English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Success and Failure-3
from: 'disaster written'
to: 'will never fly'
- disaster written all over it
- If something, such as a plan or idea, has disaster written
all over it, it is thought to be heading for complete failure, or will cause
a lot of trouble.
"Mary's idea of a holiday with her in-laws has disaster written all over it!"
- If something, such as a plan or idea, has disaster written
all over it, it is thought to be heading for complete failure, or will cause
a lot of trouble.
- down the drain
- To say that money, time or energy has gone down the drain
means that it has been wasted or lost.
"His years of research went down the drain when the company went bankrupt."
- To say that money, time or energy has gone down the drain
means that it has been wasted or lost.
- all downhill / downhill all the way
- If something is or downhill all the way,
it is very easy to achieve considering the difficulties encountered beforehand.
"The hardest part for the burglars was turning off the alarm system. After that it was all downhill."
- If something is or downhill all the way,
it is very easy to achieve considering the difficulties encountered beforehand.
- draw a blank
- If you look for or try to remember something,
and draw a blank, you fail to find it.
"I nearly won the quiz; unfortunately I drew a blank at the last question!"
- If you look for or try to remember something,
and draw a blank, you fail to find it.
- every dog has its day
- This expression means that everyone can be successful at
something at some time in their life.
"I didn't win this time, but I'll be lucky one day. Every dog has its day."
- This expression means that everyone can be successful at
something at some time in their life.
- fall at the first hurdle
- If you fall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome
the first difficulty encountered.
"Scott fell at the first hurdle. He didn't study enough and failed his first exam."
- If you fall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome
the first difficulty encountered.
- fall by the wayside
- If a plan or project falls by the wayside, it
remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it.
"Local residents protested so strongly that plans for a new motorway fell by the wayside."
- If a plan or project falls by the wayside, it
remains unfinished or people stop trying to do it.
-
fall flat
- If a joke, a story or a form of entertainment falls flat,
it does not amuse people, or fails to have the effect that was intended.
"He made a few attempts at humour during his speech but most of his jokes fell flat."
- If a joke, a story or a form of entertainment falls flat,
it does not amuse people, or fails to have the effect that was intended.
- 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."
- 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.
- fall short
- If something proves inadequate or insufficient, or fails to
reach the required number or standard, it falls short of what is expected.
"Sales of the new product fell short of the company's expectations."
- If something proves inadequate or insufficient, or fails to
reach the required number or standard, it falls short of what is expected.
- fall on your sword
- If you fall on your sword, you accept the consequences
of an unsuccessful or wrong action.
"The organiser of the referendum resigned when the poor results were announced. It was said that he 'fell on his sword'."
- If you fall on your sword, you accept the consequences
of an unsuccessful or wrong action.
- (a) feather in one's cap
- To describe someone's achievement as a feather in
their cap means that it is something they can be proud of.
"The overwhelming victory of the team was a feather in the cap for the new manager."
- To describe someone's achievement as a feather in
their cap means that it is something they can be proud of.
- can't fight the city hall
- This expression means that it is useless to fight a
battle against a politician, an establishment or bureaucracy in general that you can't win.
"Brian decided it was a waste of energy trying to obtain a tax refund - you can't fight the city hall."
- This expression means that it is useless to fight a
battle against a politician, an establishment or bureaucracy in general that you can't win.
- fight a losing battle
- If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are
trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding.
"The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school."
- If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are
trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding.
- get to (or reach) first base
- When you get to (or reach) first base, you make
progress or begin to have success with someone or something.
"If you go to the interview dressed like that, you won't get to first base!"
- When you get to (or reach) first base, you make
progress or begin to have success with someone or something.
- a flash in the pan
- If you refer to somebody's success as a flash in the pan,
you mean that it is not likely to be repeated.
"The manager hoped that the team's unexpected victory was not just a flash in the pan."
- If you refer to somebody's success as a flash in the pan,
you mean that it is not likely to be repeated.
- fly under the radar
- Someone or something that flies under the radar goes
without being noticed or detected.
"For the first few years of her writing career, her books flew largely under the radar."
- Someone or something that flies under the radar goes
without being noticed or detected.
- will never fly
- To say that something will never fly means that
it will not be successful.
"He's got incredible ideas, but none that will ever fly!"
- To say that something will never fly means that
it will not be successful.
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