Learn Some Catch Phrases
The English language is rich in catch phrases, which have caught on with the public. Learn some catch phrases to enrich your use of the language.
There’s blood for breakfast: someone’s temper is very bad this morning.
e.g. Your Mom got off on the wrong side of the bed. So behave yourself: there’s blood for breakfast!
Mum's the word
Not a word of the pudding: say nothing about it; Mum’s the word! (don’t say a word; keep it a secret!).
e.g. It’s just between us; Mom’s the word!
And that’s that: that’s the end of the matter.
e.g. I’m not going, and that’s that! (i.e. the matter is closed; no more discussion)
Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do: giving a piece of good advice.
e.g. Bye now! And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! (i.e. be good)
Go up one: excellent; good for you.
e.g. Good job! Well done! Go up one!
Not if you don’t: a responder to “do you mind?”—i.e. I do mind!
e.g. “Do you mind if I use yours?” “Not if you don’t!”
He thinks he holds it: conceited and vain.
e.g. I don’t like his attitude: he thinks he holds it.
Don’t I know it: how well I know it.
e.g. You don’t have to tell me! Don’t I know it!
Back to the kennel: go way (in a contemptuous way); get back into your box!
e.g. You’re annoying me! Get back into your box!
Don’t pick me up before I fall: don’t criticize prematurely.
e.g. I don’t want to hear a word from you. Don’t pick me up before I fall!
That’s playing it on the heart-strings: that’s being sentimental instead of realistic.
e.g. Falling head over heals for that girl is more like playing it on the heart-strings.
A snake in your pocket: reluctant to buy his friends a round of drinks or to pay the bill
e.g. Now it's your turn to foot the bill! Have you got a snake in your pocket or something?
Spare a rub: let me have some.
e.g. Don’t take everything: spare me a rub!
Every barber knows that: that’s common gossip.
e.g. That is no longer a secret: every barber knows that.
Easy as you know how: it’s easy—if you know how.
e.g. There is nothing to this: it’s easy as you know how!
I see, said the blind man: a humorous way of saying “I understand!”
e.g. You’re telling me! I see, said the blind man.
I’ll take a rain check: I’ll accept, another time, if I may.
e.g. “Come over to my place for a drink.” “Some other time; I’ll take a rain check.”
Where’s the fire?: what’s all the rush?
e.g. What’s the matter with you? Where’s the fire?
Nothing to do with the case: it’s a lie
Where’s the body?: why look so sad?
e.g. That’s not the end of the world! Where’s the body?
You must hate yourself!: don’t be so conceited!
e.g. The way you talked to her just now—you must hate yourself for doing that.
Head I win—tail you lose: I’m in a win-win situation.
e.g. It’s mine! Head I win—tail you lose!
Like a red rag to a bull: something that provokes annoyance or anger.
e.g. His very presence was like a red rag to a bull—immediately she looked sullen and sulky.
It’ll all come out in the wash: It’ll be OK; it doesn’t really matter.
e.g. Don’t worry about these minor details; they’ll all come out in the wash!
It’s boloney: it’s utter nonsense.
e.g. To do this is in the wrong order is like putting the cart before the horse—it’s boloney!
A fiasco: a complete failure of organization or performance.
e.g. The government’s bailout of the banks was a fiasco.
Go west: die; fail
e.g. The lastVietnam
e.g. The last
Let the cat out of the bag: give away a
secret
e.g. If you tell him that, you are letting a cat out
of the bag; he has a big mouth!
Hot from the mint: something “brand new” (mint is a place where money is coined).
e.g. The concept is innovative; it’s hot from the mint!
Straight from the horse’s mouth: first-hand news.
e.g. The story is very reliable—it’s straight from the horse’s mouth.
No second prize: used for someone making an unoriginal suggestion
e.g. I must say there’s no second prize for your proposal!
Stephen Lau
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