Idioms

fleurzsa

actions speak louder than words (saying)
what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
       
in action
if sb/sth is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them:

Just press the button to see your favourite character in action. * I've yet to see all the players in action.

        into action
if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work:

The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis.

        out of action
not able to work or be used because of injury or damage:

Jon is out of action for weeks with a broken leg. * The photocopier is out of action today.

        a piece / slice of the action (informal)
a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially in order to make money:

Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead.

fleurzsa

add fuel to the fire / flames
to do or say sth that makes a bad situation even worse, especially by making sb more angry

        add insult to injury
to make your relationship with sb even worse by offending them as well as actually harming them

        added to this... | add to this...
used to introduce another fact that helps to emphasize a point you have already made:

Add to this the excellent service and you can see why it's the most popular hotel on the island.

fleurzsa

in addition (to sb/sth)
used when you want to mention another person or thing after sth else:

In addition to these arrangements, extra ambulances will be on duty until midnight. * There is, in addition, one further point to make.

fleurzsa

without further / more ado (old-fashioned)
without delaying; immediately:

We set to work without further ado.

fleurzsa

cast / set sb adrift (usually passive)
to leave sb to be carried away on a boat that is not being controlled by anyone: (figurative)

Without language human beings are cast adrift.

fleurzsa

in advance (of sth)

1 before the time that is expected; before sth happens:

a week / month / year in advance * The rent is due one month in advance. * It's cheaper if you book the tickets in advance. * People were evacuated from the coastal regions in advance of the hurricane.

2 more developed than sb/sth else:

Galileo's ideas were well in advance of the age in which he lived.

fleurzsa

of advanced years | sb's advanced age
used in polite expressions to describe sb as 'very old':

He was a man of advanced years. * (humorous) Even at my advanced age I still know how to enjoy myself!

fleurzsa

be / work to your advantage
to give you an advantage; to change a situation in a way that gives you an advantage:

It would be to your advantage to attend this meeting. * Eventually, the new regulations will work to our advantage.

        take advantage of sth/sb
1 to make use of sth well; to make use of an opportunity:

We took full advantage of the hotel facilities. * She took advantage of the children's absence to tidy their rooms.

2 to make use of sb/sth in a way that is unfair or dishonest:

He took advantage of my generosity (= for example, by taking more than I had intended to give).

        to (good / best) advantage
in a way that shows the best of sth:

The photograph showed him to advantage. * May was the month to see the garden to best advantage.

        turn sth to your advantage
to use or change a bad situation so that it helps you:

Every magician has a trick that goes wrong, but you can turn this to your advantage by pretending it was deliberate and making the audience laugh.

fleurzsa

under the aegis of sb/sth (formal)
with the protection or support of a particular organization or person:

Medical supplies are being sent under the aegis of the Red Cross.

fleurzsa

from afar (literary)
from a long distance away:

He loved her from afar (= did not tell her he loved her). * Even from afar the castle was most impressive.

fleurzsa

far / farther / further afield
far away from home; to or in places that are not near:

You can hire a car if you want to explore further afield. * Journalists came from as far afield as China and Brazil.

fleurzsa

run afoul of sth
to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule or sth that people in authority disapprove of:

to run afoul of the law

fleurzsa

I'm afraid (spoken)
used as a polite way of telling sb sth that is unpleasant or disappointing, or that you are sorry about:

I can't help you, I'm afraid. * I'm afraid we can't come. * I'm afraid that it's not finished yet, Mr Lewis. * 'Is there any left?' 'I'm afraid not.' * 'Will it hurt?' 'I'm afraid so.'

fleurzsa

after all
1 in spite of what has been said or expected:

So you made it after all!

2 used when you are explaining sth, or giving a reason:
He should have paid. He suggested it, after all.

        be after doing sth (IrishE)

1 to be going to do sth soon; to be intending to do sth soon

2 to have just done sth

fleurzsa

be / act your age
to behave in a way that is suitable for sb of your age and not as though you were much younger:

Isn't it time you started acting your age?

        come of age
1 when a person comes of age, they reach the age when they have an adult's legal rights and responsibilities:

The money will go to the children when they come of age.

2 if sth comes of age, it reaches the stage of development at which people accept and value it:

It was the year that concern for the environment really came of age.

        look your age to seem as old as you really are and not younger or older:

She doesn't look her age; I thought she was ten years younger.

        under age
not legally old enough to do a particular thing:

It is illegal to sell cigarettes to children who are under age. * under-age driving / drinking / sex

fleurzsa

through the agency of (formal)
as a result of the action of sb/sth:

He obtained his position through the agency of an old friend.

fleurzsa

in (the) aggregate (formal)
added together as a total or single amount:

Businesses are, in the aggregate, deeper in debt than ever before.

        on aggregate (BrE, sport)
when the scores of a number of games are added together:

They won 42 on aggregate.

fleurzsa

agree to differ
if two people agree to differ, they accept that they have different opinions about sth, but they decide not to discuss it any longer:

We must just agree to differ on this.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 23-10-2005 12:59 AM ]

fleurzsa

in aid of sth/sb (BrE)
in order to help sb/sth:

collecting money in aid of charity

        what's...in aid of? (BrE, spoken)
used to ask why sth is happening:

What's all this crying in aid of?

aid and abet (law)
to help sb to do sth illegal or wrong:

She stands accused of aiding and abetting the bombing. * Aided and abetted by two glasses of wine, he became very sentimental.

[ Last edited by fleurzsa at 23-10-2005 12:59 AM ]

fleurzsa

take aim at sb/sth (AmE)

to direct your criticism at sb/sth