영어숙어관용구 모음 Common English Idioms

• 영어숙어 관용구 모음

Common English Idioms

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Above board: honest, open

ad lib: improvise, interpolate

after all: in spite of the situation; nevertheless

against the grain: contrary to someone’s feelings, principles

all along: all the time

all ears: eager to listen

all of a sudden: suddenly

all thumbs: clumsy

apple of one’s eye: very dear, precious

apple of discord: subject of envy or quarrel

as a rule: generally, usually

as far as I know: if I have correct information

as far as I am concerned: in my opinion

as for me/ as to me: in my opinion

as well: also, too

at first sight: from the first glance; at once; at first glance

at odds with: in disagreement with

at random: at this time

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Backseat driver: a passenger who tells you how to drive

ballpark figure: approximate estimate (in figures)

bark at the moon: do a useless thing; waste time

bark up the wrong tree: accuse or pursue the wrong person; misdirect one’s efforts

be about to: ready

be all in: be extremely tired

be back on one’s feet: healthy again or better financially

beat around the bush: avoid giving a clear/definite answer

be behind the times: be old-fashioned, outdated

be beside oneself: be very upset, nervous, worried

be better off: be in a better situation (financially)

be broke: have no money at all; be penniless, bankrupt

be hard on something or someone: treat roughly

be high on one’s list: be one of the most important things

be in charge of something: be responsible for

be in good health: be healthy

be in poor health: be not healthy

be in good shape: be physically fit; in good condition

be in bad shape: be in bad state; in bad condition

be in the red: be in debt

be on/at the point of something: be on the verge of something; be close to doing something

be out of date: be outdated

be out of sorts: be in bad temper

be pressed for time, for money: not to have enough time, money

be to blame: be responsible for a mistake, for something wrong

be touch and go: risky, dangerous; uncertain of the result

be up and around / about: able to be out of bed after an illness

be up to one’s ears in work: be very busy

beat around/about the bush: avoid giving a clear or definite answer

beat one’s brains out: make great efforts, often unsuccessfully

before long: soon

big shot: important person

bite off more than one can chew: try to do more than one can

bite the bullet: accept painful but necessary action

bite the dust: be killed; die; suffer defeat

bite the hand that feeds one: repay kindness with evil

black sheep: a good-for-nothing member of the family

blind date: a meeting between a man and a woman (who have never met before) arranged by their friends

blow it: lose the chance

bottom line: main result; main factor

break someone’s heart: hurt deeply

break the ice: overcome awkwardness or shyness

break the news (to someone): tell important news

bring home the bacon: earn the living for the family

by all means: definitely, certainly

by heart: by memorizing

by hook or by crook: by any possible means

by oneself (by myself, by himself, etc.): alone; on one’s own

by the way: incidentally

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Call a halt to something: terminate, stop something

call a spade a spade: use plain, direct words

call it a day: consider work finished for the day

call the shots: give orders; be in control of something

call the tune: give orders; be the most important person in some situation

carry weight: be important

castles in the air: daydreaming about success

catch someone’s eye: attract attention

catch one’s breath: stop and rest

catch someone off guard: catch someone unprepared

catch someone red-handed: find someone in the act of doing wrong

close call: a narrow escape; a bad thing that almost happened

come to one’s senses: act normally and reasonably again

come true: become reality

cross one’s mind: occur to someone

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Do one’s best: try very hard

do one’s bit: do what’s needed

do someone good: be good for someone

do something behind someone’s back: do (harmful) things secretively

down to earth: practical

draw the line: set a limit; impose a restriction

duty calls: must fulfill obligations

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Eat one’s words: take back one’s words

every now and then: occasionally

every other: every second one

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Fall in love (with): begin to love

fall out of love: stop loving

false alarm: untrue signal; untrue rumor

a far cry from something: not nearly as good

feel it in one’s bones: expect something bad to happen

feel like doing something: want to do; be inclined to do something

few and far between: rare, scarce

find fault with someone or something: criticize; complain about

first things first: important things come before others

fly off the handle: get angry

follow in someone’s footsteps: do the same thing

foot the bill: pay the bill

for good: forever

for the time being: for now; at this time

frame of mind: mental state

from now on: now and in the future

from the word go: from the very beginning

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Get a grip on oneself: take control of one’s feelings

get carried away: get too excited and enthusiastic about something

get cold feet: be afraid to do something

get even with someone: have one’s revenge

get in touch with someone: contact someone

get to the bottom of something: know deeply

get to the point: speak directly about the subject; come to the point

Give me a break!: Stop it! Enough!

give someone a hand: help someone

go back on one’s word: break a promise

go from bad to worse: become much worse

go to pieces: get very upset; fall apart

go with the flow: lead a quiet life

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Have a ball: have a good time

have a bone to pick with someone: complain or discuss something unpleasant

have a sweet tooth: love eating sweet things

have a word with someone: talk to someone

have no business doing something: have no right to do something

have one’s hands full: be very busy

hit the nail on the head: say exactly the right thing

hold one’s tongue: keep silent; refrain from speaking

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Ill at ease: uncomfortable

in advance: well before

in cold blood: mercilessly

in fact: actually; in reality

in hot water: in trouble; in a difficult situation

in someone’s shoes: in another person’s position

in the long run: in the end

in the same boat: in the same situation

in the clear: free from blame

it goes without saying: should be clear without words

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Jump at the opportunity: accept the opportunity eagerly

just as soon: prefer; would rather

just in case: to be on the safe side

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Keep a straight face: try not to laugh

keep company: accompany

keep in mind: bear in mind; consider; remember

keep one’s word: fulfill a promise

keep someone posted: inform someone

keep one’s fingers crossed: hope that nothing will go wrong

kill time: fill time; spend empty time

know the ropes: be very familiar with some business

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Lay one’s cards on the table: be frank and open

lay one’s life on the line: put oneself in a dangerous situation

lead a dog’s life: live in misery

leave word: leave a message

let go of something: release the hold

let one’s hair down: be relaxed and informal with other people

let someone know: inform someone

like father, like son: be like one’s parent in something

little by little: step by step; bit by bit; gradually

lose one’s temper: become angry

lose one’s way: get lost

lose track of someone: not to know where someone is

lucky break: a lucky chance

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Make a living: earn money to provide for life

make allowance(s) for something: take into consideration when judging

make a point of: be sure to do something intentionally

make friends: become friends

make fun of someone or something: laugh at; joke about

make room for someone: allow space for someone

make up one’s mind: decide

make yourself at home: be comfortable; feel at home

mean well: have good intentions

might as well: maybe it’s a good idea

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Never mind: don’t worry about it

now and again: occasionally; now and then

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Off the cuff: without preparation

off the point: beside the point

off the record: not for the public; unofficially

once and for all: decidedly

on credit: not having to pay cash right away

on edge: nervous, irritable

on guard: on the alert

on hand: available

on one hand/on the one hand: considering one side of the question

on one’s toes: alert, attentive, prepared for difficulties

on purpose: intentionally

on second thought: after thinking again

on the alert: on guard

on the carpet: called in by the boss for criticism

on the go: on the move; busy, active

on the other hand: considering the other side of the question

on the spot: right there

on the spur of the moment: without previous thought or plan

on the tip of one’s tongue: on the verge of saying but unable to remember

out of one’s mind: crazy

out of one’s way: away from one’s usual route

out of the question: not to be considered; impossible

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Pack rat: a person who saves lots of unnecessary things

pay attention: note something; be attentive to something

pick a fight: start a quarrel

put one’s foot down: object strongly

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Right away: immediately

ring a bell: remind someone of something familiar but half-forgotten

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See red: become very angry

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Take a break: stop for rest

take it easy: relax; be calm

take something for granted: accept as given

take steps: take action; take measures

take time: take a long time

twist someone’s arm: force someone to agree

under the weather: feeling a little ill, a little unwell

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Up-and-coming: showing promise of future success

up in the air: undecided, unsettled

up to date: modern, latest, current

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Walk on air: be very happy

waste one’s breath: speak uselessly, to no purpose

watch one’s step: behave prudently; be careful

white lie: unimportant lie

word for word: in the same words