bright and early - early in the morning
EXAMPLE 1: Our flight to Berlin leaves at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, so we'llhave to get up bright and early.
EXAMPLE 2: We have lots of cookies to bake so we'll have to start brightand early tomorrow.SYNONYM: at the crack of dawn
crash course - short and intensive instruction
EXAMPLE 1: Yesterday, Joan's son sat down with her for a couple of hoursand gave her a crash course on using the Internet.
EXAMPLE 2: Rachel had a date on Friday night with an auto mechanic. Hegave her a crash course on changing her oil.
Fat chance! - definitely not
EXAMPLE 1: The boys at school are always laughing at Dana. Will she beinvited to the school dance? Fat chance!
EXAMPLE 2: You want to borrow my new car and drive it across the country?Fat chance!SYNONYMS: never in a million years; no way!
(to) give it a shot - to try something
EXAMPLE 1: I've never tried to make wine in my bathtub before, but perhapsI'll give it a shot.
EXAMPLE 2: You can't open that jar? Let me give it a shot.SYNONYMS: to give it a try; to try one's hand at somethingNOTE: "To give it one's best shot" means to try as hard as one can.
happy camper [slang] - a happy person; a satisfied participant
EXAMPLE 1: When Linda's passport was stolen in Florence, she was not ahappy camper.
EXAMPLE 2: Steve is taking five difficult courses this semester. He's not ahappy camper!NOTE: This expression is usually used in the negative (not a happy camper).
(to have) mixed feelings - to feel positive about one aspectof something and negative about another
EXAMPLE 1: When our houseguests decided to stay for another week, Ihad mixed feelings. On the one hand, I enjoyed hanging out with them.On the other hand, I was tired of cooking for them.
EXAMPLE 2: I have mixed feelings about the president of our company.He's good with the clients, but he's nasty to his employees.
needless to say - obviously
EXAMPLE 1: You've got a test tomorrow morning. Needless to say, youcan't stay out late tonight.
EXAMPLE 2: Needless to say, you shouldn't have waited until ChristmasEve to do your shopping. The stores are going to be very crowded!SYNONYM: it goes without saying. Example: You've got a test tomorrow,so it goes without saying that you can't stay out late tonight.
(to) not have a clue - to know nothing about
EXAMPLE 1: Bob talks about working at McDonald's, but the truth is hedoesn't have a clue about making hamburgers.
EXAMPLE 2: "Do you know how to fix a broken printer?" - "No, I don'thave a clue!"
(to) not sleep a wink - to be awake all night
EXAMPLE 1: Ted was so nervous about his chemistry test that he didn'tsleep a wink the night before.
EXAMPLE 2: It's not surprising that Jill didn't sleep a wink last night.She drank a large cup of coffee before going to bed.
(to) work like a dog - to work very hard
EXAMPLE 1: Larry became an investment banker after college, and nowhe works like a dog.
EXAMPLE 2: Al worked like a dog on his term paper and got an "A+" on it.SYNONYMS: to work one's tail off; to work like a horse; to work one'sfingers to the bone49
(to) cheer someone up - to make someone happy
EXAMPLE 1: Susan called her friend in the hospital to cheer her up.
EXAMPLE 2: My father has been depressed for weeks now. I don't knowwhat to do to cheer him up.
NOTE: You can tell somebody to "Cheer up!" if they are feeling sad.
(to) give (someone) credit - to acknowledge someone's contribution;to recognize a positive trait in someone
EXAMPLE 1: The scientist gave his assistant credit for the discovery.
EXAMPLE 2: I can't believe you asked your boss for a raise when yourcompany is doing so poorly. I must give you credit for your courage!
(to) give credit where credit is due - to give thanks or acknowledgementto the person who deserves it
EXAMPLE: I will be sure to thank you when I give my speech. I alwaysgive credit where credit is due.
(to) go into business - to start a business
EXAMPLE 1: Jeff decided to go into business selling baseball cards.
EXAMPLE 2: Eva went into business selling her homemade muffins.
good thinking - good idea; smart planning
EXAMPLE 1: I'm glad you brought an umbrella — that was good thinking!
EXAMPLE 2: You reserved our movie tickets over the Internet? Goodthinking!
(to) have a heart of gold - to be very kind and giving
EXAMPLE 1: Alexander has a heart of gold and always thinks of othersbefore himself.
EXAMPLE 2: You adopted five children from a Romanian orphanage?You've got a heart of gold!
Help yourself - serve yourself
EXAMPLE 1: "Help yourselves to cookies and coffee," said Maria beforethe meeting started.
EXAMPLE 2: You don't need to wait for me to offer you something. Pleasejust help yourself to whatever you want.
NOTE: Pay attention to the reflexive form: Help yourself in singular, helpyourselves in plural.
(to be) in a bad mood - unhappy; depressed; irritable
EXAMPLE 1: After her boyfriend broke up with her, Nicole was in a badmood for several days.
EXAMPLE 2: I don't like to see you in a bad mood. How can I cheer you up?
just what the doctor ordered - exactly what was needed
EXAMPLE 1: Martin wanted a hot drink after spending the day skiing. Acup of hot cocoa was just what the doctor ordered.
EXAMPLE 2: Our trip to Florida was so relaxing. It was just what thedoctor ordered!
(to) make a bundle - to make a lot of money
EXAMPLE 1: Bob's friend Charles made a bundle in the stock market andretired at age 45.
EXAMPLE 2: Sara made a bundle selling her old fur coats on eBay, awebsite where you can buy and sell used things.
(to be) on edge - nervous; irritable
EXAMPLE 1: Whenever Susan feels on edge, she takes several deepbreaths and starts to feel more relaxed.
EXAMPLE 2: Ever since his car accident, Neil has felt on edge.
out of this world - delicious
EXAMPLE 1: Mrs. Field's oatmeal raisin cookies are out of this world!
EXAMPLE 2: Mmmm, I love your chicken soup. It's out of this world!
(to) pig out [slang] - to eat greedily; to stuff oneself
EXAMPLE 1: Ted pigged out on hot dogs and hamburgers at the barbequeand then got a stomachache.
EXAMPLE 2: "Nicole, stop pigging out on cookies or you'll never be ableto eat your dinner!"NOTE: Pay attention to the preposition "on" after the verb "to pig out."One can pig out on hotdogs, pig out on candy, pig out on ice cream.
up of tea - the type of person or thing that one generally likes
EXAMPLE 1: Hockey isn't Alan's cup of tea. He prefers soccer.
EXAMPLE 2: I know Joy is nice, but she's simply not my cup of tea.NOTE: This expression is almost always used in the negative. She's notmy cup of tea.
(to be) down in the dumps - to feel sad; to be depressed
EXAMPLE 1: It's not surprising that Lisa is down in the dumps. Paws, thecat she had for 20 years, just died.
EXAMPLE 2: It's easy to feel down in the dumps when it's raining outside.
(to) drop by - to pay a short, often unannounced visit
EXAMPLE 1: If we have time before the movie, let's drop by Bill's house.EXAMPLE 2: "Hi, I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drop by!"
(to) hang around - to spend time idly; to linger
EXAMPLE 1: We had to hang around the airport for an extra six hoursbecause our flight was delayed.
EXAMPLE 2: Nina's boyfriend Boris is coming over soon. She hopes herparents aren't planning on hanging around the house.
(to) hang out - to spend time (often doing nothing)
EXAMPLE 1: Ted spent all of last summer hanging out by his friend's pool.
EXAMPLE 2: Kathy and her friends like to hang out at the mall.NOTE: "Hang out with" means to keep company with someone.
(to) have a blast [slang] - to enjoy oneself very much
EXAMPLE 1: Last summer, Nicole had a blast backpacking throughEurope with some friends.
EXAMPLE 2: Heather spent her spring break in Fort Lauderdale with millionsof other college students. She had a blast!
(to) have a good time - to enjoy oneself
EXAMPLE 1: Marcy and Jose had a good time salsa dancing at Babalu, anightclub in Manhattan.
EXAMPLE 2: Nora and Jake had a good time on their honeymoon in Maui.
take it easy - relax; don't worry
EXAMPLE 1: You lost your keys? Take it easy, I'm sure you'll find them.EXAMPLE 2: Stop yelling and take it easy. I'm sure there's a good explanationfor why Joe borrowed your car without asking first.
(to) take something the wrong way - to take offense
EXAMPLE 1: Don't take this the wrong way, but I liked your hair betterbefore you got it cut.
EXAMPLE 2: Jessica is offended. I guess she took it the wrong way whenI told her she should exercise more.
NOTE: This expression is often used in the negative form: "Don't take thisthe wrong way, but..."
there's no accounting for taste - it's impossible to explainindividual likes and dislikes
EXAMPLE 1: Ted likes to put sugar on his spaghetti. I guess there's noaccounting for taste.
EXAMPLE 2: Tiffany has a tattoo of a squirrel on her leg. There's noaccounting for taste.
under one's breath - quietly; in a whisper
EXAMPLE 1: "Amber is strange," muttered Nicole under her breath,as Ted was leaving the room.
EXAMPLE 2: Mike agreed to take out the garbage, saying under hisbreath, "I always do the dirty work around here."
(to be) up in the air - not yet determined; uncertain
EXAMPLE 1: It might rain later, so our plans for the picnic are up in the air.
EXAMPLE 2: Our trip to Russia is up in the air. We aren't sure we'll getour visas in time.35