Lesson 10 IDIOMS?英文釋義

(to) go to pieces?

→?to have a mental breakdown; to react very negatively to something

Example: When Tiffany got rejected from all of the colleges she applied to, she?went to pieces.

(to) have someone's number?

→?to have someone figured out; to understand someone's sneaky behavior

Example: Craig, one of our sales managers, always tries to keep all the new accounts for himself. Fortunately, we all?have his number.

The jig is up?

→?You have been caught; Your secret has been discovered; The good deal you were getting in the past is now ending

Example: Linda, I saw you taking money from the cash register.?The jig is up!

What's that supposed to mean??

→?What are you talking about? What are you implying?

Example: "I don't know if you and I have a future together." - "What's that supposed to mean?"

(to) cheat on someone?

→?to be unfaithful, usually romantically

Example: Gina found some love letters in her husband's night table and realized that he was?cheating on her.

(to) get bent out of shape?

→?to become very angry or annoyed

Example: "My roommate plays loud music every night while I'm trying to study!" - "Try not to?get bent out of shape?about it."

cock-and-bull story?

→?a lie; a ridiculous excuse or explanation

Example: When Kara handed in the report a week late, she told a?cock-and-bull story?about having her laptop stolen from a coffee shop.

white lie?

→?a harmless lie; a lie told so as not to upset someone

Example: "You told Suzi she looks good with blonde hair?" - "Yes, I told a?white lie."

to add insult to injury?

→?to make a bad situation even worse; to further upset someone

Example: Sam broke up with Kara on Tuesday.?To add insult to injury, he asked her good friend Joy out on a date for Saturday night!

(to) keep it down?

→?to not speak so loudly; to be quiet

Example: "You guys are talking too loudly. Please?keep it down?so the baby doesn't wake up."

(to) air one's dirty laundry in public?

→?to discuss personal matters in front of other people

Example: The reporter kept asking the actress questions about her divorce. Finally, the actress said, "I'd rather not?air my dirty laundry in public."