30 SUPER COMMON English Phrases. 표현심화 29

30 SUPER COMMON English Phrases. 표현심화 29

https://youtu.be/T4AZLYMiYMw

• to eat one’s words

-to take back what one said.

e.g.)

She ate her words when she realized she was talking badly about the boss right to his face.

 

 

• to make a splash

-to attract a lot of attention

e.g.)

Fred made a splash in the meeting today when his phone started ringing.

 

 

• to be on the safe side

-to create a sense of security and minimize any possible risk.

e.g.)

We recorded a video of the incident just to be on the safe side.

 

 

• as far as one can tell

-to conclude something based on the available information.

e.g.)

As far as I can tell, the shop was closed today.

 

 

• to go down the drain

-to be completely wasted

e.g.)

All of his efforts on the new product went down the drain when the office caught fire.

 

 

• to go down in history

-to be remembered forever; recorded in history books.

e.g.)

His speech will go down in history as one of the greatest!

 

 

• to go down a storm

-to be well received by an audience.

e.g.)

The opening band went down a storm! It was their first concert!

 

 

• to take a rain check

-to politely decline an offer with the exception of taking it up at a later time

e.g.)

I can’t go to the museum today, but I am happy to take a rain check!

How about next week?

 

 

• to take the biscuit

-to be the most foolish or remarkable part of something

e.g.)

Tara has done some pretty terrible things, but stealing Joe’s cat takes the biscuit.

 

 

• to take advantage of

-to make unfair use of someone/something for one’s personal benefit.

e.g.)

He took advantage of the boss by showing up late to work each day.

 

 

• to call something off

-to cancel something.

e.g.)

We had to call the festival off when we found out that it was going to rain.

cf)

• to cool off

-to make colder.

 

 

• to come to a head

-to reach a critical point

e.g.)

The situation came to a head when she showed up to a family party drunk.

 

 

• to make a bee-line for

-to go directly toward something/someone

e.g.)

Tommy made a bee-line for his mum when he saw her after school.

 

 

• to draw a blank

-to fail to recall from memory

e.g.)

I am sorry, I am drawing a blank. I can’t remember her address.

 

 

• to put it/something mildly

-to express that something is usually worse than it is being said

e.g.)

To put it mildly, I don’t really like Mary.

 

 

• to have the upper hand

-to have a superior or more powerful position

e.g.)

Patrick has the upper hand in receiving the promotion as he has been with the company for over 10 years.

 

 

• to have one’s work cut out (for one)

-to be faced with a difficult or lengthy task.

e.g.)

We have to paint the entire house this weekend! We’ve got our work cut out for us.

c.f.)

• be cut out for something | be cut out to be something

- (informal) to have the qualities and abilities needed for something

: ~에 적합하다[꼭 알맞다]

e.g.)

He's not cut out for teaching.

                               그는 교직에 안 맞다.

He's not cut out to be a teacher.

                               그는 교직에 안 맞다.

 

 

• to hit the ground running

-to get started quickly or with the great success

e.g.)

Miguel hit the ground running when he was promoted to manager. He made lots of amazing changes.

 

 

• to keep your nose clean

-to stay out of trouble or gossip.

e.g.)

Keep your nose clean, when you go out tonight. I don’t want a phone call from the police in the middle of the night.

 

 

• to look alive

-to move more quickly or engage in a more active way.

e.g.)

It is the final half of the game.

Look alive out there!

 

 

• to go out on a limb

-to put oneself in a vulnerable situation

e.g.)

He went out on a limb when he proposed to his girlfriend at the Beyonce concert. I am relieved she said yes!

 

 

• to go to the dogs

-to become ruined or become worse.

e.g.)

This TV show has really gone to the dogs. What were the writers thinking?

 

 

• to run the gauntlet /ˈɡɔːntlət/

-to experience harsh criticisms or harsh treatment by others.

e.g.)

Celebrities have to run the gauntlet of journalists every single day,.

 

 

• to lie low

-to avoid attention; hide

e.g.)

We are lying low for now until our neighbors forget about the big party we had.

 

 

• to bury the hatchet /ˈhætʃɪt/

-to end a conflict

e.g.)

Tom and Greg buried the hatchet by drinking a few beers together and discussing their problems.

 

 

• to go to town (on something)

-to do something with a great amount of enthusiasm.

e.g.)

The production team really went to town on the set design! It looks like we are actually in Rome.

 

 

• to come in handy

-to become useful

e.g.)

The book about phrasal verbs came in handy when I started my English course.

 

 

• to buy time

-to temporarily delay something from happening.

e.g.)

He hadn’t finished his project, so he tried to buy time by saying he had been feeling under the weather.

 

 

• to be there for someone

-to be available to provide support or comfort to someone.

e.g.)

You are my best friend! I am always going to be there for you no matter what happens!

 

 

• to put a damper/dampener on something

-to make something less strong or exciting.

e.g.)

Sandy’s bad attitude really put a dampener on her surprise birthday party.