Idioms |
| go to your head |
if success goes to your head, it makes you think that you are better or more important than you really are |
I hope getting that scholarship doesn't go to Carol's head. |
| have your wits about you |
be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions |
You've got to have your wits about you when dealing with pushy salespeople. |
| in the dark (about) |
not knowing very much about something, because other people are keeping it secret from you |
The Prime Minister kept even his closest colleagues in the dark about when he would call a general election. |
| know what's what |
know the important facts about a situation |
Ask Tony about the proposed changes. He knows what's what. |
| not have a leg to stand on |
not have any way of proving that you are right about something |
George tried to argue that the world was flat, but of course he didn't have a leg to stand on. |
| not see the wood for the trees |
used for saying that someone cannot understand what is important in a situation because they are thinking too much about small details |
Many people can't see the wood for the trees when talking about joining the eurozone; they just think about what's on the notes and coins and don't think about the economic benefits. |
| put two and two together |
guess what is happening or what something means based on what you have seen or heard |
He didn't tell us he was retiring, but we could all put two and two together. |
| quick/slow on the uptake |
taking a very short/long time to understand or realise something |
I'm sure Chad understood what you were suggesting; he's very quick on the uptake. |
| ring a bell |
something that rings a bell sounds familiar to you, although you cannot remember the exact details |
The name rings a bell but I'm not sure if I've ever met her. |
| round the bend |
crazy |
That noise is driving me round the bend! |
| split hairs |
argue or worry about very small details or differences that are not important |
Whether you call them 'terrorists' or 'freedom fighters' is just splitting hairs - the point is that they're killing people! |
| take stock (of) |
spend some time thinkin about the situation you are in before you decide what to do next |
Let's take a couple of days to take stock of the situation
and then we'll make a decision. |
