Reading set "Random idiom flashcards set to learn" (Number of items 10)

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plague on both your houses

Bad luck to both of you! — Used to show disgust at those who wont stop quarreling.
The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."



keep step with

keep step with  {v. phr.}
To maintain the same degree of progress as someone else.
The United States has no choice but to keep step with potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems.
Categories:verb



crash the gate

crash the gate  {v. phr.},  {slang}
To enter without a ticket or without paying; attend without an invitation or permission.
Bob got into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate.
Three boys tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in.
Categories:slang verb



as it comes

1. As is.
Reese takes life as it comes.
2.  {adv. phr.}
Instinctively, by intuition.
I write as it comes to me. I often don't know exactly what I think until I see it on paper.



bread and butter

bread and butter (3)  {interj.},  {informal}
Spoken to prevent bad luck that you think might result from some action.
We'd say "Bread and butter!" when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree.



horse of a different color

Something altogether separate and different.
Anyone can be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color.
Do you mean that the boy with that pretty girl is her brother? I thought he was her boyfriend. Well, that's a horse of another color.
Categories:informal noun



play along (with)

Cooperate; make no trouble.
The honest jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan.
Categories:verb



pigeonhole

pigeonhole  {n.}
1. Small compartment for internal mail in an office or a department.
"You can just put your late exam into my pigeonhole," said Professor Brown to the concerned student.
2. One of the small compartments in a desk or cabinet.
He keeps his cufflinks in a pigeonhole in his desk.
Categories:noun



put over

put over  {v.}
1. To wait to a later time; postpone.
They put over the meeting to the following Tuesday.
Syn.: PUT OFF.
2.  {informal}
To make a success of; complete.
He put over a complex and difficult business deal.
3.  {informal}
To practice deception; trick; fool. — Used with "on".
George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and needed him.
Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the Halloween party dressed as a witch.



part company

part company  {v. phr.}
1. To part with someone; leave each other; separate.
The boys parted company as they came from the park.
George parted company with the others at his front door.
2. To be different from someone in opinion or action; follow your own way; disagree; differ.
They parted company on where the new highway should be built.
The mayor parted company with the newspapers on raising taxes.
Categories:verb