CAE. Idioms p.3

Дата публикации: Oct 05, 2016 6:44:57 AM

hold your own (against somebody/something) (in something) - to remain in a strong position when somebody is attacking you, competing with you, etc.

Business isn't good but we're managing to hold our own.

She can hold her own against anybody in an argument.

The patient is holding her own although she is still very sick.

get stuck in, get stuck into something - (British English, informal) to start doing something in an enthusiastic way, especially to start eating

Don’t wait for me—get stuck in.

There’s a lot to do so get your jackets off and get stuck in!

I want to get stuck into the job as soon as possible.

mind you - (informal) used to add something to what you have just said, especially something that makes it less strong

I've heard they're getting divorced. Mind you, I'm not surprised—they were always arguing.

from scratch

1. without any previous preparation or knowledge

I learned German from scratch in six months.

He built the orchestra up from scratch.

2. from the very beginning, not using any of the work done earlier

They decided to dismantle the machine and start again from scratch.

up to scratch - as good as something/somebody should be

synonym satisfactory

His work simply isn't up to scratch.

It'll take months to bring the band up to scratch.

up to scratch - на должной высоте; в прекрасной форме

go to any, some, great, etc. lengths (to do something) - to put a lot of effort into doing something, especially when this seems extreme

She goes to extraordinary lengths to keep her private life private.

go to great lengths also go to any lengths - to try very hard to achieve something:

Some people go to great lengths to make their homes attractive.

He'll go to any lengths to get what he wants.

go to great lengths (to do something) and go to any lengths (to do something) - to work very hard to accomplish something; to expend great efforts in trying to do something.

I went to great lengths to explain to him that he was not in any trouble.

beggars can't be choosers. - Prov. If someone gives you something you asked for, you should not complain about what you get.

I asked Joe to lend me his bicycle, and he sent me this old, rusty one. But beggars can't be choosers.

Jill: Let me wear your green dress; I don't like the blue one you lent me.

Jane: Beggars can't be choosers.

said when you recognize that you must accept an offer or a situation because it is the only one available to you:

I would have preferred a house of my own rather than sharing, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

like it or lump it (informal) - If you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean that person must accept a situation they do not like, because it cannot be changed:

Like it or lump it, romantic fiction is read regularly by thousands.

волей-неволей мириться с чем-л.

bang for the buck - value for the money spent; excitement for the money spent; a favorable cost-to-benefit ratio. (Expressed as an amount of bang for the buck.)

I didn't get anywhere near the bang for the buck I expected.

How much bang for the buck did you really think you would get from a twelve-year-old car—at any price?

Bang for the buck is an idiom meaning the worth of one's money or exertion. The phrase originated from the slang usage of the words "bang" which means "excitement" and "buck" which means "money".[1] Variations of the term include "bang for your buck," "bang for one's buck," "more bang for the buck," "bigger bang for the buck," and mixings of these. "More bang for the buck" was preceded by "more bounce to the ounce", an advertising slogan used in 1950 to market the carbonated soft drink Pepsi.

cast/run your/an eye over something - to look at something quickly without looking at the details, often in order to give your opinion about it

Would you mind casting an eye over my essay and giving me your comments?

Would you cast an eye over our work so far?

make up your mind also make your mind up - to decide something, esp. what to do

She's made up her mind to take dancing lessons.

Once you've made your mind up, there's no turning back.

1. to decide what to choose (often + question word)

I can't make up my mind whether to have the salmon or the chicken.

2. to become very certain that you want to do something (often + to do sth)

At a very early age she made up her mind to become an actress.

My mind's made up. I'm handing in my resignation tomorrow.