Slang and Colloquial Expressions

Go the whole hog: go through thoroughly.

e.g. The prosecutor went the whole hog when he inspected the murder weapon.

Bean time: dinnertime.

e.g. Come on, guys, wash your hands; it’s bean time.

Turn in: go to bed.

e.g. Come on, guys, it’s time to turn in.

Bushed: exhausted.

e.g. After a hard day at the office, I'm completely bushed.

Turkey: a failure; a sham.

e.g. The whole business was a turkey—there were no investors at all!.

Get the sack: fired; be dismissed from work.

e.g. The company was downsizing, and he got the sack.

Easy on the eye: good looking.

e.g. I say, your girlfriend is easy on the eye.

Act your age: behave yourself according to your age..

e.g. You’re almost an adult. Come on, act your age, and stop behaving like a spoiled brat!

Get with it: hurry up and get busy.

e.g. Come on, get with it; we’ve a lot to do.

In for it: likely to have trouble.

e.g. If you don't listen to my advice, you're in for it.

No oil painting: ugly.

e.g. To tell the truth, the dress you bought me is no oil painting.

By a long chalk: by a great amount.

e.g. He lost his re-election by a long chalk.

Get wise to: discover; realize.

e.g. Soon you’ll get wise to what is really happening under the roof.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau