A leopard can’t change its spots
he won’t change. He will always be the same person and his bad habits are here to stay.
Examples
I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but a leopard can’t change its spots – she won’t do it.
Freddie promised he wouldn’t get into trouble at school but I don’t believe him – a leopard can’t change its spots.
Full of the joys of spring
someone is happy.
Examples
Emily’s full of the joys of spring today – her boyfriend has just asked her to marry him!
Raj seems full of the joys of spring today – he must have some good news about his exam results.
I’m full of the joys of spring today – I’ve just won £1,000 in the lottery – now, what shall I spend it on?
You’ve sold it to me
‘you’ve convinced me’.
Examples
A: I lost five pounds after just a week on this new diet. It’s definitely worth a try.
B: You’ve sold it to me. I need to get in shape for my school reunion.
A: Your phone looks amazing.
B: It’s brilliant, does everything, fab photos and great apps. AND it only cost me 10 pounds.
A: 10 pounds. You’ve sold it to me. Where can I get one today?
Crash course
When you are on a crash course, you learn about something in a very short period of time.
Examples
Peter applied to train as a teacher, but he had to complete a compulsory crash course in maths first.
Alison did a crash course in French before her trip to Paris.
I booked Nathan on a video editing crash course, so we’ve got at least one person who can operate the camera.
Julie took a crash course in cooking to prepare for her wedding.
A recipe for disaster
a combination of things that will, at some point, go wrong and cause harm, damage or humiliation – in other words it will end in trouble.
Examples
My doctor says drinking too much, not exercising enough, and having a stressful job are a recipe for disaster. He says I might die young!
I’m not looking forward to the party. Having my wife and ex-girlfriend in the same room will be a recipe for disaster!
Watch out on the road tonight – all that rain followed by freezing temperatures is a recipe for disaster.
Going forward
‘in the future’.
used at business meetings when a person wants someone to change the way they do something in the future.
Examples
A: Did you get the files I emailed over?
B: Yes I did, but going forward can you send hard copies in the post? We need them for our records.
Boss: I’ve noticed you chatting on your mobile quite a lot during the working day. Going forward, can you keep the private conversations to your lunch breaks?
A: Going forward we will only have an online version of our newspaper. The days of print are dead.
To turn something upside down
make the place really messy because you’re trying to search thoroughly for something.
Examples
I turned my house upside down and I still couldn’t find my car keys.
I don’t care if you have to turn the place upside down. You’ve got to find my wedding ring.
Burn a hole in your pocket
Whenever he has money he has to spend it.
‘it’s burnt a hole in your pocket’: something unexpected costs a lot of money
Examples
A: Why have you never got any money?
B: Well, I have a bad habit of spending my money as soon as I get it. Money burns a hole in my pocket.
A: I find saving money so difficult. I like to buy the latest gadgets.
B: The trouble with you is that money burns a hole in your pocket.
A: My daughter is getting married next year.
B: Oh that’s fantastic news.
A: Yes, it is. But I think the cost of the wedding will burn a hole in my pocket.
Pain in the neck
something or someone is annoying, actually very annoying for a long time.
Examples
Sam is so disruptive in the class, he’s a pain in the neck to deal with.
Completing this tax form is a real pain in the neck, there are so many boxes to fill in.
The telesales people are a real pain in the neck, they keep ringing me.
To fall at the first hurdle
to fail near the beginning of something.
Examples
Plans to construct a new motorway will fall at the first hurdle if they can’t buy the farmland to build it on.
His dream of marrying Julie fell at the first hurdle when he discovered she was already married.
One good turn deserves another
do someone a favour and they should return the favour.
Examples
A: Do you mind doing the washing up? I did do all the cooking and one good turn does deserve another!
B: Oh, OK then.
Please can you help me with my homework, I did yours last week and you know what they say: one good turn deserves another!
He helped me fix my car, so I was happy to let him borrow it if he needed to – one good turn deserves another.
You’re pulling my leg!
to fool or trick them but in a fun way.
Examples
A: So I got to the restaurant and sat down at my table and guess who was sitting on the next table – George Clooney!
B: You’re pulling my leg!
I was pulling his leg when I said I was going to marry Jenny but he believed me and bought me a present!
Oh stop pulling my leg – you can’t have won the lottery, you didn’t even buy a ticket!
Clean up your act
to improve your behaviour or your performance.
Examples
I used to drink a lot of alcohol but when I got ill, I decided to clean up my act and now I only drink cola!
He turned up late for work every day looking a real mess, so they told him to clean up his act or face losing his job.
Until you’re blue in the face
telling someone something is a waste of time because nothing will happen or change.
Examples
I’ve told him to get here on time until I’m blue in the face but still he continues to arrive late.
He told her not to break the speed limit on the motorway until he was blue in the face but she still did it and guess what? She got a speeding ticket!
It’s on the cards
something is likely to happen.
Examples
Wage rises are on the cards in the UK. There are now signs that things are getting better for ordinary British workers.
My son might be ready to settle down. He’s had lots of girlfriends but now he’s going steady with a colleague and a wedding might be on the cards.
Drama queen
he or she becomes very angry or upset over tiny small things.
Examples
A: Oh, it’s raining and my new hairdo is ruined! All those hours in the hairdresser for nothing!
B: Don’t be such a drama queen. Here, take my umbrella.
I’m not dining out with Peter anymore. If the dish is not cooked exactly the way he likes he makes a big fuss. He’s such a drama queen!
White-collar worker / blue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is an expression to describe someone who does manual work. Someone who works in a factory, for example, who wears a uniform.
People who worked in offices, doing administration or managerial tasks - clerks for example - were referred to as white-collar workers.
Examples
When the company went bankrupt many white-collar workers found themselves looking for blue-collar jobs.
Some popular folk songs reflect the aspirations and struggles of blue-collar workers.
The university of life
they are wise but not necessarily educated – they’ve learnt everything just from experiencing life.
Examples
I set up the business without any qualifications – everything I learnt was from the university of life.
The university of life taught me to be polite to everyone you meet; you never know when you might see them again.
19!!!!