitten, twice shy o a scalded

cat fears hot water .-, a burnt child
dreads the fire
() () inf
(wander around) like a lost soul

from a good family o from a de
cent home

a good broth can be cooked in an
old pot

()

pack one's bags

die like a dog

inf
kick sb out
send sb packing
KO inf
get the sack .. get one's marching
orders o give sb the bum's rush

() inf
lead a cat-and-dog life

inf
it'll be freezing cold tonight

one's faithful hound

,
the dogs bark, but the caravan
goes

106

()
and quickly seldom meet haste
makes waste o slow and steady
win the race

para inf
more haste, less speed a good

(ce )
(fight) like a Trojan/tiger

() . . .
an avalanche of.. .
/
co inf
fat lies



lies have no wings/short legs o a
liar can go round the world but
cannot come back

an outright lie o a fat lie

nail a lie

the ship of the desert

a liar, and I will show you/thee a

thief
- , inf
lie through/in one's teeth/throat
() ,

don't give me that
/
fat lies

inf
have a wolf in one's/the stomach.

a forerunner
co

one swallow doesn't make

spring/summer

()
inf
thin as a stick

inf
HO inf
idle away o idler
his bark is worse than his bite

(CE)
bread and butter o bread and

water
if I'm not mistaken
()
/
our daily bread o bread and butter
let's face it

( )
,
take the bread out of sb's mouth o
he that will lie, will steal o show me


take away sb's bread

in limbo - in abeyance

no sweet without sweat c no
pains, no gains ... no bees, no
honey o no work, no money o he
that would have the fruit, must
climb the trees

man cannot live by bread alone
inf
there is no future in it o forge' it o
nothing doing
, inf
half a loaf is better than no bread/ n o n e o want jam on it

earn one's living ^ earn one's
bread

quarrel with one's bread and butter
,
poke one's nose into other peo
ple's affairs o a nosey Parker

he that wants health wants all

turn a honest shilling ..- make a
honest buck

inf
catch sb in his lair

a living legend

become a legend

107

- si
fit like a glove

,
lead a solitary life

()
keep late hours

fall ill with - c o m e / g o down with
/
sleep around
,
keep early hours

beyond help <= beyond hope .>
beyond repair
() inf
not one blessed thing -_, hard to
come by o not a sausage

no wrong without a remedy o
there is a salve for every sore
-
-
easy does it

inf
s h o u l d / o u g h t t o / n e e d to have
one's head e x a m i n e d / t e s t e d / seen to

/
teach sb a lesson c give sb a piece
of one's mind o rub one's nose in
(the dirt)
ja
learn one's lesson

108

ce ( /) inf
let that be a lesson to you
lick sb's boots/arse
kiss up to

sb
inf

a good sort
/ inf
inf
it's mouthwatering
be green (as grass)

() inf

as pale as death/ghost o (as) yel
he is hard to get along with c> he's low as a guinea
not easy to get along with
inf
wait for a special invitation

/
,
a sucked orange
higher standing, lower fall r the

( ) .
bigger they are, the harder they fall
() inf
o what goes up must come down
bleed sb white o milk/suck sb dry
-i pride goes before a fall
ce
ce

all that glitters/glistens is not gold

feel like a wet rug
feel like a

sucked limon
fly high o ride high

,
line of battle
they must hunger in frost that will
not work in heat
a hot line o a red telephone
-

always throughout the year

be on a diet cut a slim figure

/ ce
/
no ()

Indian summer
(be) in the ascendant o along an
BO
ascending
path
in the year of our Lord
/

the line of least resistance o take

inf
a soft option
a nit-wit

the line is engaged u the number

is busy
si

top/first class o top of the line
a bad/poor line



Hold the line o Don't hang up

the parti line
()
border line
no
as the crow flies

front line
ce ( )
be cut off
BO
in the line with
in agreement with
BO
after all (is said and done)
()
come into line (with)

109

stare sb in the face

to sb's face = face to face

sail under false colours

have no face to c have no guts to
o have no right to
ce
laugh in sb face

curry favours with sb

inf
shrewd as a fox . a sly fox

look like nothing on earth o (look)
terrible
? inf
what do you take me for? o don't
give me that!

KO inf
beat about the bush

be a far cry from

come into leaf

()
it is (just/quite) like sb to b e / d o o
wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)

ce
in person

inf
/
shake like a jelly <> shake in one's none other than the President/shoes . shake like a leaf
general
HOB
turn over a new leaf o mend one's

ways r. wipe the slate clean
a key figure

ro
personality cult
throw off the mask
show one's
true colours

ce
face to face o in the open
go without o deprive oneself of

a witch-hunt

on the make

rest on one's laurels

look to one's laurels

110

/
it's getting worse and worse o go
from bad to worse o out of the
frying pan (and) into the fire
!?
What's wrong with that?

accidents do happen

/ inf

be mad o be off one's nut o be

nuts after/about/for
half seas over in
ce inf
,
act innocent o play dumb
he who pays the paper, calls the
tune

drive sb crazy/mad o drive sb

() no inf
round the bend/twist o drive sb
on oiled wheels o without a hitch
bonkers/nuts c drive sb up the
0 like a charm
wall

co inf
inf
go/be two a penny r. ocean of
three-ring circle <.- absolute Bed
(books/gold)
lam! .- (like) a bear garden

inf
inf
raise hell o make a scene
there is nothing to it milk and
water o wishy-washy

inf
1 feel sick o I'm going to be sick
butter wouldn't melt in his mouth

//

it wouldn't be amiss o it wouldn't
smoke the pipe of peace
be a bad idea o it might be (just)

as well

inf
from the cradle to the grave o from
not (so/too) bad o not half bad
the womb to the tomb

it's not all that bad -.-. it could be
worse <> you could do worse than inf
put under (a) microscope
that

111

He ce ?!

No hard feelings?!

have/bear bad feelings c get
one's monkey up c be cross with

a have the needle o be down on
have a short fuse
sb

( )
a labour of love

Platonic love

the love of God

my love

love at first sight

love is blind

love conquers all ~ love makes the
world go round
co
you can't buy love

old flame

have sex(ual intermake love
course)

MA

U2

M
old fart
MA
Ma ! inf
()
You don't say (so)! o Tell me
stubborn as a mule
another! , Are you kidding! .
Come again! o Come, Come!
inf
What do you know!
do not cast pearls before swine
! inf
Hey you! o Listen! (impolite ad

dress - only to females)

MAB
black magic
inf

VII brain you

() ! imper inf
inf
On your bike! r Buzz off) o Bug
I'm in a real mess o I've done/had
ger off! >
. Hop it! . Get stuffed! r.
it this time
Take a powder!
inf
be for the high jump o have had it / inf
take to one's heels o leg it
c be deep in trouble o be in hot
water

fog thick as a soup

OJX ce ()
inf
have a vague/dim recollection
easy does it o Rome wasn't built
in a day

/ inf
inf
a silly beggar
have a loose tongue/mouth o
have a big mouth
/ inf
whither shall the ox go where he
! imper
shall not labour
Behave yourself)

wait for the cows to come home
ce
, inf
inf
Try it, if you've got the guts
not know the first thing about sth

/ inf
(as) man to man
dirty old man o sugar daddy an

UJTO ? inf
don't handle him in kid gloves

113

bone will never come out of the

flesh


give a man fortune and cast him
into the sea

MA3HO
,
beauty is only a skin deep o all that
glitters is not gold o a painted inf
it's now or never o the time is ripe
sepulchre o fair without, false with
for
in o fair face, foul heart o ap
pearances are deceptive
,
fortune to one is mother, to anoth
MAJKA
er is stepmother -. apply double
) 6(). .. inf
standards
what the devil do/did you want...

ro inf

fly off the handle c see red

hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings
() ()
o a hungry horse makes a clean
() inf
manger
in the altogether
in the raw in inf
a state of nature -. in the buff in
does your mother know you're out
one's birthday suit
() taboo

get fucked o fuck off! o take a
be one's mother's daughter
flying fuck o sucks to you! o fuck
Ja, ! inf
yourself
You don't say so! o Come again?

swear at sb o call sb names
() !
make an ass of oneself
! inf
inf
For God's sake! o For Christ's
make a monkey out of sb
sake! u Holy Moses! o Holy
smoke! o For crying out loud
MAJCTOP


mother nature
Mr. Fixit o a crackjack
-
inf
fall between two stools
a tinker
() inf

third time lucky
the shoemaker's son always goes
no
barefoot
inf
the apple never falls far from the
tree o like mother, like daughter o
like tree, like fruit o a chip of/off
a bad workman always blames his
the old block o what is bred in the
tools

MAKA

114

MAMKA

MAKA

easy .. hands down no sweat

no gain without pain i there's no
royal road to learning
()
be in hot water o be in a fix o strain
every nerve o be hard put to o be
at pains to

be/feel sick be sick and tired of
feel sorry for grieve _ regret
ce
trouble brings experience
()
it's not worth the trouble o not
worth (the) powder and shot
ce
be hard put to (it)

every horse thinks its own pack
heaviest : every one thinks his
sack is heaviest
/
have a hard time o sweat blood o
go through the mill o have a job
BO
that's where the trouble is

pay off ..- be worth while get a
run for one's money

when the going gets tough, the
tough get going

no gain without pain

eat one's heart out

no
little by little o inch by inch
ce no
a little/bit of everything

a (little) while ago .-. not long ago
- just now
( ) inf
a close call -, (be a) near miss o
by a hair's breadth o by inches

MAKAP

(even) though c although

MAMKA
ce
raise to the bait o swallow the bait

even if/though

the seat of the trouble
inf
trials and tribulations

put sb out of his misery

tantalizing torment

do one's best

make the best (of a bad bargain)
o get the utmost out of

from childhood o from a tender
age

ro si
bejinxed o have a run of tough/bad luck u be on a losing streak
- be out of luck

MAHA
MAHA

above/beyond reproach o impec
cable

find fault with ;; pick holes in

a hidden flaw o a secret vice

have bad/no manners

115

MACT

MACA

at table o on the table

(to) the negotiating table
ce
raise oneself up above the crowd

round table meeting
si
stupid arse o arsehole L, jerk

BO inf
poke one's nose in other people's
business o have a finger in every
pie
BO inf
don't poke your nose into other
people's affairs

ce
play to the gallery

! imper

MACT
inf
pick on sb o drive/send sb up the
wall

MACKA
ja
throw off the mask

under the mask of friendship
MAPA

inf
under the guise (of sth)
aTom(boy)

take off sb's mask

inf

know all the tricks

fan the flames --, add fuel to the fire
MAPKA
- add insult to injury
ce ()
inf
si
get a bloody nose
stick/cling like a leech
inf
MAPC
bloody sb's nose
() inf

inf
be out of place <-> be out of touch
that's his doing o he is behind it -.
-' be not all there
he has a finger in it o it's his bread
and butter
MAPLU
Get out! o Get lost!

hunger march

116

make a martyr of oneself

I felt sick/uncomfortable
couldn't stand it any longer

inf
your efforts are in vain .-> it's use
less ; it's worthless o it's beside
the point
?
What's bothering/ailing you? o
What's wrong with you? What's
up?

ro taboo
dip one's wick

( ) inf
a rubber stamp

inf
a lucky first - off to a good start

. inf
MEB
nice chick - nice bit of fluff/stuff/- inf
crumpet/tail
bullocks! o get away! r are you
() inf
kidding! c come again!
(come inside) you'll let the flies in

a cold hand on a fevered brow inf

a great comfort o a sight for sore
if at first you don't succeed, try, try
again
eyes

( )

be like a cat with nine lives

! si
What a chick!
inf
buy a pig in a poke
inf
a skirt , a piece of skirt
! inf
play it hard to get o like a carrot to
a donkey
inf
the cat's got sb's tongue

I feel sick o I feel uncomfortable o
I can't take it any longer

accept the challenge o measure
swords o break a lance

cross swords

( )
the land of milk and honey o life is
a bed of roses

sweet as honey o butter wouldn't
melt in his mouth
inf
be green (as grass)

the other side of the coin o the
other side of the equation


() si
a putty medal (for)

( )
between you and me/ourselves o
between these four walls o be
tween you, me and the bed/gate/lamppost
MEKA

a Mecca for
MEHE

count me out

it's all the same to me

with me o in my place

117

( )
equal sb in
co
be second to none

cannot match sb
/

Draconian law

a sense of proportion

beyond measure/compare .-,- go
to the extreme

package deal
no
made to measure o tailor-made

take preventative measures

MEPA

live weight

co

live beyond one's mean

MEPAK
/ / inf
take a shine to sb/sth o take a
fancy to o be turned on
/
si
have/get the hots for sb

have an itch for
inf
I'd like to o Cm eager to o I have
an eye for

BO

/ ,

look before you leap :. score twice

before you cut once

in moderation
cut down to a reasonable level
to a great extent
BO
in part o to a certain extent o up
to a point o in a measure
BO
considerably
inf
give a Roland for an Oliver o give
sb a taste/dose of his own me
dicine o pay sb back in his own
coin o pay sb in kind o have/get
one's own back (on sb)
inf
get/take the measure of sb <>
- beat
the living daylights out of sb
, , /,

118

/

enough to try the patience of Job
in the first place o first of all o to
o enough to make a saint swear
begin with
()

on the spot/scene o in the act of

()
doing
(be on) a honeymoon

/
if I were you . in your place
ail of four months
/
co
be on pins and needles c. strain at
for months (on end)
the leash c be on tenterhooks

champ at the bit
the honeymoon is over
inf
no room to swing a cat
MECO


proud flesh
there is no room for ; be out of
place

there's no reason/room for doubts

the dearer it is, the cheaper o ill

()
ware is never cheap . a good
be/go beyond a joke
bargain is a pickpurse


be out of place u have no busi
you have to take the rough with the
ness
smooth

MECTO
give way n give place to


sore point/spot
fall dead on the spot o drop dead
!
in one's tracks
cross my heart (and hope to die)


place of honour o pride of place
come to the right place
BO
/
strike the right chord
keep a seat warm for sb

()
take sb down a peg (or two) o put
there's room for (improvement)
sb in his place


the key position
make room/way for

ce (
) inf
a place under the sun
be in at the death/kill

on the scene


()
know one's place
ce
everything falls into (its) place

put oneself in another's place o
put oneself in sb's shoes

mark time -= (be) at a standstill

take sb's part in
()
step into another person's shoes
()

find one's place under the sun

// inf
look like the cat that ate/swallowed
the canary
inf
a new broom sweeps clean

ce
take after sb o a chip off the old
block

co
there are two ends to a stick cut
both ways o a double-edged wea
pon
()
(have) a match point c have the
final say
( )
a/the sword of Damocles (hang/hanging over)

cross swords with

throw in the towel

119

inf
well, here goes!
inf
let sleeping dogs lie o don't ask/look for trouble o don't push it
ja ,

,
inf
first catch your hare and then cook
it o catch your bear before you sell
its skin

drawback keep out o stay away
He ce ! imper
(It's) No business of yours! c Stay
away! o Keep off the grass! r Stay
out of this!

() inf
make a mess of oneself

BO
in the last moment o in the nick of
time

in a second n in no time o in two
shakes

() inf
pull the wool over sb's eyes

a mother's boy/darling o tied to
one's mother's apron strings o a
mom's pet o a spoilt brat

inf
more than you can shake a stick at

120

put sth under microscope

reduce to a minimum

give sb a dose/taste of his own
medicine <> give as good as one
gets
get back at sb < tit for tat
- a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an
eye > have/get one's own back
(on sb)
( )
How do you do o Glad/Pleased to
meet you

B O ( )
be in the red

()

when my ship comes home/in

every dog has his day
BO
to the minute o on the dot

BO
!
at the eleventh hour
Mercy on us!

( )
,

(leave sb) at the mercy of o leave

if you want peace, you must pre
sb in the lurch o leave sb standing
pare for war


have no mercy
peace of mind

a dove of peace
go cap in hand

break the peace

give alms give a handout

peace and quiet

inf
make
one's
peace with sb
by hook or by crook o by fair
means or foul

let alone
give sb a break o

leave/let sb be
(become) a thing of the past
( )!

Leave me alone! o Let me be!
that's (all) water under the bridge

BO
/ . . .

do well/badly in . . .
enjoy the sweet smell of success

. 121

( ) ( )? inf
inf
a penny for your thoughts!
it looks like I have a hunch
ce
co
inf
cast
one's mind back
be of evil portent o smell a rat o
!
be written on the wall
You can't be serious! <> You can't
()
it bodes no good o be of evil por
mean it!
tent :; smell a rat o it is an ill omen co
ce ()
entertain/toy with the idea
CO inf
co

be not on good terms
no love
lost between o (be) out of tune
be there in spirit
with o be at loggerheads with sb co
.-. (be) in a bad odour with sb
be with sb in spirit
inf

something is fishy
get sb worried o give sb sth to
think about

/
ce / () inf
put on airs throw out one's chest
just as I thought
put on the dog .. act the cock
of the walk
that's what you think

/
collect one's thoughts
,
BO
what soberness conceals, drunk
get sb thinking
enness reveals o in vino Veritas
,

think what you are doing
read one's mind
,

many a one say well that thinks ill

r (say sth) with (one's) tongue in
prove one's point o prove the
(one's) cheek
case
()

have an old head on young shoul
have a good opinion of/about
ders

() be of one mind
be of the same
inf
mind
one's mind is miles away one's

thoughts are elsewhere
have a bad/low opinion of
cawio
keep one's mind on o think of
think highly/much of
nothing else but o have nothing
else on the/one's brain but o have
just one thing on one's mind
be of the opinion that



received opinion o a climate of
opinion
/
to my opinion o to my way of
thinking o to my mind o in my
judg(e)ment o in my submission
BO
difference of opinion
/ inf
change one's mind o have a
change of heart

against one's/sb's better judge
ment

create a myth about

explode/debunk/dispel a myth
about

122

the young shall inherit the earth

.
() /
you're only young once

boy will be boys
BO inf
she's no spring chicken

a green old age
,

provision in season makes rich a

house o spare when you're young
and spend when you're old

milk o be in milk
,
inf

once bitten, twice shy o a scalded

cat fears hot water o a burnt child
take bribes o be on the take
dreads the fire

inf
/everything your heart desires
inf
you can't run with the hare and () inf
(sti)l) wet behind the ears
hunt with the hounds o you can't
have it both ways

set a fashion

up and coming

()
go out of fashion
not as/so young as one used to
be/(once) was
follow fashion(s) o follow/go with

the crowd
you're only young once

high fashion

the world belongs to the young o
come into fashion


10
' be in fashion

a passing fancy

be black and blue

( )
may/might (just) as well
! taboo
you can kiss my arse screw you!
, pull the other one it's got bells
on it!
in/
it's no go o nothing doing over
my dead body o when hell freezes
over c like hell you will . whistle
for it
/
what did your last servant died of?!
()
have option . have a choice

know any better o there's a room
for improvement
()

the (very) least one can do

can't/couldn't say
. . .
one can never tell/be sure ..

can't say no
/
you can't please them all a you
can't please everyone . he that all
men will please shall never find
ease r, he that would please all
and himself too, undertakes what
he cannot do o you can't win them

123

all
a / .
can't help crying/laughing . . .
//
can't/couldn't stand/bear the
sight of sb/sth o be unable to bear
the sight of sb
()

be unable to believe one's ears
/ () (/)
find sth hard to grasp o not be able
to make head or tail of o not be
able/not know what to make of sb

can't/couldn't go wrong
/ / in/
have no stomach for <., hate sb/sth
like poison
()
it was as bad as it could be
ce
do all one can o go to any
length(s)
co
inf
(be) like putty in sb's hands
ce ce
necessity is the mother of invention
o where there's a will there's a way
co
that's a feather in his cap
/

wouldn't put it past sb (to do sth)

a bitter pill (to swallow) >-. be hard
to swallow
-


/
there's nothing one can do about
it a it can't be helped
/
/
should have done better

it's possible

it's not possible o no can do

124

inf
dash sb's brains out
inf
off the top of one's head
()
brainwash (sb)
inf
be wool-gathering o let it all hang
out o put one's mind to grass

sweep sb off his feet

ce e
anything goes > anything could si
play a dirty trick on sb
happen

live beyond one's means

Given the chance

give sb a break/chance
/

e x p l o r e every avenue o g o
through the (whole) card

miss the chance c miss the boat

seize/take the occasion/an op
portunity to

open (up) new horizons

overplay one's hand

keep one's options open
co
as soon as the opportunity arises

have a lot/plenty going for one

be below the mark

MOJ
- taboo
sod off o bagger off a that settles
it!

!? ( ? He
)
I beg your pardon
! ( )
You're welcome! (That's all right
Don't mention it)
Be ( )
If you please o Please o Excuse
me c I beg of you

/ ()
teach sb a lesson o give sb a piece
of one's mind rub one's nose ir
(the dirt)

! imper
Shut up! o Button up

() ()
(as) quick as lightning o like ^
streak of lightning

/
silence gives consent

pass over in silence
( a)
silence is golden the least/less
said the better

/ inf
cheer up o take heart o it could
be/have been worse
MOME

gather ye rosebuds while ye may
MOMEHT

as yet - b y / u p to/until now o to
date

to the last (moment)
BO .
even as we . . .

have one's moments

on the spur of the moment
! imper
Just a moment/second/minute!

not for a moment
()
from now on(wards)

eleventh hour

go through a bad patch hit a bad
patch

breaking point c decisive moment

125
o moment of truth
BO
not for a moment
BO
just now

BO
(at) any moment
BO
at the right moment o in the nick
of time

in a moment o in a minute
MOPA

one has to admit
to be sure o
give the devil his due
give credit
to

we must drink to it

if you must know
,
, /
what must be, must be c what
cannot be cured, must be endured
o needs must when the devil
drives c make a virtue of necessity

!
Don't get on your high horse with
me!
MOPE

plough the sands

at sea
/ inf
go (and) jump in the sea

no
send chilis/a chill u p / d o w n / u p

126

and down sb's spine

MPA3AM
no , . . .
if there's one thing I hate, it is . . .
it gives me the creeps o it gives me
the shiver

( ) inf
inf
be (as) cold as charity
'
drunk as a lord c be pissed as a
newt o pissed out of one's mind/- MPAK

head
keep sb in the dark
()
/ inf
()
(be) hot under the collar o see red
burn one's boats/bridges behind
o fly into a rage o fly off the handle
one

( )
it's getting dark
build bridges (of friendship)

ce si
BO
sleep around
be out of one's power

ce
do one's best ? pull out all the ja inf
spread (one's) net
stops o explore every avenue o
to/at the top of one's bent
ce BO inf
swallow the bait

( )
inf
piss against/into the wind
a large chain (of shops)

/
. ro
TO
ce inf
sb's flesh creeps/crawls
be born idle
()
(he) wouldn't hurt a fly o not say a inf
I don't feel like it o I can't face it <
boo to a goose
Ican't be bothered
MPA3

break the ice

() ()
the
living envy the dead
(as) cold as charity o (as) cold as
a frog/stone o a cold fish o cool

as a cucumber
loud enough to wake the dead

cutthe ground from under sb's feet ()
o get sb onto thin ice
raise sb from the dead

MPTBO

127

inf
come back from the dead
a (mere) flea bite

inf
not speak ill of the dead
dead silence o as silent as the
MPTBO
grave o you could hear a pin drop
,
()
() inf
inf
(run) like a blue-arsed fly <-. like a
betray no emotions
ship without a rudder run around
like a bunch of headless chickens
MPTOB
inf

(as) hungry as a wolf

inf
inf
have a bee in one's bonnet
as cool as a cucumber

inf
drive crazy ideas out of sb's head
be cold towards sb -- give sb the inf
cold shoulder
kill two birds with one stone
inf

dead drunk u be pissed as a newt so

at daybreak a at the crack of dawn
inf
tired to death o deadbeat o dead
tired r> be on one's last legs o like
a wet rag o ready/fit to drop o the inf
meat and drink to sb o music to
worse for wear
sb's ears

better (off) dead

()
grow a moustache/a beard
over my dead body o I'll see you
in hell first
ce inf

laugh in one's beard

like a vulture
! si

shut your mouth/gub .J put a sock

inf in it! c button your lips
a wild goose chase

128

to name only/but a few

()
lead sb to believe (that)

no offence

pocket an insult

//-
cut/sting/wound sb to the quick ,-.
pe
offend sb deeply
as (is) stated above
HABEK

for ever o for good

be in the habit of o have the habit
o have a trick to/of

make a habit of it/sth
/
from/out of habit , from force of
habit <: as per usual
ce
kick the habit

get into the habit of get used to

lay/put emphasis on

make a clean sweep of all the
prizes

in reward

consolation prize .. (the) second
best
-
- -

live in hope

()
() BO
give up (any) hope o yield/give
(put) in inverted commas
way to despair

be of good heart

on several occasions o several
times o not once
raise hopes



built one's hopes on

dash/shatter sb's hopes

strike a note of hopefulness
.
hope against hope

danger/dirty money

at great length

29

HAJABE
ce
all will come out in the open

/
!
You are a fine one to talk!
, inf
finding is keeping
!?
Don't give me that!
Do me a
favour!

see sth in sb
/ inf

they don't come any better/worse

, () ()
() () inf

stew in one's own juice _ you've

made your bed and you must lie
by far the best o streets ahead of
on it o as you sow, so you shall
far and away the best
reap o sow the wind and reap the

whirlwind
/
HAEM
let the best (man) win
()
let rent _
lease

take on lease
if the worst come to the worst o at
the worst

the worst is over o we've seen the
there and back o to a fault
worst o we're over the hump

ce
HA3AEM
brace yourself for a shock

lend

borrow

know sth by heart

a
least of all

not in the least o not in the slight
est o not a jot o not a/one (little)
bit o a fat lot o not a bit of it o the


ghost of a

most of all

130

m/
frame sb

/ ()
have a fit (of) o throw a fit o have

a (nasty) turn

/
turn the corner break the back
a fit of anger/coughing
of

a fit of laughter
()

attack is the best form of defence
and the beauty/best of it is

stage an attack

inf
without ill intent
a pain in the neck/arse o a damn
()
nuisance << holy terror
throw off the mask - show one's
hand

/
for all one's efforts
mean well

Herculean efforts
intends n have in mind
// .
make/put an effort to

mean mischief .- be up to no good


have no intention ~> not in the busi
try as one may
ness of
cau
co
do it yourself
on purpose o intentionally

co
in order to/that.- toward(s) o with -
a view to
back and forth
co

in all good faith with the best move on/onward(s) o go ahead
intentions (in the world) (act) in
good faith
dead ahead o straight ahead
co
!
to that end
Go (right) ahead! o Be my guest

131

Feel free to! o You're welcome

to!
BO
as a rule o in principle

Ija si

f get her in trouble

in the same way

In away

ce
finds one's way to
play to the gallery

one way or another

()

as the saying goes
in this way o like this = thus o so

HACMEBKA
by all means o by all manner of

means o at all costs o no matter
a hollow laugh
what
co

with a smile
in one's own way

BO
in this way/manner o therefore
pay in kind

in the ordinary way

ce /
impose oneself/one's company
this is no way to act
on/upon

(there is) no way ; out of question

ce
ce
fling oneself into o apply oneself
explore every avenue
to o come/get to grips with o
make a beeline for
co () .

inf
(with sb) you always know where
be old hat
you are

inf

take sth of mothballs

()

/ inf
find/deem it necessary (to)
a
n old chestnut .. corny joke

() inf
just the thing/person

132

limbo
on /
inf
drop into sb lap c drop/fall into sb

lap
inf

.
feel free > be my guest o make

yourself at home
outdoors o out of doors
in the
HE
open
a
no , a
let alone without
inf
...
hunt for sb high and low o leave
I don't feel like (it) . . . o I'm not in
no stone unturned
mood for. . .
inf
. . . . . .
promise (sb) the earth/moon
not only . . . but also . . .
HEBECTA

() / inf
a new boy/girl o a freshwater

sailor
(as) to the manner bom to/for

/
after one's own fashion

/ ! inf

Damn it!
Blast it! > For pity's
rend the skies/air
sake! .-. Hang it!
inf
knock sb to kingdom come

BO ill at ease o out of one's depth o

not all there
( )

a friend in need (is a friend indeed)
as different as chalk and cheese
BO
/
think the world of sb praise sb to

the sky beat the drum (for sb)
adversity makes strange bedfel
/
lows
in seventh heaven o on cloud nine
o happy as a lark o happy as can HEBPAT
be o be over the moon o walk/- BO
dance on air
fall flat o fall to the ground

rain cats and dogs come down
in buckets . the heavens opened ()

one's days are over o have had
one's chips
hanging in the air/balance o in

133

week after week

as far as the eye can see . infinite
ly
no end of

BO /
in the absence of
/
for want of .! for lack of

irrespective of - even if/though

keep sb in suspense o keep sb
guessing
HEKA
ro/ja imper inf
Let him/it/her be c Let it stand c
Leave it
HEKOJ

sb of consequence o a big shot

a third party
HEKOJA
inf
have a slate loose

be nuts

HEMA
()! imper inf
Off with you! o Go away! o Off you
go! o Get the hell out of here!
()
I won't (come) o I'm not (coming)
!
don't mention it! <> my pleasure! <>
be my guest o there's no need for

it

you name it we have it

I felt like going through the floor
-
-
out of sheer need alternative
-
to the extreme

having no

nara BO
e ( )
be in disfavour with
be out of
favour - fall into disfavour with
fall from grace
(be) under a
cloud o be in disgrace with sb ;.
be in sb's bad grace
HEMOJ
(/!) imper
Don't (you) (go/cry!)

BO
a leap in the dark

ja
set right a w r o n g o redress a
wrong

sworn foes/enemies

BO
in the mire o in low water c up a
gum tree

get into trouble o get into hot water

lose one's nerve o lose one's


temper/cooi/head . hit the ceil
ing
/
get/grate on sb's nerves t> set
sb'steethonedge c put sb's back
up : get up sb's nose a make
sb's hackles rise - raise sb's hack
les

war of nerves

have nerves of steel

he/she/it gets on my nerves

my nerves are worn thin

BO
in a mess _. upside-down
HECBECT
nara BO
faint . lose consciousness
HECKPOMEH

in all modesty

134

unfortunately

(/)
a would-be (writer/president)

() ( ) inf
a miss is as good as mile

be a failure o come to a grief -,

suffer a setback o come to noth
ing/naught

something like (sth)

something between o a cross be
tween sth/sb
/
something over/under
?
Something is the matter?
ce
inf
sth be in the wind

a far cry from
/ ,
better anything than nothing
()?
Anything else? o Something else?
a What else?

it's easy to bear the misfortunes of

others

there is no great loss without some
gain

it never rains but it pours o

troubles come double o misfor
be at a low ebb - hit rockbottom
tunes never come singly
- hit an all-time low

ce
a chapter of accidents
sink to sb's level

135

si
draw a bead on sb o be gunning
never o pigs might fly o when hell
for sb
freezes over
()

(be) in the line of fire
it's never too late

train of thought
be second to none

. . .
not tell a living soul
if nothing else . . .
()

smell a rat o (be) not for nothing
nobody else o no one else
HOBO

nonentity o nobody c nothing o
news from nowhere
small beer
He e

It's nothing o Don't worry about it
no man is infallible


there's nothing new under the sun
nobody is perfect - every man has
his faults
have nothing on
(/)

have no objection to o I don't

we cannot escape our destiny
mind if I do


nobody takes him seriously
there's nothing in it
/
!
Don't mention it! u Never mind o
nobody/nothing other than
Don't give it another thought

()

be no better than
no one ought to be judge in his
() inf
own cause
there's no such a thing as free

lunch
no man is born wise and learned
( )
/ inf
I'm all right -, I'm fine I'm o.k. -.be as clever/stupid as they come
I'm not hurt

(/)
. . . . . .
neither... nor r. either... or
no kin/relation

make nothing of (it) o not be able
play into sb's hands
to make head or tail of

HOB(O)
inf
there's nothing wrong with you -.
you're o.k.

he won't make it > he is done for
(
)
so much for (equality of the sexes)
!
No chance! ._ nothing doing ? no
way
inf
(there's) nothing to it
/
nothing in particular o nothing to
speak of o nothing to write home
about .. no big deal o be no great
shakes

it/that can't be helped . there's no
help for it
inf
a dead heat .. nobody is any the
worse for it c. no big deal

136

HOBO
throw good money after bad
()
brand new
HOBO? inf

'<

What's new?

once in a blue moon
HOBOCT
()

be a new one on sb o be/come as

new to sb

play into sb's hands

live it up - live in clover a live high
off the hog

on equal terms with o on equal
footing with o on a par with


have a short fuse
at a measured pace


next to nothing -, next-door to
trip up sb
nothing
not/nothing much
co /
not for all the world not for all the inf
get/have one/one's foot in the
tea in China .. for (all) the world n
door
not for all worlds o not for love nor
co ()
money
with one foot in the grave

nothing seems to be going one's
way
get out of bed on the wrong side


without reason .. for nothing
throw the first stone

HOB(O)
() HOB inf
/
si
in mint condition o brand new o
(as) good as new o as right as a
when the balloon goes up whentrivet
/if it comes to the push o when the


shit hits the fan

be at daggers drawn with sb be
at each other's throats
be on a
war-footing be on the warpath
be/go at it hammer and tongs

hold a gun to sb's head
()
(die) under the knife a die on the
table

stab sb in the back

put the knife in

inf
disappear/vanish into thin air

inf
feel dead on one's feet ready/fit
to drop be worn to a shadow
cannot punch one's way out of a
paper bag o be/feel like a wet rag

take to one's heels

be in dire straits be up the creek
(without a paddle) o be in hot
water
si
be all legs
inf
be knock-kneed



cut one's coat according to one's
cloth

137

carry one o as fast as possible o

put one's best foot forward
co
move heaven and earth

be getting too hot for sb

shake in one's boots/shoes
one's knees are trembling (togeth
er)

keep one's feet firmly on the
ground on a sound footing

on foot i on one's foot .. standing
o out and about <- up and about
o on the trot
()

(be) up in arms (about/over sth)

from a tender age

get the weight off one's feet/legs

ce
fall on one's feet " find one's feet
v, land on one's feet

()
put/set sb (back) on his feet

stretch one's legs
ce /
cast/throw oneself at sb's feet o
throw oneself at the feet of sb

spring to one's feet
co
be with both feet on the ground .-,
co inf
have one's feet planted firmly on
the ground <> keep one's feet set
in a slapdash manner o jerrybuilt
on the ground

as fast as one's legs will/could

HOJ

138

HOC

nose o be in low spirits

stand on one's own leg .. stand on inf
one's own two feet
put/poke/thrust one's nose into
other people's affairs
()
on slippery ground .> have feet of HOC
clay
snatch from right under sb's nose

inf

HOC

inf

fetch and carry for sb -> wait on/have a nose for

upon sb hand and foot
()
/
give sb a piece of one's mind
/give sb hell o take sb to task

give sb the rough edge of one's

one's knees turn to jelly - one's
tongue
knees be like water o one's blood
ro HOC
runs cold stop dead in one's/his
rub one's nose in it -.. rub it in
tracks
inf
HOJ
get a bloody nose .- bloody sb's
co
nose
like an ostrich (with its head in the inf
sand)
be unable to see beyond the end
of one's nose o be not able to see

further than one's nose

()
()
HOC si
be at/reach the end of one's teth
can't stand the sight of sb o be
er/rope o be more than flesh and
cheesed off (with sb)
blood can bear

HOC
,
() HOC
inf
he'll pay dearly for it
be so dumb he couldn't find his
arse with two hands at high noon
,
so dumb he couldn't piss out of
inf
a boat r not have enough
stink like a polecat stink to high
imagination/intelligence/sense to
heaven
come out of the rain
,
HOC BO inf
inf
nose into
a dumb fool o a blockhead o not
have enough imagination/intelli
gence/sense to come out of the
be (right) under sb's nose
rain
co / HOC
no HOC inf
( )
get it in the nose -> burn one's ride one's high horse toffee nos
fingers : catch a packet
ed o with one's nose in the air
/
HOC
pull/have a long face o turn one's
lead sb by the nose pull sb's leg

139

lead sb a merry dance . leadsb

up the garden path

of/by necessity
HOC
speak through one's nose
ce
lend a helping hand o help a lame

dog
over a stile -. fall back on sb
co
cope with sth well o cut the custard BO
at a pinch ., if the worst comes to
the worst

/
BO
good night
be under a necessity o be in ne
cessity c be in (sore) need of
/ /
BO /
have a good/bad night
(
BO
)
till small hours
a friend in need (is a friend indeed)


(as) clear as mud
do number two o do one's big

job(s)
Rome wasn't built in a day


a call of nature o pay a call o
turn night into day .-> burn the
spend a penny
candle at both ends > work one's
fingers to the bone

()
( )
(start) from scratch o (make) a
work one's fingers to the bone (to)
fresh start o at the bottom of the
ce
ladder
as different as night and day

140

an oasis of peace

BO
trying to
in a bid to

no

as a matter of habit o as always

with no strings attached o without

(any) strings attached

BO /

inf
be under obligation to
walk on air . be starry-eyed


day-to-day duties
come back/down to earth

black clouds are hanging over

regardless of o in spite of o de
spite o irrespective of
BO
come into consideration > be in
the running

take into consideration o be mind
ful

all things considered after all is
said and done o on balance

leave out of account
BO
considering : taking into con
sideration
BO
take into account

no
by trial and error

inf
without mincing words - give it (to
sb) straight from the shoulder
give/put/tell it straight .-. speak
one's own mind

ce inf
lick one's chops lick/smack
one's lips

have the nerve to o have the cheek
to o have a thick skin o be thickskinned o have the gall to
()
lose face

beacreditto o do sb credit o save
the day


/
save face

honesty is the best policy

(/)
the other/opposite way round
contrary to ;> unlike

tighten a noose around sb
OBA
inf
this is too much! far out!

() ! inf
have a basinful . have a bellyful o
one's cup be full
-

- inf
here and there o in places o in
dribs and drabs

forbidden fruit

,
don't make yourself a mouse or
the cat will eat you

the black sheep (of the family)
()
go like a sheep to the slaughter
( ) si
an easy meat
co
one swallow doesn't make a spring
ce ,
()
there's safety in numbers

141

inf
count sheep
() inf
like a flock of sheep
inf
lose one's marbles o be not all
there o have a screw loose/miss
ing
inf
familiarity breeds contempt

OBUO
(/)! inf
you silly cow! o stupid arse!

inf
(as) keen as mustard - (as) sharp
as razor a ball of fire
()
avoid sb/sth like a plague o steer
clear of sb/sth

breathe fire

be under fire
,
where there's smoke, there's fire

very expensive o cost a fortune

fire and water

open fire at/on
ce /

go through fire and water for
ce co
play with fire

regardless of -, despite the o in
spite of

42

ja
()
keeping in view o in view of o
bearing in mind <. taking into ac claim responsibility (for) -; assume
(one's) responsibility (for)
count

co
seeing that ^ seeing o consider
on one's own account/responsi
bility
ing that > inasmuch as

duck/evade/shirk/shun responsi

bility
fan the flames

call sb to account -, bring sb to

book .1 call sb on the carpet
()
/

feelings are running high among

ce
surrender oneself to a abandon

oneself to ^ be given to

the sky is the limit ~ there is no

upper limit

not (anywhere) near <_. nowhere

near o not nearly n not by a long

chalk
spring to sb's defence

BO
()
in defence of o in extenuation of
it isn't anything like as good as
> in sb/sth favour
(yours)

it doesn't agree with me <, it
let off steam --> give vent to o vent
doesn't do me any good o it
one's spleen a give free play to
doesn't suit me o it doesn't fit me
o it doesn't suit my book

/ inf

at one swoop o while you are there

o while you are at it
in response to o in answer to

know all the answers

when you were just a twinkle in
your father's eye

do sth on one's own responsibility 0'/?)

