English idioms relating to | |
Be on the ball | If you are on the ball, you are aware of what is happening and are able to react to the situation quickly. "We need someone who's really on the ball to head the fund-raising campaign." |
Have a ball | A person who is having a ball is having a good time, or enjoying themselves. |
The ball is in your court | If the ball is in your court, it is your turn to speak or act next. |
Start the ball rolling | If you start the ball rolling, you start an activity in which other people will join. "Let's start the ball rolling by calling on our first speaker." |
That's the way the ball bounces | Things don't always work out as planned, and there's nothing we can do about it - that's life! "He didn't get the prize he expected, but never mind - that's the way the ball bounces." |
Whole new ball game | To refer to something as a whole new ball game means that it is a completely different situation due to a new set of circumstances. "Email and text messaging have made communication a whole new ball game." |
Fishing expedition | If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to obtain information in any way possible. "The lunch invitation was clearly a fishing expedition to obtain information about his private life." |
At this stage of the game | This expression refers to the current point reached in a process, activity or developing situation. "At this stage of the game I think any further intervention would be unwise. Let's wait and see how things develop." |
Get into full swing | When something, such as an event, gets into full swing, it is at its busiest or liveliest time. |
Get into the swing of things | If you get into the swing of something, you become involved in it or get used to it and begin to enjoy it. |
Go overboard | If you go overboard, you are over-enthusiastic about something and do too much or behave in an excessive way. "We need to prepare the dining room for Christmas, but don't go overboard with the decorations! |
Give the game away | If you give the game away, you reveal a secret or a plan, often unintentionally. |
Hang up one's boots | When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and retire. This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general. "Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year." |
Learn the ropes | If you learn the ropes, you learn how to a particular job correctly. "He's bright. It won't take him long to learn the ropes." |
Make the cut | If you make the cut, you reach a required standard or succeed in passing from one round of a competition to another. "After intensive training, Sarah made the cut and joined the team." |
Paddle one's own canoe | If you paddle your own canoe, you do what you want to do without help or interference from anyone. His parents thought it was time for Tom to paddle his own canoe. |
Play the game | If you play the game, you accept to do things according to the rules laid down by others. Not all website owners play the game. Some download content from others without permission |
Play games (with someone) | If you are not completely honest, or behave in a way that is insincere, evasive or intentionally misleading, you are playing games with someone. "Look, stop playing games with us. Just tell us if you're interested in the project or not." |
Race against time | If someone is in a race against time, they have to work very quickly in order to do or finish something before a certain time. "It was a race against time to get everything ready for the presentation." |
Ride (something) out | If you manage to survive a dangerous or very unpleasant situation, you ride it out. "His business was hit by the recession but he managed to ride it out." |
Riding high | Someone who is riding high is enjoying a period of success or popularity. "He's been riding high since the success of his last film." |
Sail through something | If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam, you succeed in doing it without difficulty. "He's very clever. He sailed through all his exams." |
Skating on thin ice | If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause disagreement or trouble. "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice." |
Swim against the tide | A person who is doing or saying the opposite to most other people is said to be swimming against the tide. "Perhaps it's because she always swims against the tide that her books are so successful." |
Take someone for a ride | If you are taken for a ride, you are deceived or cheated by someone. "When my father was persuaded to invest in the new casino, he was really taken for a ride." |
Take the wind out of someone's sails | If you take the wind out of someone's sails, you make them feel less confident, by doing or saying something that they do not expect. "After Sarah's presentation, her boss made some negative remarks that took the wind out of her sails." |
Two can play at that game | This expression is used to tell someone that you can behave towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have been behaving towards you. |
A waiting game | A person who plays a waiting game delays taking any action or making any decisions because they prefer to wait and see how things develop, usually in the hope that this will put them in a stronger position. |
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