abide by (something)
- to follow the rules of something
The cleaning staff were forced to abide by the rules of the school.
able to breathe easily again
- to be able to relax and recover from a stressful time
My friend was able to breathe easily again when his company did not go out of business.
able to do (something) blindfolded
- to be able to do something easily and quickly
The car was easy to fix and we were able to do it blindfolded.
able to do (something) standing on one's head
- to be able to do something easily and quickly
The boy is good at fixing his bicycle and he can do it standing on his head.
able to take a joke
- to be able to let others laugh and joke about you
Our boss is not able to take a joke and we must be careful what we say to him.
about time
- to be something that should have happened earlier
"It is about time that you returned that book to me."
about to (do something)
- to be on the point of doing something
She was about to leave when the phone rang.
above and beyond
- to be more than is required
The work that the man did on our house was above and beyond what was required.
above reproach
- to be not deserving of blame or criticism
The actions of the police officer were above reproach.
above suspicion
- to be very honest so that nobody would suspect you
The man's actions are always above suspicion.
absent-minded
- to be forgetful
My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his keys.
according to Hoyle
- doing something strictly by the rules, doing something the usual and correct way
According to Hoyle we are not allowed to use this room but if nobody knows it should be okay.

according to (someone or something)
- as said or told by someone, in agreement with something, in the order of something, in proportion to something
According to our teacher, there will be no class next week.
We did everything according to the terms of our agreement.

acid test
- a test where the conclusions are beyond doubt
The problem was an acid test of our faith in the manager.
acquire a taste for (something)
- to learn to like something
We acquired a taste for classical music during our trip to Europe.
across the board
- equally for everyone or everything
The taxes were increased across the board and everyone had to pay more.
act high and mighty
- to act proud and powerful
The woman always acts high and mighty and nobody likes her.
act one's age
- to behave as a mature person or at least to behave equal to one's age
My friend never acts her age in public.
act up
- to misbehave
The children began to act up during the field trip.
add fuel to the fire
- to make a problem worse, to make an angry person angrier
The company added fuel to the fire when they criticized the angry workers.
add insult to injury
- to make a person who feels bad feel worse, to make a bad situation worse
Our boss added insult to injury when she refused to let us use the telephone as well as the computers during lunch.
add up
- to total up to a certain amount
I began to add up the money that I owed my father.
add up (to something)
- to mean something, to result in something
The things that he said about his boss do not add up.
advise against (something)
- to suggest that something should not be done
We were advised against swimming in the river.
afraid of one's own shadow
- to become frightened easily
The small dog is afraid of his own shadow.


after a fashion
- poorly, barely adequate
The cleaning staff cleaned the room after a fashion but certainly not very well.
after all
- in spite of what has been decided
I decided to take the swimming course after all.
after all
- considering the fact that something happened or is usually assumed
"You don't need to phone him. After all, he never phones you."

after all is said and done
- finally, when everything is settled
After all is said and done the mayor of our city is doing a very good job.
after hours
- after the regular closing or finishing time
The library has a place to leave books after hours.
after the fact
- after something (often a crime) has happened
Although the man said he was sorry, it was after the fact and he had already caused a big problem.
.


against one's will
- to be without a person's consent or agreement
The police took the man to jail against his will.
against the clock
- to be in a hurry to do something before a particular time
We worked against the clock to finish the project.
ahead of one's time
- to have ideas or attitudes that are more advanced than those of others
The ideas of the politician were very much ahead of his time.
ahead of the game
- to do more than necessary
We worked hard all week in order to be ahead of the game on Monday morning.
ahead of time
- early
We started the meeting ahead of time so that we could go home early.
air one`s dirty laundry/linen in public
- to make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret
The dinner party became uncomfortable when the host began to air his colleague's dirty laundry in public.
air one's grievances
- to complain (often publicly)
We spent the meeting airing our grievances to the new supervisor.
air (something) out
- to freshen something by putting it out in the open air
We put the blankets outside in order to air them out.
alive and well/kicking
- to be well and healthy
My aunt is 87 years old and she is very much alive and kicking.



all along
- all the time
I knew all along that my friend would not get the promotion.
all at once
- suddenly, without warning
All at once the fire alarm rang and we had to leave the building.
all day long
- the whole day
She has been sitting and waiting for the mail to arrive all day long.
all ears
- to be eager to listen to someone
"I`m all ears, please tell me about the party."
all for (someone or something)
- to be very much in favor of someone or something
The woman is all for the manager and she never criticizes her.
all in
- to be tired, to be exhausted
I am all in and will go to bed early tonight.
all in a day's work
- to be part of what is expected
It was all in a day's work when the firefighters rescued the cat.
all in all
- in summary, after considering everything
We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful.
all in one piece
- safely, without damage
When we moved, our furniture arrived all in one piece.
all manner of (someone or something)
- all types of people or things
There were all manner of people at the party.
all night long
- throughout the whole night
We could hear the people next door talking all night long.
all of a sudden
- suddenly, without advance warning
All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain.
all-out-effort
- a very good and thorough effort
We made an all-out-effort to finish our work.
all over but the shouting
- to be decided and finished
It was all over but the shouting for the football fans when their team moved to another city.
all over the place
- everywhere
We travelled all over the place on our holiday.
all right
- okay, satisfactory
She said that it would be all right for me to bring my friend to the party.
all set
- to be ready to begin, to be okay
Everything was all set when the meeting began.
all sweetness and light
- to be very sweet, to be innocent and helpful
The girl is all sweetness and light whenever she does something bad.
all systems go
- everything is ready (originally used when a rocket was launched)
It was all systems go so we began the installation of the new computer system.
all talk (and no action)
- to talk about doing something but never really do it
Our boss was all talk and no action and nothing new was ever done in our department.
all the rage
- to be in current fashion
The new sneakers were all the rage during the summer.
all the time
- continually
My sister asks for money all the time but I do not like to give it to her.
all thumbs
- to have difficulty fixing things or working with one`s hands, to be clumsy
My friend is all thumbs when fixing things around his house.
all to the good
- for the best, for one's benefit
It was all to the good that my sister left her job.

all told
- including everything/everyone, totaled up
All told, there were at least twelve candidates for the job.

.


allow for (someone or something)
- to plan to have enough of something, to plan on the possibility of something
We must allow for enough time to go to the stadium.
along with (someone or something)
- in addition to someone or something
I went to the concert along with my friend.
amount to (something)
- to become successful
The boy will never amount to anything if he does not change his behavior.
amount to the same thing
- to be the same or have the same effect as something
Going by taxi or bus amounts to the same thing. We are still going to be late for the concert.
an arm and a leg
- (to cost) a large amount of money
His new car cost him an arm and a leg.
answer to (someone)
- to explain or justify one's actions to someone
The manager had to answer to the company president about the problems in the office.
any number of (someone or something)
- a sufficiently large number
I had any number of reasons not to buy the computer.
appear out of nowhere
- to appear suddenly, to appear without warning
The dog appeared out of nowhere during our walk on the beach.
apple of (someone`s) eye
- to be someone`s favorite
His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
argue for the sake of arguing/argument
- to argue only to be different and to not agree
My friend's brother always argues for the sake of arguing.
arm in arm
- to be linked together by the arms
The young girls walked arm in arm to school.
armed and dangerous
- to have a weapon that may be used (usually by a suspected criminal)
The criminal was armed and dangerous when the police arrested him.
armed to the teeth
- to be armed with many weapons
The police were armed to the teeth during the drug raid.
around the clock
- all day and all night
We worked around the clock to get the store ready to open.
arrive on the scene
- to appear in a certain place
When the fire department arrived on the scene the fire was almost out.

as a last resort
- if everything else fails
As a last resort we decided to borrow some money from my father to buy the car.
as a matter of fact
- actually
As a matter of fact we have been to the history museum many times.
as a result of (something)
- because of something that has happened
As a result of the car accident my friend could not work for several months.
as a rule
- usually, as a habit
As a rule I get up at 70 every morning.
as far as
- to the extent or degree of something
As far as I know the movie will start in a few minutes.
as far as possible
- as much as possible
We went as far as possible with the project before we had to stop.
as good as one's word
- to be dependable in keeping one's promises
My friend is always as good as his word and you can always trust him.

as if
- in the same way that something would be, that
The drink tastes as if it were made with orange juice.
It seemed as if the whole town came to the concert.

as long as
- provided that, on condition that
"As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car."
as luck would have it
- by chance
As luck would have it I was able to borrow some clothes to wear to the party.
as one
- as if a group were one person
The crowd stood up as one and began to cheer for the team.

as soon as
- just after something, when
I phoned my friend as soon as I finished dinner.

as such
- the way something is
"As such, I will not be able to approve your application for a loan."
as the crow flies
- by the most direct way, along a straight line between two places
As the crow flies, it is about 6 kilometers between my house and my office.

as to
- with regard to, according to
"As to your question, I will answer it tomorrow."
The players were put into groups as to their ability.

as usual
- most of the time, following the usual pattern
As usual, the girl forgot to bring her book to class.

as well
- in addition, also, too
I plan to take a computer course this summer as well.

as well as
- in addition to
"Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel."
as yet
- until now, up to the present
As yet, our secretary has not told us about her plans to leave the company.

.


ask for the moon
- to ask for too much
The woman asks for the moon but is never able to get what she wants.
ask for trouble
- to behave in a way that trouble is likely
The boy is asking for trouble if he misses another class.
ask (someone) out
- to ask a person for a date
My friend finally asked out the woman at the bank.
asleep at the switch
- to not be alert to an opportunity
I think I was asleep at the switch. I did not know that the job was available so I never applied for it.
assault and battery
- a criminal charge where one violently attacks and beats someone
The man was arrested for assault and battery after the fight outside of the store.



at a loss
- to be in a state of uncertainity or bewilderment
We were at a loss about what to do with the computer that was having problems.

at a loss (for words)
- to be speechless, to be unable to speak
I was at a loss for words when I finally saw my mother after several years.
at a sitting
- at one time
We finished all of the food at a sitting.
at a stretch
- continuously
My friend sometimes works for three weeks at a stretch.
at all costs
- no matter what, regardless of the cost or difficulty
The company decided to protect their market share at all costs.
at any rate
- anyway
"At any rate whether you go or not, I am not going."
at bay
- at a distance
We were able to keep the dog at bay when we entered the building.
at best
- as the best one can say, in the best view
The doctors told the man that he had ten months at best to live.
at cross-purposes
- to have opposite ways to do something, to have opposing goals
They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do.
at death's door
- to be near death
The young woman was at death's door after the accident.
at ease
- to be relaxed and comfortable
The team felt at ease after the coach talked to them.
at every turn
- everywhere one looks
There was a tour group at every turn when we visited Rome.
at face value
- from outward appearances
The antique table is worth very little money at face value.
at fault
- to be responsible or to be to blame for something
The truck driver was at fault for the terrible accident.
at first
- at the beginning
At first I did not want to go to a movie but later I changed my mind.
at first blush
- when first seen, without careful study
At first blush the man seemed like a good worker but later we had many problems with him.
at hand
- to be close by
I stopped working because I did not have any good tools at hand.
at heart
- basically, fundamentally
She is a very nice person at heart although many people dislike her.
at home
- to be in one`s house
"I`m sorry but I left my money at home. Can you lend me some money?"
(feel) at home
- to feel comfortable and relaxed
I was able to make myself at home while waiting for my friend.
at it again
- to be doing something again
The two boys were at it again and we could hear them fighting.
at large
- to be free, to be uncaptured
The criminal was at large for over three months.
at last
- finally, after a long time
I waited all morning for my friend's call but at last it came.
at least
- no less than
There were at least 60,000 people in the stadium.
at length
- after a long time, in detail
The speaker talked at length before stopping.
at loggerheads with (someone)
- to be having a quarrel with someone, to oppose someone
We have been at loggerheads with the company over their plans to build a new office complex.
at loose ends
- to be restless and unsettled
My friend's mother was at loose ends after her husband died.
at odds (with someone)
- to be in disagreement with someone
The man has been at odds with his boss over his new sales territory.
at once
- immediately
The police came at once when we called them.
at peace
- to be peaceful, to be happy
The woman was relaxed and at peace after her friend's funeral.
at random
- without sequence or order
The members of the team were chosen at random from among the regular players.
at risk
- to be in danger
The children were at risk of getting sick when the disease spread in the school.
at sea
- to be on the sea, to be away on a voyage on the ocean
When my grandfather was a young man he was at sea for several months.
at sea (about something)
- to be confused, to be lost
Most of the class was at sea when the difficult theory was explained.
at sixes and sevens
- to be lost and bewildered
We were at sixes and sevens when we heard that the grocery store would close.
at (someone`s) beck and call
- to be always ready to serve somebody
His eldest daughter is always at his beck and call when he spends an evening at home.
at (someone's) earliest convenience
- as soon as it is convenient for someone
I went to the bank at my earliest convenience to speak to the bank manager.
at (someone's) service
- to be ready to help someone in any way possible
A member of the hotel staff was at our service during our stay.
at stake
- to be able to be won or lost, to be at risk
Much money was at stake during the negotiations for the oil pipeline.


at the appointed time/hour
- at the announced time
We went to meet the legal advisor at the appointed time.
at the bottom of the hour
- on the half hour (10:30, 11:30 etc.)
At the bottom of the hour they opened the store for the customers.
at the bottom of the ladder
- to be at the lowest level of pay and status
I had to start at the bottom of the ladder at my new job.
at the crack of dawn
- when the first light of the day appears
We left for our holiday at the crack of dawn.
at the drop of a hat
- immediately and without any pressure
My friends are willing to help me at the drop of a hat.
at the eleventh hour
- at the last possible moment
The company and union settled the strike at the eleventh hour.
at the end of one`s rope
- to be at the limit of one`s ability to cope
I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my current situation at work.
at the end of the day
- when everything else has been taken into consideration
At the end of the day, it was impossible to continue with our plans to build the house.
at the expense of (someone or something)
- to be to the harm of (someone or something)
The man worked very hard and made much money but it was at the expense of his family life and health.
at the latest
- no later than
The tour was going to start at noon at the latest.
at the present time
- now, at present
At the present time there are no extra helpers available.
at the top of one's lungs
- with a very loud voice
I cried out for my friend at the top of my lungs.
at the top of the hour
- at the exact beginning of the hour (120, 10 etc.)
The radio news always starts at the top of the hour.
at this juncture
- at the present time
We were told that at this juncture there was no point to continue with the meeting.
at this stage of the game
- currently, at the current point in some event
At this stage of the game it was not possible to change the plans for the class trip.
at times
- sometimes, occasionally
At times, our teacher is very nice but at other times she is very mean.
at will
- whenever one wants, freely
The little boy was able to do what he wanted at will.

attend to (someone or something)
- to take care or deal with someone or something
The doctor attended to the other patient before he got to my mother.
attract (someone's) attention
- to cause someone to take notice
- The strange behavior of the man attracted the attention of the police.
augur well for (someone or something)
- to predict good things for someone or something
The poor business conditions do not augur well for the workers in the country.
avail oneself of (something)
- to help oneself by using something that is available
We availed ourselves of the office space to prepare for the school festival.
avenue of escape
- the route along which someone or something escapes
There was no avenue of escape for the group of bank robbers.
avoid (someone or something) like the plague
- to avoid someone or something totally
The girls avoided the new student like the plague.