How much (are the apples/a sense of responsibility


potatoes?)

it's no good o it's useless/point
less
()
it will not do o it is not done
/
be on the up and up
co (ce )
go with o go together o collocate

...
have the making of becoming . . .
o have what it takes to be/be
come . . .

revenge is sweet
/
in retaliation for

!

Behave yourself!

as far as sth/sb is concerned o for
that matter o in reference to
concerning c in respect of
()

mend o n e ' s fences o restore
good relations
BO
be out of employment

have a change of heart about sth
BO co
keep in with a be well in with
Q
o
regarding o as for/to o in the
matter of o with respect to o with

143

reference to
BO
be in work/employed

strained relations

chorus of approval/applause

skin sb alive > come down on sb
like a ton of bricks

have a negative effect on o make
inroads in
( )
a sign of the times

have a negative effect on o make
inroads in

( !) inf
Grow up (for Christ's sake!)
OKO

keep an eye on sth o keep under
observation
OKO

have an eye on sb o take a fancy

to sb o set one's heart upon a
draw a bead on sb o take a shine
to sb/sth be turned on
OKO
. ce
one's/sb's eyes are bigger than
one's/sb's belly/stomach



look suspiciously at sb

have an eye for

catch sb's eye catch one's eye

not get a wink of sleep not/hardly sleep a wink
OKO

144

draw one's eye

force of circumstances

co
heave a sign of relief

at a rough estimate o at a guess () ()

off the top of one's head . a rule
(as) heavy as lead
of thumb
OKO OKO,
OMPA3A
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth o tit for tat <-, measure for
bear sb no ill will
measure .-> a blow for a blow
()

(be) blinded by hatred

give a dog a bad name and hang
bear malice to
him
CO OKO

BO
with the naked eye
in eclipse - on the wane
co OKO
not to bat an eyelid .- be as cool
as cucumber o keep a cool head

co OKO
place/put in jeopardy o endanger
with the naked eye

OKO
sense danger . smell a rat see
a thorn in (sb's) flesh > a blot on
the
red light
the landscape
BOH

/
(be)
out
of
danger
o (be) off the
be an eyeful
hook o (be) out of harm's way
OKO
(be) out of the woods o (be) off the
an evil eye
rocks
BO OKO ja , BO
( )
in an emergency o in case of
emergency
first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye -.- and then shalt thou see
clearly to cast out the mote out of
thy brother's eye knowyourown / (/)
faults before blaming others for
theirs
the seamy side (of life/sth)

145

your pipe and smoke it

inf
ce
have one's tail between one's legs
join forces
o turn (one's) tail (and flee) .>
opo

show the white feather c get cold

be
a ringleader - rule the roost o
feet .: beat a retreat
pull the strings

answer to the description of sb

beat sb black and blue o beat sb
to a pulp

as an excuse for in extenuation
of

basically o generally .-. all in all o
in the main .> on the whole

ce
go into orbit

lose one's bearings
OPTAK
e si
(be) a (regular) brick
OPEB
inf
hard nut o teaser o hot potato
OPO
ce opo,

in for a penny, in for a pound if

a thing is worth doing, it's worth
doing well

inf
like hell you won't o you can bet
your sweet arse on it put that in

no
brothers in arms

rattle the sabre

side arms

lay down (one's) arms

hoist sb with his own petard

under arms
ce
take up arms
OCA
() oca inf
(as) mad as a hornet
OCBEH
(//)
unless/if o only in case c only if

beside .-. besides . apart form

a lady killer a heart-throb
OCET

lose one's touch for
/
BO
the bottom line is it all boils down
to



groundless uncalled-for o with
out foundation

on a firm footing J on a solid foun
dation

on an equal footing > on equal
terms

on the face of o on the strength of
- on the basis of
?
On the basis of what? a On what
grounds?

a
least of all
OCTABA
si
stand sb up
/
leave open

let's forget about it a let bygones
be bygones

146

stick to one's guns o stand by
one's guns

trail behind

walk away from

escape observation o escape
notice

be relieved for sth

keep one's cool

adhere to - hold to .- stick to
hold onto
,

go down as
/
get pregnant

it/that remains to be seen

()
stay the course

turn a deaf ear to

OCTABKA

resign
hand in one's resignation

ja
blunt the attack
ja

draw sb's/sth's teeth/fangs

get even with sb give as good as
on a knife edge
one gets - tit for tat

come out alive o save one's neck

it remains to be seen

hold one's peace

OTBOPEH/OTBOPEHO

to be honest ^ not to put too fine
a point on it

in the open o out of doors

give notice sack (sb)

get notice o getthesack o getthe
marching orders

.tl
dump sb
give sb the boot

on easy terms

meet with opposition

from now on o from now onward(s) - henceforth
077

make concessions

()
ever since .. since then o from
then on

go on the offensive

nara BO
succumb to despair

ce ()
the odds are (that) .-. it's expecte
d/believed (that)

just as I hoped
c

look forward to
be eager to

147

think as much

be up to the mark

let sb down not live up to sb's
expectations

beyond one's expectations/hopes o above expectations


fall short of expectations o be
below the mark
BO
in expectation of

/
stick out a mile o stick out like a
sore thumb
,
out of sight, out of mind
inf
sb's eyes nearly/almost/practica
lly popped out of his head

look sb straight in the eye o meet
sb's eye
co inf
make eyes at .. feast one's eyes
/ ce
get out of my sight
with you
( //)
have eyes in one's

inf
.; get lost . off

head

like the apple of one's eye o with
one's life

lie through/in one's teeth/throat


inf
throw dust into sb's eyes pull the
wool over sb's eyes

catch sb's eyes o attract sb's at
tention

not take one's eyes off

not believe one's eyes

can't stand/bear the sight of sb o
wouldn't touch sb with a barge
pole/pair of tongs/ten-foot pole
co
have never seen o have never set
one's eyes on ? never clap one's
eyes on
inf
be at daggers drawn o be/go at it
hammer and tongs

the eyes are mirror to the soul
/
I would give mu eyes to/for

bleed sb white

keep one's eye(s) opened/peel
ed/skinned

open sb's eyes
() ! imper
Keep your eyes open! o Keep
your weather eyes open!
Keep
your eyes peeled/skinned!
nara BO
sink in sb's esteem = be much
discredited with

feast one's eyes on a get an eyeful
of
,

148

out of sight, out of mind .. far from
eye, far from heart long absent,
soon forgotten
/
fall down about sb's ears
ce /
see with one's own eyes see far
oneself
co
>"'
be daydreaming
co
with one's eyes open
co /
with one's eyes closed <> blindfold
;-.- with half an eye
hands down
standing on one's head .- a
piece of cake
BO
tete-a-tete
()
be at daggers drawn o fight like
cats and dogs o be at each other's
throat
BO (/)
in the eyes of (the world/public)

see red .-> with one's hackles up
inf
for love o for nothing/free

pass away o breathe one's last o
give up the ghost

shut/close one's eyes to o turn a
blind eye to o draw/throw/cast a
veil/curtain over sth
,
get the hell out of here
ce
see red

149

catch sb's eyes

can't look sb in the eye
() /
catch forty winks o pound one's
ear o crop a snooze

one cannot help noticing -, it sticks
a mile
,
(a) pie in the sky - wishful thinking

in the eyes of
co /
with one's own eyes
co inf
roll one's eyes at > have (got) a
roving eye

four eyes see more than two

believe nothing of what you hear

and only half of what you see
BO
win sb's admiration/sympathies

pass the master o be good
enough

() ()
(as) sour as vinegar

150

a good bargain o a good deal
/

drive a hard bargain

an ugly duckling

(but) if
/ inf
here we go again

, inf
king of the castle o rule the roost
o run the show

-
inf
the deed comes back upon the
doer . the biter is sometimes bit
r the biter bit

/
give free advice
inf
frighten/scare sb out of his wits

have the brain of a pigeon
package tour
?
What was in your mind? o How

could you?
inf
slow on the uptake o slow off the ?
a penny for your thoughts!
mark


inf
have a mental block
hold thumbs for sb o cross one's

inf
fingers for sb
this will/should teach him a lesson

si
let that be a lesson to you
cut no ice with (sb)

() .?/
itoccurstoone .. it comes toone's
no dice/soap . that won't wash
mind
He inf
ro

I don't buy that

ce / inf
make sb's hair curl o scare the
sth/sb turn sb on
pants of sb

151

push sth down sb's throat o give
free advice o stuff down sb's
parrot fashion
throat

still wet behind the ears
I give you credit for it

inf
notto knowwhich waytoturn o be
money for jam/old rope
at a loss
napa , inf

cash and carry

,


money makes the world go round
wise men wear their horns on their
o money talks
breasts, fools on their foreheads

money makes money

may his soul rest in peace
money isn't everything

ce
inf
it's a matter of pennies
have (got) a memory like a sieve
inf

not have a penny to one's name o
be skint .: be (down) on one's
in living memory
uppers
inf
pay with the same dish you borrow
()

a smoke screen o a stalking horse

since the year dot => time out of
mind from time immemorial
() inf
fall to sb's lot (to)

() inf

(as) soft as butter o (as) soft as

wax/down
draw a parallel

()

() inf
be panic-stricken r, start to panic
smash sth into pieces

there is no occasion for panic/fear
( )
"e //
(go) full steam ahead r at full
Don't panic
Don't lose your hair
speed o at full stretch
ov
er it Keep your hair on

()
put sth by for a rainy day
inf
blue one's money
inf
have moneyto burn have a mint
r be loaded .. be rolling in it/money c be made of money

152

inf

be mincing money o coin in

ce
(be) on the game
ce
throw one's money about/around

get one's money back
co ce ce
co
imper
money can't buy everything
don't put all your eggs in one bas
ket
/

put money into
be out of money


bags of money a small fortune
I have no money
( )

draw money
not be worth a penny o not be
worth a bag of peanuts o be ten a
make money
penny


have moneyto burn
pay good money

inf
money talks
(money) doesn't grow on trees


make money
expense/money is no object o
spare no cost
ce inf

make the best of it o run for it
the love of money is the cause of

all evil
() inf
() inf
pack one's bags
couldn't care less ..- do not give a
damn (about) o not give/care a inf
pin/two pins (for) o not care a
(pull) up stakes/sticks
tinker's cuss for
coce
inf
inf
bag and baggage o lock, stock,
be not worth a fig/straw - be not
and barrel
worth a row of beans o be not
! inf imper
worth a bean
get the hell out of here!
,

honesty is the best policy
( /)

153

()

lead sb astray
/
be on the right track o be on the
right scent c be on the right lines

be at one's wit's end
be in a
quandary (about whether to) - be
at six and sevens


the road to hell is paved with good
intentions
no
peacefully
()
()
pave the way (for) SJ blaze the trail
(for)
()

do sth the hard way

/ no
() no
go their different ways
one (drink) for the road
/ () !
point the way (to/towards)
happy journey!


bring up sb
middle of the road


put a stop to o put an end to
stand in the/sb's way
()
! imper
be on the track (to)
be about to
Get out of my way!


set (out) for c go on/make/take a
on the way/road o on one's way
journey o set off on a journey o
/
set out on a venture
be on the road to success
no /
. . .

on the way o en route from . . . to

follow sb's example .- go the way
no
of sb


go wrong .. be off the track . be
put a stop/end to _-, cut sth short
on the wrong track
inf
Let's have a game of
inf
take a nap
/
put up a good/bad show .-> give a
good/bad account of oneself

si
a nice bit of goods/fluff
! si
What a dish!
inf
a juicy morsel

by the piece

a slice of the cake
inf
bowl sb over like ninepins o make
a mincemeat of sb -> cream sb

()

154

stop halfway through

/
all roads lead to Rome

stand in sb's way/light

hit the road o take to one's heels
.
a path strewn with roses

inf
wipe the floor with sb

()

time and time again o time and
again o time after time
. . .
how many times do I have to . . .

many times
inf
don't be too sure o don't bet on it

I've lost count
-
five or six times

a hundred times
times without
number o time and time again

half as much again
/ . . .
keep/lose count of
()
there is always a next time
no
by way of - by means of
-
-
a toss-up

we're at a parting of the ways

fall ill with o c o m e / g o down with
()
fall flat on one's face

take a break o take time off

ce / inf
put on airs ;. throw out one's chest
o put on the dog .. act the cock
of the walk o (be) like a dog with
two tails

() inf
knee-high to a grasshopper

not g i v e / b u d g e an inch o not
(yield) an inch

ce
all hell broke loose
()

it's extremely hot it's like being
in hell

(/) ()

when you were just a twinkle in

your father's eye


inf
still wet behind the ears

a good broth can be cooked in an
old pot

155

KO co inf
in a slapdash manner
, inf
be freezing coid
ce inf
old habits die hard

foam at the mouth

co co nee
treat sb worse than a dog

() inf
let bygones be bygones n let sth
drop -. forgive and forget o wipe
the slate clean

die like a dog

inf
(as) poor as church mouse
ce
rise from the ashes

() ()
(as) light as a feather o (as) light
as air o (as) light as thistledown
inf
make the feather/fur fly

hit a bad patch go through a bad
patch

/
from this/that point of view from
this/that angle
()
(from) a bird's eye view

have a lot/plenty going for one

()
(as) hungry as a wolf

nee inf
change one's tune o sing a dif
ferent song/tune o strike a new/different note o change one's
mind
()
(sb's) swan song
/ inf
(a) lullaby
() nee inf
harp on the same string

(the same) old story o the same
old song

/
build castles in the air/Spain
/
plough the sands

inf
straight to the point -. wasting no
time

inf
kill the fatted calf
inf
have one's bread buttered on both
sides


/
brag about
put on airs
throw
out one's chest
put on the dog
act the cock of the walk

. . inf
arse over tip
show a white pair
of heels

be in hot pursuit
hot on sb's
trail/track breathe down sb's
neck
be at/on sb's heels

inf
the back of beyond/nowhere
inf
when hell freezes over > pigs
might fly
inf
be up with the lark

a black day
( ) (
/)/
(be) like Siamese twins (be) like
salt and pepper : (be) like bread
and butter - (be) like a horse and
carriage (be) (as) thick as
thieves

inf
give sb a fourpenny one

inf
be out of luck
be jinxed
have
a run of t o u g h / b a d luck
be on a
losing streak

get a g o o d / b a d press

156

go to press

set/put the seal on o leave one's
mark (on)

e si
have had it o be done for o be up
a gum tree

() (no )
spring like mushrooms after rain

throw in the towel o throw up the
sponge
si
queer ^ homosexual

set/put/place sb on a pedestal

ce inf
cling like a leech o cling like,a
limpet

ce () inf
stick to sth/sb like a leach

inf
pick on sb '. have a grudge on o
have one's knife in sb . be on sb's
case
/ inf
have (got) it in for sb

nee inf
the back of beyond/nowhere

157

, nee inf
the early bird catches the worm
first come, first served

have sth in view

when my ships come home

BO

a bitter pill (to swallow)

queer sb's pitch o put the kibosh
on sth
ce / /

only a pawn (in a game)

inf
rub one's nose in it c cast in one's
teeth

send sb a letter

( ) ! imper
Mum's the word! o Not a word
about this!

no flying from fate what must be,
must be

draw a gun
() inf
in the altogether
in the raw o
poor as a church mouse

be in for it o be in a bad way o
have had it look bad for sb

come to the fore

go according to plan

on schedule
according to the
plan/schedule
BO
in the forefront/foreground

/
be over the hill

take to the hills .-.: head for the hills

.
pay through the nose

he who pays the piper calls the
tune
inf
cash and carry
inf
you'll get what's coming to you

,
blow hot and cold
/
burst into tears/laughter

I feel like crying
. . . inf
be asking f o r . . . o the time is ripe
for...

158

reap the benefit(s)/benefits of
inf
draw a blank -.- bear not fruit

()

He ce ! imper
a figment of the/sb's imagination
Don't be afraid! o Don't be scared!
.-. Don't worry! o Never fear! .first fruit
Never mind!
//
()
ce . ..
I'm afraid - I'm sorry to say I fear bear fruit :-. come to fruition

Ce ce !
Likely story! Fat lot! Fat chan inf
kick the bucket c breathe one's
ces!
last .. bite the dust

inf
inf
change the subject/record n
stick out like a sore thumb
change one's tune ^ shift one's
ground r? change the channel

inf

sound like a cracked record
under cover of < under the vail of

inf
turn the waterworks

cry oneself to sleep

( ) () ( ) inf
not touch sb with a barge-pole o
tons of o no shortage of
not touch sb with a pair of tongs

/
( ) inf
have sb/srh on one's back
a spit and image of
spitting

image of a carbon copy of - be
put one's back into
a dead ringer for sb

sink or swim
a moral victory

no - no
Pyrrhic victory
-
penny and penny laid up will be
a ciose/near thing
many o grain by grain the hen fills
her belly o many a little makes a
mickle
win

,
the sooner, the better

159

()

make a tactical retreat

/ ()

ce no
have no occasion to
follow sb's example -.- take one's
cue from
have occasion to

, ce! imper
give rise to o call for
no
Help yourself, please!
in reference to o with reference to
imper
o on the occasion of
Take a seat, please
()
!
ce
You're welcome to it Help your

self
Be my guest
Go right
be/feel sick o look green about
ahead!
the gills

he
ce
seeing is believing

come to the surface o crop up ..

a
heave in sight o come to light
and what is more

( )
bring sth to the surface
and much more and then some

on the surface
and a little/bit over

dead certain

practice makes perfect

ce
more and more
()

/
(e)
cast a look at .; steal a glance (at)
(be) in the making

look back

hold/stand one's ground
at first sight o at (the) first blush
ce ()

beat a retreat , give way < goto
pass one's eyes over
earth/ground .... back up -.- show

white feathers
look daggers at sb > give sb a dirty


look

as far as the eye can see
co
look daggers at sb
BO
on another score
BO
regarding
in terms of
BO
all/right down the line c in every
particular/in all particulars o in
every count o every inch o in
every respect o in all respects o
in every way
BO
in that respect on that score
in that regard

raise/lift one's eyes
co
at a glance

hit the bull's eye . hit the jackpot

hit sb where it hurts most

160

()
pay lip service

share and share alike

ja () inf
oil the wheels

() inf
like a charm o on oiled wheels o
without a hitch

ce
getting better : on the up and up

let the best (man) win

no
it goes without saying

() si
knock on wood

win on points

BO
get sth under way
set/put (the)
score (points) off
wheels in motion
/

score big points

eggsbon - jack sb up u twist sb's
arm
ce
spread like wildfire

()
give one's full backing stand up inf
for give sb a leg up
bring up the rear

161

be at a stalemate o be in a dead
lock
si
lord it
queen it c pull rank (on
sb)

()
thank you all the same

as far as I know to the best of my
knowledge

does not have a familiar ring o
does not sound familiar
it's a
new one to me

have a familiar ring
sound fa
miliar ring a bell strike a chord

()
nonetheless - though c although
o notwithstanding -- despite o
regardless <- yet nevertheless r
the fact remains

from generation to generation o
from father to son

under the aegis of sth/sb

/ inf
a meal/friend and a half

/
say her vows _
> tie the knot .-. hitch
up with sb r, walk down the aisle no none
walk in a mine field

, inf

walls have ears
little pitchers/on the basis of
on the strength
pigs have long ears
of - counting on

inf
slowly but surely o easy does it
have no (faintest) idea o search
me
go easy on
-

-
easy does it
throw sb a life-line o throw a life
line to sb

() inf
/
at snail's pace

as it turned out

hit me with your best shot

BO
be in sb's interest



do well out of

in/
talk politics

curry favour with sb

attain one's majority

the/one's better half

key position
BO
put yourself in my place

put oneself in sb's place/shoes

,
the worse things get, the better o
the worse, the better

what's worse
/
it turned out to be for the worse

stop short of -. hang back/off

meet sb halfway go halfway with
sb ? go halfway to meet

give sb a hand o do sb good

do no good o does not help

162

,
you scratch my back and I'll
scratch yours . today you, tomor
row me c, today me, tomorrow you
o claw me and I'll claw thee

(a) ()
much/still less

nothing short of -. no less than o
not fewer than

nothing but o the thick end of

more or less
ce
less and less

much less

/
it's a long lane that has no turning
o the longest day must have an
end
Toa
That won't wash

() ()
the bare idea _ at the very thought
of (doing sth) o the very idea of

just as I thought

by oneself ; alone o off one's
own bat - on one's own hook

first aid

every little helps



by the help of

inf
answer/obey a call of nature o
pay a call

imper
Keep/Stay away from o Hands off
()
inf
the pecking order
() inf
at the drop of one's hat o like a
lamb
,
inf
jobs for the boys
he whose fa
ther is judge goes safe to his trial
( ) ,
inf
everyone to his taste : there's no
accounting for taste
inf
pretend i n n o c e n c e - butter
wouldn't melt in his mouth
inf
the dog that is idle barks at his flea
ce

(be) as different as chalk and

cheese

wisdom is better than strength
a
wise man changes his mind, a fool
never

( */) ()
lik
e a scalded cat

163

because of
on the account of
therefore .> thereupon
thence
thereby

as soon as possible

question of time o sooner or later
,
the sooner, the better

BO
be on the increase

ce
devote oneself to o give one's
mind to
//
,
don't put the cart before the horse

, ()

as you make your bed you must lie

on it o as you sow so you shall
reap as you bake so you shall
eat

bring up the rear .-> be in the rear

ce

face the facts/music

()
be handed/given sth on a (silver)
plate

164

/

a stroke of genius

finishing touches
ce nocpa taboo

shit oneself
a masterstroke

co
be on the move
via r> by means of

false move

no in/
give sb short shrift
make short
it's your turn
the ball is in .your
shrift of sb
court

no
a step in the right direction
with dispatch o in short order

derive from <>
- originate from
on one's deathbed
stem from

BO
common origin
die in one's bed

thank you all the same

be bedridden o confined to bed

sweat like a pig

ro
one's blood runs cold c break into
a cold sweat o be scared out of
one's wits
( )
(earn sth) by the sweat of one's
brow

inf
feel one's way through

move over o make room

so
well grounded in o be good/yersed at

before the Flood out of the arc
no -
after me the deluge

sign (on the dotted line)

BO () no
be in quest/search of > be on the
lookout for

if need be o at a pinch



have need of o be in want of

there's no need (for sb to do sth)

uncalled for o without reason

165

on credit o buy now, pay later

()! imper
Wait! o Hang about/around o
Hang on a sec(ond)!

! inf
() /

I need you like I need a hole in my

back to square one o back to the
head
drawing board

from the beginning at the bot
a figure of fun c a laughing stock
tom of the ladder o from the (very)
start

from beginning to end o from start
make history
to finish

the beginning of the end


not to be sneezed/sniffed at
every beginning is hard
ce

back to square one
a crusade

that's only half of the story

draw a lesson from
learn one's
make a fresh start
lesson ; draw the moral
BO

in the beginning initially o at the
let that be a lesson to you
outset (of sth)

for a start

lose one's grounds

pay one's respects
fall on stony ground
()
pay sb tribute (to) o pay one's

respect (to) pay/do homage (to)
set the stage for dress the soil/ground o pave the road for o set
last tribute
the scene for

166

Co ( )

Yours sincerely o Sincerely Yours
do one's heart good to

ro
with (the greatest) respect o with
take it's toll
due respect
inf

stop pretending
inf
. . .
neither hide nor hair
whatever you do, make sure . .. o
make no mistake

inf
follow the crowd o if you can't beat
kick up dust o raise dust kick up
them, join them when in Rome
a fuss/noise
do what the Romans do
()
,

raze sth to the ground
do as I say, not as I do


throw dust into sb's eyes
practice what one preaches

co

be like putty in sb's hands
encroach upon sb's rights
ce . ce

inf

pretend innocence/ignorance
administer justice
ce
give oneself airs . strike attitudes

-' put on side

BO
in the direction of a toward(s) in /
order to o with the aim to

/
play the game o go by the rules o
,
play by the rule

truth and oil are ever above

ground rules

inf
the general rule
you're nowhere to be found
no
?
as a rule at all times o without
what's to be done? where do we
exception
go from here?

, /
golden rule
/
if a thing is worth doing, it's worth
doing well
,

167

give the devil his due n fair's fair o
to be honest o frankly speaking
a sight for sore eyes
-;

(the) divine right

, a

inf
to tell (you) the truth -.> frankly
give him an inch and he will take a
speaking - to be honest with you
mile

(ce ()) be right n be in the right ._ have
inf
the right to o be entitled to
(feel like) a third wheel (feel like)

a spare prick at a wedding
stake one's claim to

()
have no right (to) o have no busi ()
put that in your pipe and smoke it
ness

be sb's for the asking
lay a claim (to) = be entitled to
( )
co
quite properly -> within one's rights save your breath to cool your por
ridge

be dead right


burning question
gain currency/acceptance


crucial/vitaf question o a matter of
life and death
you're right o you said it .. you win


without permission o off one's
keep/leave one's options open
own bat o right away
()

you have no right (to) o you're
fine thank you!
wrong
BO
co ?
be open to doubt -J be called into
what gives you the right to?
question

()
a big question o highly problem
o the threshold (of)
atic o open to doubt/question


,
like question, like answer
not to darken sb's doors again

open-question
a moot point
lay at sb's door



point of honour

question of time

the million/64 million dollar ques
tion

point of order
ce
the question/problem arises o the
question is raised

fire questions (from all sides)

raise the issue

make an issue of sth

play a waiting game a wait for the
cat to jump o wait to see which
way the cat jumps

when the storm blows over .
when the dust settles :: when the
dust has settled
/ /
make a fuss about/of o make a
song and dance about o make the
fur/feathers fly

the dust settles
He inf
Don't make waves

gather dust o be on the shelf

if you ask m e

if I had my say

168

wonder out loud o wonder aloud
jac ce
I'm in charge here

( ce ) ,

there are as good fish in the sea as

ever came out of it - plenty more
fish in the sea o be not the only
pebble on the beach

first and last

( )
there is always a first time for every
thing

. . . a () . . .
for one thing . . . and another...

for one o in the first place first
of all o to begin with

first and foremost u for a start o
to begin with

under cover of o under the vail of

snatch from the jaws of death

BO
in the eve of

no way o be out of question

take into consideration

169

hit the jackpot
take/pick up the gauntlet o accept
a challenge

turn a blind eye to

table a motion
co

knowingly c. intentionally o delibput a motion up for discussion
erately

( )
(give sb) a head start
save the day o turn the tables on
/

have the lead o be one up on o

have the edge on - be ahead of
be at the crossroads
: stand more chances than -.
leave sb standing

( - ( )
laugh on the other side of the face
)
(when)
yield the right-of-way

pros and cons
()
be ahead of the game r steal a
march on
( )
play advantage

unprejudiced, unbiased, openminded

meet halfway o meet sb's de
mands

dethrone

ascend the throne

ce ( )
make out to be - pretend to be

! imper
Shut up o Knock off o Cut (it) out!
turn adrift o turn one's back to sb
o Turn it/that up!
c abandon sb to his own devices
o leave sb in the lurch

take a shortcut n cut corners o go

as the crow flies
reach a verdict c pass sentence


()
(sign) a death-warrant

170

hunch (that)

give sb a warm welcome/recept

inf
ion
eat till/until it comes out of one's
ears < eat oneself sick (on)

()
have/get one's lines/wires cross
tired to death o deadbeat o dead
ed
tired .: be on one's last legs o like
a wet rag -. ready/fit to drop
against all (the) odds

ja inf

pile/lay it on (thick) o draw the
take notes
long bow o over-egg the cake

He ! imper
a long way away/off o wide of the
Don't get carried away!
mark ^ nowhere near a far from it

/
lose all track of time
take exception to sth o lodge a
complaint o put in an objection
()
get/have got (a clear) idea

/
have (got) no idea
get a good/bad reception

not to know one from Adam


leave the impression of o with a
the show is over
tinge of

get the wrong idea/impression a
get hold of the wrong end of the
stick
have to hand it to sb

()
do justice to -- give credit to .-
reflect credit on/upon o pay tri
needs/requires no introduction
bute to o give sb full marks (for)

BO
have a feeling (that) c have a
out of this world

171

a fairy tale o a bedtime story

that's another story
something
else again

tale tales <> spin a yarn
inf
fisherman's story

twice-told tale same old story

be a different ball-game > that's
another story

a tall story

be ending o be coming to a close

() inf
with a little help from my friends

a friend in need is a friend indeed

a fairweather friend

bide one's time

watch for one's chance
( /)
be a good match
()
(be) equal to the occasion

miss a chance <-. miss the boat/bus

thereabouts o about o round
about o something along those

lines

about ;.- around .., thereabouts
BO
some other time <> on another oc
casion

whip-round
()

(be) in favour of .- (be) in sb/sth
favour o (be) to sb's advantage <suit/fit sb's/one's book a give/lend colour to sth
BO
go against c tell against o to sb's
disadvantage

pass the hat round
BO
suit sb's book o be in sb's interest

an object lesson o a classical ex
ample

set an example for sb

as for example c. such as a like

make an example of sb
no
on/along the line of sth
ce /

follow a good/bad example

follow suit

serve as na example


/
set a g o o d / b a d example

172

go about sth the wrong way

take sb as an example . take a leaf
out of sb's book
inf
/
make sb's hackles rise .. raise sb's
living proof of
hackles o get on sb's nerves -: get

in sb's hair o get under sb's skin
for example

don't get on my nerves

put the squeeze on
put pressure
a knight in shining armour
on - turn the heat on sb

on principle o it's a matter of prin
ciple

first principle
BO
in principle o as a rule

()
the inner man

go to the country

still life
no
by nature

in the nature of things

second nature

. . . inf
I feel/felt like . . .

stand one's ground stay the
course

give in o back down o knuckle
down/under

( ) inf
spoil for a fight trail one's coat

just like that c for no reason (at all)
o no matter what

()
have all the reason to believe (that)
o have reason to believe/for be
lieving

a hundred and one reason
/

for the simple reason that

( )

for reasons not clear to me o for

reasons that elude me

for one reason or another

lose one's temper <> lose one's
cool
( ) () -

inf
look before you leap don't
speak out of turn

on trial . on approval

put sb to trial o take (sb) to test o
put (sb) to proof o put sb through
his paces

the seat of the trouble
!
no problem!
no trouble!
it
doesn't matter! :. it'll be all right!

make an issue of o make too
much out of it

problems will not just go away

scratch the surface of the problem/subject

be one's own lookout that's sb's
problem o be sb's (own) funeral

a knotty problem

BO
on the air

173

()
si
you can kiss my arse eat your
heart out

/!
Damn it!

the spring set in

si
a real pain in the arse
inf
have the trots

/ inf
a sea change
()
a change for the better

()
(fore)doomed to failure = destined
to fail
BO
head for a fall

according to the rule o by the
book

BO
on average

be programmed for

be not programmed for

co
at/on an exponential rate

inf
I beg your pardon! o No way! o

174

()/

on sb
No can do!
,
ce
/
bid sb goodbye o part with o kiss
sth goodbye o write sth off
give him an inch, and he'll take a
mile

no ( )
get a rap/on/over the knuckles a
inf
get/have one's knuckles rapped
God forgive him
.

inf

have light fingers o (be) lightleave room for o allow for
fingered
- ()

have a hand/finger in sth/it

leave less room for maneuver
/

wag one's finger at sb

. -

be able to count sth on the fingers
the oldest profession
of one hand
co ()
/
not lift a finger/hand - not/never
/ bat an eyelid o not do a hand's

turn
off the top of one's head c at a
rough guess <-. roughly speaking inf
get the worst of a bargain

() inf
BO ()
a bunch of five
in percentage terms
inf

lay a finger on sb
! si

() co . . . inf
Take a walk! o On your bike!
make awild guess o bewideofthe

mark


burst into laughter o burst out
point a finger at
laughing

()/
the hand of God the finger of
( ce )
God

inf
inf
lick one's fingers
have more (of sth) in one's little
finger than sb else has in his whole
body ., not fit to wash sb's feet > (be) as black as pitch o (be) as
be not a patch on o have nothing
black as ink -> (be) as black as
midnight

175

early bird
wring one's fingers/hands

rear bird
knit one's brows
KO ( )
(//)
(as) free as the wind o (as) free as
turn a blind eye =-. look the other
the air
way blink the fact (that) o stretch
inf
a point . bend the rule(s)

(as) merry as a cricket
wrap/twist sb around one's little
finger
a bird of ill-omen
()
know sb/sth inside out o knowsth
backwards and forwards ^ know (/) ! inf
like the back of one's hand < have (Say) Cheese!
sth at one's fingertips
'
ja
taboo
bring the house down receive a
couldn't organize a fuck in a bro
standing
ovation
thel .- couldn't run a piss-up in a
brewery
ja
steal the show o bring the house
co /
down
not lay a finger on sb
ce

play to the gallery/grandstand

() inf

like a bird
inf

shoot from the hip
(as) free as a bird c footloose and

fancy-free
be gunning for sth o set one's
inf
sights on
nocturnal bird o night owl
BO inf
inf
bay the moon
lone bird/wolf

inf
mocking bird
a shot in the dark o a long/rand
inf
om shot
migrant bird o a rolling stone o

footloose and fancy-free

() inf
feel one's pulse o put out feelers
the bird has flown
o see/find out how the land lies o

fly a kite
bi
rd of paradise

come into bud

176

/ ()
at concert pitch

inf
si
let him have his fling
throw one's way about o brag
about o show off -> shoot the shit
()

() si
look as if/though one has slept i
that suit for a week

(as) busy as a bee

LUTO
-* a

imper

/
Mind your own business o Save
your breath to cool your porridge
()
(be) on the edge of the abyss o
walk the tightrope
a sure thing

(/) inf

a thousand and one
you will have to deal with me


have one's hands full n be up to
the devils own job
here
() ! inf

lets' get cracking o (let's) get the
have
better things to do <> have
show on the road
other fish to fry o have bigger fish
inf
to fry
off you go! <-, get on with it
ja
,
have it in the bag
haste makes waste . more haste
less speed -. good and quickly ja / inf
blow it o gum things up o gum up
seldom meet
the works o make a bloomer
/
be worked off one's feet
ja inf
get crossed with o part company

with
let us get down to business


?
How is it going?

a piece of cake - no problem o
easy o (there's) nothing to it o
plain sailing
si
get the push/sack

a bad business

drive a hard bargain

at work o on duty o on the job

in the employ of

be off duty

mind your own business o no
business of yours o never you
mind c> keep off the grass!
, inf
the dog that's idle barks at his fleas

sb's not doing well o sb is not well
; be in trouble - be in deep water
-. be in dire straits o be up against
the wall

a square peg in a round hole
inf
the what's-its-name o those things
> private parts

common knowledge

that's half the battle

first thing that comes into/enters

one's mind/head

177

inf
play with oneself

a point of honour

business is business

the business is blooming/inthefull
swing

it's in the can .-. it's in the pocket

actions speak louder than words
ce
get/set to work o get down to
business

no laughing matter
BO
get the message

mind one's (own) business go
about one's own business

know one's job c know one's stuff
! inf
like hell! not bloody likely! o
certainly not! o what next! ; that'll
be the day!
()
inf
you could talk until you're blue in
the face

it/that'll do the trick

it's a matter of habit
( )
(be) a different kettle offish o (be)
a different story o (be) a horse of
a different/another colour

it makes all the difference o Now,

178

you are talking -> Now, we're get

ting somewhere

I smell a rat there's sth fishy here
/
dirty work
BO ?
what is the matter? o what's the
game?
BO
that's the point o that's the ques
tion

a fool's errand . a wild goose
chase

be in arrears o fall into arrears
(with sth)
imper
get on with it o on your way

, inf
there are to many chiefs and not
enough Indians
()
do sth like mad
/
work by the job

work by fits and starts - work in
spasms

when it comes to

be out of order v. be closed

work overtime
ce
it's a question of n it's a matter of
()

take matters into one's hands o

take things in hand

and many other things o and the
like
/ inf
and that kind of thing > and all that
jazz
()

to my mind in my view

as things/matters stand now

things took an unexpected turn
ce
put/shove/stick in one's oar t
put/stick one's nose into other
people's affairs
( )
that's the way it is o that's the way
things are

it makes all the difference

si
on tick o on the slate o nevernever

(
)
throw one's hat in the air

outburst of joy

ce para,
death is sure to all n all men must
die .> nothing so certain as death

,
inf
first catch your hare and then cook

it o catch your bear before you sell

its skin

179

make no difference

draw a distinction between sth and
sth

let me make it (quite) clear - let's
get this straight make no mis
take
()
don't get me wrong

every single one
bar none

unlike o contrary to o in contrast
to

Ce !
Of course! - Certainly! > Sure!
ce
be good at be versed in

PA3MEP
BO

a scale of one centimeter to one
kilometer

PA3BOJ

the turn of events o march of
events
unfolding of events

cee
drive a wedge between sb and sb
.-- make mischief between

ce
have it out with n have a word with

divide and rule

(take a) load off sb's/one's mind

regardless of
without respect to
()
patch up differences
sink one's
differences

class distinctions

escalate o set up o hot up
/
/
let's/let me see

think aloud
()
on second thought

think again

without thinking/hesitating o out
of hand . off the cuff

give sb something to think about
o sit up and take notice

common sense -; sound judge
ment

reason will prevail

PAJ
PAJ
BO ()
live in Eden

180

PAKA

pack a mean punch

pay/cash on the nail
PAK

() co
as if by magic o like charm o it
a sore point .- cancerous growth
works wonders
() inf
as red as a beetroot o as red as
lift/raise one's hand against a
fire
raise one's hand to sb
PAKA


commit suicide o take one's own
a woman's touch
life

, ()strong arm <> firm hand a hand inf
of iron
steal - nick < have light/sticky
fingers
ja inf
Let's shake hands (to it) o Bravo!
o Congratulations! Good for
suit/fit sb's/one's book
you!

