Slang and Colloquial Expressions

Slang and Colloquial Expressions

Spread oneself: spare no expense.

e.g. The farmers' market has many good stuffs, but don't spread yourself.

Standing on one's head: doing something easily.

e.g. It's no big deal! I can do it standing on my head.

Put one's feet up: take a break; rest.

e.g. I'll call it a day. I'm going to put my feet up.

Put one's shirt on: wager everything.

e.g. We have to put our shirt on this project; we've no other option.

Make a dead set at: very determined to.

e.g. He made a dead set at getting that house on the market.

Jolly well: most certainly.

e.g. "Do you want another drink?" "Jolly well!"

Long in the tooth: very old.

e.g. "How old is he? " "I don't know, but he's long in the tooth

Keep early hours: go to bed early.

e.g. If you want good health, keep early hours.

Look alive: hurry up.

e.g. Look alive! We don't want to miss our flight.

Make it snappy: be quick.

e.g. Common on, make it snappy! We don't have all the time in the world!

Hold one's horse: wait a minute; not immediately.

e.g. Dinner is ready, but hold your horse; wait for the host to come down!

In good nick: in good condition.

e.g. If I were you, I would buy this car; it's in good nick.

Talk through the back of one's neck: talk nonsense.

e.g. Look what he's doing: talking through the back of his neck.

Tall order: a challenging demand.

e.g. To finish the project in a week is certainly a tall order for me.

In a jiffy: soon.

e.g. The manager will see you in a jiffy.

Stand to reason: be logical.

e.g. It stands to reason that the Mayor should resign now that he has admitted his wrongdoing.

Shoot: speak out.

e.g. "I've something I'd like to say to you, but I'm afraid. . ." "Shoot!"

In the picture: informed.

e.g. Thank you for putting me in the picture; now I know what's going on.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau