Commonly used english part 43 pdf

421

judging by (something)

- considering something
Judging by the weather, I don't think that we will be able to go to the festival today.


jump Idioms


jump all over (someone)

- criticize/scold/blame someone
As soon as I began to talk about my plans for the summer my boss jumped all over
me.

jump at (something)

- seize the opportunity to do something
He jumped at the chance to go to France on company business.

jump bail

- run away and fail to come to trial and therefore give up the money that you have
already paid to the court
The man jumped bail and went to live in a foreign country.

jump down (someone`s) throat

- criticize or become angry with someone
As soon as I reached the office my boss jumped down my throat over the missing file.








422

jump on (someone)

- scold/criticize/blame someone
Everybody jumped on the supervisor because they were angry about the new
schedules.

jump/climb/get on the bandwagon

- join a popular activity/campaign
Everybody jumped on the bandwagon to try and stop smoking in the workplace.

jump out of one`s skin

- be badly frightened
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the man at the window.

jump the gun

- start before you should
He jumped the gun and started selling the tickets before he should have.

jump the track

- jump off the rails, change suddenly from one thing to another
The train jumped the track near the edge of the town.

jump through a hoop

- do whatever one is told to do, obey any order
He is always ready to jump through a hoop for his boss so he is not very popular with
the other employees.







423

jump to conclusions

- make a quick conclusion without thinking about it
"Please don`t jump to conclusions over who broke the computer."

jumping-off place/point

- the starting place of a long trip, start of something

We gathered early in the morning at the jumping-off place for our hike to the
mountains.

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the jury is still out (on someone or something)

- have not decided about something
For myself, the jury is still out on whether or not it will be a good idea to look for a
new job.


just Idioms


just about

- nearly, almost
I waited just about one hour before the concert started.

just in case (something happens)

- if something happens
I plan to take my umbrella just in case it rains today.


424

just now

- this very moment, almost at this moment
The accident happened just now. The police haven`t even arrived yet.

just one of those things

- something that you really can't do anything about
The fact that I failed the driver's test was just one of those things and there is nothing
that I can do about it.

just so

- done with great care, done very carefully
She always makes sure that her hair is just so before she goes out.

just the same

- nevertheless
I told her not to come early but just the same she came early anyway.

just what the doctor ordered

- exactly what is needed or wanted
Having the extra day off from work was just what the doctor ordered and I was able to
get many things done.

425

K
kangaroo court

- an illegal court formed by a group of people to settle a dispute among themselves
The men were convicted by a kangaroo court in the town and nobody agreed with the
decision.

Katie bar the door

- get ready for trouble, a desperate situation is at hand
The gang arrived at the hotel and were ready to come in and fight. "Katie bar the
door."

keel over

- fall over and faint
Three of the members of the band keeled over because of the heat.

keel over

- turn upside down, tip over
The boat keeled over in the middle of the lake but everybody was safe.

keen on (someone or something)

- be enthusiastic about someone or something
My girlfriend is keen on going to a movie this weekend.











426

keep Idioms


keep a civil tongue

- speak decently and politely
The angry customer was asked to keep a civil tongue when talking with the sales
clerk.

keep a close watch on (someone or something)

- monitor or observe someone or something
The woman always keeps a close watch on her child when she is at the shopping
center.

keep a close watch over (someone or something)

- guard or care for someone or something
I kept a close watch over the soup as it was cooking.

keep a secret

- to not tell a secret to others
I have been trying to keep a secret about my friend's boyfriend for a long time now.

keep a stiff upper lip

- be brave, face trouble bravely
The storm victims tried hard to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the hardships of their
situation.

keep a straight face

- stop oneself from smiling or laughing
It was difficult to keep a straight face when the man fell off his chair into the grass.


427

keep a tight/close rein on (someone or something)

- strictly watch and control someone or something
Our principal keeps a tight rein on what is being taught in the classrooms.

keep abreast (of something)

- keep informed about something
I read the newspaper regularly so that I can keep abreast of current events.

keep after/at (someone)

- remind someone over and over about something
I always have to keep after my friend to do her job properly.

keep an eye on (someone or something)

- watch and take care of something (but not just look at something)
"Will you keep an eye on the baby while I go to the store."

keep an eye out for (someone or something)

- watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something
I kept an eye out for a nice restaurant after I arrived in the small town.

keep at (something)

- persist with something
He has decided to keep at his studies and I am sure that he will succeed.

keep body and soul together

- keep alive, survive
It was very cold during the winter but somehow she was able to keep body and soul
together and survived.

428

keep books

- keep records of money gained and spent, do the work of a bookkeeper
My first job was to keep books for a small company in my hometown.

keep company (with someone)

- associate with or spend much time with someone
I like to keep company with my friends from university.

keep cool

- stay calm
The police officers were trained to keep cool in difficult situations.

keep down (something)

- keep from progressing or growing, keep within limits, control
The students were told to keep down the noise as some of the other classes were
having exams.

keep from (doing something)

- prevent/refrain from doing something
I love ice cream and couldn`t keep from eating three bowls.

keep good time

- work accurately (used for a clock or watch)
My watch has not been keeping good time lately.

keep harping on (something)

- continue to talk or complain about something
The boy's father keeps harping on the fact that his son never does his homework.


429

keep house

- look after a house or a household
She has been keeping house for her father while he is sick.

keep in touch (with someone)

- talk or write to someone
I have always tried to keep in touch with my friends from high school.

keep late hours

- stay up or stay out until very late
My friend keeps late hours now that he is working for the newspaper.

keep off (something)

- stay off someone's land or other property
The students were asked to keep off the grass which was being replanted.

keep on (doing something)

- continue
She is careless and keeps on making the same mistakes over and over.

keep on an even keel

- remain cool and calm
I was very busy with my job and school but I tried very hard to keep on an even keel
and get everything done.

keep on one's toes

- stay alert and watchful
I try to keep on my toes during a class where the teacher may ask me a question.


430

keep one`s chin up

- be brave, be determined
"Try and keep your chin up. Things will get better in the future."

keep one`s cool

- to stay/remain calm

I tried to keep my cool during the argument with my neighbor.

keep one's distance from (someone or something)

- maintain a certain distance from someone or something
The girl always keeps her distance from the other students in the class.

keep one`s eye on the ball

- be watchful and ready for something
"You should keep your eye on the ball or you will make a mistake."

keep one's eyes open

- remain alert and watchful for someone or something
"Please keep your eyes open for a good place to eat so that we can have lunch."

keep one's feet on the ground

- remain firmly established
My friend lost his job but he is trying hard to keep his feet on the ground.

keep one`s fingers crossed

- wish for good results in something one is doing
"Please keep your fingers crossed that I will pass my exam."