Proverbs
Rome...
Rome wasn´t built in a day.
A job cannot be done properly if it is done too quickly (often used as an excuse for delay).
She always falls ... older men.
She always falls FOR older men.
FALL FOR (someone) - Fall in love with somebody.
I don´t understand it; it´s ALL GREEK TO ME.
TRUE
IT´S ALL GREEK TO ME means that you understood nothing.
Stop trying.
Give up
You'll never guess the answer - do you give up?
She has to go to the bank, and while she´s out she´ll stop and visit her friend. She´s killing two birds with one (STONE/ROCK/PEEBLE/KNIFE).
Kill two birds with one STONE.
Accomplish two things at once.
A stitch in time...
A stitch in time saves nine.
By acting quickly at an early stage, you may be able to prevent serious trouble in the future.
She´s buying a lot of new furniture before she even has a job. She´s putting the cart before the ...
She´s buying a lot of new furniture before she even has a job. She´s putting the cart before the HORSE.
PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE - Doing things in the wrong order.
If someone is PLODDING ALONG WITH something, that person is progressing.
TRUE
PLOD ALONG (WITH) - Progress at a slow but steady rate.
Produce a particular smell, sound etc.
Give off
The gardenia gives off a strong fragrance.
He´s not telling me exactly what happened. He´s beating (ABOUT/AROUND/BOTH) the bush.
BOTH
BEAT ABOUT/AROUND THE BUSH - Speak indirectly.
All´s well...
All´s well that ends well.
When something difficult ends happily, there is no need to complain about the trouble it caused.
Stop fawning ... my grandmother, you are embarrassing me!
Stop fawning OVER my grandmother, you are embarrassing me!
FAWN OVER - Flatter someone excessively.
You would probably be very pleased if someone TOOK YOU FOR A RIDE.
FALSE
TAKE SOMEONE FOR A RIDE means to "trick or deceive someone."
Betray, reveal.
Give away
I'll tell you if you promise not to give it away.
When I saw him with an older man, I just knew that the man had bo te his father. He´s a chip (ON/OFF/FROM) the old block.
To be a chip OFF the old block.
Just like your parents.
A fool and his money...
A fool and his money are soon parted.
A foolish person spends his or her money withouth thought and is soon penniless.
I know that you thought that this part of the program was difficult, but wait until you see the next part. You´re jumping out of the frying pan and into the ... .
I know that you thought that this part of the program was difficult, but wait until you see the next part. You´re jumping out of the frying pan and into the FIRE.
JUMPING OUT OF THE TRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE - Going from bad to worse.
I´ve stopped going to my German classes. I´ve DROPPED OFF.
FALSE
DROP OFF means to "fall asleep".
Become exhausted.
Give out
The battery gave out.
His version of events just isn't borne (OUT/IN/ON) by the facts.
Bear OUT
Confirm the truth.
More haste...
More haste less speed.
When you try to do something in a hurry, there is a tendency to make careless mistakes.
I wish Amanda would stop crowing ... her promotion - I wanted that position!
I wish Amanda would stop crowing ABOUT her promotion - I wanted that position!
CROW ABOUT - Brag/Boast about something.
When you MULL OVER something, you think deeply and seriously about something.
TRUE
I can´t decide which university to choose. I´m going to spend the weekend mulling over my options.
Surrender.
Give in
She wouldn't give in until she received a full apology.
I can´t think of the answer, but it will come to me in just a minute. It´s (ON/IN/AT) the tip of my tongue.
ON the tip of my tongue.
An idea that is not in words (yet!).