Tài liệu English Expressions ppt

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: They're just like the full-sized locomotives but in miniature.. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Yeah,

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a beauty

The expression a beauty is slang for something that is highly

valued

Our new car is a beauty

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Now the fridge is a beauty It runs on gas, used to be kerosene

a bit rough

Something that is a bit rough is unfair

The penalty decision was a bit rough

a blast

Something that is a blast is a lot of fun

Flying in a plane is a blast

So that was incredibly exciting, especially coming from Alice

Springs which is quite remote, to go there and be immersed in

this kind of incredibly kind of cutting edge and really exciting

field, yeah, that was really a blast

a dip

a swim

I enjoy a dip on a hot day

Just came out with the boys for a bit of a dip

a far cry from

very different from something

This new car is a far cry from my old bicycle

For pets and owners alike, sledding is a far cry from the

traditional run through the local park or walk around the block

a go

To give something a go means to give it a chance, or a try

I'll give that new face cream a go

At a public meeting he managed to convince about a dozen

people from the town of 300 to give his idea a go

a hell of a lot

a large amount

I've got a hell of a lot of work to do

They're just like the full-sized locomotives but in miniature

You have to steam them up, you have to shovel coal while

you're driving along You have to make sure the water level is

still the same so in many senses it's just the same as driving a

big one, and a hell of a lot lighter

a helping hand / a hand

help; assistance

The charity offers a helping hand to the homeless

And then - I remember the date - on the January 20, 1955, Dad

wanted a hand in the shop so he said, "Come down for a few

years and help me in our general store," but it's turned out 51

years later, I'm still here

a must

something that must be experienced

This new film is a must

Fishermen crave it and for tourists a taste is a must and that taste is catching on

a picture of health

If someone is a picture of health they look very healthy You're a picture of health today

10 years on, Glenys is a picture of health but her world was rocked three years ago with another call from Jo

a steal

a bargain These shoes are a steal at five dollars

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: About 60 locals have put what they could into buying the building - a steal at $33,000

a storm brewing

big problems coming in the future There is a storm brewing in the office

about to

To be about to do something is to be going to do it very soon or

in the near future

I'm about to go to bed

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Along with his partner, musician Wendy Rule, Llewellyn Griffiths is now about to embark on a worldwide selling trip

across the board

over the whole range of things Prices have fallen across the board

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Trades areas, I think the whole raft of trades, you can start at the construction trades, electrical trades, across the board

act like a sheep

To act like a sheep is to follow without thinking

She always acts like a sheep and buys the latest fashion add another string to your bow

To add another string to your bow is to have another thing you can do if what you are already doing fails

You can't go through life with just one skill You need to add another string to your bow

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Walcha district has been renowned for its sheep, its cattle, its timber, and having some of the lowest temperatures in New South Wales Today, it is adding another string to its bow with its art

ad-hoc

not planned; happening when necessary

We have meetings here on an ad hoc basis

We do things often in a very ad hoc way We need to do that better

against all the odds

in spite of huge difficulties; even though it looked impossible Against all the odds, she became president

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Against all the odds, he survived

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akin to

similar to; having the same qualities

Cricket is akin to baseball because they are both summer games

that used a bat and ball

The human technology equivalent is something akin to breast

cancer screenings, although this horse test is much broader, and

can be used as regularly as every fortnight

all but

almost; just about; nearly

I’ve all but finished writing the report

Paul Schembri, from the Canegrowers Association, says the

devastating mix of poor weather, low prices, competition from

Brazil and crop disease have pushed many farmers deep into

the red and all but out of business

The expression all but can also be used to mean all except

I answered all but the last two questions on the test

all clear

The all clear is an indication that a situation is no longer

dangerous

The doctor has given me the all clear and I'll be back to work

soon

Until the all clear is given, Tennant Creek residents are being

asked to remain vigilant and keep a close eye on potential

mozzie breeding areas

all done up

dressed elaborately for an occasion

She got all done up for the wedding

Love the clothing I'm not all done up tonight, but I love the

20s Charleston gear

all in a day's work

not unusual; part of the ordinary rountine

Dealing with people who are drunk is just all in a day's work to

policemen in this area

But for black tracker Jimmy James, solving famous murders

and hunting prison escapees was all in a day's work

all manner of

all sorts of; all kinds of; many different types

There are all manner of solutions to this problem

So you're saying accounts, client information, emails: all

manner of sensitive information can be gotten?

all of a sudden

suddenly

All of a sudden she decided to go out

one computer, is certainly mind-boggling complexity, but

when you then strap together a million - a hundred million

them and allow them to connect to each other live, all of a

sudden you've created this monstrous system…

all the go

very popular (informal)

SMS text messages are all the go

Adventure tourism is all the go

all up

adding everything together All up your bill comes to $150

In true accountant style, Alan Shadgett has kept all the paperwork, and he says all up it's cost him around $30,000

all walks of life

all kinds of jobs and backgrounds People from all walks of life enjoy watching football

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: .we get all walks of people that come through here

along those lines

similar

I liked the style of their house - perhaps we could build one along those lines

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Hopefully in a few years time the girls can start getting some crowds and start getting some match payments and contracts - something along those lines, but it is improving and we can only hope for it to get better

amounts to

adds up to; seems to be; is Not feeding your pets amounts to cruel treatment

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Every time one of those children of the parents that I met in some of these locations three decades ago is in difficulty at school, is getting in trouble with the law, this amounts to a breach of the Australian ethic and idea of a fair go

and that

et cetera; and so on; other things like that

I like driving anything fast - motorbikes, speedboats and that This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Yeah, it's been really rewarding just, like, growing up with them and just being able to experience other cultures and being, yeah, tolerant of these other cultures and customs and that

anybody's guess

When it's anybody's guess when no-one really knows what the facts are

It's anybody's guess how many kangaroos there are in Australia

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: There could be hand grenades, detonators - anything from bazooka shells to artillery shells - and hopefully they're all kept

in a safe and secure state But 60 years down the track it's anybody's guess

appear out of thin air

To appear out of thin air is to appear suddenly and unexpectedly as if out of nowhere

She expects money to just appear out of thin air

By turning the camera on or off people could be made to vanish

or appear out of thin air, and superimposing two scenes made transparent ghosts gradually appear and then fade away

apple of my eye

The apple of somebody's eye is a person who is loved the most, usually a child

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My daughter is the apple of my eye.

apple pie order

If we say that things are in apple pie order, we mean that they

are in excellent condition

My health is in apple pie order

appreciate in value

become more valuable; increase in price

Property is something that will always appreciate in value

She says while they may appear a low cost option, relocatable

homes rarely appreciate in value and are more expensive than

conventional housing in the long term

armed with

To be armed with something is to have something that can be

used to achieve something

Armed with his improved English, he applied for a university

course in Australia

Armed with camcorders, a stills camera and a microphone,

Michael and Drew are out to prove that ghosts exist and can be

found all over Tasmania

as a rule

mostly; often enough for it to appear to be a rule

As a rule, cars have four wheels, but some British models have

only three

As a rule, it's generally an older person's sport

as if

as though; in a way that suggests

He looked as if he would cause trouble

To get blokes to sing - it is very hard - and they think they can't

sing but I get them to go something like OH

DAY-AY-AY-OH DAYLIGHT COME AND ME WANNA GO

HOME and so you ask the blokes to sing that and it's as if it's

like not a song!

as safe as houses

very safe

Investing in bank shares is as safe as houses

He grew up in the area and he says the precious Aldinga Scrub

will be as safe as houses

as such

Here , as such means literally or in the usual sense of the word

There is no hotel as such in the town, but you can find

accomodation at the caravan park

because of what something is

I am the main contributor and, as such, I should be paid the

most

in itself; as it is

I'm not interested in money as such, but I do like the things it

can buy

as the crow flies

The expression as the crow flies refers to the shortest distance

between two points measured in the air above the ground

The top of the next hill is only a kilometre away as the crow flies, but it's twice that distance when you have to walk down into the valley and up the other side

It was, and is, our greatest river Our centre of myth and legend, our Mississippi or Amazon But it drains the world’s flattest and driest continent and weaves like a drunken sailor, taking three miles to travel one mile, as the crow flies

as well

in addition to; too They sell tea as well as coffee

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Well, my father was a world champion and my great uncle was

a world champion as well so it's been in my family all my life

at a crossroads

at a point in time when a decision must be made or when something different is about to happen

She's at a crossroads in her life She either starts a family or takes the promotion

In WA, as in all of Australia's southern states, the wild-caught abalone industry is at a crossroads

at all

in any way I'm not at all confused

In the last year or so, I've spent several thousand dollars on these seven-inches It has never gotten me down at all

at bay

To hold something at bay is to stop it from doing damage

I held the lion at bay with a chair

No plant is fireproof, but there are plants which are less flammable and better suited to holding the fire at bay

at close quarters

close together; within a short distance

I want to move to a position at close quarters to the nest so I can film the birds feeding their babies

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Living at close quarters in work camps along the rail route, fitting into the team is a key part of handling the tough conditions

at home

To be at home means to feel comfortable and relaxed in a place

He's at home in the water

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: He's usually more at home on a harvester, so for Cameron Tubby, this isn't your average crop

at its peak

at its best; at the highest point Her career is at its peak

at odds with

not in agreement with I'm at odds with my boss about how much I should be paid This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

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While the ponies are now a managed herd, conservationists

argue that their presence is at odds with the founding principles

of national parks

at once

At once can mean immediately

I want you to do this at once

Or it can mean at the same time

I can't understand if you all talk at once

at stake

at risk; in jeopardy

The soldiers put their lives at stake during the battle

With all of science, there are large egos involved and scientists

have a lot at stake

at the drop of a hat

immediately; without hesitation

He can recite the whole poem at the drop of a hat

And so we devoted last year to building that relationship so that

now, at the drop of a hat, so to speak, we can actually relate to

her either here or where she lives and on the telephone and, as

she gets a little bit older, by computer - by email as well

at the eleventh hour

at the last minute; very late

We came up with a solution at the eleventh hour

Now the action at the moment is piecemeal and at the eleventh

hour for loggerhead turtles, it's not good enough

at the end of the day

finally; when everything is taken into account

At the end of the day a decision has to be made

The tracking and the following of paperwork and if the stock

are accurately branded and clearly branded at the end of the day

we can locate them and identify them by their registered brands

and earmarks

at the end of your tether

To be at the end of your tether is have no more patience left

I was really at the end of my tether and lost my temper

Even if I have a day off with rough weather, I'm sort of a bit

toey, but now it's just ridiculous, I'm right at the end of my

tether, really

at the expense of

causing damage or loss to something or somebody

We could make more clothes for the market, but only at the

expense of quality

But is this trend at the expense of the local traditional shopping

strip?

at the forefront

in a leading position

This new computer game will put us at the forefront of the

industry

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: This institution has always been at the forefront of research, and was one of the first biological centres in the world to make all living plant material and herbarium records available via the internet

at the heart of

At the heart of means at the centre of, the most important part

of something

At the heart of the matter is his lack of money

At the heart of Steve Johnston's concern is the McArthur River Mine

at the moment

now; at this time; presently

At the moment I'm reading this example

We are sort of, I guess, stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment that we're only getting the same type of flower constantly, season after season

at their feet

needing them; prepared to be generous to them; admiring them The brilliant young doctors had the medical world at their feet This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

In fact, any young person wanting to be trained in traditional trades has the manufacturing and construction worlds at their feet, according to many employers

at worst

taking the least hopeful view; the worst thing that can happen is You might as well buy a lottery ticket - at best you win a million dollars and at worst you've wasted only a few dollars

~~~~~~*B*~~~~~~

back a winner

To back a winner means to bet on a winner, or to support something that does well To back means to bet money on a horse

We backed a winner by investing in a successful movie This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

It might not be Las Vegas but combined with the mining resurgence, locals who've kept their money on Broken Hill now think they’ve backed a winner

back flip

When someone changes what they said they they were going to

do, we call it a back flip and even use it as a verb

He's back flipped on his promise to stop smoking

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Optometrists' Association says the government's back flip will do far more harm than good

back of beyond

outback; bush; remote country

My first job was in a tiny community in the back of beyond This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: They may have been living in the back of beyond, but two-way radio and the postal service kept them in touch

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back on the menu

back on the list of things to eat or do

Now that it’s summer, ice-cream is back on the menu

Here, beef is back on the menu

back then

in the past

Back then things were much better

Just to see how they did it back then and we're almost going

back the same way now looking for more natural products

instead of the synthetic products that they're putting into

creams and potions and lotions

back to business

return to normal; go back doing ordinary things

It's back to business for school children next week when the

holidays finish

So we're talking about that in the human sense and the natural

sense so we, so kids can see that it's part of the natural process

and we have to cope with it, and nature gets back to business

pretty quickly

bad press

Something that gets bad press has bad things said about it

publicly or receives unfavourable media coverage

Michael Jackson has had some bad press

Like many introduced species - the cane toad, the rabbit, the

European carp the Indian or common mynah gets bad press

bark is worse than his bite

We say that someone's bark is worse than their bite when

someone is not as dangerous or angry as they seem

He threatens to do all sorts of things, but his bark is worse than

his bite

battler

Battler is an Australian term for someone who is struggling to

make a living

He's a battler from the bush

The ‘Etona’ was built in 1898 for the Anglican Bishop of

Adelaide, as a mission boat, bringing religion to the battlers

along the Murray

baulk at

To baulk at something is to refuse to do something

She baulked at the offer of extra work

The issue of cost is something many customers baulk at

be sold

To be sold is to be convinced by something

I am sold on this new idea of yours

Linda Pickett came back and tried out a one-line pitch on

fellow saleswoman Jane Walker, something about convenience

and coffee Both were sold

be with somebody in spirit

To be with somebody in spirit is to be thinking about them when you can't be with them

I won't be able to make it to the wedding, but I'll be with you in spirit

bear in mind

don't forget about; keep in mind; think about You should bear in mind that the traffic will be heavy at the time you want to get to the airport

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Probably the first one we will do, bearing in mind the way the traffic is moving, is probably a multi decking to the car park outside

bear/feel the brunt

To bear or feel the brunt of something is to suffer the most from it or have to deal with its worst effects

The south of the city will bear the brunt of the approaching storm

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: This study is concentrating on dugongs off the southern Queensland coast, because they're closest to urban developments and will feel the brunt of man-made impacts

beat someone hollow

To beat someone hollow is to beat them in a contest easily The polls say that the government will be beaten hollow in the coming election

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: What's the best thing you like about spending time with your friends here? Winning bridge?

Beating them hollow

begs the question

Something that begs the question makes you want to ask a particular question

Alll this talk about build a new public transport system begs the question of where the money for it is coming from

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Government has now funded Relationships Australia to support overseas adopted children Indeed Relationships Australia beat East Meet West for the tender to do the work But that begs a deeper question, partly political, partly ideological, but simply put, who knows best what overseas kids

go through?

behind bars

in jail He'll be behind bars for the rest of his life for committing murder

At seven years of age, Maddalin's big question is answered and she's unfazed that her new-found dad is behind bars

behind the wheel

When you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are driving it You shouldn't get behind the wheel if you've been drinking This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Most weekends you'll find her under the bonnet or behind the wheel of her high performance Commodore getting ready for her next race

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bells and whistles

attractive extra features

This new car has air conditioning and all the bells and whistles

It won't have all the latest bells and whistles and you won't be

playing the latest computer games on these

bent on

determined to

She is bent on finishing her studies this year

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, surfers bent on discovering new

breaks stumbled upon a small farming area perched on the

spectacular coastline of the Margaret River region

bet your bottom dollar

be certain

You can bet your bottom dollar that it will rain today

But, while there’s a simple, cheap and dirty solution available,

you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll just leave the toxic

time-bomb ticking away

better part of

most of; the greater part of

I’ve been studying for the better part of five years

Not only did he promote asthma drugs, he took them himself

for the better part of twenty years

better still

even better; more than just better

I got a new job and, better still, double the money I used to be

paid

beyond the scope

outside the range; beyond the area of control

Politics is really beyond the scope of sports teams

But any long-term solution to water shortages could lie beyond

the scope of government

beyond their means

too expensive for them

The cost of that house is beyond their means

But running the organisation is beyond their means

big guns

Big guns are people who are the most successful at what they

do in their field

There are a lot of big guns at the writers' festival

She knows she is competing against some big guns to get her

show on the road

big slice

large part

A big slice of my time is spent with the children

And it all adds up to a big slice of the economy

big smoke

the city

I'm leaving the country to try my luck in the big smoke

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: But it's just three years ago that its licence to sell fermented and spiritous liquors was transferred by an investor to the big smoke

bigger than Ben Hur

We use the expression bigger than Ben Hur to say that something is extravagant or extremely large Ben Hur was a famously expensive, large-scale movie

If you invite all those people the party will be bigger than Ben Hur

In America, horse racing is literally bigger than Ben Hur, contributing more to the US economy than the film industry

bit of a drag

Something that is a bit of a drag is boring, tiresome or unpleasant

Learning English can be a bit of a drag

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Good during the winter but summer's a bit of a drag Makes you earn a beer

bite the bullet

do something you don't want to do; do something unpleasant you can't avoid

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and pay my debts

I would definitely encourage them Really the benefits'd far outweigh any problems we've had out here And just to bite the bullet and go for it because it's very rewarding

bitten by the bug

To be bitten by the bug is to have a sudden strong interest in something

Since going overseas last year he's been bitten by the travelling bug

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Like hundreds of people over the past decade, Rob Alexandre has been bitten by the wine bug

black market

illegal market Drugs are sold on the black market

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Collectors warn any harsher restrictions may just promote a black market

black sheep

A member of the family who is unusual or considered a failure

is called the black sheep

He's the black sheep of the family - he left school early and became an actor

blanch at

To blanch at something is to find it shocking To blanch is to become white or go pale People are supposed to go pale when they are shocked by something

I can watch the surgery I don't blanch at the sight of blood This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

He says the island has an international profile and something like an eco-lodge or floating hotel would attract up-market, international visitors prepared to pay premium prices ordinary holiday-makers would blanch at

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blessing and a curse

Something that is a blessing and a curse has good aspects and

bad aspects

Living in another country can be a blessing and a curse

Working from home is a blessing and a curse and I've found the

only way to make it work is to a) have hobbies and b) give

yourself excuses to regularly get out of the house

blot on the landscape

A blot on the landscape is something that spoils the look of a

place

Some say that the new wind farm is a blot on the landscape

It's totally inappropriate It's going to be a blot on the

landscape

blown away

To be blown away is to be amazed or impressed

This new computer game will blow them away

When I was fishing I used to take friends and people I knew

and it used to blow them away, this scenery and that

blue

In Australian slang, a blue is a fight or argument To have a

blue with someone means to argue with them

We had a blue about who was doing most of the houswork

Did you get into some really good blues with people?

bode well

If something bodes well it is a good sign

This new project bodes well for the future of the town

While all this bodes well for the State, Bernard Salt warns the

increased population growth is unlikely to last forever, but he

believes its slowing is at least a few years away

body of evidence

A body of evidence is a collection of evidence It's all the

things known about a certain subject

The body of evidence about smoking makes it clear that it is

definitely not good for your health

There's a growing body of evidence that it does have

cardiovascular benefits

bone of contention

A bone of contention is a matter which causes disagreement or

controversy

Class sizes have been a bone of contention among teachers for

many years

And then there's the hat issue I think that's a real bone of

contention with younger women, because they're very aware

that in Queensland you must wear a hat, but not if there's a

gale-force wind

booked out

completely reserved

There is no room in this hotel - we are booked out

Because accommodation is so tight, entire hotels were booked out years ago, several tent cities have been built to handle the overflow

born and bred

To be born and bred is to born and brought up in the one place He's Jakarta born and bred

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Author Jeff Duncombe is Campbell Town born and bred

bottom line

The bottom line is the most important thing to be worried about

or the most important conclusion This expression comes from the last or bottom line of an account that tells you how much money you have made

The bottom line is that our team has to win this game to stay in the competition

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Bottom line, can it be done?

brain drain

A brain drain refers to intelligent and well-qualified people leaving a country to work overseas

The country's brain drain will damage the economy in the long term

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The key finding is that there is no brain drain in Australia…

brainchild

A person’s brainchild is their original idea

English Bites is Barry Mitchell's brainchild

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Certificate of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills program is the brainchild of psychologist Louise Earnshaw

break down the barriers

To break down the barriers means getting rid of the things that block your way and that make it difficult or impossible to do something

We need to break down the barriers of racial prejudice This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: .I think the fact that we've got three Indigenous women in the parliament in the Northern Territory also breaks down the barrier and educates our children in remote Aboriginal communities that political life is not impossible

break new ground

To break new ground is to do or discover new things

Our lab is breaking new ground in AIDS research

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Single mum and full-time Child Safety Support Officer Carmel Knox is one of six women breaking new ground

break the ice

To break the ice is to make people feel relaxed We often use this expression to talk about formal meetings or parties People drink at parties to help break the ice

break wind

The expression break wind is a polite way of saying fart It's best not to break wind during a job interview

Ah Ma loved her brandy and she had this knack of breaking wind while everyone was watching TV

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breaking with tradition

doing something new; changing the usual way of doing

something

We're breaking with tradition and getting married on the beach

breath of fresh air

A breath of fresh air is something or someone that is new,

different and exciting

Our new staff members are a breath of fresh air

breathe down someone's neck

pay too much attention to what someone is doing

I can't study with people breathing down my neck

breathe easily/freely again

You breathe easiky again when a crisis is over and you don't

need to worry anymore

I can breathe easily again now that I know exactly where the

children are

breathe your last

die

Late in the afternoon the president breathed his last

breather

A breather is a break or a rest

I'll just take a breather before I finish the job

On the Derwent at daybreak, this workhorse of the Southern

Ocean takes a breather

breathing space

A breathing space is a time to rest

I need a breathing space before I begin a new book

breeze in

succeed easily

Everyone expects the American basketball team to breeze in

And that's one extra race the NSW Pacific Dragons didn't need

to do after breezing into the final

bridges the gap

allows two groups to come together; makes it eaiser to move

from one thing to another

This new proposal should help bridge the gap between the

warring parties

I feel like my jewellery bridges the gap between art and

