I don't need to know everything about it, but can you just tell me how this video camera works in a nutshell?ĩ. He just wants to have his cake and eat it.Ĩ. He now needs to borrow £30,000 but insists on maintaining his previous life style. Can you do this quality control inspection this afternoon? It should be a piece of cake to someone with your experience.ħ. I thought your brother was bad enough, but your behaviour at Sheila's this evening takes the biscuit.Ħ. They had one massive quarrel, but it was just a storm in a teacup.ĥ. Spending the whole evening in a smoky, noisy pub where you can't hear yourself speak, let alone anybody else, is certainly not my cup of tea.Ĥ. All you have to do is sit around the pool and make sure nobody drowns. He is actually a literary translator but driving a minicab is his bread-and-butter job.Ģ. a raw deal - unfair or harsh treatment usually of a financial or moral kindġ. in a fair/pretty pickle - in a mess in a difficult or unpleasant situationġ2. stew in your own juice - suffer the consequences of your own foolish actions with no help from othersġ1. ![]() fair game - someone who is easy to attack because they have left themselves weak or exposedġ0. ![]() the upper crust - the highest social classes the aristocracyĩ. ![]() pie in the sky - predictions or promises which are unlikely to be fulfilledĨ. take with a pinch of salt - do not believe that what is referred to is completely trueħ. a hot potato - an issue that is controversial, dangerous or embarrassingĦ. a couch potato - someone who spends too much time watching TV with no real interests or hobbiesĥ. a different kettle of fish - something entirely different, more complex or demandingĤ. the hard stuff - a drink with high alcohol content, e.g. small beer - of little value or importanceĢ. Now check your understanding of the examples against these explanations :ġ. It was a bit of a raw deal really - 50 hours a week, no holiday pay, no benefits of any kind. You'd be in a fine/pretty pickle if John weren't around to help you with the accounts.ġ2. He has totally rejected all the good advice I've given him so I'm just going to let him stew in his own juice for a while.ġ1. By insisting that he had never lied about it when clearly he had, he became fair game among the reporters in Fleet Street.ġ0. That is a kind of lifestyle that only the upper crust can afford.ĩ. When he says the stock market is sure to recover by the end of the year, that's clearly pie in the sky.Ĩ. When she says she has absolutely no money, you have to take that with a pinch of salt. Whether or not to allow fox hunting in Britain is a real hot potato among country people at the moment.Ħ. He used to play tennis and swim every day, but he's turned into real couch potato this summer.ĥ. He practises a lot at home, but playing in the school orchestra will be a very different kettle of fish.Ĥ. Oh, just a glass of dry white wine, please. I know that my collection of paintings is small beer compared to yours, but you've been collecting for much longer than I have.Ģ. See if you can work out what they mean by studying these examples of use:ġ. They have certainly given me some food for thought. They should give you some food for thought which is another such idiom.Įxample: Thank you for your suggestions and constructive criticism. It is said that association is a technique which helps us to remember things, so I have grouped the following idioms into those that you might associate with drinks and the main meal and those you might associate with snacks, fruit and afternoon tea. We have a number of common expressions which are derived from food and drink items.
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