English Expressions (Inculding Idioms)


  • Take Flak : “Be criticised, perhaps angrily” - often used in the sense of choosing or being chosen to take the hits to shield the others.

  • Keep a civil tongue : speak politely 

  • Game not worth the candle : The plan which is useless (might just waste your time).

  • Under someones thumb : Being controlled by someone (Under the control).

  • In wine there is truth : People talk serious things when they get drunk,

  • Paid peanuts : Get treated poorly. Lower compensation than It should be.

  • Race against time :
    1. noun An attempt to accomplish something in a short amount of time. It was a race against time to put out the fire before it spread to the neighboured properties.                                         2. verb To act quickly to accomplish something in a short amount of time. Jen's going to have to race against time if she wants to get her story in tomorrow's newspaper—it's almost time to send it to the publisher!  - Freedic
  • One good turns deserves another : said when you do a helpful or kind act for someone who has done something good for you.
  • Good walls make good neighbours : Your relationship with your neighbours depends, among other things, on respecting one another's privacy.
  • Rake in the money: Earn lots of money.
  • Pay the piper : to bear the consequences of one's actions (Responsibility) .
  • On the ball : to be quick to understand and react to things - Focus on something .
  • Pull yourself together: to become calm and behave normally again after being angry or upset.
  • Testing the waters: to find out what people's opinions of something are before you ask them to do something.
  • Hold your horses : used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something.
  • Not leaving any stone unturned : try every possible course of action in order to achieve something.

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