Actions Behaviour

accidentally
on purpose

add fuel to
the flames

all ears

If you do something intentionally, but pretend it was an accident,

you do it accidentally on purpose.
I accidentally-on-purpose erased his email address, so I
couldn't contact him again.
If you add fuel to the flames, you do or say something that
makes a difficult situation even worse.
He forgot their wedding anniversary, and his apologies
only added fuel to the flames.
To say that you are all ears means that you are listening very
attentively.
Of course I want to know - I'm all ears!

answer call of
nature
nature's call

When a person answers the call of nature, they go to the toilet.

I had to get up in the middle of the night to answer the
call of nature.

backseat
driver

A passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver is

called a backseat driver.
I can't stand backseat drivers like my mother-in-law!

badger
someone

If you badger someone into doing something, you persistently

nag or pester them until you obtain what you want.
Sophie badgered her parents into buying her a new
computer.

balancing act

When you try to satisfy two or more people or groups who have
different needs, and keep everyone happy, you perform a
balancing act.
Many people, especially women, have to perform a
balancing act between work and family.

bare your
heart / soul

If you bare you soul (or heart) to someone, you reveal your
innermost thoughts and feelings to them.
Mike couldn't keep things to himself any longer. He
decided to bare his soul to his best friend.

bark up
wrong tree

A person who is barking up the wrong tree is doing the wrong

thing, because their beliefs or ideas are incorrect or mistaken.
The police are barking up the wrong tree if they think
Joey stole the car - he can't drive!

beat a (hasty)
retreat

Someone who beats a (hasty) retreat runs away or goes back

hurriedly to avoid a dangerous or difficult situation.
The thief beat a hasty retreat as soon as he saw the
security officer.

one's best bet

The action most likely to succeed is called one's best bet.

Your best bet would be to try calling him at home.

bide your
time

If you bide your time, you wait for a good opportunity to do

something.
He's not hesitating, he's just biding his time, waiting for
the price to drop.

binge
drinking

This term refers to heavy drinking where large quantities of

alcohol are consumed in a short space of time, often among
young people in rowdy groups.
Binge drinking is becoming a major problem in some
European countries.

bite hand that

feeds you

blot one's
copy book

If you bite the hand that feeds you, you are unfriendly or do
harm to someone who is kind to you.
If you say bad things about the person who gives you a job, you
bite the hand that feeds you.

Someone who blots their copy-book does something to spoil

their good record or reputation.
He blotted his copy-book when he was arrested for speeding.

on the bottle
A person who drinks alcohol often and regularly is on the bottle.
John went on the bottle when he lost his job.

break every
rule in the
book

breathe down
neck

build bridges

burn your
bridges

burn the
candle at
both ends

If you behave in a completely unacceptable way, you break

every rule in the book.
Our competitors obtained the contract by breaking every rule in
the book.
If someone is breathing down your neck, they are watching you
too closely and making you feel uncomfortable.
The atmosphere at work is not great; the boss keeps breathing
down
our necks all the time.
If a person builds bridges between opposing groups, they help
them to cooperate and understand each other better.
A mediator is trying to build bridges between the local
community and the owners of the new plant.

If you burn your bridges, you do something that will be

impossible to rectify in the future.
If you refuse the offer, be careful not to burn your bridges by
insulting them. They may make a better proposal later.
If you burn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by
doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up
early.
Scott looks exhausted - I'll bet he's been burning the candle at
both ends lately.

burn your
fingers

bury head in
sand

If you burn your fingers (orget your fingers burnt), you suffer
financially as a result of foolish behaviour.
Jack got his fingers burnt playing on the stock market.

If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to face the
unpleasant reality by pretending that the situation doesn't exist.
It's no good burying your head in the sand. We've got a problem
on our hands.

bury the
hatchet

butter
somebody up

cap in hand

When people who have had a disagreement decide to forget

their quarrel and become friends again, they bury the hatchet.
I didn't agree with my colleague's decision, but for the sake of
peace I decided to bury the hatchet.

When you butter someone up, you flatter them or you are very
nice to them, especially if you want to obtain something.
He was so keen to get the job that he spent his time buttering
up the boss.
If you do something cap in hand, you ask for something in a
very respectful manner.
They went to the teacher, cap in hand, and asked for more time
to complete their project.

Anxiety Fear
make your blood
run cold

If something makes your blood run cold, it shocks or

scares you a lot.
The look in the prisoner's eye made my blood run cold!

break out in a cold

sweat

If you break out in a cold sweat, you begin to perspire a

lot, usually from anxiety.
I get nervous at the dentist's and usually break out in a

cold sweat.

two-year-old son standing in front of the open window.

bundle of nerves

If you describe someone as a bundle of nerves, you

mean that they are very nervous, tense or worried.
My son is doing his driving test today. Needless to say
he's a bundle of nerves!

heart misses a beat

If your heart misses (or skips) a beat, you have sudden

feeling of fear or excitement.
When the lights suddenly went out, my heart missed a
beat.

butterflies in
stomach

If you have butterflies in your stomach, you are feeling

very nervous.
At the beginning of an exam, I always have butterflies
in my stomach.

heebie-jeebies

A state of apprehension, nervousness or anxiety is

called the heebie-jeebies.
Having to go down to the car park at night gives me the
heebie-jeebies.

can't stand the pace

If you can't stand the pace, you are unable to do things

well when there is a lot of pressure.
She once worked for a famous fashion designer but
she couldn't stand the pace.

hold your breath

cat on hot bricks

A person who is like a cat on hot bricks is very nervous

or restless.
The week before the results were published, she was
like a cat on hot bricks.

on the edge of one's

seat

Someone who is on the edge of their seat is very

interested in something and fits it both extremely
exciting and nerve-wracking.
Look at Bob! He's on the edge of his seat watching that
rugby match!

get fingers burnt

If someone gets their fingers burnt, they suffer as a

result of an unsuccessful action and are nervous about
trying again.
He got his fingers burnt so badly in the last elections
that he decided to withdraw from politics.

heart in one's mouth

A person who has their heart in their mouth feels

extremely anxious or nervous faced with a dangerous
or unpleasant situation.
Emma had her heart in her mouth when she saw her

If someone is holding their breath, they are waiting

anxiously or excitedly for something to happen or be
announced.
I went for a second interview today - now I'm holding
my breath!

if you can't stand

the heat, get out of
the kitchen

This expression means that if you feel that there is too

much pressure, you can leave.
Amid the growing tension, the organizer declared : "If
you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"

ignorance is bliss

This means that if you don't know about a problem or

unpleasant fact, you won't worry about it.
I didn't know our neighbour was an escaped prisoner
until the police arrived - ignorance is bliss!

Anger Annoyance
be up in arms

If you are up in arms about something, you are very angry.

The population was up in arms over the demolition of the old
theatre.

get off by
back!

If you tell someone to get off your back, you are annoyed and
ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
Liz, please, get off my back! You've been making comments
about my work all morning!

bear with
sore head

bite head off

If someone is behaving like a bear with a sore head, they are

very irritable and bad-tempered.
When his team lost the match, Brad was like a bear with a
sore head.
If you bite someone's head off, you criticize them strongly (and
perhaps unfairly).
I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my head off
for not doing my share of the work!

come down
like a ton of
bricks

If someone comes down on you like a ton of bricks, they

criticize you severely because you have done something
wrong.
If you mix up the order, the boss will come down on you like
a ton of bricks!

for crying out

loud!

This expression is used to show irritation, exasperation or

anger.
For crying out loud, turn that television off!

black mood

To be in a black mood means to be irritable, angry or even

depressed.
You'd better keep away from Bill today. He's in a black mood.

cut it out!

blow a fuse

If you blow a fuse, you suddenly lose y our temper and

become very angry.
Charlie blew a fuse yesterday then he discovered that his ipod
had been stolen.

drive up the
wall

If somebody or something drives you up the wall, they do

something that greatly annoys or irritates you.
I can't concentrate with all the noise - it's driving me up the
wall.

blow a gasket

When a furious person blows a gasket, they explode with

anger.
When the shop was burgled for the third time, the owner blew
a gasket.

eat someone
alive

If you criticize someone severely because you are angry with

them, you eat them alive.
(You can also be eaten alive - bitten repeatedly - by insects.)
The boss will eat me alive if the report arrives late.

blow your top

If you blow your top, you suddenly become very angry.

When my mother saw the state of the house after the party,
she blew
her top!

fit to be tied

Someone who is fit to be tied is extremely irritated, upset or

angry.
Harry was fit to be tied when his dog dug up the flowers he
had planted.

have a bone
to pick

If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed

with them and want to talk to them about it.
Mark wants to see the boss. He says he's got a bone to pick
with him.

get/take flak

If you get or take flak, you receive severe criticism for

something you have done.
He got a lot of flak for the way he handled the situation.

If someone is cheesed off with something, they are annoyed,

bored or frustrated.
Jenny is absolutely cheesed off with her job.

on cloud nine

cheesed off

If you say 'cut it out' to someone, you are telling them to stop
doing something.
I've had enough of your insinuations, so just cut it out!

Happiness Sadness
A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because
something wonderful has happened.
When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud
nine.

cry one's eyes

out

If you cry your eyes out, you cry a lot and for a long time.
My son cried his eyes out when he discovered his bike had
been stolen.

like a dog with

two tails

If someone is like a dog with two tails, they are extremely

happy.
When Paul won the first prize he was like a dog with two
tails.

down in the
dumps

Someone who is down in the dumps is depressed or feeling

gloomy.
Alex has been down in the dumps since he failed his exam.

down in the
mouth

When someone is down in the mouth, they look unhappy,

discouraged or depressed.
You look a bit down in the mouth. What's the matter?

face like a wet

week-end

If someone has a face like a wet week-end, they look sad

and miserable.
What's wrong with Pete? He's got a face like a wet weekend!

fool's paradise

fulls of the joys

of spring

grin from ear to

ear

If someone is living in a fool's paradise, they are in a state of

contentment that will not last because their happiness is
based
on illusion or false hope.
Lisa is living in a fool's paradise if she thinks her boss is
going to marry her.
If you are full of the joys of spring, you are happy,
enthusiastic and full of energy.
Barbara is full of the joys of spring at the moment! Has she
got a new boyfriend?
If somebody grins from ear to ear, they look vey satisfied
and happy.
When we saw Paul grinning from ear to ear, we knew he
had passed the exam.

grin like a
Cheshire cat

When someone has a smile on their face because they are

happy or satisfied about something, they grin like a
Cheshire cat.
I knew she had succeeded when I saw her with a grin like a
Cheshire cat.

happy camper

Someone who is a happy camper is generally content or

satisfied with what is happening in their lives and has no
complaints.
With his new job and his new car, Andy is a happy camper.

happy as a flea
in a doghouse

If someone is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse, they are

very happy and contented.
Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is as
happy as a flea in a doghouse!

happy as Larry

If you are (as) happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed.
My dad's as happy as Larry at the week-end when we all
arrive home.

happy-go-lucky

If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and

carefree all the time.
He's a happy-go-lucky sort of guy - always in good humour.

your heart
sinks

If your heart sinks, you feel very unhappy and despondent.

My heart sank when I saw the amount of work waiting for
me.

jump for joy

When people jump for joy, they express their happiness

through excited movements and gestures.
The player jumped for joy when he scored the winning goal.

life is just a
bowl of cherries

This expression means that life is pleasant and

uncomplicated.
(This phrase is often used ironically to mean the opposite.)
Now that he's retired, my grandfather says 'life is just a bowl
of cherries'.

lump in your
throat

If you have a lump in your throat, you have a tight feeling in

your throat because of a strong emotion such as sadness or
gratitude.
The speech was so touching that I had a lump in my throat.

music to your
ears

If something is music to your ears, the information that you

receive makes you feel very happy.
His compliments were music to my ear.

never looked
back

If you say that you never looked back, you mean that after
an event which changed your life for the better, you continue
to be happy with the situation.
Since the day she decided to work from home, she has
never looked back.

over the moon

If you are over the moon about something, you are very
happy about it.
When she heard the results of the exam, Caroline was over
the moon!

paint the town

red

as pleased as
punch

in raptures

stars in your
eyes

If you paint the town red, you go out and enjoy a lively
evening in bars, night-clubs, etc.
To celebrate the victory, the team's supporters painted the
town red.

in seventh
heaven

If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.

Every time she wins a match, she's in seventh heaven!

in stitches

When people are in stitches, they are laughing a lot.

The story was so funny, everyone was in stitches.

thrilled to bits

Someone who is thrilled to bits is extremely pleased about

something.
Julie was thrilled to bits when her project was selected.

tickled pink

If you are tickled pink, you are very pleased about

something.
My dad was tickled pink when he was asked to announce
the winner.

time of your life

on top of the
world

If you feel on top of the world, you are extremely happy

because everything is going well for you.
It's been such a good year for Amy that she feels on top of
the world.

walking on air

When you are happy and excited because of a pleasant

event that makes you feel as if you are floating, you are
walking on air.
Sophie has been walking on air since her painting won the
first prize.

whatever floats
your boat

Although you don't quite agree with someone, it's their

choice and you think they should so whatever makes them
happy.
You're going to spend your honeymoon in Alaska? Well,
whatever floats your boat!

Someone who is as pleased or as proud as punch is

delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
Danny was as proud as punch when he won the tennis
match.
If you are in raptures about something, you are delighted or
very enthusiastic.
Caroline is in raptures about her new apartment.
If someone has stars in their eyes, they are looking
extremely happy.
She had stars in her eyes when she saw the car she had
won.

If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself very
much.
The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland.

Music
ring a bell

If something rings a bell, it sounds familiar, but you don't

remember the exact details.

John Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don't remember
him.

music to one's
ears

To say that something is music to your ears means that the

information you receive makes you feel very happy.
His compliments were music to my ear.

chime in

If you chime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially

to repeat or agree with something.
While I was explaining to the bus driver what had happened,
the other passengers chimed in and gave their version.

face the music

When a person has to face the music, they have to accept

the unpleasant consequences of their actions.
He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music.

drum (sthg) into

someone's head

If you teach something to someone through constant

repetition, you drum it into their head.
When we were kids at school, multiplication tables were
drummed into our heads.

strike a false
note

If you strike a false note, you do something wrong or

inappropriate.
He struck a wrong note when he arrived at the cocktail party
wearing old jeans.

strike (or hit)

the right note

If you strike (or hit) the right note, you do something suitable
or appropriate.
He struck the right note with his future mother-in-low when he
brought her a book on gardening - her favourite hobby!

(sound) like a
broken record

Someone who says the same thing again and again sounds
like a broken record.
Dad! Stop telling me to be careful when I drive. You sound
like a broken record!

go for a song

If something goes for a song, it is sold at an unexpectedly low

price.

tickle the ivories

This is a humorous way of talking about playing the piano.

My grandfather loves playing the piano. He tickles the ivories
whenever he gets the chance.

call the tune

The person who calls the tune makes all the important
decisions and is in control of the situation.
He shows a lot of authority but in fact it's his wife who calls
the tune.

sing a different
tune

If someone sings a different tune, they change their opinion

about something or their attitude towards something.
He had no consideration for people out of work until he lost

as fit as a fiddle

A person who is as fit as a fiddle is in an excellent state of

health or physical condition.
My grandfather is nearly ninety but he's as fit as a fiddle.

play second
fiddle

If you play second fiddle to someone, you accept to be

second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
When Charles became chairman of the family business, his
brother declared that he would rather leave than play second
fiddle to him.

fiddling while
Rome burns

If you say that someone is fiddling while Rome burns, you

mean that they are doing unimportant things while there are
serious matters to be dealt with.
His visit to the trade fair was "fiddling while Rome burns"
according to the strikers.

jazz something
up

If you jazz something up, you add something to try to improve

it or make it more stylish.
The dress needs a scarf or a necklace to jazz it up.

all that jazz

This expression means 'all that stuff', 'other similar things', or

'everything of that kind'.
Let's get out the tinsel, the fairy lights and all that jazz to
decorate the Christmas tree.

his own job; now he's singing a different tune.

fine tuning

Small changes to something to improve it or make it work

better are called fine-tuning.
We are still fine tuning our new website and appreciate your
patience.

blow the whistle

If you report an illegal or socially-harmful activity to the

authorities, and give information about those responsible for
it, you blow the whistle, or you are a whistle-blower.
He refused to blow the whistle on his boss for fear of losing
his job.

clean as a
whistle

Something as clean as a whistle is extremely clean.

This can also mean that a person's criminal record is clean.
Bob spent the afternoon washing and shining his car until it
was as clean as a whistle.

Enthusiasm - Eagerness Motivation

ants in one's
pants

with bells on

People who have ants in their pants are very restless or

excited about something.
I wish he'd relax. He's got ants in his pants about something
today.

and worked with us all day.

cause a stir

champ at the
bit

dial it back

If something causes a stir, it creates an atmosphere of

excitement or great interest.
The arrival of the actress caused quite a stir in the village.
Someone who is champing at the bit is ready and eager to
start an activity, and is showing impatience at being delayed.
The press conference was delayed for such a long time that
the journalists were champing at the bit.
If you dial it back, you reduce the intensity of something, or
tone
it down.
When Lucas started getting all excited, his mother said :
Hey Lucas, dial it back a bit!

do nothing by
halves

When a person does everything they are engaged in

completely and thoroughly, they are said to do nothing by
halves.
When she cooks, it's a four-course meal - she does nothing by
halves!

eager beaver

The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking

and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last
to leave. He's a real eager beaver!

If you go somewhere with bells on, you are delighted and

eager to go there.
Of course I'll be there - with bells on!

bounce off
the walls

Someone who is very excited about something, or full of

nervous energy, is said to be bouncing off the walls.
Danny can't wait to start his new job. He's bouncing off the
walls.

eat, sleep and

breathe
something

If you eat, sleep and breathe something, you are so

enthusiastic and passionate about it that you think about it
constantly.
He's an enthusiastic golfer; he eats, sleeps and breathes it!

bright-eyed
and bushytailed

A person who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is very

enthusiastic and full of energy.
Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at
7am

edge of one's
seat

Someone who is on the edge of their seat is very interested in

something and finds it both extremely exciting and nervewracking.
Look at Bob! He's on the edge of his seat watching that rugby
match!

fever pitch

fling yourself
into

go the extra
mile

hold your
horses

lick/smack
your lips

put your
heart (and
soul) into

raring to go

If a situation or feeling reaches fever pitch, it becomes very

intense and exciting.
Reaction to the affair has reached fever pitch all over the
country.
If you fling yourself into an activity, you do it with a lot of
energy and enthusiasm.
Ever since she flung herself in the anti-pollution campaign,
she rarely has a free moment!

eager to go there.
Of course I'll be there - with bells on!
blow away the
cobwebs

chill out

If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of

you.
You can count on Tom; he's always willing to go the extra mile.
If you tell someone to hold their horses, you think they are
doing something too fast and should slow down and not rush
into further action.
Hold your horses! We need to get the customer's approval
first!.
A person who is licking (or smacking) their lips is showing that
they are excited about something and are eager for it to
happen.
He was licking his lips at the idea of the money he was going
to make.
If you put your heart (and soul) into something, you are very
enthusiastic and invest a lot of energy and hard work in it.
Paul was determined to make a success of the project. He put
his heart and soul into it.

When you are in your element, you are doing something

that you do well, and you are enjoying yourself.
My brother, who is an estate agent, was in his element
house-hunting for our parents.

feast your eyes

on

If you feast your eyes on something, you are delighted and

gratified by what you see.
As he drove along the coast, he feasted his eyes on the
beautiful scenery.

footloose and
fancy-free

A person who is footloose and fancy free has few

responsibilities or commitments of any kind and feels free to
do as they please.
John will never get married. He says he prefers to be
footloose and fancy free.

in full swing

When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is

at
its busiest or liveliest time.
When we got back to the office, the Christmas party was in
full swing.

If someone is raring to go, they are very eager and

enthusiastic about the idea of doing something.
The kids can't wait to go camping. They're raring to go!

If you go somewhere with bells on, you are delighted and

When people chill out, often after a period of heavy work or

nervous tension, they do something that helps them to calm
down and relax for a while.
After a week of exams, the students needed to go and chill
out.

in one's element

Fun and Enjoymen

with bells on

If something blows away the cobwebs, it makes you feel

more lively and refreshes your ideas.
Let's get out of the house. A walk on the beach will blow
away the cobwebs!

full of the joys

of spring

If you are full of the joys of spring, you are happy,

enthusiastic and full of energy.

Barbara is full of the joys of spring at the moment! Has she

got a new boyfriend?
guilty pleasure

happy-go-lucky

have a ball

Enjoying something which is not generally held in high

regard, while at the same time feeling a bit guilty about it, is
called a guilty pleasure.
Reading gossip magazines is a guilty pleasure for many
women and some men too!
If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and
carefree all the time.
He's a happy-go-lucky sort of guy - always in good humour.
If you have a ball you enjoy yourself immensely.
The party was great. We had a ball.

have the time of

your life

If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself very
much.
The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland.

have a whale of
a time

When people have a whale of a time, they enjoy

themselves a lot.
We had a whale of a time at the party last night.

let one's hair

down

If you suggest that someone should let their hair down, you
are telling them to relax and enjoy themselves.
Come on! We're not in the office now. You can let your hair
down!

life and soul of

the party

The life and soul of the party is the most lively and amusing
person present at an event.
I'm so glad we invited Emily. She was the life and soul of
the party.

live the life of

Riley

A person who lives the life of Riley has a comfortable and

enjoyable life, without having to make much effort.
He married a millionaire, and since then he's been living the
life of Riley!

Time
against the
clock

If you do something against the clock, you are rushed and

have very little time to do it.
They are working against the clock to have the presentation
ready for Monday.

all along

If something has existed or been somewhere all along, it has

been there all the time, from the beginning.
I had been looking for my keys for some time before I
realized they had been in my pocket all along.

better late than

never

When someone does something late, this remark means that

it is better to do it late than not do it at all.
Do you know what time it is? You promised you'd come early
to help me - but better late than never I suppose!

in the blink of
an eye

If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens

nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye.

by degrees

If something happens or develops by degrees, it happens

gradually or little by little as time goes by.
By degrees their business relationship grew into friendship.

clock in/out

When you clock in or out, you record the time you arrive or
leave your job by punching a time clock to the show the
number of hours you have worked.
I'm going to clock out early today. I've got a dental
appointment.

cut it/things
fine

If you cut it/cut things fine, you leave barely enough time to
do something.
You're counting just an hour between the airport and the train
station isn't that cutting things a bit fine?

date late and a

dollar short

If something is a day late and a dollar short, it comes too late

and

is not good enough.

They offered me an internship when I had already found a
job - a day late and a dollar short!

corner

soon.
With spring just around the corner, the new collection should
begin to sell.

donkey's years

If someone has been doing something for donkey's years,

they have been doing it for a very long time.
He knows the town inside out. He's been living here for
donkey's years.

moment of
truth

down to the
wire

If something such as project or a match goes down to the

wire, the situation can change up until the last possible
moment.
There's nothing as exciting as watching a game that goes
down to the wire.

A critical or decisive time when you face the reality of a

situation, and find out if your efforts have succeeded, is
called the moment of truth.
The moment of truth has arrived - I'm going to serve my first
souffl!

month of
Sundays

This expression is an amusing way of referring to a very long

period of time.
I haven't been to the theatre in a month of Sundays.

never in the
million years

This expression means 'absolutely never' or 'at no time in my

life'.
I will never in a million years understand why Anne married
Bob.

once in a blue
moon

If something occurs once in a blue moon, it happens very

rarely.
Bill has very little contact with his brother. They see each
other once in a blue moon.

time after time

If you do something time after time, you do it repeatedly or

on many occasions.
The was surprised when the teacher punished him although
he had been warned time after time.

time flies

This expression is used to express surprise at how fast time

passes (usually in a very active or happy situation).
It's hard to believe we've been living here two years already.
Time flies!

time on your
hands

If you have time on your hands, you have a lot of free time,
usually more than you need or want.
Since he retired, Bill has too much time on his hands. He
should take up a hobby.

at the eleventh
hour

If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when

it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment.
Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour.

five o'clock
shadow

This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a

man who hasn't shaved for at least a day.
He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow.

in the interim

in the long run

in one's own
sweet time

just around the

Something that happens in the interim takes place during a

period of time between two events.
I won't have the apartment until next month. In the interim I'm
staying at a local hotel.
This term refers to something that will have effect over or
after a long period of time.
Learning Chinese is going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it in
the long run because it will help me to get a better job.
If you do something in your own sweet time, you take as long
as you please to do it, in spite of the wishes of others.
OK, I'll do it - but in my own sweet time!
If something is just around the corner, it will happen very

time of your
life

If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself very much.
The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland.

time on your
side

If you have time on your side, you can afford to wait before
doing or achieving something.
He didn't succeed this time, but he's young enough to try
again. He's got time on his side.

time is ripe

If the time is ripe for something, it is the right moment to do it.

He sold his business when the time was ripe.

time is ticking
away

The expression 'time is ticking away' can be used when you

see the minutes or seconds going by as the clock ticks,
especially when you are waiting anxiously for something to
happen.
We need to intervene before it's too late. Time's ticking away.

time-honoured
practice

A custom that is universally respected, or a traditional way of

doing something, is called a time-honoured practice.
Guests were greeted according to a time-honored practice.

for the time

being

If you talk about how a situation is for the time being, you
mean that it is temporary and will probably change in the
future.
Laura has left John and is living with her parents for the time
being.

living on
borrowed time

lose track of
time

make up for

This expression refers to a period of time after an illness or

accident which could have caused death.
After heart surgery, many patients feel that they're living on
borrowed time.
When you give all your attention to something and become
so engrossed in it that you don't realize what time it is, you
lose track of time.
Whenever I start surfing on the web, I lose track of time.
If you make up for lost time, you increase your efforts or work

lost time

harder to complete something or meet a deadline.

Progress has stopped because of bad weather, but we are
determined to make up for lost time.

matter of time

If you say that it is only or just a matter of time before (or

until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will
inevitably take place, although you do not know when.
Restrictive measures will have to be introduced. It's just a
matter of time.

nick of time

If something happens in the nick of time, it happens at the

last minute, when it is nearly too late.
The child was standing in front of the open window. His
mother caught him in the nick of time.

play for time

If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something

from happening in order to gain an advantage.
He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would
decrease.

pressed for
time

If you are pressed for time, you have hardly enough time to
do something, so you must hurry.
Sorry, I can't talk to you now. I'm a bit pressed for time.

since time
immemorial

If something has existed since time immemorial, it has been

there for such a long time that nobody can recall a time
without it.
I don't know when that bridge was built. It's been there since
time immemorial.

stand the test

of time

If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it

valuable or useful after many years.
The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used
in schools today.

stuck in a time
warp

Something that has not changed at all from some time in the
past, when everything else has, is caught or stuck in a time
warp.

This place seem to be stuck in a time warp. It's exactly as it

was in the 1950's.

race against
time

shelf life

When someone is in a race against time, they have to work

very quickly in order to do or finish something before a
certain time.
It was a race against time to get everything ready for the
inauguration.
If something such as food, drink or medicine has a particular
shelf life, it must be used or sold before the end of that period
of time.
Dairy products has quite a short shelf life.

ship has sailed

The expression 'that ship has sailed' means that a particular

opportunity has passed by and now it's too late.
'Is the offer still open?' 'Sorry, that ship has sailed - you
missed your chance!'

sign of the
times

This expression refers to something that shows the nature of

today's society.
The rising level of violence is a sign of the times.

small hours

The term 'the small hours' means after midnight or the very
early hours of the day.
Sarah worked until the small hours on her speech for the
ceremony.

until hell
freezes over

If you tell someone that they can do something until hell

freezes over, you mean that they can do it for a very long
time but they won't obtain what they want.
You can ask until hell freezes over; I will not allow you to go
bungee-jumping!

Memory Remembering
bear in mind

brain/memory

If a person asks you to bear something in mind, they are

asking you to remember it because it is important.
You must bear in mind that the cost of living is higher in
New York.
Someone who has a brain like a sieve has a very bad

like a sieve

have down pat

have on the
brain

in one ear and

out the other

jog someone's
memory

lose your train

of thought

memory and forgets things easily.

Oh, I forgot to buy the bread - I've got a brain like a sieve
these days!
If you memorize or practise something until you know it
perfectly or have it exactly right, you have it down pat.
I rehearsed my presentation until I had it down pat.
If you have something on the brain, you think or talk abut it
all constantly.
Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!
To say that information goes in one ear and comes out the
other means that it is immediately forgotten or ignored.
I keep telling him about the risks but it goes in one ear and
out the other. He never listens!
When you help someone to remember something they have
forgotten, you jog their memory.
You don't remember who was with us that day? Here's a
photograph to jog your memory.

in your mind's
eye

If you can visualise something, or see an image of it in your

mind, you see it in your mind's eye.
I can see the village in my mind's eye but I can't remember
the name.

rake over the

ashes

When people rake over the ashes, they discuss an

unpleasant event which took place in the past.
My grandfather's business went bankrupt years go, but he
still rakes over the ashes from time to time.

refresh
someone's
memory

If you refresh someone's memory, you remind them of facts

they seem to have forgotten.
Let me refresh your memory - you've already missed three
classes this term.

ring a bell

If something rings a bell, it sounds familiar, but you don't

remember the exact details.
John Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don't remember
him.

senior moment

If you forget what you were saying, for example after a

disturbance or interruption, you lose your train of thought.
Now where was I? I'm afraid I've lost my train of thought.

if memory
serves well

If your memory serves you well, you remember correctly or

you have not forgotten any details.
You're Stella's daughter, if my memory serves me well.

trip down
memory lane

If you take a trip (stroll or walk) down memory lane, you

remember pleasant things that happened in the past.
Every Christmas is a trip down memory for the family when
our parents take out the photograph albums.

it slipped my
mind

A momentary lapse of memory, especially in older people, or

an absent-minded action such as putting the cereals in the
refrigerator, is humorously referred to as having a senior
moment.
I found the phone in the cupboard. I must have had a senior
moment!
If something has slipped your mind, you have forgotten
about it.
Oh dear! It slipped my mind that the shops were closed
today!