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    CRUNCH TIME: The Period of Time Just Before A Project Has To Be

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    Caio Toledo
    The document provides definitions for 51 common English idioms and phrases. It gives the idiomatic expression, followed by an example sentence using that expression. Some key idioms defined include "crunch time", "let your freak flag fly", "get out of hand", "get your head around it", "dig in your heels/stick to your guns", and "pound the pavement".

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    CRUNCH TIME: The Period of Time Just Before A Project Has To Be

    Uploaded by

    Caio Toledo
    60 views11 pages
    The document provides definitions for 51 common English idioms and phrases. It gives the idiomatic expression, followed by an example sentence using that expression. Some key idioms defined include "crunch time", "let your freak flag fly", "get out of hand", "get your head around it", "dig in your heels/stick to your guns", and "pound the pavement".

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    The document provides definitions for 51 common English idioms and phrases. It gives the idiomatic expression, followed by an example sentence using that expression. Some key idioms defined include "crunch time", "let your freak flag fly", "get out of hand", "get your head around it", "dig in your heels/stick to your guns", and "pound the pavement".

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    60 views11 pages

    CRUNCH TIME: The Period of Time Just Before A Project Has To Be

    Uploaded by

    Caio Toledo
    The document provides definitions for 51 common English idioms and phrases. It gives the idiomatic expression, followed by an example sentence using that expression. Some key idioms defined include "crunch time", "let your freak flag fly", "get out of hand", "get your head around it", "dig in your heels/stick to your guns", and "pound the pavement".

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 11

    1.

    CRUNCH TIME: the period of time just before a project has to be


    completed and everyone has to work hard
     I’m not getting enough sleep these days.  It’s crunch time  at
    work.

    2. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY: to let others see your uniqueness

     My colleagues were surprised at the Christmas party-  I let my


    freak flag fly  and showed them a break dance routine.

    3. GET OUT OF HAND: when you lose control of things, they get out of
    hand

     The party got out of hand  and the guests started to throw bottles
    at each other.

    4. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT: to understand something

     I just  can’t get my head around the fact  that Joe is leaving us.

    5. DIG IN YOUR HEELS / STICK TO YOUR GUNS: to refuse to


    compromise or change your mind

     My parents wanted me to give up writing, but  I dug in my


    heels  and went on to become a famous writer.
     My parents wanted me to give up writing, but  I stuck to my
    guns  and went on to become a famous writer.

    6. POUND THE PAVEMENT: to walk the streets looking for a job


     I’d  been pounding the pavement for months  before I found a
    job in a fast food restaurant.

    7. PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT: to do something unexpected that may


    have seemed impossible

     I thought we were going bankrupt, but  my partner pulled a


    rabbit out of his hat  and we landed a major contract.

    8. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED: to do everything you can to achieve your


    goal

     I’ll leave no stone unturned  until I find out who did this.

    9. GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM: to do something you’ve wanted to do


    for a long time and don’t want to postpone any longer

     I wasn’t sure how she was going to react, but  I had to get it out
    of my system, so I told her I had found another woman.

    10. STEP UP YOUR GAME: to start performing better

     If you want to win this competition, you’ll  have to step up your


    11. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER: to calm down and behave
    normally

     I understand you’ve had a bad day, but  pull yourself


    together  and get on with your job, will you?

    12. SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT: either start performing better or leave


     This is the last time I’m telling you to arrive on time.  Shape up or
    ship out.

    13. CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACK: to give somebody a break/ not to


    judge somebody severely

     I was extremely busy last week.  Cut me some slack  and I’ll finish
    the report by tomorrow morning.

    14. BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH: when you do something by the skin of


    your teeth, you only just succeed/ nearly fail

    Recomendado por

     I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test  by the skin of my


    teeth.

    15. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: when something rarely ever happens

     We used to see him all the time, but now he just visits us  once in a
    blue moon.

    16. GO DOWN IN FLAMES: to end or fail suddenly and spectacularly

     She’d wanted to become Managing Director, but  her career went


    down in flameswhen they found out she’d been leaking
    information to our competitors.

    17. TAR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME BRUSH: to believe that someone has
    the same bad qualities as others in a group
     I don’t think much of that band, but the singer  shouldn’t be
    tarred with the same brush. She’s got a fantastic voice.

    18. COME OUT SWINGING: to be confrontational and strongly defend


    yourself at the beginning of a debate

     Our local MP  came out swinging against  the current leadership
    and demanded that the government resign.

    19. HANG IN THERE: wait and be patient

     I know you’d really like to call him, but I don’t think that’s the right
    thing to do now.  Just hang in there  and he will call you.

    20. SHOOT FROM THE HIP: to speak directly

     If you want to get on well with your boss,  try not to shoot from
    the hip  next time. You don’t want to offend him, do you?

    21. GO THE EXTRA MILE: to make a special effort/try very hard to achieve
    your goal

     If you want to become proficient in English, you’ll  have to go the


    extra mile  and start learning idioms.
     My English class was great, we learnt so much because our teacher
    was the best, she always  went the extra mile  for us.

    22. RUNNING ON FUMES: to continue to stay awake when feeling


    exhausted
     I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go home now. I haven’t slept for twenty
    hours and  I’m running on fumes.

    23. SOLD ME OUT: to snitch on someone, or let their secret out

     I asked you to keep it to yourself! I can’t believe  you sold me out,


    I trusted you!

    24. YOU SOLD ME (ON SOMETHING): you convinced me of something,


    because you were persuasive

     OK,  you’ve sold me. I’ll go to the match with you.

    25. BLEW ME AWAY: when something blows you away, you’re extremely


    impressed by it

     The exhibition just  blew me away. I’d never seen so many


    beautiful paintings before.

    26. BLOW SMOKE: to exaggerate or say things that aren’t true to make you
    seem better/ more knowledgeable than in reality

     I’m not blowing smoke. I have honestly read War and Peace by
    Tolstoy.

    27. CRY WOLF: to call for help when you don’t need it

     Do you think Peter is in trouble or  is he  just crying wolf?


    28. COULDN’T CARE LESS: used to express total lack of interest in
    something

     That man stole a bottle of wine from the shop.


     Oh, really?  I couldn’t care less.

    29. BE CHUFFED TO BITS: to be pleased and happy

     Hey, thanks for the present!  I’m chuffed to bits.

    30. FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER: to be ill or unable to do regular


    activities

     I think I’m going to have to take the day off work. I feel
    quite  under the weathertoday.

    31. BE TICKLED PINK: to be excited and happy

     She  was tickled pink  by all the compliments she’d received.

    32. A BAKER’S DOZEN: thirteen

     Check out our  baker’s dozen  language learning  tips.

    33. COMFORT FOOD: food that makes you feel better, because it reminds
    you of your childhood

     After a tiring day, it’s so nice to  make some comfort food  and
    settle down with a good book.

    34. SKELETON CREW: the minimum number of people needed to keep a


    service/office operating

     Can you come back after the holidays? We’re  operating with a
    skeleton crew  at the moment.
    35. LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY: to let something happen, no
    matter what happens next

     I must tell John how I feel about him,  let the chips fall where
    they may.

    36. NO-BRAINER: an easy decision

     Do you think I should propose to Judy?


     Come on,  it’s a no-brainer. She’s such a fantastic woman!

    37. A STONE’S THROW: very near

     The hotel  was  a stone’s throw from  the beach. I loved it.

    38. HEAR ON THE GRAPEVINE: to hear a rumour or unconfirmed story

     I heard on the grapevine  that Charlie and Sarah are dating at the
    moment.

    39. SIT ON THE FENCE: to stay neutral and not take sides

     Well don’t you think I’m right, he’s been acting differently hasn’t
    he?
     I’m sitting on the fence  with this one, you’re both my good
    friends.
    40. TAKE WHAT SOMEONE SAYS WITH A PINCH OF SALT: regard
    something as exaggerated, or only believe a part of something

     Did you hear what Tina said happened in the office yesterday?
     Oh,  I would take anything she says with a pinch of salt.

    41. FREAK OUT: to become very angry, scared or excited

     Mum,  don’t freak out! I married a guy in Las Vegas.

    42. BE A CATCH: be someone worth marrying/having

     John is taking me out tonight.  He’s  such  a catch, I hope he’ll


    propose.

    43. PIECE OF CAKE: when something is extremely easy to do

     Do you think you could beat him in a race?


     Yeah,  piece of cake. I’m definitely a lot faster than him.

    44. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD: used if something someone says, is


    precisely correct

     My doctor  hit the nail on the head. He knew exactly what was
    wrong with me!

    45. COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG: when something is very expensive


     My son wants that mountain bike for his birthday, but it’ll  cost an
    arm and a leg!

    46. HIT THE BOOKS: to study very hard

     Do you want to go for lunch somewhere nice?


     No thanks, I’m going to  hit the books. I have an exam coming up
    soon.

    47. BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW: to take on something that is
    too much for you to handle

     He recently got promoted and took on some new responsibilities,


    but he’s just too busy. He  bit off more than he could chew, and
    I don’t think he can handle it anymore.  

    48. WHEN PIGS FLY: this means that something will never happen

     Aren’t you going to buy that dream house you told me about?
     Ugh, I will  when pigs fly. It’s just so expensive, I don’t think it’ll
    happen.

    49. DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER: this means don’t make a


    decision based on a brief impression or outward appearance

     I don’t like our new neighbours very much, they’re quite strange.
     Hey, you  shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Give them a
    chance, I think they’re just a bit quirky but really nice!
    50. YOU ROCK: you are great

     Thanks for the tickets, Rob.  You rock!

    51. MISS THE BOAT:


    when someone has missed their opportunity to do something

     Have you applied for that job yet?


     No, I think  I  may have  missed the boat. I should’ve done it last
    week.

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