fashion

bright idea

A bright idea is a clever idea To be bright means to be clever

or smart Sometimes we say something is a bright idea, but we

mean the opposite

Whose bright idea was it to park their car in my way?

In this example, we’re really saying that it was a stupid

idea.This is how the expression is used in one of our stories:

Joanna Gair's bright idea means paper maker Darren Simpson

spends a fair bit of his working day sorting through kangaroo

poo in search of the best nuggets

bring home the bacon

To bring home the bacon is to be successful or to earn the money for a family

I have to go to work to bring home the bacon

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: It's like our Logies, our Oscars, our Golden Globes, our Tony Awards It's the big one, really, and we're here to bring home the bacon, quite frankly

bring out the best

Something that brings out the best in someone makes them show their best qualities

A disaster often brings out the best in people

A venue like this helps bring out the best in its local music community, but also provides a venue for overseas music

bring someone down a peg or two

To bring someone down a peg or two is to make them realise they are not as good or powerful as they think they are It's time she was brought down a peg or two and stopped ordering people around

It may not be possible to eradicate this pest, but at least he can

be brought down a peg or two

bring us to our senses

make us behave sensibly Sometimes we need a shock to bring us to our senses

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Will it take an Internet meltdown to bring us to our senses?

brush up on

improve or revise what you know People use English Bites to brush up on their English

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: It's not just for the blokes locals like Astrid Skene can also be found brushing up on their power tool know-how

buck stops here/ with you

the final responsibility is yours He's the coach of the team, so the buck stops with him

I think it's good when things go well being captain There's a lot of pressure on you and you have to make the final moves and I guess if things don't work out the buck stops with you, so, there's a fair bit of pressure on

buck the system

To buck the system is to obstinately resist authority or object strongly to it

How does she manage to buck the system and take so much time off?

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Well, if I am bucking the system, we are bucking the system because the system isn't working for us

buggered

Buggered is slang for damaged or broken

This computer is buggered

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: But you must have had some injuries over the years

Oh, yeah Buggered knees and shoulders and that

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burn the candle at both ends

To burn the candle at both ends is to work too much doing too

many things or always be getting up early and going to bed

late

I'm exhausted I've been burning the candle at both ends lately

business as usual

When we say that it’s business as usual, we mean that things

continue as normal, often despite some trouble

It's business as usual at the markets, despite the fire there last

night

It was business as usual at Simon Hurwood's Brisbane practice

business end

The business end of something is the most important part

The finals are the business end of the football season

buy into

If you buy into something you believe it

I don't buy into any of that new age nonsense

When I was at school I was told that I wasn't gonna be anything

other than a mother at an early age of 16 or something, um, so I

should learn how to do food and nutrition and sewing I didn't

buy into it at all

by and large

mostly; generally

By and large the crowd is well behaved

By and large in the Sydney area, life was peaceful, but what

happened to cause trouble were (sic) convicts stealing artefacts

by any means

definitely not; in no way at all

We might be in front , but we haven't won by any means

We're not perfect, by any means

by far

to a large degree; by a long way

This is by far the best example

It's my favourite shark by far

by foot

by walking

He's going to cross Africa by foot

Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour in the south-west is

accessible only by foot, plane or boat

by the look of it

judging from what seems to be; apparently

We're going to be late by the look of it

Some large pieces came down there, by the looks of it

by the same token

for the same reason or reasons

A desalination plant will be good in that it will provide

drinking water, but by the same token it could ruin the fishing

industry by making the sea too salty

We're too big to eat and they don't really want to waste their venom on us but, by the same token, if they're provoked they will defend themselves

by the way

This expression is used to introduce something you have just thought of

I saw him yesterday, oh, by the way did you know that he's quit his job?

I think that any form of singing in Australia is elitist in a lot of ways Mainly because of this audition process and the fact that you have to be really good and by the way I'm very

supportive of that kind of singing

~~~~~~*C*~~~~~~

call it a day

If you call it a day, you decide to stop doing something

I know we haven't finished, but I'm getting too tired to

concentrate properly Let's call it a day.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: But now one long-standing partnership is coming to an end

Caller James Reid has decided to call it a day: rounding up

dancers and a young family is all a bit much

call the shots

To call the shots is to be in control

I'm not the one who calls the shots around here.

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Coordinating part of a 40-man track-laying team, the West

Australian calls the shots on what to do when things go wrong cannot hold a candle to

Someone or something that cannot hold a candle to someone

or something else is not nearly as good as the person or thing they are being compared to

Women play great tennis, but they can't hold a candle to the

top male players

cap off

complete; provide the final piece that pleases

Some people say a glass of wine caps off the perfect meal.

And to cap off the living canvas, one hundred and fifty artless

critics

capture the imagination Something that captures the imagination is something that

makes you very interested or fascinated by something

Digital technology has captured the imagination of a

generation

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Tales of terror like those from the Port Arthur convict

settlement, captured the imagination of Michael Phillips from

an early age

cark it Cark it is slang It means to die

My goldfish carked it.

If I were to cark it, they'd have somebody come to the house

and say well Mrs Pharo hasn't answered the phone or we don't know where she is, could you check?

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carry the can

To carry the can is to acept the blame or responsibility for

something

It's not fair that only teachers are expected to carry the can for

the poor performance of the students

Broomrape is not a problem for us as farmers, it is everyone

else's problem but we are the ones carrying the can.

cash cow

A cash cow is an excellent source of income It’s something

that can be relied on to always makes lots of money

The gambling industry has become a cash cow for

governments in Australia

The Tasmanian Government is looking to these areas as a cash

cow and not really taking their responsibilities for management

of the areas very seriously

cash in

make money from; turn to advantage

Let’s cash in on the property boom and sell our house now.

Having had this event thrust on them by the gods, Ceduna is

cashing in on its moment in the shade.

cat got your tongue

To ask someone has the cat got your tongue? is the same as

asking 'why don't you say something?'

What's up - has the cat got your tongue?

catch on

become popular

Using mobile phones has really caught on in the last decade.

Michael Noad has discovered that while the males sing a

common tune, any variation that proves a hit with the females

will quickly catch on.

catch on

realise something; notice something

It took me a while to catch on.

According to an Adelaide University study, parents are often

slow to catch on when their child is depressed.

catch up with

meet with people you know and talk to them

I must catch up with my old school friends.

While Rob Gilfillan guides the young kids across the Burleigh

Heads sand and then along the scenic route his daughters use

the squad to catch up with friends…

cat's whiskers

The cat's whiskers refers to the best thing, person or idea

He thinks he's the cat's whiskers

caught red-handed

To be caught red-handed is to be caught in the act of doing

something wrong

He was caught red-handed taking money from the till.

We haven't actually caught anybody red-handed, as it were

We've had reports of vandalism and disturbance to the site, and

in each case we followed those up

caught the eye

attracted the attention

Her performance caught the eye of the producer.

The research and development of Paul's violins caught the eye

of the Shanghai Violin Company, China's biggest producer of violins

caught up in

To be caught up in something is to be involved against your

will

How did we get caught up in this mess?

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Clive Linnett's concerns are shared by many other farmers, who

fear they're caught up in something more than drought championed by

supported and promoted by

The fight to save the environment is championed by many

famous people

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: .many Greek and Italian families continued to grow and process fruit for pickling and for oil mainly for their own use and since the '80s, the oil and pickled olives market has been

growing, championed by hobby farmers and food lovers chances are

it's likely

Chances are that the government will win the election.

But chances are Dave's no ordinary plesiosaur.

change the face

change dramatically; make it look very different

The writings of Karl Marx changed the face of politics.

If it could be done, then it would be a tremendous breakthrough

that would change the face of science.

chequered history

A chequered history is a varied history - the combination of

the good, bad, interesting and unusual things that have happened to something or somebody

This old house has had a chequered history.

But for all its chequered history, it's the stories told by the

pictures in the collection that are the most fascinating

child's play

very easy

Driving an automatic car is child's play.

chip in

To chip in is to contribute or help

Are you going to chip in to help buy a present for Sue who's

retiring next week?

This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Lions Bay Rotary Club in Adelaide, which specialises in

reconditioning electric wheelchairs for charity, chipped in

when they heard of Danielle's need

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