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Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. Get the book at . file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iNDeX.htm[24.06.2011 9:20:10] Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Wayne Magnuson English Idioms Sayings and Slang Look for idioms by section A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Look for idioms containing a specific word A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Look for idioms explained by a specific word A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z There's more to idioms: Hire the author Another collection (caviar-flavoured) The English Teaching Web Be interactive: Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iNDeX.html[24.06.2011 9:20:10] Idioms: 'at a boy (that a boy) -- 'at a girl (that a girl) Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: 'at a boy (that a boy) -- 'at a girl (that a girl) Idiom Meaning Example 'at a boy (that a boy) good work, well done, attaboy Whenever I win, Don says, " 'at a boy! Good game!" 'at a girl (that a girl) good work, well done, attagirl When Judy gets good grades, her mom says, " 'at a girl, Judy!" Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. Get the book at . file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD1.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:00] Idioms: a close shave -- a cut-up Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: a close shave -- a cut-up Idiom Meaning Example a close shave very close to serious injury or The old man described his fight with the bear as death a close shave. a clutch hitter (baseball) a batter who hits when runners Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with are on base runners on base. a common thread an idea or theme that is similar There's a common thread in most of Berton's to others stories. a contract out on a contract that pays to have There's a contract out on Mike. The boss someone killed doesn't like him. a coon's age many years, a dog's age We haven't been out to the coast in a coon's age. It's been years. a crash course a short course that has the He took a crash course in cooking and bought a main facts and skills cafe. a crush on sudden feeling of love or Judy has a crush on Tim. See the way she romance looks at him. a crying shame a sad event, it is too bad It's a crying shame that they didn't have fire insurance. a cut above superior, better A scholar's work is a cut above. It's superior to the others. a cut-up a joker, a person who tells When Marsha goes to a party she's a real cut- jokes and has fun up - a lot of fun. Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD10.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:00] Idioms: butter up -- buy time Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: butter up -- buy time Idiom Meaning Example butter up be nice to, suck up to Butter him up before you ask to borrow his car. butter wouldn't melt in his he is very calm and clear, he When he's talking to voters, butter wouldn't melt mouth has an air of innocence, cool, in his mouth. smooth talker button your lip do not tell anyone, on the QT Button your lip about the speeding ticket. Don't tell Dad. buttonhole you stop you and talk to you, corner At the meeting, Al buttonholed me and asked you and bore you me to vote Reform. buy a round buy a drink for everyone at the When Gina was born, I bought a round for the table, this one is on me team. Every player had a drink to honor our baby. buy into believe and support, agree to He will buy into our plan if the money goes to support, come onside needy children. buy out buy a business and all the We knew his business was in debt, so we inventory offered to buy him out. buy that believe that, eat that He says he went to see his friends at the park. I can buy that. buy the farm die, kick the bucket, pass away "Where's Henry?" "Oh, he bought the farm years ago - died of cancer, eh." buy time request time to plan, ask for If we can just buy a little time, maybe the price extra time will go down. Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD100.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01] Idioms: buy up -- by and large Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: buy up -- by and large Idiom Meaning Example buy up buy all of a product or all the At closing time, Abe comes in and buys up the shares in a company last shares. buyer's market a time when prices are low, soft The price of gold is low. It's a buyer's market in market precious metals. buzz-kill a person who stops the fun, You buzz-kill! Don't talk about air disasters party-pooper when I'm flying to Rome. buzz off go away, beat it, get lost Next time he asks to borrow something, tell him to buzz off. buzzed slightly intoxicated, tipsy Jane got buzzed on fermented coconut juice. She was happy! buzzword new word or expression, the Internet, zero tolerance - these were buzzwords latest jargon, catch phrase of the 1990s. by a country mile by a long distance, by a wide Black Beauty won the race by a country mile. margin She was far ahead. by a long shot (See not by a long shot) by all means yes, please do it By all means, come to the Learning Skills Centre. by and large mostly, mainly, most of the time By and large, chocolate is the favorite flavor. Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. Get the book at . file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD101.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01] Idioms: by any means -- by its very nature Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: by any means -- by its very nature Idiom Meaning Example by any means any way or method, by doing He survived by any means when he first came any job to Canada. by any stretch... (See not by any stretch of the imagination) by cracky you listen to what I say, this is the truth, by gosh This is serious, by cracky! We're lost and we have no water! by dint of as a result of, because of By dint of her efforts alone, this family is happy and healthy. by golly I am surprised, impressed; by By golly! She did it. She made a cherry pie! gosh by gosh what an experience, this is Well, by gosh! This is my first look at Niagara interesting, by golly Falls! by guess or by gosh any way that is possible, by How did I learn to speak French? By guess or chance by gosh, that's how. by heart memorized every word, down Eva knew the speech by heart. She didn't look pat at her notes. by hook or by crook any way that is possible, by any He'll get that car - by hook or by crook! He'll get means it somehow. by its very nature because of its natural habits, A dog, by its very nature, is dependent on because it is that way humans. Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD102.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01] Idioms: by jove -- by word of mouth Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: by jove -- by word of mouth Idiom Meaning Example by jove it happened, it is amazing By jove! We reached our goal. We sold 15,000 tickets! by leaps and bounds by large amounts, by a lot The population of Calgary has grown by leaps and bounds. by no means not in any way, not by any By no means is a car a good investment. It will stretch... depreciate. by the by (See by the way) by the same token judging by the same rule, to be By the same token, he should help with the fair to both sides housework. by the seat of your pants with little money, without You can't operate a business by the seat of planning, a lick and a promise your pants. by the short hairs (See got you by the short hairs) by the skin of their teeth by a little, barely He won the election by one vote, by the skin of his teeth. by the way in addition to what I was saying, By the way, I heard that Ed is resigning. incidentally by word of mouth by one person speaking to News of his birth traveled by word of mouth. another, person to person, Soon everyone knew that Mary had a baby boy. through the grapevine Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD103.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:02] Idioms: bye -- bye for now Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms Idioms: bye -- bye for now Idiom Meaning Example bye goodbye Bye, Mom. I love you. bye for now goodbye but I will see you soon Bye for now. See you tonight at choir practice. Previous page Next page Idiom Home Legend: [B] bad language Be interactive: Comment on this idiom Contribute an idiom or an expression Make us aware of a technical problem with this site The small print: Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher: Prairie House Books Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone +1 403 202-5438, FAX +1 403 202-5437, Email [email protected] A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version as ISBN 1-895012-19-8. Get the book at . file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD104.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:02]