英语美语习语视频教学：native发音

固定短语 中英对照全文翻译

Put an end to

Meaning: Stop.

Example:

*Go back = return to where you previously were.

Settle for less

Meaning: Accept something that is not really what you wish for.

Example:

So to speak

Meaning:

Example:

Guest to host: “This food is delicious. Who cooked it?”

Host to Guest: (Pointing to her husband) “the chef so to speak.”

A similar expression is: “as it were”.

Stand a chance

Meaning:

Examples:

Person A: “Do you think I stand a chance of getting the job I’m going for today?”

Person B: “Yes, I really think you do. You’ve got the right qualifications.”

*Put on weight = become fatter.

Take advantage of

Meaning:

Example:

She takes advantage of her boyfriend’s kind heart. She lets him pay for everything.

There is no such thing as / there is such a thing as

Meaning: It does not exist / it exists.

Example:

To some extent

Meaning: Up to a certain degree/point. (Partially)

Example:

To tell you the truth

Meaning: Give your honest opinion.

Example:

To be honest with you

Meaning:

Example:

Before you know it

Meaning: When something happens so quickly you do not even realise it.

意思：

转眼之间；一眨眼；不知不觉就……

Examples:

The years pass by so quickly that before you know it you look in the mirror and old age is staring you right in the face.

例句：

岁月流逝太快，

一眨眼

你照镜子时，就已经垂垂老矣。

That new express train is super fast. We got on it in London and before we knew it we were in Edinburgh.

例句：

那列新特快列车速度超快。我们在伦敦上车，

转眼就到了

爱丁堡。

One minute it’s summer then before you know it, it’s Christmas. Doesn’t time fly so quickly?

例句：

刚刚还是夏天，

不知不觉

就到圣诞节了。时间过得真快，不是吗？

*Get on = to board a bus, train, coach, bike, motorbike, scooter, plane, boat, hovercraft or any other vehicle where you need to make an upward movement with your foot and leg to board.

‘Get in’ is used for cars as you make a downward movement to enter.

释义：

get on：登上（公交、火车、飞机、船等需要抬脚向上的交通工具）get in：进入（汽车等需要弯腰向下进入的交通工具）

Before long

Meaning: Very soon.

意思：

不久；很快；过不了多久

Example:

On the phone: “I’m nearly at the station now. I’ll see you before long.”

例句：

（打电话时）“我快到车站了，

很快

就能见到你。”

Better Off

Used with ‘be’

Meaning:

To be in a more comfortable, convenient and more pleasant position.

意思：

（日子、处境）更好；更划算；更舒服

Examples:

I’d be better off without him. He doesn’t love me. He treats me so badly.

例句：

没有他我

会过得更好

。他不爱我，还对我那么差。

I’m better off now than what I was last year. I earn more money and I live in a nicer flat.

例句：

我现在的状况

比去年好

。赚得更多，住的公寓也更舒服。

I’d be better off going to work by train than by car. I always get stuck in traffic jams.

例句：

我上班坐火车

比开车更划算

，开车老是堵车。

Between one thing and another

Meaning: One thing has happened and so have others. This means that with all the things that are happening to you, you are stressed or distracted or going crazy.

意思：

诸事缠身；忙这忙那；一头乱麻

Example:

I’ve got so many things to do these days. Between one thing and another I feel I am going to go crazy.

例句：

这几天我要做的事太多了，

忙这忙那

，感觉都要疯了。

Beyond belief

Meaning: Unbelievable.

意思：

难以置信；超乎想象

Example:

It’s beyond belief how much he spends every month.

例句：

他每个月花的钱简直

难以置信

。

By all accounts

Meaning: When we use this expression we believe something to be true by what we have heard from others.

意思：

据大家所说；人人都说；普遍认为

Example:

She is, by all accounts, an excellent hairdresser.

例句：

大家都说

，她是个非常出色的理发师。

By the way

Meaning:

This expression is used to introduce something into the conversation; something that the speaker or the listener just remembered.

意思：

顺便说一下；对了（用于突然想起某事）

Example:

Oh by the way! I forgot to mention. I won’t be able to make it to the dinner on Saturday evening.

例句：

哦，

对了

！我忘了说，我周六晚上去不了晚宴了。

Not at all

Meaning: You are welcome, don’t mention it. Used in response to someone who thanks you for something. It is also used to mean “not in the least bit/not very”.

Example:

I’m not at all happy about my brother coming to visit me. We argue nonstop. If I say something is black, then he’ll say it is white. We just don’t get on and we never will. It’s a fact of life.

*Get on = have a good relationship.

Meaning: Not very (Used in the negative)

Example:

Meaning: This expression is used when someone says or does something that makes you feel a sudden sense of happiness.

Examples:

He really made my day when he told me I looked much younger than what I really am.

Meaning: Decide.

Example:

I couldn’t make up my mind what dress to wear to the party. In the end I chose my pink flowery one.

Meaning:

Examples:

2 You might as well tell me what happened because sooner or later I will find out.

3 I might as well have stayed at home last night as the party was crap.

Meaning: Used to indicate that the speaker is not in the least bit surprised about something.

Example:

Meaning:

Examples:

2 I never mind where we go on holiday. As long as I get a break from my somewhat boring routine, I am happy.

Meaning: For me/for my sake.

Example:

Meaning: This expression indicates strict prohibition/absolutely not allowed/you must not do this.

Example:

In English we can add the word “whatsoever” after the expression “on no account” to give added emphasis.

Example:

Meaning: To do something because you want to do it, not because anyone asked you to do it or forced you to do it.

Example:

Meaning: This signals an alternative viewpoint.

Example:

Meaning: Finally in a permanent way.

Example:

*To crackdown on = to take severe measures to end something.

Meaning: In addition/besides.

Example:

*Look after = attend to the needs of/similar to ‘take care of’.

Meaning: To be a waste of time/to make no sense.

Example:

It’s pointless arguing with him. You are onto a losing battle. He’s a very unreasonable person.

固定短语 中英对照完整版

Come to that

Meaning: This means, “while we are on the subject”, something which has just come into mind is triggered by something said in the conversation.

意思：

说到这；既然聊到这个（话题）；顺便一提

Example:

Person A is speaking to Person B: “I’m going to have to call in a gardener. The garden is a complete mess.”

A：我得叫个园丁来，花园乱得一塌糊涂。

“Come to that, you said you’d help me clean it up. Don’t you remember?”

“说到这，你之前说要帮我收拾的，不记得了？”

*Come into mind/come to mind = recalled to memory

意思：

突然想到；浮现脑海*Call in = make arrangements for an expert in a specific job to come to your home to do a task.

意思：

请来（专业人士）；召来

Few and far between

Meaning: To happen on rare occasions at large intervals of time.

意思：

稀少；罕见；不常发生

Example:

The times that my daughter has cleaned her room are few and far between. I can count them on one hand.

例句：

我女儿打扫房间的次数

少得可怜

，一只手都数得过来。

For heaven’s sake

Meaning: This expression denotes annoyance and/or frustration.

意思：

天哪；看在老天爷的份上（表示不耐烦、恼火）

Example:

“For heaven’s sake go and do your homework. I’m not telling you again.” said the father to his disobedient son.

父亲对不听话的儿子说：“天哪，快去写作业，我不想再说第二遍了。”

“When will you learn to do as you are told.”

“你什么时候才能听话？”

*Do as you are told = obey

意思：

听话；照吩咐去做

Go out of one’s way

Meaning: Do everything possible even at the expense of inconveniencing oneself.

意思：

特地；格外努力；不怕麻烦

Examples:

He goes out of his way to help people. He’s such a considerate person.

例句：

他总是

特地

帮助别人，非常体贴。

He went out of his way to ruin my holiday by arguing over trivial matters.

例句：

他故意为小事吵架，

存心

毁了我的假期。

Grin and bear it

Meaning: Accept something bad without complaining about it/be patient until it is over.

意思：

默默忍受；苦笑着扛过去；逆来顺受

Example:

It’s been tough trying to pay this huge fine I got but I will just have to grin and bear it.

例句：

这笔巨额罚款交得很艰难，但我也只能

默默忍受

。

If I may say so

Meaning: This expression means ‘I hope you don’t mind if I say this/I hope it is not a problem for me to say this’.

It is a very polite expression to use.

意思：

恕我直言；如果我可以这么说的话（礼貌用语）

Example:

You look beautiful today if I may say so.

例句：

如果我可以这么说，你今天

真漂亮

。

In due course

Meaning: This expression means that something will happen at the appropriate time (when the time is right) and you need to be patient as no one can make it happen sooner.

意思：

在适当的时候；到时候；届时

Example:

In reply to a letter submitted for a job:We will inform you in due course if your application has been successful.

例句：

（求职回信）如果你申请成功，我们

届时

会通知你。

It just goes to show

Meaning: This expression more or less means: it just proves that/it just makes you realise.

意思：

这恰恰说明；这正好证明

Example:

There was a sudden downpour of rain yesterday and I didn’t have my umbrella with me.It just goes to show you should never go out without your umbrella. British weather is very unpredictable.

例句：

昨天突然下大雨，我没带伞。这

恰恰说明

出门一定要带伞，英国天气变幻莫测。

Her husband left her after thirty years without warning. She never ever suspected anything was wrong with their relationship.

It just goes to show you can never be 100 % sure of anyone.

例句：

结婚三十年，丈夫毫无征兆地离开了她，她从没怀疑过感情有问题。这

正好证明

，你永远无法百分之百确定任何人。

Every time I don’t check my change at the supermarket, I get short changed. When I do check it, I am never short changed.

It just goes to show that you should always check your change.

例句：

每次在超市不核对找零，我就会被少找钱。核对的时候就从来不会。这

恰恰说明

，一定要核对找零。

*To short change (someone) = to give a customer less change than what you should.

意思：

少找零钱

It’s about time

Meaning: The moment has arrived that you really need to do something without further delay.

We use it’s about time + past tense of verb, even if we are speaking in the present or referring to the future.

意思：

早该…… 了；是时候…… 了

Example:

It’s about time you saw a dentist. Your teeth are beginning to decay.You’re going to end up losing them if you’re not careful.

例句：

你

早该

去看牙医了，牙齿都开始坏了。再不注意，最后会全掉光的。

It’s about time I got a new washing machine. This one doesn’t spin anymore. The clothes come out dripping wet.

例句：

我

早该

买台新洗衣机了，这台不脱水，衣服拿出来全是湿的。

It’s about time we started to move. It’s getting late and if we don’t go now we could miss the train.

例句：

我们

该

出发了，不早了，再不走就赶不上火车了。

*End up = in the end something not planned occurs.

意思：

到头来；最终（发生意料之外的事）

关于你提到的英语习语

当我们听不懂别人在说什么时，可以用下面这些表达：

You’re talking double Dutch.

You might as well be talking Chinese.

I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are talking about.

I haven’t got the faintest idea what you mean.

I’ve no idea what you’re on about.

You’re talking a load of mumbo jumbo.

You’re talking bollocks.

I can’t make head or tail of what you’re on about.

What the heck are you on about?

What the blazes do you mean?

下面这些习语用于询问对方是否听懂：

Do you get the idea?

Do you get the message?

Do you get the picture?

Do you see what I mean?

Meaning: No it doesn’t mean what you may think it means. Don’t visualize using Photoshop to add a person to a picture. It means, to explain to someone what is happening/inform them of what is going on.

Example: The workers had no idea what was going to happen when the company was bought over. The manager called a meeting to put them in the picture.

固定短语详解（中英对照・全文翻译）

As well as

Meaning: Not only ... but also / not only A but also B.

Examples:

There will be winners as well as losers if Greece leaves the euro.

There is a proverb in English which says: Some people cannot see the trees for the forest. It is important to see the trees as well as the forest.

Note:

Example:

Another way of saying the above sentences without changing the meaning is:

Not only can you choose to play football, but you can also choose to play rugby.

Not only will there be winners if Greece leaves the euro, but there will also be losers.

Not only is it important to see the forest, but it is also important to see the trees.

Not only do I listen to music in my free time, but I also read books.

Important note:

as well as 的普通用法（表比较）

There are some jobs which robots will never be able to do as well as humans.

I do my job as well as I possibly can.

These “non idiomatic” uses, as seen previously are used in what some languages call the “inverted comparison”. When A + B are equal or when used with “not” then “A is less than B”

“Well” is the adverb which stems from the adjective “good”.

I do a good job.

I do my job well.

I do my job as well as I can.

My father is well. (In good health)

He (A) is as well as my mother (B) = both are well. We compare his state of “wellness” to that of another, in this case, “my mother” - A+B are equal.

He is not as well as my mother. = my mother is better (in better health than he is) A is less than B

Look at the following examples. Out of context they are ambiguous. They have double meaning but in the context we understand if the speaker is using the idiomatic meaning of “as well as” or if he/she is using the “non idiomatic meaning”.

I speak English as well as Italian. (Idiomatic meaning)

not only do I speak English but I also speak Italian. I speak both languages.

I speak English as well as Italian. (Non idiomatic meaning)

I speak both languages equally well. I do not speak English better than I speak Italian and I do not speak Italian better than I speak English.

We could take away the ambiguity of the first example by rearranging (changing) the word order.

Example: As well as English I speak Italian. This clarifies the meaning more.

As long as

Meaning: On the condition that.

Example:

You can go to the disco tonight with your friends as long as you’re back home by midnight.

“As long as” similarly to “as well as” has its ‘non idiomatic’ meaning.

Example:

As yet

Meaning: Until now / so far / up to this present moment.

Example:

At all

Meaning: This expression adds emphasis in questions and negatives. It gives them a stronger meaning.

Example:

*See also ‘not at all’

At the end of the day

Meaning: After all is said and done / in the end.

Example:

FIXED EXPRESSIONS 固定短语

Above and beyond

Meaning: More than what is necessary or expected/exceeding.

Example: Teachers who go above and beyond their normal duties by helping students out of hours make a huge impact on their lives. They connect with boys and girls and don’t just stick to the curriculum.

All but

Meaning: Everyone or everything except.

Example: All but one boy arrived on time for the school outing.

All for

Meaning: You really want this to happen/you completely agree with it or you completely agree with someone else to do something.

Example: I know he doesn’t have the qualifications but he does have the experience. He’s worked in the sector before. I am all for giving him a chance.

“We’re going out now to have a pizza. Would you like to come with us?”

“Oh yes, I’m all for it.”

All the better

Meaning: This phrase is used when something is better than expected.

Example: “Did you know our new secretary can speak Spanish as well as German?”

All of a sudden

Meaning: Without any warning.

Example: All of a sudden it started to rain. It was completely unexpected as the sun had been shining all day. Needless to say none of us had brought an umbrella with us.

All out to

Meaning: To make every possible effort to do something.

Example: He’s all out to prove he’s a great football player. Look at him with that ball, he is just fantastic.

As a last resort

Meaning: Do something only when all other attempts have been tried without results.

Example: Couples who are trying to have children, say they view adoption as a last resort.

As a matter of fact

Meaning: Believe it or not.

Example:

As a matter of principle

Meaning: To have a moral belief for not doing something.

Example: As a matter of principle I’m not buying any clothes from that store again. I know they sell them at a good price and they are fashionable, but they use sweatshops in third world countries. These poor people work night and day for paltry earnings.

As a rule

Meaning: This is generally true most of the time.

Example: As a rule I never drink coffee in the evenings. The caffeine in it keeps me awake.

As far as I’m concerned

Meaning: This expression is used when the speaker states his/her own point of view.

Example: As far as I’m concerned, Italian food is the best in the world.

As for

Meaning: With regards to/regarding.

Note: We use “as for” + pronoun/noun.

Example: It’s getting late. I’m going to head off home now. As for you Mary, you can stay a bit longer seeing you don’t have to get up early tomorrow like I do.

Head off = begin to go

Get up = leave the bed (usually after waking up)

IDIOMS TO SAY THAT A PERSON IS MEAN

形容一个人刻薄、小气的习语

“A rich man who is stingy is the worst pauper”

“有钱却吝啬的人，是最可怜的穷光蛋。”

~ Yiddish Proverb~ 犹太谚语

Cheapskate

Meaning: Someone who never spends any money; usually they let other people pay for them.

意思：

从来不肯花钱的人；通常总是让别人替他付钱。

中文对应：

小气鬼、吝啬鬼、铁公鸡

The following expressions have exactly the same meaning as the one above.

以下表达和上面这个词意思完全相同。

To be stingy

Meaning: To never put your hand in your pocket.

意思：

从来不肯掏腰包、一毛不拔。

Example: He’s so stingy. He never puts his hand in his pocket.

例句：

他特别小气，从来不肯掏一分钱。

His wife left him because of his stinginess.

他妻子因为他太吝啬而离开了他。

To be tight-fisted

Meaning: The same as ‘stingy’

意思：

和 stingy（吝啬、小气）一样

中文对应：

守财奴、手很紧、一毛不拔

Scrounger

A person who never spends but expects everyone else to pay for him/her. Usually they ask everyone else to pay for them or they continuously ask for cigarettes or they borrow things with no intention ofgiving them back.

意思：

自己从不花钱，却指望别人为他 / 她买单的人。通常会让别人付钱，或是不停地要烟抽，或是借东西压根没打算还回去。

中文对应：

爱占便宜的人、蹭吃蹭喝的人、伸手党

*Give (something) back = to return something (to someone)

* 归还某物 = 把东西还给某人

To scrounge off someone

Meaning: (English phrasal verb) - to make people or allow people to pay for you all the time. Normally someone who scrounges off another person pretends they do not have any money or pretends they have forgotten to bring money with them so as to make other people pay for them.

意思：

（英语短语动词）—— 一直让别人为你付钱、总占别人便宜。通常，爱占别人便宜的人会假装没钱，或假装忘带钱包，好让别人替他付钱。

中文对应：

蹭别人、揩油、占人便宜

Example: He's always scrounging off his friends instead of paying for things himself.

例句：

他总蹭朋友的，自己从来不花钱。

When we go to the pub, I am always the one who pays for him.

我们去酒吧时，永远是我替他买单。

Strangely enough he always seems to have mistakenly left his wallet at home.

奇怪的是，他每次都 “碰巧” 把钱包忘在家里。

He’s nothing but a scrounger.

他就是个纯粹爱占便宜的人。

TIME IDIOMS

时间相关习语

‘’Man thinks he is killing time, it’s really time that’s killing man’’

“人以为自己在消磨时间，其实是时间在消磨人。”

To kill time

Meaning: Do something just to pass the time.

意思：做些事只是为了打发时间。

Example: I arrived half an hour early for my dental appointment so I just walked around looking in shop windows to kill time.

例句：我看牙医提前半小时到了，于是就四处逛逛、看看橱窗来打发时间。

To have the time of your life

Meaning: To really enjoy yourself.

意思：玩得非常开心、度过一生中最快乐的时光。

Example: We had the time of our lives when we were on holiday.

例句：我们度假时玩得痛快极了。

To waste time

Meaning: Do something with no purpose.

意思：做没有意义的事、浪费时间。

Example: My son wastes so much time in front of the computer.

例句：我儿子在电脑前浪费太多时间。

Just in the nick of time

Meaning: To get to a place or finish something just before it is too late.

意思：在最后一刻、刚好来得及、千钧一发之际。

Example: I thought I was going to miss my flight but the taxi driver got me to the airport just in the nick of time.

例句：我以为要赶不上飞机了，但出租车司机刚好在最后一刻把我送到了机场。

To hit the big time

Meaning: To become successful and maybe famous.

意思：一举成名、大获成功、走红。

Example: He hit the big time, and *moved out of the neighbourhood. He felt too important to associate with his old friends.

例句：他成功走红后，* 搬出了原来的社区。他觉得自己身份不凡，不屑再和老朋友们来往。

*To move out = leave the place you live in to go and live in elsewhere (in another place).

* 搬家 = 离开现在住的地方，去别的地方居住。

Time’s up

Meaning: This means there is no time left to do something. The time limit or deadline has been reached.

意思：时间到了、没有剩余时间了、期限已到。

Example: Time’s up. *Hand in your test papers.

例句：时间到。* 请交卷。

*Hand in = give - normally to someone in authority such as a teacher or a policeman.

* 上交 = 交给（通常交给老师、警察等有权威的人）。

A matter of time

Meaning: This is said before saying what you think will happen in the future.

意思：只是时间问题、迟早会发生。

Example: It’s only a matter of time before that shopcloses down. They only have a couple of customers a day. Not enough to keep the place going.

例句：那家店倒闭只是时间问题。他们一天只有几个顾客，根本撑不下去。

*Close down = end a business activity and close for good (‘for good’ = forever).

* 倒闭 = 停止营业、永久关门（for good = 永远）。

Time after time

Meaning: Over and over again, repeatedly.

意思：一次又一次、屡次、反复地。

Example: Mother to son: “I’ve told you time after time to lock the door when you go out.”

例句：妈妈对儿子说：“我跟你说过无数次，出门要锁门。”

Time and time again

Meaning: This means exactly the same as ‘time after time’.

意思：和 time after time 完全一样（屡次、一再）。

Long time no see

Meaning: You say this when you meet someone you haven’t seen for a long time.

意思：好久不见。

Example: “Hi, long time no see. What have youbeen up to?”

例句：“嗨，好久不见。你最近在忙什么？”

*been up to = been doing (something)

* 在忙 = 在做（某事）

From time to time

Meaning: Occasionally.

意思：偶尔、有时、时不时。

Example: I meet my old school friends from time to time.

例句：我偶尔会和以前的同学见面。

At all times

Meaning: Always.

意思：随时、始终、一直。

Example: Airport announcements: “Passengers are reminded to keep their luggage with them at all times.“

例句：机场广播：“请乘客随时保管好自己的行李。”

WEATHER IDIOMS

天气相关习语

When it is raining very heavily, we use the following idiomatic expressions:

It’s raining cats and dogs

It’s pouring down

It’s pouring from the heavens

It’s bucketing down

It’s flooding down

It’s pissing down or it’s peeing down

To feel under the weather

Meaning: To not feel very well, or be tired or stressed.

Example: I’m not going to work today as I’m feeling a bit under the weather.

It never rains but it pours

Meaning: We use this idiom to say that one bad thing happens after another.

Example: First I got a huge electricity bill, then I broke my leg, then my wife left me and now I’m being evicted. It never rains but it pours.

Come rain or shine

Meaning: This means that nothing will stop you from doing something or going somewhere.

Example: Don’t worry. I am definitely coming on Saturday. I’ll be there come rain or shine (no matter what).

To save for a rainy day

Meaning: Put money aside in case of an emergency.

Example: I’m saving for a rainy day. *You never know what’s round the corner. This is another idiom.

*‘You never know what’s round the corner’ means that ‘anything unexpected can happen’.

To be snowed under

Meaning: To have too much work.

Example: I can’t leave the office until late this evening because I’m snowed under.

To break the ice

Meaning: Say something to make people feel less nervous or embarrassed, and more relaxed especially in a social setting.

Example: He made a joke about the weather and everyone started laughing. That really broke the ice.

A ray of hope

Meaning: A small chance of something happening depending on luck - this expression is used in a positive sense.

Example: My lawyer told me there is a ray of hope that I will win the case. He thinks there is a little bit of a possibility.

A ray of sunshine

Meaning: Something or someone who brings happiness into your life.

Example: My new puppy is a ray of sunshine. He has reallybrightened up my life.

*Brighten up = make more pleasant.

To make hay while the sun shines

Meaning: This means that you shouldn’t *turn down a good opportunity, usually to earn money, as you never know; maybe tomorrow you won’t be so lucky. Take advantage of a good opportunity when it arises.

Example: My boss has asked me to work on Sundays so I’ve accepted. I need to make hay while the sun shines.

*Turn down = reject/refuse/not accept.

The tip of the iceberg

Meaning: We use this expression to refer to a situation in which you or someone else can only see a small part of a more complex problem.

Example: The money laundering scandal is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind it there is seemingly a multimillion dollar drug ring.

To have your head in the clouds

Meaning: To walk around in a dream like state unaware of what is going on around you.

Example: The student wasn’t paying attention to the lesson. His mind was elsewhere/he was thinking about other things. The teacher told him he would have to stop having his head in the clouds all the time if he wanted to pass his exams.

Every cloud has a silver lining

Meaning: Out of every bad situation comes some good. This idiom is used to comfort people who are *going through a difficult moment in their lives.

Example: Don’t worry too much about losing your job. Maybe it was your destiny. There will be a much better job out there for you. Remember that every cloud has a silver lining.

*To go through = to experience something – usually something unpleasant.

Another idiom with the same meaning as the one above is:

After the rain comes the sunshine

Example: Relax and be happy that things are not going too well for you. This means that something good is going to happen. After the rain comes the sunshine.

There’s a cloud on the horizon

Meaning: If you foresee a problem or difficulty that could happen in the future, then you use this expression.

Example: I can see a cloud on the horizon. Our biggest client is about to go bust and they still haven’t paid for this year’s huge order. If they *go bust then we riskgoing underalong with them.

*Go bust/go under = go bankrupt (when a business fails).

There’s something in the wind

Meaning: When you sense something is going to happen.

Example: The boss is really nervous today. No doubt there is something in the wind.

To get a windfall

Meaning: To receive an unexpected source of money; usually quite substantial.

Example: I received an unexpected cheque from the income tax office; that was a real windfall.

A storm in a teacup

Meaning: To greatly over react to something that is not of great importance. You become angry for nothing.

Example: I caused a real storm in a teacup when I forgot to phone my girlfriend Jenny. She went absolutely crazy. I don’t know whatcame over her. She was screaming blue murder for hours after I met her. She didn’t believe that I had forgotten. She suspected I was with another girl.

*To come over (a person) = be suddenly effected emotionally, so much so that your normal behaviour changes.

To have a face like thunder

Meaning: We use this expression when someone has a really angry expression on his or her face.

Example: Her face was like thunder when I told her I had broken her crystal vase.

To storm out

Meaning: Leave a place very angrily.

Example: She stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind her because her mother had accused her of something she hadn’t done.

To weather the storm

Meaning: To experience and survive a difficult situation.

Example: I don’t know how she manages to keep a smile on her face after all she’s *been through. She really knows how to weather the storm.

*To go through or to have been through = endurance of an unpleasant situation.

To spring clean

Meaning: To give the house a good thorough (deep) cleaning; usually people do this in spring time, although it is used for any time of the year.

Example: I’m going to spring clean the house. I haven’t cleaned it properly for a long time.

To have an Indian summer

Meaning: When the weather is unexpectedly hot. This expression is used mainly for countries where the climate is not so good.

Example: Britain had an Indian summer last year. It was 35 degrees nearly every day.

A fair weather friend

Meaning: When someone is your friend only when everything is going well but stops being your friend the minute things start to go wrong in your life we use the expression.

Example: It’s goodbye to you my fair weather friend. I never want to see you again. The minute I had a problem you stopped phoning me. It is better to lose a friend like you than keep you.

To stand about as much chance as a snowball in hell

Meaning: When you see the situation as impossible.

Example: I think I stand about as much chance as a snowball in hell of getting that job. I’ve got no qualifications.