American Idioms and Phrases Just for Fun 3

80— To Make Someone's Mouth Water/Someone's Mouth Waters

		These expressions are used to say that someone suddenly feels great hunger or is anticipating food very eagerly.

		The smell of the turkey roasting made Tom's mouth water. I walked past the bakery with my mouth watering.

		A PHRASE JUST FOR FUN

		TO RAIN CATS AND DOGS

		This expression has absolutely nothing to do with animals. Use it when you want to say that it is raining very hard.

		I'm not going out there. It's raining cats and dogs!

		81— In the Nick of Time

		This idiom says that someone is doing something at the best possible time and that what that person is doing is in the form of a rescue.

		The police arrived at the crime scene just in the nick of time. Bill stopped her from falling in the nick of time.

		82— To Pay through the Nose

		Use this funny little expression to say that someone is paying far too much for something.

		They finally got the room they wanted, but they had to pay through the nose to get it. You'll pay through the nose, if you go to that expensive store.

		83— Or So

		Add this short expression after a number or quantity to show that the amount is approximate.

		I arrived in Los Angeles a year or so ago. Get me a pound or so of flour and a stick of butter.
	84— Out of the Question This phrase means that something being discussed is already decided and impossible to be considered any further. You want to go at this late hour? Out of the question, young man! I'm afraid a vacation in Florida is out of the question this year. 85— To Pass Away This is a synonym for to die and is used to speak about someone's death more delicately. Her grandfather passed away last month. I was shocked to hear that your sister had passed away. 86— To Pay a Call On/To Pay Someone a Call These expressions mean that someone is visiting someone else. I was in the neighborhood so I paid a call on the Smiths. He often paid us a call without first phoning. 87— To Give Someone a Piece of One's Mind This phrase means that someone is angry and telling what he or she thinks about a certain matter. He won't be asking for money again. Grandmother gave him a good piece of her mind and threw him out. 88— To Poke Fun At/To Make Fun Of These two phrases are used as synonyms for to ridicule or to tease. Why must you poke fun at your little brother? The other children always made fun of the way she walked. 89— To Pull Oneself Together Use this phrase to say that someone is regaining control of himself and is correcting his or her previous behavior. She cried for two hours but finally pulled herself together in time for school. 90— To Put on Airs This phrase means that someone is acting conceited or pretending to be far better than he really is. When John drives his father's convertible, he always puts on airs. She was putting on airs at the party, but everyone knew she had no money. A PHRASE JUST FOR FUN SCATTERBRAINED This expression suggests that someone is completely disorganized or a poor thinker. She'll never finish that project. She's too scatterbrained. I doubt that Tom and Jack can fix the car. They're both so scatterbrained. 91— To Put up With This is a synonym for to endure. Mother won't put up with the noise for much longer. I've put up with your lies for the last time! 92— Red Tape This expression is used to say that governments and other official institutions have too many complicated procedures or too many difficult forms to be filled out in order to use one of their services. All I want is a tax form—why all this red tape? The administrator's office kept us tied up in red tape for hours. 93— Right Away This is an adverbial expression that can be used as a replacement for immediately. I think you'd better get home right away. Mother is very sick. She said she wanted to return the gift right away.
	94— To Know the Ropes This phrase says that someone is properly trained and is familiar with the procedures of a particular job or task. Mary really knows the ropes around this office. You should help him. I don't think he knows the ropes yet. 95— To Run out Of This expression is used to say that someone has exhausted the supply of a certain product or that it is used up. I think we're about to run out of milk. They ran out of gas just before getting to Chicago. 96— From Scratch Use this prepositional phrase in place of from the beginning. I've lost count. I'd better start from scratch. 97— To See Eye to Eye This phrase is used to mean that two people agree on something. I think we can sign the contract. I believe we see eye to eye on this matter. 98— To Show Off This idiom means that someone is acting in a way that makes a good impression or is acting in a way that makes his or her best characteristics apparent. John was showing off to impress the others with his importance. Don't show off. It doesn't impress anyone! 99— To Be Sick Of This phrase means that someone finds something unbearable or can no longer endure it. She left him because she was sick of his constant complaining. Will the sun never shine? I'm sick of this weather! 100— To Spend (Time) You probably already know that the verb to spend is used to mean to pay money, but with expressions of time it means that someone is passing time. The expressions of time can be very brief or very long: a minute, an hour, three days, a vacation, and so on. We usually spend the winter in California. Why do we have to spend so many days with these people? A PHRASE JUST FOR FUN MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY This phrase is used primarily in the form given above. It is used as a form of congratulations for a special day such as a birthday, anniversary, or wedding. The man walked up to the bride and groom and said joyfully, ''Many happy returns of the day!" 101— A Stone's Throw This is a synonym for near or nearby. Their house is just a stone's throw from ours. 102— A Swelled Head This unusual expression says that someone is conceited or feeling over confident about something. Don't flatter her. She already has a swelled head. I said nothing about his good looks. I didn't want to give him a swelled head. 103— To Take After This phrase says that someone is very similar to another person or looks like another person—often a relative. With their red hair and green eyes, the children all take after their father. 104— On the Tip of One's Tongue This clever phrase can be used when you wish to say that you almost remember someone or something. I know your face, and your name is on the tip of my tongue. John stood silent before his teacher, although the answer was on the tip of his tongue. 105— To Have a Sweet Tooth This phrase says that someone enjoys sweet foods such as candy or cake. Tom has a sweet tooth. He can't go past the bakery without stopping in to buy something. 106— Topsy-Turvy This is used to say that something or some place is in a terrible state or very disorganized. Mother entered my room and became angry when she saw that everything was topsy-turvy. 107— To Twist around One's Little Finger Use this phrase to mean that someone (usually a girl) has another person (usually a boy) under her complete influence. The boy will probably do anything the girl asks. Poor Jack. Anna has him twisted around her little finger. They were very much in love, but Mother always had Father twisted around her little finger. 108— Well Off This is a synonym for rich or wealthy. The Browns live in that big house over there. They're really quite well off. 109— What on Earth? Use this emphatic question to show great surprise or to express deep-felt shock. What on earth?" he asked in alarm. "What was that loud noise? What on earth do you think you're doing? 110— A (Little) White Lie This idiom is used to make a lie seem not quite so bad. Rather than a great lie it's only a small untruth. Why was she so angry? It was only a little white lie. Saying that I am younger than I am was just a white lie. A PHRASE JUST FOR FUN TO BE BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH This phrase is rather long, but it is used in place of much shorter ones: born wealthy or born to a life of comfort. What does she know about work? She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.