Idioms

fleurzsa

Salam,

        from A to B
from one place to another:

I don't care what a car looks like as long as it gets me from A to B.

        from A to Z
including everything there is to know about sth:

By the end of the week we knew the subject from A to Z.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 11-10-2005 11:55 PM ]

fleurzsa

be taken aback (by sb/sth)
to be shocked or surprised by sb/sth:

She was completely taken aback by his anger.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 11-10-2005 11:55 PM ]

fleurzsa

in abeyance
(formal) not being used, or being stopped for a period of time:

Legal proceedings are in abeyance, while further enquiries are made.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 11-10-2005 11:56 PM ]

fleurzsa

that's about all | that's about it
used to say that you have finished telling sb about sth and there is nothing to add:

'Anything else?' 'No, that's about it for now.'

fleurzsa

how / what about?
1 used when asking for information about sb/sth:

How about Ruth? Have you heard from her? * I'm having fish. What about you?

2 used to make a suggestion:

How about going for a walk? * What about a break?

fleurzsa

be about to do sth
to be close to doing sth; to be going to do sth very soon:

I was just about to ask you the same thing.

        not be about to do sth
to not be willing to do sth; to not intend to do sth:

I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.

fleurzsa

above all
most important of all; especially:

Above all, make sure you keep in touch.

        above yourself
(disapproving) having too high an opinion of yourself

fleurzsa

keep abreast of sth
to make sure that you know all the most recent facts about a subject:

It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the latest developments in computing.

fleurzsa

in the abstract
in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation:

Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases. * I'm just talking in the abstract now.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 12-10-2005 11:26 AM ]

fleurzsa

in abundance
in large quantities:

Fruit and vegetables grew in abundance on the island.

fleurzsa

accidents will happen
people say accidents will happen to tell sb who has had an accident, for example breaking sth, that it does not matter and they should not worry

        by accident
in a way that is not planned or organized:

We met by accident at the airport. * Helen got into acting purely by accident.

fleurzsa

to the accompaniment of sth
1 while a musical instrument is being played:

They performed to the accompaniment of Spanish guitars.

2 while sth else is happening:

She made her speech to the accompaniment of loud laughter.

fleurzsa

in accord (with sth/sb) (formal)
in agreement with:

This action would not be in accord with our policy. * Botanists are not in complete accord about how many species exist.

        of your own accord
without being asked, forced or helped:

He came back of his own accord. * The symptoms will clear up of their own accord after a few days.

        with one accord
(BrE, formal) if people do sth with one accord, they do it at the same time, because they agree with each other

verb (formal)

        1~ sth to sb/sth | ~ sb/sth sth
to give sb/sth authority, status or a particular type of treatment: [VN, VNN] Our society accords great importance to the family.

* Our society accords the family great importance.

        2[V] ~ (with sth)
to agree with or match sth:

These results accord closely with our predictions. * His views accord with public opinion. * We ensure that our goods accord with modern standards.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 18-10-2005 11:40 PM ]

fleurzsa

in accordance with sth (formal)
according to a rule or the way that sb says that sth should be done:

in accordance with legal requirements * We acted in accordance with my parents' wishes.

fleurzsa

by / from all accounts
according to what other people say:

I've never been there, but it's a lovely place, by all accounts.

        by your own account
according to what you say yourself:

By his own account he had an unhappy childhood.

        give a good / poor account of yourself (BrE)
to do sth or perform well or badly, especially in a contest:

The team gave a good account of themselves in the match on Saturday.

        of no / little account (formal)
not important:

Emotional matters were of no account to them during the war.

        on account
if you buy sth or pay on account, you pay nothing or only a small amount immediately and the rest later

        on sb's account
because of what you think sb wants:

Please don't change your plans on my account.

        on account of sth
because of sth:

She retired early on account of ill health. * The marsh is an area of great scientific interest on account of its wild flowers.

        on no account | not on any account
(used to emphasize sth) not for any reason:

On no account should the house be left unlocked.

        on your own account
1 for yourself:

In 1992 Smith set up in business on his own account.

2 because you want to and you have decided, not sb else:

No one sent me, I am here on my own account.

        on this / that account (formal)
because of the particular thing that has been mentioned:

Weather conditions were poor, but he did not delay his departure on that account.

        put / turn sth to good account (formal)
to use sth in a good or helpful way:

He turned his artistic talents to good account by becoming a sculptor.

        take account of sth| take sth into account  
to consider particular facts, circumstances, etc. when making a decision about sth:

The company takes account of environmental issues wherever possible. * Coursework is taken into account as well as exam results. * The defendant asked for a number of other offences to be taken into account.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 18-10-2005 11:57 PM ]

fleurzsa

there's no accounting for taste (saying)
used to say how difficult it is to understand why sb likes sb/sth that you do not like at all:

She thinks he's wonderful-oh well, there's no accounting for taste.

fleurzsa

an ace up your sleeve (BrE) (AmE an ace in the hole) (informal)
a secret advantage, for example a piece of information or a skill, that you are ready to use if you need to

        hold all the aces
to have all the advantages in a situation:

The union soon realized that the management held all the aces.

        play your ace
to use your best argument, etc. in order to get an advantage in a situation

        within an ace of sth / of doing sth (BrE)
very close to sth:

We came within an ace of victory.

fleurzsa

make sb's acquaintance | make the acquaintance of sb (formal)
to meet sb for the first time:

I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs Baker. * I made the acquaintance of several musicians around that time.

        of your acquaintance (formal)
that you know:

No one else of my acquaintance was as rich or successful.

        on first acquaintance (formal)
when you first meet sb:

Even on first acquaintance it was clear that he was not 'the right type'.

fleurzsa

an acquired taste
a thing that you do not like much at first but gradually learn to like:

Abstract art is an acquired taste.

fleurzsa

act of God (law)
an event caused by natural forces beyond human control, such as a storm, a flood or an earthquake

        be / get in on the act (informal)
to be/become involved in an activity that sb else has started, especially to get sth for yourself:

New companies want to get in on the act and provide cable services.

        do, perform, stage a disappearing / vanishing act (informal)
to go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you

        get your act together (informal)
to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve sth:

He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass.

        in the act (of doing sth)
while you are doing sth:

He was caught in the act of stealing a car. * It is often difficult to tell when someone is using drugs unless they are caught in the act.