name the day
fix the date of an important event, especially marriage.
Sarah and John are going to name the day soon.
necessity is the mother of invention
This proverb means that when people really need to do something, they will find a way to do it.
When her pen had run out of ink, she used her lipstick to write a short note to her husband who was at work.
neither fish nor fowl
said of something not easily categorized or not fitting neatly into any established group.
I can't see what you want to say. Your proposal is neither fish nor fowl.
never mind
1. it's not important;
2. do not be concerned (about someone or something, or about doing something)
1. I’m soory I’ve lost your book. — Never mind, I don't need it anymore.
2. Go and I’ll join you later. Never mind about me.
next to nothing
almost; hardly.
Although they paid him next to nothing, he liked the job.
nine times out of ten
almost always.
In this country, nine times out of ten trains come late.
nine to five
said about a job with normal daytime hours, a job that begins at nine o'clock in the morning and finishes at five.
She's tired of working nine to five.
no comment
an "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.
The district attorney said, "No comment," when the reporter asked if he knew the identity of the criminal.
no spring chicken
said of a person who is no longer particularly young.
Although he's no spring chicken, he runs fast.
no use to man or beast
said about something or someone that is completely useless.
That old car is no use to man or beast.
not come cheap
said about something that is of good quality and is therefore expensive.
Fast cars don't come cheap.
not enough room to swing a cat
not very much space. Said abut a small place.
Their house was very small. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat.
not for a minute
not at all.
I don't want you to fail in your project. Not for a minute.
not half bad
Pretty good; okay; decent.
It was my first attempt at cooking, but I tried it and it was not half bad.
not have a cat in hell's chance
(also not have a snowball's chance in hell) not to be able to achieve something.
He hasn't a cat in hell's chance of getting the money he needs for the project.
not have a leg to stand on
not have a sound justification, a firm foundation of facts to prove something.
After the police caught him, he didn't have a leg to stand on to prove his innocence.
not have a snowball's chance in hell
(also not have a cat in hell's chance) not to be able to achieve something.
He hasn't a snowball's chance of getting the money he needs for the project.
not hold water
said when an explanation, a reason or an argument is not sound, strong or logical.
Her reasons just didn't hold water.
not miss a trick
said about someone who is extremely alert.
He was attentive to what the teacher was explaining. He didn't miss a trick.
nothing to sneeze at
not bad; decent; acceptable; worthwhile.
Their music may not be worthy of radio time, but it's nothing to sneeze at.
now or never
said when you have to do something right now because you may not get another chance to do it later.
This is your chance. It's now or never!
nurse someone back to health
to look after a sick person until he recovers.
He is fortunate to have such a caring wife.She was glad to nurse him back to health.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
fix the date of an important event, especially marriage.
Sarah and John are going to name the day soon.
necessity is the mother of invention
This proverb means that when people really need to do something, they will find a way to do it.
When her pen had run out of ink, she used her lipstick to write a short note to her husband who was at work.
neither fish nor fowl
said of something not easily categorized or not fitting neatly into any established group.
I can't see what you want to say. Your proposal is neither fish nor fowl.
never mind
1. it's not important;
2. do not be concerned (about someone or something, or about doing something)
1. I’m soory I’ve lost your book. — Never mind, I don't need it anymore.
2. Go and I’ll join you later. Never mind about me.
next to nothing
almost; hardly.
Although they paid him next to nothing, he liked the job.
nine times out of ten
almost always.
In this country, nine times out of ten trains come late.
nine to five
said about a job with normal daytime hours, a job that begins at nine o'clock in the morning and finishes at five.
She's tired of working nine to five.
no comment
an "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.
The district attorney said, "No comment," when the reporter asked if he knew the identity of the criminal.
no spring chicken
said of a person who is no longer particularly young.
Although he's no spring chicken, he runs fast.
no use to man or beast
said about something or someone that is completely useless.
That old car is no use to man or beast.
not come cheap
said about something that is of good quality and is therefore expensive.
Fast cars don't come cheap.
not enough room to swing a cat
not very much space. Said abut a small place.
Their house was very small. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat.
not for a minute
not at all.
I don't want you to fail in your project. Not for a minute.
not half bad
Pretty good; okay; decent.
It was my first attempt at cooking, but I tried it and it was not half bad.
not have a cat in hell's chance
(also not have a snowball's chance in hell) not to be able to achieve something.
He hasn't a cat in hell's chance of getting the money he needs for the project.
not have a leg to stand on
not have a sound justification, a firm foundation of facts to prove something.
After the police caught him, he didn't have a leg to stand on to prove his innocence.
not have a snowball's chance in hell
(also not have a cat in hell's chance) not to be able to achieve something.
He hasn't a snowball's chance of getting the money he needs for the project.
not hold water
said when an explanation, a reason or an argument is not sound, strong or logical.
Her reasons just didn't hold water.
not miss a trick
said about someone who is extremely alert.
He was attentive to what the teacher was explaining. He didn't miss a trick.
nothing to sneeze at
not bad; decent; acceptable; worthwhile.
Their music may not be worthy of radio time, but it's nothing to sneeze at.
now or never
said when you have to do something right now because you may not get another chance to do it later.
This is your chance. It's now or never!
nurse someone back to health
to look after a sick person until he recovers.
He is fortunate to have such a caring wife.She was glad to nurse him back to health.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
No comments:
Post a Comment