17
It will do
at a pinch (in case of emergency, if hard pressed).
When the
opportunity came I paid him back in his own coin (treated him in the same way
as he had
treated me).
Just now
my hands are full (I am very busy).
It is
generally believed that he had a hand (was concerned) in the plot.
Explorers
in the arctic regions take their lives in their hands (undergo great risks).
Naturally
he fights shy of (avoids from a feeling of mistrust, dislikes) his young
nephew,
who is a
gambler.
All his
schemes ended in smoke (came to nothing).
The police
left no stone unturned (used all available means, adopted every possible
method of
search) to trace the culprits.
Later on
he became unpopular because he tried to lord it over (to domineer over) his
followers.
As he was
growing old, his friends persuaded him to rest on his laurels (to retire from
active
life).
18
The
champion will have to look to your laurels (take care not to lose your
pre-eminence).
I am tired
of hearing him harp on the same string (dwell tediously on the same subject).
His blood
ran cold (i.e., he was horrified) when he heard that his friend was murdered.
I gave him
a piece of my mind (scolded him).
The dog is
as good as (practically) dead.
He was as
good as his word (i.e., kept his promise).
The child
was as good as gold (i.e., very good).
You will
have to make good the loss (to compensate me for the loss).
He kicked
up a row (made great noise or fuss).
He
seems ill at ease (uneasy, anxious, uncomfortable).
19
The old
man is hard of hearing (somewhat deaf).
It will go
hard with him (i.e., he will suffer severely) if he keeps company with that
fellow.
People say
that Mr. X, the banker, is on his last legs (on the verge of ruin).
I can make
neither head nor tail (nothing) of it.
You'll
never get the better of (gain an advantage over) that rascal : with him it's
always,
'Heads I
win, tails you lose' (i.e., in any case he will be the winner).
By his
advocacy of widow-remarriage, he stirred up a hornet's nest (excited the
hostility
or adverse
criticism of a large number of people).
He made
great claims for his discovery; but it turned out to be a mare's nest (a
delusion, a
worthless
thing).
On the
very first night she brought down the house (called forth general and loud
applause)
by her superb acting.
He is
every inch (entirely, completely) a gentleman.
You have
done the handsome thing by him (behaved towards him in a magnanimous
manner)
in accepting his apology and foregoing the claim for damages.
20
He proved
his worth by rising to the occasion (showing himself equal to dealing with the
emergency).
For some days the new professor lectured over the heads of (above the
comprehension
of ) his pupils.
He knows
the ins and outs (the full details) of that affair.
He is over
head and ears (deeply) in love (or, in debt).
Beyond all
question (undoubtedly) she is a great singer.
You want
to see him? Out of the question I (i.e., impossible).
The two
friends agreed to differ (gave up trying to convince each other) after
discussing
the
question for about an hour.
Since that
day he has been in bad odour (out of favour, in bad repute) with his
neighbours.
Intimate
friends need not stand on ceremony (act with reserve, insist on strict rules of
etiquette
being observed).
He
went out of his way (took special trouble) to oblige me.
21
I am
afraid you two are at cross-purposes (misunderstand each other).
I trusted
him and he played me false (deceived me, betrayed me).
He is a
shrewd man, and it will not be easy to draw him out (to elicit information from
him).
He made
light of (treated lightly) his friend's warning.
The
proposal was rejected with one voice (unanimously).
The
figures which he quoted were shown to be incorrect, and this took the edge off
his
argument
(made his argument ineffective).
We had on
the way tea of a kind (of a poor kind, i.e., tea that scarcely deserved the
name).
I repaid
his insolence in kind (in the same way, i.e., with insolence).
Beware of
that fellow ! he will stick at nothing (is unscrupulous and will do anything to
accomplish
his purpose).
He is not
the man to pocket an affront (to receive or submit to it without retaliating or
showing
resentment).
22
I am out of
pocket (a loser) by the transaction.
The fate
of the accused hangs in the balance (is undecided).
He is a
man of well-balanced (reasonable, moderate) opinions.
He was
carried off his feet (was wild with excitement) when he was declared to have
won
the first
prize.
He made
the most of his opportunity (i.e., used it to the best advantage).
That house
is put on the market (offered for sale).
He
sometimes works nine hours at a stretch (continuously)
By his
skill in arguing he carried his point (defeated his adversaries in debate).
He is
serving his time (going through an apprenticeship) in a bank. Serves you right
(i.e.,
you've
got your deserts) !
23
I shall
manage to serve him out (to retaliate upon him, to have my revenge on him).
He is
working against time (with utmost speed).
This year
the mango-crop has fallen short of my expectations (i.e., has disappointed me).
While the
members of the committee were discusssing questions of finance, I felt like a
fish out
of water (like one out of his element; i.e., in a strange situation).
A good
student works steadily, not by fits and starts (irregularly, capriciously,
without
steady
application).
He has
made his fortune and now takes things easy (does not work hard).
Mr. X
first introduced the system of payments by instalments, and shortly afterwards
others
took a leaf out of his book (imitated him, profited by his example).
The
Secretary of the Company was charged with cooking the accounts (preparing false
accounts).
You should
take into account (consider) his past services.
You must
lie in the bed you have made (take the consequences of your own acts; suffer
for
your own misdeeds).
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