/
turn one's hand to go sb's way
shake sb by the hand


in a slapdash manner <> on the
sb's right hand/arm
spur of the moment
inf

would give one's back teeth o
by hand
would give one's right arm (for)
/

play into sb's hands

dig deep into one's purse/pocket
(straight/right) from the horse's

mouth
be good/versed at


from hand to hand
the long arm of the law
/
/
at second/third hand
spend money like water o spend (/)
money like it's going out of fashion
lay one's hands on sth/sb o play
! inf
into sb's hands
here's my hand on it!


ask sb's hand in marriage
take by the hand

( )
under the counter
hold a good hand
/

PAKAB
/
do sth on one's own responsibility

in hand

sb's cat's paw

work on one's own initiative

to be fair o let's face it o to be
honest c frankly speaking o give
the devil his due

hand in hand o arm in arm n hand
in glove (with)
ce ( )
everything is going/coming one's
way o one can walk on water
co
with an iron hand
co
one-armed . with one hand
ce ce
have sticky fingers
co
freehand

dip/put one's hand in one's pock
et

stake one's life (on it)

rule with an iron hand/a rod of iron
- lead with a firm hand
BO
at best
BO
at (the) least o to say the least
BO
in a sense/way -> kind of o sort of

change hands

181

steady hand o as steady as a rock
PAKAB
inf
have sth up one's sleeve

off the cuff
co oc inf
get the worst of a bargain

rolls one's sleeves up . put one's
back into o get down to . get
cracking take the bit between
one's teeth n knuckle down o
grasp the nettle

challenge sb

fight with the gloves off o take off
the gloves

accept a challenge
(ce )
(fight) with the gloves off
(ce ) co pa
(treat sb) with kid gloves
PAKETA
ce () inf
go like a bomb

under the command of o under
the orders of o officered by

BO
in manuscript

PAMEH
PAMEH

be one of a kind - (be) one in a
million : be w o r t h o n e ' s / h i s
weight in gold
/

meet one's match

be nothing short of
amount to o
be equal to - equal sb in

ce
cry on sb's shoulder

shrug one's shoulders

be on a parallel with

lose balance

throw sb off (his) balance o knock
sb off his feet o set sb back on his
heels

strike a balance between
BO
bring back into balance
BOH
be off balance
PAMO

shoulder to shoulder
side by
side .-, be on a dead level with sb
PAHA
/
lick one's wounds

open old sores u open old
wounds

182

PACTE

the first cut is the deepest

take sth to heart c eat one's heart
out
PAHO
()
it's still early days

early in the morning
PACEH
/
outstanding striker/singer

inf
the skeleton at the feast o party
pooper

at one's disposal/service ^ on call
r= within easy reach o in hand

be at sb's service/disposal
/
your's to command

be in a merry/high/good mood
be in high spirits o be in high/good feather
()
be in no mood (for) o be in low
spirits

Monday morning feeling
BO
full of fight
PACTE
! inf
many happy returns of the day! o

183

God bless you!

()
hold/keep at distance/bay o
keep sb at arm's length

catch sb on the wrong foot
B O .
co
be in contradiction with
be in
clash with r, (be) out of tune with
c sort ill with o (be) out of step with

have a bone to pick with (sb)

pane
give sb a free hand .-. give sb his
head J give sb enough/plenty of
rope o let sb have his head
( )

(welcome sb) with open arms

BO
take/have in hand

have clean hands . keep one's

hands clean
inf
have two left hands n be all fingers
and thumbs

hold/have sb in the palm of one's
hand

have one's hands tied o be tied
hand and foot

be a handyman

slip through one's fingers o miss
one's hold
() inf
be all fingers and thumbs o have
two left hands '- (be) a butterfingers

eat out of sb's hand

give sth up as a bad job
let go
ofsb/sth : throw up one's hands
.. throw in the towel ~ let the mat
ter drop
,
cold hands, warm heart
pane (
) ( )
many hands make light work (too
many cooks spoil the broth)
() inf
sb has only got one pair of hands

wash one's hands of
BO
put one's back into <<- get down to
get cracking
take the bit be
tween one's teeth <. buckle down/to sth . grasp the nettle
()
inf
bowl sb over like ninepins <- waltz
home
(/)
go through sb's hands
pane
change hands

kiss hands
,
burn the candle at both ends

'

rope! imper
Hands up!
/
sit on one's hands
not lift a
finger/hand ,. not/never bat an
eyelid
ce
join hands
co
with two hands c two-handed
ce e BO
everything is in God's hands
everything is in the laps of the
Gods it's all on the knees of the
Gods
co
with one's naked hands
co
with one's own hands by oneself
co () inf
hands down standing on one's
head ... a piece of cake .. with
one's arms tied behind one's back

rub one's hands

dirty/soil one's hands
BO /
be in good hands
BO inf
be in sb's hands
(be) like putty
in sb's hands
BO ()
(be) in good/safe hands
/

go away/come back empty-hand

ed
BO
take charge of - get/take sth in
hand

seize with both hands

184

()

live sb/sth in safe hands

fall into sb's hands

die on sb's hands

'
have no backbone
<

a chain reaction

ce
have a rude awakening o come
back to earth with a bump
ce
face up to reality come to terms
with reality .. face (the) facts

inf
be asking for trouble
inf
be skin and bones o be a bag of
bones o be (as) thin as a stick

si
I'm starving
()
/
wait one's turn o wait in a queue
o queue up for . wait in line for

read between the lines

take one's turn . it's one's turn

put/set to order

it's his turn

185

send sb a line
it would be the decent thing to do

i: it would be nice n it wouldn't be
be in line for
amiss .; it's (high) time

it's not in order o it wouldn't be
nice
no
respectively

jump the queue
PE3EPBA
no
/
one by one o on the trot
keep sth/sb on ice


out of turn
have mixed feelings about

it would be the decent thing to do

(a) fill-in
: it would be nice -.- it wouldn't be
amiss . it's high time o at long last ()
(it's) about time
a nest egg


law and order
take sth with a grain/pinch of salt
no
BO
every single one .-, anyone and
in store
everyone
all and sundry

ce e BO
/
everything is all right <.-. nothing is
take effect bear fruit
the matter
/
ce no

every single one o one by one

single/double figures
()

quite in order
tie the score - tie the game
BO
lead the van o be in the van be
on the strength of o as a result of
in the frontline
n thus ^ therefore
BO
primarily c in the first place o in ()?
the first instance
What's (the score)?
PEKA
BO
,
in order
oif
!
don't cross the bridge before you
come to it
O.k.! - All right! o Alright!
/ ce inf

go (and) jump in the river
close (one's) ranks

/
beat/break the record

set a record
PEMEH

tighten one's belt

a banana Republic

inf
win one's colours ~ make/win a
name for oneself put on the map

get/have a good name . enjoy a
good reputation
/
get/have a bad name

(//)
recipe for (success/failure/di
saster)
/
after/in the fashion of sb
()/

to put it mildly

not to say
ce

saying and doing are two things o

saying is one thing, and doing is
another = from word to deed is a
great space

at a rough estimate
-
suit the action to the word

186

() ,
(e)
easier said than done

to say the least .-, to put it mildly

in short - to make a long story
short the long and the short of it
()/()

no flying from fate

inf
drop a brick/clanger o put one's
foot in it
-
suit the action to the word o no
sooner said than done <. it's as
good as done

a word said is past recalling

so to speak > in a manner of
speaking

it's hard to say/tell
?
What did you say? o Come again!
o How's that!

( /)
the best/better part of (an our/day)

almost always o nine times out of
ten a ninety nine times out of a
hundred

almost never o once in a blue
moon

final solution



find a solution o find one's way
around o come to an agreement

()
(be) behind bars

si
nice bit of fluff o nice broad o a
bit/piece of tail
inf
a big fish

187

()

( ) inf
feed the fishes > make a hole in
the water

the weakest go to the wall

at one's own risk -- at one's peril
on one's own account
ce
take no chances
/
take the risk o run a risk

like a fish out of water c ill at ease

on one's own ground o at home
o in one's own element

, inf
t h r o w / s e t a sprat to c a t c h a
mackerel/whale

, inf
where bad is the best, bad must be
the choice c when I'm not with the
girl I love, I love the girl I'm with c
any port in a storm

/ ()
foam at the mouth o (as) bitter as
gall o hotunderthecollar o upthe
wall o with one's hackles up mad as a hornet r (as) cross as
two sticks
(as) black as thunder
- (be) like a bear with a sore head

()
keep one's mouth shut o hold
one's tongue/peace
()
swim like a fish

fish begins to stink at its head
, inf
first catch your hare and then cook
it - catch your bear before you sell
its skin
ce
take to sth like a duck to water
inf
small fry r> small beer/potatoes
inf
when hell freezes over
inf
shake like a leaf

work like a slave

be a slave to sth
()
inf
pull/draw in one's horns o take
one's medicine
inf
like cats and dogs

bring sb down a peg or two
inf
make sb a cuckold

&5

you cannot make him drink <> if the

inf
lad go to the well against his will,
sell sb a pup/pig in a poke
either the can will break or the

water will spill

from the frying pan, into the fire o

out of the frying pan, into the fire
/ (/
)

fine feathers make fine birds .

BO co
handsome is as handsome does
be in blood relation with > flesh
and blood

cross the Rubicon

()
as if to the manner born

(/)
( )
(be sitting on) a gold mine
born to (rule/command)
(/)

a born (teacher/politician)

everything is coming up roses a

roses, roses, all the way
happy birthday o many happy
returns (of the day)
it can't be roses all the way

/
fall on hard times o be in dire
()
straits o be in a bad way
born (Macedonian) o native of
(Macedonia)

POK
the Russian roulette
BO
at short notice

ce BO
/
it's all in a/the days' work it's all
win/lose a round
in the line of duty
ja
POHKA
win the first round
inf

not a jot
ce
POCA
get into a rut
() ()

(as) fresh as a daisy

,
'PT
inf
' co
scratch my back, and I'll scratch
you may lead a horse to water, but
yours

189

CAAT

CAKA

c
CAAT
inf
know the score -. get the message
?
What's the time
Have you got
the time?
()
(every hour) on the hour by the
hour - per hour o every hour
/
all of one hour o a solid hour
(ce ) ()
(go/work) like a clockwork

the clock is ticking
co
for hours on end
BO
in the small hours

(no) inf
for nuts
when hell freezes over
o over my dead body o not in a
million years o that'll be the day u
like hell o not (bloody) likely o no
way -, no can do
pigs may fly

() ()
as sharp as a razor
a needle

as sharp as

CAKA
. ()

as much as your heart desires r.

all you want o to one's heart con
tent o you name it we have it <- the

sky is the limit

()
suit yourself o please yourself o
feel free

be crazy about sb a be madly in
love with
inf
i don't feel like it o (I) couldn't be
bothered
( /)
not having any
(//) inf
have no ifs and buts from sb

he won't hear of it -. he will not
yield an inch

Am I to understand
? inf
Do you want me to spell it out for
you?
inf
lift the elbow
- -
like it or no/not o willy nilly

I want to know where I stand
/
I mean > I mean to say .: what I
mean is
() inf
I feel like it o I'd like to o I wish to
/ inf
That's my boy/girl ., Well done!


You'vesaidit o Now you're talking
? imper
What do you want? o What's the
matter (with you)?
!?
You want jam on it!?

190

( )
taboo
a slice off a cut cake is never miss
ed

() inf

a tight squeeze o (packed), like

inf
sardines
I'm getting restless o I'm fed up!
c can't take it any longer .-, it's too

much for me
inf
be up against the wall -. be in dire

straits . have no option/alter

native/choice
get out of the red
BO
in the red
BO
in the black
CAM
()
blow one's own trumpet

si
be a real pain in the arse o be a
real drag

be bored out of one's mind c be
bored stiff o be fed up < be a real
drag!

of oneself
()
make a rod for one's own back

(/) () inf
like the Black Hole of Calcutta

the good Samaritan

a/sb's fair godmother

give sb confidence : put fresh/new heart into sb

commit suicide
Toa e !
It's a suicide

no / inf
lock the stable door after the horse
has bolted o no use crying over
spilled milk

key witness

bear witness to give/lend colour
tosth

ce ce
it all boils down to

CBECT

191

()

CBECT

feel dizzy/giddy

inf
play gooseberry

CBET

live in a world of one's own

-*

the (big) wide world o the world at
large
()
give birth to

.
()
inf
cost a packet o cost a bomb
cost the earth - pay through the
nose
cost an arm and a leg

()
(be) poles apart

conquer the world o set the world
on fire

take the world as one finds it
?
what's the world coming to?

as though the world is his oyster
()
life is too short ^ life is but a candle

worldwide o all over the world
ce
more than anything (in the world)

kingdom come
inf
send s b t o his maker

it's a small world

ce
p r e t e n d i n n o c e n c e o butter
wouldn't melt in his mouth

patron saint

/
shed/throw light on
BO /
in the light of
()

red light

give the all-clear

receive sb's stamp of approval o
get the all-clear

put a new face on sth

the light is on

shoot the traffic lights
ce /

put up a g o o d / b a d show o give a

g o o d / p o o r account of oneself
ce
show one's true colours > throw
off one's mask o come to one's
own worth

red light for

CBEKA
BO /
in a good/bad light
BO
in one's true light

see the light of day

the green light o all-clear

inf
play gooseberry
inf
do sb in cook sb's goose

192

Ce

()
(be) a public property
CBOJCTBO
BO
in the capacity of

.

in either event -, no matter what
happens
/
end up in/as o wind up in

Ce
() inf

do not know a dog from a cat
all being well
inf
inf
make a pig of oneself
do one's utmost to/at the top of

one's bent o spare no expense =
a male chauvinist pig
try one's hardest - do one's (level)
best give sth all one's got ^ put

one's best foot forward

y inf

/
come hell or high water .. come

what may
try as one may
CBOE
ce ()

have what it takes to
come to one's own o break even
ce e
no inf
the worst thing is.the devil/heck
follow one's own bent
have
of it is
one's way o turn a deaf ear to n
have a mind of one's own
e ce
all is not lost
CBOETO
ro ro - e ce
()/() ro there is a bright side to it
() inf

have done one's bit
be on the
carry all/everything before one
shelf c be past it o have had one's ( ) ce ce
chips o be curtains for sb shoot
there's more to it
not the whole
one's bolt
story o you ain't seen nothing yet


get one's due o serve one right
do or die - go for broke

()

up to _ down to (sth)
ce
wish sb all the best
no ce - ce ce
ce
above all
in the first place o to
begin with
first of all
ce ce
swear by all that is sacred/holly
ce , ce ce inf
have green fingers
ce
I would give the world o I would
give my right arm
ce
I'll do anything for

193

()

ce ce
all in all o in all o by and large o
on the whole o all things consider
ed
ce HO ()
anything but
ce ce
it all comes down to o it all boils
down to . it all adds up to
ce ce
nothing seems to be going one's
way o stake the cards against sb
o stake the odds against sb
ce ce , ce ce
get/receive one's just deserts
ce inf
(all) shipshape and Bristol fashion
/ () ce
be ready for anything stick at
nothing o stop at nothing c g o t o
the stake
no ce
run after anyone in skirt

ce
everything will come out all right o
it will work out just fine
ce
everything else
ce e - inf
(all) shipshape and Bristol fashion
be not m i n c i n g w o r d s . talk
be in gear
through one's hat
ce e

ce
that says it all
all's well that ends well
ce e no
there's nothing new under the sun ()

ce
deep down - in one's hear of
all or nothing
neck or nothing :
heart's
double or quits

ce
have (got) an eye for the main
everything - odds and ends o all
chance o look after/take care of
sorts of things
number one
ce
nothing is going his way
ce ()
everything went downhill o (he) hit
the skid
Ce !
All the best!

()
fly off the handle u see red

all my life
co
be full of oneself <-, a big head



every man to himself o each to his
own
ce
find oneself o find/feel one's feet/legs o find one's bearings
BO
sure of oneself
BOH ()
out of one's mind/head o beside
oneself on cloud nine o overthe
moon

now that o as soon as
cera
(it's) now or never
Cera !
That settles it! .. That does it!
cera
for the time being o until further
notice c to go/be going on with
cera
just now - just this moment

BO
live in the present

remain in the saddle
CEE
, inf
he is everywhere
turn up like a
bad shilling
,
as you sow, so you shall reap a
sow the wind and reap the whirl
wind

194

CEKOj

it's all the same to me
CE3AME
! imper
Open Sesame!

()
it takes all sorts/kinds to make a
world
CEKAKO

certainly o absolutely o by all

means n to be sure
/
nothing if not clever/rich

ja ()
dig up the hatchet
ja ()
bury the hatchet
() (no ) inf
swim like a stone
inf
have one's bread buttered on both
sides ; live on/off the fat of the
land o have a piece of good for
tune o have a piece of good luck
o inherit a fortune

get gray (hair)

CEKOJ
()
death is sure to all > all men must
die c nothing so certain as death



every one is held innocent until he
is proved guilty ^ innocent until
be all the same be all one o be
proved guilty
(as) broad as it's long

not (for) a second

()
just a second

195

ce BO

keep a low profile

a/the shadow of death
ce
be afraid of one's (own) shadow o

can't/couldn't say a boo to a

goose
survival of the fittest o natural
ce
selection
be afraid of sb's shadow

( ) inf
a closed book .. it's all Greek/-
lose (one's) service
double Dutch (to me)

inf
break service
every living thing

/

better be a big fish in a small pond
get (it) out of one's head - pass/than a small fish in a big pond
go out of/from one's mind c es
better be first in a village than
cape one's memory
second in Rome

CEME
sth leaps to sb's mind
cee
()
sow the seed of love

cee
sb memory is green
sow the seed of discord
BO
cee
in one's mind eye
sow seeds of doubt
BO
in one's mind's eye a in memory
CEHKA
/

an apology for c shadow of one's
not yet - not just yet
former self

/ inf
work the oracle
it's not the first time

put/cast sb in the shade run inf
rings round sb o take the shine
from the first o at the first go
off/out of
inf
/
break the ice => try one's hand (at)
cast a shadow over > cast doubt
o break one's duck c draw the
on
first blood

196

()

wild horses couldn't drag him

inf
away/make him do
everybody's business is nobody's
business
a pot that belongs to
many is ill stirred and worse boiled
take a sledgehammer to crack/break a walnut <: break a/the but
terfly on a/the wheel
He impre

Don't be so sure o Don't bet on it
remain in power


be/feel sure (about)
the fourth estate

()

I'm not quite sure
can't rightly
say _ don't rightly know
get one's second wind

might overcomes right might is

inf
right o might makes right
(be) out of the woods
, inf

at the (very) outside
out of harm's way ; home and dry
/

gather strength o muster courage
play it safe play for safety
co

by/with might and main
that's for sure/certain

come into force

BOH
(be) on the safe side
make void o declare null and void

/ ()
world power
(be) in force o (be) operative o

(be) in operation o (be) valid
use brute force

show of strength


act of God

flex one's muscles
force of arms

motive power
prime mover

/
apply/devote one's energy to
my strength is giving out
set one's sights (on)


evil spirit
measure one's strength/swords

with o lock horns with sb

()

a trial of strength o a test of will

get one's second wind

overplay one's hand
co
all out o at full blast o to/at the top
of one's bent
co
by oneself c under one's own
steam

join forces o join hands o pull
together
()

the prodigal son

one and the only son
, inf
marry your son when you will, your
daughter when you can
/!
there's a good boy/girl!

a natural son

a rich man's son n jobs for the
boys

son of a gun

, /
when poverty comes in at the door,
love flies out at the window
(
)
poverty is not disgrace but is great
inconvenience o poverty is not sin

197

,
from bad to worse c out of the
frying pan, into the fire

have enough of o be fed-up
about/with o be sick and tired of

little knows the fat man what the
lean thinks --, half the world knows
how the other half lives

what is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander

co inf
be not quite all there o be crackers
o be not (quite) right in the head/in one's mind c- be up the pole
.
to the last man :. to a man > every
single one = bar none -.= barring
none o across the board o any
one and everyone o all and sundry
,
all for one, one for all
()
as one man

ce
crow over sb

/
have/not have a change
inf

every living thing

()
go through the mill o go through
thick and thin

198

CKOT


die like a dog
strain at a/every gnat o pick holes
()
(in)
lead a dog's life

be up to expectations . be equal1 , on! inf

to the occasion .. rise to the oc
(don't) c o u n t o n e ' s c h i c k e n s
casion
before they're hatched c (there's)
many a slip 'twixt (the) cup and
ja
(the) lip
take stock of the situation

ja
be in control (of the situation)

tensions are high
ja i

turn the tables (on sb) - steal a

march (on sb)
ja
save the situation c save the day

social ladder <.- the pecking order

CKPAJA
! inf
God save us! ..-. Good forbid!
Heaven f o r b i d ! - Perish the
thought!

() si
Stop bragging about o Give me a
break <- Stop blowing your own
trumpet

ce ,
old habits die hard

CKAPAH
CKPOMHOCT
co ce (-'
/) inf
false modesty
not know beans about (sth) o be
not g o o d at (mathematics/En'

glish)
have no scruples about <-, make

no bones about
BO co
tone in with o square with o in
accordance with o in agreement: ce co
reap w h a t / w h e r e one has not
with - sort well with
sown

ce
KOH
cover oneself with glory
be disposed to <> be inclined to
!
Glory to God!
CKOKA
()

go/fly off at a tangent
fame and fortune

199

(there's) none so blind as those
no guts no glory
that will not see


gain fame
win one's colours o
(a case of) the blind leading the
/gain/win one's spurs o make a
blind
s name (for oneself)

() inf
I crowned with glory
mirror image < a chip of/off the

old block
the fame has gone to sb's head
/

get the whole/a clear picture of
for honour and glory
() inf

(as) pretty as a picture
cast a shade over sb
BO
at one's best
l
i, inf

i whistle for the wind n beat the air

inf
'
- be on a hiding to nothing o
it's mouthwatering - it makes my
break stones c bay (at) the moon
mouth water
inf

a dead-end job


and so on/forth o and everything
the Milky Way
c and stuff c and all that
!
May his memory live!

ce
clutch/catch/grasp at a straw o
pick holes in
inf
cannot punch one's way out of a
paper bag .: be dead tired

as it follows

inf
get blood from/out of a stone
ce () inf
stick to sth/sb like a leach

give sb full play

put under arrest - take into cus
tody

at large o at liberty o be out of

control
()
set (sb) free
ce
be out on bail

death or freedom r. come hell or
high water come what may -

200

what will be will be

()
take liberties with

ro

keep within/to the letter of the law

the letter of the law

get along with o get on with

object to - not get along with sb
be out of/in keeping with . (be)
out of tune with
ce
be of a piece o match o get along
with

my stomach turned
sick

felt/was

jac inf
what did your last servant died of?

Your humble servant

leave/resign office
(/)
it's all in day's work
BO
in the service of c in the employ of

( )
have a good ear (for music)

hold brief for
Ce
I agree Agreed! .. I'm your man!
hold no brief for
; You said it o Right on!

ce
inf
agree with .. at one (with)
lost case

a clear case of
have a nervous breakdown

a classic case of
() BO inf

like a bull in a china shop
from one case to the next -. as

circumstances warrant
have (got) a memory like a sponge ()
leave to chance o leave things to

chance
inf

like hell you will c over my dead
break a case
body


as luck would have it ^ as it hap
pened
by the long arm of coin
feel sick . be sick o have a (nasty)
cidence
turn

201

inf

a hard case
a hopeless case
believe you me
a tough nut to crack o hard to ! imper
please o a queer fish/customer
I say! > I'll tell you what! o Listen!
a nasty piece of work

BO
()
at best
pick up the receiver .; pick up the
BO
phone
if the worst comes to the worst
()
as last resort in the extreme case
hang up (on sb)
BO
not by any manner of means . no
way c under no circumstances o ja
not on any account o on no con
beat a (hasty) retreat
sideration c on no account o by

no means
ce
BO
I'm sick and tired of r I'm sick to
in this instance
death of I have had a bellyful of
BO
I'm cheesed off with
in any event at any expense
anyhow i- in any case
anyhow CMEA
BO /
: up(on) all occasions
burst into laughter
BO /
inf
in the event of o in case of
kill oneself laughing o die laugh
BO
ing
in that event > in that case


an infectious laugh
just in case
CMEE

!
I can't help laughing
Not a chance!


have the last laugh
whether by accident or design
ce

laugh in/up one's sleeve

you don't feel like it . you don't

seem to be interested
wipe/take the smile/grin off sb's
face
ce
ce si
the rumour goes that
wet one's pants laughing
!
Just listen to that! o Just look at ce inf
laugh like a drain split/burst
him!

CMEJ
one's sides (laughing) ^ be rolling
in the aisles

laughter is the best medicine

an infectious laugh
CMEJ

don't make me laugh

202

it doesn't pay

unfinished business

foot the bill o pay the piper

account for sth o be called to ac
count
() inf
CMEHA
two and two make five in your case


take turns to o by turns
spoil sb's game .-. upset the/sb's
/
apple cart
work night(shift) c work nights
ce
CMETA
joke at sb's expense


you're in my way ^ you're blocking
pay/settle an old score o get even
my view
with sb
square one's accounts

with
count on/upon o calculate on o
bargain for/on
charge sth up to sb's account

treat as o hail as o look on as o

pay attention c keep an account
class as
of sth o look after sth/sb o pay
He ()
heed to sth o take care o think of
Count me out
.-- watch out for sth/sb

CMETKA
be mindful of o bear in mind

live on others

, . at the expense of
-

short reckonings make long
call sbto account
friends

in/
cook the books
open a bank account


get even with u have it out with
reckon without one's host

ce
be even with
make up with o patch up with o

make one's peace with sb
have old accounts to settle with

have a head for sth o have a knack
for
be good at
()
it's not fair :. it's not done o be not
good at
BO
in a sense ... to a certain extent
BO
strictly speaking
BO
something along those lines .words to that effect .. in this re
spect
BO
in the full sense of the word
CMOK

drink like a fish

inf
something is fishy
- . -
- / si
it reeks o it smells like a polecat .-stink to high heaven
CMPT(TA)
() ()
(as) pale as death
(as) white as
sheet
inf
(as) dull as ditchwater

look death in the face o dice with
death
co
dice with death
court death
/ ()
()
loathe/detest sb/sth from the bot
tom of one's heart o hate sb like
poison

203

BO
die in -_. be killed in
no () . no

no use crying over spilled milk
()
send sb to his death

scare/frighten the pants of sb
/
an untimely end ~ premature
death
inf
I can't face it o I can't stand the
idea . . . o I don't feel like (doing)
it

death combs us all with the same
comb
co
fight for one's life o be at death's
door

die a natural death

/ ()
inf
not to give a damn about sb ^
need sb/sth like (one needs) a
hole in the head
/
it's snowing

we're in for a snow o it looks/smells like snow

it began to snow

BO ()
send sb off

COBECT
COBECT

the worm of conscience

have a clear conscience
ja ()

examine one's own conscience

on one's conscience

have sb on one's conscience

204

- inf
(as) clean as a new pin - (all)
shipshape and Bristol fashion
ro inf
beat the living daylight out of sb c
cream sb

rub salt in a wound
twistthe knife

easy one's conscience
ro / ^

/
give/take advice

/ .

rub one's nose in it
cast in one's
teeth

in accord with
in the line with a
at one with .. all of a piece

/ ()
crystal clear

Sodom and Gomorrah
COJ

inf
(two) of a kind

a son-of-a-bitch o a rogue

inf
chase skirts o sow one's wild oats

BO co
in alliance with o in league (with)
COKAK
si
red light district

you must eat another yard of pud
ding first

()
(shed/weep) crocodile tears
inf
turn the waterworks

not a dry eye in the house
/

laugh till/until one cries

COM
() COM inf
(be as) dumb as a statue

beyond all dispute/without dis
pute
no doubt . no mistake

there's no m i s t a k i n g / d o u b t
there's no question (that)

wet dream

a bad dream
()
not dream of
/
sleep the sleep of the just
BO
fast asleep

205

of us c be tarred with the same

brush o (be) of the same kidney

coc
BO coc (e) inf
9be) in big trouble - 9be) in deep
water
(be) in dire straits
(be)
up against the wall
COCTAHOK
/
make/cancel an appointment

one's dream come true

a sorry state

have a dream

real state of affairs

talk in one's sleep

state of siege o state of martial law

not dream of

declare a state of emergency o
impose martial law
BO /
in g o o d / b a d condition in a
g o o d / b a d state of repair =.- badly/poorly off

get a suntan
co
cold sunny day

/
have/get sunstroke

ce co
come face to face with o face the
music

BO co
in conjunction with o in collabora
tion with
COPTA
/ in/
cast in the same mould o two of a
kind J birds of a feather o the likes

BO
in drink
BO
be able to o be in a position to o
be up to
BO
be able to take (it)

/
on the National c on the dole

be a dead duck

be hopeless

have a narrow escape

206

! inf
every man for himself!

BO
by analogy with o in contrast to o
over against

I'm sleepy

be not able to c be not in a posi
tion to

be able to o be in a position to o
be prepared to

/ /
catch sb napping o catch sb un
awares o catch sb on the wrong
foot

prevention is better than cure ce

better (to be) safe than sorry o a
get mixed up with
stitch in time saves nine

a mismatch

imper
rest assured
()
BO
in/to the memory of

mentioned above o foregoing

diametrically opposite/opposed
to
/
act counter to
/
be at variance (with) c go/run
counter to across from

quite the opposite o on the con
trary

CPAM

without any sense of decency

/
,

inf
to name but a few
dead to all senses c dead to feel
ing of shame

I'm embarrassed
bythesametoken o consequently
o thus o thereafter therefore
thence o according as
shame on you

inf
draw/make comparisons
a crying/burning shame


!
For shame!

a close encounter

()
(strike) a happy medium - (find) a
golden mean ;. the middle of the
road

inf
half-and-half

the end justifies the means
()

make a full-blooded attack

spare no expense

stop at nothing - (with) no holds

barred

(with) no holds barred

have one's fingers crossed
ro
be in luck c one's luck holds
/
try one's luck o chance one's luck/hand u have a bash (at) ^ take
the plundge o leap in the dark

more by good luck than by good
guiding

have (got) the devil's own luck

207

! inf
If only! o Would that. . .

when one's ship come home

bad luck o tough luck
/
bring good/bad luck

it wasn't meant to be

Good luckto him o More power to
his elbow

be out of luck o be on a losing
streak c be down on one's luck >
have a run of bad luck

as happy as can be o on cloud
nine

better luck next time

opportunity seldom knocks twice

an ounce of luck is worth a pound

of wisdom

seek one's fortune
()
()
try one's hand (at) o try one's luck
(at) .. chance one's luck/arm have a bash (at)

be down on one's luck o have a
run of bad luck

fortune favours the brave

fortune smiles upon sb

208

, ()
a blessing in disguise

/
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
he/she is bad news

inf
stir sb's heart
third time lucky
/

//fortunately a for luck o as luck

would have it
let one's heart rule one's head

allow the heart rule the head
bring bad luck


bare one's heart o pour one's
sheer luck - the luck of the game heart to <. open one's heart

be big-hearted

! imper

have a heart/
it's better to be born lucky than rich

inf
be soft-hearted be tender-heart
(as) merry as a cricket (as) happy as a sandboy .> (as) happy as ed
Larry c> (as) happy as the day is
have a heart of stone o be as hard
long o walk/dance on air -> as
as
nails/as a stone o be as cold
happy as can be o on cloud nine
as charity .. be stone cold

Merry Christmas Season's
be close/near/dear to one's heart
Greetings
have sth at heart
() inf

have the luck of the devil

have
have a heart failure jump out of
to thank the/one's lucky stars c
one's skin r. one's heart misses a
have the luck of the Irish
beat

mixed fortune
on an empty stomach

heartily .. gladly - from the bot
tom of one's heart
to the backbone o to the core


capture/win sb's heart o win the
rotten to the core o a rotten egg o
heart of sb
a bad egg

the way to a man's heart is through
hammer and sickle
his stomach

CTAB

209

in my head

set one's heart/mind on sth >
have one's heart/mind set on sth
win sb's heart
inf
dip into one's pockets < dig into CTAB
one's purse -. push the boat out o
prove one's point o prove the
put one's hand in one's pocket o
case
loosen one's purse-strings

()
change
one's opinion o face
open one's heart/mind to
about


break sb's heart
stand to attention
co /

with an open heart
against one's/sb's better judge
co cpue
ment
lionhearted
()
take a stand c put one's foot down
/ e si
". take a firm/nard/strong line
a (regular) brick
/

I feel sick at heart

it breaks my ro inf
heart it hurts me a great deal
set the wolf to keep the sheep

CTAHA
be the backbone of sth
?
!
What's got into you? o What was
my darling/sweetheart!
wrong with you?
/

my hearts bleeds ..- it/that breaks

()
my heart
(apply) double standards

have one's mind put to rest

/ inf inf
he/she/it'll get what he/she/it de
have one's heart in one's mouthyserves
boots o be in a blue funk
/

push/drive sb to the wall & drive a
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
nail into sb's coffin
/
() /take (sth) to heart

/ inf
(look) like the cat that ate/steel/harden one's heart
swallowed the canary a (as) stiff as

a poker/ramrod/buckram
a heart of gold
inf

/ inf
be asking for it
I need her/him like a need a hole



there are two ends to a stick ->
(that's) a game that two can play
( )
(be) reduced to poverty o (be) on
the breadline

spare the rod (and spoil the child)

210
CTAPO

back to basics
one

young and old

back to square

every single one

, inf
better be an old man's darling than
a young man's slave

BO
snare trap - ensnare
CTAPOCT


set a trap for sb

/
provision in season makes rich

house a spare when you're young

fall into one's own trap
and spend when you're old

/ no (live to a ripe old age

/)

follow in sb's footsteps

follow
at a ripe age
in one's declining
the footsteps of .. take a leaf out
years
of sb's book
go the way of (sb)

r, follow sb's example
old age comes to us all c we're not
getting any younger

( )

(if I had) a magic wand
die of old age

CTAP
( ) no ,
ce
inf
penny and penny laid up will be
there's life in the old dog yet
many c grain by grain the hen fills
her belly o many a little makes a

mickle
/
inf
CTBAPHOCT
don't teach your grandfather how
to suck eggs
face up to reality - come to terms

with reality
inf
teach your grandfather how to
suck eggs o preach to the con
verted
in part o to a degree

*ti^



to the extent of to such an extent
that
/
five/ten degrees above zero

211

every man thinks his own geese
swans o each priest praises his
own relics

()/

a hot seat

have regular bowel movements ?v

ro
/
g e t / g o far o c o m e / g o a long way
pull a chair from under sb
.

have constipation
get there first

run with the hare and hunt with the

hounds
co

classy o with style o stylish
have constipation
BO inf

in the same vein o follow suit
burn the midnight oil o put one's
shoulder to the wheel

CTOMAK
()
be well-off
be sitting pretty

co
turn one's stomach
make sb's
be in with sb < be on good terms
gorge rise
with sb o get along well with sb >stan in well with sb o be in sb's /
good books -. be well in with
on an empty stomach
/ inf

have no stomach for
be in bad odour with sb
not
ce inf
stand well with sb
be in bad with
(be) in stitches .-. laugh like a drain
sb _ be in bad terms with sb > not
- split/burst one's sides laughing
be in good terms with sb < be in
/

sb's disfavour
on a full stomach

be behind sb o back up sb
CTOPEHO

CTOKA
what's done cannot be undone

a good wine needs no bush

,
- inf
as you make your bed you must lie
pay cash on the nail <-, business is
on it - as you sow so you shall
business

make no bones c take liberty

CTPAB
as you bake so you shall
reap
eat
Ce ! in/
Agreed! -= It's done/finished! o
The damage is done <- (there's) no
use crying over spilled milk
. . .
I thought you were . . .
()
change one's mind o have a
change of heart o have second
opinion
CTPAB

in fear and trembling

without fear

I got frightened/scared

screw up one's courage

go cold all over

there is no occasion for panic/fear

/
lest for fear of
si
piss (in) one's pants o wet one's
pants
ce st
be scared shitless r- shit oneself
ce
be petrified with fear
(ce)
be scared stiff/silly/to death o be
scared out of one's wits o hit the
ceiling/roof o be frightened to
death
ce inf
be all of a tremble/flutter/twitch/quiver

212

a holy terror o the terror of. . .

I'm scared/frightened

fear of the unknown
/
scare/frighten the pants off sb G
put the wind up sb
ce ,

honesty is the best policy

suffer from o go down with

be in (sore) need for ,- be a martyr
to

stand guard o keep watch

guard of honour

under escort
CTPAHA

hit the headlines

pros and cons
/
be over the hill
/ (/)
the seamy side (of life/sth)

have sb at one's back
()
it's a mixed blessing

strong point o forte

.6

CTPACT

213

CTPOJ

interested party
be on sb's side

/
begin at the wrong end
on either side
()

every which way .-. across the take sides (with) o take sb's side
board <> in/to the tour corners of
: side with
the earth/world in every hand .->
left, right, and centre -. to (all) the
shout from the rooftops
(four) winds
CTPACT

over there o across o on the op
animal passions
posite side

() ()
on one's side
pour oil on troubled waters
()

stir passions
not one's strongest suit

not take sides .- stay on the fence inf

chatter like a magpie

across from o on the other side

. . . a
inf
()
be caught/taken short o have the
on the one hand . . . on the other
trots

on sb's part

() () inf
from cover to cover
(as) quick as lighting o go like the
wind o like the clappers

()
on/from all side
straight as an arrow

ce () inf
on behalf of o in the name of
go like a bomb
()
scatter (sth) to the winds

a free rider
a weak spot
/
set/put aside o save for a rainy CTPOJ

day
put out of action o put out of order

BOH ()
a third party
(be) out of action o (be) out of

order o (be) on the injury list
take sb on/to one side

^CTBu

I'm cold o I feel cold

214

BO
clash with the law

ce inf
() inf
hide behind her skirt
bonedry o (as) dry as bone o
randy

suma sumarum all in all
the rain falls on the just and the
unjust

inf

loathe/detest sb/sth from the bot
take sb to court n have the law on
tom of one's heart <> hate sb like
sb
poison

bring/take judicial proceedings

get to the root of
go to law
BO

essentially .- at bottom o the bot
tom line (is)
Court of Honour

ce
the Judg(e)ment Day
the point is - the fact of the matter

is (that) -> the bottom line is <. such

are the bare bones of
() (co) si
(have) a date (with)

if you know what I mean

ja

tempt Providence o tempt fate
don't get me wrong

seal sb's faith o sound the (death)
take sth/it amiss o be mistaken r.
knell of
get sb wrong
ce
resign oneself to one's fate o
throw in the towel
take one's
medicine
according to one's own convict
ions/lights

by some quirk of fate
/
/
co
make a scene make a song and
tempt fate

215

dance about
lead

stage a recovery come back

between Scylla and Charybdis

come to the fore ; lead the way/van o take the initiative o take the

()
inf
be bad tempered
/
be a queer customer/fish

give the game away
beans o blow the gaff

spill the

TAKA

TABAH
also o as well o and all
inf

sky-high
and so on/forth o and so on and
inf
so forth J et cetera
go through the roof
?
How come? Why? What for?

0 How could you do that?
hit the roof/ceiling o go through
the roof

inf
so o thus o therefore
talk through one's hat
!
Right on! o Quite so! <. That's

right o Right you are! o You've

inf
said it!
be hitched o be spliced o make a

legal move o tie the knot
1 suppose you're right o I should
TAJHA
think so


a trade secret
or something - sort of u some
thing along those lines

a state secret . classified informa /
tion
that's about the size of it c some
ja
thing along those lines
take a secret to the grave
() roa
that's the way things go o that's

how it is o that's life
an open secret

216

!
Exactly! That's right! o Quite so! / () inf
(as) light as a cork ^ a stupid arse
: You're telling me! < That's for
not to know one's arse from
sure! o You'd better believe it! ..
one's elbow < as dumb as a fish
That's (about) it! . Bang on!
o as thick as two short planks o
. . .
as silly as a sheep c as silly as a
just as . . .
goose

/
()
the likes of us/you
9be) on the mat r. (be) on the

carpet

just like that o just so o without TATKO

reason

old enough to be sb's father

TAKOB
( . . . )
(())
such (...) that
the spitting image of his father o
be one's father's son

,
such and such
the apple never falls far from the

tree - like father, like son o a chip
just as you are
of/off the old block o what is bred
TAKT
in the bone will never come out of

the flesh
put sb out of joint o get sb's goat
0 drive/send mad o drive sb nuts
have a father-to-son talk
throw sb off (one's) balance o (/put sb off his stride/stroke
)
a founding father of

inf
( hide one's light under a bushel
/)
the father of (modern sociology/
psychology)

/ inf
the scum of society
your father is not a glazier
, (TAMAM
)
inf
it fits me (like a glove)
too many cooks spoil the broth

TBOE
inf
. . .
it's none of my business o what do
it's up to you to . . . o it's for you to
. . . o your duty is to . . .
1 care

TBOP

() inf
stink like a polecat

sweep sth under the carpet

217

()

TEKHE

when(ever) one feels like it
/ inf
it occurred to me/him that o it
came to my/his mind that
TEKCT

carry much weight
ja

feel one's age

inf
moonlight

under the counter
TEK
BO
be not acquainted with o be out of
touch with
no
take/run its course

take an adverse turn
no
in the course of nature
BO
in train o ongoing o in progress
.: underway
BO
be familiar with o be acquainted
with o be in the swim v be in the
know
BO
during
in the course of
TEK

head or tail

inf
be left without words o be flabber
gasted

() (
) inf
stare like a stuck pig

on the telephone o on the phone
o by (tele)phone

foreign body
BO
a sound mind in a sound body
TEMA

go/fly off at a tangent

miss the point
()

on a firm footing o on a solid foun
dation

from the bottom o from scratch

raze sth to the ground o tear sth
down

lay the foundations of

218

inf
si
disappear without a trace
a lucky strike/guess o a shot/leap
BO - in the dark o a long/random shot
o a grab bag o a lucky dip
inf
ail cats are grey in the dark
TECT
/

stand the test of time
be running a high temperature


endurance test o a/the marathon
take one's temperature
/
TEPA
'
run/be running a temperature

be not long for this world

,

() , () inf
set the pace
a queer fish/customer
.


stand the pace
drive sb nuts

TEPEH
step up the/one's pace
no

be on shaky ground


tend/trend towards
check out the situation c take
stock of the situation o put out
TEHKO
feelers
o see/find out how the
(),
land lies o spy the land out
the thread breaks where it's weak
est r a chain is (only) as strong as
take the field
its weakest link
inf

skate/walk on thin ice be on a

inf
slippery slope/ground o bat/be
not a chance o out of the question
on a sticky wicket
o no way o (have) not a snow

ball's chance in hell
on sensitive ground o on thin ice

on familiar grounds
beat sb black and blue

be in one's element

sweep/brush sth under/between

the carpet/rag
be out of one's element

TEPK

219

gain ground
/
set the scene for
inf
fly a kite

the coast is clear

common ground
TEPK
no
in the fashion of
no inf
in the same vein

co
be on first name terms with sb

your best friend won't tell you o
you'll be the last to know

you'll be the first to know

/
no inf
get it in the neck o catch a packet

() (/)
can't you get it into your thick skull
co ! inf
a fat lot ;. stuff and nonsense! ,-,
myhatl - you don't say! ^ like hell
TECHEU
(you will) o tell me another! o not
BO
bloody likely! o gibberish! o non
sense!
be in dire straits o be in deep water

/ inf
BO ()
pee in the same pot o be thick as
(be) pressed/pushed/pinched for
thieves
time c (be) out of time <> be run
ning out of time

inf

when hell freezes over c. pigs may

inf
fly o over my dead body
get into sb's back books

() !
I've had it this time .- I'm in big
trouble . woe is me . woe betide
me
(
)
there is nothing to (driving a car)
()
now comes the hard part

he has had it > he is deep in trou
ble
he is in hot water .. he'll
get/receive his just deserts

! si
use your loaf!

win a title

dead silence

a deafening silence
! imper
Silence! o Hush!

TOA
TOA
taboo
who gives a fuck! r. no skin of my
arse o Fuck you Jack, I'm all right
c> FIGMO (fuck it, got my orders)

I can't help it

that's about the size of it there is
that
that's it
that's the way
things go
(but) there it is/you are

220

) inf
if you had half an eye

no
twice as much

as much as
//
such a big/strong/beautiful

so many J SO much

cut the dead wood

/ no
twice/three times as many
() no

TOBAP

assume/shoulder the burden of
responsibility

charge sth up to sb's account

(take a) load off sb's/one's mind
TOJ

such and such o so and so

si
be off one's chumps have a tile
loose o odd/queer in the head o
be nuts

only just

every bit as
/ . . .
even as we . . .
!
Just the thing! o Just the job! o
that's the stuff to give the troops

(//-

as many again

as many/much again
-
any little helps
TOH
BO TOH e
tone in with
TOH
set the tone for o lead the way

() in/
stone deaf o deaf as a post/adder

(straight) off the reel
() inf
sleep like a log
inf
give sb a blast
Ton inf
be sitting pretty > be well-to-do
be riding high o be well secured

pass the ball o pass the buck

have the ball at one's feet

221

()/

( )
a turn-over

a point of departure

inf
a wasp waist

weak point
a chink/crack in
one's armour o weak spot c soft
spot o (a) drawback

inf
mixed bag

a blind spot

/
put a stop to - put an end to

ring the curtain down on

have
done with .- put the lid on call it
/ () inf
a day
(as) light as a cork
a stupid arse
> not to know one's arse from ()
one's elbow o as dumb as a fish
a as thick as two short planks o
the point of no return
as silly as a sheep c as silly as a
goose
get the ball rolling ~ get things

/
sore point o hot spot .. stumbling
block
trouble spot
/
touch a sore point o touch a sen
sitive spot i touch a nerve o
touch/catch sb on the raw
() ()
reach an all-time low .: strike a new
low hit an all time low
/ /
bring/come to a head o bring sth
to the boil

and that's that

trouble spots

(a) deadlock c (a) standstill

at a standstill
inf
have a blind spot for sb

moving/going

have something in common with

have nothing in common with

ce inf
pretend innocence o play it cool
: play it dumb
()/

cover (up) one's tracks
()
lose track of sb/sth

track/hunt sb/sth down

be on the right track be on the
right scent

throw sb on the wrong track o

throw sb off the scent

no trace of * no evidence of o


vanish/melt into thin air

bear/give/show evidence of

make one's mark

222

as it should be ~. good enough .-,
all right
()
have a short fuse
/ inf

(by) a hair's breadth o (it was) a

;
ja (
near miss/a close shave
/)

follow in sb's footsteps
I need (it/to)
no

by tradition - as a rule o as it
this calls for a celebration
always happens
/ - !

That's all we need!

break with tradition
/

it serves you/him right you've/he's asked for it
true to custom o conforming to
/tradition
/

be sb's for the asking

inf
() !
give sb/sth a blood transfusion
that's all we need (now)!

TPEBA
(/) /
inf
desperate cuts must have desper
hit it off (well/badly) with sb
ate cures
! imper
inf
Get/Go along with you! Off with I wasn't born yesterday
you!

turn for the better
give/raise the alarm


get off on the wrong foot
false alarm

TPEMA
go downhill


have stage fright
take a turn for the worse
ce

/
have
butterflies in one's stomach
go wrong/right for sb

()
,


leave much/a lot/a great deal to
lovers' quarrels are soon mended
be desired

223

- TPKA
ja
inf
laugh from ear to ear
beat the clock
(
)

() .
a Marathon

before you can say Jack Robinson
a dead race o a dead heat o neck
e before you can wink o in the
and neck o level pegging
twinkling of an eye o before you BO inf
know it
(be) out of the race
()
()
co
without moving an hair o not move
race against time a race against
a muscle
the clock
TPECHA
BO () inf
si
(be) in the running/race
drop a brick/clanger make a
bloomer

the wheel of fortune o ups and

ce inf
downs of life c the fickle finger of
strike attitudes .: pretend inno
Fate
cence/ignorance

TPH
I'm giving you a count to three
- inf
one nail drives out another

-
inf
an ugly duckling (becomes a
have (the) nerve o have the guts
swan)


lack guts o chicken out
shoot oneself in the foot

BO

be a thorn in sb's flesh/side
inf
,
be/get up to one's old tricks again
,
ce
inf
play to the gallery
from the frying pan, into the fire o
out of the frying pan, into the fire

, - BO
, BO
eternal triangle
TPK
/. 1 imper inf

Come quickly! o Come, Come!

inf
drop a brick/clanger

24

I'm sick and tired of o I'm sick to
death of o I have had a bellyful of
. I'm cheesed off with

along here - thereabouts :,
something along those lines
()
CO inf
there's more to it than meets the
while you are there o while you are
eye
at it
! inf
co /
I'll eat my hat! o I'll bet you any
at great/little expense
thing o you can bet your sweet
arse - not bloody likely

lose one's temper/cool

be about to o be on the brink/
verge/point of
one's patience runs thin

inf
co
not one blessed thing hard to
be on bad terms with o cannot
come by o not a sausage
stand sb n no love lost between
() inf

smoke like a chimney
cannot take/stand dislike -
hate

/
TPCKA
the other man's grass is always
() inf
greener c the grass is always
lean as an alley cat o (as) thin as
greener on the other side (of the
a rake/lath o long (thin) streak of
piss n string bean .., a broomstick fence)/in the other man's field

bit by bit o little by little
inf
not a bit

put sb to the expense of

si
not know beans about sth

KAP

225

let oneself in for it

() ?
inf
inf
knock the stuffing out of sb o give
there's no use o it's useless/point
sb beans
less o no use flogging a dead

horse
! inf

Well done! <: Good for you! o
come to one's own
Bravo! o That's the stuff to give the
troops n Right on! ;. Nice work!

inf
()
loosen one's purse-strings o push
ro
the boat out
drive/force sb into a corner o
bring sb to bay

no !

feel free!
be cornered o be up against the
wall

inf
when(ever) one feels like it
only a stone's throw from here ^
no inf
within spitting distance
it's not my cup/dish of tea

inf
() inf
for (sheer) pleasure o for the hell
a blockhead o (as) light as a cork
of it :- for kicks
o not to know one's arse from
inf
one's elbow o as dumb as a fish
saw one's wild oats
o as thick as two short planks
inf

do as he says make him happy

() ()
OPCOKAK
as black as coal o (as) black as the
/
Ace of Spades o (as) black as soot
be at/come to/reach a dead end

OTEK

()
silence is golden
spare the rod (and spoil the child)

inf
be in for it
be on the spot
be inf
drunk as a log
riding for a fall - have it coming <.

226

YTOPE

beauty won't make the pot boil
no one can live on beauty c prettiness makes no pottage
co

her face is her fortune

beauty is but/only skin deep

beauty won't make the pot boil .
prettiness makes no pottage o no
one can live on beauty

it's nice/decent of you

commit a murder

an introduction to

ce (
) inf
grin from ear to ear

have a word in one's ear

be all ears

inf

go in one ear and out at the other

inf
I don't give a damn/shit about

lose face
no
following o after o on/along the
line of sth
/ (CE)

ruin sb's reputation
inf

I can't do it to save my life

ce
ce (/)
take a leaf out of sb's book o take
kill oneself to o be worked off
a cue o look up to sb
one's feet
( /
) inf
,
I'll be hanged if -, I'll be damned if
between the devil and the deep
< for the life of me
(blue) sea

()
there's a common believe that n
it's widely felt that

according to one's own convict
ions/lights

227

/
raise a false alarm
cry wolf
soften the b l o w : pull o n e ' s

punches
/

hold/keep sb on a tight rein o
coup d'etat
hold/keep a tight rein on sb o
have the whip/upper hand over sb


below the belt
keep sb in check - keep sb under
ce c o
control o hold the reins
hit belowthe belt work the oracle
co

at/with one blow >> at/with a single

blow o at one swoop o at a stroke
take to the streets
.-. at/in one stroke o at/in a single
()
stroke
get the sack o get the chop o be

laid off o be thrown out
a hard blow -. a body blow
inf

run the streets - a street Arab
go in for the kill
put the knife in
ce

find oneself on the pavement o
strike a blow . deal sb/sth a blow
find one's in the gutter a be cut off
- take a swing
with a penny

be cut off with a shilling
have a finger/share in o take part
in _ have a say in o play a part in

have nothing to do with -.< have no
take a back seat o play second
share in
fiddle

fire the first shot o draw the first
blood
give (free) advice
, inf

call a spade a spade

/
inf
burst into tears/laughter
take leave of one's senses

inf
ce
pick sb's brains
give oneself up to the pleasure of
ce 3a imper inf

Pull yourself together

ring the alarm
bear/have in mind o have an eye


to

turn sb's head
sweep sb off his
feet

turn sth over in one's mind o be
on one's mind

I can't understand it o it's beyond
me n it bits me
/
cross one's mind .- enter one's
mind o come to mind
inf
push sth down sb's throat o give
free advice
ce /
go nuts
()
take leave of one's senses
co
have a change of heart
Co ?
How could you? o What was in
your mind?
?
What's on your mind? o What are
you playing at?
()
you have no brains o you must be
out of your mind
->

teach sb a lesson
() .

be not all quite there odd/queer

in the head

come to one's senses

bring sbto his senses

228

drive sb mad

cant' get sb/sth off one's mind
co
be not all (quite) there
'imper
use your own brain/judgement

be swept off one's feet

inf
I say/said to myself

to my mind
imper
keep that in mind
no inf
still wet behind the ears

keep your wits about yourself >
watch your steps - pull yourself
together o bear in mind o take
care/heed!
/ inf
beyond belief n out of this world
o beyond (the) imagination

a man can die but once
/ inf
be dying for/to

/
life is short

no use flogging a dead horse

fall into disuse fall out of use
go on the shelf

229

/
BO ycnex
go from strength to strength

be successful o have success o
give three cheers for
score a success go from
strength to strength o come out

on top o carry the day hit the

inf
jackpot o win the prize o make a
have an eye for o have the touch
killing
o be versed in

()
a short-lived success o a flash in
/ the pan

co ycnex
meet/do not meet the conditions
crown with success


when the time is ripe
his career took off


upon even terms
become dizzy with success suc

cess has gone into one's head
on no account
ycnex co

make a hit (with) .- be successful
on these terms
with o make the grade u make a

goat
if o in case of o on the condition

ycnex /
o providing o provided that
nothing succeeds like success


lay conditions on sth
the ups and downs

under/in such conditions

inf

lick one's chops o lick/smack
the time is right/ripe for
one's lips
BO
in times of o under such condi
/
tions

bridle one's tongue

() () ( )

no strings attached
there is a great force hidden in a

sweet command

do sb a disservice
you talk too much you have a

big mouth
do sb a service do sb a favour

out of use o obsolete

230

oats

inf
too many cooks spoil the broth
talk nineteen to the dozen
inf
lick one's fingers ^ melt in sb's/-
the mouth
butter wouldn't melt in his mouth
(
)
dead men tell no tales
you could talk until you're blue in
/
the face
shut one's mouth n stop one's
inf
mouth o reduce sb to silence
it's on the tip of my tongue

() ! imper
keep silent
Shut your mouth! <> Keep your
inf
mouth shut!
from your lips to God's ears


a silver/silvery tongue
mouth to mouth o by word of

mouth
wagging tongue

pinch pennies o pinch and scrape ,
inf
o scrimp and save
( )
too many cooks spoil the broth
grin from ear to ear

()
give tongue
cut off one's nose to spite one's
face o stand convicted out of

one's own mouth
ce
take comfort from
melt in sb's/the mouth

cold comfort
()
you have a big mouth

co ?

how could you say that?

co
like there is no tomorrow
reluctantly

co

wholeheartedly
good morning
,


has the cat got your tongue?
from dawn till dusk
,
no
my lips are sealed
such beginning, such end o an ill
beginning, an ill ending

be off one's food be off one's

turn sb's stomach

take part in .> be (a) party to o
go/be in for

231

let one's mind wander
ce
blush up to the eyes o turn red as
a beetroot

ce inf

fall head over heels in love <-. be

swept of one's feet o go over

board for/about


have (got) a lot to learn no man
hard of hearing
is his craft's master the first day
ce inf-*

, inf-* ->
,

( /
/)

grate on one's ears
there is a long way to go
/ /
/
and I don't know what/who else
box sb's ears
inf

still wet behind the ears
give sb an earful
()?
who else?

prick one's ears up
. . . a
()
no sooner. . .than . ..

?
be unable to believe one's ears
anybody else? o anyone else?
BO

din in sb's ears

so
much
the better better still

worse still
grate on one's ears
/
Are you kidding?
inf

/
pin your ears back

inf

that's just what I needed now

232

inf
it's no use o there's no point o
what's the point?

/ inf
>...<
be good at o be a dab hand >o.
have the touch

(the) facts speak for themselves
()
it's encouraging to know (that)

inf
what did your last servant died of?

burst into tears/laughter

!

- inf
thanks a lot! o thanks o ta ever so
be a dab hand
(much)
(

)
()
not have a leg to stand on
in all modesty
inf

catch sb red-handed

there's always something the mat

/
ter with him
/ inf
?
back to square one o it's all the
What's wrong with that? a So
same it comes to the same o
what? o What of it?
what you lose on the swings you
LLITO ?
gain on the roundabouts a it's the
same difference o it's all one c it's
What's wrong with you? c What's
as broad as it's long o it is (very)
bothering you?
much of a muchness

sing/play off-key sing flat

() inf
(be) one's (own) line of country

(be) in one's line (be) up sb's

street o be one's scene be
have a lively imagination
one's cup of tea

have a dirty mind o have one's
() () (
mind in the gutter

233

()

(arise/raise like) a phoenix from ( ) inf

the ashes
stick to sb like a leach

() imper inf
Be fair
inf
it's not fair o he/she is not fair

inf
nobody cares what you do/say o
go to hell o Get lost o Get along
with you! o Shove off! o Bugger
off! o Buzz off!

