Reading set "Random idiom flashcards set to learn" (Number of items 10)
Make flashcards from these items, print/use them as a reference, save/share your cart with everyone
by the skin of one's teeth
by the skin of one's teeth {adv. phr.}
By a narrow margin; with no room to spare; barely.
The drowning man struggled, and I got him to land by the skin of my teeth.
She passed English by the skin of her teeth.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
by the sweat of one's brow
by the sweat of one's brow {adv. phr.}
By hard work; by tiring effort; laboriously.
Even with modern labor-saving machinery, the farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
too ---- by half
too ---- by half {adj.} ( {princ. British})
Much too; excessively.
The heroine of the story is too nice by half; she is not believable.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
wade through
wade through {v. phr.}
To read through something long and laborious.
It took John six months to wade through Tolstoy's War and Peace in the original Russian.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
wade in
1. To go busily to work.
The house was a mess after the party, but Mother waded in and soon had it clean again.
2. To attack.
When Bill had heard Jim's argument, he waded in and took it apart.
Jack waded into the boys with his fists flying.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
calm down
calm down {v. phr.}
To become quiet; relax.
"Calm down, Mr. Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "You are going to live a long time."
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
calling down
calling down also dressing down {n. phr.}, {informal}
A scolding; reprimand.
The judge gave the boy a calling down for speeding.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
old country
old country {n. phr.}
Primarily Europe, but also any country other than the United States where one originally came from.
Al's wife was born in Chicago but Al himself is from the old country, Ireland.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
old college try
old college try {n. phr.}
An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested.
Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn't work.
Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
old flame
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms