English Idioms and Expressions
Idioms: Actions and Behaviour-7
from: 'go into overdrive' to: 'have a stab at'
- go into overdrive
- If someone or something goes into overdrive, they begin to work very hard or
start to perform intensely.
"At the start of every new collection my imagination goes into overdrive."
- If someone or something goes into overdrive, they begin to work very hard or
start to perform intensely.
- go off on a tangent
- If someone goes off on a tangent, they change the subject completely in the
middle of a speech, an explanation or a conversation.
"Sometimes when he's teaching, Mr.Brown goes off on a tangent and starts talking about his dog!"
- If someone goes off on a tangent, they change the subject completely in the
middle of a speech, an explanation or a conversation.
- go off the rails
- If someone goes off the rails, they go out of control and begin to behave in a
manner that is unacceptable to society.
"Given the unstable environment, it's a miracle that none of their children ever went off the rails."
- If someone goes off the rails, they go out of control and begin to behave in a
manner that is unacceptable to society.
- go out on a limb
- If you go out on a limb, you put yourself in a precarious or vulnerable position
in order to support someone or something (like climbing a tree and putting yourself in danger by going too far out on a limb or branch).
"Although he knew it could damage his career, the politician went out on a limb and said he supported those protesting against the war."
- If you go out on a limb, you put yourself in a precarious or vulnerable position
in order to support someone or something (like climbing a tree and putting yourself in danger by going too far out on a limb or branch).
- go out on the tiles
- People who go out on the tiles go to bars,
clubs, parties, etc. for some lively evening entertainment
"To celebrate the occasion, we decided to go out on the tiles."
- People who go out on the tiles go to bars,
clubs, parties, etc. for some lively evening entertainment
- go out of your way
- If you go out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something.
"Aunt Betty went out of her way to make us feel comfortable"
- If you go out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something.
- go to extremes
- People who go to extremes behave in a way that lacks moderation.
"My parents tend to go to extremes. They live on a tight budget and then they go on expensive holidays!"
- People who go to extremes behave in a way that lacks moderation.
- go to pieces
- If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock, you are so upset or
distressed that you cannot lead a normal life.
"Jack nearly went to pieces when his son died in a car crash."
- If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock, you are so upset or
distressed that you cannot lead a normal life.
- go with the flow
- If you go with the flow, you follow the general tendency and go along with whatever happens.
"When my colleagues organise an office party, I just go with the flow."
- If you go with the flow, you follow the general tendency and go along with whatever happens.
- (in) good part
- Something done or said that is taken in good partis accepted good-naturedly, without taking offence.
"She took her colleagues' teasing in good part and laughed with them."
- Something done or said that is taken in good partis accepted good-naturedly, without taking offence.
- grease the skids
- When you grease the skids, you facilitate something or smooth the way for its success.
"Lunch was organised for the delegates before the meeting in order to grease the skids for the negotiations."
- When you grease the skids, you facilitate something or smooth the way for its success.
- grin and bear it
- When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that
they will have to accept it without complaining.
"The only seat available is on a low-cost flight. You'll just have to grin and bear it!"
- When faced with a difficult or unpleasant situation, if you say that someone will have to grin and bear it, you mean that
they will have to accept it without complaining.
- groan inwardly
- If you groan inwardly, you would like to express despair, disapproval or distress, but you remain silent
"On his return, when Pete saw the pile of files on his desk, he groaned inwardly."
- If you groan inwardly, you would like to express despair, disapproval or distress, but you remain silent
- handle with kid gloves
- If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because
they are very important or because they are
easily upset or offended.
"He's so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves."
- If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because
they are very important or because they are
easily upset or offended.
- haul someone over the coals
- If you haul someone over the coals,you reprimand them harshly because they have
done something wrong or incorrectly.
"Tony was hauled over the coals for the poor quality of his presentation."
- If you haul someone over the coals,you reprimand them harshly because they have
done something wrong or incorrectly.
- have it in for someone
- If you have it in for someone, you hold a grudge against that person and are determined
to harm them in some way, or make life difficult for them.
"Judging from his unfriendly attitude, Jason seems to have it in for Andy, but nobody knows why."
- If you have it in for someone, you hold a grudge against that person and are determined
to harm them in some way, or make life difficult for them.
- have one too many
- Someone who has one too many, has drunk too much alcohol.
"I think Steve has had one too many - he's talking rubbish!"
- Someone who has one too many, has drunk too much alcohol.
- have the nerve
- If you do something rude, impudent or inappropriate, without any embarrassment or shyness,
it is said that you have the nerve to do it.
"Jenny had the nerve to attend the ceremony wearing jeans!"
- If you do something rude, impudent or inappropriate, without any embarrassment or shyness,
it is said that you have the nerve to do it.
- have a stab at something
- If you have a stab at something, you try something that you have never
had a chance to do before.
"I had a stab at surfing once but I decided not to renew the experience!"
- If you have a stab at something, you try something that you have never
had a chance to do before.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
Actions-Behaviour ...
Alphabetical lists: