Commonly used english part 76 ppt

scare someone out of his or her wits- to frighten someone very much The dog scared the little boy out of his wits.. scare someone stiff - to scare someone severely The little boy was abl

say (something) in a roundabout way

- to say something indirectly

I had to say what I wanted to say in a roundabout way in order to make my point

say (something) to (someone's) face

- to say something (often unpleasant) directly to someone

My supervisor always complains about me but she is afraid to say anything to my face

say (something) under one's breath

- to say something so softly that almost nobody can hear it

The woman said something under her breath but I could not understand it

say the word

- to give a sign, to show a wish

"Just say the word and I will come and meet you at the airport."

say uncle

- to surrender, to give in

The little boy was forced to say uncle and agree to do what the older boy wanted

.

scale (something) down

- to make something smaller by a certain amount or proportion

The government decided to scale down their plans for the sports stadium

scare (someone) out of his or her wits

- to frighten someone very much

The dog scared the little boy out of his wits

scare (someone) silly

- to frighten someone very much

The mouse scared the girl silly

scare (someone) stiff

- to scare someone severely

The little boy was able to scare his little brother stiff when he decided to hide in the closet and scare him

scare the (living) daylights out of (someone)

- to frighten someone very much

Falling off the bicycle scared the daylights out of the little girl

scare up (someone or something)

- to find someone or something, to gather something with some effort

We were able to scare up a couple of sleeping bags so that we could go camping

scared silly/stiff

- to be frightened very much

I was scared stiff during the horror movie

scatter (something) around

school of hard knocks

- the ordinary experiences of life

The man learned about life in the school of hard knocks

school of thought

- a particular philosophy

There are many schools of thought about how the government should proceed with its new transportation plan

scout around for (someone or something)

- to search here and there and all over for someone or something

The company is scouting around for a new warehouse for their products

scrape the bottom of the barrel

- to take whatever is left after the best has been taken

The company is scraping the bottom of the barrel if they must give that woman a job

scrape (something) together

- to gather small amounts of money or something (usually with some difficulty) for some purpose

We managed to scrape together enough money to go on a holiday even though

business is very bad at the moment

scrape (something) up

- to find or gather something with some effort

My friend scraped up some money and came to visit me during the summer

scratch around for (something)

- look here and there for something

The woman was scratching around for some money to buy some food

scratch (someone`s) back

- to do something nice for someone in the hope that they will do something for you

"You scratch my back and I`ll scratch yours," the customer said when we talked about the new sales contract

scratch the surface

- to only begin to do or learn something

My friend is interested in classical music but she has only begun to scratch the surface

of what is available

scream bloody murder

- to complain bitterly about something

The woman screamed bloody murder when someone took her parking place at work

screw around

- to loaf about, to pass time without doing anything

I screwed around all morning and did not get anything done

screw up

- to make a mess of something, to cause trouble for someone or something

My travel agent screwed up my travel schedule and I had to stay at the airport

overnight

screw up one's courage

- to build up one's courage for something

I screwed up my courage and went in to ask my supervisor to transfer me to a

different department

scrimp and save

- to be very thrifty, to save up for something

I have been scrimping and saving in order to buy a new laptop computer

scrounge around for (something)

- to look/search in many places for something

We did not have enough wood for the fence so we had to scrounge around the

neighborhood to find some more

seamy side of life

- the most unpleasant or roughest aspect of life

The policeman learned much about the seamy side of life during his many years on the job

search high and low for (someone or something)

- to look carefully everywhere for someone or something

I have been searching high and low for my address book

search me

- I don`t know, How should I know

"Search me," my friend said when I asked him what had happened to the front of his car

search one`s soul

- to study and think about one`s reasons and actions to see if one has been fair and honest

I have been searching my soul to see if I could have prevented my friend's death in the car crash

second-guess (someone)

- to try to guess what someone else intends to do or would have done in a situation

You should never try to second-guess the actions of the firefighters in a dangerous situation

second hand

- not new, used by someone else

We went to a second-hand bookstore to look for the books

second nature to (someone)

- to be easy and natural for someone

Playing a musical instrument is second nature to my friend

second-rate

- to be not of the best quality

The performance of the school choir was second-rate and they need more practice to improve

a second thought

- a thought that one has after thinking about something again

"On second thought maybe you should bring an extra coat."

second to none

- to be better than everything

The performance by the opera singer was second to none

second wind

- energy that is regained after being tired

After we got our second wind we continued on our hike up the mountain

security against (something)

- something that keeps something safe, protection against something

The money in the bank is my security against losing my job in the future

security blanket

- something that one holds onto for reassurance or comfort (like a child and a blanket)

The boy uses his computer as a security blanket so that he does not have to go out and meet new people

see Idioms

see a man about a dog

- to leave for some unmentioned purpose (often to go to the restroom)

I drank several cups of coffee and I soon had to stop my car to see a man about a dog

see about (something)

- to check into something

I am going to see about getting the book before next week

see double

- to see two of everything instead of one

I began to see double after I hit my head on the edge of the fence

see eye to eye (with someone)

- to agree with someone

We do not always see eye to eye on things but generally I have a good relationship with my friend

see fit to (do something)

- to decide to do something

I hope that my company sees fit to spend more time training its employees

see no objection to (something)

- to not have any objection to something

I see no objection to my friend coming to the meeting with me

see one`s way clear to (do something)

- to feel able to do something

"When you see your way clear to begin the job could you please come and tell me."

see red

- to become very angry

My friend saw red last night when I told him about the broken dishes

see (someone or something) as (something)

see (someone) home

- to accompany someone home

I saw my cousin home after her visit last evening

see (someone) off

- to go with someone to their point of departure

I went to the airport to see my mother off

see (someone) out

- to go with someone out of a room/house

I went to the front door to see our guests out to their cars

see (someone) to (somewhere)

- to escort someone to a place safely

I saw my friend to the door when he decided to go home

see (something) out

- to finish something, to not quit doing something

I decided to stay with my company in order to see out the restructuring process

see (something) through

- to do something until it is completed

I want to see the building project through until it is finished

see stars

- to think that one is seeing stars as a result of being hit on the head

When I was hit by the opposing player I fell to the ground and began to see stars

see the color of (someone's) money

- to verify that someone has (enough) money

I did not give anybody a ticket for the dinner until I saw the color of their money

see the handwriting on the wall

- to know that something is certain to happen

We saw the handwriting on the wall and we knew that our company was going to go bankrupt

see the last of (someone or something)

- to see someone or something for the last time

I was very happy to see the last of my friend who was visiting me

see the light

- to realize your mistake, to suddenly see how to proceed with something

I finally saw the light and began to work at the same pace as everyone else

see the light at the end of the tunnel

- to foresee an end to something such as a problem or a task

I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I knew that I would finish the work soon

see the light of day

- to be born, to begin

I do not believe that his plans to build a new house will ever see the light of day