on the bandwagon- to do or join something because many others are doing it Everybody in our company is on the bandwagon to eliminate smoking in the workplace.. on the beam - to be doing
Trang 1on the bandwagon
- to do or join something because many others are doing it
Everybody in our company is on the bandwagon to eliminate smoking in the
workplace
on the beam
- to be doing well, to be just right or correct
What the politician said about the tax problem was right on the beam
on the bench
- to be sitting/waiting for a chance to play in a sports game
The new player was forced to sit on the bench for most of his first season
on the bench
- to be directing a session of court (usually a judge)
The new judge was on the bench for three days last week
on the blink
- to be not working
My stereo has been on the blink for many months
on the block
- to be for sale
Our house has been on the block for over a month now
on the borderline
- to be undecided, to be in an uncertain position between two things
Trang 2on the button
- to be exactly on time
I arrived for the meeting right on the button
on the contrary
- as the opposite
I thought that the speech would be boring but on the contrary it was quite interesting
on the defensive
- to be trying to defend oneself
I always feel that I am on the defensive when I talk to my friend about money
on the dole
- to be receiving welfare
This area is very poor and there are many people on the dole who live here
on the dot
- to be right on time
He always arrives for his meetings on the dot
on the double
- very fast
My father asked me to bring him the newspaper on the double
on the edge of one`s seat
- to be nervously and excitedly waiting for something
I have been on the edge of my seat all day while I wait for the contest to begin
Trang 3on the eve of (something)
- just before or on the evening before something
The sports fans were very excited on the eve of the big game
on the face of it
- from the way something looks, superficially
On the face of it, it looked like the speeding car had caused the accident
on the fence (about something)
- to be undecided
The politician is on the fence about the tax issue
on the fritz
- to be not operating properly
My television set is on the fritz and I may have to buy a new one
on the go
- to be busy doing many things
I have been on the go since early morning trying to get ready for the meeting
on the heels of (something)
- soon after something
On the heels of the big earthquake there were two weeks of heavy rain
on the horizon
- soon to happen
The government promised the citizens that there was going to be a tax decrease on the
Trang 4on the horns of a dilemma
- to be bothered by having to decide between two things/people
We were on the horns of a dilemma as we tried to decide if we should move or stay in our apartment
on the hot seat
- to be subject to much criticism/questioning
I was on the hot seat when my supervisor began to ask what had happened to the broken computer
on the hour
- to be exactly on the hour mark (12:00, 1:00 etc.)
We give my grandmother her medicine on the hour
on the house
- to be provided free by a business (usually a bar or restaurant)
The hotel room was not ready when we arrived so they gave us drinks on the house
on the job
- to be working, to be doing what you are expected to do
The young man has only been on the job for a few weeks now
on the level
- to be honest
The man was on the level with me when he told me about my job possibilities
Trang 5on the lookout for (someone or something)
- to be watchful for someone or something
I am always on the lookout for older original movie posters
on the loose
- to be free to go, to be not shut in or stopped by anything
The zoo animals were on the loose for three hours before the zookeeper discovered their escape
on the make
- to be trying to get some advantage (often money or sexual)
"Be careful of him He is on the make and will try and cheat you out of your money."
on the market
- to be available for sale
I have seen many used cameras on the market recently
on the mend
- to be in the process of healing or becoming better
He broke his leg last week but it is now on the mend
on the money
- to be exactly right, to be in the right amount
I was on the money when I guessed the correct amount for the plane ticket
on the move
- to be moving around from place to place, to be in motion
Trang 6on the nose
- to be just right, to be exact
What the woman said about our new boss is on the nose
on the off-chance
- in case something may happen, the slight possibility that something may happen
I asked the salesman if he had a part for my computer on the off-chance that he may have one in his store
on the one hand
- from one point of view
On the one hand I want to go on a nice holiday but on the other hand I don't have enough money
on the other hand
- looking at the opposite side of a matter
He is very intelligent but on the other hand he is very lazy and always gets low marks
at school
on the point of (doing something)
- to be ready to start doing something
We were on the point of buying a new car when we changed our minds
on the QT
- secretly, without anyone knowing
I do not want anyone to know about my plans so let`s discuss them on the QT
Trang 7on the right track
- to be following the right set of assumptions
I am on the right track in my search for a good piano teacher for my daughter
on the road
- to be travelling (especially as a salesman or performer)
Her husband is a salesman and is often on the road
on the rocks
- to be breaking up (a relationship), to be ruined
He has been married for seven years but his relationship is now on the rocks
on the same page
- to be thinking similarly about something
I was on the same page as my friend about our plans for a holiday
on the same wavelength
- to be thinking similarly about something
Everybody has been on the same wavelength for many months about the need for change in the company
on the sly
- secretly
We went to the restaurant on the sly so that nobody would know where we were
on the spot
- to be in a difficult or embarrassing situation
Trang 8on the spur of the moment
- on a sudden wish or decision, suddenly
On the spur of the moment I bought a new bicycle
on the strength of (something)
- due to something such as a promise or evidence
On the strength of my high test score I was admitted to the university that I wanted
on the take
- to be accepting bribes
The border guard was discovered to be on the take and was immediately fired
on the tip of one`s tongue
- not quite able to remember something
The name of the movie is on the tip of my tongue
on the trail/track of (someone or something)
- to be seeking someone or something
The police dogs were on the trail of the man who had robbed the bank
on the up and up/on the up-and-up
- to be honest/trustworthy/sincere
I decided not to work for the company because I do not think that they are on the up and up
on the verge of (doing something)
- to be just about to do something
I was on the verge of quitting my job when I suddenly changed my mind
Trang 9on the wagon
- to be not drinking alcohol (usually used for someone who has a drinking problem)
He has been on the wagon for over seven months now
on the warpath
- to be very angry, to be looking for trouble
He is on the warpath today so you should stay out of his way
on the way (somewhere)
- along the route to somewhere
We got something to eat on the way to the airport
on the whole
- in general
On the whole I think that it is a good idea but I would like to study it further
on the wrong tack
- to be under a misapprehension, to be on the wrong course of action
The leader of the meeting went off on the wrong tack and caused much confusion among the members of the group
on the wrong track
- to be following the wrong set of assumptions, to be going the wrong way
The police were on the wrong track when they went to question the owner of the small store
Trang 10on thin ice
- to be in a risky situation
The woman was on thin ice with her company after she continued to come to work late every morning
on time
- to be at the scheduled time
Our train arrived exactly on time
on tiptoe
- to be standing or walking on the front part of the feet
I walked around the house on tiptoe so that I would not wake up my family
on top
- to be in the lead
He was on top of his class when he was in university
on top of (something)
- in addition to something, along with something
On top of everything else he wants me to work on Sunday
on top of (something/things)
- to be managing very well, to be in control of things
We are able to keep on top of our work now that we have someone to help us
on top of (something/things)
- to know all about something, to be up-to-date
He reads the newspaper every morning and is on top of the latest news