Commonly used english part 37 pdf

Everyone is very quiet this morning." hush money - money paid to persuade someone to be silent about certain information The politician was arrested for trying to pay hush money to a vic

How`s that?

- what did you say?

"How`s that? I couldn`t hear you because the radio was too loud."

How so?

- how is it so?

"I know that you think that the answer is wrong but how so?"

a hue and cry

- an excited protest/alarm/outcry

The bank raised a hue and cry when we failed to notify them about our financial problems

to huff and puff

- to breathe very hard

I was huffing and puffing after I walked up several floors in our apartment building

(to be) hung up on (someone or something)

- to be obsessed or devoted to someone or something

My friend is hung up on one of his colleagues at work

to hunger for (something)

- to have a strong desire for something

The men were hungering for adventure when they began their tour of Africa

(to be) hungry for (something)

- to desire something

I was hungry for some different food so I went to a new restaurant

hunt high and low for (someone or something)

- carefully look everywhere for something

I have been hunting high and low for my house keys but I can't find them

hurl an insult (at someone)

- direct/make an insult to someone

The young boys stopped to hurl an insult at the older boy

hush-hush

- something kept secret or hidden

"Why the big hush-hush? Everyone is very quiet this morning."

hush money

- money paid to persuade someone to be silent about certain information

The politician was arrested for trying to pay hush money to a victim of the scandal

to hush up

- keep news of something from getting out, prevent people from knowing about something

The government tried to hush up the bad economic news but the media soon

discovered the facts

to hush up

- to be or make quiet, to stop talking/crying/making noise

The mother told her child to hush up when they were in the department store

hustle and bustle

- a large amount of activity and work that is usually done in a noisy and busy place There is a lot of hustle and bustle downtown every Saturday morning

(to be) hyped-up

- to have an excess of energy, to be excited

She has been hyped up all morning because she will go to Italy for a holiday next week

I

idiot box

- television set

My friend sits in front of the idiot box all day and never gets any work done

if looks could kill

- used when someone makes an unfriendly look or frowns at someone

If looks could kill then the horrible way that the woman looked at me would have killed me instantly

if so

- if that is the case

The lawyer said that he wants to meet us this afternoon but if so then we will not have any documents ready to discuss

if the shoe fits, wear it

- if something that is said describes you then it probably is meant for you as well

He was complaining that many workers at his company were lazy However, his friend looked at him and said that if the shoe fits, wear it

if worst comes to worst

- if the worst possible thing happens

If worst comes to worst we can cancel our holiday and go next year

ill at ease

- nervous/uncomfortable

He appeared to be ill at ease during the interview

ill-disposed to (do something)

- not friendly or favorable to something

Our company is ill-disposed to begin working on the project with the other company

ill-gotten gains

- money or other goods acquired illegally or dishonestly

The man used his ill-gotten gains from the sale of the stolen car to go on a holiday

ill will

- hostile feelings or intentions

There is much ill will between the two departments in our company

implicate (someone) in (something)

- suggest that someone is involved in something

The man was implicated in the scheme to sell the illegal shares in the company

in Idioms

in a bad mood

- sad, depressed

I was in a bad mood after I wrote the university exam

in a bad way

- in a bad or critical state

The woman is in a bad way after her recent car accident

in a bind

- in trouble

They will really be in a bind if they can`t sell their house by next month

in a coon's age

- in a very long time

I have not seen my friend in a coon's age

in a family way

- pregnant, going to have a baby

Our new secretary is in a family way and plans to take a few months off from work soon

in a flash

- quickly

I was finished with the job interview in a flash

in a fog (haze)

- confused, not sure what is happening

He is always in a fog and never seems to know what is going on

in a fool's paradise

- seem to be happy but in a situation that will not last

The couple were living in a fool's paradise with their temporary jobs and the high salaries

in a hole

- in some trouble, in an embarrassing or difficult position

He is really in a hole now that he has problems both at work and at home

in a huff

- in an angry or offended manner

The head of our department left the meeting in a huff

in a hurry

- moving or acting quickly

He is very busy and always in a hurry

in a jam

- in trouble, in a difficult situation

He is in a jam now that his car is not working properly

in a jiffy

- very fast, very soon

I promised that I would be finished with the phone in a jiffy

in a kind/sort of way

- to a certain extent, a little, somewhat

In a kind of way I want to buy a new car but in other ways I don't think that I really need one

in a lather

- excited and agitated

My friend was in a lather when she heard that she would be transferring to another department

in a little bit

- soon

"I will give you back your dictionary in a little bit."

in a mad rush

- in a hurry, frantically

The woman was in a mad rush to finish her shopping and return home

in a month of Sundays

- in a very long time

I have not been to the shopping mall in a month of Sundays

in a nutshell

- briefly

I tried to explain the problem to him in a nutshell but there still wasn`t enough time

in a pickle/in a pretty pickle

- in a mess, in trouble

My friend is in a pickle now that she has lost her job

in a pig`s eye

- hardly, unlikely, never

in a pinch

- okay when nothing else is available

The other tool will do in a pinch if we can`t find the correct one

in a quandary

- confused and uncertain about what to do

I am in a quandary about where I should go on my vacation next month

in a rush

- in a hurry

They did the job in a rush so I am a little worried about the quality

in a rut

- always doing the same thing

She feels that she is in a rut after doing the same job for seven years

in a sense

- in a way, sort of

In a sense I can understand what my friend's problem is about but still it is difficult to imagine what he wants to say

in a snit

- in a fit of anger or irritation

My friend was in a snit because I forgot to phone her on Saturday

in a split second

- in just an instant

The car accident happened in a split second before anyone could do anything to prevent it

in a spot

- in some trouble, in an embarrassing or difficult position

She is in a spot right now as she was unable to enter university and also has no job

in a stew (about someone or something)

- upset or bothered about someone or something

The woman's husband is in a stew because he lost his car keys

in a stupor

- in a dazed condition

I was in a stupor after I wrote my last exam

in a tight spot

- in a difficult situation

The man was in a tight spot after he lost his job

in a tizzy

- in an excited and confused condition

The girl was in a tizzy all morning as she got ready for her friend's wedding

in a way

- to a certain extent, a little, somewhat