take a dim view of
to disapprove of something.
My grandfather takes a dim view of the new law.
take for a ride
To deceive or cheat.
It was only when he discovered that his wallet was gone that he realized they had taken him for a ride.
take it on the lam
to run away.
The criminal had to take it on the lam.
take it or leave it
said about an offer when you either accept it or reject it completely.
This is my offer; take it or leave it.
take one's hat off to someone
said when you admire someone for an achievement.
If she manages to deal with three small children and a full-time job, I'll take my hat off to her.
take the bit between one's teeth
to take charge.
The company needed a new manager for the project. So he took the bit between his teeth.
take the bull by the horns
to deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.
He was ready to take the bull by the horns and settle the problem he had with his partners.
take to something like a duck to water
to have a natural ability to do something.
She took to motherhood like a duck to water.
talk nineteen to the dozen
to speak very quickly.
I couldn't understand what he was saying because he was talking nineteen to the dozen.
talk through one's hat
to talk nonesense
He was talking through his hat. I couldn't understand what he was saying.
tear your hair out
said when you are feeling a lot of anxiety over a problem.
He's been tearing his hair out over his deteriorated relationship with his wife.
that beats everything
(or that beats all) expressions of surprise.
You mean he came very late again last night? Well, that beats everything!
that's the way the cookie crumbles
(also that's the way the ball bounces) said to show that things don't always turn out the way we hope.
In spite of her kindness she is the least popular in her class. But, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
the ball is in someone's court
When the ball is in someone's court they have to take action.
The ball is in your court now. You should decide what you want to do.
the boot is on the other foot
(also the shoe is on the other foot) said about a change of positions when someone whon was in a weaker situation is now in strong position.
Don't expect him to make any more changes in the manageement of the company, especially after his appointment as the new manager of the project. The boot is on the other foot.
the chill wind of something
problems, trouble.
World economies are facing the chill wind of the recession.
the customer is always right.
In order to make profit, it is necessary for a business to satisfy customers' wishes and make them happy.
Look at that waiter! He always argues with customers. He doesn't know that the customer is always right.
the home straight
The last part of a difficult work.
It was just suc a difficult project to work on, but we are on the home the straight.
the home stretch
The last part of a difficult work.
We are in the home stretch after a year of hard work.
the jury is out
an outcome or decision is still unknown and awaited.
The jury is out as to whether there is life anywhere else in the universe.
the minute (that)
at the moment when
The minute he saw her, he fell in love.
the mother of all
an extreme example which is the biggest, most impressive, or most important of its kind.
Failure is the mother of all success.
the straw that broke the camel’s back
A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something
When the boss saw him coming late to work. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He fired her immediately.
them and us
used when describing disagreements or differences especially between different social groups
There is a them and us situation in the company after the disagreement between the boss and his workers about the working conditions.
thick as thieves
intimate, close-knit.
Alan and John attended a boarding school together and were thick as thieves.
throw in the towel
(also throw in the sponge) to admit defeat.
After a long fight agaisnt his enemies, he finally threw the towel.
throw your hat into the ring
(also toss your hat into the ring) to show your intention to enter a competition.
Nearly a year before the elections, he threw his hat into the ring.
time is money
a proverb which means that one should not waste time, because one could be using it to earn money.
I have to wake up and go to work - time is money
to cost an arm and a leg
(also cost a bomb,the earth,a packeta, a small fortune) extremely expensive.
I'd love to buy a Rolls-Royce, but it costs an arm and a leg.
to pull the trigger
1. To fire a gun.
2. To commit to a course of action.
Some traders are too afraid to pull the trigger and just watch the market without ever getting involved.
to sell wolf tickets
to make empty threats or promises; to bluff
You're selling wolf tickets.
to the hilt
completely, fully, to one's limit
John has borrowed money from the bank to the hilt.
to the last
until the completion of something or until death.
1. Don't worry I'll support to the last.
2. She was a great lady to the last.
to this day
until now.
He disappeared and to this day nobody knows what happened to him.
to wash one's hands of
to absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame for.
I wash my hands of this whole affair.
toot one's own horn
(also blow one's own horn) to boast; to brag
She really likes to toot her own horn.
tough love
A way of helping someone with compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures. The aim is to attempt to improve their behavior.
The only way help him get rid of his drug-addiction is to adhere to the principle of tough love.
traffic jam
a lot of vehicles causing slow traffic.
We got stuck in a traffic jam for more than an hour.
trick of the trade
a clever skill related to a profession.
He is so skillful. He learned te trick of the trade from his father.
trip the light fantastic
To dance.
We were tripping the light fantastic all night.
turn up like a bad penny
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
He always turns up like a bad penny.
turn back the clock
(also wind back the clock or roll back the clock) figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
When their relationship had started deteriorating, he told her that they should turn back the clock and just go back to when things were simpler.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
to disapprove of something.
My grandfather takes a dim view of the new law.
take for a ride
To deceive or cheat.
It was only when he discovered that his wallet was gone that he realized they had taken him for a ride.
take it on the lam
to run away.
The criminal had to take it on the lam.
take it or leave it
said about an offer when you either accept it or reject it completely.
This is my offer; take it or leave it.
take one's hat off to someone
said when you admire someone for an achievement.
If she manages to deal with three small children and a full-time job, I'll take my hat off to her.
take the bit between one's teeth
to take charge.
The company needed a new manager for the project. So he took the bit between his teeth.
take the bull by the horns
to deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.
He was ready to take the bull by the horns and settle the problem he had with his partners.
take to something like a duck to water
to have a natural ability to do something.
She took to motherhood like a duck to water.
talk nineteen to the dozen
to speak very quickly.
I couldn't understand what he was saying because he was talking nineteen to the dozen.
talk through one's hat
to talk nonesense
He was talking through his hat. I couldn't understand what he was saying.
tear your hair out
said when you are feeling a lot of anxiety over a problem.
He's been tearing his hair out over his deteriorated relationship with his wife.
that beats everything
(or that beats all) expressions of surprise.
You mean he came very late again last night? Well, that beats everything!
that's the way the cookie crumbles
(also that's the way the ball bounces) said to show that things don't always turn out the way we hope.
In spite of her kindness she is the least popular in her class. But, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
the ball is in someone's court
When the ball is in someone's court they have to take action.
The ball is in your court now. You should decide what you want to do.
the boot is on the other foot
(also the shoe is on the other foot) said about a change of positions when someone whon was in a weaker situation is now in strong position.
Don't expect him to make any more changes in the manageement of the company, especially after his appointment as the new manager of the project. The boot is on the other foot.
the chill wind of something
problems, trouble.
World economies are facing the chill wind of the recession.
the customer is always right.
In order to make profit, it is necessary for a business to satisfy customers' wishes and make them happy.
Look at that waiter! He always argues with customers. He doesn't know that the customer is always right.
the home straight
The last part of a difficult work.
It was just suc a difficult project to work on, but we are on the home the straight.
the home stretch
The last part of a difficult work.
We are in the home stretch after a year of hard work.
the jury is out
an outcome or decision is still unknown and awaited.
The jury is out as to whether there is life anywhere else in the universe.
the minute (that)
at the moment when
The minute he saw her, he fell in love.
the mother of all
an extreme example which is the biggest, most impressive, or most important of its kind.
Failure is the mother of all success.
the straw that broke the camel’s back
A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something
When the boss saw him coming late to work. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He fired her immediately.
them and us
used when describing disagreements or differences especially between different social groups
There is a them and us situation in the company after the disagreement between the boss and his workers about the working conditions.
thick as thieves
intimate, close-knit.
Alan and John attended a boarding school together and were thick as thieves.
throw in the towel
(also throw in the sponge) to admit defeat.
After a long fight agaisnt his enemies, he finally threw the towel.
throw your hat into the ring
(also toss your hat into the ring) to show your intention to enter a competition.
Nearly a year before the elections, he threw his hat into the ring.
time is money
a proverb which means that one should not waste time, because one could be using it to earn money.
I have to wake up and go to work - time is money
to cost an arm and a leg
(also cost a bomb,the earth,a packeta, a small fortune) extremely expensive.
I'd love to buy a Rolls-Royce, but it costs an arm and a leg.
to pull the trigger
1. To fire a gun.
2. To commit to a course of action.
Some traders are too afraid to pull the trigger and just watch the market without ever getting involved.
to sell wolf tickets
to make empty threats or promises; to bluff
You're selling wolf tickets.
to the hilt
completely, fully, to one's limit
John has borrowed money from the bank to the hilt.
to the last
until the completion of something or until death.
1. Don't worry I'll support to the last.
2. She was a great lady to the last.
to this day
until now.
He disappeared and to this day nobody knows what happened to him.
to wash one's hands of
to absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame for.
I wash my hands of this whole affair.
toot one's own horn
(also blow one's own horn) to boast; to brag
She really likes to toot her own horn.
tough love
A way of helping someone with compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures. The aim is to attempt to improve their behavior.
The only way help him get rid of his drug-addiction is to adhere to the principle of tough love.
traffic jam
a lot of vehicles causing slow traffic.
We got stuck in a traffic jam for more than an hour.
trick of the trade
a clever skill related to a profession.
He is so skillful. He learned te trick of the trade from his father.
trip the light fantastic
To dance.
We were tripping the light fantastic all night.
turn up like a bad penny
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
He always turns up like a bad penny.
turn back the clock
(also wind back the clock or roll back the clock) figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
When their relationship had started deteriorating, he told her that they should turn back the clock and just go back to when things were simpler.
_________________________________________
View the original article here
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom
http://www.idiomsite.com
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