pure and simple and plain and simple 20109

pure and simple and plain and simple

absolutely; without further complication or elaboration. I told you what you must do, and you must do it, pure and simple. Will you kindly explain to me what it is, pure and simple, that I am expected to do? Just tell me plain and simple, do you intend to go or don't you

would not do something for all the tea in China (old-fashioned)20108

would not do something for all the tea in China (old-fashioned)

if you say that you would not do something for all the tea in China, you mean that nothing could persuade you to do it I wouldn't be a teacher for all the tea in China.

raise the bar 20107

raise the bar

Fig. to make a task a little more difficult. (As with raising the bar in high jumping or pole vaulting.) Just as I was getting accustomed to my job, the manager raised the bar and I had to perform even better.

overstep the mark 20106

overstep the mark
to upset someone by doing or saying more than you should You overstepped the mark when you shouted at your mother.

where the sun don't shine 2105

where the sun don't shine

Sl. in a dark place, namely the anus. I don't care what you do with it. Just put it where the sun don't shine. For all I care you can shove it where the sun don't shine

Half the truth is often a whole lie 20104

Half the truth is often a whole lie.
Prov. If you do not tell the whole truth, you can mislead people just as if you tell them an outright lie. Jill: You lied to me. Jane: I did not. Everything I said was true. Jill: But you didn't tell me the whole story. And half the truth is often a whole lie.

'At the end of your tether' 20103

'At the end of your tether'

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If you are at the end of your tether, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance

no salesman will call 20102

no salesman will call
a phrase indicating that no salesman will visit or contact you if you make an inquiry about a product. All inquiries are confidential and no salesman will call.

from all corners of the world and from the four corners of the earth 2101

from all corners of the world and from the four corners of the earth

Fig. from all places in the world. People came from all corners of the world to attend the conference.

go to the mat 2100

go to the mat

- argue strongly on behalf of someone or something

The coach would always go to the mat for his players when they were having problems.

first out of the gate 2099

first out of the gate

- be the first person to begin a project

He was first out of the gate in the effort to raise money for the new concert hall.

at this stage of the game 2098

at this stage of the game

- at some point, at some time during an activity

At this stage of the game I don't think that we should spend more money on the project

cook something to perfection 2097

cook something to perfection

to cook something perfectly. John cooked my steak to perfection. The entire dinner was cooked to perfection!

hang/hold on like grim death (British & Australian informal)2096

hang/hold on like grim death (British & Australian informal)
to hold something very tightly, usually because you are frightened that you will fall Darren always drives the bike and I sit behind him, hanging on like grim death.
See also: death, grim, hang, like

press something together 2095

press something together
to use pressure to close or unite things. He pressed his lips together and would say no more. Why are his lips pressed together so tightly?

be near the knuckle (British informal) 2094

be near the knuckle (British informal)
if a joke or a remark is near the knuckle, it is about sex in a way that some people find offensive Some of his jokes were a bit near the knuckle and, unfortunately, I was watching the show with my parents.

rise to the challenge 2093

rise to the challenge
Fig. to accept a challenge. (Usually in reference to success with the challenge.) You can depend on Kelly to rise to the challenge. We were not able to rise to the challenge and we lost the contract

'All eyes on me' 2092

'All eyes on me'

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If all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to

and all that jazz 2091

and all that jazz
and all that stuff; and all that nonsense. I need some glue, paper, string, and all that jazz to make a kite. She told me I was selfish, hateful, rude, ugly, and all that jazz

800 pound gorilla' 2090

800 pound gorilla'

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The 800-pound gorilla is the dominant force in an industry (the classic example is Microsoft in the computer industry.)

All over the map' 2089

All over the map'

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If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.

head and shoulders above someone or something 2088

head and shoulders above someone or something
Fig. clearly superior to someone or something. (Often with stand, as in the example.) This wine is head and shoulders above that one. John stands head and shoulders above Bob.
See also: above, and, head, shoulder

'All hell broke loose' 2087

'All hell broke loose'

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When all hell breaks loose, there is chaos, confusion and trouble.

on the hour 2086

on the hour

At every hour exactly; one o'clock, two o'clock, and so on. For example, The shuttle to New York departs on the hour . An extension of this idiom is every hour on the hour , meaning every time the clock's big hand reaches twelve, as in The bus passes by the house every hour on the hour .

under someone's wing(s)2085

under someone's wing(s)
Fig. receiving someone's care and nurturing. (*Typically: get someone ~; have some-one ~; take someone ~.) John wasn't doing well in geometry until the teacher took him under her wing. I had a number of the new workers under my wing for a few weeks.

in jeopardy 2084

in jeopardy
to be at risk; to be at peril. John puts himself in jeopardy every time he goes skydiving. I was in jeopardy when my car broke down on the deserted road

dawn on 2083

Definition: realize something; understand something after a period of time

Explanation: Used when saying that a person has understood something after an unusually long period of time.

Examples: It finally dawned on him that she was going to leave him. - It just dawned on me that you really don't care about buying that new house.

Related Resources:

hot on your heels 2082

hot on your heels also close on your heels
1. following directly behind someone She headed inside the house with her brother hot on her heels. Related vocabulary: in hot pursuit (of somebody/something)
2. very near to someone in rank They know we're hard on their heels and that they've got to win their next three games to make the playoffs.

PROMISE HIM THAT THE SITUATION WOULD NOT BE REPEAtED IN THE FUTURE ]word}20081

I GAVE HIM MY WORD THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REPETITION OF THE SITUATION IN THE FUTURE

be up and running: (for a technological process) be operational; be ready to use .2080

18. be up and running: (for a technological process) be operational; be ready to use .
"Dave's ESL Cafe on the Web has been up and running since December 1995."

the nuts and bolts 2079

the nuts and bolts

the nuts and bolts
the basic, practical details of a job or other activity (often + of ) Law school teaches wonderful theory but it doesn't teach the nuts and bolts of actually practising law

behind someone's back 2078

behind someone's back
without someone's knowledge; secret from someone. Please don't talk about me behind my back. She sold the car behind his back, while he was away on vacation

newsworthy 2077

Of sufficient interest or importance to the public to warrant reporting in the media.

The content of the press release is what is newsworthy or isn't.

launch 2076

To introduce to the public or to a market: launched the new perfume with prime-time commercials on the major networks.

save your breath 2075

save one`s breath
What does save one`s breath mean? to remain silent because talking will do no good You may as well save your breath and not talk to her as she will not believe you anyway.

honeybun 2074

sweetheart

wear out (one's) welcome 2073

wear out (one's) welcome
To visit so often or stay so long as to become a nuisance.

abusar de la hospitalidad

blink one's tears back 2072

blink one's tears back
Fig. to try to keep from crying. She blinked back her tears and went on. He blinked his tears back and endured the pain.

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools: 2071

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools:
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.

six feet under 2070

six feet under

muerto y enterrado

the old-boy network 2069

the old-boy network
the way in which men who have been to the same expensive school or university help each other to find good jobs He admitted the old boy network had once existed in the company but said that things had changed now.

something inherently 2068

something inherently

be on the ball (informal)2067

be on the ball (informal)
to be quick to understand and to react to things I rely on my co-driver to be on the ball. I didn't sleep well last night and I'm not really on the ball today

hugely successful 2066

hugely successful

with bated breath 2065

Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally means “holding one's breath” (bate means “restrain”). Today it is also used somewhat ironically, indicating one is not all that eager or anxious

take exception to 2064

take exception to

Disagree with, object to, as in I take exception to that remark about unfair practices . This idiom, first recorded in 1542, uses exception in the sense of "objection," a meaning obsolete except in a few phrases.

Could I use your powder room? and Can I use your powder room?; May I use your powder room?; Where is your powder room? 2063

Could I use your powder room? and Can I use your powder room?; May I use your powder room?; Where is your powder room?

Euph. a polite way to ask to use the bathroom in someone's home. (Alludes to a woman powdering her nose. Sometimes used jocularly by men. See also powder one's nose.) Mary: Oh, Sally, could I use your powder room? Sally: Of course. It's just off the kitchen, on the left. Tom: Nice place you've got here. Uh, where is your powder room? Beth: At the top of the stairs.

SHYNESS 2062

ALANS SHYNESS WAS DUE TO HIS LACK OF CONFDENCE

An awkwardness or lack of self-confidence in the presence of others

Take apart 2061

Take apart

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Meaning: Take something to pieces

Example: She TOOK the photocopier APART to see what had got stuck in it.
DONT TAKE THE CLOCK APART UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING

room and board 2060

room and board

food to eat and a place to live; the cost of food and lodging. That college charges too much for room and board. How much is your room and board?

