A quick study
Definition:
A person who learns quickly and easily
Usage:
Informal conversation
Sample Dialogue:
A: How long have Rachel been playing piano?
B: Only for about a year.
A: Really? She plays beautiful.
B: Yes, She is a quick study.
A: Have you finished all your homework?
B: Yes
A: Really? You have only studied for an hour.
B: Yeah, I am a quick study.
Ace in the hole
Definition:
An advantage that is saved until needed
Usage:
Informal, conversational
Sample Dialogue:
A: Coach, why am I not playing?
B: I need you to stay here for a little longer.
A: Oh.. come on, I can play now.
B: Just wait, I need to put you in the last quarter. You are my ace in the hole. We can win this game if we just wait till the last quarter.
A: Wizards always have a ace in the hole.
B: That is true.
An advantage that is saved until needed
Usage:
Informal, conversational
Sample Dialogue:
A: Coach, why am I not playing?
B: I need you to stay here for a little longer.
A: Oh.. come on, I can play now.
B: Just wait, I need to put you in the last quarter. You are my ace in the hole. We can win this game if we just wait till the last quarter.
A: Wizards always have a ace in the hole.
B: That is true.
Add fuel to the fire
Definition:
To make a problem worse
Usage:
Conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Steve, just leave Mary alone when she is angry.
B: Im only trying to help
A: But you are not. You are aggravating her.
B: I am just trying to…
A: You are not helping. You are just adding fuel to the fire.
Sample Sentence:
The President is trying to calm things down but he is just adding fuel to the fire.
To make a problem worse
Usage:
Conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Steve, just leave Mary alone when she is angry.
B: Im only trying to help
A: But you are not. You are aggravating her.
B: I am just trying to…
A: You are not helping. You are just adding fuel to the fire.
Sample Sentence:
The President is trying to calm things down but he is just adding fuel to the fire.
Add insult to injury
Definition:
To make a problem worse
Usage:
Informal, conversational
Sample dialogue:
A: Jim, you’re all wet. What happened?
B: I’m not having a good day at all.
A: Then tell me what went wrong.
B: Well, first my car broke down. Then I was late to my meeting, and add insult to injury, it started to rain
Sample sentence:
The president added insult to injury when he didn’t remembered the ambassador’s name.
To make a problem worse
Usage:
Informal, conversational
Sample dialogue:
A: Jim, you’re all wet. What happened?
B: I’m not having a good day at all.
A: Then tell me what went wrong.
B: Well, first my car broke down. Then I was late to my meeting, and add insult to injury, it started to rain
Sample sentence:
The president added insult to injury when he didn’t remembered the ambassador’s name.
As sick as a dog
Definition:
To be very ill
Usage:
Conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Scott’s been out of school all week.
B: What’s the matter with him?
A: I don’t know, but he can’t even get out of bed
B: Wow, sounds like he’s as sick as a dog.
Sample sentence:
The teacher cant teach because she is as sick as a dog.
To be very ill
Usage:
Conversational, informal
Sample dialogue:
A: Scott’s been out of school all week.
B: What’s the matter with him?
A: I don’t know, but he can’t even get out of bed
B: Wow, sounds like he’s as sick as a dog.
Sample sentence:
The teacher cant teach because she is as sick as a dog.
Beat a dead horse
Definition:
To make the same argument repeatedly; to say what has already been said
Usage:
Conversional, informal
Sample:
A: I understand. I shouldn’t have lied to you.
B: Do you realize how serious this is?
A: Yes. I did it ten minutes ago. But you don’t have to keep explaining it. You are beating a dead horse.
Sample sentence:
The Fanatics are beating in a dead horse when they are arguing.
To make the same argument repeatedly; to say what has already been said
Usage:
Conversional, informal
Sample:
A: I understand. I shouldn’t have lied to you.
B: Do you realize how serious this is?
A: Yes. I did it ten minutes ago. But you don’t have to keep explaining it. You are beating a dead horse.
Sample sentence:
The Fanatics are beating in a dead horse when they are arguing.
Bells and whistles
Definition:
Extra features that isn’t essential for the operation of the operation of the machine, such as the GPS in a car.
Usage:
Used in both conversational and writing.
Sample dialogue:
A: What kind of phone are you going to buy?
B: I don’t know yet, but I want something with all the bells and whistles.
A: Doesn’t the extra stuff just add to the cost?
B: Maybe, but I love new technology, its fun.
Sample sentence:
That car got all the bells and whistles.
Extra features that isn’t essential for the operation of the operation of the machine, such as the GPS in a car.
Usage:
Used in both conversational and writing.
Sample dialogue:
A: What kind of phone are you going to buy?
B: I don’t know yet, but I want something with all the bells and whistles.
A: Doesn’t the extra stuff just add to the cost?
B: Maybe, but I love new technology, its fun.
Sample sentence:
That car got all the bells and whistles.
Boys will be boys
Definition:
Boy will be mischievous, get in trouble, and fight.
Usage:
Conversional, informal.
Sample dialogue:
A: My two sons are always fighting. I don’t know what to do to get them to stop.
B: Sometimes there isn’t much a mother can do. Boys will be boys, you know.
Sample sentence:
People usually take it easy on him because they think boys will be boys.
Boy will be mischievous, get in trouble, and fight.
Usage:
Conversional, informal.
Sample dialogue:
A: My two sons are always fighting. I don’t know what to do to get them to stop.
B: Sometimes there isn’t much a mother can do. Boys will be boys, you know.
Sample sentence:
People usually take it easy on him because they think boys will be boys.
Busy as a beaver
Definition: To be extremely busy
Usage: Cliche phrase used in conversation and in writing.
Sample:
A: Our family is having over a hundred relatives to our house for a party
B: Big parties can be a lot of fun, but also a lot of work
A: My dad has been working all day. He’s been as busy as a beaver preparing for this party.
The beaver have been busy as a beaver building that dam.
Usage: Cliche phrase used in conversation and in writing.
Sample:
A: Our family is having over a hundred relatives to our house for a party
B: Big parties can be a lot of fun, but also a lot of work
A: My dad has been working all day. He’s been as busy as a beaver preparing for this party.
The beaver have been busy as a beaver building that dam.
Busy as a bee
Definition: To be extremely busy
Usage: Cliche phrase used in conversation and in writing.
Sample:
A: Our family is having over a hundred relatives to our house for a party B: Big parties can be a lot of fun, but also a lot of work A: My dad has been working all day. He’s been as busy as a bee preparing for this party.
Chill out
Definition:
Relax, become calm.
Usage:
Slang, informal, not used in writing.
Sample dialogue:
A: Whats wrong? You look terrible.
B: Im really nervous. I have a huge exam this afternoon.
A: Did you study?
B: Yeah, for about eight hours.
A: Well then, chill out! You’re going to do fine.
__
A: AAAHHH!!!! im going to fail!
B: chill out, you will be fine.
Cry over spilled milk
Definition:
Regret or feel sorry about something that cant be changed because it has already happened.
Usage:
Usually negative: Dont cry over spilled milk; alternate form: There is no use in crying over spilled milk.
Sample dialogue:
A: John Mayer is in concert next week, but he is sold out.
B: Really? Have you tried getting tickets on eBay?
A: Yes, but they are already gone.
B: well, there is no use crying over spilled milk.
___
cheer up, there is no use crying over spilled milk.