Idioms
A natural event beyond human control (e.g., earthquake, storm)
The insurance doesn’t cover _____.
an act of God
unexpectedly
She showed up ____ at my doorstep.
out of the blue
make something hot or become hot
____ up
heat up
become less angry or excited
____ down
calm down
allow events to happen naturally
The vet advised us to ____.
let nature take its course
said to avoid bad luck after saying something positive
I’ve never broken a bone, ____!
touch wood
respect and admire them
____ up to them
look up to somebody
stop an activity
____ down
shut down (or close down)
be naturally good at gardening
My grandmother ____; everything she plants grows.
have green fingers
no matter what happens
She jogs every morning, ____.
come rain or shine
start doing a particular job or activity
____ up something
take up something (or take something up)
reduce a number or amount
____ down
cut down
be chosen for something unpleasant
I ____ and had to clean the kitchen.
draw the short straw
without logic or explanation
There’s ____ to their decision.
no rhyme or reason
you accept unpleasant behaviour or an unpleasant situation, even though you do not like it
____ up with somebody/something
put up with somebody/something
think that someone or something is less important than you, or that something is not good enough for you to use
____ down on them
look down on somebody/something
pure chance, not skill
Who you share a room with is just ____.
the luck of the draw
having a period of bad fortune
He’s ____ since losing his job.
down on your luck
provide something good in order to make a bad situation better
____ up for something
make up for something
write something, especially something that someone says
____ down
take down