glossary

the outcome will soon be known Only time will tell what happens to the human race.

cheat or betray His girlfriend was two-timing him by sleeping with the plumber.

an enjoyable time of your life Did you have the time of your life when you were a teenager?

time to leave It’s time to run. I need to go an pick up my kids from school.

time goes very fast Our vacation is over already? Time flies!

last chance to do something Just before the deadline, the student submitted the assignment at the eleventh hour.

the third time is usually successful I tried unlocking the door twice already. I hope the third time’s a charm.

a lost opportunity Jack was thinking of marrying Jane but that ship has sailed. She married Zack instead.

a situation involving fame or success The actress was ready for the big time when she was nominated for the award.

an inevitability or eventuality It’s only a question of time until all cars drive themselves.

spend time in prison Chuck served time in prison so it is difficult for him to get hired.

during my time on duty I told the workers that they couldn’t sleep on my watch. They can sleep when they get home.

having limited time available The doctor was really pressed for time, so he misdiagnosed the illness.

to catch up with something after disregarding it for a long time Let’s make up for lost time and hang out all week.

just in time He caught the train in the nick of time just before it departed.

pass time aimlessly Most people kill time by swiping through their iPhone apps.

very quickly It’s so easy. I will be finished the assignment in no time.

in the long term She hates doing homework but in the long run it will make her successful.

the right time to accomplish something It’s high time to solve this budget problem.

to get up-to-date with the modern era Time to get with the times and buy an electric car.

tease or bother someone Stop giving your little brother a hard time and help him with his homework.

relaxing time You need to have some down time after a long day at work.

go to prison Franky has to do time for all those crimes that he was convicted of.

see you later I have to go home now. Catch you later!

a critical period Crunch time in most sports comes down to the final few minutes of a game.

an uncertain length of time that may end suddenly Everyone is living off of borrowed time. Enjoy every day as if it is your last.

inexperienced Were you born yesterday? You have to pay your credit card quickly to avoid serious debt.

relax and take your time doing something Bide your time and take a look through the restaurant menu. There are no other customers.

without stopping The pharmacy is open around the clock. It never closes.

finish something before the deadline The paperwork was piled high, but she manages to beat the clock and finish it all.

said to convey impatience I’ve been waiting for you for an hour. It’s about time you arrived!

earlier than the deadline Finish your work ahead of time so you can enjoy your hobbies.

when something is inevitable It’s only a matter of time until they find a cure for cancer.

a difficult (or exciting) experience Her grandmother had a hell of a time trying to connect to the internet.

either win or lose In the playoffs, overtime is a zero-sum game. Only one team can win.

concealed or by secret We should keep this under the table until we know it’s safe to tell everyone.

easy victory The team one hands down because their opponents had three red cards.

not making a fair statement Mandy was off base when she said that I needed a hair transplant to get the acting role.

give up Rocky never threw in the towel during his fighting career.

break Can we take a time out and work on this later in the afternoon?

near the end We’re on the home stretch now. We’ll be there in a few minutes.

the decision is up to you We offered him an extra million dollars. The ball is in his court if he wants to sign the contract.

take responsibility Yuna is going to step up to the plate and admit that her team’s decision was wrong.

start something Let’s get the ball rolling and start with some ice breakers.

get even It’s time to settle the score. I’m sick of losing against these guys.

guess It was a shot in the dark, but her answer was correct.

not as good as someone else She’s way out of my league. There’s no way she’ll go out with me.

strange or unconventional His response was so way out in left field that everyone couldn’t stop laughing.

not good enough If you’re not up to par by the end of the month, you’re fired.

no problem Sara said it would be no sweat to finish the assignment on time.

lower mental ability George isn’t playing with a full deck. He forgot to wear his socks.

very close The race cars were neck and neck until the end.

difficult thing to accomplish It will be a long shot to finish in the top three positions.

chosen to be part of a group I don’t think I made the cut. Other people will probably get hired instead.

equal chance The team leveled the playing field after the penalty kick.

learn new things I spend the whole morning learning the ropes for the job.

begin too soon If you jump the gun then you may make a mistake. Go at your own pace.

try not to fall behind It’s hard to keep your head above water when you are already down by 3 goals.

expected to win The home team holds all the aces. I don’t think the other team will win.

very confident or successful person All the hot shots in New York live on the Upper East Side.

do something that is unfair You hit me below the belt when you said that lie about me.

have a better chance of winning The experienced boxer has the upper hand.

face a sudden problem We’ve hit a snag. I don’t think we can finish it on time now.

defend someone His colleague went to bat for her and testified on her behalf.

give someone a chance He never got a fair shake. He got fired after a week.

be comfortable doing something after some time It took her a month to get into the full swing of things. Now she is the best employee.

try your hardest I know the homework is difficult but give it your best shot.

favorite to win The stallion is the front runner. He’ll be hard to beat.

to the end The game is coming down to the wire and nobody has scored.

a hidden strength or advantage They’ll win the game since their rookie goalkeeper is an ace in the hole.

make the decisions The new coach is calling the shots.

time is valuable We can’t wait here all day. Time is money!

give my opinion Can I put in my two cents? I have something important to say.

waste money Betting on an injured horse is like pouring money down the drain.

pay a lot of money The team had to pay a king’s ransom for the superstar.

a frugal person Victor is such a penny pincher. He never buys anything for anyone.

I think so I bet she’s going to arrive late to work again.

split the bill The couple always likes to go Dutch and share their living expenses.

try hard to defeat another person Connor is going to give Floyd a run for his money.

give no mercy The student asked to take the test again, but the teacher gave no quarter.

reduce spending The family had to cut corners in order to put food on the table.

donate money or time Why don’t you chip in and support the refugees?

a frugal person He’s such a cheapskate. He never buys anything for his girlfriend.

selling something He cashed in the chips and went on a world tour.

go bankrupt She broke the bank after buying the Ferrari.

ask for advice Could I have a penny for your thoughts? I don’t know how to solve this problem.

to say romantic things to someone Sue likes it when I whisper sweet nothings in her ear in bed.

to end a relationship My girlfriend walked out on me, so I drank a bottle of vodka.

to think someone is very attractive Do you fancy Molly? She likes you too.

get married Are you ever going to tie the knot? You aren’t getting any younger.

have sex with her You should throw it in her. I think she really wants you.

in good and bad times He loved his wife through thick and thin.

ask someone to get married He popped her the big question during their vacation.

near the end Their relationship is on the rocks. They’ll probably break up soon.

restore or recover Their relationship is now on the mend after going to counseling.

mutual dislike There is no love lost between Donald and Hillary.

sex Frank wanted to make love in the tent, but his wife wanted a hotel room.

kissing and hugging Kate really hates it when couples are lovey-dovey in public.

love makes someone blind to their partner’s imperfections Love is certainly blind. Tom is very attracted to a girl who eats on the toilet.

someone who cheats on their partner Hank is such a love rat. This is the tenth girl I’ve seen him with this week.

decide not to marry at the last minute Her fiance left her at the altar and moved to Fiji.

inseparable Jane and Joe are joined at the hip.

feel sympathy My heart goes out to Sara. She spent years fighting cancer.

to be attracted to someone Mary had the hots for George, so she wrote him a love letter.

date each other I asked her to go steady, but she dated Joe instead.

get married We got hitched last month. Didn’t you get the wedding invitation?

two couples dating at the same time My friend always goes on double dates and likes getting attention from both guys.

make someone annoyed or feel madly in love She drives me crazy. I don’t know if I should buy her another diamond or get a divorce.

dating someone you have never met I don’t like blind dates because I want to know what she looks like first.

everyone has different preferences for what is attractive Ella likes guys with big beards. Her girlfriends say to her that beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

be a couple Apparently, Tiffany and Tim are an item. I always see them together.

many misfortunes often occur all at once Last week, my dog died and I broke my leg. When it rains, it pours.

a small part of a bigger problem The tax evasion was just the tip of the iceberg. The company has committed countless other crimes.

to let go of all responsibilities and have fun Let’s throw caution to the wind, quit our jobs, and go on vacation!

reschedule at another time Can I take a raincheck? I don’t have time to hang out tonight.

to feel deflated You really took the wind out of my sails when you laughed at my new invention.

an indication that something bad could occur A feel like a storm is brewing and the stock market is about to crash.

to take credit for someone else’s achievement Some companies steal another’s thunder and ignore copyright laws.

make a small problem bigger than it is Don’t make a storm in a teacup. We can go to another restaurant that doesn’t require reservations.

do something risky He was skating on thin ice when he insulted the boss.

having too much work to do I’m really snowed under now. Can I do the report tomorrow?

save money in case something unfortunate happens You should save for a rainy day. You could get injured or become unemployed.

chitchat Let’s grab lunch and shoot the breeze.

feeling very well or fit After a walk through the park, I feel as right as rain. My mind feels clear.

a slight chance that something positive will occur She still had a ray of hope that she would get into medical school.

infringe on someone’s happiness Stop raining on my parade whenever you get miserable.

very happy Elizabeth was on cloud nine when she put on the diamond ring.

postpone Let’s put this problem on ice and get back to it tomorrow.

know the end result Nobody knows which way the wind will blow. Just try to be positive.

have new energy after an attempt I was exhausted after 3 kilometers of running, but I got a second wind after I passed the beach.

overhear something about someone or something (often gossip) Sherry got wind that her ex-boyfriend was coming to the same bar, so she went home.

a person who is only a friend in good times I try to avoid fair-weather friends. They aren’t very sincere.

attempt something that will never be achieved You’re chasing rainbows if you think you’re going to be a rock star.

doing something first in a social setting Let me break the ice and buy everyone a drink.

a peaceful period before mayhem The teacher is enjoying the calm before the storm. All of the students will arrive soon.

easy Riding a tricycle is such a breeze.

don’t believe it is completely accurate I always take whatever I read in the news with a grain of salt.

especially good or outstanding His slapshot definitely takes the cake. It’s the best in the league!

reveal a secret Who spilt the beans about my brother’s surprise birthday party?

an intelligent person George is one smart cookie. He got 100 percent on all his tests.

make more exciting Sara spiced up her room by hanging paintings on the walls.

rely on one thing He dedicated all of his time to baseball. If he puts all of his eggs in one basket, he may not have an alternative career to rely on.

to annoy out of spite She always pisses in my cornflakes because of what I did to her last year.

very easy The final exam was a piece of cake.

crazy or distracted or confused That guy is so out to lunch. He is difficult to get business done with.

something enjoyable Musicals aren’t my cup of tea. I prefer regular movies.

make with original ingredients My wife made me a delicious omelette from scratch.

to sum up In a nutshell, she is sick because she drank too much last night.

a controversial subject Trump’s last Tweet was a hot potato in the news.

hear a rumor I heard it through the grapevine that you were getting nose surgery.

want more than you need Frank is married but he also wants to date other women. He wants to have his cake and eat it too.

be pregnant Mary has a bun in the oven so she can’t drink alcohol.

high pay for minimal work Government workers ride the gravy train while sitting at their desks doing nothing.

difficult to understand or persuade The criminal was a tough nut to crack. He never revealed any of his accomplices.

energetic The elementary students are always full of beans.

to urge or provoke someone The hockey player tried to egg his opponent on by dropping his gloves.

meet expectations George’s work ethic didn’t cut the mustard, so he got fired.

fart Who cut the cheese? It smells awful in here.

get upset over something insignificant or about something irreversible I know you forgot your phone, but there is no need to cry over spilt milk. You can live without it for an hour.

cup of coffee Let’s get a cup of joe at Starbucks.

the best The team has the cream of the crop of draft picks. They will probably win the cup soon.

dishonest accounting Let’s cook the books so we can avoid paying higher taxes.

lazy person Don’t be such a couch potato and do some work for once!

very inexpensive This cup of coffee was only 50 cents. Cheap as chips!

earn money Louie brings home the bacon while his wife takes care of the kids.

be really nice to someone You had better butter me up if you want a raise in salary.

necessities or main points Tell me the bread and butter of the article and explain the general idea of it.

take on more responsibility than what is manageable He was multitasking and getting stressed, so I told him not to bite off more than he could chew.

something unpleasant that must be accepted Awarding the trophy to her enemy was a bitter pill to swallow.

an important person Where is the director? I want to talk to the big cheese.

erratic or panicky She became such a basket case when she discovered her ex was at the party.

really enjoy She is nuts about her new boyfriend.

a troublesome person Bart is the bad egg of the class. He is always throwing paper airplanes.

office labor Most white-collar workers don’t get much sunshine.

a harmless lie She told her boss a white lie when she said she had a doctor’s appointment.

useless possession My old DVD player is a white elephant. I only watch Netflix now.

actual character or personality I saw her true colors when she donated to the local charity.

talk a lot Women who are close friends can talk a blue streak on the phone.

the movie industry Angelina always wanted to star on the silver screen.

to be enraged Bobby saw red when his brother broke his phone.

an important day My graduation was a red-letter day for my parents.

greet someone with great respect They rolled out the red carpet during the President’s inauguration.

rules which hinder progress There is a lot of red tape involved with starting a business.

surrender I decided to raise a white flag and stop arguing with my wife.

to hypocritically criticize Donald says the news is fake but that’s like the pot calling the kettle black.

have fun It’s finally the weekend! Let’s paint the town red!

very dark You should always sleep in a room that is pitch black.

suddenly Her ex-boyfriend called her out of the blue during her honeymoon.

rarely The truck driver visits his kids once in a blue moon.

whole-heatedly or easily He was offered the new job on a silver platter, but he didn’t take it.

profitable Facebook has been in the black ever since the company went public.

vague or unclear The store’s return policy is such a grey area. I don’t understand their rules.

others always have it better Whenever she complains about her hometown, I remind her that the grass is always greener on the other side.

give permission She gave her son the green light to join the police academy.

a good chance for achievement He had a golden opportunity to win the game on the penalty shot.

feel sad Barbara felt blue after breaking up with her boyfriend.

be optimistic She got fired but found a better job she. Every cloud has a silver lining.

from a rich family Sara was born with a silver spoon, but she became a drug addict.

lose consciousness She knocked her head on the floor and blacked out!

illegal marketplace A lot of fake cigarettes are sold in the black market.

some place or situation in which things are lost Never take hard drugs. It’s a black hole you can’t escape from.

absolute terms The contract that you signed is in black and white. You must agree to the terms.

embarrassed or angry Darren went beet red when he saw the scratch on his car.

hurt physically or mentally Both during and after the relationship, I felt so black and blue.

very fearful or anxious Walter went as white as a sheet when he saw Hank get shot.

office labor Most white-collar workers don’t get much sunshine.

show emotions openly You always wear heart on your sleeve and give annual donations to charity.

be in charge She wears the pants in the family. Her husband stays home and sleeps all day.

honor someone I take my hat off to Frank. He was the best singer of the century.

work hard You rolled up your sleeves and got the job done.

going from being poor to wealthy Jake went from rags to riches after he won the lottery.

do nothing and let others do all the work She has been riding my coattails all year and I don’t get any credit for my effort.

sympathize Put yourself in the my shoes, then you will understand why I did it.

concentrate You put your thinking cap on and created a brilliant ad for the new product.

stop talking Put a sock in it and listen to the teacher!

try hard Good job. You pulled your socks up, studied all day, and aced the test.

stay calm Keep your shirt on and try to relax. The plane will land soon.

improvised The groom made did wedding speech off the cuff.

keep something a secret He tried to keep the affair zipped up, but his friend told his wife what happened.

have a secret plan You had a card up your sleeve and you won the match by distracting the goalkeeper.

handle delicately Please handle those wine glasses with kid gloves.

three goals by one player Ronaldo scored several hat tricks last season.

get fired Bob got the boot last week. He needs to find a new job.

fit perfectly Those jeans fit her like a glove.

dress in glamorous clothes She is always dressed to kill when she goes to the bar.

unprepared Don’t get caught with your pants down at a red light. Be ready to drive when it turns green.

achieve instinctively or quickly That was impressive. You did your graduation speech by the seat of your pants without any preparation.

spend too much money I burned a hole in my pocket overpaying on insurance.

work hard Let’s buckle down and finish the assignment.

manual labor He got a blue-collar job working as a mechanic.

formal event Most big award’s ceremonies are black tie events.

instantly At the drop of a hat, I called my sister when I heard she was pregnant!

naked You should try sleeping with your birthday suit on. It’s much more comfortable.

cowardlyDon’t be so yellow-bellied. It’s only a small spider!

stop dealing with a problemI’m washing my hands of his troubled past and moving on with life.

under my controlMick said the girl was under his thumb. She was the sweetest pet in the world.

stupid or foolishTommy is so thick in the head. He keeps licking the wall.

not meaning what one is sayingWhen I said to fly to Hawaii, I was speaking tongue in cheek. I didn’t actually think you would book a ticket!

love sweet thingsSuzie has a sweet tooth. She always eats ice cream after dinner.

agreeMy wife and eye don’t see eye to eye. We’re getting a divorce.

help someone despite possible consequences for oneselfYou should stick your neck out for your teammate.

general ruleAs a rule of thumb, you should get 8 hours of sleep per night.

stop talking and start acting upon somethingYou should put your money where your mouth is and start your new business idea.

tease or joke aroundI’m just pulling your leg. Don’t take it too seriously.

let things occur without a rigid planLet’s play it by ear and see what happens tonight.

give recognitionYou deserve a pat on the back for fixing the furnace.

experienced personPeter is an old hand when analyzing the stock market.

to do anything to prevent something from happeningMy son wanted to get a face tattoo, but I told him over my dead body.

nearby locationThe restaurant is in my neck of the woods.

make very angryDonald makes my blood boil when he talks.

relax and have funYou should let your hair down on Saturday night and go dancing.

live on very little moneyDuring the depression, we had to live from hand to mouth.

memorizeSteve knows all of the computer code by heart.

stay positiveKeep your chin up. You will win the next game.

promise to keep a secretYou must keep your lips sealed about your affair.

try not to fall behindI have so much work to finish. It’s hard to keep my head above water here.

trying something that is much too difficult for one’s abilityYou’re in over your head. You can’t beat the computer at chess.

watch carefully or take care ofPlease keep an eye on the kettle. It will boil soon.

to be deeply in loveSarah was head over heels for her new boyfriend.

sadnessShe left him with a heavy heart.

perceptiveYou must have eyes in the back of your head. You always know what your boyfriend is doing when he’s away.

to be unaware or obliviousYou always have your head in the clouds. Do you have any idea what’s happening?

talent for gardeningYour flowers live so long because of your green thumb.

to deny or ignoreShe gave him a cold shoulder when he asked for her phone number.

help someoneCan you give me a hand with lifting this laundry machine?

reveal or confess somethingI felt better getting it off my chest by confessing that I stole the money.

be very coldYou will freeze your buns off in Antarctica.

start before othersDon always gets a head start and wakes up at dawn.

familyI can’t fire my brother. He’s my own flesh and blood.

pay for somethingI’ll foot the bill and pay for everyone’s meal at the restaurant.

deal with unpleasant consequencesThe man confessed to the crime and faced the music in prison.

cry a lotHe cried his heart out when his dog died.

being nervous or anxious before a big eventShe got cold feet before the wedding.

say something insultingShe always busts my chops about my low salary.

barely or narrowlyI finished the test by the skin of my teeth just before the bell rang.

an adored personMy precious daughter is the apple of my eye.

very expensiveThat new car costs an arm and a leg.

everyone’s help is neededWe need all hands on deck if we want to reduce carbon emissions.

clumsyI’m all thumbs today. I keep dropping my phone!

listen carefullyJane asked if I was paying attention. I told her, “I’m all ears!”

someone’s weaknessVodka is his achilles’ heel. He only loses his composure when he drinks it.

worsen an unfavorable situationShe added insult to injury by picking her little brother’s ice cream off the dirty floor and sticking it in his mouth.

That’s true, I agree

I have no idea

Let’s not talk about that problem right now

Understand something complicated

Make a problem worse

Sick

To get upset

You don’t notice how long something lasts when it’s fun

An ideal situation

The person we were just talking about showed up!

My patience has run out

Things are going well so far

Calm down

To joke with someone

You have to work for what you want

Doing a good job

It’s too late

Tell something briefly

To not hold someone responsible for something

Go to sleep

It’s not complicated

Don’t give up

Start over

Trust what someone says

Do the thing you’ve been wanting to do so you can move on

Work better or leave

Get out of control

Slow down

Doing something poorly in order to save time or money

Stop working on something

Don’t be so critical

Good luck

To get something over with because it is inevitable

Better to arrive late than not to come at all

Something common

Avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable

a good thing that seemed bad at first

To cover something with some kind of special paper.

To close an item that has a zipper.

To gradually improve at or make progress in something.

To make time in a busy schedule for a person or an activity.

When a situation, event, plan, or idea is successful.

To remove liquid from a surface using a sponge, towel or cloth, etc.

To completely remove or clean something from a surface or location.

To clean the inside of something.

When something is damaged or weakened from use and age.

To operate a mechanical device by turning its handle.

To decrease or disappear gradually.

To be aware of someone or something.

To make the surface or top of something disappear due to friction.

To remove dirt or unwanted markings with soap and water.

To clean your face, hands, body, etc.

When you are finished sleeping.

To increase the controls of an electronic or mechanical device.

To completely consume or use all of a supply.

To move an object so that the part that is on top becomes the bottom and vice versa.

To attend an event, meeting, etc.

To stop a device from functioning.

To cause someone to feel interested and/or attracted.

To give someone or something to the police or someone of authority.

To transform.

To decrease the temperature, sound, etc.

When someone or something moves until it faces the opposite direction.

To see how something fits or looks before purchasing.

To show that you are qualified to do something.

To convince or persuade someone to believe something untrue or to do something for you.

To exchange something old for something new.

To locate someone or something after a long search

When you get rid of something by putting it in a trash can, bin, etc.

To vomit or puke.

To use your imagination to create a plan, idea, or a solution.

To dispose of something you no longer find useful in a waste bin, trash, etc.

To think and plan carefully for a future situation or event.

To inform an authoritative figure about what someone else did.

To consider something prior to making a final decision.

To remove with force.

To be able to differentiate something or someone from something or someone else.

To have a conversation with someone.

To deconstruct a building or home.

To convince someone not to do something.

To talk to someone as if they are less intelligent than you by conveying a tone of voice or attitude that says so.

To convince someone to do something.

When you accept an invitation or offer from someone.

To direct your anger towards someone or something when you?re really upset about someone or something else.

To be successfully tricked or deceived by someone.

To remove an object from an area, place or container.

To return something or someone.

To disconnect or separate the parts of an object.

When you move something from the ?off? state to the ?on? state. Synonymous with ?Turn On,? while ?Switch Off? is the opposite.

When you move something from the ?on? state to the ?off? state. Synonymous with ?Turn Off.? Yesterday?s ?Switch On? is the opposite.

To make something straight.

To feel very worried, nervous or anxious.

To visit someone for a short period of time.

To continue to use or do something.

To make a quick stop on your way to a destination.

To use a weapon, especially a gun, to rob someone.

When something is attached to another by some form of adhesive.

To extend something outward.

To place your foot on something or someone.

To stay in a place or with someone for any period of time.

To remain in a place that is higher than ground level.

To spend time out of your own home.

To avoid discussing a certain subject or topic.

To start something.

The beginning of an event, activity or time period.

To begin a trip or venture to some place.

To rise from sitting or lying down to a vertical position.

To stand in one place or area when you should be doing something.

To support or represent an idea, belief, etc.

To arrange or separate things into groups according to similarities.

When someone?s attention is not in the present moment. [Adj.] {spaced out} To describe a person whose attention isn?t in the present moment.

To leave a place without being noticed.

To enter a place quietly to avoid being seen or heard.

To do something slower.

To write your name on a list to indicate the day and time of your departure.

To change from a standing to a sitting position.

To write your name on a list to indicate the day and time you arrived at a certain place.

To stop the operation of an electrical or mechanical device.

To stop talking.

To overly display your skills or what you have.

To mix something in a container by shaking it.

To accept something even though it?s not what you want or need.

To organize or plan for an activity/event to happen.

To begin living a stable and routine life.

To seriously think about doing something.

When all the inventory of a particular product has been purchased.

To make a mistake or do something really bad.

To cheat or deceive someone.

To run from a lower elevation or level to a higher elevation or level.

To ensure the top of a container/bottle is sealed.

When someone is injured or killed by a vehicle.

When people exit a place very quickly. Run In/ Run Into is the opposite of this meaning.

To hit someone or something with a vehicle.

When something collides with another object by accident.

To move or run from one side to the other.

To go from one place to another in a hurry.

When someone or something is excluded as a possibility.

To tear something (i.e. paper, cloth, etc.) into pieces.

To call someone on the phone.

When someone asks for a price for something that is too high, when someone cheats or steals.

To encourage or persuade someone to do something.

To tolerate or accept something that you?d rather not.

To assemble or connect the parts of something.

To move an object to a higher level.

To not be surprised by a person?s actions. [Always used with the negative]

To cause someone or something to be in a certain state or to do something extra.

To extend a part of your body.

To become offended by someone or something.

When you invest or make a deposit. In this example, the amount almost always separates the verb.

When something is causing a project to slow down.

To place something on a surface or an object.

To place something where it cannot be seen or isn?t in the way of other things.

To enter data or record time on a device.

To record the time you leave the workplace using a special clock.

To recover from an injury or illness.

When something or someone leaves a place.

To drive your vehicle to the side of the road to stop.

To succeed in doing something difficult or tricky.

When you aim at something or someone using your finger or hand.

To produce a hard copy of a computer document.

To make someone aware of something.

To block a narrow passage such as a hole, drain, or pipe so that nothing can flow through.

To connect an electrical device to an electrical outlet.

To connect an electrical appliance/machine to another piece of equipment or to a power source.

When you have the intention to do something.

To prepare for a future event or situation.

To prepare for a big event or expectation in the future.

[Informal] To be angry about something.

To put things in a pile or heap.

When you are able to recognize something or someone from a group.

To get someone or something from somewhere.

To tease and/or criticize someone over a period of time.

To pay all the money that is owed or asked for.

To purchase merchandise.

To repay money that is owed to a person or entity.

To reduce the number of options or possibilities.

When you return money that you owe someone.

When you bring your personal belongings and stuff to a new place where you will live. Yesterday?s phrasal verb, Move Out, has the opposite meaning.

When you permanently remove all your belongings and personal items from a place where you live or stay.

To put or combine different things together so they?ll merge successfully.

To try to play with or repair a device that you have no true knowledge about.

When something is dirty or unorganized.

To invent a story.

To go in a certain direction, typically in a hurry.

To understand the meaning of something.

To have exceptionally good luck.

This particular phrasal verb is used to say you view someone with respect and/or admiration.

When a situation becomes better.

To examine or inspect something or someone.

To investigate or get more facts about something.

To remain alert.

To anticipate a future event because it either makes you happy and/or you benefit from it.

To divert your eyes to someone or something.

When you consider someone or something as unimportant or with little to no value. The opposite of yesterday?s phrasal verb.

When you don?t have the key or passcode to enter a secured place.

When you shut the windows and doors of a place or building.

To turn your head to see what or who is around you.

To share the same residence.

To secure people or things behind a closed door.

When a conversation is changed or a person changes to become less serious.

To form in a row one after another or side-by-side.

To illuminate something.

To be lazy or to not do anything.

To raise someone or something to a higher level.

When someone or something becomes less intense or strong.

To tell something that is a secret or private.

When you give permission for someone to leave or be released from a place.

To allow someone to leave a car, bus, train etc.

To disappoint someone.

To allow someone or something to enter a place.

When you have a portion that still remains from something after you have used or eaten the rest of it.

To not include someone or something.

To accidentally or intentionally not include a person or thing on a list.

When a period of time or a series of events cause an event, situation or conversation to happen.

When you don?t take something or someone with you when you leave.

To place something on a surface or an object.

When a company or business ends a worker?s employment.

To have knowledge of or be familiar with something.

When someone is struck hard enough to cause them to lose consciousness.

To make contact with something or someone in such a way it or they fall.

To force someone to leave an organization or place.

To use force to cause someone or something to fall from its place, whether intentionally or accidentally.

To continue to do something.

To illegally pay extra money to someone as part of the price.

When you don?t share information.

To avoid discussing a particular subject or topic.

To continue doing something.

To stop yourself or other people from doing something.

To avoid getting close to someone or something.

To make sound, music and noise minimal.

To continue doing an activity even though it may be difficult.

To do something quickly.

To hold someone or something up in the air.

When you connect two electrical devices together.

To extend your hand or an object in front of you.

To delay something.

When you wait for a short time.

When you don?t forgive or have little respect for someone because of something they did.

To assist people with something.

To suddenly have a solution to a problem or an interesting idea.

To make something warmer or cause a rise in temperature.

When you learn about something or someone.

To move in the direction where someone or something is.

When you learn details about something or someone.

To go to a place where you?ve been before or where you started from.

When a situation becomes more likely.

To wear clothing, cosmetics, perfume, etc.

To hang clothes or an object on a hook, hanger or rod.

When you hold something, often for support of comfort.

To hang something, usually wet clothes, to dry.

To spend time in a place or an area.

To give upon request or demand.

To distribute something free to other people.

When you return something to the person who owns it after the person has given it to you

To give something to a person of authority.

To become too big or too tall for your clothes.

When you physically change from a child to an adult.

To be disgusted with someone or something.

To waste time doing silly or unimportant things.

To move or extend to a higher level or farther North.

To accompany someone to a place.

When you make a decision to do something, and actually do it.

To review something.

When something takes place.

To leave a place or area you?re in.

To enter a place, room, building, etc. usually through a door.

To leave unannounced.

To enter a place or area for a specific reason.

To try to obtain.

To enter a place, building, room, etc.

To pass someone or something quickly.

To move to a lower position, place, price, level, etc.

When you fail to fulfill a promise you made to someone.

To be more than or better than what is normal or expected.

To move or travel from one place to another place.

To return to a place, time, activity, or a person.

To follow a circular path.

To proceed to do something that you were hesitant about.

to accept or agree with a decision, rule, opinion, etc.

To take the necessary steps to get something done.

When you do your best to get something no matter how difficult it is.

To stop doing something without completing it.

To surrender to something.

To distribute something.

To give something for free or without expecting anything in return.

To meet and spend time together.

To move to a higher level/position.

To arrive to or assist someone to a place.

To finish something that needs to get done.

When a message, meaning, or idea is understood or accepted.

To move past an obstacle to the other side.

To receive a benefit and/or satisfaction from doing something.

When you move your body and either stand, sit, lie, kneel, etc. towards something (non-separable).

To leave or escape.

To leave a form of transportation, except a car.

To be excited or to truly enjoy doing something.

To arrive or enter a place, room, building, etc.

To move to a lower place or level.

To learn, work, or progress more slowly than others.

To pass someone or something.

When you talk to someone at a later time either because you are busy or you have obtained additional or new information.

To get revenge.

To return to a place.

To do something that needed to get done at an earlier time.

To escape from something.

To have good interactions with others.

To become successful in the professional environment or make consistent progress in life.

When someone becomes irrationally upset or angry, sometimes to the point of confusion.

To find out more about something, or take further action in regards to it.

To waste time doing unimportant or silly things.

To become very mad or lose control over your emotions.

When an object or a person is near, but you cannot pinpoint the exact location.

To make plans or arrangements with someone or for others.

To become aware of something or someone.

To complete a form.

To fill something completely.

To add personal information in the blank spaces of an official document.

When you defend yourself/resist an attack, or make an effort against an opponent in a competition.

To expect or plan for something.

When you have/don?t have the energy and confidence to do something.

When someone or something falls from an upright position to the ground.

If things do not go as planned, or if a plan, deal or agreement fails.

When something drops to a lower level.

To fall from or through something.

To fall to the ground.

When you have an intense attraction to something or someone.

To move slower than others.

When something breaks all at once or piece by piece.

To remove everyone or everything from a space.

The end result of something planned or unplanned.

When someone consumes all their food.

When all the liquid and/or moisture evaporates.

To dry something or a surface quickly.

To remove water or other liquid from a container.

To quit a school program or training course.

To visit someone unexpectedly or without making arrangements first.

To gradually decline/become less.

To wear formal clothes, or a costume for a special occasion.

To go to sleep unintentionally.

To manage well without something or someone.

To make a connection between two or more things.

To do something again in order to improve or correct mistakes.

When you do everything you must do to solve a problem or complete.

To dispose of something.

When you use a knife or scissors to cut something into several pieces.

To remove something using a knife or a pair of scissors.

To completely remove or separate a part of something by cutting it with something sharp like a knife or a pair of scissors, etc.

To do less of something or to use something in smaller amounts.

When you spend less money on something.

To take more action than usual against wrongdoing.

To remove or delete someone or something from a list.

To use something to conceal something else.

To count all of something or people in a group.

To rely on someone for support when you need it most.

To persuade someone to give or do something through lies and deception.

To lose temperature.

To persuade someone to do something through lies and deception.

When you think of a solution, idea, plan, or excuse.

When someone or something expected arrives.

When something appears or happens, either expected or unexpected.

To make a visit.

To leave a place.

To appear on television or be heard on the radio.

When someone or something enters a place, building, or room.

When something is removed or breaks off from where it was originally attached to.

When you start to experience the symptoms of a disease or illness.

When a situation is reduced to a certain outcome.

To move from a higher to a lower position or from north to south.

To return to a place.

When something breaks or separates piece by piece.

When something happens or occurs.

The way other people perceive something or someone.

When the activities or services of a business permanently end.

To block an entrance or pathway.

When something in a drain or valve prevents the flow of water or other liquids

To do something to solve a problem or a misunderstanding.

To remove things completely from an area or place.

To clean or clear the inside of something thoroughly.

To cut something into pieces with a knife.

To leave a hotel or other form of an accommodation after your stay there.

To register at a hotel or airport upon arrival.

When you are emotionally and/or sexually unfaithful to your girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse.

To move faster to reach someone or something that is ahead of you.

To move something or someone from one place to another using your arms or an object.

To understand or realize something.

To continue doing something or to continue on in life despite an obstacle.

To do something out of the ordinary due to strong emotions.

To nurture or take care of someone or something.

To become less violent, nervous, excited or angry.

To cancel an event that has been previously planned.

To be chosen to take part in a military mission.

To request that someone come and help.

To interrupt a conversation or activity.

To call someone again.

To suddenly do or say something.

To destroy something with heat or fire.

When a candle stops burning because there is nothing left to burn.

When someone uses fire to destroy a structure.

To add a fixture or component to a certain area or place through construction.

When you meet people by accident or unexpectedly.

To practice and review your knowledge or a skill that you haven?t used in a while.

To remove something(dust particle, insect, etc) with your hand.

To bring something from a lower level/place to a higher level/place.

To return something you?ve borrowed.

To bring someone or something from one place or area to another.

To stop a fight.

To make a way through a barrier or a surface.

To remove a part of something with force.

To escape from a place, situation or way of life.

To enter a place illegally and with the use of force.

When someone loses self-control and is emotionally and/or mentally agitated. This meaning has a noun form for a situation where someone loses self-control.

To make something explode.

To have determined or analyzed the solution or reason for something.

To extinguish or make a flame stop burning.

When the wind moves an object or person from where it was.

When the wind removes something from its place.

To use your teeth to bite a piece of something.

To feel confident about something or someone.

When someone punches, kicks, or hits someone repeatedly using fists or with an object.

To make changes or an improvement.

To walk or drive a vehicle backwards.

When you leave an emotional situation, or to allow someone to handle something alone.

To withdraw your position in a fight, argument, plan, etc.

When you ask someone to go with you to a certain place or for a special occasion, to spend time together and have fun. If one or both parties involved are interested in a romantic way, then it is considered a date.

To request something.

To point a weapon at someone or something.

work very hard My boss has me working like a dog.

lengthy undertaking that accomplishes little Making the playoffs is now a wild goose chase. The team should focus on player development.

a harmful remark that has no effect on someone She insulted me but I didn’t care. It was like water off a duck’s back.

people will misbehave when there is no authority figure They never do any work when the boss is out of the office. While the cat’s away, the mice will play!

distract attention from The politician wags the dog to prevent people from discovering his scandal.

allow someone to be attacked Why did you throw me to the dogs yesterday? I couldn’t defend myself.

for a long time She can watch Netflix until the cows come home.

very cold Looks like it’s going to be a three dog night. It’s going to minus 40 degrees.

the majority She was upset because her sister got the lion’s share of the inheritance.

the best person or thing She’s the cat’s pyjamas. Everyone loves to watch her perform on the stage.

the best person or thing Do you think you’re really the cat’s whiskers? Anybody can parallel park with car sensors now.

sex education I remember learning about the birds and the bees in middle school.

be brave and face a challenge If you want to be rich, take the bull by the horns and work harder.

directly from the source The boss said we’re bankrupt. The news came straight from the horse’s mouth.

die Before pulling the trigger, he told the gangster to sleep with the fishes.

suspect deception I smell rat. I know I left my wallet on my desk, but it’s gone.

very sick I was sick as a dog on Monday, so I couldn’t go to work.

easy or not challenging For my brilliant little brother, setting up the Wifi connection is like shooting fish in a barrel.

fail Carl really screwed the pooch on the exam. He’s the only one who failed.

go to the bathroom I left the dinner table to see a man about his dog.

someone who is always scared Are you really afraid of the dark? You’re such a scaredy-cat!

compete with the top performers It’s time to run with the big dogs when you play in the Premier League.

something that draws attention away from an important topic The President’s gambling addiction was just a red herring for the pipeline problems.

a geologist The gold miner is such a rock hound. He is going to be very wealthy.

competitive struggle I escaped the rat race in the office and moved to Hawaii.

an action that causes problems You really put the cat among pigeons when you brought up those bill payments again.

raining heavily It’s raining cats and dogs. Remember your umbrella.

innocent facial expression His daughter showed him puppy dog eyes after dropping his ice cream cone.

teenager romantic love It was just puppy love during high school but they broke up in university.

there are many other available partners Don’t worry. You’ll find another girl. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.

no chance whatsoever You don’t have a cat’s chance in hell of marrying her.

eat a lot Last night, I pigged out on a bag of potato chips.

very small place There’s no room to swing a cat in this apartment. I can almost touch the two walls with both hands.

saved money She has a huge nest egg, so she doesn’t have to work anymore.

more than one way to succeed There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Let’s quit our jobs and start a business by the beach!

silly people copy each other Monkey see, monkey do. Your brother spilt ketchup on his shirt too.

someone unwelcome has arrived Look what the cat dragged in. We told you to stay home and talk to your therapist.

the majority of something You took the lion’s share of the money. All I got was a couple pennies.

satisfaction with some kind of achievement After proving her innocence, she smiled at the police officer like the cat got the cream.

remove unnecessary obstructions It’s time to let the dog see the rabbit. Bring the batter up to the big leagues!

a difficult task Getting everyone to take the vaccine is like herding cats.

reveal a secret Don’t let the cat out of the bag about the birthday party.

unhappy life Her father lead a dog’s life trying to raise her and she never appreciated him.

avoid interfering in something that may create trouble Don’t bring up old arguments. It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.

very lazy I was lazy as a dog last weekend. I stayed in bed on Saturday and Sunday.

diagonally across from Starbucks is kitty corner to the gas station.

accomplish two things at once Why not kill two birds with one stone and brush your teeth in the shower?

stay safe from or prevent near disaster He needed a part-time job to keep the wolves at bay and to avoid serious debt.

in trouble The coach won’t let me play. I’m in the dog house.

play roughly Stop horsing around kids. You’re in the library.

show off What a hot dog! He’s stickhandling the puck around every player!

that is surprising Holy cow! Did she really dye her hair blue?

wait and be patient Hold your horses! I’ll be ready in a minute.

drinking alcohol to cure a hangover The hair of the dog is the best remedy for a hangover.

get upset Don’t have a cow! It’s not like I scratched the car on purpose!

mischievously satisfied She was grinning like a Cheshire cat after she had used her boyfriend’s credit card.

someone looking for fortune or fame He’s such a glory hound. He loves the attention from the press.

annoyance that spoils enjoyment The wedding crasher was such a fly in the ointment.

wealthy person Fat cats get wealthier with inflation while the poor have to pay more for groceries.

everyone has success eventually Keep shooting and you will score. Every dog has its day.

a sensitive unaddressed issue The couple’s money problem was an elephant in the room. They never talk about finances.

someone who likes to wake up early Sara is such an early bird. She gets up before the sun rises.

someone who is excited about something She’s such an eager beaver when checking updates on Instagram.

die or give up quickly The other candidates dropped like flies at the end of the election.

don’t plan for something that may not happen Zoe bought the dress, before anyone asked her to the prom. I told her not to count her chickens before they hatch.

challenge defiantly She double dog dared me to go hang gliding so I had to do it!

someone who does all the work The chef was the dogsbody in the kitchen. Everyone else broke dishes.

food taken home after a restaurant meal My girlfriend barely ate her dinner so she asked the waiter for a doggy bag.

destruction caused by war Famine and poverty are unfortunately common dogs of war.

very messy Her mother was upset because her son’s room was like a dog’s breakfast.

the best That new Tesla is the dog’s bollocks.

very tired She was dog-tired after running the marathon.

competitive American political debates are a dog-eat-dog world.

folded corners of pages in a book He dog-eared the pages of the book instead of using a bookmark.

very hot days The dog days of summer are really humid and uncomfortable.

elaborate presentation The designer bag showcase was such a dog and pony show.

curiosity may lead to unwanted circumstances Don’t enter that haunted house. Remember that curiosity killed the cat!

a telephone She is speaking with her boyfriend on the dog and bone.

fake tears Her little daughter always cries crocodile tears to get whatever she wants.

someone who copies another You’re such a copycat! Do your own work!

a hip or cool person He was such a coot cat. He was respected by his peers and the girls all loved him.

avoid doing something because of fear Mary was going to go skydiving, but she chickened out.

become quiet Tom always clams up when you ask him about his ex-girlfriend.

a short sleep My father always takes a catnap after work.

a fight between two women The catfight was brutal! The other girl scratched her face with her nails.

sexually suggestive comment The construction workers were all catcalling the woman as she walked by.

something wonderful Her birthday cake was the cat’s meow. She ate the whole thing in less than a minute!

someone being exploited Poorer citizens are usually the cat’s paw of politicians. They use them only to get votes and never follow through on promised policies.

something overly complicated There is a cat’s cradle of rules that you must follow to board a flight these days.

very nervous I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for my medical results.

said when someone doesn’t speak What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? You haven’t said a word since we arrived.

quick thief The cat burglar took everything in the house before the cops arrived.

playfully deceive The boss kept playing cat and mouse with me and never gave me the raise.

sleep with many people His wife used to cat around while he was working hard at the office.

stop criticizing or attacking I paid you all of the money. I don’t owe you anything. Call your dogs off!

unaccepted group member Tom was the black sheep of the family and preferred to do things on his own.

dwell on a topic beyond resolution I told you several times that I won’t do it. Don’t beat a dead horse!

take on a difficult task Politicians should bell the cat and start reducing the inflation rate.

someone carries others problems I will never be your beast of burden. You have got to deal with your own problems.

look in the wrong place or falsely accuse He asked me if I broke his laptop. I said he was barking up the wrong tree.

anxious or nervous Frank had ants in his pants before taking his exam.

someone told me a secret A little bird told me that you’re getting a divorce.

an exciting experience The family had a whale of a time at the theme park.

being too careful can result in failure You need to tell her how you really feel if you want to marry her. Remember that a cat in gloves catches no mice.

a person who constantly threatens never acts Don’t worry about his vocal threats. He won’t hurt you physically.

A kind of monomania in which the patient believes himself transformed into one of the lower animals.

A genus of Actinaria, including numerous species, found mostly in tropical seas. The zooids or polyps resemble small, elongated actinias united together at their bases by fleshy stolons, and thus forming extensive groups. The tentacles are small and bright colored.

Of or pertaining to the Zoanthacea.

The zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.

Same as Anthozoa.

Of or pertaining to the Zoantharia.

A suborder of Actinaria, including Zoanthus and allied genera, which are permanently attached by their bases.

A genus of grasses including Indian rice. See Indian rice, under Rice.

The suslik.

See Cittern.

An instrument of music used in Austria and Germany. It has from thirty to forty wires strung across a shallow sounding-board, which lies horizontally on a table before the performer, who uses both hands in playing on it. [Not to be confounded with the old lute-shaped cittern, or cithern.]

A double eight-sided pyramid, a form common with tetragonal crystals; — so called because this form often occurs in crystals of zircon.

A rare element of the carbon-silicon group, intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.

See Zirco-.

The oxide of zirconium, obtained as a white powder, and possessing both acid and basic properties. On account of its infusibility, and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it is used as an ingredient of sticks for the Drummomd light.

Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zirconium; as, zirconic oxide; zirconic compounds.

Zirconia.

A salt of zirconic acid.

A mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals, usually of a brown or gray color. It consists of silica and zirconia. A red variety, used as a gem, is called hyacinth. Colorless, pale-yellow or smoky-brown varieties from Ceylon are called jargon.

A double fluoride of zirconium and hydrogen, or some other positive element or radical; as, zircofluoride of sodium.

A combining form (also used adjectively) designating zirconium as an element of certain double compounds; zircono-; as in zircofluoric acid, sodium zircofluoride.

See Xiphioid.

Same as Zingiberaceous.

A hill in Jerusalem, which, after the capture of that city by the Israelites, became the royal residence of David and his successors.

A kind of mica containing lithium, often associated with tin ore.

The delundung.

Any plant of the composite genus Zinnia, Mexican herbs with opposite leaves and large gay-colored blossoms. Zinnia elegans is the commonest species in cultivation.

A steel-gray metallic mineral, a sulphide of antimony and lead.

See Zincky.

Of or pertaining to ginger, or to a tribe (Zingibereae) of endogenous plants of the order Scitamineae. See Scitamineous.

See Zinc.

A small, edible, freshwater European perch (Aspro zingel), having a round, elongated body and prominent snout.

A gypsy.

of Zingaro

Of, pertaining to, or containing, zinc; zincic; as, zincous salts.

Pertaining to, or resembling, zinc; — said of the electricity of the zincous plate in connection with a copper plate in a voltaic circle; also, designating the positive pole.

Electrically polarized like the surface of the zinc presented to the acid in a battery, which has zincous affinity.

Of or pertaining to zincography; as, zincographic processes.

The art or process of engraving or etching on zinc, in which the design is left in relief in the style of a wood cut, the rest of the ground being eaten away by acid.

Alt. of Zincongraphical

The positive electrode of an electrolytic cell; anode.

An engraver on zinc.

Pertaining to zinc, or having its appearance.

A combining form from zinc; in chemistry, designating zinc as an element of certain double compounds. Also used adjectively.

To coat or impregnate with zinc.

Native zinc oxide; a brittle, translucent mineral, of an orange-red color; — called also red zinc ore, and red oxide of zinc.

Containing or affording zinc.

The act or process of applying zinc; the condition of being zincified, or covered with zinc; galvanization.

Pertaining to, containing, or resembling, zinc; zincous.

A binary compound of zinc.

Zinc chloride.

of Zinc

of Zinc

of Zinc

An abundant element of the magnesium-cadmium group, extracted principally from the minerals zinc blende, smithsonite, calamine, and franklinite, as an easily fusible bluish white metal, which is malleable, especially when heated. It is not easily oxidized in moist air, and hence is used for sheeting, coating galvanized iron, etc. It is used in making brass, …

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of Zinc

A kind of water found in copper mines; water impregnated with copper.

A large, venomous, two-winged fly, native of Abyssinia. It is allied to the tsetse fly, and, like the latter, is destructive to cattle.

A low, thorny, suffrutescent, crucifeous plant (Zilla myagroides) found in the deserts of Egypt. Its leaves are boiled in water, and eaten, by the Arabs.

A district or local division, as of a province.

The quality or state of being zigzag; crookedness.

Having sharp turns.

of Zigzag

of Zigzag

Something that has short turns or angles.

Alt. of Zighyr

Same as Sicker.

The second month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to our May.

Curd produced from milk by adding acetic acid, after rennet has ceased to cause coagulation.

A mineral wax, vert similar to ozocerite. It is found at Zietrisika, Moldavia, whence its name.

Alt. of Zibeth

A carnivorous mammal (Viverra zibetha) closely allied to the civet, from which it differs in having the spots on the body less distinct, the throat whiter, and the black rings on the tail more numerous.

See Ceylanite.

The chief deity of the Greeks, and ruler of the upper world (cf. Hades). He was identified with Jupiter.

Any one of a group of bombycid moths of which the genus Zeuzera is the type. Some of these moths are of large size. The goat moth is an example.