1.

Roll Out

2. Suggestive of
something
3. Put house in
order

4. Get blood from

a stone
5. At odds

6. Hold the purse

strings
7. Con out of

8. Fit the bill

9. Drive up the
wall

10.Every trick in
the book

11.Burn out

12.Whole
shebang
13.Tickle the

to offer a new product or service to the public The provider plans to roll out
its new Internet access service next month.They've experimented with the
system in regional markets, and will roll it out nationally this fall.

to put one's business or personal affairs into good order. (As if one were
cleaning one's house. See also put one's own house in order.) There was
some trouble in the department office and the manager was told to put his
house in order.Every now and then, I have to put my house in order. Then
life becomes more manageable.
to do something very difficult Jesse tried to get a loan from her parents, but
that's just trying to get blood from a stone.
at odds (with someone) and at odds over something
in opposition to someone; at loggerheads (with someone). Mary is
always at odds with her father about how late she can stay out. John
and his father are always at odds over what to watch on TV.
in disagreement Such behavior is clearly at odds with what civilized society
expects. The two women were hopelessly at odds.
to control the spending of a family's or an organization's money In our house
it was my mother who held the purse strings
to trick someone out of money or something of value. Anne conned her little
sister out of her allowance. Dave conned me out of my autographed
baseball.
to have the qualities or experience which are needed I'm looking for
someone with several years of publishing experience and you seem to fit the
bill. The city needs a strong leader, and the new mayor just doesn't fill the
bill.
to annoy or irritate someone. Stop whistling that tune. You're driving me up
the wall. All his talk about moving to California nearly drove me up the wall.
to make someone very angry or very bored I was being driven up the wall by
their silly chatter. Working in a factory would have driven me up the wall.
every clever or dishonest way that you know to achieve something that you
want (often + to do sth) He used every trick in the book to get her to sign the
contract.
every way possible He tried every trick in the book to get her to sign the
contract.
Usage notes: usually said about an attempt to deceive someone
to do something so long and so intensely that one gets sick and tired of
doing it. I burned myself out as a competitive swimmer. I just cannot stand to
practice anymore. Tom burned himself out in that boring job.
to wear someone out; to make someone ineffective through overuse. (See
also use someone up.) Facing all these problems at once will burn Tom
out. The continuous problems burned out the office staff in a few months.
everything; the whole thing. Mary's all set to give a fancy dinner party. She's
got a fine tablecloth, good crystal, and silverware, the whole shebang. How
much do you want for the whole shebang?
to play the piano. I used to be able to tickle the ivories real nice. She sat

ivories
14.Dart a glance
at
15.The writing on
the wall

16.Hold nose

17.Heads up
18.Turn head

19.Have feet of
clay
20.Settle a score
21.Come out of
left field

22.Make a run for

it
23.Sweep out of
some place
24.Watering hole

25.Get wits about

one

26.Give someone
the finger

down to tickle the ivories for a while.

to shoot a quick look at someone or something. She darted a glance at him
and looked quickly away. He darted a glance at the door and looked even
more uncomfortable.
the likelihood that something bad will happen Area residents can see the
writing on the wall and realize that if they don't cooperate with the police,
these crimes will continue. As leaders, they should have seen the
handwriting on the wall and come up with an alternative course of action.
Lit. to use one's fingers to keep one's nose closed to avoid a bad smell or to
keep water out. The kid held his nose and jumped off the dock into the lake.
Fig. to attempt to ignore something unpleasant, illegal, or "rotten." He hated
doing it, but he held his nose and made the announcement everyone
dreaded.
US and Canadian a tip-off or small amount of information given in advance
[for flattery or success] to distract someone; to cause someone not to be
sensible. Don't let our praise turn your head. You're not perfect! Her
successes had turned her head. She was now quite arrogant.
Fig. [for a strong person] to have a defect of character. All human beings
have feet of clay. No one is perfect. Sally was popular and successful. She
was nearly fifty before she learned that she, too, had feet of clay.
to harm someone who has harmed you in the past (often + with ) Police
believe the killer was a gang member settling a score with a rival gang.
[for a problem or dilemma] to come from an unexpected place. (See also out
of left field.) This new problem came out of left field. We were really
surprised. Your remarks came out of left field. I can't understand your
complaint.
Fig. to run fast to get away or get somewhere. When the guard wasn't
looking, the prisoner made a run for it. In the baseball game, the player on
first base made a run for it, but he didn't make it to second base.
to exit from some place quickly with style or grace. The famous actress
swept out of the room in a grand fashion. She swept out of her dressing
room and walked on stage just as her cue was uttered.
Lit. a place where there is water for animals (and people) to drink. The
elephants came down to the watering hole and chased away the lions
so they could drink in peace.
2. Fig. a bar or tavern. Fred is down at the local watering hole boozing
it up.
Fig. to keep one's thinking in order or make one's mind work smoothly,
especially in a time of stress. (See also keep one's wits about one.) Let me
get my wits about me so I can figure this out. I don't have my wits about me
at this time of the morning.
Fig. to display the middle finger upright as a sign of derision. (The gesture is
derisive and offensive. See also flip someone off, flip someone the bird.) Did
one of you guys give Ted the finger? Somebody gave the cop the finger.
Fig. Inf. to mistreat someone; to insult someone. You've been giving me the
finger ever since I started working here. What's wrong? I'm tired of

27.Put finger on

28.Have a blimp!

29.Ripple through
something

30.Blow wide
open

31.Whip
something
over
32.Plummet to
something
33.Play your ace

34.Let alone
something or
someone
35.Let alone do
something
36.Mine of
information
37.Turn
something
over in ones
mind
38.Dead wood

everybody giving me the finger around here just because I'm new.
Fig. to identify and state the essence of something. That is correct! You
have certainly put your finger on the problem.When she mentioned money,
she really put her finger on the problem.
Have a good year! (A reference to the Goodyear blimp, which is famous for
being at notable events.) Good-bye. Have a blimp! Have a blimp! See you
next summer.
1. Lit. to move through a liquid so as to cause ripples or tiny waves. The
canoe rippled through the still water. A tiny snake rippled through the water
of the swamp.
Fig. to move through something or a group of people in a ripple or wave
motion. A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Some giggling
rippled through the group of children sitting by the door.
to make it impossible to guess who will win a competition She was the
favourite to win, so her withdrawal has blown the election wide open.
to make something that someone is trying to achieve fail completely, often
by telling people something which should have been a secret He's
threatening to blow the whole operation wide open if we don't give him a
bigger share of the profits.
to expose corrupt practices or a secret plan; to put an end to
corruption. The press is trying to blow the town wide open, and the feds are
trying to hush them up so they can move about in secret. I'm going to bust
this racket wide open.
Fig. to send or give something to someone with great speed. I will whip this
letter over to Mr. Franklin right away. Sam whipped the package over to
Alice immediately.
to drop or fall to some level or low point. Stock prices plummeted to record
low levels. The rock plummeted to the river at the base of the cliff.
to do the thing that you know will bring you success The prosecutor played
her ace, the results of the DNA tests on samples taken from the victim's
clothing.
not to mention or think of someone or something; not even to take someone
or something into account. (Fixed order.) Do I have a dollar? I don't even
have a dime, let alone a dollar. I didn't invite John, let alone the rest of his
family.
and to an even greater degree do something We were trapped in a situation
you can barely imagine, let alone understand.
Usage notes: used to emphasize the extreme character of something
Fig. someone or something that is full of information. Grandfather is a mine
of information about World War II. The new search engine is a positive mine
of useful information.
Fig. to think about something. I have to turn your suggestion over in my
mind a bit before I decide what to do. After Alice had turned the matter over
in her mind, she gave us her verdict. Please take some time to turn over this
matter in your mind.
people in a group or organization who are not useful any more and who
need to be removed There's a lot of dead wood in the team which needs to

39.In the loop

40.Water
something
down
41.Plod through
something
42.All hands on
deck/ all hands
to the pumps

43.Ive done my
do
44.Iron out the
kinks
45.Go whole hog

46.Someones
level best
47.Somebodys
number is up
48.A crowd-puller

49.Climb the
wall(s)
50.Trifle
something
away
51.Off the wall
52.Turn
something to
good account
53.Take sides
against
someone or
something
54.Turn Turtle

be cleared out.
Part of a group that is kept up-to-date with information about
something: knew about the merger because she's in the loop.
Fig. to reduce the effectiveness or force of something. (Fig. on {2}.) Please
don't water my declaration down. The new laws watered down the power of
the president.
to work one's way through something laboriously. I just plodded through my
work today. I had no energy at all. This is certainly a lot of papers to have to
plod through.
something that you say when everyone's help is needed, especially to do a
lot of work in a short amount of time We've got to get all this cleared up
before they arrive so it's all hands on deck.
See also: deck, hand
have done my share. Tom: Aren't you going to finish cleaning the kitchen?
Jane: I've done my do. You can do the rest. I feel I've done my do, and
someone else should do the rest.
to get rid of any problems that you are having with the way that you are
doing something The team was still trying to iron out the kinks in their game
in the last quarter.
to do everything possible; to be extravagant. Let's go whole hog. Order
steak and lobster. Show some restraint. Don't go whole hog all the time.
to do something as completely as possible We decided the only way we
could afford vacations is to go camping, so we went whole hog and got the
tents and sleeping bags and everything else
one's very best effort. I will do my level best to find your husband. Don't go
to a whole lot of trouble. Your level best is good enough.
if someone's number is up, they are going to die or to suffer This car came
hurtling towards me and I thought my number was up.
something or someone that many people are keen to go and see This year's
final will be a major crowd-puller -- Manchester United and Liverpool are two
of the country's most popular teams and are also fierce rivals.
to be very agitated, anxious, bored, or excited. He was home for only three
days; then he began to climb the wall. I was climbing the walls to get back to
work
to waste something, such as money, on someone or something, little by
little. Don't trifle all your money away on your friends. Don't trifle away any
more money on silly purchases.
strange or very different Even though many people thought he was off the
wall, they also thought he had very interesting ideas.
to use something in such a way that it is to one's advantage; to make good
use of a situation, experience, etc. Pam turned her illness to good account
and did a lot of reading. Many people turn their retirement time to good
account and take up interesting hobbies.
to join a faction opposing someone or something; to establish a faction
against someone or something. Both of them took sides against me. It
wasn't fair. We took sides against the bank.
to turn upside down. (See also turn belly up.) The sailboat turned turtle, but

55.Plow through
something
56.Surge up

57.Pass
something on

58.Pull someones
or somethings
teeth
59.Put ones feet
up
60.Drop a clanger

61.A parting shot

62.Carved in
stone
63.Bread and
Butter

64.On the
sidelines
65.A queer fish
66.Get nowhere
fast
67.Live and let
live

68.Cue someone
in

69.Fend someone

the sailors only got wet. The car ran off the road and turned turtle in the
ditch.
Fig. to work through something with determination. She plowed through the
book to learn everything she could. Billy plowed through dinner and ran
outside to play.
to rush or gush upwards. A spring of fresh water surged up under the stone
and flowed out on the ground. The oil surged up and blew out into the open
air in a tall black column.
Lit. to hand or give something (to another person). Have a piece of toffee
and pass the box on. Please pass on this book to the next person on the list.
Fig. to tell someone something; to spread news or gossip. Don't pass this
on, but Bill isn't living at home any more. I refuse to pass on rumors.
Fig. to reduce the power or efficacy of someone or something. The mayor
tried to pull the teeth of the new law. The city council pulled the teeth of the
new mayor.
to sit down, lean back, and rest; to lie down. He was really exhausted and
had to go put his feet up. Time to put up my feet and get some rest.
to say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someone I
dropped a clanger by asking John how his dog was when it's been dead
three months.
a remark that you say as you are leaving somewhere so that it has a strong
effect Her parting shot was 'I'm going to spend the evening with people who
appreciate my company!'
Fig. permanent or not subject to change. (Often in the negative.) Now, this
isn't carved in stone yet, but this looks like the way it's going to be. Is this
policy carved in stone, or can it still be modified?
Means of support; livelihood.
The essential sustaining element or elements; the
mainstay/pillar/backbone/keystone: "As ever, politics, vulgarity and
sentimentality were the bread and butter of the Academy Awards" (David
Ansen).
not actively involved in something The majority of Western countries
decided to stay on the sidelines during the crisis.
a strange person I knew his father and he was a queer fish too.
Fig. not to make progress; to get nowhere. I can't seem to make any
progress. No matter what I do, I'm just getting nowhere fast. Come on.
Speed up this car. We're getting nowhere fast.
Clich not to interfere with other people's business or preferences. I don't
care what they do! Live and let live, I always say.Your parents are strict.
Mine just live and let live.
believing that other people should be allowed to live their lives in the way
that they want to They seem as a society to have a very live and let live
attitude towards issues like gay rights.
Lit. to give someone a cue; to indicate to someone that the time has
come. Now, cue the orchestra director in. All right, cue in the announcer.
Fig. to tell someone what is going on. (Almost the same as clue someone in
(on something).) I want to know what's going on. Cue me in. Cue in the
general about the troop movement.
to hold someone or something off; to fight someone or something off. We

or something
off

70.(It) (just) goes

without
saying
71.Draw the short
straw
72.Last straw/ the
straw that
broke the
camels back

73.With (brass)
knobs on
74.Curry favor

75.To knock about

(somewhere)
76.Be as fit as a
fiddle/ flea
77. The highways
and byways
78.God-given
right
79.Come up for
something
80.In the flesh

81.Suit ones
action to ones
words

knew we could fend them off only a little while longer. They could not fend
off the attackers.
to prevent something from happening A politician has to learn how to fend
off unfriendly questions, especially from the press.
to stop someone from coming too near to you She was never very good at
fending off the boys.
to stop someone from hurting you The young woman was able to fend off
the robber.
Clich [something] is so obvious that it need not be said. It goes without
saying that you are to wear formal clothing to the White House dinner. Of
course you must be on time. That goes without saying.
to be the member of a group who has to do an unpleasant job Sorry, Jim,
you drew the short straw. You're on toilet-cleaning duty.
the final difficulty in a series; the last little burden or problem that causes
everything to collapse. (From the image of a camel being loaded down with
much weight. Finally, at some point, one more straw will be too much and
the camel's back will break.) When our best player came down sick, that
was the straw that broke the camel's back. We hoped to make the playoffs,
but lost all the rest of our games. When she showed up late a third time, that
was the straw that broke the camel's back. We had to fire her.
if you describe something as a particular thing with knobs on, you mean it
has similar qualities to that thing but they are more extreme Disney World
was like an ordinary amusement park with knobs on.
to try to make someone like you or support you by doing things to please
them (usually + with ) The government has promised lower taxes in an
attempt to curry favour with the voters.
to travel around; to act as a vagabond. I'd like to take off a year and knock
about Europe. If you're going to knock about, you should do it when you're
young.
to be very healthy My Dad's nearly eighty now but he's as fit as a fiddle.
the highways and byways of a place are its roads and paths (usually
+ of ) They travelled the highways and byways of Britain to find people who
could still sing the old traditional folksongs.
if someone thinks they have a God-given right to do something, they think
they should be allowed to do it even if other people do not like it (often + to
do sth) He seems to think he has a God-given right to tell us all what to do.
to be eligible for something; to be in line or sequence for something. She
comes up for reelection in April. How soon does your driver's license come
up for renewal?
Fig. bodily present; in person; totally real. I've heard that the queen is
coming here in the flesh. I've wanted aflat-screen TV for years, and now I've
got one right here in the flesh.
physically in front of you I have seen her in films and on TV but never in the
flesh.
to behave in accordance with what one has said; to do what one has
promised or threatened to do. Mr. Smith suited his actions to his words and
punished the children. John threatened to quit, and when he didn't get his

