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Answer for |
If someone has to answer for something, they have to accept
responsibility for their actions.
"He will have to answer for his dishonesty." |
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| Be that as it
may |
This expression means that what the speaker says may be true but
it will
not change the situation.
"OK. Fewer people may come because of the bad weather, but be
that
as it may, it's too late to cancel the show." |
Can't make an omelette
without breaking eggs |
This expression means that it is impossible to make important
changes
without causing some unpleasant effects.
"Some people will lose their jobs after the merger, but you
can't
make an omelette without breaking eggs." |
| Come to a bad end |
If someone comes to a bad end, their actions lead to disastrous
consequences which are sometimes deserved or predictable.
"If that boy doesn't change his ways, he'll come to a bad end!" |
| Come
with the territory |
To say that something comes with the territory means that it
has
to be accepted as part of a job or responsibility, even if it is
unpleasant.
"A successful actor has to expect intensive media coverage -
it comes
with the territory!" |
| Come what may |
To say that you will do something
come what may means that
you will do it whatever the consequences
may be.
"Come what may, I'm going to tell my
mother-in-law what I think
of her attitude!" |
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Devil to pay |
This expression means that there will be trouble
as a result of
something.
"There'll be the devil to pay if you break
anything!" |
| Even the
score |
When a person
decides to even the score, they try to get their
revenge on someone who has cheated or done them harm.
"When Jack discovered that Bob had cheated, he was determined
to even the
score." |
Face
the music
|
If you have to face the music, you have to accept
the
unpleasant consequences of your actions.
"He was caught stealing. Now he has to face the music!"
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Fall from grace |
To
say that someone has fallen from grace means that they
have done something wrong, immoral or unacceptable, and
as a result have lost their good reputation.
"The Finance
Minister fell from grace as a result of a sex scandal." |
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Fall
on one's sword |
If you fall on your sword, you take responsibility for, or accept
the consequences of an unsuccessful or wrong action.
"The organizer of the referendum resigned when the poor results
were announced. It was said that he 'fell on his sword'." |
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Get your fingers
burnt |
If you get your fingers burnt, you suffer as a result of an
unsuccessful action and are nervous about trying again.
"He got his fingers so badly burnt in the last elections that
he
decided to withdraw from politics." |
Reap the
harvest
|
If you reap the harvest,
you benefit or suffer as a direct result
of past actions.
"When he
won his first match, he began to reap the harvest of
all the hard
training." |
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Ripple effect |
When an action has an effect on something, which in turn effects
something
else, it is said to have a ripple effect.
"An increase in the price of oil will have a ripple effect on the
economy as a whole." |
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Slap on the wrist |
If you get a slap on the wrist, you receive a mild punishment or
you are reprimanded for something you have done.
"I got a slap on the wrist from my wife for
leaving the kitchen in
a mess." |
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Take the rap |
If you
take the rap for something, you accept blame or
punishment for something, even if you are not responsible.
"The whole class had to the take the rap for the disorder. |
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Tit for tat |
This expression refers to an injury or
insult given in return for
one received.
"He kicked me, so I
kicked him - it was tit for tat!" |
| You can't unring a bell |
This expression means that you cannot undo what has been done,
so you
must live with the consequences of your actions. |
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Wind up in the wrong hands |
If something winds up in the wrong hands, it comes into the
possession of someone undesirable, for example an opponent or
a competitor.
"Put the plans away carefully. We
don't want them to wind up in
the wrong hands." |
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