Reading set "Random idiom flashcards set to learn" (Number of items 10)
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queer fish
queer fish {n.}
A strange or unusual person who does odd things.
Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
quite a few
Rather a large number; more than a few.
Quite a few went to the game.
The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it.
- The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more".
Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night.
- Sometimes used like an adverb.
We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
quite the thing
quite the thing {n. phr.}
The socially proper thing to do.
In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one's host or hostess after a dinner party.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
joking aside
joking aside or joking apart {v. phr.}, {informal}
No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously.
Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time.
Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
jot down
jot down {v. phr.}
To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something.
Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
in a family way
in a family way or in the family way {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Going to have a baby.
Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way.
The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way.
Compare: WITH CHILD.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
in a sense
in a sense {adv. phr.}
In some ways but not in all; somewhat.
Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense that is true.
In a sense, arithmetic is a language.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
in advance
in advance or in advance of {adv. phr.}
1. In front; ahead (of the others); first.
In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team.
The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance.
2. Before doing or getting something.
The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance.
The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool.
It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
hail from
hail from {v.}, {informal}
To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in.
Mrs. Gardner hails from Mississippi.
Mr. Brown and Mr. White are old friends because they both hail from the same town.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
hang on
hang on {v.}
1. To hold on to something, usually tightly.
Jack almost fell off the cliff, but managed to hang on until help came.
Syn.: HOLD ON (1).
2a. To continue doing something; persist.
The grocer was losing money every day, but he hung on, hoping that business would improve.
2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one's opponents try to rally.
The favorite horse opened an early lead and hung on to win as two other horses almost passed him in the final stretch.
Bunning, staked to a 6—0 lead in the first inning, hung on to heat the Dodgers 6—4.
3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering.
Lou's cold hung on from January to April.
4. To continue listening on the telephone.
Jerry asked John, who had called him on the phone, to hung on while he ran for a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Compare: HOLD ON (3).
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms