martes, 16 de marzo de 2010

come full circle

come full circle
Fig. to return to the original position or state of affairs. The family sold the house generations ago, but things have come full circle and one of their descendants lives there now

drill something into someone

drill something into someone or something and drill something in
Fig. to force knowledge into someone or something Learn this stuff! Drill it into your brain. Drill in this information so you know it by heart!

relieve someone of something

relieve someone of something
1. Lit. to unburden someone of something. Here, let me relieve you of that heavy box. At last, he could relieve himself of the problem.
2. . Fig. to lessen someone's responsibilities. I will relieve you of some of the responsibility you have carried for so long. Let me relieve you of that job. You have enough to do

lose the plot (British & Australian humorous)

lose the plot (British & Australian humorous)
to become crazy I was waking up in the middle of the night, not knowing who I was or where I was. I really thought I was losing the plot.

with (your) guns blazing also all guns blazing

with (your) guns blazing also all guns blazing
if you do something, especially argue, with guns blazing, you do it with a lot of force and energy The boy's mother arrived at the school, all guns blazing, furious that her son had been

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

safeguard someone or something against someone or something

safeguard someone or something against someone or something
to protect someone or something against someone or something. We will take action that will safeguard you against a recurrence of the unpleasantness. I will safeguard my family against the prowler.

do somebody the world of good

do somebody the world of good
to make someone feel much healthier or happier We had a week away in the sun and it's done us both the world of good.

poster child (for something)

poster child (for something)
Fig. someone who is a classic example of a state or type of person. She is a poster child for soccer moms

jueves, 4 de marzo de 2010

bore the pants off of someone

bore the pants off of someone
Fig. to be exceedingly dull and uninteresting to someone. You bore the pants off of me! The lecture bored the pants off of everybody.
See also: pant

be tired and emotional (British & Australian humorous)

be tired and emotional (British & Australian humorous)
to be drunk Professor Davis looked a bit tired and emotional, to say the least.
See also: and, emotional

to be lovey-dovey


to be lovey-dovey = for a couple to show everyone how much they are in love: "They're so lovey-dovey, always whispering to each other and looking into each other's ey

to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments:

to have a stormy relationship = a relationship with many arguments: "I'm glad we don't have a stormy relationship

deadbeat

deadbeatMEANING: person who never pays the money he owesEXAMPLE:Recently the government has been making an effort to solve the problem of deadbeat dads who don't support their families

born with a silver spoon in your mouth

born with a silver spoon in your mouthMEANING: born to wealth and comfort, born richEXAMPLE:The student in our history class was born with a si

be/live on the breadline

be/live on the breadline (British & Australian)
to be very poor
Usage notes: In America, breadlines were very poor people standing in a line waiting for free food provided by the government.Most families of the unemployed are on the breadline. How many elderly people in Britain are living on the breadline?
IdiI()
Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd ed. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006. Reproduced with permission.