Drunken Immunity 2059

complete disregard on the part of a friend, girlfriend or ex-girlfriend for any minor stupid thing you said or did while drunk (i.e. drunk texting, drunk calling, drunken Facebook status updates, drunken confession, ETC).
Ex-girlfriend: "We broke up two days ago. Why did you call me at 3 A.M. for a booty-call?"

You: "I plead drunken immunity

food coma 2058

The feeling of listlessness, bordering on sleep, that one feels after eating a large meal, often caused by a rush of blood to the stomach and intestines during food digestion.
Man, we ate the whole Pupu platter and now I'm slipping into a food coma

grow a set 2057

echale valor
come on Timmy grow a set!

First Base 2056

2. First Base 578 up, 242 down
buy first base mugs, tshirts and magnetsFrench kissing. Is followed by feeling up second base, oral third base and sex home run
I finally got to first base with matt last night!

nickel and dime 2055

nick·el-and-dime (nkl-n-dm) Informal
adj.
1. Involving or paying only a small amount of money: a nickel-and-dime job.
2. Minor; small-time: "a nickel-and-dime operation run out of a single borrowed room" (New York).
v. nick·el-and-dimed or nick·eled-and-dimed, nick·el-and-dim·ing or nick·el·ing-and-dim·ing, nick·el-and-dimes or nick·els-and-dimes
v.intr.
To spend very little money.
v.tr.
1. To drain or destroy bit by bit, especially financially: nickel-and-dimed the project to death.
2. To accumulate in small amounts: "nickel-and-diming a substantial bankroll together" (Newsweek).

in the raw 2054

in the raw
1.in the natural state; without cultivation, refinement, etc.
2.☆ naked; nude

BREAD AND BUTTER 2053

BREAD AND BUTTER
Explanation of English Idiom #45
REGULAR INCOME.
Example of English Idiom #45
"WE ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON OUR ADVERTISING REVENUE. IT'S OUR BREAD AND BUTTER

EACH TO HIS OWN 2052

EACH TO HIS OWN
Explanation of English Idiom #20
EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO HIS OWN INDIVIDUAL OPINION.
Example of English Idiom #20
"I CAN'T SAY THAT I LIKE GEORGE'S NEW FURNITURE. IT SEEMS VERY PLAIN AND UNCOMFORTABLE. OH WELL, EACH TO HIS OWN."

refrain 2051

To hold oneself back; forbear: refrained from swearing.

halt 2050

1. to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily: They halted for lunch and strolled about.
–verb (used with object)
2. to cause to stop temporarily or permanently; bring to a stop: They halted operations during contract negotiations.
–noun
3. a temporary or permanent stop.
–interjection
4. (used as a command to stop and stand motionless, as to marching troops or to a fleeing suspect.)
Use halt in a Sentence
See images of halt
Search halt on the Web

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Origin:
1615–25; from the phrase make halt for G halt machen. See hold1


—Synonyms
2. See stop. 3. cessation, suspension, standstill, stoppage.

out of hand 2049

out of hand
1. Out of control: Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.
2. At once; immediately.
3. Over and done with; finished.
4. Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet

flight of steps - a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next 2048

flight of steps - a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next

ad·mis·sion (d-mshn)2047

ad·mis·sion (d-mshn)
n.
1.
a. The act of admitting or allowing to enter.
b. The state of being allowed to enter.
2. Right to enter; access.
3. The price required or paid for entering; an entrance fee.
4. A confession, as of having committed a crime.
5. A voluntary acknowledgment of truth.
6. A fact or statement granted or admitted; a concession.

faint 2046

slight: remote or slight
a faint chance

keep somebody in the dark also leave somebody in the dark 2045

keep somebody in the dark also leave somebody in the dark
to not tell someone about something Congress complained about being kept in the dark about the peace talks

ap·pre·cia·ble 2044

ap·pre·cia·ble (-prsh-bl)
adj.
Possible to estimate, measure, or perceive: appreciable changes in temperature. See Synonyms at perceptible.

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ap·precia·bly adv

face something down 2043

face something down

to turn something face downward. Ted drew a card and faced it down. Face your cards down when you leave the card table

rough idea (about something) and *rough idea (of something)2042

rough idea (about something) and *rough idea (of something)
a general idea; an estimate. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I need to get a rough idea of how many people will be there. I'll manage to get a rough idea. That's good enough

make a recovery 2041

only after several months did george make a complete recovery from his accident