Phrases & Expressions

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Phrases & Expressions

Useful phrases for real-life communication.

5,900+Phrases & Idioms Real-LifeExamples BuildConfidence

draw a veil over something

bir konuyu kapatmak, bir konuyu hiç açmamak

C2

To deliberately avoid discussing something because it is embarrassing or unpleasant.

  • After the team's terrible defeat, the coach preferred to draw a veil over the whole match.
  • Let's draw a veil over what happened at the office party and never mention it again.
Idiom

flog yourself to death

kendini helak etmek, ölesiye çalışmak

C2

To work so hard that you become exhausted.

  • There's no point flogging yourself to death for a company that doesn't value you.
  • He flogged himself to death revising for his finals and then fell ill on the day of the first exam.
Idiom

give someone carte blanche

birine açık çek vermek

C2

To give someone complete freedom to act in whatever way they think best.

  • The new director was given carte blanche to reorganise the department as she saw fit.
  • Parents shouldn't give teenagers carte blanche to use their phones whenever they like.
Idiom

go under the hammer

açık artırmada satılmak

C2

To be offered for sale at an auction.

  • A rare first edition of a famous children's novel went under the hammer last week for over £50,000.
  • The artist's early paintings will go under the hammer in London next month.
Idiom

have a flutter

ufak bir bahse girmek, ufak bir bahis oynamak

C2

To place a small bet, usually just for fun.

  • We had a little flutter on the World Cup final, just to make the match more exciting.
  • There's nothing wrong with having a flutter occasionally, as long as you only bet what you can afford to lose.
Idiom

hotter than a hooker’s doorknob

cehennem gibi sıcak, fırın gibi

C2

Extremely hot, often used humorously.

  • It was hotter than a hooker’s doorknob outside today.
  • The summer sun felt hotter than a hooker’s doorknob.
Everyday Life

keep a tight rein on something

bir şeyin dizginlerini sıkı tutmak, bir şeyi sıkı denetim altında tutmak

C2

To control something, such as spending or behaviour, very firmly.

  • The government is keeping a tight rein on public spending in order to reduce the national debt.
  • Parents who keep a tight rein on their children's screen time often say their kids sleep better.
Idiom

lick someone's boots

birine yalakalık etmek, dalkavukluk etmek

C2

To behave too humbly and obediently towards someone powerful in order to please them.

  • Some employees seem willing to lick the boss's boots if it means getting a bigger bonus.
  • I'm not going to lick anyone's boots just to keep this job.
Idiom

look as black as thunder

yüzünden öfke okunmak, çok öfkeli görünmek

C2

To look extremely angry.

  • When he saw the dent in his new car, my dad looked as black as thunder.
  • The coach looked as black as thunder as his team left the pitch after another heavy defeat.
Idiom

not to be sniffed at

hafife alınacak bir şey değil, küçümsenecek gibi değil

C2

Good or valuable enough to be taken seriously rather than dismissed.

  • In the current economy, a ten per cent pay rise is not to be sniffed at.
  • Second place in a national competition is not to be sniffed at, so don't be disappointed.
Idiom