Mind
one’s p’s and q’s: pay attention to one’s manners
e.g.
When you meet the President, you must mind your p’s and q’s.
Go through the roof: very angry
e.g. When he found out that you
took his money, he went through the roof.
That’s the ticket: what is needed
e.g. That’s the ticket! If
you do as I tell you, you will succeed.
Run in
the family: a characteristic in all members of a family
e.g.
Longevity runs in the family: they all live to a ripe old age.
All at
sea: confused
e.g.
The lawyer was all at sea when he read the two conflicting
reports of the incident.
Handwriting
on the wall: a warning
e.g. If
the Governor had seen the handwriting on the wall, he would not
have adopted those unpopular proposals.
Go
through the roof: very angry
e.g.
When he found out that you took his money, he went through the roof.
Fork
out: pay
e.g. I
like this computer, but I don’t want to fork out a lot of
money.
Odd man
out: atypical person or thing
e.g.
Everybody has a partner, and you are an odd man out because
you don’t have one.
Take
the bull by the horns: deal with the challenge directly
e.g.
This is a very difficult situation, but we must take the bull by the
horns.
That’s
the ticket: what is needed
e.g. That’s
the ticket! If you do as I tell you, you will succeed.
Rule
the roost: be the boss
e.g. Who
rules the roost at your house?
Then
and there: on the spot
e.g. As
soon as the candidate finished his speech, he was shot then and there.
Dance to another tune: change to a different attitude or behavior
e.g. If your parents were here,
you would dance to another tune.
In
nothing flat: in exactly no time at all
e.g.
Don’t worry! I’ll get you to the airport in nothing flat.
Make a stab at: try to do something
e.g. I knew you would make a
stab at finishing the project.
Ins and
outs of something: details to do something right
e.g.
Take your time; you need to know the ins and outs of this
procedure in order to do it right.
Has had
its day: no longer popular
e.g.
This bulky lawn mower has had its day. We need to get a new one.
Stephen
Lau
Copyright©
by Stephen Lau
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