Commonly used english part 49 pot

like Idioms like a bat out of hell - with great speed and force... like a bolt out of the blue- suddenly and without warning It was like a bolt out of the blue when my father said that

a license to (do something)

- the permission/right/chance to do something

When my uncle got the contract to sell food at the stadium it was a license to print money

not a lick of work

- not even a small amount of work (usually used in the negative)

The children did not do a lick of work all morning when the teacher was away

lick one's lips

- show eagerness or pleasure about a future event

I began to lick my lips when I heard about the chance to go on the training course

lick/whip (something) into shape

- put someone or something into good condition

The young man joined the military and was quickly whipped into shape

lie/lay down on the job

- do a job poorly or not at all

The workers must have decided to lie down on the job because nothing was finished when the supervisor arrived

lie fallow

- remain unused (a field or land lies fallow)

The farmer let the field lie fallow for one growing season

lie in state

- after death a famous person (usually a political leader) sometimes lies in a state of honor in an open coffin so the public can see his or her body

The President lay in state for three days after his death

lie in wait

- watch from hiding in order to attack or surprise someone

The police decided to lie in wait for the bank robbers to appear at the bank

lie low

- stay quietly out of sight, try not to attract attention

"The man is very angry at you so I think that you should lie low for a few days until

he calms down."

lie through one's teeth

- tell lies

The woman will lie through her teeth in order to get what she wants

life of Riley

- an easy life of luxury, a pleasant life

My father has been living the life of Riley since he retired from his job last year

life of the party

- a person who is lively and helps make a party fun and exciting

My friend is the life of the party and everybody loves to see her

not lift a finger/hand

- not do anything to help anyone

Although he is a nice person he will not lift a finger to help anyone else

light into (someone)

- scold someone

The woman lit into her child when he came home from school late

light into (something)

- devour/eat something

As soon as we arrived home we wanted to light into our dinner immediately

light out (for somewhere)

- depart quickly for somewhere

We woke up early and prepared to light out for our first day of adventure

light up

- suddenly look pleased and happy

As soon as I told my cousin about our holiday plans his face lit up and he started smiling

like Idioms

like a bat out of hell

- with great speed and force

like a bolt out of the blue

- suddenly and without warning

It was like a bolt out of the blue when my father said that he was going to change jobs

like a bump on a log

- unresponsive

The boy spent the morning at home like a bump on a log

like a fish out of water

- appear to be completely out of place somewhere

I was like a fish out of water when I went to the party with my cousin

like a house on fire

- rapidly and with force

We worked like a house on fire in order to finish our work before our vacation

like a sitting duck

- unsuspecting and unaware

The robber was like a sitting duck when the police arrested him as he waited for his partner to leave the bank

like a three-ring circus

- chaotic/exciting/busy

The shopping center was like a three-ring circus when we went shopping on Saturday afternoon

like a ton of bricks

- strongly or forcefully, a surprise to someone

The news of his retirement hit me like a ton of bricks

like an open book

- someone or something that is easy to understand

Our boss is like an open book and it is easy to know what he is thinking most of the time

like crazy

- very fast, with great energy

They were running like crazy but still they couldn`t catch their friend

like father, like son

- a son usually acts like his father

"Like father, like son," the man said as he watched the boy playing baseball exactly like his father

like greased lightning

- very fast

The horse ran out of the barn and down the road like greased lightning

like hell

- with much effort and energy, never, not permissable

I had to run like hell this morning in order to catch the bus for work

"Like hell I am going to lend that woman any more money."

like it or lump it

- either accept something or forget it

I offered the woman a fair price for the TV and told her that she could either like it or lump it

Like it's such a big deal!

- It really isn't so important

"Like it's such a big deal!", the boy said when he told his friend about his lost book

like lambs to the slaughter

- quietly do something without realizing the danger/difficulties of the situation

The local basketball team went like lambs to the slaughter to meet the best team in the country

like looking for a needle in a haystack

- engaged in a hopeless search

Looking for my house keys at the beach was like looking for a needle in a haystack

like mad

- very fast, with great energy

I worked like mad but I was unable to finish the project by noon as I had hoped

like nothing on earth

- very unusual

The performance by our neighbor was like nothing on earth and surprised everyone who saw it

like one of the family

- as if someone were a member of one's family

My sister's friend is like one of the family and we invite her to come with us wherever

we go

like/love to hear oneself talk

- enjoy talking rather than listening to other people

My friend likes to hear herself talk and it is very tiring to be around her

like two peas in a pod

- very close or intimate

My two friends from school are like two peas in a pod and are always together

like water off a duck`s back

- without effect, without changing one`s feelings or opinion

He always criticizes his friend but his friend ignores it so the criticism falls away like water off a duck`s back

the likes of (someone)

- anyone like the person who you are talking about

I really don't enjoy spending time with the likes of my neighbor

line of least resistance

- a course of action that will cause the least trouble or effort

It was the line of least resistance so we moved out of our apartment quickly rather than have problems with the manager that we could never resolve

line one's own pockets

- make money for oneself in a dishonest way

The local politician had been lining his own pockets and did not win another election

line up

- take places in a line or formation, stand one behind another

We were forced to line up in front of the movie theater for over one hour

line up (someone with someone)

- supply a person with a date/companion

We tried to line up my friend's sister with our friend but it was not a successful match

line up (someone for something)

- arrange, schedule someone for something

We were unable to line up a speaker for Sunday evening so we must cancel the

meeting

line up (something with something)

- adjust two things correctly

The carpenter lined up the two pieces of wood before he nailed them together

lion's share (of something)

- the larger share of something

I gave the lion's share of my old CD collection to my neighbor

lip service

- support shown by words only and not by action

They paid lip service to the proposal but I don`t think that they really support it

listen to reason

- yield to a reasonable argument

The woman would not listen to reason when she went to complain about the coat that she had bought

litmus test

- a test that tries to determine the state of one important question

The judge's opinion about the tax issue was the litmus test that was used to see if he would be able to work with the government

a little bird told me

- learned from a mysterious or secret source

A little bird told me that I would be getting a nice present from my boyfriend next week

a little bit

- a small amount

I only had a little bit of time so I didn't talk to my mother about her recent problems

little by little

- gradually

He broke his leg while skiing but little by little it is getting better

a little frog in a big pond

- an unimportant person in a large group or organization

He transferred to the head office but he is a little frog in a big pond and nobody knows him now

little pitchers have big ears

- little children often overhear things that they are not supposed to hear

"Little pitchers have big ears," the woman said when she saw her daughter standing at the door listening as she talked to her husband

live a life of (something)

- have a life of a certain quality or style

My friend has been living a life of luxury since he won much money in the lottery

live and learn

- increase one's knowledge by experience

I will have to live and learn and try not to eat so much food that I almost get sick

live and let live

- not interfere with other people's business or preferences

Our neighbor believes that one should live and let live and she never complains or criticizes other people who live around her