ELS European Language School

1) To know your onions = to be knowledgeable about a subject
Out tour guide certainly knew her onions.
2) A couch potato = a lazy person who spends too much time on a couch
He spends his days watching TV and eating pizza – he’s such a couch potato.
3) As cool as a cucumber = someone who remains calm during a troubled moment
During the fire Chris remained as cool as cucumber.
4) Not my cup of tea = not the type of thing I like
Ballroom dancing is not my cup of tea.
5) Can’t cut the mustard = not up to the required standard
He was a good tennis player but he couldn’t cut the mustard as a professional.
6) To be nuts = to be crazy
She wants to climb Mount Everest in just a t-shirt – he must be nuts.
7) To be in a pickle = to be experiencing a difficult situation
My money was stolen and my credit card doesn’t work. I’m in a pickle, could you help, please?
8) A smart cookie = to be clever
He passed all his exams with flying colors. He’s certainly a smart cookie.
9) The big cheese = the boss or the most important person
It’s an important decision we should ask the big cheese what to do.
10) It’s no use crying over spilt milk = don’t be sad about past misfortunes
You’ve lost all your money in that investment but move on – it’s no use crying over spilt milk.
11) Not a sausage = nothing
- Did you find anything out from the mayor? – No, not a sausage.

1. First and foremost = the most important thing
Now, first and foremost, I want to tell you what you have to remember from this class.
2. Time and time again = very often
Native speakers use these expressions time and time again.
3. Loud and clear = very clear and easy to understand
I will say this loud and clear, you need to practice every day.
4. Part and parcel = an essential part
Binomials are part and parcel of the English language.
5. Sooner or later = it will happen some time in the future
Sooner or later you will become fluent.
6. Little by little = gradually
Little by little you will become confident.
7. Step by step = to progress gradually
Step by step you have to start adding binomials to your vocabulary.
8. Good and proper = very well
Mary speaks French good and proper.
9. The nitty gritty = the essential aspects, the most important details
We are going to the nitty-gritty of the balance sheet.
10. Give or take = approximately, possibly a small difference to the amount mentioned
You will learn 20 expressions today, give or take one or two.
11. Short and sweet = brief and relevant and in a way that is pleasing
I have a lot to tell you but I will keep it short and sweet.
12. Hustle and bustle = busy, active and noisy
So, please take a moment away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life to study this important lesson
13. Now or never = do it immediately, the chance might not come again
Do it now. It’s now or never.
14. Loud and clear = in a way that is clear and easy to understand
I hear you loud and clear.
15. Take it or leave it = it is a non-negotiable offer
This is my final offer. You can take it or leave it.
16. Rise and shine = It’s time to wake up
Wake up now, it’s already 9am. Rise and shine.
17. Flesh and blood = to be a member of the family
I know he’s rude and cruel but I can’t abandon Nick. He’s my brother, he’s my flesh and blood.
18. Sink or swim = you must fail or succeed by your own efforts
New businesses entering the market don’t get any help from anybody; so, it’s sink or swim.
19. Sick and tired = to be fed up of something or someone
Every time we meet you are at least 20 minutes late. I’m sick and tired of it.
20. Mumbo jumbo = nonsense
Astrology is just a load of mumbo jumbo.
21. Culture vulture = a person who is interested in the arts and cultural events
She goes to the museum, the opera, the theatre, something like that every day. She’s such a culture vulture.
22. Wine and dine = to provide good food, drink and entertainment
Our hosts were very kind. They wined and dined us throughout our stay.
23. Live and learn = to discover something surprising that adds to your experience of life
I thought I could trust him, but I couldn't. Oh well, live and learn.
24. From rags to riches = to rise from poverty to wealth
This is a story of rags to riches from a poor child in the ghetto to a multi-million-dollar business empire.
25. Tried and tested = something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable
Wearing a helmet is a tried and tested way of making a bike journey safer. So you should do it too.
26. Time after time = repeatedly
You make the same mistake time after time.
27. Let bygones be bygones = forget past disagreements and reconcile
The argument we had happened over 10 years ago. Let bygones be bygones and let’s be friends again.
28. All in all = with all things considered
All in all, this is the best smartphone on the market.
29. Beg steal or borrow = to do whatever is necessary to get what you want
I will do anything to make you happy. I will beg, steal and borrow.
30. Tom, Dick or/and Harry = any unspecified person (or persons)
Look, ask any Tom, Dick or Harry and they will tell you broccoli is good for you. Why do you think you know better?
31. Not in any (in no) way, shape or form = definitely not
Absolutely not, you cannot be part of this organization in any way, shape or form.
32. S***k and span = very clean and very tidy
When I get back, I want this house looking s***k and span.
33. By hook or by crook = by any means possible
By hook or by crook I’ll find out the name of the person who betrayed me.
34. By and large = generally, for the most part
By and large, pigs are more intelligent than dogs.
35. Tall, dark and handsome = to refer to a classically good looking guy (with dark hair and not short
Detective Smart was tall, dark and handsome and about 30 years old.
36. Safe and sound = to be safe, not in any danger
Oh there you are, it’s late I was worried about you. I’m glad you are safe and sound.
37. Ups and downs = good moments and bad moments
Life has its ups and downs, there are joyful times but difficult moments too.
38. Pure and simple = no additional explanation for something other than what was just said
You are the best. Pure and simple.
39. Pride and joy = the object of one’s great pleasure
Our new grandson is our pride and joy.
40. Now and then = sometimes
Now and then I wonder what life would have been like if I had stayed in Scotland.
41. Back and forth = moving first in one direction and then in the opposite one
Grandmother sat in her rocking chair swaying back and forth all evening.
42. Wear and tear = damage resulting from ordinary, everyday use
The uniform needs to be replaced every couple of years because of wear and tear.
43. Down and about = destitute, without money and a place to live
After his wife ran off with the butcher and he lost his job at the post office, he ended up down and out asking passers-by for spare change in the city center.
44. Tooth and nail = to fight intensively, and fiercely for something
I will fight this case tooth and nail in the court until I am proved innocent.
45. High and dry = in a difficult situation and unable to do anything about it
When the principal actress got sick at the last minute without a replacement, the theatre was left high and dry.
46. Law and order = a situation where respect for the rules of the country is being obeyed
After the revolution there was a complete breakdown in law and order.
47. Odds and ends = some small matters to attend to
I’ll be back soon, I’ve just got a few odds and ends to finish up at the office.
48. Odds and ends = various things of different types, usually small and not important
In this box I keep the odds and ends I need for sewing.
49. Song and dance = to make an unnecessary fuss about something
Ok, the spoon was dirty, sorry, but it’s not that serious. Don’t make a song and dance about it.
50. An arm and a leg = very expensive
My new car is my pride and joy but it cost me an arm and a leg.
51. Tit for tat = action taken in revenge for something unpleasant done to you
Jane didn’t come to Sara’s birthday party and now Sara has not invited Jane to her wedding. It’s clearly a case of tit for tat.
52. Black and white = a situation where it’s easy to understand which is right and which is wrong
Free trade is not a black and white issue. There are advantages and disadvantages.
53. Black and white = clearly written
You have no excuses; the rules were written in black and white before you started.
54. Done and dusted = to be completely finished
Now the deal is done and dusted. We can go out and celebrate.
55. Far and wide = over a large area
We have looked far and wide for a replacement but so far without success.
56. Pros and cons = advantages and disadvantages
There are pros and cons of living in a big city.
57. No ifs and buts = without any excuses or discussion
Now I don’t want to hear any ifs and buts, just do what I told you to do.
58. Born and bred = to have been born and grown up in a particular place
I’m a Londoner born and bred.
59. Rough and ready = crude but effective
The accommodation in the village was rough and ready but it was good enough for our needs.
60. Through thick and thin = during good times and bad times
My wife has stood by me for over 30 years through thick and thin.

1) Keine Ahnung haben
Ich habe keine Ahnung, was ich tun soll.
2) Nicht die geringste Ahnung haben
Ich habe nicht die geringste Ahnung, wie hoch die nächste Stromrechnung sein sollte!
3) Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
Ich habe keinen blassen Schimmer, wo die Rechnung ist!
4) Überfragt sein
Wie viele Bücher möchte ich nächstes Jahr lesen? Da bin ich überfragt. Ich kann das jetzt noch nicht sagen.
5) Den Falschen fragen
Wenn du mir eine Frage zu Algorithmen stellst, da fragst du den Falschen.
6) Die Richtige fragen
Wenn du mich über Autoreparatur fragst, da fragst du die Richtige (ironisch).