English idioms: Sayings & slang

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by  Wayne Magnuson

Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms
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Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
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rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
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Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
Get the book at .
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iNDeX.htm[24.06.2011 9:20:10]
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms
Wayne Magnuson
English Idioms

Sayings and Slang
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Idioms: 'at a boy (that a boy) -- 'at a girl (that a girl)
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: 'at a boy (that a boy) -- 'at a girl (that a girl)

Idiom Meaning Example
'at a boy (that a boy) good work, well done, attaboy Whenever I win, Don says, " 'at a boy! Good
game!"
'at a girl (that a girl) good work, well done, attagirl When Judy gets good grades, her mom says, "
'at a girl, Judy!"
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[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
Get the book at .
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD1.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:00]
Idioms: a close shave -- a cut-up
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: a close shave -- a cut-up

Idiom Meaning Example
a close shave very close to serious injury or The old man described his fight with the bear as
death a close shave.
a clutch hitter (baseball) a batter who hits when runners Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with
are on base runners on base.
a common thread an idea or theme that is similar There's a common thread in most of Berton's
to others stories.
a contract out on a contract that pays to have There's a contract out on Mike. The boss
someone killed doesn't like him.
a coon's age many years, a dog's age We haven't been out to the coast in a coon's
age. It's been years.
a crash course a short course that has the He took a crash course in cooking and bought a
main facts and skills cafe.
a crush on sudden feeling of love or Judy has a crush on Tim. See the way she
romance looks at him.
a crying shame a sad event, it is too bad It's a crying shame that they didn't have fire
insurance.
a cut above superior, better A scholar's work is a cut above. It's superior to
the others.
a cut-up a joker, a person who tells When Marsha goes to a party she's a real cut-
jokes and has fun up - a lot of fun.
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Legend:
[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD10.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:00]
Idioms: butter up -- buy time
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: butter up -- buy time

Idiom Meaning Example
butter up be nice to, suck up to Butter him up before you ask to borrow his car.
butter wouldn't melt in his he is very calm and clear, he When he's talking to voters, butter wouldn't melt
mouth has an air of innocence, cool, in his mouth.
smooth talker
button your lip do not tell anyone, on the QT Button your lip about the speeding ticket. Don't
tell Dad.
buttonhole you stop you and talk to you, corner At the meeting, Al buttonholed me and asked
you and bore you me to vote Reform.
buy a round buy a drink for everyone at the When Gina was born, I bought a round for the
table, this one is on me team. Every player had a drink to honor our
baby.
buy into believe and support, agree to He will buy into our plan if the money goes to
support, come onside needy children.
buy out buy a business and all the We knew his business was in debt, so we
inventory offered to buy him out.
buy that believe that, eat that He says he went to see his friends at the park. I
can buy that.
buy the farm die, kick the bucket, pass away "Where's Henry?" "Oh, he bought the farm
years ago - died of cancer, eh."
buy time request time to plan, ask for If we can just buy a little time, maybe the price
extra time will go down.
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[B] bad language
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Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD100.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01]
Idioms: buy up -- by and large
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: buy up -- by and large

Idiom Meaning Example
buy up buy all of a product or all the At closing time, Abe comes in and buys up the
shares in a company last shares.
buyer's market a time when prices are low, soft The price of gold is low. It's a buyer's market in
market precious metals.
buzz-kill a person who stops the fun, You buzz-kill! Don't talk about air disasters
party-pooper when I'm flying to Rome.
buzz off go away, beat it, get lost Next time he asks to borrow something, tell him
to buzz off.
buzzed slightly intoxicated, tipsy Jane got buzzed on fermented coconut juice.
She was happy!
buzzword new word or expression, the Internet, zero tolerance - these were buzzwords
latest jargon, catch phrase of the 1990s.
by a country mile by a long distance, by a wide Black Beauty won the race by a country mile.
margin She was far ahead.
by a long shot (See not by a long shot)
by all means yes, please do it By all means, come to the Learning Skills
Centre.
by and large mostly, mainly, most of the time By and large, chocolate is the favorite flavor.
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[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
Get the book at .
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD101.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01]
Idioms: by any means -- by its very nature
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: by any means -- by its very nature

Idiom Meaning Example
by any means any way or method, by doing He survived by any means when he first came
any job to Canada.
by any stretch... (See not by any stretch of the
imagination)
by cracky you listen to what I say, this is
the truth, by gosh This is
serious, by cracky! We're lost
and we have no water!
by dint of as a result of, because of By dint of her efforts alone, this family is happy
and healthy.
by golly I am surprised, impressed; by By golly! She did it. She made a cherry pie!
gosh
by gosh what an experience, this is Well, by gosh! This is my first look at Niagara
interesting, by golly Falls!
by guess or by gosh any way that is possible, by How did I learn to speak French? By guess or
chance by gosh, that's how.
by heart memorized every word, down Eva knew the speech by heart. She didn't look
pat at her notes.
by hook or by crook any way that is possible, by any He'll get that car - by hook or by crook! He'll get
means it somehow.
by its very nature because of its natural habits, A dog, by its very nature, is dependent on
because it is that way humans.
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[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD102.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:01]
Idioms: by jove -- by word of mouth
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: by jove -- by word of mouth

Idiom Meaning Example
by jove it happened, it is amazing By jove! We reached our goal. We sold 15,000
tickets!
by leaps and bounds by large amounts, by a lot The population of Calgary has grown by leaps
and bounds.
by no means not in any way, not by any By no means is a car a good investment. It will
stretch... depreciate.
by the by (See by the way)
by the same token judging by the same rule, to be By the same token, he should help with the
fair to both sides housework.
by the seat of your pants with little money, without You can't operate a business by the seat of
planning, a lick and a promise your pants.
by the short hairs (See got you by the short hairs)
by the skin of their teeth by a little, barely He won the election by one vote, by the skin of
his teeth.
by the way in addition to what I was saying, By the way, I heard that Ed is resigning.
incidentally
by word of mouth by one person speaking to News of his birth traveled by word of mouth.
another, person to person, Soon everyone knew that Mary had a baby boy.
through the grapevine
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Legend:
[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD103.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:02]
Idioms: bye -- bye for now
Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms

Idioms: bye -- bye for now

Idiom Meaning Example
bye goodbye Bye, Mom. I love you.
bye for now goodbye but I will see you soon Bye for now. See you tonight at choir practice.
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[B] bad language
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The small print:
Copyright ©1995-2003 Wayne Magnuson
The contents of this page are free for personal and non-commercial use, provided this copyright notice is kept intact. All further
rights, including the rights of publication in any form, have to be obtained by written permission from the publisher:
Prairie House Books
Box 84007 Market Mall, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 5C4, Phone [phone], FAX [phone], Email
[email protected]
A printed version of these idioms is available as ISBN 1-895012-09-0 (New: 4th printing now available) and a CD-ROM version
as ISBN 1-895012-19-8.
Get the book at .
file:///F|/books/English%20Idioms%20Sayings%20and%20Slang/iD104.htm[24.06.2011 9:13:02]