Something or someone one hates / detests

 

A: Gardening never stops; every day something has to be done -- weeding, pruning, digging, planting...

B: Yes, I can see you work really hard; the garden looks beautiful.

A: Actually gardening is my bete noire so I never do any. I pay my gardener, Mr. Rake, to do it all for me!

This expression literally means black beast in French. The plural form in English is bete noires.

 

 

Faux pas

Embarrassing social mistake

 

A: I had a drink with our new neighbor, Mrs. Zambuni. We talked about all sorts of things, even politics. I said that all politicians were liars and should be put in prison!

B: Oh dear you've made a huge faux pas. Her father has been a Member of Parliament for twenty-five years!

 

Meaning false step, this French expression only describes mistakes which are made in a social situation, for example, at a meeting or party.

 

In the fullness of time

This expression (it's found in the Bible at Galatians 4:4) means eventually; sometime in the future; or when the time is right. Whenever that time is, it certainly isn't now! "In the fullness of time, I hope to be able to visit Europe." "If I study hard, in the fullness of time I should be able to get a degree in Civil Engineering." "In the fullness of time, Juliet will sell her house and buy an apartment." "In the fullness of time, i hope to fall in love, get married, and have a family," Nicolas said.

 

 

A / The gutter press

"It's a real honor to be able to sell papers for the The Daily Blah," Fred smiled. That startled me because everyone knows that The Daily Blah is a gutter press newspaper. Then Fred laughed. "I know that, I was only kidding you," he said. A / the gutter press refers to a type of newspaper that publishes scandal and gossip. "And very little news," Fred added

 

 

Ahead of one's time

The way Ray dresses confuses his father. He wears strange clothes and has an even stranger haircut. "Why do you dress like that?" his father asked. "Because, dad, I'm ahead of my time," Ray replied. to be ahead of one's time is to be very modern, very advanced. "Is there such a thing as being too far ahead of one's time?" his father asked.

 

A backhanded compliment

Ronald has lost his title as the strongest man in the world. He's now congratulating the man who won... but as you can see he's giving him a backhanded compliment. This is a remark that sounds like a compliment but its' said sarcastically. "Well done. I should have done better," The ex-champion said, offering a backhanded compliment.

 

 

A big noise

Gertrude's boss isn't called a big noise without a reason! when he's upset, his employees sure know about it! That isn't the only reason he's called a big noise, though, for a big noise is any important person in a position of authority. "Isn't it an honor to work for such a big noise?" Gertrude asked her co-worker.

 

Birthday suit

Today is little Jonathan's birthday. In his eagerness to see what gifts await him, he has rushed from his bedroom wearing nothing but his birthday suit! In the event that you don't know it, to be in one's birthday suit is to be absolutely naked. Happy birthday, dear Jonathan!

 

Bless someone's little cotton socks

Though this colloquial expression used to be addressed only to children, it's now used -- informally, of course -- to wish someone well or to thank them. "How nice of you to do the dishes. Bless your little cotton socks," "Well, goodbye and bless your little cotton socks, Joe. i hope you enjoy your trip.

 

A blind spot

"Whenever I bring up the subject of our moving to a new apartment you become stubborn and refuse to discuss it," Millie's husband complained. "You have a blind spot about moving." The next day Millie had her eyes examined and learned that a blind spot refers to a matter or topic a person refuses -- or is unwilling -- to accept, discuss or understand.

 

Break a butterfly on a wheel

The "wheel" was an ancient instrument of torture. It has given us this rather old expression meaning to use more force or energy than necessary to accomplish a simple task. "I've got to punish Gertrude for not studying but I don't want to break a butterfly on a wheel by being too severe with her," her mother said.

 

 

Bring out the big guns

The mice are tired of Chadwick giving them trouble. now that he's asleep they're seizing the opportunity to bring out the big guns to show him who's boss. To bring out the big guns is to make use of a concealed plan to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate or competition.

 

 

A burning question

The last time you were asked a burning question, did you see smoke and fire coming from it? I doubt it, for a burning question simply describes a question of great interest or importance. "The burning question is who will win the beauty contest?" "The burning question is this: where were you tonight?"

 

Burst one's buttons

Colloquially, the word "bust" is often used instead of the word "burst", as in this expression which means to be proud. When we are proud we stick out our chests. If we stick them out too far our buttons might pop off! "I thought I was going to bust my buttons when I was given a medal," Fred smiled.

 

 

Bring someone to account

"I find you have a good record but I must call you to account for once helping an old lady across the street, " Ken's new boss said. To bring someone to account is to ask people to explain their reasons for doing something. Usually they have done something wrong so they are being blamed.

 

 

Get some shut-eye

"I have an important meeting tomorrow so I'm going to bed to get some shut-eye, " Luke said. Once in bed, he tossed and turned. "I wish I could catch some shut-eye," he said. "Even a little shut-eye would be better than none!" What Luke is saying is that he'd like to get some sleep.

 

 

The cat's pyjamas

Carrick has just returned from a visit to his tailor. He's examining a new suit he had ordered. "It's great! It's super! It's the latest fashion 1 " he cried. "It's the cat's pyjamas." What he means is that the suit is very nice. " I'll look the cat's pyjamas in it, " Carrick grinned. That means he thinks he'll look wonderful.

 

 

Come down on someone like a ton of bricks

It's unfortunate but people can come down on someone, or something, like a ton of bricks. When Clement was late for work, his supervisor came down on him like a ton of bricks. When Clement gave a weak excuse for being late, his supervisor came down on it like a ton of bricks. In both instances the supervisor was directing the full force of his anger at Clement. "I've had a miserable day," Clement said.

 

 

Corner the market in something

In this expression the word "corner" means to have control of enough of something -- it could be anything that is bought and sold -- to be able to manipulate (control) its pric e. It's the same as having a monopoly. "Now, if I could just corner the market in sand, I'd get rich!" Winston laughed.

 

 

Do someone a good turn

"You've done a number of favors for me," Brewster said, "so allow me to do you a good turn. Let me take you out to lunch today." Slightly dizzy, Brewster's friend agreed. He hadn't expected Brewster to do him a good turn. To do someone a good turn is to do something nice or helpful for someone.

 

 

Dot the i's and cross the t's

We see in this illustration a perfect example of someone who did not dot the i's and cross the t's. This means to be careful, thorough, and to pay close attention to details. "Charles! You placed the letters backwards in this idiom! You must be careful to dot the i's and cross the t's when you draw your illustrations."

 

 

Down the hatch

A hatch is a small door. Colloquially, a person's throat is called a hatch. That's why when people are celebrating and drinking together you frequently see them lifting their glasses and saying, " Down the hatch. " That means " let's drink ". "I propose a salute to Penelope's success," someone shouted. "Down the hatch."

 

 

Drown one's sorrow

It's obvious that Timothy has a broken heart: it's beside him on the table! Now he's trying to drown his sorrows. When people drown their sorrows, they drink lots of alcohol in an attempt to forget their pain, problems or unhappiness. "You can't drown your sorrows, Timothy. You must face them boldly like a man... er, I mean like a mouse."

 

 

Fish in troubled waters

To fish in troubled waters is to take advantage of a troubled or confused situation to seek personal gains or rewards. "The recent storms have caused confusion and flooding in parts of the city," Fergus said. "That has given me a perfect opportunity to try my luck fishing in muddy waters," he grinned.

 

 

Flat as a pancake

One day Penelope saw a picture of the North Pole. "Why, it's flat as a pancake there," she exclaimed. Later in the kitchen cooking breakfast she heard a thump. Looking down she saw her father on the floor. "Heavens, he's flat as a pancake!" she cried. When something is flat as a pancake it is very level or very flat.

 

 

A flea market

"I knew it would be a mistake to bring you here," Mike scolded her cat. "Whenever I take you to a flea market you get nervous and start scratching." Mike's cat shouldn't get upset for a flea market is simply a name given to an outdoor market where secondhand articles and antiques are sold.

 

Live in a fool's paradise

A fool's paradise is a state of unreal happiness, and people who live in a fool's paradise are deceiving themselves: their happiness or trust is based on false information or a misunderstanding of the truth. " You're living in a a fool's paradise if you think you can finish school without studying," the teacher warned.

 

 

From China to Peru

A quick look at a map of the world will show you that Peru is a long, long way from China. It's for that reason that the expression from China to Peru means " all over the world ". "Products made in Hong Kong can be found from China to Peru." "Ken's reputation for honesty is known from China to Peru."