In the name Of God

I have provided these slides for my friends to help them with their English.

I hope these slides will be useful for them. I would like to express my

sincere thanks to all my friends for their kindness, affection, patience,

encouragement, and their tolerance.

Time goes, we also go, only kindness and affection is everlasting.

Behnam. You… 30 June, 2008

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

Used to say that you should not criticize someone for having a fault if you have the same fault

yourself

She always criticized her friends for driving too fast, but she herself used to do it. At last I told her, "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

Can't hold a candle to somebody/something

If something or someone cannot hold a candle to something or someone else, they are not as good as the other thing or person.

You can’t hold a candle to me when it comes to playing the

piano.

Rain cats and dogsRain very hard

It is raining very hard. You will get all soaked the minute you

step out.

Cat got your tongue?

Used to ask someone why they are not talking

Why did you come home so late last night? Answer me! Cat got

your tongue?

Out of the blue

If something happens out of the blue, it is very unexpected

Do you remember Jane? Well, she phoned me yesterday,

completely out of the blue.

As like as two peas in a pod

Exactly the same in appearance, behaviour etc

The two sisters are as like as two peas in a pod.

Bend over backwards

To try as hard as possible to help or please someone

For passing all the exams successfully, her parents bent

over backwards to help her.

Under the table

Money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally

They paid him under the table so he wouldn't have to pay

taxes.

Let the cat out of the bag

To tell someone a secret, especially without intending to

I'm sorry. Jim knows about last week's party. I'm afraid I let

the cat out of the bag.

Hit the nail on the headUsed to say that what someone has said is

exactly right

A:I guess we need a lot of money to carry out the plan.

B: You’re absolutely right. You’ve hit the nail on the head.

Go into a nosediveA sudden very large fall in the price,

value, or condition of something

The economy went into a nosedive.

Save somebody's neckTo help someone to escape from an

extremely difficult or dangerous situation

Thanks for not letting the boss fire me. You save my neck in

time.

leave somebody/something high and dry

If someone is left high and dry, they are left without any help or without the things

that they need

She promise to help me with the dishes after the party, but she

left me high and dry.

Let sleeping dogs lieTo deliberately avoid mentioning a

subject, so that you do not cause any trouble or argument

The best plan is just to let sleeping dogs lie.

A horse of a different colourSomething that is completely different

from another thing

I was talking about trees, not bushes. Bushes are a horse of

different colour.

Like a bull in a china shop

If you are like a bull in a china shop, you keep knocking things over, dropping things,

breaking things etc

Each time you enter the room, you knock something down. You’re really like a bull in a china shop.

Be/get carried away

To be so excited, angry, interested etc that you are no longer really in control of

what you do or say, or you forget everything else

Calm done! Don’t get carried away. We have to sit down and

talk sense.

Speak of the devil

Used when someone you have just been talking about walks into the room

where you are

Speak of the devil! We just mentioned your name before

you stepped in.

Get out of bed on the wrong side

To feel slightly angry or annoyed for no particular reason

Why are you so grouchy today? Did you get out of bed on the

wrong side?

Keep your shirt on

Used to tell someone who is becoming angry that they should stay calm

Keep your shirt on! You’re next in line.

Can't make head or tail of something

To be completely unable to understand something

I can’t make head or tail of what you’re saying. Why don’t you

speak more clearly?

Be/feel like a fish out of waterTo feel uncomfortable because you feel you do not belong in a place or situation

I felt like a fish out of water in my new school.

Keep/put something on ice

To do nothing about a plan or suggestion for a period of time

I'm putting my plans for a new car on ice until I finish college.

Pass the hat aroundTo collect money from a group of people,

especially in order to buy someone a present

No matter how hard he tries, he won’t be able to pay his debts. I guess we’ll have to pass the hat around for him.

Dog eat dogWhen people compete against each

other and will do anything to get what they want

It's a dog eat dog world out there.

Keep your ear to the ground

To make sure that you always know what is happening in a situation

I haven't heard any more news, but I'll keep my ear to

the ground.

Shake a legUsed to tell someone to hurry, or quickly

start doing something

It’s getting late. Come on, Shake a leg!

Drag your feet/heelsTo take too much time to do something

because you do not want to do it

If you keep dragging your feet, you’ll miss the train.

On its last legsOld or in bad condition, and likely to

stop working soon

My car is its last legs. I have to get rid of it as soon as I can.

Not have a leg to stand onTo be in a situation where you cannot prove or legally support what you say

If you didn't sign a contract, you won't have a leg to stand on.

Cock and bull storyA story or excuse that is silly and

unlikely but is told as if it were true

Who the hell do you expect to believe your cock and bull story?

Make a mountain out of a molehill

To treat a problem as if it was very serious when in fact it is not

She was only five minutes late! You're making a mountain out

of a molehill.

Throw the book at somebodyTo punish someone as severely as

possible or charge them with as many offences as possible

If you get caught they'll throw the book at you!

Be up to your ears in work/problem/debt

To have got a lot work/problem/debt

I’m up to my ears in debt.

The coast is clearIf the coast is clear, it is safe for you to do something without being seen or caught

Okay guys, You can come out of your hiding place now. The

coast is clear.

Snow jobAn act of making someone believe something

that is not true

That car dealer did a snow job on me by selling me a car that was a

piece of junk.

Pay lip service to somebody/something

To say that you support or agree with something without doing anything to prove it

Don’t sit and pay lip service to human rights. Get busy!

Put your heads togetherTo discuss a difficult problem together

The next morning, we all put our heads together to decide

what should be done.

Look daggers at somebodyTo look at someone angrily

Why are you looking dagger at me? Have I done anything

wrong?

Be going to the dogsIf a country or organization is going to the dogs, it

is getting worse and will be difficult to improve

Our neighborhood has really been getting to the dogs since a bunch

of drug addicts moved in.

Step on somebody's toesTo offend or upset someone, especially

by trying to do their work

I hope I have not stepped on anyone’s toes by what I said at

the meeting.

Catch somebody red-handedTo catch someone at the moment when

they are doing something wrong

Earl was caught red-handed taking the money.

Go bananasTo become very angry or excited

Mum went bananas when I said I was going to leave nursing.

Be at the end of your tetherTo be so worried, tired etc that you feel you

can no longer deal with a difficult or upsetting situation

I had no money, my husband was sick, and I couldn't get a job. I was

at the end of my tether.

Be/get on your high horseTo give your opinion about something in a way that shows you think you are definitely

right and that other people are wrong

Don't get on your high horse with me.

Be (living) on easy streetTo be in a situation in which you have plenty

of money

Everyone has got some problems, even people who live on easy

street.

At sixes and sevensDisorganised and confused

When the visitors arrived we were still at sixes and sevens.

Be a pain in the neckTo be very annoying

There’s something wrong with my car almost every day. It’s really become a pain in the

neck.

Get the hang of somethingTo learn how to do something or use

something

It seems difficult at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it.

Make wavesTo cause problems, especially when you

should not

Lora can do what ever she wants at work as long as she

doesn't make waves.

The ball is in somebody's courtIt is their turn to take action or to reply

I've emailed her - now the ball's in her court.

Pay through the noseTo pay much more for something than it

is really worth

Catherine, paying through the nose to search for fun and

relaxation.

Get off somebody's backTo stop annoying someone with a lot of

questions, criticisms etc or to make someone stop annoying you in this way

Do me a favour and get off my back!

Fly off the handleTo suddenly get very angry

Calm down - there's no need to fly off the handle.

Touch woodSaid just after you have said that things are

going well for you, when you want your good luck to continue

I've never been in trouble with the police, touch wood.

Big mouthIf someone has a big mouth, they say too

much or tell another person's secrets

Don’t tell her any secrets. She has a big mouth.

Pass the buckTo make someone else them responsible for

something that you should deal with

It's easy to pass the buck and blame someone else for your

failure.

Cross my heartUsed to say that you promise that you will do something, or that what you are saying is true

I didn't take it, cross my heart!

The fat is in the fireUsed to say that there will be trouble

because of something that has happened

The fat’s in the fire! There is 100,000 $ missing from the

office safe.

Make a splashTo do something that gets a lot of public

attention

Russell's new show made a big splash in New York.

Henpecked husbandA man who is henpecked is always

being told what to do by his wife, and is afraid to disagree with her

I respect my wife’s views, but I’m not a henpecked husband.

A shot in the armSomething that makes you more

confident or more successful

The new factory will give the local economy a real shot in the

arm.

A shot in the darkAn attempt to guess something without

having any facts or definite ideas

My answer to the last question was a complete shot in the dark.

Make ends meetTo have only just enough money to buy

the things you need

Things are so expensive nowadays that it’s very difficult

to make ends meet.

Grease somebody's palmTo give someone money in a secret or

dishonest way in order to persuade them to do something

Joseph was able to grease a few palms, thus helping his

brother to escape.

Get a jump on somebody/something

To gain an advantage, especially by doing something earlier than usual or

earlier than someone else

I want to get a jump on my Christmas shopping.

Money talksUsed to say that people with money have

power and can get what they want

Money talks, and poor working people are ignored.

Monkey businessBad or dishonest behaviour

Stop the monkey business! This is serious.

Sitting duckSomeone who is easy to attack or easy

to cheat

Out in the open, the soldiers were sitting ducks for enemy

fire.

Laughing stockSomeone who is a laughing stock has

done something so silly that people have no respect for them

We can't do that - we'd be a laughing stock!

Neck and neckIf two competitors or groups are neck

and neck in a competition or race, they are level with each other

There were coming toward the finish line neck and neck.

Somebody is no spring chicken

Used to say that someone is no longer young - used humorously

I’m not as agile as I used to be. I’m no spring chicken.

Play gooseberryTo be with two people who are having a

romantic relationship and who want to be alone together

I think you two want to be left alone; I’m not going to play

gooseberry.

Bite off more than you can chew

To try to do more than you are able to do

Many kids who leave home to live alone find they have bitten off more

than they can chew.

Bite the bulletTo start dealing with an unpleasant or

dangerous situation because you cannot avoid it any longer

It's not easy, but as a manager, sometimes you have to bite the

bullet and fire people.

Be in the doghouseTo be in a situation in which someone is annoyed with you because of something

you have done

I'm in the doghouse for forgetting Valentine's Day.

Beat around the bushTo avoid or delay talking about something

embarrassing or unpleasant

Don't beat around the bush. Ask for your account to be paid, and paid

quickly.

Be full of itA rude expression used to say that

someone often says things that are wrong or stupid

Don't listen to Jerry. He's full of it.

Pardon my FrenchUsed humorously to say that you are

sorry for using a swear word

He is really a bastard, if you we'll pardon my French.

Be a piece of cakeTo be very easy to do

A: How do you do that ?

B: It's a piece of cake! Watch!

Have a bone to pick with somebody

Used to tell someone that you are annoyed with them and want to talk about it

Betty, I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Why didn’t you come and see me yesterday? I waited

for you for hours.

Test the waterTo check people's reaction to a plan

before you decide to use it

We have to test the water, before we make a final decision.

Stick to your gunsTo refuse to change your mind about

something, even though other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong

Many people tried to change his mind, but he stuck to his guns.

Bury the hatchet/bury your differences

To agree to stop arguing about something and become friends

You’d better bury the hatchet before things get worse between

you two.

Have a frog in your throatTo have difficulty in speaking, especially

because of a sore throat

Excuse me, I can’t talk clearly. I have got a frog in my throat.

Give somebody the slipTo escape from someone who is chasing

you

The street was really full of people that the thief managed

to give them the slip.

Put your foot in itTo say something without thinking

carefully, so that you embarrass or upset someone

I've really put my foot in it this time. I didn't realise that was

her husband!

Stick/poke your nose into something

To become involved in something that does not concern you, in a way that annoys people

Why don’t you stop poking your nose into my business? You’d

better mind your own life.

Hit below the beltTo be unfair or cruel

The comments hit below the belt.

Break the iceTo make people feel more friendly and willing

to talk to each other

I tried to break the ice by offering her a drink, but she

said no.

For a songVery cheaply

He bought the house for a song five years ago.

Cut the crapStop saying something that is not true

Cut the crap! Talk straight or buzz off!

Hit the roof/ceilingTo be very angry

Ritz returned, saw the mess, and hit the roof.

Pull stringsTo secretly use your influence with important

people in order to get what you want or to help someone else

Is it possible to get anything done around here without

pulling strings?

Bark up the wrong treeTo have a wrong idea, or do something in a way that will not give you the information or

result you want

You're barking up the wrong tree if you think Sam can help

you.

Put the cart before the horseTo do two things in the wrong order

Hey, tom! Why are you eating your dessert first? You’re putting

the cart before the horse.

Burn the midnight oilTo work or study until late at night

I’m going to go home and burn the midnight oil tonight. I have

to take a big test tomorrow.

Chalk and cheeseCompletely different from each other

The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese.

Rain or shineWhatever happens or whatever the weather

is like

Don't worry. We'll be there - rain or shine.

Get/have cold feetTo suddenly feel that you are not brave

enough to do something you planned to do

The plan failed after sponsors got cold feet.

Smell a ratTo guess that something wrong or dishonest

is happening

I smelled a rat as soon as I saw a strange man walking on our

farm.

Ring a bellIf something rings a bell, it reminds you of

something, but you cannot remember exactly what it is

Her name rings a bell but I can't remember her face.

Pig in a pokeSomething you bought without seeing it first and that is not as good or valuable

as you expected

I won’t buy your car without checking it. I can’t buy a pig in a

poke.

Rock the boatTo cause problems for other members of a group by criticizing something or trying

to change the way something is done

He kept his feelings to himself, not wanting to rock the boat.

Follow your nosea) to go straight forward or continue in the

same directionb) to go to the place from where there is a

particular smell coming

A:Excuse me, where is the nearest gas station?

B:Just follow your nose!

Get off my caseUsed to tell someone to stop criticizing

you or complaining about you

OK, OK, just get off my case!

Be walking on airTo be feeling extremely happy

Bob was walking on air on his graduation day.

Rub somebody's nose in it/in the dirt

To keep reminding someone about something they did wrong or failed to do, especially in

order to punish them

I know I made a terrible mistake, but there is no need to rub my

nose in it.

Have a screw looseTo be slightly crazy

He never talks sense. He seems to have a screw loose!

Twist somebody's armTo persuade someone to do something

they do not want to do

Daady won’t buy me the car unless I twist his arm.

Hold your tongueUsed to tell someone to stop talking or to not

tell someone about something

Hold your tongue, Steve! You can’t talk to your sister that way.

By the bookExactly according to rules or instructions

Rules are not to be broken - Barb does everything by the book.

Strike while the iron is hotTo do something immediately rather than

waiting until a later time when you are less likely to succeed

Don't wait until tomorrow before you tell him, strike while the iron

is hot!

String along To deceive someone for a long time by

making them believe that you will help them, that you love them etc

Bob doesn’t want to marry your sister, he is just stringing her

along.

Hold your horseUsed to tell someone to do something

more slowly or carefully

Hey, don’t get so mad! Hold your horse and let us explain.

Talk somebody's ear offTo talk too much to someone

My grandmother takes my ear off whenever I see her.

Talk turkeyTo talk seriously about details, especially in

business

Let’s stop joking around. We’ve got to sit down and talk turkey.

The salt of the earthSomeone who is ordinary but good and

honest

Everybody knows that Jim and his old lady are the salt of the

earth.

It's (a case of) the tail wagging the dog

Used to say that an unimportant thing is wrongly controlling a situation

Nowadays, children control parents. It’s a case of the tail

wagging the dog!

Bite the dustTo die, fail, or be defeated

My old car's finally bitten the dust.

I'll eat my hatUsed to emphasize that you think

something is not true or will not happen

You’re not studying hard enough, I’ll eat my hat if you

pass the test.

Be in the same boatTo be in the same unpleasant situation

as someone else

If marriage is a boat, then many of us are in the same boat!

Get somebody's goatTo make someone extremely annoyed

Relax - don't let him get your goat.

Jump out off one’s skinVery shocked or frightened

Don't shout. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Be all fingers and thumbsTo be unable to do something in which

you have to make small careful movements with your fingers

She was all fingers and thumbs - and worry.

Take somebody for a rideTo trick someone, especially in order to

get money from them

I'd just begun to realise he was taking me for a ride.

Sell somebody/something short

To not give someone or something the praise, attention, or reward that they deserve

Don't sell yourself short - tell them about all your

qualifications.

Shoot from the hipTo say what you think in a direct way, or

make a decision very quickly, without thinking about it first

Don’t pay any attention to him. It’s just his nature to shoot from

the hip.

Wet blanketSomeone who seems to want to spoil other people's fun, for example by refusing to join them in something enjoyable that they are

doing

You shouldn’t invite him to your party. He is such a wet

blanket!

Go fly a kiteUsed to tell someone to go away, stop

saying something, or stop annoying you

Stop bothering me! Go fly a kite!

Split hairWhen people pay too much attention to small

differences and unimportant details, especially in an argument

Let’s stop hair- splitting. We should look at the problem as a

whole.

Call a spade a spadeTo speak about things in a direct and honest way, even though it may be impolite to do this

Grandfather hates fancy words; he always calls a spade a spade.

Pull somebody's legTo tell someone something that is not true, as

a joke

Don't worry. I was just pulling your leg about moving - I'm not

going anywhere.

Give somebody (a) fiveTo hit the inside of someone's hand with your hand to show that you are

very pleased about something

Hey man! Give me five!

Level with somebodyTo speak honestly to someone, after

hiding some unpleasant facts from them

Come on Bill! I want you to level with me. Did you do that?

Cut cornersTo save time, money, or energy by doing things quickly and not as carefully as you

should

Don't try to cut corners when you're decorating.

Put/lay your cards on the table

To tell people what your plans and intentions are in a clear, honest way

Come on, lay your cards on the table. Tell me what you really

think.

Hit the road/trailTo begin a journey

It’s getting pretty late. Let’s hit the road!

Feel like a million dollarsTo feel or look very healthy, happy, and

beautiful

How are you doing Rosa?I feel like a million bucks!

Lead a dog's lifeA life that is difficult and unpleasant, with very

little pleasure

I’m going to get rich soon. I’m quite tired of leading a dog’s

life.

Lay an eggTo fail or be unsuccessful at something

that you are trying to do

I hope I won’t lay an egg, when it’s my turn to sing!

Off the recordAn off-the-record remark is unofficial and is

not supposed to be made public

The Prime Minister's remarks were strictly off the record.

Make no bones about (doing) something

To not feel nervous or ashamed about doing or saying something

Mary made no bones about enjoying a drink.

Blow the whistle on somebody

To tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone is doing

He blew the whistle on his colleagues.

In the bagCertain to be won or achieved

The governor's advisors believe the election is in the bag.

Paint the townTo go out to bars, clubs etc to enjoy yourself

Tonight we're going to paint the town red.

Play something by earTo decide what to do according to the

way a situation develops, without making plans before that time

We'll see what the weather's like and play it by ear.

Be sitting prettyTo be in a very good or favourable

position

We've paid off the mortgage, so we're sitting pretty now.

Rock the boatTo cause problems for other members of a group by criticizing something or trying to

change the way something is done

As long as you don't rock the boat, nobody cares what you do.

Be/fall in love

To have a strong feeling of liking someone a lot combined with sexual attraction

I think I'm falling in love with Rosa.

THE END

I provided these slides in the hope that they would be useful. I have

selected them from some dictionaries.

Please forgive me for making mistakes.

All the best,Behnam. You… 30 June, 2008 behrampednam@yahoo.com