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A difficult and annoying situation. start learning
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a pretty/fine kettle of fish So, you've crashed your father's car. That's a pretty kettle of fish.
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An expression which means that if you want something to happen, paying attention to it will only make the waiting feel longer. start learning
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A watched kettle never boils. Don't check your email every second, remember, a watched kettle never boils.
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Affecting somebody personally. start learning
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Her questions have been a little bit too close to home.
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A lot of different things (mostly unnecessary). start learning
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everything but the kitchen sink This bag weighs a hundred kilos! You've packed everything but the kitchen sink!
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Something that is very fragile, delicate and won't last. start learning
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The ceasefire between you and your brother is a house of cards.
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If food or drink is on the house it means that you don't have to pay for it, it is provided free by the owner. start learning
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I'm sorry you have been waiting for so long. All I can do is say that the meal is on the house.
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An expression that means you shouldn't crticize others for bad qualities that you have yourself. start learning
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People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. If you are not perfect, you shouldn't criticize others, you know: people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
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An expression used to stress that you can't do everything at once. start learning
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Rome wasn't built in a day. My garden is still not perfect, but one day it will be. Well, Rome wasn't built in a day.
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This weekend was very run-of-the-mill, nothing interesting happened.
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He shouldn't be so shocked to find out that hid father was not his real father, every family has a skeleton in the closet.
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A warning; an expression that means that some misfortune is impending. start learning
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the handwriting's on the wall The football team has lost all its matches, the handwriting's on the wall for the coach.
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To depend on something/someone. start learning
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to bank on something/someone I know I can always bank on my family.
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A person who accepts being treated badly and doesn't complain. start learning
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I can't stand being anybody's doormat.
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A man who spends his time trying to meet rich and fashionable peaople (especially women) at social occasions. start learning
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He's a real lounge lizard, he has a new date every night.
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Someone you can depend on. start learning
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to be a tower of strength When my father died my mother was the tower of strength.
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This time, you won't be let off with a warning, you are in the doghouse.
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To entertain people successfully, make them laugh or clap loudly. start learning
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This show was so good, it just brought the house down.
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To dream about or hope for things that are impossible, unrealistic. start learning
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to build castles in the air She is always building castles in the air and then she is disappointed.
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To make decissions that can't be changed in the future. start learning
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Remember no to burn your bridges unless it's necessary.
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The lecture was so boring that I was climbing the wall.
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to drive someone up the wall I drive my parents up the wall when I play my guitar.
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To become involved in something from the beginning or in it's early stages. start learning
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to get in on the ground floor I think this company is going to achieve a lot, you'd better get in on the ground floor and start working for them.
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To be in a difficult situation. start learning
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Her father is terminally ill, she is going through the mill right now.
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I'll go through the roof if this noise doesn't stop!
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I thought it was such a good deal but it just made me go to the wall.
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To have some space around oneself. start learning
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I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of elbow room.
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To make a huge impression on somebody. start learning
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to hit like a ton of bricks This information hit me like a ton of bricks. I was devastated.
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to hit the ceiling/the roof That's enough, you've made me hit the roof! You're grounded!
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To assume responsibility in another person's absence; to be left in charge of something. start learning
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Honey, I'm going shopping, please hold the fort and look after your sister.
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To waste one's time trying to accomplish something that is hopeless. start learning
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to knock/bang one's head against a brick wall When I ask my parents permission to do something, I sometimes feel I'm banging my head against a brick wall.
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To take precautions after something bad has already happened. start learning
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to lock the barn door after the horse has bolted Buying a burglar alarm after the house has been robbed is just locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.
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To make oneself comfortable. start learning
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I easily make myself at home wherever I go.
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To provide space for someone or something. start learning
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to make room for someone or something Could you please move this plate to make room for the ashtray?
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To take care of one's own problems, to solve them. start learning
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to put one's own house in order You'd better put your own house in order before you start giving advice to other people.
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To throw somebody out of your house. start learning
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He was drunk and rude so I just showed him the door.
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I didn't have any more strength to continue so I threw in the towel and came back home.
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An expression used to say that you can't make something if you're not capable of doing it (without the right tools). start learning
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You can't make bricks without straw. Don't try to make a table if you are not a carpenter, remember you can't make bricks without straw.
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