easy money
Definition: money earned dishonestly or for doing very little work
Example: Think before you accept easy money.
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keep house
Definition: to cook, clean and do similar jobs around a house
Example: She keeps house for the two of us.
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off the beaten track
off the beaten track
Definition: far away from or not popular with other people
Examples: My uncle lives off the beaten track. ○ Her hobbies are quite off the beaten track.
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hale and hearty
hale and hearty
Definition: (of an old person) healthy and strong
Example: Getting up early to exercise every day keeps him hale and hearty.
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play (it) safe
play (it) safe
Definition: to avoid taking risks
Example: Let's play (it) safe and start a bit earlier.
Usage note: informal idiom
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word for word
word for word
Definition: in exactly the same words
Example: I was shocked to find that my article had been copied word for word.
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in twos and threes
in twos and threes
Definition: two and three at a time; in small numbers
Example: People are coming to see the exhibition in twos and threes.
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a flash in the pan
a flash in the pan
Definition: a success that lasts for a short time and is not repeated
Example: It seems that her latest album is just a flash in the pan.
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by the skin of one's teeth
by the skin of one's teeth
Definition: only just
Example: We managed to win the game by the skin of our teeth.
Usage note: informal idiom
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look daggers at somebody
look daggers at somebody
Definition: to look very angrily at somebody
Example: I turned and saw her looking daggers at me.
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(as) fit as a fiddle
(as) fit as a fiddle
Definition: very healthy
Example: Although he's in his eighties, my grandfather's as fit as a fiddle.
Usage note: informal idiom
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go/sell like hot cakes
go/sell like hot cakes
Definition: to sell very fast and in great numbers
Example: Mobile phones are going/selling like hot cakes in Asia.
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on balance
on balance
Definition: after considering all aspects or opinions
Examples: We've had quite a good year on balance. ○ On balance, people in this country prefer watching basketball to football.
Usage note: informal idiom
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for kicks
for kicks
Definition: for excitement
Example: Many people play dangerous sports just for kicks.
Usage note: informal idiom
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smell a rat
smell a rat
Definition: to suspect that something is wrong
Example: I smelled a rat when she said she was going to work late.
Usage note: informal idiom
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do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with)
do/perform/work miracles/wonders (for/with something)
Definition: to be very successful in producing results (for/with something)
Examples: Regular exercise has worked wonders for my health. ○ The new manager is expected to do miracles with the company, which is now nearing bankruptcy.
Usage note: informal idiom
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under the weather
under the weather
Definition: not healthy
Example: You look a little under the weather today.
Usage note: informal idiom
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break even
break even
Definition: to make neither a profit nor a loss
Example: Under the circumstances it is enough just to break even.
Usage note: often used in business
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compare notes (with) (on)
compare notes (with somebody) (on something)
Definition: to exchange opinions (with somebody) (on something)
Example: Our teacher asked us to read the novel and then compare notes with each other on it.
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fly off the handle
fly off the handle
Definition: to become very angry suddenly
Example: He flew off the handle when I mentioned her name.
Usage note: informal idiom
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go downhill
go downhill
Definition: to become worse; to deteriorate
Example: The company, which used to be one of the world's leaders, started to go downhill five years ago.
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forty winks
forty winks
Definition: a short sleep during the day
Example: I was having forty winks when the phone rang.
Usage note: informal idiom
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let the cat out of the bag
let the cat out of the bag
Definition: to reveal a secret by mistake
Example: Our plan for a surprise party was foiled by Tom, who let the cat out of the bag.
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