Vocabulary
Idioms & Fixed Expressions
CAE-level idioms · fixed phrases · colourful language
do something difficult you have been avoiding
/baɪt ðə ˈbʊlɪt/I finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist.
a small visible part of a much bigger problem
/ðə ˌtɪp əv ði ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/The broken window is just the tip of the iceberg — the whole house needs repairs.
don't count your chickens
don't be sure of success before it happens
/dəʊnt kaʊnt jɔː ˈtʃɪkɪnz/We're winning 2–0, but don't count your chickens — there's still half an hour.
bite off more than you can chew
try to do more than you can manage
/baɪt ɒf mɔː ðən juː kən tʃuː/Three clubs and a part-time job? You've bitten off more than you can chew.
avoid choosing a side
/sɪt ɒn ðə ˈfens/Stop sitting on the fence — do you want pizza or sushi?
do your fair share of the work
/pʊl jɔː ˈweɪt/If everyone pulls their weight, we'll finish the project on time.
something that is not clearly right or wrong
/ˌɡreɪ ˈeəriə/Downloading old games is a legal grey area.
a rough estimate
/ˈbɔːlpɑːk ˌfɪɡə/I don't need the exact price — just give me a ballpark figure.
at the end of your tether
having no patience or energy left
/ət ði ˌend əv jɔː ˈteðə/After three nights of noisy neighbours, I was at the end of my tether.
do something that makes it impossible to go back
/bɜːn jɔː ˈbrɪdʒɪz/Don't leave on bad terms — never burn your bridges.
1
When did you last bite the bullet?
2
Have you ever bitten off more than you could chew?
3
On what topic do you sit on the fence?
4
What makes you reach the end of your tether?
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