English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms M, page 4
Idioms M, page 4: from: 'meat in sandwich' to: 'method in madness'
- the meat in the sandwich
- To say that someone is the meat in the sandwich means that
they are in an awkward situation, caught between two people or groups who are arguing.
"As a child I was the meat in the sandwich when my parents argued."
- To say that someone is the meat in the sandwich means that
they are in an awkward situation, caught between two people or groups who are arguing.
- meet (or find) your match
- If you meet or find your match, you
encounter someone who is equal to you in skills or abilities.
"Barry is an excellent tennis player, but he met his match in William."
- If you meet or find your match, you
encounter someone who is equal to you in skills or abilities.
- (a) matter of time
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of
time before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will
inevitably take place, although you do not know when.
"Restrictive measures will have to be introduced. It's just a matter of time."
- If you say that it is only or just a matter of
time before (or until) something happens, it is certain to happen or will
inevitably take place, although you do not know when.
- for that matter
- This term is used to add something that is also true.
"She refuses to fly, and she won't travel by train either for that matter."
- This term is used to add something that is also true.
- mean business
- If someone means business, they are serious about
what they announce.
"The boss says that in future any missing material will be reported to the police, and he looks as though he means business."
- If someone means business, they are serious about
what they announce.
- a taste of your own medicine
- If you give someonea taste of their own medicine, you
treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.
"People who always late should be given a taste of their own medicine."
- If you give someonea taste of their own medicine, you
treat them in the same unpleasant way that they have treated you.
- meet a deadline
- If you meet a deadline, you finish or complete something at the time or
by a date previously agreed.
"Working under pressure to meet a deadline can be motivating."
- If you meet a deadline, you finish or complete something at the time or
by a date previously agreed.
- meet someone's expectations
- If someone or something meets your expectations
it has the qualities you expected or hoped for.
"We were disappointed. The new restaurant didn’t meet our expectations."
- If someone or something meets your expectations
it has the qualities you expected or hoped for.
- meet someone's eye(s)
- If you look straight at someone
when you know they are looking at you, you meet their eyes.
"Mark was afraid to meet my eyes because he knew I was disappointed."
- If you look straight at someone
when you know they are looking at you, you meet their eyes.
- meet halfway
- If you meet someone half way, you accept to make a
compromise and give them part of what they are trying to obtain.
"We can't agree to all your conditions but we could perhaps agree to meet halfway."
- If you meet someone half way, you accept to make a
compromise and give them part of what they are trying to obtain.
- meet (something) head-on
- If you meet something head-on, you confront or deal with
something in a straightforward manner.
"I’m nervous about the interview but it’s a challenge I’ll have to meet head-on."
- If you meet something head-on, you confront or deal with
something in a straightforward manner.
- meet your maker
- This expression is used to say (often humorously) that someone
has died.
"Poor old Mr. Potter has gone to meet his maker."
- This expression is used to say (often humorously) that someone
has died.
- meet one's match
- If you meet your match you meet someone who is as good as you, or
even better, at doing something.
"Alex thought he was the best chess player but he met his match in Tom."
- If you meet your match you meet someone who is as good as you, or
even better, at doing something.
- meet a standard
- If something meets a standard,
it achieves a certain level of quality or performance
"The prototype was rejected because it did not meet our standards."
- If something meets a standard,
it achieves a certain level of quality or performance
- meet-and-greet
- This term refers to a reception (often informal) where a public
figure or important person can introduce themselves and talk to the guests.
"The new mayor is going to schedule a meet-and-greet reception for the residents."
- This term refers to a reception (often informal) where a public
figure or important person can introduce themselves and talk to the guests.
- megaphone diplomacy
- If the media, through press releases, interviews and
announcements, is instrumental in facilitating dialogue between two or more
countries, this is called megaphone diplomacy.
"The leader decided to use megaphone diplomacy in order to communicate with the world, including his opponents."
- If the media, through press releases, interviews and
announcements, is instrumental in facilitating dialogue between two or more
countries, this is called megaphone diplomacy.
- memory/brain like a sieve
- Someone who has a memory (or brain) like a sieve
has a very bad memory and forgets things easily.
"Oh, I forgot to buy the bread - I've got a brain like a sieve these days!"
- Someone who has a memory (or brain) like a sieve
has a very bad memory and forgets things easily.
- (your) memory serves you well
- If your memory serves you well, you remember correctly
or you have not forgotten any details.
"You're Stella's daughter, if my memory serves me well."
- If your memory serves you well, you remember correctly
or you have not forgotten any details.
- trip down memory lane
- If you take a trip (stroll or walk)
down memory lane, you remember pleasant things that happened in the past.
"Every Christmas is a trip down memory lane for the family when our parents take out the photograph albums."
- If you take a trip (stroll or walk)
down memory lane, you remember pleasant things that happened in the past.
- on the mend
- Someone who is on the mend is recovering after an
illness or injury.
"My grandmother hasn't been very well lately but she's on the mend now."
- Someone who is on the mend is recovering after an
illness or injury.
- method in (your) madness
- This expression means that someone's behaviour is not as
irrational as it seems.
"He's efficient despite his strange way of working; there's method in his madness!"
- This expression means that someone's behaviour is not as
irrational as it seems.
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