Tarjome

*Tarjome.org*


English Idioms relating to RELATIONSHIPS - BEHAVIOUR
Be all ears	To say that you are all ears means that you are listening very attentively. "Of course I want to know - I'm all ears!"
Have an axe to grind	If you have an axe to grind, you have personal reasons for adopting a particular attitude about something. "It was decided that the best candidates would be selected by a recruitment agency who had no axe to grind within the company."
Get off my back!	If you tell somebody to get off your back, you ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
Have your back to the wall	If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. " With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
Backseat driver	A backseat driver is a passenger in a car who gives unwanted advice to the driver. "I can't stand backseat drivers like my mother-in-law!"
Badger someone into doing something	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."
Have a ball.	If you have a ball, you enjoy yourself. "The party was great. We had a ball."
Bark up the wrong tree.	A person who barks up the wrong tree is doing the wrong thing, because their beliefs or ideas are incorrect or mistaken.
At someone's beck and call.	If a person is at somebody's beck and call, they are always ready to do things for them or obey orders to please them. "Parents should not be at the beck and call of their children."
The bee's knees.	If you say that someone/something is the bee's knees, you think they are exceptionally good. If you say "Julie thinks she's the bee's knees", it means that Julie has a high opinion of herself!
Below the belt	An action or remark described as below the belt means that it is considered unfair or cruel. "Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals below the belt."
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. He's waiting for the price to drop."
Birds of a feather	To say that two people are birds of a feather means that they are very similar in many ways.
Blow hot and cold	If you blow hot and cold about something, you constantly change your opinion about it. "The boss keeps blowing hot and cold about the marketing campaign - one day he finds it excellent, the next day he wants to make changes."
Bone of contention	A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement. "The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays remains a bone of contention."
To have a bone to pick with someone.	To say that you have a bone to pick with somebody means that you are annoyed with them and want to talk to them about it.
To make no bones about something.	If you make no bones about something, you do not hesitate to express your thoughts or feelings about it, even if it is embarrassing.
To pass the buck	If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing them of not taking responsibility for a problem and expecting someone else to handle it.
Build bridges.	If a person builds bridges between opposing groups, they help them to cooperate and understand each other better.
Take the bull by the horns	To take the bull by the horns means that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem.
Play your cards right.	This means that you do all that is necessary in order to succeed.
Carrot-and-stick	If you use a carrot-and-stick approach, you use the promise of reward and the threat of punishment to make somebody work harder. "Some parents use a carrot-and-stick approach to obtain good results from their children."
Play cat and mouse	To play cat and mouse with someone means to treat them alternately cruelly and kindly, so that they do not know what to expect.
When the chips are down	This expression refers to people's behaviour in a difficult or dangerous situation when action must be taken. "It's when the chips are down that Jack is at his best."
Come to grips	If you come to grips with a problem or situation, you start to understand or deal with it properly "After the initial shock, the patient began to come to grips with his illness."
A couch potato	If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television. "Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV."
Dance attendance (on somebody)	If you dance attendance on someone, you are constantly available for that person and attend to their wishes. "She's rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance on her."
A different kettle of fish	To describe a person, thing or situation as a different kettle of fish means that it is completely different from what was previously mentioned. "You may have good business relations, but living in the country is a different kettle of fish."
Disappear into thin air	If someone or something disappears into thin air, they vanish in a mysterious way. " After being accused of embezzlement, the director disappeared into thin air."
At the drop of a hat	If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and without hesitation "I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat."
Fight a losing battle	If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding. " The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."
Follow one's nose	If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead (also: follow your instinct in life). "The station is at the end of the road - just follow your nose."
Follow in someone's footsteps	If you follow in someone's footsteps ( for example a parent), you lead a similar life or do the same job. "Lily followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher."
Get on like a house on fire	Two people who get on like a house on fire have similar interests and quickly become good friends.
Get a raw deal.	If you say that someone has got a raw deal, you think they have been treated unfairly or badly.
Go with the flow	If you go with the flow, you follow the general tendency and go along with whatever happens. "When my colleagues organize an office party, I just go with the flow when it comes to the details. "
Do someone's dirty work.	To do someone's dirty work means to do the unpleasant or difficult work that the other person does not want to do.
Let sleeping dogs lie!	If someone tells you to let sleeping dogs lie, they are asking you not to interfere with a situation so that it does not become a problem.
See eye to eye with someone.	To see eye to eye with somebody means that you agree with them.
Turn a blind eye to something.	If you turn a blind eye to something, you ignore it intentionally.
Keep a straight face.	If you keep a straight face, you look serious although you really want to laugh.
To get cold feet	If you get cold feet about something, you begin to hesitate about doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not.
To keep one's feet on the ground	A person who keeps their feet on the ground continues to act in a sensible and practical way, even if they become successful.
To have itchy feet	A person who has itchy feet is someone who wants to move somewhere new or do something different.
Fiddling while Rome burns	If you say that somebody is fiddling while Rome burns, you mean that they are doing unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with "His visit to the trade fair was 'fiddling while Rome burns' according to the strikers."
Fight tooth and nail	If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight with all your energy. "The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have to have the proposed road safety law accepted."
Have other fish to fry	If you have other fish to fry, you have more important things to do. "I don't think he'll attend the office party; he's got other fish to fry."
Put one's foot down.	To put one's foot down means to exert authority to prevent something from happening.
Go through the motions	If someone goes through the motions, they do something because they have to, but without enthusiasm. "After his wife died, he tried to continue life as before, but he just went through the motions."
Go too far	If you go too far, you do something that is considered extreme or unacceptable. "Stealing is bad, but stealing from a poor person is really going too far!"
Good walls make good neighbours	This expression means that respecting one another's privacy helps create a good relationship between neighbours.
Play gooseberry	If you play gooseberry, you join or accompany two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone.
Grin and bear it	When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that they will have to accept it without complaining. "The only seat available is on a low-cost flight. You'll just have to grin and bear it!"
Prepare the ground	To prepare the ground means that you try to make it easier for a future event or action to happen.
Old habits die hard	This expression means that people are often reluctant to change the way they do something, especially if they have been doing it for a long time. "My grandfather refuses to use a mobile phone - old habits die hard!"
Off the top of one's head	To say something off the top of your head means that you are giving an immediate reaction and not a carefully considered opinion, and so it might not be correct.
The upper hand.	If a person or organization gains the upper hand, they take control over something.
Help a lame dog over a stile	If you help a lame dog over stile, you help someone who is in difficulty or trouble. "You can trust him - he always helps a lame dog over a stile."
Herding cats	This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation which involves people who all want to act independently. "Organizing an outing for a group of people from different countries is like herding cats!
Know someone/something inside out.	If you know someone or something inside out, you know them very well.
It takes two to tango	You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument cannot be the fault of one person alone "OK, we've heard Jack's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"
Keep your nose clean	A person who keeps their nose clean behaves well and avoids trouble.
Keep your nose to the grindstone	A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone who concentrates on working hard at his job.
Keep someone posted	If a person asks you to keep them posted, they want you to keep them informed about a situation "Our agent promised to keep us posted on developments in the negotiations."
Kill two birds with one stone	If you kill two birds with one stone, you succeed in doing two things at the same time. "By studying on the train on the way home every week-end, Claire kills two birds with one stone."
Leave well alone	If you leave well alone, you decide not to interfere with or change something that is acceptable or adequate. "It would be hard to get a better deal. Let's just leave well alone."
Let me bounce this off you.	You say this when you present an idea or plan to someone in order to test their reaction or obtain feedback. "I think I've found a way of making money. Let me bounce this off you."
Look down your nose	If someone looks down their nose at a person or thing, they consider that person or thing as inferior. "Intellectuals often look down their noses at amusement parks and such."
At loggerheads	If you are at loggerheads with a person or organization, you disagree very strongly with them.
At a loss	If a person is at a loss, they don't know what to say or do in a particular situation. "Teachers are at a loss to know how to deal with the increase in violence in schools."
Make a mountain out of a molehill	If someone makes a mountain out of a molehill, they make a small, unimportant problem seem much more serious than it is. "Stop making mountains out of molehills! It's not a major problem."
Make short work of something	If you make short work of something, you do or finish something quickly. "The players were so hungry after the match that they made short work of the food provided."
Make the best of things	If you make the best of things, you accept the situation and do what you can in spite of the difficulties or disadvantages. "The apartment was badly located, but the rent was low, so they decided to make the best of things."
Make up for lost time	If you make up for lost time, you increase your efforts or work 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."
Method in one's madness	This expression means that someone's behaviour is not as irrational as it seems. "He's efficient despite his strange way of working, so there's method in his madness!"
More power to your elbow!	This is said to express praise or encouragement to someone for doing something. "I've left my job and I'm going to work free-lance from now on." "Well, more power to your elbow!"
Nice as pie	If a person is nice as pie, they are surprisingly very kind and friendly "After our argument, she was nice as pie!"
Look down your nose	To look down your nose at a thing or person, means that you treat that thing or person with contempt, or consider them inferior.
Tell a white lie	To tell a white lie means to say something which is not true in order to protect someone or to avoid hurting their feelings.
To be at odds with somebody.	If one person is "at odds" with another, they disagree.
Pour oil on troubled waters	If a person pours oil on troubled waters, they do or say something to calm a tense situation. "James is an good negotiator, and always manages to pour oil on troubled waters."
Pick someone's brains	If you pick someone's brains, you ask questions about a particular subject in order to obtain advice or information. "Could we have lunch together? I'd like to pick your brains about something."
Pigs might fly	To say pigs might fly expresses disbelief, or the idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely. "My grandmother buying a computer? ...Yeah! ...and pigs might fly!"
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."
Play the game	If you play the game, you accept to do things according to the rules laid down by others.
Play into someone's hands	If you play into someone's hands, you do exactly what your opponent or enemy wants you to do, so that they gain an advantage over you. "When the leaders of the protest movement became violent, they played right into the hands of the police."
The pot calling the kettle black	This expression is used to refer to a situation where a person with a fault criticizes someone else for having the same fault. "After being disqualified for not obeying the rules, the player accused another competitor of cheating; it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black!"
Pull strings	If somebody pulls strings, they use influential friends in order to obtain an advantage. "David found a job easily - his Dad just pulled a few strings!"
Put a damper on something	If someone or something puts a damper on a situation or event, they make it less successful or enjoyable. "The party was going great until the neighbour's complaints put a damper on it.
Smell a rat.	To say "I smell a rat" means that you suspect that something is wrong, or that someone is doing something dishonest or incorrect.
To take someone for a ride	To take someone for a ride means to cheat or deceive them.
A running battle	If two people or groups have a running battle with each other, they argue or disagree about something over a long period of time. "There's been a running battle between the local authorities and the population over the school bus route."
Rock the boat	If you tell someone not to rock the boat, you are asking them to do nothing that might cause trouble or upset a stable situation. "After the recent riots, it was decided not to rock the boat by introducing strict measures."
The salt of the earth	To refer to someone as the salt of the earth means that you consider them to be honest and reliable.
Send someone packing	If you send someone packing, you tell them to leave, in a very forceful and unfriendly way. "When Amanda discovered that Jack had been unfaithful, she sent him packing."
A sight for sore eyes.	This expression refers to a person or thing you are happy to see. "Sam! You're a sight for sore eyes! Haven't seen you in a long time."
Pull your socks up	If you tell someone to pull their socks up, you are saying that they need to make an effort to improve their performance.
Give someone the cold shoulder.	To give someone the cold shoulder means to deliberately ignore someone. "After giving my opinion, he gave me the cold shoulder."
Skating on thin ice	If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause disagreement or trouble. "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice."
Sling mud	To say that someone is slinging mud at another person means that they are trying to damage that person's reputation by saying bad things about them. "During election campaigns, candidates often sling mud at each other."
Speak off the cuff	If you say something off the cuff, you say it spontaneously, without previous thought or preparation. "Politicians are usually careful not to speak off the cuff."
Steal someone's thunder	This expression means to take another person's idea or plan, and draw attention and praise away from the originator by presenting or using it first. "Bob had developed a plan to reduce production costs, but the plant manager stole his thunder by announcing Bob's ideas at the regional meeting."
Step out of line	If you step out of line, you behave badly, do something unacceptable or break the rules. "It was made clear upon arrival that we would be dismissed if we stepped out of line.
Stick to one's guns	If you stick to your guns, you show determination when faced with opposition. "The government stuck to its guns in spite of the criticism."
Straight as a ramrod	Someone who is straight as a ramrod is a person who keeps a straight back and looks very serious. "When my grandfather invited us for dinner, he used to sit straight as a ramrod at the head of the table."
Set the record straight.	To set the record straight means to correct a mistake or misunderstanding.
Put a spanner in the works Throw a (monkey) wrench in the works	To put a spanner in the works means to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned. (In the US, the word wrench or monkey wrench is used instead of spanner)
Start the ball rolling	If you start the ball rolling, you start an activity in which other people will join. "Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker."
Sugar the pill	If you sugar the pill, you try to make some unpleasant news more acceptable by saying something pleasant at the same time. " When Tim's parents announced that he was going to boarding school, they tried to sugar the pill by telling him he'd be home at the weekends.'
Take someone down a peg	To take someone down a peg means to make that person realize that they are not as important as they think they are. "He was too proud. Somebody had to take him down a peg."
Take something in your stride	When in a difficult situation, you take it in your stride, you deal with the situation calmly and without any special effort. "When the take-over was announced, Tom stayed calm and took it in his stride."
Take to something like a duck to water	If you take to something like a duck to water, you do it naturally and easily, without fear or hesitation. "When Sophie first tried skiing, she took to it like a duck to water"
A taste of their own medecine	If you give someone a taste of their own medecine, you treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you. "People who always arrive late should be given a taste of their own medecine."
To be as thick as thieves	If two people are "as thick as thieves", it means that they are very good friends.
A thorn in your side	If you say someone is a thorn in your side, you mean that they continually irritate or annoy you.
Ram something down someone's throat	This means to force someone to accept something against their will.
Keep someone on their toes.	If you keep someone on their toes you make them stay alert and ready for action at any time.
Toot (or blow) your own horn	If you toot your own horn, you like to boast about your abilities and achievements "Jack is very discreet about his success. He doesn't go round tooting his own horn."
Turn on/up the heat	If you turn on/up the heat on a person or organization, you put pressure on them in order to obtain what you want. "If the goods are not delivered this week, we'll have to turn on the heat."
Turn a deaf ear	If you turn a deaf ear to something, you refuse to listen. "Sandy turned a deaf ear to the guide's advice and got lost in the mountains."
Turn over a new leaf	If a person decides to turn over a new leaf, they decide to change their behaviour and lead a better life. "When Charlie left prison, he was determined to turn over a new leaf."
Two's company ... (three's a crowd)	This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer to be alone together than to have someone else with them. "Would you like to come to the cinema with us?" "I'd rather not, thanks. Two's company..."
Walking papers	If you are given your walking papers, your contract or a relationship is ended. "After causing a diplomatic incident, Carter got his walking papers."
Like water off a duck's back.	Criticism or comments which have no effect on someone is referred to as being like water off a duck's back.
On the same wavelength	To say that two people are on the same wavelength means that they understand each other well because they share the same interests and opinions.
Pull one's weight.	If you pull your weight, you work as hard as everyone else in a team, a group or a company.
Your wish is my command!	This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks. "Breakfast in bed? Your wish is my command!"