BO
in the limelight
BO ()
(be) in focus

a slush fund

knock/lick/whip into shape

stand on ceremony
cut a dashing/fine figure
BO

be off form c. be out of shape o

be out of training o be off one's
meet with fiasco o come a cropper
game
o be a flop o meet one's Waterloo
o fall flat on one's face
begin to take shape u take shape

()

as a matter of form o for appear
ance's sake
like in the pictures

inf
inf
fly off the handle <>
- lose one's
top form
temper blow one's stack/top o BO ()
have enough of o kick over the
(be) in good condition/shape o
traces o be fed up with get
(be) in full form o fighting fit
pissed off
BO
/
inf
be in good/bad shape/nick o
forget it! o not (bloody) likely o no
(be) in/out of training
way o not on your life
BO
in the shape of < in the form of o

in effigy
BO
put on the shelf o put on the back BO
in any shape of form
burner

()
/ inf
imper
put the cat among the pigeons/let's dispense with formalities
canaries o fan the flames



stand on ceremony

go through the motions of o carry

out the formalities of
( )
(it's) a mare matter of form

playing musical choirs

() inf
have a drink

drawing
inf
not too bad o good enough

234

()
hold the line (against)
HOB
open (up) a new front

have two irons in the fire

throw in the towel o leave the field

like fury o like the clappers

inf
you must eat another yard of pud
ding first

235

youth and paper take any impres
sion

on paper

commit to paper
XOP
BO xop
in unison o as one man

broaden one's mind

on the horizon

open (up) new horizons

disappear from sight
ce
heave into sight

Ti

one's courage failed him

have courage/the guts to o have
the nerve to

have no courage to have no
guts to

muster courage o make bold <>
pluck up courage o screw up
one's courage

give one heart ., put (fresh) heart
into sb
XPAHA

sb's meat and drink manna

cannon fodder

health food

236

(
)
( /)
gather ye rosebuds while ye may
(be) pressed/pushed/pinched for
time (be) out of time o (be)
running out of time
like a flower without water

inf

he's no saint .. he's no babe in the

() inf
woods
live like a lord
co
inf
() inf
one swallow doesn't make a spring
men's room ladies' room o loo
o pay a call

cut the ground (out) from under sb

render unto Caesar the things
o leave sb standing o pull the
which are Caesar's, and unto God
carpet/rug (out) from under sb
the things which are God's
leave sb in the lurch c abandon sb
, to his own devices
,
between the devil and the deep

blue sea

BO inf
mission in life
get down to a fine art o no one can

touch sb in sth
without purpose o aimlessly

() no
a , a inf
all cats are grey in the dark
an end in itself

wide of the mark o off beam

ce
ja
go to the land of Nod
attain one's end o carry one's
point
BO

send sb to the land of Nod be an easy mark o a sitting duckknock sb out

garget
co /

in order to/that o toward(s) o with

ce
a view to


()
reach the finish line

to that end a to this/that effect
BO
hit the target hit the jackpot

go/fetch a price

in high demand o much sought
after o in vogue

be not in vogue be at a discount

be invaluable/priceless

cheap at the price

at a price
no
under no circumstances o on no
account
no
at a cut price
no
at all costs o at any price do or
die

sell cut price

cut/reduce/slash the price
()
fetch a (fair) price

BO ()
(be) in the limelight o (be) in the
spotlight

without formalities o without beat
ing about the bush

237

inf
paythebill o footthebill paythe
piper

() inf
lie through one's teeth o tell a
whacking/thumping lie

every man thinks his own geese

swans o each priest praises his
own relics
////
as black as coal o (as) black as the
Ace of Spades = (as) black as soot
ce inf
drive a hard bargain

BO
put into circulation

inf
fool around o make an exhibition
of oneself

() inf
have ants in one's pants

inf
I'm starving o I'm famished

ce () inf
drag one's feet/heels o lag/trail
behind

/
the devil looks after his own

238

UVT(OT)

news o be done for

()

in black and white

(be) not as black as it is painted
(
)

swear black is white

inf
stop one's mouth o reduce sb to
silence
si
have nothing between one's ears

KO inf

(as) brown as a berry o as brittle BO

as glass
in rough outline
() inf
BO
work like a horse/slave sweat/in a nutshell o in a word
work one's guts out slave like a
niger o work like a Trojan -> work ()
like a black

be past one's prime o be no

spring chicken o be long in the

tooth
be the end of sb o cause sb's
()
downfall o cook sb's goose
come/burst into blossom/flower

BO
( )
in the bloom of youth o in the

prime of life o in one's prime o in
he'll swear black is white
the first/full flush of youth
()
the outlook is bleak it's bad

239

as possible

inf /
dogs do not eat dogs o one thief
the time has come (for sb)
will not rob another o there's ho

nour among thieves
any moment/minute now

/
He si imper

Stop bragging about o stop
this is the last straw
shooting the shit
( )
si
a hair of the dog (that bit one)
throw one's way about o brag
about o show off . shoot the shit inf
have had a few

Bo ? inf
raise one's/a glass to drink a
Are you born in a stable?
toast to

inf

cloud cuckoo land
sb/one's cup is full

()! imper
() inf
Wait a minute o Hang on a se
there's no (other) way out o
cond! o let's/let me see
there's no help o be beyond repair
inf

twiddle one's thumbs o wait for

/
manna from heaven
give/take lessons

ce /
wait (up) for > be in store for
it's going for one/five o'clock

right/straight off
in a moment o at once o in a mo
o in a jiffy o in a brace of shakes
he who hesitates is lost
o in two shakes
BO

in an evil hour
( )

between the devil and the deep
the sooner, the better o as soon

240

(blue) sea between the rock and

the hard place
take the first step o make the first
move

take steps/measures
a step in the right direction
(co/(co)
)
by leaps and bounds o sevenmake common cause (with/league boots
against)

a step forward
first step i an opening gambit
no
/
step by step
one step short of

stay one jump ahead o lead the
field
one's/sb's every move


keep up with
tail/tag sb o be hard on sb's trail

co /
fall/lag behind - be out of step

make long/great/rapid strides

BO
fall behind time
in step

within striking distance o only a ,

stone's throw from here

take one step forward, two steps
everywhere => all over the place
backward
wherever you look every step of
the way

()
an injudicious move _
> an error of
(be) up front a (be) at the head of
judg(e)ment
o lead the way/van o be a ring
() ()
leader
be/stay one jump ahead
co
BO co
with flying colours o with one's
keep abreast of
head high
BO co

be in step with the times o move
come to the fore
with the times o keep pace with the
times o keep abreast of the times
()
He ce imper inf
(make) a wrong move <>
- (take/Stop messing about o Let sleep
make) a step in the wrong direction
ing dogs lie
o get off on the wrong foot

241

n
inf
!
Congratulations! o Good for you!
(it's a case of) the pot calling the
Well done!
kettle black

have the pleasure of do one's
heart good to

it's my honour/pleasure o I have
the honour

()
We are pleased to inform you (that)
o It is our pleasure to inform you
(that)

have the honour/pleasure of

be no credit to sb

pay honour to o give credit to o
pay respect to give full marks to

be beneath one's dignity/notice

inf
idle one's time away o take it easy
inf
keep a/one's weather eyes open
o (there is/are) no flies on sb
inf
on all fours

inf
you're asking for it o Let sleeping
dogs lie o Don't push it

put not your trust in princes

co
-
one nail drives out another

()
well done! o good for you! c con
(be) under the heals of sb
gratulations!

present company (always) except
place sb before an accomplished
ed
fact
,

with all due respect, but

inf

take it or leave it
do sb credit

BO
it seems/looks to me
in honour of

inf

it's no good o it's useless o it's
upon my word of honour
wrong/incorrect o it's out of order

it gives him the honour o he's ho
noured
/-

give sb sth on a plate

si
(get/have) an abortion

spring cleaning

ja ()
bring matters to a head c have it
out o set the record straight o
force an issue into the open

make a clean sweep

cleanness is next to godliness

-
even or odd

a man who knows his place o a
honest/decent person o a straight
arrow

no living man all things can

a person of family

a man of flesh and blood

have the common touch

man of word
ce
while there's life there's hope

()
one is never too old to learn a

242

man may learn wit every day o

man lives and learns o one lives
and learns

a man of means/substance

(as) man to man
()
be a key player in (sth)
ce ()
ce
a drowning man will clutch at a
straw

one of us o our man

make a man of sb
() *
(like) a new man

a man of decision

every man has a price

one's own master o be one's own
man

difficult man a a hard case/nut

be hard to please

a man of flesh and blood
()
homo hominus lupus est
ce para
be one in a million o kindness itself

! inf
For God's sake! o For Christ's
sake! o Holy Moses! o Holy
smoke! o For crying out loud!

;
i

;
\
I
[
i
I
\

243

inf
not feel equal to
cook sb goose o put a spoke in
ce
sb's wheel o upset sb's apple cart
feel obliged to
o cut the ground from under sb's
ce
feet
feel oneself hard done by

ce! imper
feel free to
Take care! Be careful! o Look

out! o Watch out! o Beware!

()

it's (quite) possible

have mixed feelings
hardly any wonder c small wonder
o no wonder
ce
give in to one's feelings

/
outburst of emotions
nine day's wonder

! !
(No) Big deal! So what! o For a

wonder! o Wonder of wonders! o
a false sense of security
Big trill!


a sense of inferiority
funnily/strangely enough o oddly

enough
a sense of loss

accomplish/perform/work mir

acles
lose every sense of propriety o
lose all senses of shame o throw
propriety to the winds

have a sixth sense

lose every sense of reality

() (

) inf
get the feeling that have a/the
be off one's nut o be not all there
feeling (that)
o have a screw loose o (be) round
/
the twist o be crackers
have a/have no sense of direction

() inf

avoid sb/sth like the plague ->
not be/feel (quite) up to the mark
steer clear of sb o keep out of sb's
o feel one degree under
way o give (it) a wide berth

244

inf
of no consequence I don't care
one way or the other
it's useless/helpless o it's dirt
cheap
()
know sth like the back of one's

hand
imper si
ce inf
Beat it! o On your bike!
put one's hand in one's pocket
si
no inf
take to one's heels o hit the road
impose a fine on sb

() inf

UEBA
/ () He ! si imper
inf
Don't make a fuss about it! o Cut
when you were just a twinkle in
it out!
your father's eye

! inf

To hell with it/him!
line one's pocket/purse

inf

have an axe to grind o feather
a giant with feet of clay o a paper
one's nest
tiger
inf
be well-to-do o be filthy rich o be UOKEP

loaded
have an ace up one's sleeve
/ inf
have sb over a barrel o have sb in inf
pull the rabbit out of the hat
one's pocket o hold/have sb in
the palm of one's hand o have sb () inf
on toast
gatecrasher o the fly in the oint
ment
inf
be in the bag o have sth in the bag
o have sth under one's belt

inf
a concrete jungle
be short of cash
7
inf
absolute bedlam o a pretty kettle
cross sb's palm (with silver)
of fish

245

- inf
/
here and there o at places o in
give sb a slap in the face .- slap
dribs and drabs
sb's face give sb a thick ear

Given the chance

a chance of a lifetime

give sb a chance o give sb a break

a fair chance o a sporting chance

stand a chance (of sth/doing sth)
/-
( )
have an even/a fifty-fifty chance (of
doing sth)
/
stand no chance o haven't an
earthly (chance) (of) o not have a
ghost of a chance not have a
dog's chance (of doing sth) o not
have a cat in hell's chance (of
doing sth) c not have a chance in
hell (of doing sth)

an outside chance

the chances are slim less than
an even chance o fat chance

( )
be having a bit on the side

-
checkmate

check
inf
hold sb in check o have sb over a
barrel <> have sb on toast

ce inf
beat the fare

e si
not have a penny on one's name
be broke/skint

with no trouble at all o with a wet
finger o hands down

joking apart/aside
/ ()
poke fun at sb > play a practical
joke on sb a pull sb's leg o muck
about/around mess a4bout/around o take the piss out of sb o
take the mickey out of sb
(ja)
turn sth into a joke

as a yoke o in sport

246

it's no laughing matter c it's no
joke
( )
mean business

I don't feel like joking o I'm not in
a mood for joking
/
not see the joke
/
a dirty/nasty joke o a practical
joke

have no sense of humour
/
see the joke
/
for/in fun > in jest
BO
/ ,
there is many a true word spoken
in jest between a jest and a joke,
many a truth can be told

be able to take a joke

pillow talk

() ()
(as) sweet as sugar

pull out of a hat

,
don't put the cart before the horse
() ce , () ce napa -
() ce , )

He ! slimper

Don't go mental!
no si
go nuts for o be wild about o be
nuts about sb

wring sb's neck
inf
six of one and half a dozen of the
other e it's much of the same thing

mean business

ce
jump the rails/track
have a joke with o play a joke with

-. make/poke fun with

of the old school

ce /no si

be nuts about o be crazy about

a different school of thought

ce /
imper si
suit/fit sb's/one's book
stink to high heaven o stink like a
polecat o be stuffy/sultry/ ce
oppressive
it doesn't suit one's/sb's book

247

inf
to crown it all o icing on the cake

/ inf
look like the cat that ate/swallowed

the canary


get a slap in the face
a stepping stone (from/to)
/

() inf
slap sb's face o land sb one
(as) flat as a board/pancake

ce si

flutter one's eyelashes at

,
that's it o it cannot be helped o

that's the way it goes

put on make-up o make up one's
face o put one's face on
whatever no matter what

inf

() inf
all sorts of
swear like a trooper
! inf
So what?! o What about it! o Big

deal! o I couldn't care less!

(()) si
!
(as) cool as a cucumber
Make no bones about it! o (there
is) no question about it o (there
()
are) no two ways about it o (there
() /
is) no doubt about it
inf
just a cog in the machine

si
/
fall for
the damage is done
inf

get into one's stride get/have
to the detriment of
the hang of o get into the swing of
sth

Bo UITO e ?! si
make good the loss/damage
What's the catch?!

to one's cost

do more harm than good o throw
stage a strike
good money after bad

go on strike o walk out o down

inf
tools
a big noise o a big bug/cheese

inf
keep sb on his toes

on the watch for o on the alert o

on one's toes

248

, .
people who live in glass houses
should not throw stones o the pot
calls the kettle black

,
(

) inf

better a sparrow in the hand than a
through a forest of legs
pigeon on the roof o a feather in

hand is better than a bird in the air
o grasp all, lose all o all covet, all
be not able to see the wood for the
lose o fall between two stools
trees

249

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
() 1
2
2
2
' 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
() 6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
() 9
9

9
9
9
9
10
10
10
() 10
10
10
10
10
. 10
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13


13
14

14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
19
19
19
19

250
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
23
23
23
23
24
24
24
24
24
24
24
25
26
27
27
27
27
27
27
27

28
28
28
28
() 28
28

28
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
30
30
32
32
32
32
32
33
33
33
33
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
35
35
35
35
35
35
36
36
37
37
37
37
37
37
38
38
38
38

38
38
39
39
39
() 39
39
- 39
39
39
39
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
41
41

42
- 42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
42
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
44
44

251
44
() 44
45
() 46
> 46
46
46
46
46
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
47
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
() 49
49
49
49
49
49
50
50
50
50
50
50
() 50
50

50
50
50
50
50

50
50
50
() 50
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
52
53
53
() 53
53
53
() 53
() 53
53
54
54
54
54
54
54

57
57

58
58
58
58
58
59
59


59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
59
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60

61
61
61
61
61
61
61
61
62
62
62
62
62
62
62
62
63
63
64
64

3
64
64
64
64
65

252
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
66
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
67
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68

253

68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
69
71
71
71
72
72
72
72
72
72
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
73
74
74
74
74
74
74
74
74
75
74
75
76
76
76
76
76
77
77
77
77

78
78
78
78

79
79
79
79
80
80
80
80
80
() 80
80
81
81
81
81
81
81
81
81
81
81
81
82
82
- 82
82
82
82
82
82
83
83
83
83
83
83
() 83
83
83
83
83
83
84
84
84
84

84
84
84
84
84
84
84
84
84
84
85
85
85
85
85
85

85
85
85
85
85
85
85
86
86
86
86
86
87
87
87
87
87
87
87
87
88
88

88
88
88
88
88
88
88
89
89
89
89

89
89
89
89
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
91
91
91
91
91
91
91
Kara 91
91
91
91
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
92
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
93
94
94
94
94
95

254

96
96
96
96
96
96
97
97
- 97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97
98
98
, 98
98
98
98
98
99
99
99
() 99
99
99
99
99
99
99
99
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
101
102
102
102
102
102

102
102
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
103
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
105
() 105
105
() 105
105
105
106

106
106
106
106
106
106
() 106
106
106
() 106
107

107
107
107
107
107
- 107
107
107
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
108
109
109
109
109
109
109
109
109
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
110
111
111

111

112
112
112

112
112
112
112
112
113
113
113
113
113
114
114
114
114
114
114
114
114
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
116
117
117
117
117
117
117
117
117

255
118
118
118
119
119
119
119
119
119
119
119
119
119
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
120
() 120
120
120
120
121
121
121
121
121
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
123
123
124
124
124
124
124
124
124
124
125
125
125
125

125
125
125
125
126
() 126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127
127

128
128
128
128
128
128
128
128
128
128
- 128
128
129
129
129
129
129
129
129
129
129
129
129


129
129
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
130
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
131
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
132
133
133
133
133
133
133
133
133
133
- 133
133
133
133
133
133
133
133
134

256
134
134
134
134
134
134
134
135
135
135
135
135
135
() 136
136
136
136
136
137
138
138
138
139
139
139
139

140
140
140
140
140
140
140
140
140
141
141
141
141
- 141
141
141
141
141
141
141
142
142
142
142
142

142
142
142
142
142
142
142
142
143
143
143
() 143
143
143
143
143
143
143
144
144
144
144
144
144
144
145
145
145
145
145
145
145
145
145
145
oca 145
145
145
145
145
145
146
146
146
146
146
146
146
146
147
147
147
147

147
147
147
147
147
147
147
147
149
149

150
150
150
150
150
150
150
150
150
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
151
() 151
151
152
152
152
152
153
153
() 154
- 154
154
154
154
154
154
154
154
154
154

257
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
155
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
156
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
157
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
158
159
159
159

159
159
159
159
159
() 159
159
159
() 159
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
161
- 161
161
161
162
162
162
162
162
162
162
162
162
162
162


162
162
162
163
163
() 163
163
163
163
163
163
163
163
163
163
163
163
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
166
166
166
166
166
166
166
166
166

258
167
167
167
167
167
167
168
168
168
168
168
168
168
168
168
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
169
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
170
171
171
171
171
171

172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
172
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
173
174
174
174
174
174
174
174
174
() 174
174
175
175
175
175
175
175
176
176
176
176
176
176
176

176
176
178
() 178

259

178
178
178
178
179
179
179
179
179
179
179
179
179
179
179
. 179
180
180
180
181
181
181
181
181
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
182
183
183
183
183
' 184
184
184
184
184
() 184
185
185
185
185
185
186

186
186
186
186
() 186
186
186
186
187
187
187
187
187
187
187
() 187
188
188
188
188
188
188
188
' 188
188
188
188
188
188
188
188
188

189
189
189
189
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190
190

190
191
191
191
191
191
191
191
() 191
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
() 193
194
194
194
194
194
194
194
194
194
194
194
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
196
196
196
196
196
196
() 197
197
197
197
197
197
197
198


198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
198
199
199
199
199
199
199
199
199
199
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
201
201
201
201
201
201
201
201
202
202
202
202
202
203
203
203
() 203
203
203
204
204

260
204
204
204
204
204
204
204
204
204
204
204
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
205
206
206
206
206
206
206
() 206
206
206
206
206
206
206
206
206
206
207
207
207
207
207
208
208
208
208
209
209
209
209

209
210
210
210
210
210
210
210
210
210
210
210
211
211
211
211
211
() 211
211
211
211
211
212
212
212
212
213
213
213
213
213
213
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
214
215

() 215
215
215
215

261
215
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
216
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
217
() 217
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
218
219
219
219
TCUIKO

220
220
220
220
220
221
221
221
221
221
() 221
221
222
222
222
() 222
222
222
222
222
223
223
223
223
223
223
223
223
223
223
223
224
224
224
224
224
224
224
224
224
224

219

219
219
219
219
219
219
219
220
220
220
220

225
225
225
225
225
225
() 225
225
225
225

225

226
226
226
226
() 226
226
226
226
226
226
226
227
227
227
227
227
227
227
227
227
227
228
228
228
228
229
229
() 229
229
229
229
229
229
229
230
230
230
231
231
231
231
231
231

232
232
232
232
232

262
232
232
232
232
232
232
232
232
233
233
233
233
233
233
233
233
233
233
233
() 233
234
234
234
234
234
234

X
235
235
235
235
235

236
236
236
236
236
236
236
237
237
237
237
237
237
237
237
237

237
237
238
238
238
238
238
238
238
() 238

239
239
239
239
239
239
239
239
239
239
240
240
240
241
241
241
241
241
241
241
241
241
241
241
242
242
242
242
242
242
242
243
243
243
243
243
243
243
243
243

243

244
244
244
244
244
244
244
244
244

245
245
245
- 245
245
245
245
245
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
246
247
247
247
247
247
247
() 247
247
247
247
247
247
247
248
248
248
248