82.A smarty pants

83.Kick the
bucket
(informal)
84.Bring
something to
the table
85.Phase
someone or
something into
something
86.Horse sense

87.Queer
somebodys
pitch
88.Poke along

89.Whole nine
yards
90.Charge out (of
some place)
91.In (a) single
file
92.Land of Nod

93.A Tour de force

94.Cut someone
off without a
penny

95.Its a wonder

96.Hotfoot it (off
to)
(somewhere)
97.Steam

way, he suited his actions to his words.

someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a
way that is annoying Cindy, the little smarty pants, will be the first to tell us
where we went wrong.
to die Didn't you hear? He kicked the bucket. Had a heart attack, I think.

to provide something that will be a benefit Our partners brought useful skills
to the table. You have to bring definite suggestions to the table.
to work someone or something into use or service gradually. They decided
to phase Ruth into the job little by little. They phased in Ruth over a long
period of time.
Fig. common sense; practical thinking. Bob is no scholar but he has a lot of
horse sense. Horse sense tells me I should not be involved in that project.
ordinary practical knowledge of the best way to deal with people and
situations Has he got enough horse sense not to get into debt?
to spoil someone's chances of doing something She queered my pitch by
asking for promotion before I did
to move along slowly; to lag or tarry. Get moving. Stop poking along. I was
just poking along, taking my time, not paying attention to what was going on
around me.
the entire amount; everything, as far as possible. For you I'll go the whole
nine yards. You're worth the whole nine yards.
the entire amount; everything, as far as possible. For you I'll go the whole
nine yards. You're worth the whole nine yards.
lined up, one behind the other; in a line, one person or one thing wide.
(*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; march ~; walk ~.) Have you ever seen ducks
walking in single file? Please get into single file. Please march in single file.
a state of sleep. (Humorous. From the fact that people sometimes nod when
they are falling asleep.) The baby is in the land of Nod. Look at the clock! It's
time we were all in the land of Nod.
a performance or achievement which shows a lot of skill and which is
admired by a lot of people His performance as Richard III was a brilliant tour
de force.
Fig. to end someone's allowance; to fail to leave someone money in one's
will. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin cut their son off without a penny after he quit
school. They cut off both of their sons without a penny. We learned, when
Uncle Sam's will was read, that he cut off his own flesh and blood without a
penny.
it is surprising After having so many problems with the house, it's a wonder
they ever got to live in it.
Opposite of: (it's) no wonder
to go somewhere as fast as possible. I've got to hotfoot it off to
school. When they heard the police sirens, the thieves hotfooted home.
to loosen and remove something by an application of steam. (Of is usually

something off
(of)something
98.Put a plug in
(for someone
or something)
99.Hindside first
100. Charity
begins at
home

retained before pronouns.) Toby steamed the old paper off the wall. Toby
steamed off the old wallpaper.
to say something favoring someone or something; to advertise someone or
something. I hope that when you are in talking to the manager, you put a
plug in for me. I could use some help. While you're there, put in a plug.
backwards. You've got your shirt on hindside first. The horse came out of
the trailer hindside first.
Prov. You should take care of family and people close to you before you
worry about helping others. I don't think our church should worry so much
about a foreign relief fund when there are people in need right here in our
city. Charity begins at home. If you really want to make the world a better
place, start by being polite to your sister. Charity begins at home.