Flashcards based on "Random idiom flashcards set to learn" set

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1 of 10
1. To go or move past; pass.
2. To follow; copy; obey.
3. To be known by; be called.
4. To pass; be over; end.
5. To stop for a short visit; go to someone's house for a short while.
Compare: [STOP BY].
Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10

go by

[go by]  {v.}
1. To go or move past; pass.
Bob had to go by the post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter.
2. To follow; copy; obey.
Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a dress.
You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by Father's directions.
If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the rules of the road.
3. To be known by; be called.
Many actors do not go by their real names.
Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby.
4. To pass; be over; end.
Time goes by quickly on vacation.
The horse and buggy days have gone by.
The flowers have all gone by. What will I do for a bouquet?
5. To stop for a short visit; go to someone's house for a short while.
"Have you seen Bill lately?" "Yes, I went by his house last week."
Compare: [STOP BY].
Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
1. or [drop around]
To make a short or unplanned visit; go on a call or errand; stop at someone's home.
Syn.: [DROP IN].
2. or [drop into]
To stop (somewhere) for a short visit or a short time.
Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10

drop by

[drop by] or [stop by]  {v.}
1. or [drop around]
To make a short or unplanned visit; go on a call or errand; stop at someone's home.
Drop by any time you're in town.
Mv sister dropped around last night.
Don't forget to stop by at the gas station.
Syn.: [DROP IN].
2. or [drop into]
To stop (somewhere) for a short visit or a short time.
We dropped by the club to see if Bill was there, but he wasn't.
I dropped into the drugstore for some toothpaste and a magazine.
Categories: time verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
1. To take (someone or something) part of the way you are going.
2. To go to sleep.
3. To die.
4. or [fall off]
To become less.
Contrast: [PICK UP] (14).
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10

drop off

[drop off]  {v.}
1. To take (someone or something) part of the way you are going.
Joe asked Mrs. Jones to drop him off at the library on her way downtown.
2. To go to sleep.
Jimmy was thinking of his birthday party as he dropped off to sleep.
3. To die.
The patient dropped off in his sleep.
4. or [fall off]
To become less.
Business picked up in the stores during December, but dropped off again after Christmas.
Contrast: [PICK UP] (14).
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble.
Compare: [BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA], [LAST DITCH], [ON THE SPOT], [UP AGAINST IT].
Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10

back to the wall

[back to the wall] or [back against the wall]  {adv. phr.}
In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble.
The soldiers had their backs to the wall.
He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall.
The team had their backs to the wall in the second half.
Compare: [BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA], [LAST DITCH], [ON THE SPOT], [UP AGAINST IT].
Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups.
Compare: [BAD SHIT].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10

bad blood

[bad blood]  {n.},  {informal}
Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups.
There's a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never talk to each other again.
Compare: [BAD SHIT].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
A ne'er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender.
Contrast: [GOOD EGG].
Categories: noun slang
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10

bad egg

[bad egg]  {n.},  {slang}
A ne'er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender.
The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last.
Contrast: [GOOD EGG].
Categories: noun slang
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation.
Compare: [BAD BLOOD].
Categories: avoidable noun vulgar
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10

bad shit

[bad shit]  {n.},  {vulgar},  {avoidable}
An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation.
There is so much bad shit between the two gangs that I bet there will be more killings this year.
Compare: [BAD BLOOD].
Categories: avoidable noun vulgar
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
To defeat in competition or rivalry; take the place of; force out.
Categories: hand verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10

edge out

[edge out]  {v.}
To defeat in competition or rivalry; take the place of; force out.
Harry edged out Tom for a place in Mary's affections.
Signal lights on cars have gradually edged out hand signals.
Categories: hand verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
Schooling after graduation from high school, especially in a college or university.
Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10

higher education

[higher education]  {n.}
Schooling after graduation from high school, especially in a college or university.
Tom plans to get his higher education at the state university.
Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
(W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education.
Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10

the three R's

[the three R's]  {n. phr.}
(W)riting, reading, and (a)rithmetic, the three basic skills of an elementary education.
Barry has completed the three R's, but otherwise he has had little formal education.
Categories: noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms