English Idioms - Aabout to do something - on the point of doing something She was about to leave when the phone rang. about time - something that should have happened earlier It is about time that you returned that book to me. absent-minded - forgetful My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his key. according to Hoyle - strictly by the rules, the usual and correct way to do something According to Hoyle you are not allowed to enter this room but if nobody is here I think it will be okay. add up - seem consistent or reasonable The things that he said about his boss don`t really add up. ahead of time - early We started the meeting ahead of time so we could go home early. air one`s dirty laundry (linen) in public - make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret The dinner party became uncomfortable when the host began to air his colleagues dirty laundry in public. all along - all the time I knew all along that he would not get the promotion. all at once - suddenly, without warning All at once the fire alarm rang so we had to leave the building. all day long - the whole day She has been sitting and waiting for the mail to arrive all day long. all ears - eager to listen to someone Okay, I`m all ears, please tell me about the party. all in all - in summary, after considering everything We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful. all of a sudden - suddenly, without advance warning All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain. all right - okay, satisfactory She said that it would be all right for me to bring my friend to the party. all the time - continually She asks for money all the time but I don`t like to give it to her. all thumbs - have difficulty fixing things or working with one`s hands, clumsy He is all thumbs when it comes to fixing things around the house. an arm and a leg - (cost) a large amount of money His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg. apple of one`s eye - one`s favorite His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye. as a rule - usually, as a habit As a rule I usually get up at 7:00 AM every morning. as far as - to the extent or degree that As far as I know he will be here in a few minutes. ask for trouble - behave in a way that trouble is likely He is asking for trouble if he misses another class. asleep at the switch - not alert to an opportunity I think he was asleep at the switch. He didn`t even know that the job was available so he never applied for it. as long as - provided that, on condition that As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car. as the crow flies - by the most direct way, along a straight line between two places As the crow flies it is about 6 kilometers between my house and my company. as usual - most of the time, as is the custom As usual, she forgot to bring her book to class. as well as - in addition to Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towell. as yet - until now, up to the present As yet, she has not told me about her plans to leave the company. at cross purposes - have opposite ways to do something, opposing goals They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do. at fault - be responsible or to blame for something The truck driver was at fault in the terrible accident. at first - at the beginning At first she didn`t want to go to a movie but later she changed her mind. at first blush - when first seen, without careful study At first blush he seemed like a good worker but later we had many problems with him. at heart - basically, fundamentally She is a very nice person at heart although many people dislike her. at home - in one`s house I`m sorry but I left my money at home. Can you lend me some money? at last - finally, after a long time I was waiting all morning for her call but at last it came. at loggerheads - having a quarrel, opposing each other We have been at loggerheads over their plans to build a new office complex. at odds - in disagreement He has been at odds with his boss over the new sales territory. at someone`s beck and call - always ready to serve somebody His eldest daughter is always at his beck and call when he spends an evening at home. at the end of one`s rope - at the limit of one`s ability to cope I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my current situation at work. attend to someone - take care or deal with someone The doctor attended to the other patient before he got to my mother. You can test your knowledge!
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