Important Idioms

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halfway house

Meaning: mid-point in recovery, treatment, or progress

Example: Frank has gone into a halfway house after 27 years in prison. Read more ➺


spick and span

Meaning: neat and clean

Example: The house was spick and span when the guests arrived. Jane must have been cleaning for hours. Read more ➺


come to think of/about it

Meaning: something that has just occurred to us as we speak

Example: Come to think of it, add potatoes and carrots to the list. Read more ➺


the smell of an oily rag

Meaning: a slim or frugal amount  

Example: When we were students, we didn't have much money and we got by on the smell of an oily rag most days. Read more ➺


anything but

Meaning: by no means

Example: We went to see that new action film on Thursday night and it was anything but good, in fact, I fell asleep. Read more ➺


square peg in a round hole

Meaning: a person who doesn't fit into societies norm

Example: How he got the job I will never know. He's like a square peg in a round hole. Read more ➺


at odds

Meaning: In conflict or disagreement with someone or something.

Example: The two politicians are often at odds over economic policy, leading to heated debates. Read more ➺


stand in a good stead

Meaning: to be of advantage to someone

Example: His years of experience in the spoken English field has stood him in good stead. Read more ➺


smack dab

Meaning: exactly

Example: We got our water balloons fully filled and threw smack dab at their heads. It was fun, I tell you! Read more ➺


get a life

Meaning: to stop wasting a lot of time in useless or boring or trivial works

Example: You are working over 100 hours a week, dude, get a life! Read more ➺


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