In black and white
it’s official - it’s been printed or written down - so there is no dispute!
Examples
I have it here in black and white - I’ve got the job!
I’m not going to start celebrating until I’ve seen the deal in black and white.
We didn’t believe the bank’s offer of a loan until we saw it in black and white.
Take a back seat
to give up control and let someone else take responsibility.
Examples
Mary was happy to take a back seat and let Jim run the meeting.
I’m going to take a back seat this year and let you decide where we go on holiday.
Now he’s getting older he’s decided to take a back seat in running the company.
Cyberbullying
a form of bullying in which people harass and harm other people online deliberately. And unlike the traditional bully, the electronic bully can remain anonymous. So we don’t know who they are.
includes things like spreading lies and rumours online, sending or forwarding unpleasant messages via instant messaging, text or on social networks.
Examples
Kate is a victim of cyberbullying. It’s so bad she doesn’t want to leave the house. Someone from school has put messages on social media saying she’s ugly and she should die. It’s terrible!
Experts say people should protect themselves from cyberbullying by not taking everything to heart.
Me time
time we have for ourselves to do just what we want.
Examples
I’ve just sent my mum to a spa in the countryside. She’s been taking care of the whole family and is really in need of some me time!
A: Oh, six in the morning! I’m going to be late for work!
B: Ignore the alarm clock today. It’s Sunday! Stay in bed till late and have some me time.
To drink someone under the table
you and your friend both drink the same amount of alcohol, your friend will be very drunk, but you will be fine.
you’ve got a much higher tolerance of alcohol than another person.
Examples
I do like a gin and tonic after a hard day at work but Alan can drink me under the table!
When Beth realised she could drink anyone under the table she decided to stop drinking alcohol and go into rehab.
smalls, undies
underwear
Examples
Linda, hurry up or we’ll miss the plane! Don’t forget to pack your smalls!
Billy, don’t walk around the house in your undies. Your granny is coming to visit and she’ll be here at any time.
Red tape
the rules and processes required to get official permits - which usually seem to be pointless
Examples
Small firms won’t be subject to new regulations under a government plan to cut red tape and boost the economy.
Andrea almost gave up studying abroad. The amount of red tape to get a visa was unbelievable!
The penny dropped
somebody has finally realised or understood something.
Examples
Susan keeps postponing the wedding, Joe. When is the penny going to drop? She doesn’t love you!
If your boss doesn’t appreciate you, why not leave a job advert from another company on your desk? That will make the penny drop!
Out of juice
When you’ve used all the battery power of something like a mobile phone, so that it doesn’t work anymore.
sometimes if a person feels low on energy, they could say ‘I’m out of juice’. Also if your car is low on petrol, you could say ‘The car’s running out of juice.’
Examples
My laptop’s out of juice. This is so frustrating.
I am packing three spare phone batteries so I don’t run out of juice on my climbing trip.
Hot desk
an increasingly popular way of working to save office space.
not like before, where everyone had their own desk, in a hot-desking office there are certain number of desks and computers available for people to use, and anyone who needs them can use them.
hot-desking is the noun form of the verb ‘to hot-desk’.
The actual desk we use to do hot-desking is called a ‘hot desk’.
Examples
BBC New Broadcasting House is a hot-desking environment. People just sit wherever there is a free computer.
Hot desks should be kept clean and tidy at all times because you don’t know who will use them next.
Many modern office workers are expected to hot-desk.
To keep the wolf from the door
they’ve only just got enough money to survive.
Examples
I’m going to have to sell my car if I’m to keep the wolf from the door.
It’s tough being a student, I study all day then have to do an evening job just to keep the wolf from the door.
We’ve only just saved enough money to keep the wolf from the door.
Give me credit
give me praise or appreciation for something I’ve done.
Examples
We must give credit to our sponsors who helped pay for this new building.
I’ll give her credit for her beautiful handwriting, but the answers she gave in the test were all wrong!
Give me credit - I worked all night to get the project finished!
A face for radio
an indirect way of saying they are not very good looking!
Examples
Man: Jane looked beautiful at her wedding.
Woman: Really? She must have had a good make-up artist because, to be honest, she’s got a face for radio.
Man: No one’s going to choose me at this speed-dating event.
Woman: Why on earth not? You’re such a warm-hearted guy.
Man: Thanks. But you have to admit, I’ve got a face for radio.
To know something like the back of your hand
know somewhere very well, or to talk about an extremely familiar place.
it can used to describe things we know very well. It’s not just limited to places.
Examples
He knows the building like the back of his hand.
She lived in the village all her life, and knows the area like the back of her hand.
Jenny knows that book like the back of her hand. She has read it at least twenty times.
Max knows the Bond films like the back of his hand; he could recite the whole script of all of them.
A barrel of laughs
describe someone who is fun and always joking around.
describe a thing such as TV show.
Examples
I shall miss having John in the office. He was a such a barrel of laughs.
What a barrel of laughs that bus driver was. He made the long journey much more fun with his funny announcements!
Since I split up with my boyfriend, life hasn’t been a barrel of laughs.
Don’t give up the day job
someone’s not very good at doing something and isn’t likely ever to be successful at doing it.
it’s used in a humorous and light-hearted way.
Examples
I wouldn’t give up the day job - you’re never going to be an actor!
Do you really want to be a writer? I’ve read your first book and my advice is ‘don’t give up the day job’!
Don’t give up the day job Pete - you’re never going to earn a living as a singer!
troll, hater
‘hater’ has been used to describe someone who says or writes unpleasant things about others or criticises their achievements, especially on the internet.
A troll is an ugly creature from folk tales who often behaves in an antisocial way. But these days we call people who leave deliberately annoying or upsetting messages on the internet - while hiding their true identity – ‘trolls’.
Examples
Joan is fed up with a troll who posts comments on her cooking blog saying that she is fat and should only eat lettuce.
Haters will always have something negative to say. As I read in a comment on Pinterest: “Haters will see you walk on water and say it’s because you can’t swim.”
Bull and bear market
it’s a bull market when the price of shares on the stock market is rising.
it’s a bear market when the price of shares on the stock market is falling.
Examples
Stocks rose in early trading. It was a bull market which stunned even the most pessimistic analysts. The financial crisis might be over.
The index of the UK’s biggest 100 companies, the FTSE 100, has fallen 15% in the last few months. However, we can only call it a bear market when the index drops 20% or more.
It’s a steal!
a bargain – so cheap that it’s almost as if you haven’t paid anything for it.
Examples
I got this designer shirt in the sales. At £100 cheaper than the original price it’s a steal!
This is the latest model, sir. You won’t find this new computer cheaper in any other shop in the high street. It’s a steal!
People person
they are good at dealing with other people. They’re helpful and have the ability to motivate people.
Examples
Callum is a people person. He gets along with everybody and would make a great manager.
You know, you should go to the party even if you don’t know anybody there. You’re a people person and by the end of the night you’ll have made lots of new friends.