April 20

In a nutshell

Summing up; briefly

“Tomorrow will be a full working day, everything back to back from morning to evening. In a nutshell, don’t call me.

30/04/2020

It’s not my cup of tea

It’s not my thing; I don’t really like it.

“Tarantino is not my cup of tea. Let’s watch something else.

29/04/2020

Push your luck

Say that you have been lucky but you want more of that, taking more risks and perhaps ending up losing it all.

“You’ve got my word that I will help you once a week, but you keep asking for more. You are pushing your luck. I hate to say this but, if you don’t stop insisting, I might stop helping altogether.

28/04/2020

Take the mickey (out of someone)  

(informal)

Make fun of someone; tease them.

“No way, you can’t be serious! Are you taking the mickey?.

27/04/2020

A steady job

A job that you can rely on because it is going to last.

“Thankfully, Kate had landed a steady job before the pandemia crisis started so her financial situation will not be a problem.

24/04/2020

A blessing in disguise

When a negative situation brings with it a positive outcome, which was not expected.

“Losing his job proved to be a blessing in disguise as it gave him the time and energy to write and become a published author.

23/04/2020

Pressed for time

In a hurry.

“Could you call me back later? I’m pressed for time now.

22/04/2020

Just the ticket

Just what is needed.

“This mouth-watering chocolate cake is just the ticket now.  Thank you!.

21/04/2020

It does (exactly) what it says on the tin

When you buy a product or a service that does what it says on the tin, you know what to expect and that is what you will get.

“When you stay at a YHA hostel, you don’t get any nasty surprises. It does exactly what it says on the tin.

20/04/2020

Stand the test of time

If something stands the test of time, it remains popular and strong, regardless of the passage of time.

“Appealing to adults as well as younger audiences, the Harry Potter saga has stood the test of time.

17/04/2020

To be on the cards

Something is very likely to happen.

“Major changes are on the cards in the coming months.

16/04/2020

Give credit to someone

Acknowledge an accomplishment.

“Not enough credit was given to the sherpas that led the first Himalayan expeditions.

15/04/2020

Go under the knife

To be operated on; to undergo surgery.

“He put off going under the knife for as long as he could, but his knee was more and more painful and he had to face up to it.

14/04/2020

At a loose end

If you find yourself at a loose end, you have nothing to do.

“You surely have some plans for the weekend but if you find yourself at a loose end, give me a call and we’ll organise something.

13/04/2020

Between a rock and a hard place

In a situation situation where both alternatives are unpleasant or undesirable.

“In the Bridges of Madison County, Francesca found herself between a rock and a hard place, having to decide between losing her family or losing Robert.

10/04/2020

Reinvent the wheel

Try to do something that has already been done.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel to solve this problem; there are systems in place that we can follow.

09/04/2020

In the same boat

In the same unpleasant situation

“This pandemic has proved that we are in the same boat.”

08/04/2020

Sweeping changes

Radical changes

“Never have we undergone so many sweeping changes in such a short period of time.”

07/04/2020

In the pipeline

Ready to be made available soon.

“The podcaster announced that he had several episodes in the pipeline, but wouldn’t release them all at once.”

06/04/2020

At length

In great detail and for a long time.

“The discussed it in length over the weekend, but no agreement was reached.”

03/04/2020

So much so

It indicates that something is true to a great degree.

“The doctor was convinced of her view, so much so that she recorded a video in the hope that it would get viral.”

02/04/2020

Business as usual

When you continue doing what you normally do regardless of difficult circumstances.

“Barely anybody can now say, it is business as usual seeing how our lives have been so disrupted.”

01/04/2020