Idioms using phrasal verbs

Idioms using phrasal verbs

'wake up and smell the coffee'

Meaning: (informal) be realistic

Oh, Anna. Wake up and smell the coffe! You won't pass the exam if you do not study.

'pull out all the stops'

Meaning: do all you can

You won't get the degree unless you pull out all the stops and your work improves significantly

'put down roots'

Meaning: do things which

show that you want to stay

in a place.

lt would d be hard to leave Brighton after eleven years - he's put down roots there.

'get on like a house on fire'

'throw the baby out with the bath water'

Meaning: if two people get on like a house on fire, they like each other very much and become friends very quickly

Meaning: get rid of the good parts of something as well as the bad parts.

Since the first time I saw Sandy we started to get on like a house on fire. I'm so excited to marrying her!

Has your brother decided to change all the furniture or have you persuaded him not to throw the baby out with the bath water?

(persuaded him not to do so)

'clean up your act'

Meaning: (informal) start to behave better

He only has one more chance.

If he cleans up his act he would

go to the school trip.

'let off steam'

'make up your mind'

Meaning: talk or act in a way that helps get rid of strong feelings

If you feel that you need to talk, call me to let off steam. I'll be there to help you

Meaning: to decide what to choose or what you want

'put in a good word for me'

Meaning: say good things about me to someone in authority.

I can't make up my mind whether to buy the

blue t-shirt or the green blouse.

'get off on the wrong foot'

Meaning: start badly

Today I got off on the wrong foot. Nothing is going well!

Thanks Lisa! You are the only one who has put in a good word for me. This is why they want me to stay in the company.

'dig your heels in'

Meaning: refuse to do what others try to persuade you to do

Working for the government was a tough issue. I dag my heels in and had to work under pressure. At the end I decided to hand in my resignation, I didn't want to be involved in legal issues

'turn up the heat'

Meaning: put pressure on someone or something;

Rory is turning up the heat. We have

been going out for 6 months and he

wants me to marry him!

'cut off somebody's nose to spite their face'

Meaning: do something because you are angry though it may cause you more problems.

'run rings round'

'take the sting out of it'

Meaning: outwit, be cleverer than

Meaning: make something that is unpleasant

less so.

She has lots of experience directing people so it won't be hard to run rings round anyone to make the company work properly.

We are not getting the extra salary at the end of the year. The government took the sting out of it by saying that all citizens have to make an effort so that the economic recession improves.

'be going round

in circles'

Meaning: using a lot of

time and effort with no results.

The company promised to train me before starting to work for them. The truth is that I am going round in circles because I wasn't trained to do what I am supposed to do,

and I cannot achieve my boss' aims.

'get my act together'

Meaning: (informal) organise yourself more effectively

Now it's three months since I started working in the company and I am happy to know that my boss considers that I've got my act together.